Warner Bros. is proud to announce the arrival of Jack the Giant Slayer released on DVD & Blu-ray on June 18!
 
Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing Jack (Nicholas Hoult), into the battle of this life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom, its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend… and he gets the chance to become a legend himself!  Directed by Brian Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns)

Starring: Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy), Ewan McGregor (Star Wars, Moulin Rouge!), and Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones).



Are you courageous enough to rescue the princess? Are you brave like Jack?  Take the quiz to find out!

 

 Win:

Enter to win a Jack the Giant Slayer Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Ultraviolet (open to US and Canada)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  The assets included within this message were delivered by Warner Bros. who I am working with. They will be providing the prize to the winner.

Welcome to the 2nd annual Summer Solstice Giveaway Hop hosted by MamaNYC!

We’re going to kick off summer with a bang, so break out your summer clothes, boogie boards and beach balls. It’s time to celebrate the season with a giveaway hop!

This event begins on June 21st and will run until June 30th at 11:59PM (est). Have fun as you hop down the linky list for many more chances to win from other cool bloggers! Good luck and Happy Summer!

Here at Strange Daze Indeed, I thought it would be nice to have you pick out whatever you’d like by giving you a $25 gift card to Walmart! I am always popping in there and they have just about everything. It can also be used online at Walmart.com if you’re not that close to one.

This is a plastic Walmart gc not an eGift card.

You can use a Walmart plastic Gift Card at:

• Walmart.com 
• Any Walmart store
• Walmart gas stations
• Sam’s Club stores
• Samsclub.com

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

I care about my dishes. I use a dishwasher for convenience, but it’s really important to me that my glasses and dishes are free of water spots, grease and other undesirables. This has not always been the case which has caused me to end up re-washing them by hand. What a pain that is.

I recently got a chance to try out the new Cascade Platinum gel pacs. The first thing I noticed was the scent, citrusy fresh like sweet lemons. They are also extremely cool looking, like a piece of abstract art, and come in gel pacs that are easy to pop into the dishwasher. But, of course, when you come down to it, it’s all about the results.

So, how did they do?

They did amazingly well, working on both the inside of the dishwasher and on my dishes, which, to me, seemed very clean and sparkling. Best of all, I didn’t have to re-wash them whether we had had lasagna, fish or nachos. No greasy plates, no leftover smells, and glasses without water spots.

In summertime, we often have guests over and eat outside on the patio. In the sunlight, you can see everything, so this couldn’t have come at a better time.

I also do food presentations so it’s very important to me for everything to be clean. After all, as it’s so often said, we eat with our eyes first. I had the good fortune to work as a lunch chef at a spa for a few years and found it to be creative and incredibly enjoyable. I definitely wouldn’t serve anything on a plate that wasn’t as clean as possible.  Having realized that with Cascade Platinum I can have more sparkling dishes, it’s on my grocery list for sure.

Cascade has partnered with Top Chef judge and Food+Wine magazine editor, Gail Simmons to discuss food presentation and plating. Check out this video for tips:

Cascade has an awesome contest going on right now. So many people are uploading food pics lately to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram that this fits right in!

The Cascade “My Platinum” contest is a four week Instagram contest encouraging fans to upload photos related to the weekly themes. Join in and show off your sparkle!

You can visit the contest landing page to learn more and enter. Each week, two contestants will win a brand new Whirlpool dishwasher while one grand prize winner will win the ultimate Platinum kitchen makeover! That’s something I dream about.


Each week  Instagram users can enter the contest with their #MyPlatinum Photo. Cascade will choose winners after the entry period has ended. Please be sure to include both the #MyPlatinum hashtag and tag @MyCascade in your entries!

You can find the Cascade Platinum gel pacs in Fresh and Lemon Burst scents at grocery and retailers nationwide.  You can also check out Cascade on Facebook to keep up with the latest news and promotions.

Happy Father’s Day everyone! If you’re looking for a great gift for today or any day,  EatSmart recently  launched a new addition,  the EatSmart Precision Tracker Digital Bathroom Scale.

Weight is such an odd thing. It can affect our health, our sense of self, our ability to do all the things we’d like — and summer is the time when I usually look more closely at mine. After all, summer is just around the corner meaning swimsuits, shorts, sundresses and sandals and I want to look my best. But, not just that, I want to feel my best so that I can do all the fun things I want to. I find that the better I eat and the more water I drink, the better I feel. Losing weight and looking good is an added benefit.

This new scale that I have been reviewing has made the process of keeping my weight in check more fun and more enjoyable. I can track my progress and that makes it like a game almost. Let’s see if what I eat and the amount I exercise can really affect my weight. Now, I’m not one to keep notebooks with tables of figures, so what I really like is that you can very simply program this scale at the touch of a button (up to 8 users). From then on, each subsequent weigh in will be measured against this starting point. (I put a sticker on the bottom of the scale with the date I started). 

After each use, the scale will display three readings: current weight, weight change from the last weigh in, and total change from the starting weight. This is great motivation and helps me find the best diet and exercise strategies for my lifestyle. I’m not one to be overly weight-conscious so I allow myself splurges with friends, and it’s really interesting to see how they affect my weight. When I’m keeping a healthy diet with lots of veggies and water, I can really see the change and it makes me want to keep going to reach my goals. When I exercise or slack off, I see the changes. Your numbers are personal, private, and the scale does the tracking for you.

This scale also looks really cool. It’s super thin, sleek, modern and elegant – and on top of that, it works great. It has a large LCD display with a white backlight making it easy to read, even at night with the lights off. It doesn’t take up much space and it really adds to the decor.  I love that it’s so user-friendly. Seriously user-friendly. 

A few tips:

Don’t drive yourself crazy weighing yourself every minute (unless you want to!). It’s normal for your weight to fluctuate during the day and from one day to the next (even from a simple glass of water). 

Do weigh yourself at the same time of day if possible for the most accurate results, preferably when you wake up in the morning.

Give yourself a break! Stress can add to your weight. As long as you have a long-term goal and stick to it, a few slips won’t destroy it unless you let them.

 I love this scale the most of any I’ve ever had for style and function! I love that I can track my progress. I highly recommend this scale for anyone who wants to get a good read on their weight in the short and long term.

EatSmart has offered one of my readers the chance to win one of these awesome scales. So, please enter via Rafflecopter below. 

To Your Health!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I was sent the above scale in order to facilitate my review, however, all opinions are strictly my own. 

When I got my first cell phone, I didn’t know enough about cases to buy a really effective one, but when I bought my iPhone, I did a lot of research. I feel much more secure now and am not so worried about the mishaps these phones we love always seem to encounter.

If you’re looking for a great protection solution, Best Buy has a fantastic selection of iPhone cases and, now that summer is around the corner, these cases are even more important for protecting your favorite mobile device. Just imagine all the possibilities! From sand at the beach to getting caught in an unexpected summer rain, our cell phones still have to perform in any environment. Don’t be like me and decide to wait until your phone is already ruined.

I hate the thought of missing the perfect photo as well since I’ve discovered Instagram! Summer is one of my favorite times to take pictures and share them.

In winter and fall, it’s so much easier for phones to hide away in pockets or purses, but in summer, they are accessories for your bathing suits, skirts and shorts. Brands like Mophie have created iPhone cases that are not only great for protection, but also keep you stylin’. Right now, Best Buy is having an exclusive offer of 10% off select Mophie iPhone cases for a limited time.

I really love the look of these cases and knowing that my phone is protected so that I won’t miss that all important text or find myself with my phone not working when I need it most. Check it out! Mophie gives you great protection, power and style. Happy Summer all!

Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

 

Sunset. Cloudy with a touch of rain. Nature’s canvas is glorious!

Aromatherapy can get a bad rap:  there are those who think it’s some kind of quackery, and others who dismiss it as a pleasant, but ineffective gift basket filler during the holidays. In reality, aromatherapy is an effective, yet subtle way to enhance moods and cure minor ailments (and yes, they smell nice, too).

While the power of fragrances might seem like voodoo to some, the science is simple:  you’re breathing in trace amounts of oils and other ingredients that modify your body chemistry. You can, of course, use candles or store-bought sprays, but here are some elementary, homemade ways to feel better and create a more pleasant environment:

  

Image Courtesy of D. Sharon Pruitt/Wikimedia Commons

 Calming

This is probably the most complicated concoction on the list and it’s still not quite rocket science. Starting with a base of 8 ounces water, add 20 drops of lavender essential oil and another 20 drops of either tangerine or lemon balm oil. You can let it diffuse into the room, but it’s more effective when used as a spray.

If you’re using a previously used spray bottle for any of these, be sure to flush it out thoroughly.

Energy

Give your day a little boost by combining ten drops of each of the following oils into two ounces of water: black pepper, cinnamon and orange; then spray.

Bonus tip: to make sprays that last longer, use one ounce of water and one ounce unflavored vodka, then store in a cool place.

Focus

For times when you need to be alert and concentrated, some scents are a boost.  While there is no precise recipe, experiment with different ratios of these oils:

    •    Grapefruit
    •    Lemon/lime
    •    Bergamot

Aromatherapy can be augmented with holistic approaches, so stocking up your system with omega-3 or gingko biloba supplements is a great idea.

Image Courtesy of Andr Karwath/Wikimedia Commons

Headache

For tension in the neck and head, you’ll want to mix 2 drops of both lavender and peppermint essential oils with a teaspoon of almond oil into a small receptacle. Moisten each index finger with the mixture and massage your temples, the ridges above your eyebrows and the bony area behind your ears.

Insomnia

For true serenity, you can use one of either two levels of sleepy scents. You can simply dab a few drops of lavender on the edge of your pillow, or mix the following together and do the same:

    •    5 drops clary sage
    •    5 drops bergamot
    •    2 drops lavender
    •    10 drops roman chamomile

Cuts and Scrapes

Aromatherapy can do more than just make you feel better; it can even speed up the healing process of minor wounds. In ½ cup of water, diffuse 5 drops of both lavender and tea tree essential oils.  Add just a touch to the bandage before you secure it, and if you haven’t already cleaned the wound, the antiseptic nature of tea tree oil makes this mixture a great topical cleanser as well.

Colds

There’s no cure for the cold, but placing the following into a vaporizer or diffuser will take away some of your congestion:

    •    5 drops eucalyptus
    •    5 drops ravensara

In general, make sure that you don’t go overboard with the doses and avoid direct contact with undiluted oils. With sprays, a good method is to pump a few bursts into the air and then walk through the suspended particles (in the same way you might with perfume). While you should be conservative with the oil-to-water ratios, try experimenting to find aromatherapeutic blends perfectly tailored to you.

– Guest post by Marcela De Vivo

Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer from California whose writing covers everything on health, including fitness, cooking, meditation and holistic medicine. She loves aromatherapy and often uses various essential oils to improve her mood and overall performance.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Warner Bros. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I can still remember his tiny hand in mine and him falling asleep on my shoulder, but, in the blink of an eye, 12 years go by, and these days getting my teen to spend time with me is harder than getting him up in the morning. Though I am happy he has so many friends, I miss the closer times. But, I have a secret weapon. Walmart has advanced tickets to an exclusive Premiere Night Screening of Man of Steel.

You can purchase tickets at any Walmart in the Electronics Department and they include an exclusive digital comic book written by David S. Goyer, the writer of Man of Steel, as well as an exclusive opportunity to pre-order an HD digital download of Blu-Ray copy of the film. This is extremely convenient as we have two Walmarts fairly close to home.

I’ve got tickets for the premiere showing for this Thursday, June 13th, at 7 PM, and it promises to be an unforgettable adventure. My teen is super-excited for the early chance to see one of his childhood superheroes. Yes, we had the shirts, the red cape, the wishing he could fly, and even though the cape is packed away, the excitement and wonder remain. He loves the idea of a digital comic book and the chance to see the movie before it premieres nationwide.
 

I have read some great reviews of this film as it explores Superman’s finding his place in the world along with some amazing action scenes. What teen can’t relate to that? The timing is also perfect for Father’s Day so why not bring dear old Dad along and have a family night? What a great way to kick off Summer!

Check out this trailer!

For a great Summer kickoff:

Purchase tickets to the exclusive pre-screening of Man of Steel [PG-13] on June 13th, 2013 at 7 PM at your local Walmart! Tickets can be purchased in the Electronics Department and include an exclusive digital comic book written by David S. Goyer, author of “Man of Steel”, as well as an exclusive opportunity to pre-order an HD digital download or Blu-Ray copy of the film.

• Go to your local Walmart
• Visit the electronics department
• Purchase your EXCLUSIVE Man of Steel prescreening tickets (available in 2D or 3D)
• Take your family to the theater location noted on your ticket and watch the EXCLUSIVE 7 p.m. premiere of Man of Steel on June 13th!

Learn more here!

They may grow up fast; they may argue about staying out late with friends; they may not be able to leap across tall buildings in a single bound and get home on time, but they’ll always be my Superheroes. I can’t wait to share this experience together.

Are you excited about Man of Steel? Who are you going to share the experience with?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Warner Bros. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Are you having a bad hair day? Does your hair need special care?
There will be three winners of the Profolla Silk kit!

When I was a kid, I loved words and making up poetry. I would take out as many books from the library as was humanly possible and sometimes fall asleep surrounded by them.

However, Math was never a favorite of mine. I liked some of it just fine (I was even on the Math Team – nerd!), but other parts I really didn’t and this showed up in later years in Geometry class. I really wish I had an app like GazziliMath pre-school so that I would have had something that caught my interest.

I strongly believe that when something is fun, you want to learn! That’s the beauty of GazziliWorld.

GazziliWorld specializes in apps dedicated to enhancing early childhood development. Founder Adam Glittlin’s vision of transforming text into an interactive iPad activity that would easily fit into children’s everyday lives has been a great success. Through hands-on technology, the learning experience is elevated and made more enjoyable.

GazziliWorld launched its latest educational learning app, GazziliMath on May 23rd of this year and it’s quickly becoming a popular and fun tool.

In the Jungle Area, your children can easily learn Addition.

GazziliMath takes place in an animal park where your preschooler can unlock different games such as Numerals, Counting, Adding One, Subtracting and A Half among others. The interface is brightly colored with pleasant music and is extremely user-friendly. It will gently guide your child through and encourage them when they pick a wrong answer. Completing each section introduces you to new characters and animals and new math skills that are a great educational foundation.

Children learn Subraction skills with brightly colored balloons.

 
GazilliMath is friendly and welcoming. It truly makes Math something fun and something your child can enjoy with you or by themselves. It’s great while you’re waiting at the doctor’s office and easy to take with you on your iPhone or iPad.

GazziliMath is completely age-appropriate and engaging. I would highly recommend it for your preschoolers so that they can develop an interest in Math early on as these skills will serve them well in the future. When your children complete the different adventures, each one will unlock a different animal for their orchestra. At the end, as your child taps the screen, they all play together. Now, that’s definitely Edutainment. 

Through sharing lunch, children learn what a half means.

https://itunes.apple.com/app/gazzilimath/id647320433?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2.