The Official LEGO® Channel on YouTube, & a $1000 Give Away!

Our family recently took our first big trip in over 3 years. You know the kind, where you travel more than 90 miles from your home & take more than 1 day off from work?

When planning a family trip, there are so many things to consider. Will you drive (miles & miles & miles) or will you fly to your destination? What about travel time? Just as important, how will you help pass that travel time for your young kids?

Our kids are 6 & 7 years old. When we decided we would be flying for our big family vacation, I knew that I would need to figure out something that would help pass the time we spent in the air that would be great for our kids, but also just as great for anyone lucky enough to get one of our kids as a seatmate.

What would fit that bill?

I was thrilled to discover ~

The official LEGO® channel on YouTube!

Who doesn't love LEGOS®?

My husband & I both loved playing with LEGOS® growing up, and now that love has been passed on to our children.

The Official LEGO® Channel has over 500 videos to choose from, with new videos being added every day, all from the LEGO® name you know and trust.

Our kids love watching YouTube videos, but I'm always worried about what will pop up next. With an entire channel devoted just to LEGO® now I don't have to worry about that! I've built a playlist for our kids, and we can add to it whenever we want.

Creating a playlist is easy -

~ Visit YouTube.com/LEGO & watch one of your favorite videos

~ Click 'Video Options'

~ Select 'Add to Playlist'

~ Sign in using your YouTube log in

~ Add your selected video to an existing playlist, or simply create a new one!

If you've got a LEGO® fanatic at your house, you can be certain that they will love the official LEGO® channel on YouTube. And let's face it, whether you are traveling many miles by car or by plane, or just trying to get dinner off of the stove and on to the table, we could all use a little bit of help keeping the kids entertained from time to time!

There is a lot of content on web; creating a playlist on the Official LEGO® Channel is a great way to ensure your kids are entertained and watching videos you can feel good about.

Visit the Official LEGO® Channel to build your own playlist to watch with your kids and then reply below for a chance to win one (1) $1,000 gift card to buy your family’s favorite LEGO® products!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of LEGO. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.

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Pocket Your Dollars Book Give Away...

If your New Year's Resolutions involve getting your financial house in order...

You will not want to miss my latest give away...

Click on over and toss your name in the Rafflecopter hat!

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newly MINTED - A GiveAway!

If there's one thing I love, it's pictures.

And this time of year, almost daily...I've got all sort of picture goodness showing up in my mailbox in the form of a Holiday Card.

This year, we actually got a holiday photo card the day BEFORE Thanksgiving! 

A new record!

Who doesn't love good old fashioned snail mail...and with a picture on it?

HURRAY!

I have my photo cards done and half mailed out...with the rest going on in the coming days...

When I was contacted by the fine folks at Minted.com to see if I had any interest in reviewing their cards, I was going to say no thank you, because my cards are done and almost all delivered.

Curious, I scoped out their site...because, why not?

You guys?

I. LOVE. MINTED.COM!

As taken from their website: 

ABOUT US

"Our purpose in life is to uncover exceptional design from all over the world and bring this to savvy consumers who won't accept anything else."

We uncover  design genius through ongoing design competitions. At Minted, all that matters is good design. Designers submit, and the Minted community votes to tell us what to sell.

Visit the Design Challenge - Rate Designs, Tell Us What To Sell

That's pretty cool in and of itself no?

But then...when I went to see about their Holiday Cards...

I discovered.......

something, that I never even knew was missing!

You upload your picture...And Minted.com shows you what it looks like, ALREADY PUT INTO EVERY DESIGN THEY HAVE! NIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!

Where has THIS been all my life!?!

No more drop and drag, start over, create a new card, change card design, etc...

Your pictures - in hundreds of different choices...all laid out for you to see! Viola!

My Holiday cards might be done ~ But maybe yours are not?

How would you like to win a $50 gift code to spend at Minted.com?

To enter, simply grab a Rafflecopter entry or two below...





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Eden Fantasys - A Give Away!

I can hardly believe we are just days away from Thanksgiving ~ but everywhere I look, I'm reminded that we are, indeed ...

Thanksgiving seems to be overshadowed by Black Friday, at least in my eyes. Stores opening earlier and earlier, some not even waiting until FRIDAY, to get an edge up on the competition.

Pffft.

I can't think of anything I need so badly, or a discount so large on one of those don't need but wants, that it would warrant me standing in line in the middle of the night, in Minnesota, in November ~ can you?

If I'm going to do any shopping in the middle of the night, it's going to be from the comfort of my own home! I personally, love doing a majority of my gift shopping online.

Eden Fantasys is a great place to do just that ~

Whether it's the Dona Bath Salts ~ available in many different scents, including my personal favorite Camu Camu -

The St. Tropez Rollerball Eye Shadow Set ~

Or even one of their handy gift cards ~ 

You are sure to find some great gift ideas and/or stocking stuffers for most everyone on your list ~ 

And to get you started with some of that holiday shopping, Eden Fantasys is giving one lucky Gust Gab reader a $25 gift card to spend on anything you wish! a Rafflecopter giveaway

YAY!

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~ Alphabet Photography ~ A Review

We've been guests at a lot of weddings lately. 

A. Lot.

Each and every time a new invitation arrives in the mailbox, I feel both excitement about the upcoming celebration...and a little bit of dread...dread for the oh no - What will we get THIS couple?

Oh sure, there are registries filled with all sorts of ideas ~ but who wants to give a toaster or some pots and pans? I want to give a gift that people will remember.

Introducing.......

This unique form of alphabet art is the process of photographing everyday objects that resemble letters of the alphabet, then arranging the photographs in a collage to create any name or word. Alphabet Photography Inc. is the original and leading company in the letter art industry, and boasts the largest collection of photographs collected from around the world. Each official Alphabet® Photography art piece is hand crafted, high quality, and truly original!

When I first heard about Alphabet Photography, 

I knew this was something I would love to have for our home.

I was so excited to come home and find this package on my doorstep...

Inside this big cardboard box, buried in mountains of bubble wrap,

 was a beautifully wrapped package ~ 

A letter & a Thank You for ordering card ~ 

And inside?

You guys...

It's SOO beautiful!

I didn't choose the more 'traditional' Alphabet Photography ~ 

I choose their more colorful ~ Vegas Style~!

G.U.S.T

Isn't it gorgeous!

This is the one time I wish our last name was a tish longer!

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to leave it on the bookcase...

Or showcase it on my picture wall in our living area ~ 

I think it really completes the family picture wall ~

Don't you?

I choose the 3” solid wood frame with a dark Chocolate finish accented with gold leaf.

It's simply beautiful.

 Contemporary and sophisticated and elegant, it is the perfect addition to a modern or traditional home. The frame is matted with a museum quality double mat with a V groove.

It is even hand signed and dated by the artist, making it the perfect accent for your home or, maybe even a wedding present for that special couple tying the knot or moving into their new home?

The perfect customized gift that includes photographs from all over the world, this is the original Alphabet Photography. Celebrity owners include: Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate, Tyra Banks, Ryan Seacrest, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, John Schneider, Nelly Furtado, and many more! This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Alphabet Photography. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Family Pictures 2012 ~ Shutterfly Holiday Cards

I take hundreds, actually, thousands of pictures each year.
 ~ No joke, I take anywhere from 600-1000 pictures in any given month...

We actually had an 'official' family photo shoot today, so I can't wait to see what kinds of pictures came out of the day! GAH! Could go either way...we got lucky with the weather, that's for sure!

Now that it's October, and it's time to start thinking about Holiday Cards ~
You might think that's an easy task for someone who takes a ton of pictures, but I actually think it makes it harder...

HOW. DO. YOU. CHOOSE?

Even harder for me that choosing a picture...
Is choosing a Holiday Card design...

I find myself drawn to the more 'non-traditional' cards, if you will..................

And I just love that out of the 100+ photo cards we get each year, we NEVER get any two the same!

I mean honestly, what are the chances? With hundreds to pick from, I suppose.............but still - isn't it odd that we don't pick the same as our friends?

One of the new designs I came across this year...

HELLO! 

PERFECT for the FELIZ NAUGHTY DOG in our house! 

I just might find a way to incorporate this into our holiday card design this year!

How early do you start planning your holiday cards? Do you have your pictures ready to go or do you rush to get them done at crunch time?

I'm a planner, so I like to have my cards ready to go as soon as possible ~ besides, it's never too early to take advantage of the many special offers available out there ~

AND, thanks to the generous folks over at Shutterfly,

I've got a gift code worth $50 to give away to one lucky reader! 

(Giveaway prize: $50 off total order (does not include shipping & cannot be combined with any other promos.)

How do you enter?
Easy! Simply pick one or more of the following Rafflecopter Entries Below!
Good luck!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

*** Disclosure: The words above are my own. In exchange for sharing my favorite Shutterfly Cards with you, I will be given a gift code to use on my own holiday cards. ***

PrintCopia ~ A Give Away!

If you've come around here much at all, you know that I am a little bit obsessed with pictures.

I take pictures close to daily, if not daily...
I blog my favorites, &  I turn those blog posts into a book at the end of each year...

Others I print and frame...

And I just recently got my first photo on canvas ~
You guys...it turned out sooo beautifully!

That's why, when I was approached by a company who deals with pictures and canvas prints and acrylics (OH MY!)  ~  about giving them a shot and making a creation, I instantly said yes!!

Have you all heard of PRINTCOPIA?

Oh my WORD! How will I choose what we are going to put on our newest canvas? A pic of the kids? A family pic?

Maybe I should order TWO canvas prints? One canvas for each kiddo?

Want to know what's even tougher than me deciding what to put on my own canvas print? How about YOU choosing your own photo for a Printcopia canvas print?

That's right! The fine folks at Printcopia are giving one lucky reader of Gust Gab their very own 11 x 14 Canvas Print! YAY!

And you guys? I played around on their website...not only can you upload a photo, you can pull a picture from your Facebook photos, or, you can pull in your favorite photo from Instagram and viola!

Turn it into a canvas print!

Or, if you so desire, you can do an Acrylic Print!
Or a framed print, or...So many options available!!

You know you want to!

So, how do you enter to win an 11 x 14  canvas?
Easy.

Just pick any or all of the following rafflecopter entries below - and viola!
Stay tuned to find out if you are the lucky winner, which will be announced on Thursday, October 25th, 2012.

Good Luck!

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My latest give aways...

I've got two give aways going on right now...

Have you dropped your name in the virtual hat yet?

A Yoplait Prize pack containing a Yoga Ball, work out towel, water bottle and coupons for FREE yogurt! Useful yet?

Click on over to enter...

There is also a pretty fun give away from the folks at Progresso Soup!
A handy (folds flat when empty-YAY! space saver!) lunch bag, water bottle, handy soup mug with spoon and two cans of Progresso Soup!

You can click over to enter HERE!

And...coming soon...
One of my best give aways yet...
You will NOT want to miss this one...Check back next week for details and to ENTER!

Are you hosting a give away on YOUR blog right now?
Put your info into the linky below & make your give away visible to more folks!



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The Evolution of the Cell Phone...

Cell phones have come a LONG long way over the years...

I've had one for a very long time...Very.

My first cell phone when I was in college looked something like this...(Though it WASN'T 1989!!)

I found this pic with a great article on The Evolution of the Cell Phone found HERE - 

There really has been an evolution of phones over the years...While I've been carrying around a cell phone for nearly 20 years, I got my first 'smart' phone two years ago - it was one of those things that I didn't know I needed until I actually had my hands on it.

My husband is the last American hold out I think...(& we still don't have a DVR in our home either...)

My phone has treated me well over the last two years, but it takes really crappy pictures. Crappy pictures or not - I'm thrilled that it does take pictures (and video!!) when I want it to - I love not always having to have a camera with me...but I HATE not having my phone with me at all times.

I don't trade my phones in as often as a lot of folks do - I'm pretty hard on things (so says my hubs!) but I still like to hang on to them and get the most out of them that I can...but here's the thing. I'm guessing that my smart phone - old or not, does many things I am not aware of...

I am currently test driving the Droid Incredible 4GLTE from Verizon & WOW! Is it ever S.H.A.R.P!! ~ especially when I put it next to my Droid X - which, by the way, looks very Zach Morris-esque when they are side by side!
It's a sleek and slick little number - and from what I've seen so far, takes AMAZING, sharp, crisp pictures! (Which, I can't share with you just yet because I can't figure out how to get them from the phone to this computer...)

So...my question to you is....
What do you do with your smart phone?
I'm loving the lightning fast speed that I can browse the web, check my email, snap photos...

But what am I missing out on?
I'd love to hear how you use your smart phone in your everyday life.......What do I not know I need - until I see it?

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Spring Cleaning...Need a little help?

Who among us is spring cleaning?

It's one of those tasks you hate to do, but once you get started...it is just so awesome!

Anyone interested in kick starting that spring cleaning with a little help from Stanley Steemer?
Thanks to the generous folks at MyBlogSpark & Stanley Steemer, I've got a $100 gift certificate to give away to one lucky reader!

Click on over to enter!
Each person will have up to five ways to enter via rafflecopter...every one of those is terribly easy!

 

Hormel Foods - Extended Family Blogger

If you aren't reading me in your reader - you may notice a new badge on my sidebar -



I am honored to be chosen as a Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger.  If I'm being honest, when they first reached out ot me, I didn't immediately jump on the opportunity.  I barely know my way around my own kitchen...much less someone else's.

A quick look around on the Hormel Foods Website and I realized that this is right. up. my. alley!

First of all - I'm already a big fan of many of their products...

Jennio O Turkey! We love love their freezer to oven turkey breast for holidays in our home!
Pepperoni - perfect for snacking on the go, adding to part of the cheese pizza so everyone wins, or adding a little zest to pasta salads!
And...the pantry staple Hormel Chili - No Beans (or with...whatever suits you!) DELISH Queso in minutes!

I have been hopping around on their website, searching out recipe ideas (hellooooo Chicken Wild Rice Soup!) & I am also thrilled to discover they find time each year to dedicate themselves to many different philanthropic efforts. In 2010, Hormel Foods gave $5.7 million in cash and in-kind donations toward efforts in communities where their employees live and efforts that help alleviate hunger.


Donations have been made to countless organizations including United Way of Greater Minnesota and disaster relief funds throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

I love that Hormel Foods makes many efforts to give to those in need. They currently run a program called “On Our Way to Ending Hunger,” where they collaborate with retailers, nonprofits and the government on hunger relief efforts to nourish the hungry in the United States and abroad.

I love when a company goes the extra mile - Does that make a difference in the companies that you support?

I am honored to be chosen for this role as a Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger & I hope you'll join me over the next few months, as I plan to share recipe ideas, product reviews and, everyone's favorite - GIVE AWAYS!
So, now tell me...

What is your favorite Hormel Product?

World's Toughest Rodeo - My Bucket List...& a Give Away!

It's a New Year & I'm seeing people's New Year's Resolutions everywhere I look these days ~

I myself, didn't make any...or rather, didn't put them out there for all the world to see...

Sure, I have them - I'm just not sharing them.

What I don't mind sharing however, is my own, personal - BUCKET LIST!

Who doesn't have a Bucket List, right?

Sure, I've got things on my Bucket List that will take some extensive planning (and money),

like an Alaskan Cruise or spending a couple of weeks driving to Banff...

But...I also have other, more attainable Bucket List items...

Like...Taking in a Real. Live. Rodeo!

That's right! I've always wanted to go to a REAL Rodeo...

Is it the North Dakotan in me? I doubt it - I didn't grow up in the cowboy part of the state...But I do love watching rodeos & bull riding on television.

So do my kiddos!

That's why I'm thrilled to be taking my family to The World's Toughest Rodeo in St. Paul on February 3rd!

Event Details as taken from the website:

World’s Toughest Rodeo stampedes into Saint Paul with two thrilling shows

Friday-Saturday, Feb. 3-4 at Xcel Energy Center starting at 7:30 p.m. each night.

The toughest cowboys in the world show off their skill in action-packed events that will entertain the whole family. Before the rodeo each night, children are invited to enjoy the "Cowboy Kids' Zone" where real life cowboys teach these future cowpokes how to properly lasso a steer, barrel race and even clown around.

The first 500 children (12 and under) Friday night will also receive a free cowboy hat.

Watch as nationally televised “Toughest Cowboy” competitor Charlie Barker from Ranger, TX tests his might and skill in the rodeo triathlon as he attempts to compete on up to six animals in a single night! See champion cowboys prove their grit in bull riding, bareback, saddle bronc and barrel racing exhibitions of power and agility. There is something for everyone – from barrel racing cowgirls to the wild antics of the rodeo clowns. The 2012 World's Toughest Rodeo will also feature Anthony Lucia, a nationally known trick and fancy roper that will be showcased at the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this December in Las Vegas.

World’s Toughest Rodeo is an exciting spectacle families won’t soon forget.

Rising country star Justin Moore will perform Saturday night, Feb. 4, for the popular “Party On The Dirt” following World’s Toughest Rodeo. K102 contest winners get access to the “dirt dance,” but all rodeo fans are welcome to stay and enjoy the live entertainment. Since releasing his debut self-titled album in 2009, Moore has toured with some of country’s hottest stars including Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert. He is currently on the road promoting his second album, “Outlaws Like Me,” which features the No. 1 single “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.” Moore was recently nominated for an American Country Award (ACA) for Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

Tell me this doesn't sound like an AWESOME family date night?

I for one, cannot wait!

And, even better than me checking this off my Bucket List?

Winning 4 tickets for yourself! That's what!

That's right!

Thanks to the fine folks at the beautiful Xcel Energy Center & WTR,

I've got a pack of FOUR tickets to give away for Friday, February 3rd!

YAY!

What do you have to do to win?

Easy - Simply pick one or more of the following Rafflecopter options and you are all set!

(I'd love to hear what's on your bucket list...)

Winner will be announced on Monday, January 16th ~

Current Give Aways...

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It's the Season of Giving!

And I've got some fun give aways going on right now...and coming your way soon!

Pop on over and see what's going on...

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Ending this Thursday, a pretty fun little give away from MyBlogSpark and General Mills - Cereal and a Green Lantern Action Figure, and, some nifty comic books! If this give away isn't something you just HAVE TO HAVE, how about entering and donating your prize pack to a local shelter or a family in need? It's a great time of year to do something like that...

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Another pretty awesome give away I'm SUPER excited about?

How about a one year FREE subscription to Carbonite Online BackUp?  After having our home struck by lightning last year and our computer getting fried before I had a chance to back up the entire summer worth of photos...I'm a HUGE fan of Carbonite Online Back Up.  Swing by, see for yourself...and get yourself entered into the give away!

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Who can't use $25 to put towards breakfast, lunch or dinner at Burger King? That's right folks - Thanks to the fine folks at MyBlogSpark and Burger King...I've got a gift card for you! Come on...there are lots of ways to enter...

*** I have several more pretty fun give aways in the pipeline...so don't be a stranger! ***

Check back frequently!!