Giveaway: Professional Cookware Set

Food Service Warehouse is giving away a professional cookware set worth $1,000 as part of introducing their new expanded lines of professional cookware. This cookware is tough, high quality cookware used by top restaurant kitchens throughout the country and cookware would be a great addition for any serious home chef.

There is no obligation, just go to the website and enter their professional cookware contest.

"I Forgot Our Anniversary" Contest

from The Father Life

Did you ever forget a really important date… like your anniversary? Your wife’s birthday? Kinda awkward, eh? Ever go to buy your wife a bra for Valentine’s Day (oh yeah, that’s coming up) and… can’t remember her size? Yeah, so pathetic.

Well, fear not! We recently heard about a new product (thanks to Tyler Wainright of Building Camelot!) called THE LITTLE PINK CARD, “a nifty, wallet-sized card that assists your husband, boyfriend, or significant other in always buying you the perfect gift” and in remembering important dates.

As you can tell from the picture, it’s pretty self-explanatory; but it’s a good lifeline for guys who just can’t seem to remember these critical pieces of information despite their life depending on it. So, we dropped a line to the fine folks over at THE LITTLE PINK CARD and asked if we could do a giveaway with them… and so…

With Valentines Day right around the corner, THE FATHER LIFE and THE LITTLE PINK CARD are happy to bring you our “Help! I Forgot Our Anniversary!” Contest!

Here’s how it works:

• Post your most pathetic “I Forgot _____” story! We’ll read ‘em all and choose the 4 funniest/most pathetic stories about a time you forgot your anniversary, got you wife a flower she was allergic to, etc… you get the idea.
• Have fun! This isn’t meant to humiliate us guys. It’s good to enjoy a good laugh reading these.
• The last day to post your story is Sunday, January 25th.

Here’s what you can win:

• The Little Pink Card will give away 4 cards to the 4 guys with the most pathetic story. They’ll be printed with the info you want for your lady.
• And, even if you don’t win, The Little Pink Card is giving the rest of our readers free shipping/handling on their product (we’ll be posting a link).

Sound good? Great! Post your most pathetic “I Forgot _____” story today for your chance to win! And spread the word! The more stories, the more laughs!

My Lover is Better Than Yours

Have you seen it? The hearts, the red lovey-dovey Valentine's displays that get put up in retail stores the second (or a minute, maybe) after the New Year?

Valentine's Day is the next gift-giving holiday on the calendar and with the economy being what it is, there's no doubt that this year, lovers will have an even more difficult time coming up with the best present for their significant other. That's why nominating your partner for the World's Best Lover contest is a definite win-win!

Love Guru Dr. Ava Cadell, founder of Loveology University, invites romantics to submit a FREE entry listing why their lover is the best. In return, they'll receive a FREE certificate for their partner attesting to this loving tribute. This is a perfect Valentine's gift at no cost.

Each person who submits an entry will also receive a FREE copy of the ebook 52 Sizzling Sex Secrets. Deadline for submissions is February 6th, 2009. The winner will be announced on February 13th. The winner will receive a $2000 scholarship for Loveology University or $1000 cash. PLUS -- When you visit the Loveology University facebook page and become a "fan," we will enter you in a drawing for an ebook from Dr Ava (retail $9.95 see the bookstore for details).

Whether you are married, single, male or female - there is an ebook that can make a difference in your love life.

So go ahead, write the ultimate love letter to your partner by submitting him/her in the World's Best Lover Contest and let everyone know why your lover is simply the best!

Bundle Up Joy

BBBRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. It's November already, which means that it's time to pull out the winter clothes and electric blankets. I know. Those of you who know me or know anything about me realize that I live in San Diego - where it's always (rumor has it) 75 and sunny.

Think again. Even in San Diego we find temperatures in the mid-40s during the winter (I'm not complaining, trust me) so winter wear is essential, especially for our little ones.

Bundle Up Joy, founded by Terry Chi of Los Angeles, has created some pretty unique wearable blankets for babies up to six months of age. With her beautiful designs and car seat buckle up design, these sleep sacks make great gifts for new babies.

Since the biggest gift-giving season is just weeks away, I thought I'd introduce you to her sleep sacks by offering a giveaway!

Bundle Up Joy^® was born in 2007. They kept parents and babies in mind when they designed the first and only line of Luxury Wearable Blankets. Their baby bunting products are better, safer, and more versatile than loose baby blankets, sleepsacks or swaddles. Their fashionable and functional wearable blankets can be worn day or night, inside or out. Your bundle of joy will be perfectly dressed for any occasion.

You’ll have peace of mind knowing that they never sacrifice quality for fashion. The high quality, machine washable fabrics they choose have stunning, eye-catching designs in vibrant colors.

Found at only the best baby boutiques in select cities, Bundle Up Joy wearable blankets can be yours (or yours to give) by simply adding a comment with your favorite Bundle Up Joy product.

Two winners will be chosen at random and announced here on November 20th.

Man of the Year

Before I share this guest post from Brett, of The Art of Manliness, I just have to put in my two cents. For those of us who aren't married, you can surely think of someone (like your dad, or brother, maybe) that might be worthy of Man of the Year?

Ladies, have you ever wanted to let the whole world know how amazing your husband is? Well, now you can. The Art of Manliness has teamed up with Old Spice to find The Art of Manliness Man of the Year. Most magazines and websites seem to pick celebrities and sports stars as the man of the year, and fail to recognize the regular Joe who’s doing his best to be the best husband, father, and man he can be. The Art of Manliness wants to change that.

Our goal is to find a man who represents what’s best in men and give him $2,000 in cold hard cash. From October 20, 2008 until November 9, 2008, Art of Manliness will be accepting nominations for Man of the Year.

This is your chance to brag about your man and give him the chance to win $2,000 (which of course he’ll share with you). To nominate, go to this online form and fill out. You’ll need to write a short essay about why you think your man should be The Art of Manliness Man of the Year. Tell us about how your husband is great with kids, how he can cook a killer dinner, and how he helps out those in need. Your husband doesn’t have to be some Superman who’s cured AIDS to be considered for Man of the Year. If you think your husband possess the traits of honorable manliness, we want to hear about him.

We’ll then select 10 finalists out of all the nominees. On November 24, 2008 we’ll open voting to the public on the 10 finalists. Whoever has the most votes by December 13, 2008 will be crowned The Art of Manliness Man of the Year 2008 and win the $2,000.

If you want your husband to even have a chance at being named Man of the Year, you have to nominate him. And remember, there's $2,000 up for grabs! Don’t just stand by your man, brag about him. Send in your nomination today!

And the Winners Are...

Congratulations to Rockin' Mama and Loving Danger. Rockin' Mama won four out of the five giveaways offered last week (winners were selected at random, I swear). She will be receiving the Countdown to My Birth daily calendar, the Halo SleepSack, giggle guide to baby gear and Making Me. Loving Danger won the Banda Bib.

One Year Blogoversary!

An entire year has gone by since I first started this blog. It's evolved quite a bit in these twelve months, as have I, and I thank each and every one of you for taking time out of your day to stop here, visit and perhaps leave a comment.

Comments are what keeps us bloggers going so even if it's to disagree or to ask a quick question, I truly appreciate what readers have to say.

In honor of the one year anniversary of the blog and my company, Happy Healthy Hip Parenting, I will be hosting several giveaways and contests over the next week. Great prizes were donated from some amazing companies that I discovered at the ABC Kids Expo last week in Las Vegas.

If you'd like to learn more about the upcoming baby gear giveaways, you can subscribe to the blog via email, RSS Feed or text messaging!

You won't want to miss out on your chance to win so be sure to stop by every day next week.

And, by the end of this month, a newly designed website will roll out over at the Happy Healthy Hip Parenting company site. I'll launch the new design over here, so keep your eyes peeled for the wonderful graphics created by Mike Ward, friend and colleague whom I met over at Twitter.

There are many wonderful people I've met on line over the last year, so again, thanks to everyone for your support and interest.

Coming to a Nursery Near You

It's Monday and it's Giveaway time! Snapfish is a great on line site that provides prints of your digital photos with a user-friendly website and the convenience of ordering the images day or night.

Coming to a Nursery Near You is hosting a giveaway and you can enter to win a pre-paid print card - good for 50 digital camera prints! Plus, if you’re a first time Snapfish user, you get an addition 20 prints!

Head on over and enter to win!

Summer Photo Contest

Java Mama has announced their 2008 Summer Photography Contest:

We know many of you have been anxiously awaiting our next photo contest and we are happy to say we finally sorted out the details:

Theme: "Memories of Summer"
Format: Color only
Size: Prints must be 8x10 or larger (11x14 or larger prints preferred); mounted on a 16x20 black or white board
Deadline: July 21st
Entry Fee: $8 per entry
Prizes: $75 for first place in professional photographer category; $75 for first place in amateur photographer category
Turn in: Entries at Java Mama

Please include the following information taped to the back of each photo:

• Name of Photographer
• Professional or Amateur Category
• Title of Photo
• Phone Number
• Email Address
• Asking price, if any
• Photography business website/contact information to be displayed next to the photo
  

Giveaway: Pink Lemonade Bags

Pink Lemonade Bags is giving away a beautiful bag to one lucky reader! The giveaway is being hosted by Notes From My Nest.

Deadline to enter is noon (EST), 7.2.08. Open to US residents only.

Two More Days to Win

You could win a FREE gift from Cascade Lemonade! They're giving away a free travel accessory (up to $10 in value) to one lucky winner! Their original designs in vintage patterns and prints are so much fun! To enter, visit Notes From My Nest for details. Deadline to enter is June 11 by noon (EST), so be sure to check out the site today!

First Date: How to Avoid Having it Be Your Last

Rules for a First Date:

1. Do not talk about your ex (girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse) in detail. The person you're with wants to know about you, not about how your last relationship went sour.
   
2. Do not talk about your children. The person you're with wants to know more about you, not about the adorable thing your son/daughter said this morning or how many kids you plan on having.
3. Do not talk about the relationship between you and your parents. The person you're with wants to get to know you, and does not want to hear about how your parents discouraged you from pursuing your childhood dreams.
4. Do not talk about your pets. The person you're with doesn't want to hear about how you spend most of your time talking to your dog/cat/goldfish.
5. Do not talk about money. This is the first date and the person you're with does not want to know that they make less money than you or that you spend more than you make.
   
6. Do not talk about marriage. The person you're with is not ready to hear about how your first marriage went wrong. They also don't want to hear about how you've sworn that you'd never make that same mistake again.
7. Do not talk about how long it's been since you've had sex. If you are simply looking to hook up with someone, let's be honest. This is not a date - it's foreplay.
   
8. Do not talk about love at first sight. There will never be a second date if you go this route.
9. Do not talk about your religious beliefs or how you feel about abortion or the death penalty. These are conversations that are best left for second or third dates (if you get that far).
10. Do not listen to me. What do I know about dating or relationships? Every relationship I've ever been in has ended. If you have any real advice, please send it my way.

If you have first date horror stories, or laugh-out-loud details to share, post them in the comments, or over at Dad's House. You may just win this great writing CONTEST.

Contest Winner

Congratulations, Monique! You are the winner of the autographed copy of Susan Carrell's new book, Escaping Toxic Guilt. I first announced this giveaway a week ago and have since had several inquiries from people interested in learning more about parenting workshops that cover this same topic.

Unfortunately, I don't have anything that specific, but we do offer great workshops and classes based on the Practical Parenting Program which encourages and produces positive attitudes and beliefs among parents and children, while decreasing the negative (guilt is just one of them). Of course, I also work one-on-one with parents to focus more on their specific parenting challenges. Please contact me for more information.

More contests and giveaways are coming so subscribe today to enter. New prizes will be announced weekly. Weekly newsletters are coming as well featuring News Parents Can Use so be sure to register today for these exclusive tidbits of information brought to you by Happy Healthy Hip Parenting.

Guilt-Free Giveaway

Do you feel responsible for everyone around you? Do you value the feelings of others more than your own? Do you have unrealistic expectations of yourself? Then you may be trapped by toxic guilt - and the book, Escaping Toxic Guilt by Susan Carrell, RN, LPC, may be for you.

Trying to win the approval of others - parents, spouse, coworkers, friends, children - can strain your relationships, drain your energy, and dominate your life. The five easy-to-follow steps in Escaping Toxic Guilt can liberate you from self-defeating patterns and put you on the path to living life fully, joyfully, and on your own terms.

Send me your email address today and you could win an autographed copy of Susan Carrell's new book! Feel happy, healthy, hip - and guilt free - every day! Drawing will be held in one week, on March 19th.

Susan Carrell is a licensed counselor and therapist with more than twenty years of experience. She is also a registered nurse, with a specialization in psychiatric nursing, and a former hospital chaplain.