The Black Eyes Peas Experience by Ubisoft for Wii Video Game Review

Dancing games are a huge hit in my house. My son is a dancing machine! I love to dance but am not so good at it lol. Thats why games like The Black Eyed Peas Experience are so fun. You can dance along with the characters and actually make it seem like you have some good moves! I like the Black Eyed Peas music so this was a great game.

I really did have an absolute blast playing this game. My son was a bit like whatever mom your crazy and he went to play trains but of course its an teen to adult game. Once I got through a few songs he did come over and shake his booty a bit with me. This game would be perfect to put on for a family and friends get together. Everyone can have a blasting dancing and enjoying the fun.

About the game from Ubisoft website:

Get the party started in your living room with the world’s hottest group in the world’s hottest new dance game. The Black Eyed Peas Experience features chart-topping tracks from the Black Eyed Peas – including the biggest hits that transformed them into a global phenomenon. Perform iconic authentic dance moves designed exclusively for apl.de.ap, Fergie, Taboo and will.i.am. Take the party worldwide and experience all the energy and unforgettable venues inspired by their shows and music videos. The Black Eyed Peas Experience is the ultimate dance game and the ultimate way to keep the party rocking. 

Screen shot

*I was not paid for this review. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others. I was provided the game in this post to review for free from the PR company that represents them.

What's keeping me busy these days

 These 3 are the center of my world right now.

And I would not have it any other way :)

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 Movie Prize Pack Giveaway

Barbie will always hold a special place in my heart. My sister and I spend countless hours together playing Barbie. We loved our playing with them by dressing them up and even cutting their hair! When we were little they did not have cool Barbie movies like they do now. Each time I see a Barbie in the store I think of my niece Ashley and how she will have Barbies to play with one day. I think its great for little girls to have Barbie to play with. I was delighted when we had the opportunity to host a giveaway for one Barbie Mermaid Tale 2 doll to help promote the upcoming movie.

Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2 Synopsis
Surf’s up for Barbie™ as she returns as Merliah™, the fun and fashionable surfing champion who’s also a magical mermaid princess!　In this exciting sea-quel™, Merliah™ makes a splash when she heads to Australia for the ultimate surfing competition. When the evil mermaid Eris escapes from her whirlpool with plans to take over the throne of Oceana, Merliah™ and her sea friends dive in to stop her.  It's a fresh new adventure where Merliah™ learns that anything is possible and she really can have the best of both worlds!

GIVEAWAY

One "Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2" Doll  

One "Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 2" Theatrical Poster 

To Enter This Giveaway: (mandatory entry before extra entries)

Who in your life loves Barbie?

*Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on.

-Like KidToons on Facebook +1
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-Follow Frugal Family Tree on GFC ( right hand side) +1
-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +1
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +1
-Share this giveaway on Facebook ONLY, using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day)

-Copy and Paste This Tweet on Twitter and leave me the link (to find the link click on the time stamp under your tweet. Can be done once a day for the duration of the giveaway)

#Win a Barbie Mermaid 2 Doll from @KidtoonFilms at @FrugalFamTree #Giveaway ends 02/20 http://www.frugalfamilytree.com/2012/02/barbie-in-mermaid-tale-2-movie-prize.html

*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts February 1 , 2012 and ends on February 20th , 2012 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.

The Adventures of Tintin: The Game by Ubisoft for Wii Video Game Review

We are definitely a gamer family. My husband has played games since he was in elementary school and I would play as a kid when my brother would let my sister or I have a turn! As a young adult without kids my husband and I would spend hours playing video games together. Its a low cost way to have fun at home. My son is now a gamer too! Even at 2 years old he loves to play. He says Games and Play when he would like me to turn on the Wii. Yes I know some parents do not allow kids to play but its family fun time in my home. On days when its cold and rainy we will play even for a few hours.

One game that I have been wanting to try is The Adventures of Tintin. We have not seen the movie yet but from all the trailers for the game and movie I have seen I thought this would be a great game. This game was developer with the creators of the movie and it shows! The graphics and colorful game play are great. Right from the start this game was action packed. We started out in a plane that was heading through a storm. I was steering the plane when my son jumped up and grabbed the controller. He said to me "cool" lol.

 After the game got going we found ourselves on a very bright and detailed street at a Farmers Market. And to my sons sons delight we were a dog! This made him beyond excited since he adores dogs. I had to help him push the buttons to make the dog find the trail to follow but he happily sat on my lap and we played together. I had a ton of fun playing this game and I must admit when he went to sleep for a nap I kept playing! I find the game to be adventurous and easy game play Its a mystery puzzle sort of game that you can enjoy without the dedication to a game like some titles out there. I think it is a game a kid can enjoy without getting stressed about about. You can also play along with your kids in co-op play. What kid would not think it was so cool if you joined in the fun with them. Plus you can go see the movie together and feel like you are more apart of it having played the game.

Here is the game description from the Ubisoft Website:

In The Adventures of Tintin: The Game, play as Tintin, the intrepid reporter and hero of the action-packed movie directed and produced by acclaimed director Steven Spielberg and executive producer Peter Jackson. Developed in close collaboration with them, the video game offers an authentic immersion into the movie’s enchanting environments and characters.
Players will experience non-stop action and adventure as they investigate the mystery of a lifetime, hunting for precious scrolls from the pirate golden age that may lead them to one of the greatest sunken treasures. But the quest won’t be easy. Join forces with the quick-witted dog Snowy and the grumpy Captain Haddock to beat greedy art collectors, kooky arms dealers, and other crooks to and reveal the truth behind the Secret of the Unicorn ship.

*I was not paid for our review. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others. I was provided the game in this post to review for free from the PR company that represents them.

Frugal Family Tree Valentine's Day Event Starts today

 

Valentine's Day at Frugal Family Tree is about Loving Your Family. Showing children about loving their family is something very important to us. Our Mom always taught us to be loving, uplifting and caring for each other. We were never compared to one another but valued for each of our special talents that added to us as a whole family. This type of love is one I know I want my son to learn and one Sam is teaching to her sons to love each other and for them to both love their baby sister.

I can recall making Valentine's cards for my parent's when we were little and I am sure there were plenty of macaroni noodle necklaces my mom got over the years. (I so can't wait to get one for Valentines from my son one day!) I remember one year Sam made a cool mirror etching in high school and she gave it to me for Valentines.

We like to use Valentine's Day as a way to remind our family of sisters, brothers, nephews, nieces, cousins, aunties, uncles and grandparents that we LOVE them so much. Valentine's Day is also a chance to reach out to someone who needs a little bit of love with a nice card or gift to brighten their day.

I have a very special necklace that Sam and I got as a gift from our parents. It is a heart necklace that says Best Friends and it breaks in half. It is something to this day I still treasure and keep in my jewelry box. We would wear them all the time as kids and teenagers. Having a sister that you can call your Best Friend is the best gift anyone can have! She really is my BFF. Boys can break your heart, pets will come and go but siblings that love you is something that you will always have!

I am always St End and she is Be Fri

We hope everyone has a great month of Loving the ones they love. I am going to try to think of ways to share Valentines with someone that might need some cheering up. Maybe a store worker, a mail carrier, a neighbor, friend I have not talk to in awhile or maybe a random act of kindness to a stranger. A simple Valentine, candy or book can be picked up at a dollar store type of place that might really change someone day.

When Lunch Isn't About The Food

As a mother of five grown children, it's often hard to get everyone together at once. They are all busy with work, children, school, and their social lives. While I'm grateful that Facebook and cell phones and texting keeps us in touch, there is nothing like face to face time with those I love.

So I was very happy to be able to have lunch on Sunday with two of my daughters. If you are a regular reader of this blog then you know that my oldest daughter Samantha recently had a baby girl. She also has two young sons and her life is extremely busy. My twenty year old daughter Megan also has a busy life and I don't get to see her as often as I would like. Megan just had a birthday, so a girls-only-lunch seemed like just the thing to help celebrate. We went to a great little cafe that Megan introduced us to and had a delicious lunch.

Then a little shopping at some cute boutiques where we wanted everything we saw! But of course it wasn't about the restaurant, or the food, or the shopping. It was about spending time with these young women who were once my babies.

Thanks girls, I had a great time. We'll do it again soon!

Hallways.......a new found play area

My son has more energy than I know how to contain. He is constantly running, jumping and playing ball. Anything that involves a ball he is all over it. Soccer, golf, bowling, tennis, baseball or football he will play if you are willing. I find myself running out of places to let him be wild indoors. Today he was wound up and not even his favorite story would make him settle down. He kept saying over and over "Play Ball Mama". In the living room he was getting a bit wild and we hit the tv a time or two so I went into the hallway. Oh my did that boy have a blast. He kicked the ball as hard as he could and giggled the whole time. I would roll it to him and he would run up and kick it. He is a future kick ball star of recess lol. Having a boy is an adventure in keeping him happy along with safe. Our hallway is now our new ball court. I am even thinking of putting a little basketball hoop on the wall. There are no windows to break, no items to break and he can have a wild good time!

Kandoo Flushable Wipes on a Temporary Price Cut at Target

We are Kandoo fans around here. My son loves the colored soaps and I like how clean it gets him. The wipes I carry in my purse and diaper bag for mishaps and once I even needed some for me lol. Public bathrooms do not always have tp! Now as we have been thinking of starting to potty train my son I have been keeping my eye out for coupons and sales so I can stock up.

From today until Saturday, February 11, 2012 Target is having a temporary price cut on two value packs of Kandoo Flushable Wipes. If you have coupons for these it would make for an even more great deal but even without them I will be heading to Target soon.

The best pricing on flushable wipes at Target can be found with the Pampers Kandoo 150 count package
and the Pampers Kandoo 400 count package.
• The 150-count package – which comes with a FREE TUB – is $1.00 off.
• The 400-count package has been reduced by 15%.
At one local store  it was found for a box for under $10!

* I was not compensated for this post. I am sharing this info on behalf of Pampers Kandoo. By doing so I will be entered in a contest. This does not change or influence my opinions in this post.

Farmers Market and Auction

The winter months seem to lack on of my favorite things to do on the weekend, Festivals! Last Spring, Summer and Fall we went to some type of festival at least every weekend. Most of the time it was a free event and we would bring snacks and drinks so we could spend a little on the games or rides. As the winter came all the outdoor fun has stopped. The only outdoor activity left to do is thankfully Farmers Markets. Living in Cali we seem to have many to pick from. On Tuesdays there is one at our local Whole Foods. Its tiny and expensive but still fun to walk around and see all the fresh food. Its a visual treat as well! The other Farmers Market we have is a huge one that is also an auction and yard sale galore type of atmosphere called Denios. Its always fun to go to and is open every weekend rain or shine. There is music, tons of people, food vendors, tons of great fresh food and lots of bargains to be found in the garage sale type of vendors area. There used to be a big fish display that my husband and I have visited for many years that is now gone and replaced by Zombie shooting range lol

A new thing happening at Denios in Roseville, the farmers market we go to, is Live Auctions. We did not get a chance to attend this one today since we were unprepared but I think it would be a fun thing to try.

Have you ever attended a live auction? Do you have any tips for me?

$5 HOT-N-READY Pizza from Little Caesars Promotion and Giveaway

Pizza Pizza! I remember the Little Caesars commercials since I was a kid and have been eating for that long too! I can recall many family nights and birthday parties when I lived at home with my parents that always included Little Caesars. Its good pizza at a awesome price. Now that I am a mom I love to take my son to Little Caesars. We have one close to my house and my son and I often grab a $5 HOT-N-READY Pizza and a netflix movie for a super fun and low cost night of fun. My son can clearly say "Pizza" its one of his favorite foods. For $5 I can afford to treat him to Pizza anytime I want. Its a great solution to not wanting to cook and for grabbing one at the last minute since it is ready to take as soon as you get there.




Right now you can get a $5 HOT-N-READY 14" Large pepperoni pizza at a Little Caesars near you. No waiting No calling ahead and No limit!
To find a Little Caesars Pizza near you the Store Locator makes it simple to find a $5 dinner!

GIVEAWAY

Win a $5 Little Caesars Gift Card

 

To Enter This Giveaway: (mandatory entry before extra entries)

What is your favorite Pizza Topping? (I love pepperoni!)

*Leave a comment answering the question and be sure to leave your email address if its not public in your Google account*

Extra Entries: Can be done after leaving a comment for mandatory entry. If the extra entry says 1 extra entry leave 1 comment and 2 extra entries leave me 2 comments and so on.

-Like Little Caesars on Facebook +1
-Follow Little Caesars on Twitter +1

-Like our new fan page on Facebook Frugal Family Tree +1
-Follow FrugalFamTree on Twitter +1
-Share this giveaway on Facebook ONLY, using the Share Button at the bottom on this post. +1 for each share you do. (can be done once a day)

-Copy and Paste This Tweet on Twitter and leave me the link (to find the link click on the time stamp under your tweet. Can be done once a day for the duration of the giveaway)

#Win a $5 Gift Card to @littlecaesars at @FrugalFamTree #Giveaway ends 2/10 http://www.frugalfamilytree.com/2012/01/5-hot-n-ready-pizza-from-little-caesars.html

*Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts January 27, 2012 and ends on February 10th, 2012 at midnight PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post I was provided a $5 L.C. gift card for free. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.