GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

Christmas is just a month away and I am sure some of you have already written your shopping list and  started planning for your Christmas meal menu. However, if you are still looking for suggestions on both, you might want to have a look at Nielsen-Massey Vanillas A Century of Flavor cookbook.

Here’s a peek at this cookbook through it’s press release:

A Century of Flavor is filled with 50 of the most tantalizing recipes, highlighting the intricate, yet delicate flavors of pure vanilla and is written for the novice cook as well as the seasoned chef. Exquisite photography and helpful cooking tips accompany each easy-to-follow recipe. Delicious Nielsen family favorites include: Fresh Basil-Tomato Soup with Vanilla; Crab Cakes with Vanilla Rémoulade; Vanilla Lobster Supreme with Pasta; Vanilla-Mocha Café Cake; and Crème Brûlée French Toast.

The cookbook also introduces recipes using some of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas new pure flavor extracts: Pure Chocolate Extract, Pure Almond Extract, Pure Orange Extract, Pure Lemon Extract, Pure Coffee Extract. Extracts add flavor, complement and enhance other flavors as in the Hearty White Bean Chili recipe, which calls for chocolate extract. Each variety of pure flavor extract has its own particular attributes, flavor notes and aromas, adding their own intensity and character to the foods in which they are used.

BUY IT :  Delight mom with this tantalizing new cookbook this Christmas!  A Century of Flavor can be purchased online at CookBookMarketPlace.com, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

WIN IT : Want to win a FREE copy to cook up a storm this Christmas? Or simply to give your love ones a copy? Here’s your chance! I’m giving away a copy of A Century of Flavor to 5 VERY LUCKY READERS! Here’s what you need to do:

•  One mandatory entry – Head over to the sponsor’s site, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas and let me know one fact about the company.
•  Two additional entries – Tweet this giveaway and leave your twitter thread/id in the comment below
•  Five additional entries – Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. Please leave your post url in the comment section.
•  Giveaway is only open to US shipping address and closes on 25th November 2009. Please remember to subscribe or check back here for the result as we will not be emailing winners.

Disclosure : Giveaway copies of A Century of Flavor, courtesy of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas.

Hey everyone, here’s a heads up that Scholastic is currently running a really neat essay contest through their site for young readers to enter. The prize is a visit with Winter the Dolphin at her home in Clearwater Marine Aquarium! You can either download the contest details here (PDF) or read on for more details below:

ABOUT THE CONTEST

Winter the Dolphin has been an inspiration and hero for children and adults alike. When Winter was just three months old, she was rescued from a crap trap which had seriously damaged her tail. It wasn’t clear that she would survive but she did. However, the damage to Winter’s tail was so extensive that it fell off. To everyone’s amazement, a prosthetic company stepped in an fitted Winter with a prosthetic tail. Now Winter is using her new tail and thriving.

Scholastic wants to hear about an animal that has most inspired your children by having them tell us about their favorite animal hero in 200 words or less.

One grand prize winner and his/her guardian will receive a trip to visit Winter at her home in Clearwater, Florida, one night’s stay at a hotel, $500 travel voucher, a Winter prize pack and a Nintendo DS Game system! 10 runners up with receive a copy of Winter’s Tail, a Winter’s Tail Nintendo DS game and a Winter plush doll!

HOW TO ENTER

Send entries to:
Scholastic’s Meet Winter the Dolphin Contest
557 Broadway
New York, NY 10012

 
Each entry must include student’s name, age, and grade; teacher’s name; and school name, address, and phone number.

All entries must be received by November 30, 2009. Winners will be announced on or around December 14th. No purchase necessary. Open to legal residences of 50 United States and D.C. ages 6-14 as of November 30th 2009. Void where prohibited. Click here for complete contest rules.

I am super excited to partner with Yoplait Fiber One to run this giveaway.  In conjunction with the launching of their microsite, 50 readers of this blog will be rewarded with a coupon for a FREE four-pack of the new Yoplait Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt. All you need to do is sign up on the Fiber One mini microsite. Now, how cool is that!

Trust me, the Yoplait Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt is definitely a guilt-free, good-for-you snack for moms, in portion sizes, flavor variety and nutritional profiles perfect for kids! It’s also the only leading national nonfat yogurt with 50 calories and 5 grams of fiber. You can choose from  four flavors – Strawberry, Vanilla, Peach and Key Lime Pie. Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt also features a ‘Hungry Girl Seal of Approval’, the first nationally distributed yogurt to receive this endorsement.

Now, here’s your chance fo enjoy a tasty treat that is good for you and a snack your kids will enjoy, for FREE.  The first 50 readers to sign up via the microsite below will be sent a coupon for a FREE four-pack Yoplait Fiber One yogurt. You can also obtain useful weight management tips from best-selling author and food expert Lisa Lillien, a.k.a. Hungry Girl, additional product information about Fiber One yogurt as well as downloadable $1.00 off Fiber One yogurt coupon!

 This giveaway is made possible by Yoplait Fiber One who provided the information, product giveaways as well as coupons.

Home decorating can be a daunting task – from determining color palettes and wall hangings to appropriately mixing and matching older pieces with new, it’s easy to get overwhelmed! It’s for this reason that Deborah Needleman, founding editor of Domino Magazine, created the HomeGoods StyleScope, a simple interactive tool that provides a customized style (like Bohemian Classic, Earthy Modern or Dramatic Eclectic) as well as tips to put that style to use.

The StyleScope, which lives online at http://www.homegoods.com/index.asp, is an invaluable tool for those who want to find their own style, and escape from the overly prescriptive home décor options of major stores. Everyone needs a bed, a sofa, a table, but it’s that last 10% that really turns a house into a home – this quick online quiz is designed to help all of us (myself included!) who love stylish home décor but don’t know how to incorporate specific trends or styles into our own homes.

Additionally, to make this a little sweeter, especially in our current economic climate, for the remainder of the summer, those who take the HomeGoods StyleScope can enter for a chance to win a weekly $5,000 shopping spree or a daily gift card giveaway to HomeGoods. If you’re new to the brand, HomeGoods truly has something for everyone – at prices 20-60% less than department or specialty stores. Providing in-season top quality designer and brand name home fashions and accessories, including unique, one-of-a-kind pieces for every style and every room in the house, it’s easy to decorate in your style at HomeGoods.

Since text voting results are one factor in determining the contest’s winner, you now have the opportunity to help one of the finalists win by text messaging your vote for your favorite product! Text in your vote by June 26 at midnight (CDT). Standard text messaging rates apply, voters may submit votes daily, and voting is open to all mobile carriers.  

The finalists are…

• BibBaby- BibBaby, a bib that extends to and across the lap, was designed with mommies in mind! With a strong snap in the back, the bib is not easily torn off keeping your baby clean. To vote for BibBaby text “Big 1” to 839863.
• EZ Off BBQ Tools- EZ Off BBQ Tools are a set of utensils that were designed to rid you of the hassle of barbecuing by easily removing the food from the BBQ Tools. With this creation, there is no need to dirty extra utensils and your hands stay away from the fire. To vote for EZ Off BBQ Tools text “Big 2” to 839863.
• Freedom Gates- Your beautifully decorated home does not have to be spoiled with bulky, unattractive dog gates when you add a pet to your family! Freedom Gates offer a stylish alternative with its durable, clear, acrylic panels, and unique designed screens. To vote for Freedom Gates text “Big 3” to 839863.

For more details of contests, please click here and here.

Congratulations to

ilja and Kim

 for winning a copy of

The Purpose of Boys each

Please claim your prize by verifying your email address using the Contact Form here. If any of the prizes remain unclaimed by 5th June 2009, I will be doing a replacement draw.

Thank you to everyone who participated

 GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

THE PURPOSE OF BOYS is the final volume in Michael Gurian’s trilogy on boys development. In this book, Gurian presents a tool kit for parents who want to discover how to inspire the ultimate fulfillment of their son’s life. As he explains, “purpose” is vital for the success and happiness of every boy.

THE PURPOSE OF BOYS outlines a map parents can use to help their own sons wrestle with everyday life events and growth. And the book serves as a model to help all our sons seek a successful future, while still boys, adolescents, and young men.

The Purpose of Boys could not have arrived at a better time as lately, I’ve come to terms that my parenting techniques  were not working with my 9 year old son. It could be also that I am not communicating effectively with him.  When reprimanded, my son would appear to be remorseful as well as understand what I’m saying but the next minute, he would be repeating the same mischief again. Every now and then, I can hear myself repeating “Back then when I was your age, I was never like that!” .

After reading this insightful book,I learnt from Gurian that it was unfair to make such comparison - “Back then” was close to 3 decades ago and “Now” was a totally different generation where children at a young age, are more exposed to electronic media, educational levels are higher, there are more pressure from society to succeed, etc.

I found some solace  in the fact that studies have proven - Apart from the difference in biological aspects, there are also neurological differences between boys and girls. In other words, a boy’s body and brains are wired differently. Now, that REALLY explains why my kids react differently to my parenting styles. 

Gurian asserts that it is important for boys to find their sense of purpose. Otherwise, they will lose their sense of direction and eventually turn to unhealthy activities such as dropping out from school, turning to drugs, alcohol, gang violence and more. The author recommends utilizing a rite of passage system where parents can join together with other adults—leaders, mentors, coaches—and such institutions as schools and churches, to help boys refocus and get back on track.

My take on the book : Gurian points out that today’s adolescent males are scared, confused and insecure, calls for a change in the way the rest of the world view boys and he offers solutions!  This book gives me so much insight into how I could relate with my 9 year old son. Anyone (especially parents) who is thoughtful about raising sons and committed to doing the best job possible should take a good look at this book!

WIN IT : I’m giving away a copy of The Purpose of Boys to two lucky readers. Check out how you can win:

• Single mandatory entry – Visit The Gurian Institute and tell me one fact about Micheal Gurian
• Three additional entries – If you tweet about this giveaway (please leave your twitter id)
• Three additional entries – If you blog about this giveaway and link it to this post. Please leave your post url
• This giveaway is open to all destination that the USPS ships to.
• Giveaway closes on 28th May 2009 and winners will be drawn using the Random.org.