I’ll let this picture speak for itself.  Can you find our sweet Little AG in there somewhere?  It’s almost like playing Where’s Waldo – but she’s much cuter!  Of course, I’m biased.

What an all around great day.  Tomorrow it’s back to the healthy food, clean house, and normal routine – but for now I still have 32 more minutes of Christmas, so I’ll enjoy what’s left.  Merry Christmas!

Any Chic Chick out there knows that the key to the hosting the perfect Holiday party is to be an excellent hostess.  Gracious and welcoming, the perfect hostess welcomes guests to her sparkling clean home, wearing a perfect outfit, looking rested and perfectly groomed.  Unless you’re me, that is.  I’m usually running around until the last minute, mascara wand in one hand, vacuum cleaner in the other.  I might look put together when I open the door, but really, I’m a complete wreck! 

No matter your entertaining style (calm, or crazy) you can look fabulous when you’re wearing an apron from The Hip Hostess.  Check out their new adorable Christmas patterns!

Aren’t they sweet?  And Little AG would look adorable if she and mommy were wearing matching Christmas aprons when we do our baking on Christmas Eve!  Not a Christmas “baker”?  There are lots of other awesome, and very stylish aprons at The Hip Hostess!  Check out their gorgeous Demi Style Aprons in tons of great patterns:

And in case you like the full length apron (a necessity if I am going to take on any task in the kitchen!) you’ll love the sweete Sheath Style Aprons!

Would you like one of these amazing aprons from The Hip Hostess?  Use promo code CHIC (important that it’s all caps) for 15% off of your order!

Win it!  You can win the apron of your choice from the Hip Hostess!  To enter, follow the easy peasy rules below!

• Visit the Hip Hostess and tell me which style and pattern you would choose if you were to win!
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• • Blog about this giveaway and link back here and to The Hip Hostess. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 26th, 2008.

I grew up with a father who loved cars — working on them, driving them, even watching them race around a track.  I suppose it was inevitable that I would develop a love of things that “go”, but as a girl, it was oftentimes hard to find toys that would do so and ones that were simultaneously “girly” enough.  When I saw the My Little Pony Scootaloo RC On The Go (included in my 2008 Holiday Gift Guide for Kids) I immediately started gushing about how I would have loved to have something like that when I was a little girl.  Little AG will have her turn with the RC Scootaloo this Christmas, and thanks to Hasbro, your little girl will have her turn too!

Hasbro Toys has generously offered one lucky Chic Shopper Chick reader the chance to win a RC Scootaloo on the Go of their very own, or to give as a gift!  To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Tell me what toy you always wanted as a child.  Also, tell me who this would be for!  (Must have both to qualify!)
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• • Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 22nd, 2008.

]]> http://www.chicshopperchick.com/2008/12/my-little-pony-rc-scootaloo-a-giveaway.html/feed 275 http://www.chicshopperchick.com/2008/12/fiddle-your-photos-with-photofiddle-a-giveaway.html http://www.chicshopperchick.com/2008/12/fiddle-your-photos-with-photofiddle-a-giveaway.html#comments Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:00:22 +0000 Erika http://www.chicshopperchick.com/?p=912

I take lots of pictures.  I love photography, and almost everyone in my family seems to have an eye for taking good pictures.  We took over 10,000 pictures of Little AG in her first year alone, to give you an idea of what a photo-maniac I am.  On a typical vacation I will come home with hundreds of photos, oftentimes between 300-500 of them.  However, most of those photos, no matter how great they are, sit in iPhoto until I get the urge to make a Photo Book with them, or print them and make a scrapbook.

Recently I had the opportunity to try out Photofiddle — and they took a picture of me, Little AG, and hubby and quite literally turned it into a work of art!  I’m particularly a fan of this picture because a) Little AG is smiling.  At the camera.  Without squinting. b)  I don’t look particularly like a troll.  c)  It was taken at my favorite place on earth – Paris.  The photo is of the three of us, standing on the second level of the Eiffel Tower, with the city of Paris behind us.  C’est parfait.

Here is our initial photo, before it was fiddled.

They actually gave me tons of options — some looked like a Charcoal Sketch, some looked like a Comic Book, and some looked like an Andy Warhol Painting.  But we chose the Soft Pastel look in the end, because, well, it was our favorite!

And now, after it was fiddled, here it is hanging on my wall:

Cool, right?  Here is a little background on Photofiddle: The Photofiddle.com site went online in June 2004 and not too long after the launch it received a bit of press from the Washington Post, USA Today, PC Magazine & more.  The Washington Post called them “buzz worthy” and PC Mag rated us 4 out of 5 stars.  What really put Photofiddle.com on the map was  when Oprah put them on the O list in 2006.  More recently, the Today Show picked Photofiddle.com  as a great DIY decorating idea, the CBS Early Show featured them as a best Mother’s Day gift idea, and the New York Times editor wrote a great article including Photofiddle.com.  Pretty impressive!

Photofiddle.com comes highly recommended by me, and I think it is one of the greatest gifts that you can give, be it now for the Holiday Season or a special occasion in the future.  Heck, even if you don’t need a gift — it’s a great choice just to decorate your house with some of those photos that might otherwise just be hanging around!

Win it! You can win a $50 Gift Certificate to Photofiddle to start creating your very own works of art.  To enter, just follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Visit the Photofiddle Site and tell me which design you would choose if you were able to “fiddle” one of your photos.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• • Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 22nd, 2008.

In case you can’t tell — I love movies.  My first ever job was at a movie theater and I started work on the day that I turned 15 — the first time I could legally work.  I at a lot of popcorn and M&M’s in my day, and I watched a lot of movies.  It was the perfect high school job — everyone went to the movies, so I could be social and make money at the same time.  I guess this love of movies (and of being social) has carried over to my adult life and my blog, hence the reason I am always sharing the latest movie and DVD releases with you!

You can return to the magical world of Narnia in the second installment of C.S. Lewis’ timeless epic The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian which was released on DVD on December 2nd, and it’s a must-own!  It is available on DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Def, as well as a special two-disc Collectors Edition perfect for holiday giving. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian packaging also includes a special DisneyFile, a digital copy of the movie that can be viewed on a variety of portable devices for the whole family to enjoy anytime, anywhere.  I recently loaded Wall-E onto my MacBook and watched it from the comfort of my bedroom while I was waiting for my hubby to get home.  DigitalFile is a huge plus, in my opinion!

According to the press release, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian features even more groundbreaking special effects and breathtaking action than its predecessor. William Moseley, Georgie Henley, Anna Popplewell and Skandar Keynes return as Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy, the Pevensie siblings, along with Academy Award® nominee Liam Neeson ( one of my ultimate favorite actors and a 1993 nominee for Best Actor, Schindler’s List) as Aslan the Lion and Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton (2008 winner for Best Supporting Actress, Michael Clayton) as the White Witch. They are joined by Ben Barnes (Stardust) as Caspian, heir to the Narnian throne, with Sergio Castellitto (Arthur and the Invisibles), Eddie Izzard (FX: The Riches), Warwick Davis (the Harry Potter films) and Peter Dinklage (The Station Agent) appearing as new residents of Narnia.  Whew!  That is quite the cast!

In The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the Pevensie children face a perilous mission and a greater test of their faith and courage. They find a world in which 1,300 years have passed. The White Witch is gone, the realm is ruled by a cruel tyrant and Aslan has been missing for over a thousand years. The four children embark on a remarkable journey to restore magic and glory to the land. Accompanied by Trumpkin, a valiant dwarf, Reepicheep the talking mouse and a suspicious Black Dwarf named Nikabrik, they raise an army of Narnians to rise up against the evil king Miraz.  Check out a clip from the movie below!

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, is now on DVD, Special Collectors Edition DVD, and Blu-Ray on Amazon — you have 4 days left to order things in time for Christmas while still qualifying for Free Shipping, so check it out!  If you have other Amazon shopping needs, please search for them through the search box in my sidebar – doing so will help to support this site!

There aren’t many things in the world that compares to the bond between women. A great friend can feellike a sister: someone to share secrets with, laugh with over embarrassing moments, or turn to for support. Growing up I didn’t have any siblings, though now I have 2 wonderful sisters and a  great sister-in-law, but I had always relied on friends to step in where a sister would have been! Kate Jacobs first novel, The Friday Night Knitting Club, earned rave reviews because of it’s true understanding of this bond. The Sequel. Knit Two, is also really powerful, as it brings us back into the lives of the original characters five years after the first book left off. This time, 18-year-old Dakota runs her mother’s knitting store part-time with the help of the knitting club. With a focus on the challenges, joys, and friendships of these characters, this book is a powerful read for any woman.

I didn’t read the first novel, but after I finished the second one, I’m going to go out and buy the first one to fill in the blanks (hey, a lot of good movies were made that way!).  The book was excellent, and even though I hadn’t read the first one, I was able to keep up and get really involved in the characters.  If you are looking for a good read this Holiday Season on your break from work or a great gift for a girlfriend this would be an excellent choice!  You can read more about the author, Kate Jacobs, as well as purchase Knit Two on her website.

Knit Two

Paramount Home Entertainment has completely simplified gift-giving for you last minute Holiday Shoppers!  With their wrapped and ready DVDs, you have 3 great options for gifts for this year, including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Iron Man, and Kung Fu Panda.  They come wrapped in adorable paper (that doesn’t give anything away) with a removable cardboard sleeve over the top.  When you are ready to “gift it” you can just take the sleeve off, stick a bow on it, and you’re ready to go!

You can order them now on Amazon, or, if you freak out on Christmas Eve and remember that you forgot to get a gift for someone, you can always stop by the store and grab one — you won’t need anything else!  I’m giving hubby his copy of Indiana Jones this year already wrapped and ready – it will be perfect for his stocking, and it saves me time wrapping gifts (because frankly, it’s a daunting task with a 22 month old wanting to “help”.)   What gifts do you wish were already wrapped for you?

When Little AG was little we had one of those stuffed animals that responded when you pushed on its paws, etc.  It was cool for our purposes at the time (to stop the screaming and crying) but as she got older she quickly lost interest because it was very limited in the activities it could do and songs it sang.  We all got sick of the ABC’s.  My other complaint was that it was very hard because of the battery pack and operating mechanisms, which isn’t the best for a toddler or baby.  That toy got a new home a while back, but we recently had the opportunity to review the Smart-e-Bear (ok, we actually have the Smart-e-Dog) which is similar in style to the aforementioned toy, but way cooler for older kids.

First of all, when we took it out of the box I was all but doing a happy dance at how soft our Smart-e-Dog was!  No hard battery packs, and I actually had to squeeze the thing a few times to really understand it.  I couldn’t believe the level of interaction that our Smart-E-Dog was capable of all the while still being so very squishy.  Little AG immediately took it in her arms and fell onto the ground to give it a big Bear (Dog?) hug and started barking at him (yes, we just make animal noises in our house).  Then, she discovered he could actually “play” with her.  We played a few rounds of Simon Says, right out of the box, before we were able to even attempt to personalize it any further.  Yes, you read that right — you can personalize your Smart-e-Bear to fit your child.  That means, if you are all IF I HEAR ONE MORE ROUND OF ABCs I MIGHT JUST JUMP OUT THE WINDOW like I was then you can simply CHANGE it and add something different!  Do you hear angels singing?  I know I did.

Our Smart-E-Dog came with his very own USB cable so that we could plug him into our computer to personalize him.  I kinda felt like I was setting up a really, really puffy iPod.  We did have to register and download the software, but it was free, and very very simple (read: easy to do at 2 am Christmas morning!).  Now our Smart-E-Dog actually says Little AG’s name, which she basically thinks is hilarious.  Every time he says it, she looks at us like “Did you hear this guy?  He totally just said my name!”  We like that.  The Smart-E-Bear software works kinda like iTunes — there are lots of great options.  However, some options come with the bear, others you can purchase for 99 cents – which really is a steal in my opinion — because it means that it will be quite a while before Little AG outgrows this guy.  In some ways, the toy can always be  new!

Oh, and did I mention that the Smart-E-Dog will work with headphones?  Yes, so even if you are sick of playing Simon Says, you won’t be tempted to hide him under a bed somewhere.  I’m also thinking that this little guy will be great for longer car rides and flights.  You can try out the Smart-e-Bear, Smart-e-Dog, or Smart-e-Cat online before you buy to see what you think, and I have to tell you that it’s identical to what our dog does, so it will really give you a good feel for what you’re getting yourself into.  The perfect Christmas Gift for anyone ages 2-6 on your list! Oh, and I forgot the BIG plus for us — he will be able to speak French very soon — great for Little AG who is learning both English and French.

You can buy these awesome little guys on Amazon — the Smart-e-Dog is currently $81.43, the Smart-e-Cat is currently $73.81, but best of all, the original Smart-e-Bear is majorly on sale for $43.99!  I know it can seem pricey, but I really think that the longevity of this toy will impress you, and you will definitely get your money’s worth.  I would buy another one in a heartbeat.

Would you like to win a Smart-e-Bear, Smart-e-Dog, or Smart-e-Cat for a kiddo in your life?  Follow the easy-peasy instructions below and they just might find one under the tree!

• Visit the Smart E Bear website and then come back here tell me your favorite feature of these little guys!
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
• • Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 14th, 2008.

I have always loved the book “Horton Hears A Who” by Dr. Seuss, because of it’s inspiring and uplifting message.  In case you are scratching your head thinking “Um, Dr. Seuss, inspirational?” you can take my word for it, I’m not confused.  My favorite line of all time is “A person is a person, no matter how small.”  For that reason, I could not wait to see it in theaters!  Unfortunately, I missed it at the theater, but this week I got a sneak preview of the DVD!  Horton is a lovable (and oftentimes absurd but in a good way) elephant, given his voice by Jim Carey, who is 100% faithful to all who need him!  The DVD and Blu-Ray Disc, to be released December 9th, are loaded with bonus features, big and small, including commentary with directors Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, eight featurettes, exclusive deleted footage and the debut of the Ice Age short “Surviving Sid.”

Horton hears a cry for help from a speck of dust, and spends his time trying to protect the tiny creatures who live on it (the inhabitants of Whoville).  Meanwhile, the other animals in the forest think their favorite pachyderm friend has lost it. Matters just get worse when the clover that Whoville is on is picked up and carried away by a Eagle!  This movie is really so fantastic, and we all loved it, from start to finish!

You can pre-order your copy of Horton Hears A Who! on DVD or Blu Ray Disc right now on Amazon!  It would make a great stocking stuffer for anyone in your family!

Win it! I have 2 copies of Horton Hears A Who to give away to 2 lucky Chic Shopper Chick readers.  Each winner will also receive a pair of these adorable Horton ears!  To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Leave a comment here telling me why you’d like to win.  A little effort please, no “Enter me” or “I wanna win” type of entries will be accepted.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
  
• • Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 14th, 2008.

A while back I “met” this awesome girl on twitter — Anna Sabino.  Not long after that I got the opportunity to meet her in Las Vegas at Blog World Expo, and she was quite possibly one of the sweetest people I have ever met in my life!  I’m so glad to call her a “real life” friend now as well!  In addition to being a very cool person, Anna is quite talented and has her own line of handmade jewelry, called Lucid New York.  Her pieces are amazing — check out a few of my favorites!

I love this purple cocktail ring, recently featured in the Marie Claire Holiday Gift Guide!  Purple is THE color this season, and I want to order one of these for myself as soon as I can!

This is the signature piece of Lucid New York and one that I own (and wear) all the time!  I get compliments on it wherever I go!  I usually wear it doubled because it’s really long, but I love it!

I also really, really love this gorgeous Topaz Charm necklace, it is so feminine and delicate!   Lucky for you, you have a chance to win one for yourself!

I am fascinated and inspired by Anna and the work that she has done.  She told me that she got her start by blowing glass, and then she eventually started working with metals 5 years ago.  She said “I create always having my client in mind making sure the pieces are wearable and comfortable.  So thin, elegant and lucid, they’re great for layering.”  I can attest to the fact that they really are all of those things and more — her line, her taste for style, it’s all quite classy.

Different things drive us all, and artists are always inspired by different things.  I asked Anna what inspired her, what drove her to create the pieces that she has.  She said, “I get inspired by clothes, as I treat a piece of jewelry as a part of the whole, love the idea of simplicity.  Living in Soho in Manhattan and being surrounded by everything urban and trendy boosts my creativity.”

Lastly, I asked Anna for some of her personal favorite pieces, or pieces that are dear to her heart.  She told me that she “loves the signature necklace because if it’s elegant simplicity.  I love heart with wings charm necklace for its playful, urban look.  My bestselling charm necklace is wishbone – everyone needs some luck.” and lastly, “The hottest item this season is the purple flower cocktail ring!”

Win it! One lucky CSC reader will be sporting the Topaz Crystal Charm necklace on a 14K gold filled chain, thanks to Anna who has generously offered it to us to giveaway!  To enter, follow the easy-peasy rules below!

• Visit Lucid New York and browse around.  Come back here and tell me which of the pieces not already mentioned here is your favorite.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
  
• • Blog about this giveaway and link back here and to Lucid New York. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Follow me on Twitter and Follow Anna on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.
  • Stumble Lucid New York (http://shop.lucidnewyork.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 13th, 2008.

Ok, I’ve already ranted and raved over my extreme love for it in my Christmas Gift Guide for kids, but it’s worth another mention here:  one of my favorite picks for Christmas this year is, beyond a doubt, the Cherry Blossom Market. We have one of these at my house (I just couldn’t wait until Christmas to give it to Little AG – it looked like so much fun!) and it has been a fun activity for us daily since we broke open the box.  Speaking of opening the box, it was very easy to put together, though I did take the time to read the instructions for once (rather out of character for me!) but it was in one piece in a flash (when I saw the small box I was slightly worried).  The fabric that it is made out of seems easy enough to wipe clean, and at the most, needs a sponge with some warm, soapy water on it.

And really, what little girl doesn’t dream of owning her own little store!  Now they can with the Cherry Blossom Market from Playskool — perfect for those of us who want to give our little ones a playhouse of their own, but with limited space.  A smaller addition to the Dream Town collection (we also love the Rose Petal Cottage, but it’s twice the size, therefore it would take up twice the amount of room in my house!) this sweet and playful market will not disappoint!  I love the beautiful fabric walls of the Playskool Cherry Blossom Market — one side is adorned with flowers and the other functions as the inside of the market itself.  Little AG especially loves “serving” mommy outside of the walk-up window or helping me to pick out some fresh produce at the Cherry Blossom Market Produce Stand.  When we’re finished, we sit down and enjoy some special Scoop ‘N Smile Ice Cream!  Oh, and did I mention it comes with a cash register and even some play money?  We love it!

I am confident that your little grocers will love this toy as much as we do, and they would love to find this from Santa Claus come Christmas morning!  It’s on sale at Amazon right now (link above) for only $35.99 (and free shipping!) which I feel like is one of the best deals that you can possibly get this Holiday Season!

Even better, would you like to win a Cherry Blossom Market to give as a gift?  Follow the easy-peasy rules below and you could be playing “shop” on Christmas morning!

• Leave a comment here telling me why you’d like to win.  A little effort please, no “Enter me” or “I wanna win” type of entries will be accepted.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
  
• • Blog about this giveaway and link back here. Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Visit my friends Kristin at An Ordinary Life and Christine at From Dates to Diapers and leave them each a comment.  Come back here and leave two comments to let me know you did so.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Subscribe to my RSS feed via email or in a reader and tell me about it in a separate comment.
  • Stumble my main webpage (www.chicshopperchick.com) and leave me your Stumble Upon name in a separate comment.
  • Add me to your blog roll. Not just my button in your sidebar, I’d love to be on your blog roll! Let me know about it in a separate comment!

That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 12th, 2008.

The Holidays are here!  That means the 4 f’s — fun, family, friends, and FOOD!  Yum!  The food.  Why is it that Holiday food always tastes better than food at any other time of the year?  One of my personal favorites are those yummy little meatballs that are the ubiquitous party food.  I can’t help it — a food I wouldn’t normally eat is something I love during the Holiday Season.

Well, Heinz and Ocean Spray have teamed up to make a great, easy recipe for this delicious party-time Holiday food. Their Ultimate Party Meatball recipe comes together with two steps and only three ingredients, perfect for a quick party appetizer or to throw together when unexpected guests show up on your doorstep. You can also check out their Ultimate Party Meatball website filled with additional recipes, entertaining tips, and a sweepstakes with a grand prize of $3,000 to throw the ultimate party (do you know how awesome my decorations would be?!).

Thanks to Mom Central, I got a chance to try out the recipe last week and it will NOT disappoint you!  It was really yummy, very simple to make, and was a huge hit.  It’s something great and easy to whip together for the Holidays that has a bit of a different twist on the traditional! Enjoy!

This is seriously my favorite time of the year.  As I sit here typing this, Andy Williams is singing “Let it Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” on my Sirius music Channel on my TV, a fire is crackling in our fireplace, and our Christmas tree is sparkling with color and decorated with some very special ornaments that make me smile when I pass, because each one tells a story.  My other favorite part of the season is finding the perfect gifts, wrapping them with care, and seeing the faces of my loved ones as they open the gifts that I have so carefully chosen for them.

Well, I have certainly come to love an appreciate you, my readers, and because of that, I want to give you a very special gift as well!  HP has generously offered one Chic Shopper Chick reader the chance to win a HP C4599 All-In-One Printer (Print, Scan, Fax), worth $150.  Wouldn’t you love to have this for yourself or give this to someone for Christmas this year?  Here are some details about this awesome printer, and then the details below that on how you can win!

• It can wirelessly print, scan, and fax your documents for you by connecting to your network.
• Use memory cards to share photos and documents with other computers on the network, including both Macs and PCs.
• Prints lab-quality photos and sharp black text on documents.
• 1.5 inch color display allows you to print photos without a computer!
• Optional 6-ink color system creates crisper photos and more natural skin tones.
• Edit, share, and print photos with accompanying photo software.
• Prints up to 30 pages per minute (23 in color).

Those are just some of the benefits of this awesome printer!  To win one of your very own, follow the easy-peasy rules below!  Oh, and Happy Holidays!

• Leave a comment here telling me why you’d like to win.  A little effort please, no “Enter me” or “I wanna win” type entries will be accepted.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
  
• • Visit my friends Kristin at An Ordinary Life and Christine at From Dates to Diapers and leave them each a comment.  Come back here and leave two comments to let me know you did so.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
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That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 10th, 2008.

Welcome to Day 4 of the Chic Shopper Chick Gift Guide!  Today we are going to focus on Kids and Baby stuff — but don’t forget to check out the other great items we’ve discussed so far!  Day One was all about Holiday Traditions, Day Two was about Entertaining and Hostess Gifts, and Day Three was all about finding the perfect Stocking Stuffers!  Today is about one of my favorites — things for kids!  Let’s jump in to some of my new faves for this Holiday, in no particular order!

Green Toys Tea Set – I am so so so so (did I mention so?) in love with this Tea Set from Green Toys!  Made entirely of recycled milk jugs, it makes me feel good to give Little AG something fun to play with that also supports the earth.  Check out my full review on the Green Toys Tea Set – I know you will love it too!  You can buy the Green Toys Tea Set from Amazon for just under 25 bucks, or if tea isn’t your thing, check out the Green Toys Cookware and Dining Set which might be a little more gender-neutral.  Stay tuned for a giveaway of the Green Toys Tea Set coming up really soon!

2008 Holiday Barbie – I couldn’t resist adding in this timeless classic to my guide this year.  A collectors item in her own right, the 2008 Holiday™ Barbie® Doll is gorgeous!  Not to mention, this is the 20th anniversary Holiday Barbie, so she is looking especially fantastic!  I especially love her gorgeous earrings, and if they weren’t Barbie-sized, I might snatch them for wear myself!  Barbie is decked out to look like a delicate snowflake, and I know when you see her you won’t be disappointed!

Water Babies – They’re back, and I swear they feel JUST like the real thing (ok, not JUST like it, but still, wow)!  If you remember the Water Babies from long ago, you won’t be disappointed.  Even I think that they are pretty darn cool, and well, I have a real baby and have no need for a baby doll.  However, Little AG started pointing and saying “BAAAAYYY BEEEE” the minute she saw it!  They Water Babies come in two sizes, 9 inch Water Baby and the 13 inch Water Baby.  They even come with a funnel to make filling easy, as well as a teddy bear, storybook, diaper, and bottle!

Hyper Dash – New for this season from Wild Planet, I am loving this awesome game.  Designed to keep kids moving and on their feet, Hyper Dash will have your kids running all over the place (in an organized matter) in no time!  The “tagger” is hand held, and calls out voice commands to the players to “tag” the targets that have certain numbers and colors.  One of my favorite parts about Wild Planet’s Hyper Dash is that your kids can play solo or compete against their friends (or you!) to get the highest score!  If the single tagger isn’t enough — you can always go for the Hyper Dash Double Dash that includes 2 taggers!

Barbie Care N Cure Wildlife Doctor – It has Barbie in the name, but there is really no Barbie involved at all!  This stuffed animal lights up in different areas that teach the child about the animals health, and responds to feeding, touch, care, etc.  With Little AG loving animals as much as she does, this was a must-buy for Christmas this year!  It’s also a great way to teach your kids about protecting and caring for Endangered Animals.  My favorite is the “Snow Leopard” Barbie Care ‘N Cure Wildlife Doctor – but you can also choose a Koala Bear or Polar Bear.

Rhino Rampage Game – This fun but simple game has players stacking up little birds with the goal of reaching the Rhino’s back.  You’ve go to be careful though, because you never know when the Rhino will go on a rampage!  (Ok, it’s really when you roll the Rhino on the dice and the player pulls the Rhino’s tail, but that didn’t sound nearly as cool!)  This game is simple enough for everyone to play, but a whole lot of fun for kids of all ages as well!  Little AG loves pulling the Rhino’s tail in this lots-o-fun Rhino Rampage Game!

Girl Tech Stylin’ Studio – This really really cool toy from Mattel makes me wish they had such a thing when I was a little girl, because I know I would have LOVED it!  (Seriously, I was the makeup and makeover queen!)  The Girl Tech Stylin Studio however, allows girls to create a digital makeover — meaning no messy makeup and lipstick fiascoes are in your future with this nifty gadget!  The Stylin’ Studio comes equipped with a touch pad and a built-in digital camera, so it makes things easy because everything you need is in one place!  My niece is getting one of these for Christmas and I know she is just going to love it!

Scene it?  Disney Channel Edition – Our new favorite channel here at home is the Disney channel (funny how quickly things change, isn’t it?) and this fun DVD game is a gem!  It has hundreds of trivia questions that will keep you on your toes for all things Disney Channel!  You can play fun games like spotting the difference between two difference scenes, identifying theme songs from ringtones and a bunch of other cool stuff!  If your kids love the Disney Channel, they’ll love playing the Scene It? Disney Channel Edition.

Imagination Movers:  Juice Box Heroes – This show on Playhouse Disney has quickly become a favorite in my house.  I have to admit that it’s my TV show of choice, mainly because I enjoy these very talented and fun guys and their awesome music as much as Little AG does.  This is the first CD that the Imagination Movers have released in cooperation with Disney (there were others prior to the Disney partnership) and it is some of their best music, tweaked and better than ever.  I can’t wait for Santa to bring this to Little AG this year, I know she is going to love it.  This is one CD that, when she gets out of the car, I will leave playing.  You can pick up a copy of Imagination Movers: Juice Box Heroes on Amazon.

Animal Scramble – Another home run from Wild Planet, this game works in a similar manner to Hyper Dash.  The base (the giraffe) calls out an animal (four choices — a monkey, parrot, tiger and elephant) and the child scrambles around the room to “tag” that animal with the giraffe.  Then, you are given the amount of time it took you to tag all four – with the idea being that you beat your time.  It also has options for team play, and the giraffe tells you when it should be passed to the next player.  However, this is another great activity that kids can play by themselves while still being active, which I love.  Wild Planet Animal Scramble even has a hide and seek feature, which is a lot of fun!  On sale on Amazon for 19.99.

Cherry Blossom Market – A part of the Playskool Dream Town collection, the Cherry Blossom Market is a great alternative to the much bigger Rose Petal Cottage (or the Rose Petal Cottage Mega Pack that comes complete with all the accessories one could ever even dream of!) for those of us that have limited play-space in our houses.  Little AG already loves to “help” mommy at the grocery store, so this is really quite perfect for her.  Don’t forget the accompanying accessories, like the Cherry Blossom Market Produce Stand, or the Scoop ‘N Smile Ice Cream Set.  Read my complete review of the Playskool Cherry Blossom Market and while you’re there, don’t forget to enter to win one too!

My Little Pony Scootaloo RC on the Go – For girls, this is a great “girly” alternative to the Remote Controlled Car.  Even the remote is shaped like a Butterfly!  The My Little Pony theme will bring back memories for little girls and their mothers!  I personally really love this toy — it works on carpet (which is good for snow/rain days) but works even better on our hard kitchen floor.  The remote control has three big buttons which are great for little hands, and Little AG quickly figured out what each one did (including the horn!).  I’m already a fan of the My Little Pony Scootaloo RC On The Go, and so is Little AG.

Fisher Price Kid Tough DVD Player – This SAVED my life last weekend!  We traveled 5 hours for my dad’s 50th Birthday party and this made the journey so much more bearable!  Bring a few of your kiddo’s favorite DVD’s and they can take this anywhere you go.  We travel a lot, so I can already foresee that it will get TONS of use (seriously, TONS).  Plus, it really does hold up to it’s name — Kid Tough.  It is build to survive drop after drop, which is nice because you don’t have to run behind them making sure nothing happens!  It has a 3.2 inch color screen and rechargable batteries that hang in there for a full two hours!  My favorite features:  the two big handles (for little hands!), kickstand in case they want to stand it up somewhere and not hold it in their laps, and the headphone jack.  Because the whole plane full of people does not want to hear the theme song for “My Friends Tigger and Pooh” over and over again.  You have two choices — to buy the Fisher-Price Kid Tough Portable DVD Player (in Blue) or you can opt for the Fisher-Price Kid Tough Portable DVD Player (In Pink).  Don’t forget to get the Kid-Tough DVD Player On-the-Go Kit (which includes a car charger for those long car rides) and the matching DVD Player Case in Blue or DVD Player Case in Pink!

Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Smart Bounce & Spin Pony – With the exception of the really long title this is actually a really cool interactive toy for toddlers.  You set up the Pony with a wireless receiver and your toddler (12-24 months) can bounce and spin on the Pony to make actions happen on the screen.  You can choose levels of difficulty, so that the youngest of kids will learn about cause and effect (they bounce, the animal on the screen moves) and the older children can learn things like the alphabet and numbers.  The Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Bounce & Spin Pony has 5 different learning sites:  A to Z Zoo; Count & Grow Farm; Colorful Home; Shapes at Shore; and Opposites Playground.  Bonus:  the toy works without being connected to a TV.  If you choose the stand alone option the Pony still plays music and interacts with your child!

Jeep 2-in-1 Baby Carrier — Even the smallest ones on your Christmas list need a gift, and what a better gift than something that will benefit both mom and baby?  I love the Jeep 2-in-1 Baby Carrier because it holds infants from 8 – 26 lbs, and Little AG was a big girl so I needed something that could support her even as she reached the upper end of that spectrum.  One of my favorite features is the roll-up mesh front which allows the air to circulate and kept Little AG cool in the stifling Louisiana heat.  I also love how the indicator on the latches turn red when they are snapped into place correctly, because it alleviated all stress that I felt about her being secure.  It comes in a variety of colors, and the price (under $45 bucks!) is extremely reasonable , especially when you compare it to some of the other baby carriers.

European Sleep Sacks from Violet’s Peapod — Another suggestion for your little ones, check out the high-quality European style sleep sacks from Violet’s Peapod.  Little AG has slept in a sleep sack from her earliest days and still sleeps in one even as she approaches 2 years old.  It’s a great way to make sure they stay warm, and you don’t have to worry about blankets being loose in the crib, because it places babies at a higher risk for SIDS.  These sleep sacks are San Francisco-made, made of 100% natural fibers (cotton with a wool filling), and absolutely adorable and unique!

Karito Kids — I love these dolls from Karito Kids that allow your kids to give 3% of the purchase price back to the charity of their choice.  Not only are these dolls teaching kids about giving back, they are also teaching kids the importance of understanding and appreciating the differences between cultures.  You can choose a doll from Italy, Australia, the United States, Mexico, China, and Kenya.  Each doll comes with her very own story book, and you can also purchase additional clothing for them.  These full-sized dolls are pricey, but are extremely well made and will be loved for years, and passed down through the generations.

Furreal Friends Tumbles, My Rollover Pup — Little AG is facinated by “puppies” and has been for as long as I remember.  The FurReal Friends Roll Over Pup makes her squeal with delight.  It rolls over and back, while barking and making cute puppy noises.  She watches it roll over and cracks up laughing!  It’s better than your typical stuffed animal becuase it actually moves and reacts when you pet it on the tummy, and she looks surprised each and every time.  The mechanism inside of it makes it kind of hard, so it’s not an animal to take to bed at night, but it certainly serves its purpose as a really fun toy!  We love it, and it comes highly recommended!

Little Mommy Gotta Go Doll — Did you know that pretending to be an adult is crucial to a child’s early development?  This doll, meant for girls ages 3 and older, allows them to step into the “mommy” role to help the doll use the potty.  It even comes with a sink so that “mommy” can help her wash her hands afterward, and a toothbrush to brush her teeth (complete with tooth-brushing sounds!)!  My favorite part about this toy is that it doesn’t use any water to create the effect — meaning it is a mess-free toy, which goes a long way in our house!  It’s a fun toy that will interact with your child – the doll sings little songs and says fun phrases too.  The Little Mommy Gotta Go Doll is perfect for little girls who are at the potty training age.

Sing & Learn Musical Mic — This little mic is really cool.  On top of actually working to amplify your voice when you talk into it (I might know this because I played with it for 10 minutes while Little AG waited impatiently!) the Sing & Learn Musical Mic lets you choose from jazz, classical and rock ‘n roll style music.  Our favorite quality though (because remember, I have a child that is pretty obsessed with animals) is that it also features 12 animals and fun animal sounds. All you have to do is turn the ring on top of the mic to hear each sound.  Lots of fun, and a great toy for the car!

Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker — I love the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker so much that I’m giving this to my niece for Christmas.  The Cupcake Maker comes with four cupcake flavor mixes and frosting. The cupcake flavors include red velvet, chocolate, yellow, and cinnamon sugar and the frosting flavors include chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and cream cheese. The mixes only require water and you can bake them in the microwave!  It comes with everything you need, including a mixing bowl, measuring spoon, spatula and water dropper.  Our favorite part was actually frosting the cupcakes with perfect little swirls.  Pick up the Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker at Amazon where they are currently $10 off!  A great deal!

Face Off Frenzy — This really cool product for the Holiday Season is easy to put together and exceptionally quiet (with the exception of the squeals that will be coming from your kids!).  It requires no batteries, no electricity, and will work on carpet!  It’s like playing a little game of air hockey in your living room!  PowerBand Technology creates high-speed ricochet action without the need for air!  You will love it, and so will your kids! Face Off Frenzy is a great deal and is available for under $50 on Amazon!

Swaptop (Kitchen and Workbench) — These awesome, awesome toys are going to be the hit of Christmas this year!  The transformable Workbench or Kitchen also turns into a desk!  I love that it serves a dual purpose (especially when you are dealing with limited space as we are) and that kids will love playing with both.  When Little AG gets tired of the kitchen play, we quickly lower the top to create a desk and pull out one of the “drawers’ which becomes a little bench, and Voila! she is coloring quietly in no time.  It’s nice because it also has little drawers where we store her crayons and coloring books, and in the bottom are her teapots and “cookware”.   The one pictured here is the workbench swaptop, but if you click the link above you can see the kitchen too.

Zoobie Pets — A must-have for anyone traveling with a child!  A Zoobie Pet is a stuffed animal, a pillow, and a blanket all in one.  They are the most adorable things I have ever seen, and talk about mixing fun with function.  There are tons of different animals to choose from, and the detachable blankets have to be the SOFTEST things ever.  EVER.  Even I want to cuddle up with it, that is when Little AG isn’t shooting me curious looks for stealing it.  We have Tamara the Tortise in all of her full sized glory, and a Crocodile Zoobie Baby who is a smaller version, but with all of the same great perks.

Thanks for checking out my guide for Kids and Babies for Christmas 2008.  If you didn’t see what you were looking for above, please use the Amazon search box below to look around!  Don’t forget to check out From Dates to Diapers and An Ordinary Life to discover more great Christmas Gift ideas!

I have an confession to make:  I’m a choir girl.  Yes, yours truly, in all of my chic glory is actually a very good 2nd Soprano.  I have been singing in a choir for as long as I can remember — I think my earliest memory is the 4th grade, but it may have started even before that.  I sang all through high school and auditioned for the Women’s Chorale in college, and was the lone French major in a room full of Music majors.  It was a blast, I loved it.  A good piece of music in 4 part harmony is enough to make me swoon.

When I opened my copies of Il Divo’s “The Promise” and “The Christmas Collection” I immediately swooned.  And no, I hadn’t even put the CD in the CD player yet.  Il Divo means “Divine Male” in Italian and divine they are…I’m just sayin’.  Being a Christmas music fanatic I immediately put the Christmas CD in and started listening.  It’s the kind of music that gives you chills it’s so good and so moving.  When we pulled up at the doctors office, Little AG was playing the drums on her legs and when I turned off the car, she looked at me and raised up both of her palms and shoulders like “Hey mom, where did it go?”

Their new CD, The Promise doesn’t disappoint either.  My ultimate favorites are “La Luna” and “Amazing Grace”.  Just like I said above, the music will give you chills.  So, for all of you singers out there (or singers at heart!) these are must-have CD’s for your collection.  We haven’t stopped listening since we got them!

Win it! You can win your very own copies of The Promise and The Christmas Collection.  To enter, just follow the easy peasy rules below!

• Leave a comment here telling me why you’d like to win.  A little effort please, no “Enter me” or “I wanna win” type entries will be accepted.
  
• Earn extra credit! You may do these for extra entries.
  • Follow me on Twitter.  Tell me about it in a separate comment.
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That’s it! Good luck! Oh, and the official rules and legal jargon are below.

US entries only, winner will be chosen via random.org at the end of the contest. Winners are posted here and on Prizey Fetch, please leave a valid email address or blog address if you’d like to be contacted should you win. Winner has 72 hours to claim their prize. This contest ends at 11:59 pm CST on December 8th, 2008.