Crazy days, sleepless nights and too many things to try to get done in between – it’s not easy being mom! So go ahead, treat yourself or a mom you love this Mother’s Day, and while you’re at it, you can help moms in need with a little help from Johnson & Johnson.

Around my home, we love products such as NEUTROGENA®, BAND-AID® Brand, LISTERINE®, AVEENO®, NEOSPORIN®, VISINE® and more. Neosporin is my go-to for scrapes big or small as well as Band-Aids of all sizes and Listerine is something we all use for healthy dental care. I’ve been using Aveeno shampoo and conditioner lately and love the way my hair feels and smells and Neutrogena keeps my skin clear and hydrated. I remember using their bar soap in high school.

Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies has all the products moms need to look and feel fabulous, even when life gets chaotic – and they want to share them with one lucky mom here on Strange Daze Indeed in honor of Mother’s Day! Plus, all moms can save on these brands and more at  healthyessentials.com.

All it takes is just a few clicks on your mobile device! Johnson & Johnson makes it easy with Donate a Photo, a brand-new free mobile app that lets you give back to causes that you care about through one simple act – taking a photo. In honor of Mother’s Day, choose mothers2mothers to help moms in need keep their babies HIV-free. Donating is simple! Visit healthyessentials.com/our-caring to find out how to get started.

I think this is a wonderful program!

For every photo you share, Johnson & Johnson donates $1 to a cause you want to help – which can help in so many ways like fixing up a public park, getting medicine for an infant, or helping kids play sports safely. You choose the cause you want to help, Johnson & Johnson makes it happen.

You can donate one photo a day, every day. With a photo a day, you’ll make a difference by raising money and awareness for causes you care about. Share with your friends and you’ll help your causes meet their goals faster.

I hope this is something you’ll consider and meanwhile, please enter to win a Johnson & Johnson prize pack (ARV $50).

Just enter the easy Rafflecopter below and Happy Mother’s Day to everyone around the world! 
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Welcome to the 2nd annual MamaLOVE Giveaway Hop hosted by MamaNYC! Help us celebrate the joys of motherhood — and everything else that comes with the pleasure of parenting. It can be challenging to find a special and unique gift for mom, so our hope is to present some amazing Mother’s Day gift ideas, which you can also have a chance to win!

This event begins on May 9th and runs until May 15th at 11:59PM (EST). Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and hop down the linky list for many more chances to win. Good luck and Happy Mother’s Day!

“A circle is the reflection of eternity. It has no beginning and it has no end…” – Maynard James Keenan

Here at Strange Daze Indeed, we have a wonderful giveaway for you – a beautiful necklace from the Sphere of Life.

Perfectly shaped spheres, each telling its own unique story makeup the flagship collection of the Sphere of Life. All spheres are made of sterling silver and plated with rhodium. Many spheres are also accented with 18k gold, semi-precious stones, cubic zircons, or enamel. Aspiring to be the perfect gift, each design is accompanied by the iconic Sphere of Life box, a satin bag, and a card that tells its story – all laid in an elegant box, making gifting as exciting as the gift itself.

Opening the Sphere

I loved receiving my Sphere of Life, Daisies. This necklace really spoke to me of the promise of renewal and Spring and is elegant and unique. I love wearing it with either jeans or a dress. It is a very very versatile piece that I believe would be perfect for yourself, your Mom or your daughter!

Unique Daisies Sphere Necklace

In some ways, circles represent the Mother-Daughter relationship to me. It has no beginning and no end and it transcends space and time.

I can remember all the calls I made to my Mom no matter where I was in the world, and it felt like she was there with me, no matter the distance.

Connected through our hearts, the good times were doubled, the sad times, halved.

Sphere of Life Jewelry has many wonderful pieces of all sorts and I feel that they are a perfect gift for Mother’s Day or any day, so check them out for something beautiful and unique.

One lucky Strange Daze Indeed reader is going to win their very own Daisies Sphere of Life necklace.

Just enter via Rafflecopter below and very best of luck! Happy Mother’s Day!
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Disclosure: I was provided a necklace for review purposes, however, all opinions are expressly my own.

 I really appreciate Keaton Simon’s bluesy musicality, soulful and poetic lyrics and overall passion for music. His guitar-playing is stellar. This is apparent in his just-released (4/30) album, Beautiful Pain, co-produced with Mikal Blue (Colbie Caillat, One Republic) and mastered by Gavin Lurssen of Lurssen Mastering. Beautiful Pain also includes co-writes with friends and peers Jason Mraz, Jason Reeves, Glen Phillips (Toad The Wet Sprocket) and Mikal Blue among others.

If I had to describe Keaton and his music in one word, it would be: authentic. Keaton Simons is truly what the Los Angeles Times terms “a triple threat.” He captivates audiences with an authentic voice, compelling and soul-baring songs, and a true command of both acoustic and electric guitars in every genre. The energy and passion that Keaton brings to his work (whether in the studio or performing live) are as infectious and stirring as his lyrics and melodies.

A regular in The Hotel Café singer/songwriter circuit, Keaton Simons has been recognized by Examiner.com as achieving “cult-like” status in his hometown of Los Angeles, CA. But as most know, Keaton is far from being just an ”L.A. guy” let alone a “new artist” on the mainstream map. His debut EP Currently was released on Maverick Records in 2004 and his debut full-length album Can You Hear Me was released on CBS Records in 2008. Since then, he has toured nationally and internationally, opening for Coldplay, Train, Guster and REO Speedwagon amongst others. He has also worked as a writer, musical director, singer, bassist and guitarist with such notable acts as Gnarls Barkley, Snoop Dogg, Josh Kelley and Tre Hardson (The Pharcyde.)

 In addition, Keaton’s music has been heard in dozens of feature films and television shows, including Sons of Anarchy, Private Practice, NCIS, Malcolm in the Middle, Numb3rs and Hollywood Heights. He has also performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Last Call with Carson Daly. In 2011 Keaton appeared on VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew alongside stepfather, actor Eric Roberts, who was a patient. A performance of his song “Unstoppable” on the show resulted in over 10,000 iTunes downloads in only two days.

“After bouncing between major label contracts and promises of new deals, I’m following my instincts, assembling my dream team, and hitting the launch button on the type of album I’ve been wanting to put out for years,” says Keaton Simons. “Beautiful Pain shows who I am as an artist, a songwriter, a musician and a producer.”

Beautiful Pain is Keaton’s most universal release to date, and maintains his high caliber of songwriting, production and musicianship. Fans can also expect to see Keaton back on tour throughout the US, performing both solo acoustic and with his full band at a venue near you including:

Wednesday May 15th @ The Bitter End, NYC NY 9:00-10:00PM; $10 / 18+

Here is his video for the current single “Beautiful Pain”. The video was directed by Nick Spanos and executive produced by long time friend, David Duchovny.

“This song has tremendous personal meaning to me. I wanted to show the extraordinary side of real, everyday people, and illustrate that love is worth fighting for,” said Simons when asked about the video’s concept.

Beautiful Pain is available at iTunes To stay current on all things Keaton Simons, be sure to follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Win your own copy of Keaton’s new cd right here. We will be giving away two copies! Enter via Rafflecopter below and best of luck!

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Everyone loves their mom and always wants to find the best gift to make her feel loved and appreciated. These are the gifts I have found and would love to share with you. After you enter my giveaway head over to Makobi Scribe to see her mothers day gift ideas worth over $3000. Then enter the grand prize drawing of a $1000 worth of Karina Dresses.

Some Moms love flowers, some like candy, but why not get Mom something different this Mother’s Day – Wholly Guacamole and Salsas. I know that this is something my whole family craves! All-natural with no preservatives and gluten-free, it’s the closest thing to homemade.

When I made guacamole, I used to have to go shopping, make sure all my ingredients were fresh and stayed fresh and then chop everything in between trying to get everything else done. If you’re like me, perhaps you’re also looking for convenience and healthy options. You can even keep packages in your freezer for up to three months, take them out and they will be just as tasty. I try to always have at least a few on hand.

I love to use them to liven up a meal either as a side, on a salad or as part of the main dish. One of my favorites is to put the guac in breakfast burritos with cheese and salsa.

Guacamole is also a great swap out for Mayo. It’s delicious in chicken salad, spices up egg salad, and rocks a BLT. Each is made with real Haas Avocados (the best!).

For Cinco de Mayo coming up soon, why not try grilled fish tacos with Avocado Verde Salsa (my favorite!). They’re easy to make and really scrumptious.

 The 100 calorie packs are great for convenience for snacks (say with baby carrots or chips), single serve, great if your kids like classic but you like spicy!

Eat Wholly has some awesome recipes that you can consult and make.

My next project is the Chovocado Fire Mousse with cayenne, creamy avocado, bittersweet chocolate and cinnamon.

I have to confess that I  love my chocolate bars with chili so this really appeals to me and prep time is only about 15 minutes. Perfect! There is also a kid-friendly non-spicy version.

And for 3 lucky winners, imagine a coolerful of guacamole, salsas and other goodies arriving fresh at your door!

Just enter via Rafflecopter below and best of luck!

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Makobi Scribe Reviews, LLC or the Mother’s Day Gift Event Bloggers are not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.

Helga: Out of the Hedgelands

Twelve-year-old Helga has more danger in her life than most beasts her age—Wrackshee slavers after her, a vicious attack by bandits that nearly kills her, a race against dragons pursuing her, and leading a daring rebellion to save her life and rescue friends and family from the insidious WooZan. And that is just the beginning. But what do you expect when you are a young beast who just can’t see the stupid rules of the world making any sense? Helga can’t accept things as they are and ends up taking on not just one, but two all-powerful, supreme tyrants in two different realms. Helga never intended to lead a revolution. It just sort of happened because she wouldn’t go along with the “rules of normal” that keep tyrants in power and entire societies enslaved.

Beginning on a dangerous quest to solve some mysteries in her own past, Helga leads her quirky comrades on a journey that will not only forever change them, but upset ancient civilizations. As an author, I’m drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own fragrance rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries. Helga’s unusual story will take readers to worlds they never imagined—definitely a whole new ride. Time and again, the unconventional heroine and her eccentric comrades overcome ominous tyrants and black-hearted slavers, not by battling to the last beast standing, but by being the first beast to think differently.

 Helga: Out of Hedgelands is divided into three books which introduce the epic saga of the Wood Cow clan and their role in overturning centuries of slavery and tyranny. This story will continue in additional volumes of the Wood Cow Chronicles now in development. Over the series of current and future volumes, the entire history of the Wood Cow clan, the fall of Maev Astuté, and the coming of Lord Farseeker to the Outer Rings, will be told.

Author Rick Johnson

 I am a native of the Great Plains, having grown up on a farm in the Platte River Valley of western Nebraska. I love the wild beauty of the Plains and nearby Rocky Mountains–the too hot, too cold, too empty, too full of life extremes. Typically, the awesomely diverse and the awesomely stark are much the same, even as they are different. Although I have lived in Michigan, North Carolina, and British Columbia, the western plains, mountains, and desert are in my heart.

As my day job, for over thirty years I have been a faculty member and administrator in higher education. Teaching broadly in the liberal arts, including creative writing, my professional publications include educational materials, poems, and 28 stories for young readers. During my spare hours, I have also collected and carefully studied the records of former times upon which the Wood Cow Chronicles are based.

 It is my privilege to bring this astonishing saga to light. ​ The Wood Cow Chronicles have been researched and written with the irreplaceable assistance of Barbara, my beloved wife of more than thirty-five years, and our children. Indeed, the essential research into the history of the Wood Cows has been conducted during the odd hours of family reading and storytelling “around the campfire” as we say–even when there is no campfire! This research continues and grows richer as our family expands across generations and continents.  

Book Blast Giveaway

 $100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/1/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Anya Michaels is having the time of her life. She has the man of her dreams by her side. She has graduated at the top of her class. She has the job others were lining up for. Between late night drinks at her favourite bar and fancy dinners at the most expensive restaurants, she has a string of adoring friends.

 Everything changes when she hears the dreaded words, “You are sick.” Being diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder, her world starts to fall apart, one piece at a time. Now dumped, her four year relationship is nothing but a memory filled with pictures, thoughts and a very broken heart. Her job becomes an even further challenge as she tries to hide her condition. Her friends suddenly have more important things to do, what is a party without a party girl?

Perfect could not crumble any faster. Soon, caught between situations, people and pieces of life that she never dreamed of planning for herself, Anya begins to wonder if her brain condition is all that bad. As she absorbs the changes in her life and realization sets in, she begins to wonder if she is the only one saying: Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out.

Author Pandora Poikilos Pandora Poikilos has been writing for more than 10 years for various media which include newspapers, radio, television and various websites. A social media enthusiast who is passionate about blogging and finding her way around the virtual world, she wills away time in the real world by reading, writing and people watching.  

 Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 4/28/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you.

The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.    a Rafflecopter giveaway