Sage and Savvy

Holiday Spectacular Day 26: T.J. Maxx and Marshalls Giveaway

2009-12-10T00:01:00.000-10:00

When I worked for the airlines, I’d frequently travel to the mainland, and I’d often shop at Marshalls for some really good deals on clothes. My fellow co-workers did the same—they’d always comment on how they’d just “have to” go to Marshalls and they’d come home with bags and bags of deals!

I wish we had a Marshalls or T.J. Maxx here in Hawaii, because I know I’d find some really good deals for the holidays.

The average family is planning on spending $682 this holiday season (according to the National Retail Federation) on gifts for everyone on their list - 3.2% less than last year - so with price and value at the top of everyone's gift-giving check list, it's essential to look for ways to maximize Holiday budgets this year. With T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, you can stretch your gift-buying budget so that you don't have to leave anyone off the list! With 10,000 new items arriving each week, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls have something for everyone on your list -- from the latest brand-name toys to electronics, beauty products, gourmet food and entertaining essentials--they are one-stop shops for all your holiday needs.

So many of us are on a tighter budget this year, so if you’re looking for some great values on great products for holiday gift-giving, head on over to Marshalls or T.J. Maxx, and maybe you’ll have a little (or a lot) of money left over to buy something special for yourself!

Visit the Marshalls or T.J. Maxx website to find a location near you.

Win: Two lucky winners will each receive a $25 Gift Card redeemable at T.J. Maxx or Marshalls.

To enter, comment on a recent bargain you found at T.J. Maxx or Marshalls, or why you enjoy shopping at either of the stores.
You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.
2)Subscribe to my feed
3)Add my button to your sidebar
4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
The deadline for entries is December 17, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on December 18, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
Valid for US addresses only.
By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
Good luck!

Thank you to TJX products for giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

The Fresh Air Fund and NYC Half-Marathon

2009-12-09T11:34:00.002-10:00

Every year, The Fresh Air Fund gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities.

Whether its a two-week trip to the country to visit a volunteer host family, or a fun-filled and educational stay at one of our camps, our programs make for unforgettable memories – and open a world of new friendships and fresh possibilities.

Just $10 will send one child on a bus ride to his or her Friendly Town host family.
$24 provides a child with a week of swimming lessons.
$42 provides a day of Career Awareness classes.
A gift of $50 can fund a camp counselor for a day.
If you can give as much as $91, you provide a child at camp with meals for a week.
We are a not-for-profit agency and depend on tax-deductible donations from people like you to keep our vital programs flourishing.

On March 21st, the Fresh Air Fund-Racers will take to the streets at the NYC Half-Marathon! Thank you to the Fresh Air Fund-Racers and their supporters for participating in this world class event. You are making a huge difference in the lives of thousands of Fresh Air children!

We have limited availability for this amazing race. If you would like to run, please register here right away.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

NoPlastic.ca Free Stainless Steel Bottle with Purchase

2009-12-09T11:26:00.006-10:00

Now through December 31, 2009, visit www.NOplastic.ca and receive a free 12 oz. stainless steel bottle with a purchase of $100 or more (excluding shipping costs).

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

NoPlastic.ca is a sponsor of Sage and Savvy.

6pm.com 36 Days of Joy

2009-12-09T11:20:00.002-10:00

6pm.com, the sister site of Zappos.com, is the best kept secret for one-stop, online source for brand name shoes, apparel and accessories for women, men & kids - all at up to 80% off.

Each day between now and January 1, 2010, 6pm.com will be offering surprise of the 36 days, 6pm.com will offer a different “deeper deal” item at a price that will make you giddy! Simply visit the website each day, click on the gift package, and unwrap the mystery deal!

Below is a list of everything that is on sale this week at 6pm.com:

12.9 Wednesday
All Old Gringo Boots $119.95
All Chippewa Boots 70% off
All Dockers Apparel and Footwear 60% off
All Kenneth Cole Sunglasses $19.95
All Madden Girl Footwear $19.95

12.10 Thursday
All Donald J. Pliner Footwear and Bags 70%
All Guess Handbags 55% off or more
All baby phat handbags and footwear 60% off
Select Acorn Footwear $9.95
All Dakine Bags 60% off

12.11 Friday
All Sperry Top-Sider Footwear 60% off
All Ahnu $39.95
All RSVP $9.95
All Heely’s $16.95
All Ocean Minded $14.95 or less

12.12 Saturday
All Crocs Kids Footwear 50% and Apparel 60% off
All XCVI apparel $19.95
All Pro-Keds Footwear $19.95
All Cesare Paciotti 70% off
All Ryan Rowe 75% off

12.13 Sunday
All Fitzwell Clothes and Footwear $9.95
All Not Your Daughter’s Jeans Clothing $49.95
Select Propet Footwear Styles $14.95
All Nat Nast Apparel $14.95
All Guiseppe Zanotti 80% off

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

New Holiday Track from Nikki Yanofsky

2009-12-09T11:11:00.003-10:00

Just in time for the holidays, 15-year-old rising star Nikki Yanofksy has released a new Christmas ballad, "One Wish This Christmas." The song - co-written by Nikki herself - is available for sale on iTunes in their Holiday store.

Already the recipient of a Gemini Award, the Canadian equivalent of an Emmy, and two Juno Award nominations for her CD/DVD tribute to her idol Ella Fitzgerald, Nikki's big voice and bubbly personality are ready to take the world by storm. Nikki is currently preparing New to Me, her US debut album, for a Spring 2010 release. Featuring updated jazz standards and folk classics, the record will also showcase some of Nikki's original material, including the song "For Another Day," co-written with Norah Jones' songwriter Jesse Harris.

Check out a new video from Nikki for a glimpse into her busy schedule, in addition to cameos from Harris and legendary music producer Phil Ramone.

"One Wish This Christmas" Buy Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/one-wish-this-christmas-single/id342519750

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Green Works Natural Laundry Detergent and Stain Remover Review

2009-12-09T10:58:00.000-10:00

When it comes to washing clothes, I prefer to use green/eco-friendly detergents and stain removers, and thanks to Mom Central, I received two of Green Works newest products to try out—Natural Laundry Stain Remover and Natural Laundry Detergent.

Natural Laundry Stain Remover (ARV $5.99): Fight your toughest spills and soils with natural stain-fighting ingredients that clean with the power you expect from Clorox. Our natural stain remover has the power to dissolve spaghetti sauce, chocolate, even grape juice – but is dermatologist-tested, color-safe and won't leave a harsh, chemical residue.

Natural Laundry Detergent (ARV $11.99): Now your clothes, linens and towels can get the Green Works® treatment. Our new detergent is dermatologist tested, safe on colors and made with natural, plant-based cleaning ingredients. And clothes washed in Green Works™ natural laundry detergent won't leave a harsh chemical residue and are gentle on skin. Yet it still cleans with the power you expect from Clorox.

Stains on my boys’ clothes are inevitable, so I was eager to try out the Natural Laundry Stain Remover. Smiley Boy had a small pizza sauce stain on a white jumper, so I sprayed some of the Stain Remover on the stain, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and then washed it and the rest of the clothes using the Original-Scent Natural Laundry Detergent, which is “specially formulated for both standard and high-efficiency washers.”

When the load was done, I immediately noticed the fragrance, which is a change for us because we usually use fragrance-free detergents. The fragrance was not over-powering, but I personally would rather use a fragrance-free detergent, and fortunately the Natural Laundry Detergent is also available fragrance-free

The clothes were as clean as I expected them to be, but the pizza stain was still a bit visible, but this could be due to various factors. For instance, I didn’t wait 5 minutes (the directions on the bottle say to “wait 1-5 minutes depending on the severity of the stain”)—I only waited about 2 or 3 before putting the jumper in the wash, and the stain was a day old (the bottle says “for optimal performance, treat stains while still fresh.”).

Next time there are stains on the boys' clothes I will make sure to treat them immediately and wait the full 5 minutes before washing, and hopefully I’ll get even better results!

I love that Green Works offers “greener” laundry solutions, offering me and other consumers out there an alternative that’s safer for my family, and safer for the environment too.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Clorox Green Works and received a bottle of Green Works Natural Detergent and Stain Remover to facilitate my review and a $20 thank-you gift certificate.

Holiday Spectacular Day 25: Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas Review and Giveaway

2009-12-09T00:01:00.004-10:00

Thanks to the Family Review Network and Denon Records, we received a Christmas CD, Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas, (ARV $13.98, Denon Records) which our entire family enjoys listening and singing to!

The soundtrack follows the story line of the movie (A Very Monkey Christmas) through song and music: George and The Man with The Yellow Hat are having a very merry time counting down the days until Christmas. There’s only one puzzle: neither of them can figure out what to give the other for a present. The Man is having trouble reading George’s wish list and George doesn’t have a clue about what to get for The Man who has everything. Will they be able to find the answers before Christmas morning?

The Curious George Soundtrack is a really fun and cute Christmas CD. I really enjoyed the instrumental tracks, and so did Little Music Man, since he often danced to those tracks.

His favorite track was Jingle Bells. He’s been singing Jingle Bells every day for the past week, and when he hears the Jingle Bells track, he stops whatever he’s doing and listens intently.

My favorite track was Our Christmas Monkey. It’s such a cute and original Christmas song!

We love listening to Christmas music during the holidays, and Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas featured a lot of old favorites, as well as some new songs that have already become favorites!

Shop: To purchase Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas, click here to find a retailer.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas!

To enter, visit Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas and comment on your favorite track (excluding anything mentioned in this post).
You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas
2)Subscribe to my feed
3)Add my button to your sidebar
4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
The deadline for entries is December 16, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on December 17, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
Valid for US addresses only.
By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
Good luck!

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program for Denon Records, who supplied the CD for review and giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Review

2009-12-08T14:59:00.000-10:00

When I was in elementary school, I remember there was a made-for-TV movie of Alice in Wonderland, and I was so excited to watch it and everyone talked about it at school all week. It was such an imaginative and engaging story! Thanks to Sterling Publishing, all of the delightful memories of the story came back after reading the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Robert Ingpen (ARV $19.95).

For his first title in a brand-new affiliation with Sterling, renowned children’s artist Robert Ingpen presents a lush new edition of one of the world’s most famous stories: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll’s classic began as a tale told to a group of children on a picnic in 1862. Three years later, it was finally published, and its curious effect of half-dream, half-nightmare instantly captured the imagination of readers of all ages.

This new edition brings together the unabridged text with more than 70 stunning illustrations by Ingpen, each reflecting the artist’s unique style and extraordinary imagination—and the spirit of this eternally popular masterpiece.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was simply a great tale. The imaginative characters, the vivid scenes, and the detailed descriptions really made this story truly entertaining.

From the moment Alice chased the rabbit down a hole, to her meeting of the various characters, including the the Cheshire Cat, the Mock Turtle, the Gryphon (which was my favorite character), through all of her transformations (big, small, serpentine), until she woke up and told her sister of her adventures, it was truly captivating.

Ingpen’s illustrations only added to the magic of this wonderful story of childhood imaginations and dreams.

It’s no wonder this classic tale has been a beloved story for generations.

And I know when Little Music Man is old enough to read it he’ll love it too.

Shop: You can purchase Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on the

Barnes & Nobles website.

Thank you to Sterling Publishing for providing the review product free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Toys "R" Us Begins Countdown to Christmas, Offering Customers the Biggest December of Savings Ever

2009-12-08T09:34:00.002-10:00

With less than 20 shopping days left until Christmas, the holiday values are just beginning as Toys“R”Us offers more incredible savings than ever before throughout the month of December. Starting with the Toys“R”Us Biggest December Sale Ever, the company has introduced a new catalog filled with 40 pages of deals on hundreds of the season’s hottest toys. The special offers continue throughout December with the company’s in-store “Deal of the Day,” which provides exceptional discounts on specific products, as well as entire product categories. To make holiday shopping even more convenient and savings more accessible, Toys“R”Us stores are opening earlier and closing later to accommodate early birds and night owls alike. For those who choose to shop around the clock, the world’s largest online toy store, Toysrus.com, is always open and currently features free shipping on thousands of items.

“Our goal is to provide our customers with the deals they want most, and the convenience they need, during this final countdown to Christmas,” said Greg Ahearn, Senior Vice President, Marketing and e-commerce, Toys“R”Us, Inc. “We know that both quality AND value matter to families, and throughout December Toys“R”Us will be the destination for parents and gift-givers who want to find the right gift at the right price to fit their budget.”

Biggest December Sale Ever Begins Countdown to Christmas
As Christmas creeps even closer, the Biggest December Sale Ever is kicking off the holiday shopping countdown by offering December bargain hunters some of the hottest deals, exclusive merchandise and the most coveted toys. Valid through Saturday, December 12, the Biggest December Sale Ever catalog helps avid deal seekers deck the halls with*:

$3,000 in savings on hundreds of the season’s hottest toys, including sought after brands like Barbie®, Vtech, Fisher-Price®, Disney Princess and Playskool®
Over 20 FREE toy, accessory and gift card offers with purchase
An additional four pages filled with nearly 40 extra two-day bonus buys
First-to-market arrivals of 2010 products so LEGO enthusiasts can ring in the New Year early with a FREE Snowman or Christmas Tree Holiday Set with purchase of ANY LEGO Building item
Brand new hot toys such as the Zhu Zhu Pets Giant Hamster City Playset available ONLY at Toys“R”Us, the Zhu Zhu Pets Headquarters. This exclusive set includes a new hamster, Patches, as well as a Fun House, Adventure Ball, Garage with Car, Exercise Wheel, Sleep Dome and – everyone’s favorite – Mr. Squiggles.

Additional Biggest December Sale Ever catalog highlights, which kick off the December of savings at Toys“R”Us, include*:

BUY ONE, GET ONE 50% OFF ON ALL video games and CDs
FREE Radio Control Corvette ($44.99 value) with ANY Barbie doll or playset purchase of $100 or more
FREE New Moon bracelet ($9.99 value) with ANY New Moon purchase of $25 or more
FREE $25 Toys“R”Us Gift Card with the purchase of ANY iPod® touch
FREE Harumika Deluxe Style Accents ($9.99 value) with ANY Harumika purchase of $25 or more
BUY TWO, GET the THIRD FREE on ALL Totally Me! craft sets ($1.48-$44.99 value)
30% OFF select games during the Big Game Sale
$20 OFF ANY Vtech purchase of $75 or more
25% OFF ALL Wii Fit, Nintendo DS Lite and Nintendo DSi Accessories (Two-day Bonus Buy)

The company is supporting the sale through an aggressive advertising campaign, including television and radio promotions, as well as online banner advertisements. Additionally, online shoppers can take advantage of free shipping on thousands of items with purchases of $49 or more at Toysrus.com until Sunday, December 20.

An Unadvertised In-Store “Deal of the Day” Every Day Until Christmas
As an ode to the traditional Christmas countdown, Toys“R”Us is offering a “Deal of the Day,” which presents customers with a new in-store deal every day through December 24 on the most sought after toys this season. Each day, customers who visit Toysrus.com/DealoftheDay can click on “Get Deal of the Day” or “Get Tomorrow’s Deal of the Day” for a sneak peek of the following day’s deal, and access downloadable, printable coupons to use in store. Today’s deal offers shoppers a coupon to save 50% on the Barbie Storyteller Clock Radio, Barbie MP3 Player, Barbie Portable CD Bloombox, Hot Wheels CD Player and Hot Wheels Alarm Clock Radio*. To make accessing these deals even more convenient, customers can sign up for alerts to receive the “Deal of the Day” via e-mail when they visit Toysrus.com/DealoftheDay.

Ho-Ho-Holiday Expanded Shopping Hours
Bells will be ringing as Toys“R”Us makes deals even more accessible to customers during the busiest shopping days of the year with extended hours throughout the holiday season. Toys“R”Us stores across the country are opening earlier and closing later to accommodate more shoppers seeking to snag the must-have items on their loved one’s wish list. To make the holidays merry and bright for savvy savers, Toys“R”Us stores will be open during the following extended hours over the next two weeks**:

Monday, December 7 – Friday, December 11: 7am – 12midnight
Saturday, December 12: 6am – 12midnight
Sunday, December 13 – Wednesday, December 16: 7am – 12midnight

*All discounted items must be of equal or lesser value. Available only while supplies last. Quantities limited; no rain checks. Certain offers available in-store only.
**All Toys“R”Us stores nationwide will remain open until 12midnight according to the above scheduled hours, except for stores in Paramus, NJ that close earlier and open later. Check with local Toys“R”Us stores for amended holiday hours. In general, these hours do not apply to Toys“R”Us Holiday Express locations, which will follow their respective mall hours. Check the Toys“R”Us store locator at Toysrus.com for expanded hours in select locations.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Toy Industry Assocation Websites

2009-12-08T09:31:00.000-10:00

With so many toys out there to choose from, it’s often difficult to figure out which ones to get for my boys. Thanks to Team Mom, I discovered two great websites launched by the Toy Industry Association that can help me figure out which toys would be a hit with my boys!

ToyInfo.org is a parent’s resource for facts and information about toys and play.

This site provides a bunch of useful information on toy recalls, trends, and safety. There’s also information on the benefits of play, toys that made it into the National Toy Hall of Fame, and so much more! ToyInfo.org offers just about all the information you need to make an informed purchasing decision when it comes to toys.

Toyawards.org: The TOTYs are the "Oscars" of the toy industry … the "best of the best" as selected by industry experts. Explore this site to find out more about this season's most creative and innovative toys and games … tell us which products YOU think are best in each category … and enter for a chance to win ALL the Finalist products in the category of your choice!

There are so many neat and cool toys that have won awards, a few of which my boys already own, such as the Twilight Turtle (an Infant Toy of the Year) and Tonka Chuck & Friends My Talking Truck (a Preschool Toy of the Year). Since I'm already done with my holiday shopping, I’ve found a lot of great gift ideas for upcoming birthdays!

Now that I know these websites exists, I will definitely be referring to them again in the future when trying to find the perfect toys for my boys!

This post is part of a blog campaign by Team Mom. Team Mom entered me in a random drawing to win a gift to thank me for participating. I received no monetary compensation or this post.

Holiday Spectacular Day 24: Andrea Bocelli: My Christmas Review and Giveaway

2009-12-08T01:11:00.004-10:00

This time of year I love listening to holiday music, and thanks to Universal Music Group, I had a chance to listen to Andrea Bocelli’s first ever Christmas album, My Christmas (ARV $18.98 CD, $7.99 Digital Download).

My Christmas is the ultimate holiday recording from Andrea Bocelli, who sings traditional carols and favorites in English, with a few selections also featuring Italian and German…“I have long dreamed of recording a holiday album that captures the beautiful traditions of the holiday season. Every year these songs have brought incredible joy to my family and I, and it is my hope to give back that same joy by making this album,” commented Bocelli.

My Christmas was a magical and festive CD. I especially enjoyed the songs sung in foreign languages. Cantique de Noel was beautiful, and so was Adeste Fideles, which was my favorite track on the CD.

I loved the duets, particularly The Christmas Song, with Natalie Cole, and I also enjoyed Blue Christmas—I thought it was pretty neat to hear Bocelli singing a country hit!

Bocelli’s powerful and beautiful voice makes My Christmas one of my favorite holiday CDs, full of classic Christmas songs that never fails to get me in the holiday spirit!

Shop: You can purchase a download of My Christmas on iTunes,or purchase the CD at various retailers online and nationwide.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of My Christmas!

To enter, visit My Christmas and comment on your favorite track (excluding anything mentioned in this post).
You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Andrea Bocelli: My Christmas
2)Subscribe to my feed:
3)Add my button to your sidebar
4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
The deadline for entries is December 15, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on December 16, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
Valid for US addresses only.
By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
Good luck!

Thank you to Universal Music Group for providing the products for review and giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Behind-the-Scenes of New Lifehouse Video "Halfway Gone"

2009-12-07T21:06:00.003-10:00

Lifehouse recently premiered the music video for "Halfway Gone," the first single from their upcoming release Smoke & Mirrors. Now, the band has released a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the video, directed by the talented Frank Borin (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Good Charlotte). In this clip, the guys discuss the concept for "Halfway Gone" and the tricks they used to make people appear out of nowhere.

"Halfway Gone" is available for purchase now on iTunes, while Smoke & Mirrors will hit stores on February 2, 2010. Visit Lifehousemusic.com for additional updates from the band.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Kmart Bluelight Specials December 12 & 13

2009-12-07T15:24:00.001-10:00

Kmart Bluelight Specials for December 12th and 13th:
· Essential Home Snug Sack 50% off (reg. $19.99)
· Jaclyn Smith Today Cashmere Blend Throw $12.99 (reg. $29.99)
· Kodak 7” digital frame $49.99 (reg. $79.99)

All day offers:
Saturday:
· Mens Boxed Gifts $5 (reg. 16.99-19.99)
· Die Hard Battery Bank BOGO Free (reg. $9.99)
Sunday:
· Fisher Price Fashion Separates $4.99 (Infant/Toddler) reg. $10.99-$18.99
· Hershey Snack size jumbo bags $3.50 (reg. $5.99)

Don’t forget to follow @KmartDealsnNews and use the #KmartBLS hashtag for a chance to win every day! For more info & rules: http://tr.im/KmartBLS. Good luck!

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Holiday Spectacular Day 23: Dancing with the Stars: Dance off the Pounds Review and Giveaway

2009-12-07T01:55:00.002-10:00

I often watch Dancing with the Stars, and I think it’s amazing how fit and trim the celebrities become as they go through the season. I also feel for them as I watch them learn the tough dances, and I had a chance to experience just a tiny bit of what the stars go through thanks to the DVD Dancing with the Stars: Dance off the Pounds (ARV $16.98).

Each season, audiences watch in amazement as stars shrink down and shape up on ABC’s DANCING WITH THE STARS™. Now you can share their weight-loss success and dance off the pounds with three different cardio dance routines—Swing, Jive and Quickstep—led by pro dancers Dmitry, Lacey and Kym. Each routine gets your body warmed up with the signature moves of the featured dances before progressively adding on to create complete, calorie-blasting workouts – so you can learn with ease and get dancer fit all at once. Join the fat-burning fun and dance your way to a superstar body!

I love to dance, but when it comes to the Swing, Jive, and Quickstep, I’m clueless, so the first time I tried Dance Off the Pounds, it was quite difficult.

The first section, featuring Kym doing the Swing, was the easiest of the dance exercises to me. I caught on pretty quickly to most of the steps, such as the triple step/cross step and Charleston, but a few of the moves, like the Susie Q, took me a while to get the hang of.

The Jive was very similar to the Swing, but it seemed much more fast paced, and Lacey seemed to go through the steps a lot faster too. The triple steps and kicks were simple, but once she started to add spins and big arms I fumbled a lot.

The Quickstep was indeed the hardest for me—they don’t call it Quickstep for nothing! Dmitry seemed to go through a lot of steps at once before adding them to the routine, and unlike the other routines, I found myself simply bouncing to the beat since I couldn’t master most of the steps (and I was out of breath!).

However, the more I do the dances on the DVD, I'm sure it'll get easier.

Each section was just 15 minutes long, and I did them all in one evening, but there is an option to do only specific dances, and to even do the exercises with music only, versus music and instruction.

Despite struggling throughout most of the DVD, I did break a sweat and I know my heart was pumping hard, and as I continue to do the exercises on the DVD, hopefully I’ll become a decent dancer, and at the very least, as fit as one!

As with any exercise program, it’s important that you consult with your doctor or other physician first.

Shop: You can purchase Dancing with the Stars: Dance off the Pounds at various retailers online and nationwide.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Dancing with the Stars: Dance off the Pounds!

To enter, comment on your favorite style of dance.
You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Dancing with the Stars: Dance off the Pounds
2)Subscribe to my feed
3)Add my button to your sidebar
4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
The deadline for entries is December 14, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on December 15, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
Valid for US addresses only.
By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
Good luck!

Thank you to Lionsgate for providing the products for review and giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Earn Free Cookies from Gilbert's Gourmet Goodies

2009-12-06T06:14:00.002-10:00

For a limited time, when you help spread the word about our delicious Gluten-Free & Allergy-Friendly cookies, Gilbert's Goodies will send you a coupon for a FREE Gilbert's Goodies Cookies. Simply click the link below to start referring your friends. Once your three friends register online and print out the $1.00 off coupon, we will automatically send you your FREE coupon in the mail.

Click Here to sign-up to be a part of the Gilbert's Goodies Refer-A-Friend Program. Refer friends and receive free cookies. Plus, when you click the above link, we will give you an instant, downloadable $1.00 coupon to use this Holiday Season.

Thank you for your help with spreading the word about Gilbert's Gourmet Goodies!

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Tiny Prints Best Sale of the Season

2009-12-06T06:12:00.001-10:00

Save up to $50 off your holiday order during our best sale of the season with the coupon code DECHOLEMAIL. Plus, Christmas is only a few weeks away, so make sure you place your order by Wednesday 12/9/09 to receive your holiday cards by Friday 12/18/09, giving you plenty of time to stamp, address and send them! Best sale of the season expires on 12/7/09.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Holiday Spectacular Day 22: Gorton's Seafood Review and Giveaway

2009-12-06T01:03:00.006-10:00

I don’t eat too much seafood, but thanks to Gorton’s Seafood I received coupons good for free products that I was eager to try out!

The Gorton’s Way is to provide our consumers and customers with products and services that surpass their expectations.

The Gorton’s Way includes:

An intense focus on satisfying the consumer first, last, and always
A commitment to providing competitively superior products and matchless customer service
An organization and individual dedication to always doing things right and to doing the right things
A strong belief in the importance of all our people, their ideas, and their ability to take ownership and make a difference
A partnership with all our business associates that is based on clear requirements and superior execution
A restless dissatisfaction that causes continuous learning, changing, and improving
An extraordinary responsiveness to what needs to be done, made possible by effective focus, teamwork and communication

I picked up a bag of 10 Classic Crunchy Golden Fillets. I baked them according to the directions, and DH, Little Music Man and I tried the fish.

I tasted one of the fillets and it was really good—nice and crisp on the outside, and tender and flaky on the inside.

DH enjoyed the fish fillets too—he ended up eating 4 fillets for lunch, more for dinner, and whatever was left over he made a fish sandwich the next day!

It took some time for Little Music Man to eat the fish. Initially he didn’t want to eat it, but eventually he ate most of the fish that we gave him.

The Crunchy Breaded Fillets come in a resealable bag which makes storing a cinch, but in our case, we didn’t need to store any since I baked all 10 fillets at once and it was all gone the next day.

I have a couple of more Gorton’s Seafood coupons and I’ll probably pick up some Fish Sticks and use them in the

Asian Fish Stick Lettuce Wraps, one of the many recipes found on the Gorton’s Seafood website.

Gorton’s Seafood products makes it easy for our family to enjoy fish while getting Omega-3s, protein, and other nutrients, and I can’t wait to try other Gorton’s Seafood products!

Shop: You can purchase Gorton’s Seafood products at grocers nationwide.

Savvy Savings: You can print coupons good towards the purchase of select Gorton’s products by clicking here.

Win: Five lucky winners will each receive a Gorton’s Celebrates Gloucester calendar (an 18-month calendar, beginning with July 2009 and ending December 2010, which includes over $10 in coupons), as well as a Gorton’s electronic Sudoku game.

To enter, visit Gorton’s Seafood and comment on which is your favorite product or product you’d like to try.
You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Gorton’s Seafood
2)Subscribe to my feed
3)Add my button to your sidebar
4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
The deadline for entries is December 13, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on December 14, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
Valid for US addresses only.
By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
Good luck!

Thank you to Gorton’s Seafood for providing the products for review and giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Big Apple Circus Discount Codes Extended for More Dates

2009-12-05T15:00:00.002-10:00

Big Apple Circus Discount Codes have been extended to include the following dates: Dec. 13 at 4:30 pm, Dec. 20 at 4:30 pm, and Dec 22, Dec 23 - both shows.

Use the POP10 discount code to visit the Big Apple Circus during the holiday break for some great family fun!

To purchase your discounted tickets to the Big Apple Circus:
Online: http://bigapplecircus.org/pop.aspx and submit the code POP10 in the Promotional Codes box

By Phone: CALL 888-541-3750 and mention code POP10

In Person: Big Top Box Office 10AM–6PM daily. No service fee. Bring a copy of this blog post

*Offer good on select seat locations and performances. Must present this blog post to receive discount at the box office. Performance schedule subject to change. Offer is subject to availability; not valid on prior purchases; cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions. This offer can be revoked at any time. Discount amount varies. Limit 8 tickets per order. No refunds or exchanges. Telephone and Internet orders are subject to standard service fees.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

JumpStart: Escape from Adventure Island Review

2009-12-05T14:53:00.002-10:00

Thanks to JumpStart, Little Music Man has been developing a lot of his reading and math skills with the new Wii game Escape from Adventure Island (ARV $29.99, ESRB rated “E” for everyone).
Designed for kids ages 5-9, JumpStart Escape from Adventure Island is the second title in the JumpStart series of adventure-based learning games for the Wii™. This action-packed game invites players to use their explorer skills and brain power to find a way to escape a mysterious island after a crash landing strands them there! As players race to collect the pieces needed to repair their blimp, they’ll need to ward off the pesky fur balls known as Punk Punks and navigate 3D worlds both above and below the water. Along the way, players can practice over 150 math, reading and critical thinking skills—the fun way!

Key Features

A magical 3D learning environment packed with games, adventures and hidden surprises.
Seamlessly integrated learning games that encourage players to practice math, reading and critical thinking skills to earn virtual rewards.
Wii Remote™ technology that allows players to run, jump, fly, swim, roll and dance across a virtual island.

The first thing we did once we started the game was create Little Music Man’s Jumpee Avatar and dress him up. Then it was time to start his adventure!

We immediately explored the Scuba Hub. We visited the Manta Ray, where we had to find specific numbers (it was quite fun to “swim” around and float on bubbles), and Little Music Man’s Jumpee performed in a fashion show. This was one of my favorite games (and easiest for Little Music Man to play). The Jumpee would dress up appropriately based on the criteria that was given (e.g. a green outfit), and when the Jumpee hit the marks on the runway, the controller had to be moved certain ways to earn points.

The more points we earned, the more sand dollars we could obtain, which could be traded in for a variety of things—clothes, items for the Jumpee’s house, and more!

Little Music Man also had fun squashing Punk Punks, and dancing in Foot Frenzy.

He has yet to master the use of the Wii controller so I still help him out quite a bit, but that doesn’t prevent him from having fun!

There are just so many more games that Little Music Man has yet to play. Each time he plays Escape from Adventure Island, he experiences a new adventure that’s just as fun as it is educational!

Shop: You can purchase Escape from Adventure Island at various retailers online and nationwide.

Thank you to JumpStart for providing the product for review free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Mom Central's Holiday Gift Guide

2009-12-05T10:05:00.001-10:00

So many of us are busy getting gifts for everyone on our list. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could get something for ourselves? Wouldn’t it be even nicer if we could win it? Check out Mom Central’s Holiday Gift Guide, which features a variety of gifts that could be great for anyone on your list, and even gifts you may want to get for yourself, including gifts you can enter to win!

Here are week 1’s reviews and prizes: (You must enter to win by Tuesday, December 8)
'Irving Berlin's White Christmas' DVD
A copy of ''Twas the Night Before Christmas'
Hallmark DVD Greetings
Mouse-ke-TAG game
The Popcorn Factory
Press Dough Deluxe Cookie Factory
SkinGlow Pillow Cover
ZipperBack Gloves
Eco Touch Car Care Kit
Lil' Ol' Me Onesie and Autism Awareness Bracelet
Pandora Bracelets

Check back each week for the rest of the month to see what great products are being featured and given away in the Mom Central’s Holiday Gift Guide!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central. Mom Central entered my name in a random drawing to win a gift to thank me for taking the time to participate. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Spreadshirt's 12 Days of Christmas

2009-12-05T09:46:00.000-10:00

Spreadshirt has taken the stress out of holiday shopping. Whether creating a gift for mom, dad, a favorite aunt, co-worker…or even the dog—a Spreadshirt will surely be a favorite gift this holiday season. Thoughtful and personalized gifts are the most fun to open and will also mean more to the recipient.

For 12 days, you can purchase your love something better than a partridge in a pear tree. Spreadshirt’s 12 days of Christmas ends on Thursday, December 15th. Each customer that purchases a minimum of $35, can cross another gift off of there to-buy list, and receive an extra 20% off. Choose your favorite item from this selection and enter the coupon code you’ll see below.

Who doesn’t loves a good deal? Your readers can visit Spreadshirt all 12 days and continue to receive the 20% off every time they make a purchase of $35 or more for 12 days straight!

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Holiday Spectacular Day 21: Emily Osment, Skelanimals, and A Very Special Christmas Giveaway

2009-12-05T00:01:00.005-10:00

Have you completed your holiday shopping yet? Need some gift ideas? Here are some ideas that may turn out to be the perfect gift for someone on your list:

Emily Osment: All the Right Wrongs: Emily Osment plays Hannah's best friend Lily Truscott on the Disney Channel Show Hannah Montana. Her new album, “All The Right Wrongs,” features the hit single, “All The Way Up.”

Shop: You can purchase All the Way Up on Amazon, or purchase a download on iTunes.

Skelanimals: Skelanimals is a four-year-old company that has up until now been marketing to teenagers. They have recently expanded their demographics to children ages 4-12, as well as their parents...Skelanimals also has a line of winter wear featuring cute & cuddly Skelanimals that are sure to keep anyone warm.

Shop: You can purchase Skelanimals products online by clicking here.

A Very Special Christmas Volume 7: A Very Special Christmas benefits the Special Olympics. The artists, including Carer Twins, Vanessa Hudgens, Leighton Meester, Miley Cyrus, Sean Kingston, Colbie Caillat, Carrie Underwood and others...all come together to record a Christmas album for charity.

Track Listing:
1. COLBIE CAILLAT - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
2. CARTER TWINS - Let It Snow
3. MILEY CYRUS - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
4. VANESSA HUDGENS - Winter Wonderland
5. SEAN KINGSTON - The Little Drummer Boy
6. CHARICE - The Christmas Song
7. KRISTINA DeBARGE - Do You Hear What I Hear?
8. MITCHEL MUSSO - Jingle Bell Rock
9. LEIGHTON MEESTER - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
10. KELLIE PICKLER - Santa Baby
11. CARRIE UNDERWOOD - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
12. ASHLEY TISDALE - Last Christmas
13. GLORIANA - Silent Night

Shop: You can purchase A Very Special Christmas Vol. 7 on Amazon or the Special Olympics website.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a holiday gift pack which includes the following: A copy of Emily Osment's new album All The Right Wrongs, a Skelanimals winter beanie, and a copy of A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 7 (Total ARV $32.00).

To enter, comment on why you’d like to win the gift pack.
You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy, A Very Special Christmas Volume 7, Skelanimals, and Emily Osment: All the Right Wrongs
2)Subscribe to my feed
3)Add my button to your sidebar
4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
The deadline for entries is December 12, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on December 13, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
Valid for US addresses only.
By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
Good luck!

Thank you to Crowd Surf for providing the products for giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Let Her Dance from Fantastic Mr. Fox

2009-12-04T11:33:00.000-10:00

Wes Anderson’s highly critically-acclaimed stop-motion animated movie Fantastic Mr. Fox opened everywhere over the weekend!

To celebrate, an adorable music video featuring the song “Let Her Dance” by the Bobby Fuller Four set to clips from the film premiered.

Buy the exclusive deluxe version of the album on iTunes: http://bit.ly/FanFoxOST.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Holiday Spectacular Day 20: Coleman Giveaway

2009-12-04T00:14:00.005-10:00

Earlier in the year, after going through quite a few power outages, we decided to purchase a battery-operated lantern, and when doing my shopping research, I immediately thought of Coleman.

More than 100 years ago, a young man with an entrepreneurial spirit and a better idea began manufacturing lanterns in Wichita, Kansas. His name was W.C. Coleman. And the company he founded would change life in America. A fascinating saga, if we do say so ourselves. One filled with historical significance, amazing innovations and delightfully fun things to know. Our current catalog is thick with recently introduced products that make spending time outside a pleasure. There are coolers that keep food and drinks cold for several days. Airbeds that are comfortable and won't deflate during the night. A complete line of LED lights that are really bright and last a long time. Portable grills that are powerful and cook with an authentic open-grill flame, and much, much more.

We did indeed end up purchasing a Coleman lantern, and it has already been put too good use.

If you want to get yourself prepared for an emergency, you’re an avid adventurer, or you’re looking for a gift for the holidays, Coleman is currently offering a $25 Gift Card to one lucky follower each day through January 14, 2010 in the Coleman Campfire 50-Day Giveaway Campaign!

All you have to do is:1. Follow Coleman on Twitter. 2. Tweet the answer to this question, "What would you buy this holiday season from Coleman.com and why?" Make sure you put @colemancampfire in your Tweet.Entries are limited to one per person/Twitter account per day (note that the Twitter contest is open to US residents only).

For official rules, visit http://bit.ly/6MnbdX.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a $25 Gift Card to Coleman.com!

To enter, follow Coleman on Twitter and leave a comment with an answer to the question "What would you buy this holiday season from Coleman.com and why?" (be sure to leave your Twitter name in your comment).
You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Coleman.com
2)Subscribe to my feed
3)Add my button to your sidebar
4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
5)Add my Holiday Spectacular button to your sidebar
The deadline for entries is December 11, 2009, 11:59pm HST.
If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on December 12, 2009 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
Valid for US addresses only.
By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
Good luck!

Thank you to Coleman for providing the giveaway product giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum Review

2009-12-03T12:17:00.000-10:00

I’ve seen The Wizard of Oz on television a handful of times, but I’ve never read the original story until I received a copy of the book The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, illustrated by Charles Santore (ARV $16.95, Sterling Publishing).

The ultimate gift edition of L. Frank Baum’s beloved story—just in time to celebrate the 70th anniversary of MGM’s classic film adaptation! Featuring a ribbon marker, this magical version is redesigned and reproduced from the original art.

Charles Santore has crafted a very personal, highly visual, and dazzling interpretation, with a carefully condensed text that uses virtually no words other than Baum’s own. Readers of all ages will follow the Yellow Brick Road on an unforgettable journey that takes them from Dorothy’s gray Kansas home into the blue Munchkin land; the sparkling bejeweled Emerald City; the dark, foreboding forest; and the ruby-red throne room of Glinda the Good Witch.

It’s been a while since I last saw The Wizard of Oz on TV, and since I have never read the book, it was intriguing to read Baum’s original story.

Many of the main elements between the story and the movie remained the same--a cyclone rips through Kansas, where Dorothy lived with her uncle and aunt, and she ends up in the land of the Munchkins, and follows the yellow brick road to find Oz, the Wizard, to help her get back home. On her journey she meets the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Lion, and she encounters a lot of scary and evil creatures, including the Wicked Witch.

However, there were quite a few differences that really made the story engaging and amusing, such as how Oz made a new “brain” for the Scarecrow and stuffed it in his head, how he cut a hole in the Tin Woodman’s chest and stuffed a heart in it, and how he made the Lion drink something to get courage. Also, instead of ruby red slippers, Dorothy wore silver shoes!

I really enjoyed reading this timeless tale, and Santore’s interpretation and beautiful illustrations offer a fresh take on this beloved classic. I especially enjoyed his representation of the characters within the City of Emeralds.

Although Little Music Man is too young to read The Wizard of Oz, it’s one that I know he will enjoy when he’s old enough to read it, and I’m sure that it’ll be one of our most treasured classics.

Shop: You can purchase The Wizard of Oz on the Barnes & Noble website.

Thank you to Sterling Publishing for providing the review product free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.