Search:
Brandon's Adventures
Click Here

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Bloggers Wanted: Tip Hero's Super Grad Giveaway Event



Free Blogger Opp: Tip Hero's Super Grad Giveaway Event {$100 Amazon GC}


Attention bloggers:  This is a free blogger event hosted and sponsored by Tip Hero. Link is free when you post about the giveaway on your blog and a thank-you for participating in the event. Sign-ups close May 5th, 2013.

PARTICIPATION DETAILS

Prize: $100 Amazon Gift Certificate

* Event dates: Starts May 7th to May 21st, 2013

* Eligibility: Contest is open to US only

* FREE link (Twitter or Pinterest) on entry form with announcement post.

* Optional additional links are $5 each (RSS/Email Subscribe, Twitter and/or Pinterest) paid via PayPal as a Gift to tiphero[at]gmail.com

* Agree to post the giveaway HTML on the date the event begins and promote at least 3x a week

* Please mention Jennie Yuen from "Brandon's Adventures" Blog referred you! Thanks much!





Bookmark and Share

Monday, April 29, 2013

{WINNER} Growing Tree Toys $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway



Announcement: The lucky WINNER for the Growing Tree Toys $25 GC Giveaway that ended April 30, 2013 is..... (drum roll, please).



Congratulations to Kelly Thompson (#15)



I have sent you a twitter message. I will need your full email address. You have 48 hours to respond. Thanks everyone for participating in my giveaway contests.




Bookmark and Share

American Girl Bitty Twins Giveaway



Welcome to the American Girl Bitty Twins Spring Giveaway
Organized by Mom to Bed by 8 & co-hosted by Iowa Mom

I am excited to participate in this event to bring you this awesome giveaway. This can make the perfect gift for your little one or for a toddler/preschooler's birthday.

Every American Girl doll encourages hours of imagination and play—from dreaming up adventures to styling hair to sharing every little secret. Whether her doll is from America’s past or present day, there’s a friend for your favorite girl to love and learn from.

The on-the-go Bitty Twins offer so many ways to mix and match! Choose skin tone, hair color, and gender to create your favorite pair. They come with full outfits, hair for styling, and a special book. Add to the fun with accessories and Dress Like Your Doll clothing. These 15-inch dolls are for ages 3 and up.




{ GIVEAWAY }

One lucky winner will receive an Americian Girl Bitty Twins + Book Set!
Even better we are giving you the opportunity to select boy-girl, 2 girls or 2 boys. You also get to select skin and hair shade of each. Contest is open to US & Canadian residents, 18+. Contest ends May 13th, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize (or another winner will be chosen). Good Luck!  
 
 
{Please wait while Rafflecopter entry form loads...}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this promotion. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of other consumers. "Brandon's Adventures" Blog is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

.



Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

AllerMates Launching EpiPen, Auvi-Q & Asthma Inhaler Carrying Cases


Each year, May is noted to be "National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month." “May is the coming of spring, a happy time for most of us, but a challenging time for people, and especially kids, with asthma or allergy-related health ailments,” says AllerMates Founder and CEO Iris Shamus. “In response to this important message we are launching EpiPen®, Auvi-Q™ and asthma inhaler carrying cases. We want to make sure to get the word out that parents of kids with asthma and allergies have important tools that are kid-friendly, and fun, to help navigate the risks beyond the home,” says Iris.

Iris created AllerMates, a unique brand of allergy, asthma and health awareness products that include alert wristbands, dog tags, stickers, lunch bags, and food alert package labels, after a traumatic incident involving her food allergic child, Benjamin. While Ben attended a pre-school where Iris was assured that they were very allergy aware, another food-allergic child in Ben’s classroom was given an allergen-containing snack by a teacher. The classmate had a severe reaction and Iris was left thinking, “What can I do to protect my child and others, especially when they are in the care of others.”

AllerMates is now introducing EpiPen®, Auvi-Q and Asthma Inhaler carrying cases. The cases come in colorful kid-friendly designs, and include AllerMates characters. Each case comes with an Emergency Contact and Medication Information card. The EpiPen® carrying case is insulated, and comes with an epinephrine auto-injector User Guide. The cases, like all AllerMates products, are nickel, lead, latex, BPA and phthalate free.

“AllerMates products help keep children safe, not just during Allergy Awareness Month, but all year round,” says Iris. “Our alert products are a critically important part of children’s allergy and asthma awareness, and now our carrying cases are safe, effective, and convenient tools for parents and caregivers to carry and share their child’s essential medicines.”

About AllerMates:
AllerMates is a subsidiary of Awearables LLC, a privately held company based in Nanuet NY. The Company and products were created by Founder and CEO Iris Shamus, who sought education and alert products for her son after leaning he had food allergies and asthma. When she wasn’t able to find materials that helped him learn about his allergies, she created the characters, now known as AllerMates. Those characters then became products that alerted others to his allergy, while making him feel special. AllerMates products are available at CVS, Kmart, Walgreens and other national and regional chains as well as at www.AllerMates.com, where parents can also find a wealth of educational information, resources like action plans and restaurant cards and an online community dedicated to parents of children with health issues.

Allergy & Asthma Facts:
• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics 1 out of every 12 children, or 11.8 million, has a food allergy.
• Between 1997 and 2007, the Academy of Pediatrics reported an 18% increase in the incidence of food allergies in children.
• The American Academy of Allergies, Asthma and Immunology reports that 30% of food allergic children have not only one allergy, but have multiple food allergies.
• Every 3 minutes a child in the US has an anaphylactic allergic reaction, and every 6 minutes a child is brought to a hospital, or urgent care center in response to allergy-related anaphylaxis.
• The CDC reports that 1 in every 10 children have Asthma.
• Some studies report a crossover rate of as high as 50% between children with asthma and allergies.
• Asthmatic children miss over 15 million school days per year.
• Asthma is the most common cause of hospitalization for children under the age of 15.




Disclosure: I did not receive any products nor was paid for this post. I was provided info from the PR firm to share. Any expressed opinions are my own and personal thoughts. No other compensation was given.



Bookmark and Share

Blogger Opp: "Getting ready for the Summer" Giveaway Event


 
Blogger Opp: "Getting ready for the Summer" Giveaway Event


Attention bloggers:  This is a free blogger event hosted by NY Savings Specials. Link is free when you post about the giveaway on your blog and a thank-you for participating in the event. The first 50 bloggers to sign up will get a link free with announcement.

PARTICIPATION DETAILS

Prize: There will be 3 winners
- Prize #1 Any bike up to $150 (kids or adult/Safety accessories not included)
- Prize #2 Step2-Touring-Wagon-Functions Value $119 (if not available winner can pick another wagon up to $119)
- Prize # 3 Scooter up to $80 (Safety accessories not included)

* Event dates: June 1st - June 30th, 2013

* Eligibility: Contest is open to US

* FREE link (Twitter or Pinterest) on entry form with announcement post (or pay $5 fee if not posting announcement).

* Optional additional links are $4 each

* Co-Host Spots available for $20 (2 host page, 10 links on RC, and no annoucement required)

* Optional email subscribe/RSS/Feedburner are $2 each

* Agree to post the giveaway HTML on the date the event begins and promote at least 3x a week

* Please mention Jennie Yuen from "Brandon's Adventures" Blog referred you! Thanks much!





Bookmark and Share

Bellini Fabulous Finds $150 GC Giveaway



Welcome to the Bellini Fabulous Finds Mother's Day Giveaway
 Organized by Mom Powered Media

Hosted by
Baby Costcutters, Mom to Bed By 8, Powered by Mom, Giveaway Booster, Frugality For Less, and Mommy May We

Mother's Day is just around the corner. If you or a friend is a mom-to-be, baby gifts are wonderful gift ideas!

Bellini Fabulous Finds offers really unique finds each month! If you are looking for the perfect unique gift for a wonderful mom this Mother's Day Bellini Fabulous Finds has done all the work of searching for you. Each month their awesome team works hard to search all over to find the the hottest new mom and baby items! If if you see what you want make sure to grab it before all new finds are featured!

From unique decor items to the perfect baby gifts, you can find it at Bellini's Fabulous Finds.



{ GIVEAWAY }

One lucky winner will receive a $150 Gift Code to Bellini's Fabulous Finds!
Contest is open to US only, 18+. Contest ends May 7th, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize (or another winner will be chosen). Good Luck!  
 
 
{Please wait while Rafflecopter entry form loads...}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this promotion. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of other consumers. "Brandon's Adventures" Blog is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. This event was organized by MomPoweredMedia please contact tina@babycostcutters.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!




Bookmark and Share

Guest Post: 5 Activity Ideas For a Toddler's Birthday Party

The following is a guest post by Mike Neil. Thank-you Mike for your time in putting together this  article. 


When you are arranging your toddler's birthday party, you need to be prepared to engage the young ones in some interesting activities. Otherwise you run the risk of your young guests getting bored and throwing tantrums.

Here are five tips to engage your young guests:

1. A story telling session:
Tales of adventure and magic captivates young children. Hire a good narrator who can make the story come truly alive, and have them pick a story with a good message and a strong spirit of adventure. Horses, unicorns, dragons and other magical creatures should keep them enthralled for quite some time. A conquering hero, his friend and his pet make for a truly engaging story that will let their imaginations fly. But be careful to avoid the done-to-death stories like Harry Potter tales, Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, etc.

2. Bouncing Castle:
A bouncing castle can be fun, whatever the age of the child; in the case of the toddlers, they can fall about looking adorable and cute, have independent fun for a few minutes without hurting themselves. So hire a large bouncing castle and let them loose. You too can relax because it is one of the few places where a toddler is safe from harm.

3. A day at the Park or Zoo:
Animals fascinate young children. Set up a birthday party for your toddler in the designated area in the local zoo, along with fun rides and a trip in the toy train, if available. Alternately, you can arrange a party on your own lawn, and have a local petting zoo visit and set up animal areas and corrals.

If you are going with the latter idea, ensure that all food is eaten before the petting zoo arrives. This will help to ensure that there are no mishaps. There is the chance that the animals might become excited at the sight of all the food and the handlers will have a tough time controlling them. If the animals become aggressive and act out, some child could become terrified and start bawling. That will be the death of the party.

4. Crafts and Fun:
Engage a party coordinator or facilitator who can help you find a good crafts person; this person should be able to engage the children with interesting but simple do-it-yourself projects like coloring, painting something or fixing something. As we are dealing with toddlers here, they can't be allowed to handle scissors, even craft scissors. So the person should be able to come up with fun ideas for crafts; maybe select a paper color they like and stick pieces to make a picture as a memento. The children will surely enjoy that!

5. Decorating their food:
If you want to keep toddlers engaged, give them something to do that is colorful and messy. They will have the time of their lives and they will look so cute when they do something that requires concentration. Give them little cup cakes to decorate with flavors, colors and items they like. Have eye-searing colors in stock, with beads, flowers, birds, shark fins, spiders, and the like. This will appeal to their sense of adventure and you can't go wrong!



AUTHOR BIO

Mike is a father of two with a passion for parenting, and child development. Over the last 4 years, Mike has been actively blogging and published numerous articles on baby toys.


Bookmark and Share

Monday, April 22, 2013

"Joys Of Life" Blog's First Birthday Celebration Giveaway



Welcome to the 1st Birthday Celebration

Hosted by Joys Of Life and special thanks to our lovely sponsors, contributors and co-hosts Whats Up Reviews and Giveaways, Empowered Mommy, Sparkling Mom, Global Media Moms.

Joys Of Life's Blog  is now officially an year old now! Founded on April 5th, 2012, the blog is dedicated to healthy living, tips & tricks, reviews, giveaways and so much more to entertain their readers.  I am very excited to be part of this to help celebrate it.

Joys Of Life is really proud and thankful to all their loyal readers and fans for their continuous support and for that reason we decided to team up with our most amazing bloggy friends to bring together a fabulous giveaway for our wonderful readers as a "Thank You" gift.




{ GIVEAWAY }

One lucky winner will receive a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 or Amazon Gift Card Code Value $350!

Contest is open worldwide, 18+. Contest ends May 22nd, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize (or another winner will be chosen). Good Luck!  
 
 
{Please wait while Rafflecopter entry form loads...}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this promotion. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of other consumers. "Brandon's Adventures" Blog is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. 

Bookmark and Share

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Blogger Opp: Mother's Day Giveaway - $800 in Amazon Gift Cards


Attention bloggers:  This is a free blogger event. Link is free when you post about the giveaway on your blog and a thank-you for participating in the event.

PARTICIPATION DETAILS

Prize: One winner will receive a $500 Amazon gift card and three (3) winners will each win a $100 Amazon Gift Card

* Event dates: Starts May 2 - May 12th, 2013

* Eligibility: Contest is open to US & Canada.

* FREE link (Twitter, Pinterest, Picket Fence) on entry form with announcement post. If you did not post one, you will not get a Free link #2, but you can purchase additional links for $2 each.

* Optional additional links are $3 each

* Co-host spot $10 (with backlink and up to 3 total links in RC)

* Daily "Task" Page $25

* Agree to post the giveaway HTML on the date the event begins and promote at least 5x a week

* Please mention Jennie Yuen from "Brandon's Adventures" Blog referred you! Thanks much!

BLOGGER REFFERAL: Top two referring bloggers with most referrals receive a prize! First place gets choice of a free "task" page ($25 value) or cohost spot and Second place gets a co-host spot - $10 value! Please share this opp and win a task page or co-host spot!

Bloggers: Please request to join our private blogger's facebook group at Love2EncourageYou Opps & More: https://www.facebook.com/groups/271658182940270/




Bookmark and Share

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Free Blogger Opp: Juppy baby Walker Giveaway Event


 
Free Blogger Opp: Juppy baby Walker Giveaway Event


Attention bloggers:  This is a free blogger event hosted by Army Wife & Mommy. Link is free when you post about the giveaway on your blog and a thank-you for participating in the event.

PARTICIPATION DETAILS

Prize: Juppy baby Walker

* Event dates: May 1st - May 15th, 2013

* Eligibility: Contest is open to US & Canada.

* FREE link (Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest) on entry form with announcement post (or pay $5 fee if not posting announcement).

* Optional additional links are $1 each

* Optional daily votes/comments are $3 each

* Optional email subscribe/RSS/Feedburner are $2 each

* Agree to post the giveaway HTML on the date the event begins and promote at least 3x a week

* Please mention Jennie Yuen from "Brandon's Adventures" Blog referred you! Thanks much!




Bookmark and Share

Friday, April 19, 2013

Hasbro Invites Kids and Fans to Create New Transformers Character


For the first time in its history, Hasbro has unveiled a program in which Transformers fans can help create an all-new Transformers character that will be introduced into the brand's rich lore forever, including an action figure in next year's "Thrilling 30" anniversary line as well as appear in official Transformers comic books.

In anticipation of the TRANSFORMERS’ brand 30th anniversary in 2014, the “Fan Built Bot” Poll kicks off today, and will run through May 5th on TRANSFORMERS.com/vote. Hasbro invites fans to vote daily to shape this new TRANSFORMERS character. The new character will be made into an action figure featured in the “Thrilling 30” line of toys to celebrate the anniversary.

Hasbro is giving kids and fans the opportunity to make the “Fan Built Bot” character with votes determining everything from being an AUTOBOT or DECEPTICON—to its vehicle or other mode, color, personality and more. Kids and fans are encouraged to vote daily! Also, to keep with the theme of the fans being the ones who really shape and create this new TRANSFORMERS character, Hasbro will also give fans a say in the naming of the new character. More details on the naming will be announced soon.

“Since 1984, the TRANSFORMERS brand has been bringing entertainment and excitement to kids and fans with our beloved characters like BUMBLEBEE and OPTIMUS PRIME. We invite all fans to help us kick off the 30th anniversary of TRANSFORMERS with a new character of their choice — for the first time in history,” said Jay Duke, vice president of the TRANSFORMERS brand at Hasbro. “This is the perfect way to kick off our anniversary celebration and the ‘Thrilling 30’ line of special edition figures. It will be tremendous fun for everyone to keep track of the entire process from the designing of the character; leading up to its introduction as a toy and watching it become a part of the TRANSFORMERS brand.”

The results of the poll will be announced by Hasbro at this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego, as part of the official kick-off to Hasbro’s TRANSFORMERS “Thrilling 30” anniversary celebration. Kids and fans will be able to purchase the “Fan Built Bot” character as a toy and will see the new character appear in official TRANSFORMERS comic books.

For further information visit the official polling page at TRANSFORMERS.COM/vote as well as the TRANSFORMERS Facebook page at Facebook.com/Transformers.


Disclosure: I did not receive any products nor was paid for this post. I was provided info from the PR firm to share. Any expressed opinions are my own and personal thoughts. No other compensation was given.


Bookmark and Share

Mamas & Papas Giraffe Rocker Giveaway


Welcome to the Mamas & Papas Giveaway
Organized by Mom to Bed by 8

When little Brandon was a baby, he loved rocking toys. I remember that giggling smile on his face and he had so much fun. Don't most babies and toddlers like riding on rocking toys? 

Mamas & Papas Rocking Animal George Giraffe has three interactive modes of play: story time, song time and play time and will provide hours of fun for your little one. Each of these modes can be activated using the four interactive toys that are stored in his bag which attaches around his neck. Simply by holding the toys to his mouth, George Giraffe will tell you a different story, sing a song or play hide & seek.

George, the Mamas & Papas Rocking Animal encourages developmental skills such as speech, play, cognitive skills and more. He offers loads of plush rocking fun and learning along the way.


{ GIVEAWAY }

One lucky winner will receive Rocking Animal George Giraffe!
Contest is open to US only, 18+. Contest ends May 4th, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize (or another winner will be chosen). Good Luck!  
 
 
{Please wait while Rafflecopter entry form loads...}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this promotion. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of other consumers. "Brandon's Adventures" Blog is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. If you have any questions/concerns or would like your product featured in a giveaway, please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com if you have any questions





Bookmark and Share

Disney-Pixar's Monsters University Enrolls Top Talent


Helen Mirren, Alfred Molina, Dave Foley, Sean P. Hayes and More Join Billy Crystal, John Goodman and Steve Buscemi in a Remarkable Roster of Monster Voices

Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” welcomes some of Hollywood’s top stars to its roster of voice talent for this summer’s frighteningly funny comedy adventure, opening in theatres on June 21, 2013. Joining Billy Crystal and John Goodman are Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Alfred Molina, Dave Foley, Sean P. Hayes, Joel Murray, Peter Sohn, Charlie Day, Nathan Fillion, Bobby Moynihan, Julia Sweeney, Aubrey Plaza, Tyler Labine, John Krasinski, Bonnie Hunt, Beth Behrs and John Ratzenberger. Also revealed this week were the story and screenplay credits. Directed by Dan Scanlon, “Monsters University” features a story and screenplay by Daniel Gerson & Robert L. Baird (“Monsters, Inc.”) and Scanlon.

Scanlon says the cast was able to bring the story to life with great ingenuity and enthusiasm. “Working with this group of actors was an extraordinary experience. They each brought a unique level of humour, emotion and creativity to their work that not only complemented their individual performances, but made the overall story come together in a really wonderful way.”


The voice cast includes the following:

· Billy Crystal (“Parental Guidance,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “City Slickers”) reprises his role as Mike Wazowski, now a college-age monster who follows his dream of becoming a Scarer at Monsters University.

· John Goodman (“Argo,” “Flight,” “Trouble With the Curve”) returns as James P. Sullivan (Sulley), an overly confident, young hotshot Scaring student at Monsters University.

· Steve Buscemi (“Boardwalk Empire”) rejoins the monster world as Randy Boggs, a Monsters University freshman who is ready to experience all that college has to offer (if only he can curb his habit of disappearing).

· Helen Mirren (“Hitchcock,” “The Queen”) gives voice to Dean Hardscrabble, legendary Scarer and hard-to-please head of Monsters University’s prestigious School of Scaring.

· Alfred Molina (TNT’s “Monday Mornings,” “The Da Vinci Code,” “Frida”) is the voice of Professor Knight, an esteemed professor in Monsters University’s School of Scaring.

· Dave Foley (TV’s “NewsRadio,” “The Kids in the Hall”) as Terry Perry, the skeptical half of a bickering two-headed monster and dedicated Oozma Kappa (OK) brother.

· Sean P. Hayes (“The Three Stooges,” TV’s “Up All Night”) gives voice to Terri Perry, the more sensitive side of a two-headed Oozma Kappa (OK) fraternity brother with Scaring aspirations.

· Joel Murray (TV’s “Mad Men,” “Two and a Half Men”) voices Don Carlton, a “mature” student at Monsters University and a founding member of the Oozma Kappa (OK) fraternity.

· Pixar’s Peter Sohn (“Ratatouille,” “Small Fry”) provides the voice of Scott “Squishy” Squibbles, an undeclared sophomore at Monsters University and Oozma Kappa (OK) fraternity member who still lives with his doting mother.

· Charlie Day (“Horrible Bosses,” “Pacific Rim,” TV’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) provides the voice of the incomparable Art, an Oozma Kappa (OK) fraternity brother with a questionable past.

· Nathan Fillion (“Much Ado About Nothing,” “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters,” TV’s “Castle”) portrays Johnny Worthington, the confident president of Roar Omega Roar (ROR), a Monsters University fraternity that prides itself on its notable Scarers.

· Bobby Moynihan (NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” HBO’s “Girls,” DreamWorks Studios’ “Delivery Man”) helps bring to life Chet Alexander, a yes-monster member of the Roar Omega Roar (ROR) fraternity.

· Julia Sweeney (TV’s “The Goode Family,” “Saturday Night Live”) lends her voice to Ms. Squibbles, indulgent mother to Monsters University sophomore Scott “Squishy” Squibbles.

· Aubrey Plaza (“To Do List,” TV’s “Parks and Recreation”) gives voice to Claire Wheeler, the somber president of Monsters University’s Greek Council and emcee for the annual Scare Games.

· Tyler Labine (“Tucker & Dale vs. Evil,” “Mad Love”) was tapped to voice Brock Pearson, vice president of the Greek Council and enthusiastic emcee of the Scare Games.

· John Krasinski (“Promised Land,” TV’s “The Office”) provides the voice of “Frightening” Frank McCay, a Scaring super star at Monsters, Inc.

· Bonnie Hunt (TV’s “The Bonnie Hunt Show,” “Cheaper By the Dozen”) was called on to provide the voice of young Mike Wazowski’s grade school teacher Karen Graves.

· Beth Behrs (TV’s “2 Broke Girls”) serves as the voice of Carrie Williams, fearless leader of the Python Nu Kappa (PNK) sorority.

· John Ratzenberger (“Cheers,” Disney•Pixar’s feature films) returns to the Pixar recording studio as the voice of a Monsters, Inc. employee.


Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3”).





Disclosure: I did not receive any products nor was paid for this post. I was provided info from the PR firm to share. Any expressed opinions are my own and personal thoughts. No other compensation was given.



Bookmark and Share

PBS Kids' ARTHUR Stands Up to Bullying in All-New Episodes



Arthur and Friends Promote Kid-Friendly Dialogue About Bullying in Two New Episodes Airing May 6 & 10 on PBS KIDS (check local listings), Part of ARTHUR Spring Premiere Week

This May, Arthur is helping kids tackle another tough subject with the premiere of two new episodes about bullying. Parents are invited to visit the Arthur website for resources and though starters on how to talk to their kids about bullying, and to tune-in to the episode premieres on May 6 and 10 on PBS KIDS (check local listings).

The week begins with "The Last Tough Customer" on Monday, May 6. In this episode, the Tough Customers realize it's time to quit bullying and set out to find a new hobby - but can Molly ever truly change her ways? Watch a sneak preview!

Then on Friday, May 10, in "So Funny I Forgot to Laugh," Arthur thinks his jokes about Sue Ellen's new sweater are all in good fun, but Sue Ellen's feelings are hurt. Has Arthur become...a bully?

"While we have seen a renewed focus on anti-bullying efforts over the last couple of years, most resources are targeted towards older children," says Executive Producer Carol Greenwald. "ARTHUR provides us with a unique opportunity to reach children at a young age and positively impact future attitudes and behaviors. In these episodes, kids will see that everyone makes mistakes, even Arthur, but it's how you learn and grow from those experiences that matters."

Since it first premiered in 1996, ARTHUR has tackled a wide range of childhood issues-from asthma and bedwetting, to coping with the loss of a pet. These episodes on bullying further ARTHUR's commitment to encouraging conversations around tough topics and fostering positive social skills in children.

The week continues with brand-new, fun, and heartfelt stories that ARTHUR fans have come to grow and love. Episode descriptions and airdates below:

Monday, May 6

"The Last Tough Customer"

The Tough Customers realize it's time to quit bullying and set out to find a new hobby - but can Molly ever truly change her ways?

"Brain's Chess Mess"

Brain starts a chess club at school to improve his game and beat Los Dedos, the local chess master. Who knew the best player in the club would be...Rattles?!?

Tuesday, May 7

"Baseball Blues"

It's Grebelings season and George can't wait to play! After all, no one knows more about baseball than George. But when he realizes knowledge of sinkers doesn't guarantee success in the field, will he throw in the towel?

"Brain's Biggest Blunder"

When Brain gets teamed with Buster and Binky in the annual Arithmattack competition, he immediately enrolls Buster in binomial boot camp. Can Brain transform Buster into a mathematic marvel? Or will he be forced to eat humble pi?

Wednesday, May 8

"Buster's Book Battle"

Lakewood Elementary has just instituted IRP; a program where kids can earn points (and prizes!) for reading. Buster's thrilled and gets to work straight away! But will he earn enough points for a skateboard?

"On the Buster Scale"

Buster and Brain never agree on movies. Buster rates every film a 10+, while Brain doesn't seem to like anything...Only one of them can be right...or so they think.

Thursday, May 9

"Fern and the Case of the Stolen Story"

The unthinkable has happened! Fern has writer's block! Fortunately, Ladonna's full of stories. Faced with a tight deadline, Fern decides to "borrow" the tales and simply change the names. Has Fern confused write and wrong?

"Sue Ellen Vegges Out"

When Sue Ellen decides to stop eating meat, Muffy and Francine compete to be the best vegetarian. Can they successfully resist meat? Or was this a missed steak?




Disclosure: I did not receive any products nor was paid for this post. I was provided info from the PR firm to share. Any expressed opinions are my own and personal thoughts. No other compensation was given.




Bookmark and Share

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Get set for a deep sea sonic boom - Recess Monkey's "Deep Sea Diver"

Poised to launch a delicious bouillabaisse of aquatic adventures, celebrated independent children's recording group Recess Monkey takes to the sea with their ninth studio CD, Deep Sea Diver (Monkey Mama, $14.99, for ages 2 - 8, run time 42 minutes).


Deep Sea Diver is Recess Monkey's "blue album," an ocean-themed recording set in a submarine that plumbs the musical depths of the sea before becoming shipwrecked on the beach of a distant lost island. Conceived as "the Recess Monkey-est Recess Monkey album ever," Deep Sea Diver is filled with a boatload of the band's over-the-top, super zany, clever, high-energy songs that deliver lots of synth, funk, and everything in between, all written and produced with a high degree of seaworthy musical and creative artistry.

Joining Recess Monkey's Jack Forman and Drew Holloway on Deep Sea Diver is new band member Korum Bischoff, a truly awesome drummer who offers a dynamic contribution, not only to Recess Monkey's overall energy and to Deep Sea Diver's explosion of rhythmic intensity, but also to the album's concept.

Says Korum, "I grew up living aboard a sailboat docked at Bainbridge Island, Washington, so Deep Sea Diver's theme felt like coming home! While other kids played ball in the yard, I was fishing, rowing, poking at creatures on the pilings, and having epic pirate battles aboard my floating home. Now I get to share all this with a slew of kids who might never experience that lifestyle."

Deep Sea Diver ships out with an up-tempo, "powered by rhythm" dance tune, "Tambourine Submarine," and then transports passengers to a deep-in-the-sea music venue known as the Coral Club, where a drum-playing fish ("Fish Sticks") can play every kind of music on his underwater drum set. There's a quick segue into the super tight vocals and Latin beat of "The Deep End," followed by the Spoon-inspired, high-energy "Beach Ball." Other highlights include a great sing-along, "Choral Reef" (not a typo; this coral reef reverates with a mastery of the choral arts) and "Stranded," a laid-back, oceanic track with a distinctively '60s sound, featuring stunning orchestrations by Jherek Bischoff and a hint of what's to come on Recess Monkey's October 2013 release, Desert Island Disc.

Deep Sea Diver will be available June 18, 2013 at recessmonkey.com, amazon.com, cdbaby.com, theAVCafe.com, bigkids.com, iTunes, bandcamp.com, Silver Platters, Sonic Boom Records, and Barnes & Noble.


RECESS MONKEY IN PERFORMANCE
Highlights - Summer 2013

July 16                 Madison Square Park,  New York, NY
July 17 & 18         Wolf Trap Theatre-in-the-Woods, Vienna, VA
July 20                 The ArtsCenter, Carrboro, NC
August 3              Rox in Sox Festival, Lake Oswego, OR
August 10 & 11    The Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA
August 12            Edward Kenley Amphitheatre, Layton, UT
August 17            PEPSapalooza, Everett, WA
Sept. 21 & 22       Life is Good Festival, Canton, MA




Disclosure: I received no compensation for this promotion. I was given info and streaming links at no charge from the PR Firm / Company. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of other consumers.



Bookmark and Share

More 4 Mom: Mother's Day Giveaway

Welcome to the "More 4 Mom" Giveaway!

Hosted by:
A Lucky Ladybug and A Ladybug on The Go

Looking for something special to give mom this Mother's Day? Give your mom some pampering that she deserves.  This Giveaway Event is all about MOM!  Let's celebrate every mother we know by getting the coolest gifts out there.  


------------ GIVEAWAY ------------
*** 2 Winners ***

Prize Pack #1 - ARV $167
For more details, click on each link to read the review.) 
Hips n Curves - $50 Gift Card
Eco Chic Gift Baskets - La Dolce Vida All Natural Spa Basket
Draper Valley - 4 Bottles Wine Grape Juice
Exclusiv Vodka - 1 bottle of Rose Vodka


Prize Pack #2 - ARV $146
(For more details, click on each link to read the review.) 
Smart n Sexy - $50 Gift Package
Eat Smart- Precision Voyager Luggage Scale
Draper Valley - 4 Bottles Wine Grape Juice
SlimRock Drink Mixers - 1 Bottle of choice
Exclusiv Vodka - 1 bottle of Rose Vodka
The Candle Shop - 2 Medium Serenity Soy Candle (scent of choice)


Contest is open to US only, 18+. Contest ends April 29th, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize (or another winner will be chosen). Good Luck!  
 
 
{Please wait while Rafflecopter entry form loads...}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: "Make Our Own Network" solely organized this event. I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are 100% my own and may differ from your own. I received no compensation for this promotion.



Bookmark and Share

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

How to Talk to Children about the Boston Tragedy


Making sense of the tragedy at the Boston Marathon yesterday can be quite a challenge for adults, let alone children.

Children process these things differently. They may be asking difficult questions and parents may need suggestions to help discuss what happened and address their concerns.

Fred Rogers from the long-running TV show, Mr. Rogers was quoted as saying, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” That is good advice from the wise Mrs. Rogers, but what if your children have questions and need more?

Below are some helpful tips from Child Psychologist Dr. Phyllis Ohr, for Press4Kids’ News-O-Matic, the first educational, news app for children 7 to 10 years old. Dr. Ohr is also the Director of the Child and Parent Psychological Services Clinic at Hofstra and the Assistant Director of the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program.

Here are some tips from Dr. Ohr for how parents can address news issues with children and what children can do to feel better:

1.       When the event does not personally affect the child, reassure them that everything is okay with the people they love and that nothing has changed for them.

2.    Be sure to stress to children that if they do have questions to ask parents, teachers as well as friends. Other children having the same feelings may be comforting.

3.    Begin by giving the child a brief synopsis of what happened by using age appropriate language. Ask if there is something they want to know more about or if they need something explained further. If so, stick to pointedly answering their question or clarifying. Do not add on or digress.

4.    Do not assume the news will make children feel a certain way. Ask if they know how they feel, but stress that kids feel all different ways when they hear important news and sometimes do not know how they feel or do not feel anything which is okay. However, if children are affected by it, it is their own feeling. Reassure children that no matter what they are feeling, their feelings are okay.

5.    If they are upset but don't want to talk, suggest a fun activity for distraction or help them use calming skills like playing, drawing a picture or writing a story. These activities help release any upset feelings and make children feel better.




Bookmark and Share

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Pre-Mother's Day Giveaway


Welcome to the Pre-Mother’s Day Giveaway! 

Sponsored and hosted by

Special thanks to Buy Blue Steel for providing one of the prizes, and to our cohosts I’m a full-time mummy, Finger Click Saver, and Rocky Mountain Savings!

Mother's Day is on May 12th, which is about a month away, but it is fast approaching. Are you planning anything special to celebrate with your mom and/or family? I'm usually a last-minute person when looking for gifts. It's still a little early, but you can plan ahead for special events.

We have a special giveaway where you can win some wonderful prizes for pampering or to surprise mom. 

Our Mother’s Day prize pack includes the following:

* Silver Rope Blue Steel Ring ($170)
* 1 Thermapen ($90)
* 1 Thirty-One Tote ($70)
* $50 MacCosmetics.com GC
* $50 Amazon.com GC
* 1 Coupon Clutch ($30+)


GIVEAWAY

One lucky winner will win all these above mentioned prizes! Contest is open to US only, 18+. Giveaway ends May 9th, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize (or another winner will be chosen). Good Luck!  
  
{Please wait while GiveawayTools widget entry form loads...}



Disclosure: I received no compensation for this promotion. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of other consumers. "Brandon's Adventures" Blog is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. For questions regarding this giveaway, please contact "Bay Area Mommy" at isis[at]bayareamommy.net.



Bookmark and Share

Monday, April 15, 2013

Blogger Opp: Joys Of Life's Birthday Celebration Giveaway Event


 
Free Blogger Opp: Joys Of Life's Birthday Celebration Giveaway Event


Attention bloggers:  This is a free blogger event hosted by Joys of Life. Joys Of Life is proud to announce that our website is turning 1 on April 5, 2013. Link is free when you post about the giveaway on your blog and a thank-you for participating in the event. Sign up: April 2, 2013 - April 20, 2013


PARTICIPATION DETAILS

Prize: Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 - 10 inch OR Amazon Gift Card Code $350

* Event dates: starts April 22nd 2013

* Eligibility: Contest is open to US & Canada.

* FREE link (Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest) on entry form with announcement post (or pay $5 fee if not posting announcement).

* Optional additional links are $2.20 each

* Co-host spots available for $10 each - Each co-host has there own RC with their links OR

* Co-host spots available for $20 - Including up-to 3 free additional links and a back-link to your blog on the giveaway post.

* Agree to post the giveaway HTML on the date the event begins and promote at least 2x a day

* Please mention Jennie Yuen from "Brandon's Adventures" Blog referred you! Thanks much!




Bookmark and Share

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Little Budding Photographer

Brandon had been enjoying taking photos with us (hubby and I) and has his own camera. Instead of buying a kiddie camera (which is still quite costly), I gave him my really old 2.0MP camera that I no longer need. Recently, Brandon also just learned how to record videos and having fun with that.  Maybe he'll be a really great photographer when he grows up. :)

Taking photos of duckies.


Feeding the duckies.


More photos of Brandon taking photos.





Bookmark and Share

Saturday, April 13, 2013

WGBH and PBS KIDS Series Arthur Embarks on Unique, Interactive Research Study


WGBH Boston, a longtime leader in educational children's media and the producer of PBS Kid's popular ARTHUR series (on air and online), has received a one-year research grant from the John Templeton Foundation. WGBH's award-winning kids interactive group will use ARTHUR characters and stories to design and pilot a groundbreaking interactive comic book that promotes character development, positive decision-making, and pro-social behavior in children.

The project launches a brand-new collaboration with the Institute of Applied Research in Youth Development (IARYD) at Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences and its Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development. Under the direction of IARYD's Richard M. Lerner, one of the nation's foremost experts on positive youth development, Tufts will lead a research study to assess the impact of interactive technology and collaborative learning on character development in young children.

According to Lerner, who is the Bergstrom Chair in Applied Development Science at Tufts, "this method of engaging with content and concepts has the potential to strengthen positive behaviors, but has not yet been studied within character education programs for young children."

In fall 2013, the interactive comic book will be implemented in a pilot program as part of a cross-age buddy program, matching first and second graders with older students in elementary schools in Massachusetts. Together, the students will use the interactive comic book as the focal point of their shared experience and participate in activities designed to encourage discussion and growth around such character attributes as empathy, forgiveness, and generosity.

"This is a creative and well-designed initiative, combining high-quality popular children's media, interactive technology, and peer mentoring ­- not to mention rigorous evaluation research," says Craig Joesph, Director of Character Development at the John Templeton Foundation. "We anticipate that this project will make significant contributions to promoting children's character development and well-being."

Now in its 16th season on PBS, the WGBH produced, animated series ARTHUR follows the world's most popular eight-year-old aardvark and his friends as they experience the challenges that real kids face in learning to navigate a complex and sometimes confusing world. Maintaining friendships, working things out with siblings, dealing with fears and anxieties, and doing the right thing are common series' themes, and provide an ideal springboard for promoting conversations at school and home. "We hear all the time from kids and families that watching ARTHUR has been meaningful to them as they face challenges in their lives," says WGBH's Carol Greenwald, Senior Executive Producer. "We're very excited about the opportunity to work with such great partners to learn how those experiences might translate into substantive, positive growth for kids."


Bookmark and Share
Related Posts with Thumbnails
Shop Step2.com