Family Game Night -- A Review and Giveaway!

I come from a big family and some of my very earliest memories of family gatherings include games. I learned to play challenging card games at a very young age and remember joining in very competitive spirited Trivial Pursuit games when I was way too young to have a prayer of ever getting an answer right!

We have several old favorites but are always on the look out for great family games!

So when I saw that North Star Games had set up shop in the hallway at Blogalicious I was very curious to see what they were all about.

I played a few rounds of Say Anything (and enjoyed it!) but the game that really caught my attention was Wits and Wagers. If I could pick any two words to describe the perfect game for my extended family they would be "trivia" and "gambling." And those are the two words that describe Wits and Wagers!

I took the game home over Thanksgiving and played it with six other adults. It was proclaimed a hit! The only grumbles came from my sister (also our biggest Trivial Pursuit hater!) but the funny thing is that she came in a VERY close second place. Even though she didn't love it, she was really good at it. Silly girl.

A few highlights:

1. It's fast-paced. We finished a game in less than 30 minutes.
2. You don't have to know the answers to win! Family members who don't have much to offer during those intense games of Trivial Pursuit have just as good (sometimes even better!) chances to win at this because of the wagering. My sister often had crazy guesses (way off!) but consistently bet on the right answers. My aunt often had the correct answer (or closest to the correct answer!) but never bet on herself so didn't really leverage her correct answers.
3. A large number of people can play, up to seven as individuals but you can even play in teams. That's great for a big family.
4. We liked the dry erase answer boards.

Suggestions for improvement:

Only one: include eraser tips on the dry eraser marker caps! Really, that's all we could come up with as room for improvement!


I received a complimentary review copy of Wits & Wagers from North Star Games but all opinions are my own. You can buy Wits & Wagers at Target or Toys-R-Us or, if you're local, head over to Labyrinth on Capitol Hill or Child's Play in Chevy Chase and patronize a great small business!

GIVEAWAY!
Win your own copy of Wits and Wagers for your next family gathering! Leave a comment on this post by Friday, December 16, at midnight eastern time with the word or words that best describe the perfect game for your family (or group of friends). Make sure to include your e-mail address! I'll notify the winner on Saturday and you must get back to me with your mailing address by Monday, December 19, so we can ship the game right away (hopefully to arrive in time for Christmas, but definitely for your New Year gatherings!). Good luck!


Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Winner!

Congratulations, Katrina at Wakeboarding Mama! You won the Tiny Prints giveaway. I'll e-mail with the details!

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Free TinyPrints Card from Santa for All PLUS Giveaway!

Lucas has already started hoarding holiday toy catalogs and is circling and pointing out ALL the toys he wants (note: just about every single item in the catalogs!).  And Monday night he wore his robe to bed "to be ready in case the Polar Express comes tonight."

So while I may not be ready for Christmas, HE certainly is! One of the absolute best things about his age (he'll turn six right before Christmas!) is that he's so smart and grown up in so many ways but still has this amazing sense of wonder and excitement. I mean, he was really and truly serious about the possibility that the 'ole PolEx might rumble in front of our house that very night!

So imagine how excited he'll be to get personalized card from Santa in the mail soon!

Today only, visit the Tiny Prints Facebook page to find out how to personalize either the Checking It Twice or Santa’s Scroll greeting card for FREE!! {Hurry! Offer ends 11/9/11 at 11:59 pm (PT).}

And...even better...one lucky reader will win 50 free TinyPrints cards this year! Just head over to http://www.tinyprints.com/shop/picture-christmas-cards.htm to check out this year's selection and leave me a comment with the one you'd choose! (I know it's hard to narrow it down, so feel free to mention your top 3!)

The giveaway will close in one week, on Wednesday, November 16. One comment per person, please and I'll randomly draw one winner.



Disclosure: I was offered free address labels for giving away 50 free cards to a reader. Sounded like a win:win for all of us! All opinions are my own.

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

500 Winner

Because practically everyone who commented on my 500 post for the $50 gift card to Barnes and Noble is either a close friend or family member, I made sure to not look at the comments before drawing the number via random.org. I just glanced at the number of comments and put it right into the random number generator. And so you shouldn't be the least bit suspicious about the fact that my sister won! I truly, truly wanted each of my readers to win and wish I had a gift for each of you. But, I also have to admit that if anyone deserves a little treat right now, it is Sarah.

Congrats, Sis! I'll hand you the gift card at Easter right after my great big hug!

And thanks again to everyone--even those of you who didn't comment--for reading Smiling Mama. Here's to 500 more!

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

40% off Coupons for Kodak Gallery

Many, many weeks ago I randomly decided to respond to an e-mail request for people to host house parties for Kodak Gallery. We use Kodak Gallery for most of our digital picture needs and so the e-mail came to my personal e-mail account. I filled out a survey and promptly forgot all about it. Then, several weeks ago I got an e-mail that I had been selected as a host.

Fun, right?

So, this past weekend we had a few friends over and I showed off the Kodak goodies I'd gotten to create for free. The nice people at Kodak also sent me samples of various holiday cards (which really confused Abel for several moments as he tried to figure out who in the world The Bakers were when he didn't recognize anyone in the photo!) AND they sent me literally more than 100 coupons for 40% off pretty much anything on the site (everything, actually except the 9 cent prints). My friends took lots of coupons to use and pass along to their friends and family but I still have a huge pile left.

Who would I rather give them to than my loyal blog readers? No one, that's who!

The thing is that literally every coupon has a different code, so I can't just print the code here and say "go enjoy!" Rather, you'll have to e-mail me directly (smilingaimee at gmail dot com) and I'll write back with a code just for you. The catch is that they all expire on December 12. So, if you've been waiting to do your photo cards or want to order the grandparents one of those nifty photo calendars then you should definitely get a code and make time to do is this week!

Just drop me an e-mail (smilingaimee at gmail dot com) with something like "Kodak Code" or "Coupon please" in the subject and I'll so my best to respond promptly! Enjoy!


Blogging disclaimer: Okay, I am pretty sure that being selected as a host had nothing to do with the fact that I have a blog, but I did receive $75 in free Kodak Gallery products for hosting a party and got like a gazillion coupons to give out to friends and family. People, they really want you to check out their newly redesigned site!



Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Giveaway over at Out by Ten

Do you have any kids on your Christmas list? Do you love books? Are you an elementary school teacher? Head on over to Out by Ten to read a review and enter a giveaway for four free books from Pretty Please Press.


Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Giveaway at Out by Ten

Have you been reading my not-so-new blog Out by Ten? If not, you're missing out on tons of great ideas for family-friendly activities in Prince George's County and the DC-area.

What? You don't have kids? Well, most of the things I've posted about lately are fantastic for people of all ages, they just happen to also be kid-friendly!

Today there is extra incentive to head over to Out by Ten: I'm reviewing and giving away a copy of the awesome new kids' CD Great Day by Milkshake. You have five chances to win so what are you waiting for?

Go!

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

Giveaway!

Are you reading my new blog, Out by Ten, for lots of great ideas for getting out and about with your family? Well, click on over and leave a comment for a chance to win 4 lawn seats (an $80 value!) to the upcoming show "Bugs Bunny on Broadway" at the Merriweather Post Pavilion on July 11.

Original post by Smiling Mama. Thanks for reading!

It's never too late to get organized!

It's never too late to get organized, right? Congratulations to Megan U. who wrote, "How fun! And right now I have three calendars and it is making me CRAZY!"

Megan, e-mail me at smilingmama {at} gmail {.} com with your mailing address and I'll get the Kaleidoscope planner in the mail ASAP!

Are you organized yet? (Psssst, it's a giveaway!)

So I know it is March, the second half of March, even, but maybe, just maybe you haven't found a good planner/calendar/organizational system yet this year. And if you haven't, then I've got something for you. The Franklin Covey Kaleidoscope Planner. It was part of my lovely goody bag package way back when at the BOCA spa night. And it really is a wonderfully adorable planner with beautiful colors and designs and I have so been meaning to start using it because once again, I am having multiple calendar issues.

But, after flipping through it several times to admire the lovely, lovely blank pages and not writing a thing down, I just have to admit that this particular planner just isn't the solution for me. Mostly that's because I need my calendar with me at all times and just can't add this to all the other-must-have-with-me items I carry around already.

So, dear readers, my loss is your gain. If you are still searching for the perfect 2009 organizational tool then leave a comment, any comment, on this post. I'll use random.org to pick a winner on the 24th and get it in the mail to you ASAP.

After all, it's never to late to get organized!

Edited to add: Please be sure to include an e-mail address on the comment form so I can notify you if you win!

Winner winner chicken dinner

Congratulations to Susan, aka 2KoP, lucky commenter #9 who won my BOCA goody bag! Susan was also my only commenter who took the time to enter the Balanced Living contest at Gather.com (or at least she's the only one who came back to tell me she entered!).

I am certain each and every one of you deserves some extra balance in your life and I'm sorry I don't have enough of these for everyone. But, it's not too late to hop on over and enter the Boca Balanced Living Challenge.

Thanks to everyone for reading and entering!

P.S. Susan, couldn't help but notice on your blog that you're a Michigan fan. Hope you can still find balance when using the red--let's just call it Buckeye scarlet--yoga mat. Not that I'm trying to stir anything up or anything...!!

BOCA Giveaway!

The relaxation from my chair massage has definitely worn off, but my pedicure still looks fabulous from last week's Spa Night hosted by BOCA, which I was lucky enough to attend. And, as promised, I have a goody bag for you, dear readers! As if drinks and food and spa treatments weren't enough, BOCA gave each blogger two goody bags as we left. One to keep and one to giveaway. Woo hoo!

The contents include: an adorable Envirosax reusable tote, a yoga mat in its own carrying case, a classical stress relief CD, a Franklin Covey "Kaleidoscope" planner, BOCA recipe cards and a coupon good for a free package of BOCA meatless product.

Fabulous, right?

Simply leave a comment (any comment!) on this post by noon (eastern) on Wednesday, February 18 to be entered into the drawing to win. Becuase I love you all equally, I'll let random.org do the dirty work of actually selecting a winner.

But, wait! That's not all!

BOCA is holding a Balanced Living Challenge--a chance to win $5,000 to fulfill your own healthy living goals. All you have to do is post a short entry--only up to 250 words--on how you want to change your life and how BOCA (and their $5K) can help you achieve balance. The deadline for this contest is Friday, February 27. Don't forget to include your e-mail address on the comment form so I can notify you if you win!

You know me and my love of lists. So here's your balanced living to do list.

1) Leave a comment below for a chance to win my contest for the BOCA goody bag.

2) Go here to tell BOCA how their $5K will help you achieve balance in your life.

3) Come back and leave me another comment to let me know that you've entered BOCA's balanced living contest and you'll earn a second entry into my giveaway! (Hey, I know your chances of actually winning the $5K are pretty slim, so the least I can do is give you an extra shot at my balanced living goody bag!)

Ommmmmm.

Happy Blogaversary!

I can hardly believe it has been a year since I started blogging. Wow!

In honor of my first blogaversary (or is that blog-o-versary?) I'm doing a giveaway! The prize is a 1-year magazine subscription! You see, I'm a total magazine whore--I love getting magazines and have taken advantage of the Coke Rewards program to subscribe to about 10 different magazines. So to celebrate my blogaversary I'm giving a magazine subscription to one lucky reader! Options include: Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies Home Journal, Cookie, O at Home, House Beautiful, among others.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post telling me something you've learned--about me, about my family, about life, about yourself, about anything at all--by reading my blog.

Thanks again for reading! Here's to the future and the many, many posts to come!


*Fine print: you have until July 18 to enter your comment; winner will be chosen at random; no duplicate comments, please; I'll send a full list of magazine options for the winner to choose from; don't forget to leave your e-mail address so I can notify you when you win (positive thinking, people!!).