Saturday, December 17, 2011

Between the Lines Goes Disney: Tangled

**This Post Was Written By My Seven Year Old.**

Last year at Disney World, we saw Flynn Rider and Rapunzel! Rapunzel  hid  from  Flynn. We helped her hide.

After he found her we danced with them.  I got to hold Flynn's hand! 

We got to draw a picture of Flynn and Rapunzel. 

We also got to meet Pascal. Pascal is Rapunzel's Chameleon friend.

And that was one of my favorite parts of my trip to Disney World.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Festive Ganz Bear Review and Giveaway!


The fun and friendly people at Ganz have done it once again.  Last Christmas, they made my children happy with their new (and now favorite) Webkinz Jr. friends.  And now they have shared their cuddly Festive Plush Bears with us.

These cute bears have found happy homes in the arms of my two girls.  Just like all the Ganz plush animals we own, they are extremely soft to the touch.  Their fur is short and smooth and their bodies squishy and cuddly.   They are just what my girls would expect from their stuff animals.  Ganz offers a wide variety of animals for children and a special collection for the littlest ones.  They would make amazing holiday gifts and bring smiles to the faces of your little loves.  Check them out today online or at your local toy retailer.

One lucky reader of Between the Lines is going to win their very own Festive Ganz Bear like the ones sitting on my daughter's bed.  Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  Happy Holidays!

Time and Again Review and Giveaway


When I think of Ganz, I think of the company that provided my daughters with their favorite Webkinz and Webkinz Jr.  But I have just discovered that they offer a wonderful Personal Care and Candle/Air Care Line.  For all those mothers out there looking for a little extra pampering, wait until you see what Time and Again  has to offer you.
Time and Again offers a variety of soy-blended candles and air care options for your home.  They have jars, pillars, or tapers in seasonal, floral, fruity, and sweet scents.   I was lucky enough to have the chance to review their Crackling Wick Sweet Peppermint Candle.  I can honestly say that this is my favorite candle of all time.  Not only is the scent perfect for the holiday season, but its unique crackling wick provides a soothing sound to read or write to.  It reminds me of my childhood when my dad would build a crackling fire in the fireplace.  I loved the popping and cracking sounds then and I still do.

I also am in love with Time and Again's Body Care products.  I was able to review a few items from their Winter Bird Collection.  The Replenishing Hand Lotion (8.1 fl. oz.) and Moisturizing Hand Wash (8.1 fl. oz.) were just what my hands were craving after cracking from the dry winter air.  Even my young girls love the smell and feel of the the lotion.  It is very gentle and leaves a smooth, non-greasy feel.

My hands were even more thankful for their Sweet Vanilla Grapefruit Shea Body Butter.  "Created without parabens and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, our Clean Formula uses pure essential oils for natural, soothing scents without synthetic dyes or synthetic fragrances."  This body butter cream is perfect for all of those extra dry cracking spots on the body.  I've used it for my heels, elbows, and hands. 

And it  is not too late to order your favorite holiday scents in a wide variety of forms.  There are some great stocking stuffer ideas as well including: Emory boards and Bath fizzies.  One lucky winner of Between the Lines is going to win a great package from Time and Again.

What do you think??  Would you like to win a Crackling Candle, hand wash, hand lotion, body butter, bath fizzie, and emory board?  Well simply enter below in the Rafflecopter form.  Don't forget to explore Time and Again's great website and find your favorite scents and products. 

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Shabby Apple Dress Giveaway


Have you ever been dress shopping and wondered why all the dresses require ladies to bare so much skin?   I have run into this problem more times than I can count.  I am always searching for that simple, yet fun dress that I can feel comfortable in whether I'm out to dinner or at work.  Shabby Apple is the online dress boutique that is going to help me find that perfect women's dress.  At Shabby Apple, they "make women feel feminine and beautiful for what they wear, not what they bare. [They] offer flirty, stylish dresses a woman can wear just as comfortably in the office, at a family dinner, or on a date. Shabby Apple is a fashion company for women, by women, and of women."

It is easy to find the perfect dress at Shabby Apple.  They have their dresses separated into various categories including vintage dresses and boutique dresses.  You can even shop by body type or color.  The above dress is called Mariposa Grove.  This flirty A-Line dress is fun an flattering.  It s even machine washable, so no more worrying about taking your favorite dress to the dry cleaners.   If you decide to buy this beauty (retail $86) and for some reason it doesn't fit right, Shabby Apple will let you return it and receive a new dress free of charge.

Another great dress at Shabby Apple is the Da Vinci.  The Da Vinci (retail $56) is a comfortable jersey knit dress that would be perfect for any day and any occasion.  I absolutely love the feel of the jersey knit material and I love how the dress looks so unique.  Besides dresses, Shabby Apple also sells skirts, blouses, jewelry, swimwear, and kids' clothing.   I encourage you to visit their website and explore their great selection.  Readers of Between the Lines can also use this coupon code (betweenthelines10off) to receive 10% off their purchase during the length of this giveaway.

One lucky reader of Between the Lines is going to win their choice of dresses shown above! Simply enter on the Rafflecopter form below. Follow them on Facebook to get the most update information from Shabby Apple, as well as special promotions and discounts.

  **Although Shabby Apple is usually more than happy to exchange a purchased item for you, there will be no exchanges for the winning dress.**


Glee Gum..From Tree to Glee... Review and Giveaway







Glee Gum is all natural chewing gum made with sustainably harvested rainforest chicle. It comes in 8 great flavors: cinnamon, peppermint, tangerine, bubblegum, spearmint, triple berry, sugar-free lemon-lime and sugar-free refresh-mint. Glee Gum is the #1 healthy alternative to synthetic chewing gum and bubble gum! No artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners (no aspartame). Chew with Glee, naturally

Glee Gum is know for its gum, but did you know that they also have Make your own Kits? They have kits for chewing gum, chocolate and gummies. They are all natural and they blend simple fun, terrific taste, and hands-on learning for convenient use at home and school. Each kit contains everything needed to produce candy that kids love, and, at the same time, affords an understanding of the origins of the raw materials used to make the final product. For example, the Gummies Kit uses seaweed, which produces carrageenan,as its gelling agent. And kids don’t just melt chocolate chips with the Chocolate Kit. They actually start from scratch, with cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and sugar. As for the Chewing Gum Kit – the gum base gets its start as the sap from a Sapodilla tree, of all things! Each kit includes a story about where the ingredients come from, who harvests them, and how. In today’s pre-packaged world, it’s often hard to know where the things we eat originate, and how they connect us to the global community. These kits make it easy and fun to find out!




We recently had the opportunity to try a Make your own Chocolate Kit. My girls love chocolate, so when they found out they would be making their own candy, they were very excited. As a homeschooling mom, I was excited, because they would also be learning in the process.









The kits came with everything they needed to make their own chocolate candy. . The kit included cocoa butter, starter crystals, cocoa powder, confectioner's sugar, paper candy liners and a temperature indicator. They also include 2 whole cacao beans for them to try. For the most part, they were able to do it themselves. You can either use the stove top to melt the ingredients or the microwave. To make it a bit simpler for us, we used the microwave. Also, included was a story about cacao beans and how they are harvested and how they are a part of our world. It was quite fun and educational for my girls.

So...now to the important question. Was it any good? Yes!! It was very good. The girls loved it.
Where can you find these kits? Check out Glee Gum online to find where to purchase all these great products!



If you have kids, they will probably love to try out one of the kits. It is great way to spend an hour together. Check out Glee Gum on Facebook or Twitter. Sign up here to receive their newsletter so you don't miss out on exciting news from them.  One lucky reader of Between the Lines is going to win their very own Chocolate Kit.  To enter you must sign up for their newsletter.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Chick-Fil-A Giveaway!




The Cow Watches have arrived in Chick-fil-A Kid's Meals! These brand new watches will be included in kid's meals during the Holiday season to remind familes to take "time" to spend those special moments with the ones they love. And to help families out, I have posted the Chik-fil-A Cow Watch widget below. This widget has 10 Family Fun Activities! My kids loved exploring the CarFun Activities and Inside Activities. And seeing as how everyone was so excited about these fun watches, Chick-fil-A has decided to offer a lucky reader of Between the Lines a fun prize pack that includes 5 Cow Watches and 2 Plush Cows! That would be a great prize for any family with young children. Explore the fun Widget below and take the Holiday Quiz. Let me know the results on Facebook and you could win the Chick-Fil-A prize pack for your family. I took the Holiday Quiz and I am a "Friend of the Frost". Are you with me or are you a Holiday Hero? Maybe a Holiday Humbug? Either way, don't miss the new Cow Watches at your local Chick-fil-A restaurant.





a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Scunci Linziclip Review and Giveaway



Ready to try the new generation of hair clips? If you love your trusty claw clips, but think they could use a little update, say hello to the Linziclip® by Scunci. It is available in 3 different sizes. Mini, Midi, and Maxi. Prices range from $3.99 to $5.99. They also come in different colors.



The linziclip is a new clip by Scunci. The Linziclip is as simple to use as your go-to claw clips, but with a cleaner, more polished look! Like a claw clip, springs and "teeth" are used to grip the hair tightly, but they are hidden within a sleek cylinder exterior that comes in a variety of sizes, colors, designs and finishes. Its unique flat bottom design allows for a firm, yet comfortable hold (feel free to lay your head back), while the hinges are placed discreetly on the sides of the clip – no more "butterfly" wings on top of the clip!


As you will see in the picture below,this worked really well in my daughters hair. It didn't pull on her hair or make her uncomfortable. It is very sleek looking and my daughter loved the animal print that was on it.

For more information on Scunci's products or great giveaways and styling ideas visit them on Facebook or Twitter. If you are interested in winning your very own Linziclip from Scunci, just enter below.

Mandatory Entry:  Visit Scunci and leave me a comment on your favorite product. Please include your email address so that I can contact you if you are the winner.

Extra Entries: (please remember to leave a separate comment for each entry)
~ Like Scunci on Facebook
~ Follow Scunci on Twitter
~Like Between the Lines on Facebook
~ Follow Between the Lines on Twitter
~ Follow Between the Lines via Google Friend Connect

This giveaway will end December 23rd at 10pm est.  This giveaway is open to residents of the US only. The opinions and thoughts expressed are my own. I received a Scunci Linziclip Midi for my review but I was not under any obligation to give a positive review. Prizes are mailed out by the distributor and Between the Lines cannot be held accountable for prizes not sent.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Rizzoli and Isles



Best friends Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles are back to continue their fun and action packed season on TNT.  Make sure to tune in to tonight's  All-New Episode at 10/9c on TNT.   In tonight's episode "Jane attends her high school reunion and brings Maura along for the ride, but the fun is cut short when one of her old classmates turns up dead on the football field. Jane must focus on the past when she realizes that everyone in her class is a potential suspect. Meanwhile, Korsak gets a visit from ex-wife Melody Patterson (recurring guest star LOLITA DAVIDOVICH), who hopes he'll invest in her new business. Plus, recurring guest star CHRIS VANCE returns as Sgt. Major Charles 'Casey' Jones, an old flame of Jane's, and recurring guest star MATTHEW DEL NEGRO appears as Angela's car mechanic, Giovanni, who has eyes for Maura."  

Can you imagine having to investigate all your old high school friends?  Just a bit awkward.  Although I love the action and crime-solving, I can't wait to see if Jane and Maura can find a few good men to stick around as their love interests (although I wouldn't mind if Jane's brother Tommy stuck around).  Will Jane let Casey back in to stay? Keep tuning in to see!

If you haven't seen the show, you can check it out here http://bit.ly/lnDvyi!

ABOUT RIZZOLI AND ISLES TV SHOW (from their website):


Based on characters created by best-selling crime novelist Tess Gerritsen, RIZZOLI AND ISLES stars Angie Harmon as Jane Rizzoli, a tough-as-nails Boston police detective, and Sasha Alexander as Maura Isles, a smart, impeccably dressed medical examiner from a privileged background. Despite being complete opposites, the two women share an offbeat chemistry and strong working relationship that has helped them bust some of Boston’s most notorious criminals.

Lorraine Bracco stars as Jane’s demanding and intrusive mother, Angela. Lee Thompson Young is Detective Barry Frost, Jane’s somewhat green partner. Bruce McGill plays Detective Vince Korsak, Jane’s seasoned former partner who resents her being paired with Frost. And Jordan Bridges is Jane’s brother, Frankie Jr., a patrol cop who hopes one day to become a detective.

As the second season of RIZZOLI and ISLES opens, Jane and Frankie Jr. are each recovering from bullets they took during a siege at the police station. As Jane struggles to overcome scars that are more emotional than physical, an old flame – Sergeant Major Charles “Casey” Jones (Chris Vance – Dexter, Burn Notice) – comes back into her life.
Jane and Maura will take on a number of intriguing cases this season, including a murder carried out during a Revolutionary War re-enactment, a killing in a professional baseball team’s locker room, a complicated case involving a surrogate mother and a case involving the Salem witch trials. Jane will also face the return of serial killer Charles Hoyt (Michael Massee – Flash Forward), who takes a special joy in tormenting her.




Sponsored post by the WB.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Between the Lines Goes Disney: Disney Vacation Club

 **This post was previously posted a year ago**
My husband and I first took our two little girls to Disney four years ago. It was a last minute decision, literally, and we didn’t know what to expect. My husband is a hard working man and we don’t see him as often as we’d like. So our impromptu week at Disney was like finding Heaven on Earth. Not only did the kids get to experience Disney magic for the first time, but they also got their daddy’s undivided attention for an entire week! We stayed on Disney property at a moderate resort and we instantly fell in love with the idea of more Disney vacations. As we traveled the World, we realized that although our resort was great, Disney property could be even greater. But as we longed to experience an even grander Disney resort, we knew that the price was a bit (or a lot) too steep. Thanks to Disney’s Vacation Club, or the DVC, my family now gets to experience the magic of Disney every year! With this experience, we now stay only at the top of the line resorts and get treated like Disney royalty.


The DVC is a timeshare, but run Disney style. With this timeshare you can pick anytime and anywhere you want to take your vacation. Since you buy points, rather than weeks, you can even divide your points up to take several vacations a year. They don't even have to be vacations to Disney locations.  Your Disney points are good towards Disney Resorts, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, and most RCI timeshare properties.  You are also able to bank points you would like to save, or borrow from a different year if you are planning an extra long vacation. The DVC has a costly buy in, but after doing the math, we will have spent the equivalent in about  6 ½ vacations. Last year we stayed at the Beach Club Resort.  A one night cash stay in a one bedroom villa runs about $670 per night!  If we were not DVC members, our week stay would cost us  $4690 for just the room.  We didn't even spend that much on our last two trips to Disney put together (and that's including airfare!)  Instead, we spent 211 points for the week.  Last year our annual dues were $650. That means that we stayed at this fabulous resort for one week for $20 less than a single night. It doesn’t get better than that! 

As a DVC member, you also receive great discounts good for Disney dining, shopping, shows, and all night parties (including Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party). If you love Disney and are interested in the DVC go to http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/index  or feel free to email me any questions you may have at betweenthelines-kam@hotmail.com . I can refer you to a great sales rep who never calls or bothers you at home (unless of course you ask her to).   As they say in Disney World, Have a Magical Day!