Norah Jones The Fall Album

As part of my Let's Bring in 2010 right, I'm hosting a big giveaway for the next two weeks over at Chefdruck Musings.

For you Norah Jones fans, I have gorgeous lithograph of her The Fall album cover. I'm a huge fan of Norah Jones' smoky soothing vocals and this album doesn't disappoint. It even contains a few grittier tracks, as Jones says this latest album was inspired by Tom Waitts.

Head on over to Chefdruck Musings for a chance to win this great piece of art for your walls!

Tadoodles Scribble and Sing Art Station

I love the new Crayola Beginnings line. It makes art so approachable and so easy for little ones.

I remember when my first child picked up her first crayon and first put it to paper. I held that first piece of artwork as nothing short of a miracle. She'd held a little crayon between her chubby fingers and had made something lasting on a piece of paper.

That was eight long years ago, and now things are much easier for little ones. The TaDoodles line has fun chubby washable drawing tools that toddlers can play with and draw with. They just invite creativity and play.

I received this Crayola TaDoodles Scribble and Sing Art Station a few weeks ago, and my three year old has just been delighted with it. It makes pleasant music as she draws and she's been playing and drawing quietly with the fun animals for hours. It's a hit for her and me.

I'm giving away a Scribble and Sing Art Station over at Chefdruck Musings as part of my Giant Bringing in 2010 Giveaway. Head on over for a chance to win!

Charge Large: a Game We Could All Learn From

Hasbro recently released a very appropriate game, one we could all probably learn from now that the holidays are over.

Charge Large is all about learning how to manage your money, working with credit cards, bank loans, and if you're successful, amassing wealth. Just saying that phrase "amassing wealth" is fun... try it, I felt richer just saying it a few times.

The goal of the game is to be the first player to save $2.5 million in cash, have zero credit, and receive a black credit card.

I have to admit that when I first read the description of this game, I chuckled, especially due to the emphasis on credit cards. But after giving it some thought, I realized that this is actually a wonderful game for my kids (and myself). They have such trouble grasping the reality of banking. Every time we go to the ATM seems like a game to them when the magic card gives us money. It actually makes sense that a board game would teach them the responsibility of saving and banking.

I'm giving away one copy of Charge Large over at Chefdruck Musings in my Giant Bringing in 2010 Giveaway. Head on over for a chance to win!

Free Mexican Food for Kids all Weekend at Qdoba Restaurants

In honor of the launch of their new healthy choices children's menu, Qdoba Restaurants across the US are inviting kids to eat for free this weekend (from December 19 to the 20th). 


I took Juliette to have lunch at the Qdoba in Grandview about a month ago, and we had a feast of salsa, quesadillas, chips and guacamole, before digging into a seriously delicious burrito. For adults, I love that Qdoba has such a diverse assortment of salsas to choose from. I went with the sweet and smokey ancho chili salsa, but was very tempted with the queso sauce as well as the pesto poblano sauce. 


The new kids' menu now includes a Lil' Naked Burrito, a Lil' Naked Chicken Quesadilla, a Lil' Naked Chicken Burrito, and a Single Taco. Kids can supplement their meal with beans, apple sauce, and tortilla chips and can choose from milk, juice or fountain drinks.  




I hadn't heard of Qdoba before moving to Ohio, but now realize that I could have been enjoying their inventive Mexican fare in New York City and in New Jersey. There are Qdoba restaurants throughout the US.

Wii Jumpstart Escape from Adventure Island Giveaway

In today's 12 days of giveaways, I'm excited to feature an educational Wii game from Jump Start. JumpStart Escape From Adventure Island (Wii) is the FIRST educational Wii game designed for ages 5-9. It will not only challenge your children physically like other Wii games, it will also develop their math, reading and critical thinking skills.

We've been fans of JumpStart World since it launched as a website. The Wii version is very similar, with the same gorgeous 3D graphics, just more fun with the added functionality of the Wii. This game retails for $29.99. It is rated "E" for everyone.

All three of my kids (3, 5, and 8), love this game. They get so into the simulated world and the adventure that they have no idea they are learning while playing. And that makes me a happy mom! I only wish it came in multi-player mode to get everyone working and learning together.

I have one copy of Escape from Adventure Island available for today's giveaway. I'll be choosing the winner at random among the comments on December 25. To be entered to win, leave a comment here with your favorite game to play as a family. You'll get extra chances to win if:

• you are a subscriber to either of my blogs, 
• if you tweet this contest, 
• post it to your facebook page, 
• or link to it on your blog.

Good luck, and don't forget to enter my other 12 days of giveaways!

Guesstures Charades Game Giveaway

For our second day of our 12 days of Chefdruck giveaways, I have another great family game, this time from Parker Brothers: Guesstures. This high speed game of charades will get your entire family involved, from your grumpiest teenager to your most distracted preschooler. There are 750 easy words and 750 hard words to act out, but everyone needs to act fast, before the timer "eats" the card.

I have one copy of Guesstures available for today's giveaway. I'll be choosing the winner at random among the comments on December 25. To be entered to win, leave a comment here with your favorite game to play as a family. You'll get extra chances to win if:

• you are a subscriber to either of my blogs, 
• if you tweet this contest, 
• post it to your facebook page, 
• or link to it on your blog.

Good luck, and don't forget to enter my other 12 days of giveaways!

Cir Kis Giveaway: a Strategy Game for the Entire Family

To kick off our 12 days of giveaways here at Chefdruck Reviews, Hasbro has donated a fun strategy game for the entire family called Cir Kis. You'll create a kaleidoscope of color as each player places a rainbow of shapes on the board to try and accumulate points and eliminate moves for the competition.

I love having regular family game nights. Board games are such an effortless way to bond as a family and it helps kids to learn valuable lessons about sportsmanship, counting, and listening to directions.

I have one copy of Hasbro CirKis available for today's giveaway. I'll be choosing the winner at random among the comments on December 25. To be entered to win, leave a comment here with your favorite game to play as a family. You'll get extra chances to win if:

• you are a subscriber to either of my blogs, 
• if you tweet this contest, 
• post it to your facebook page, 
• or link to it on your blog.

Good luck, and don't forget to enter my other 12 days of giveaways!