It wasn't until a few years ago that I started to listen to jazz, and I recently had a chance to listen to a couple of tracks from Arturo Sandoval's new CD, A Time for Love, which I think would be a CD that many would enjoy regardless if they're fans of jazz or not.

The Havana-born Sandoval, a multiple Grammy-winning horn player, has been yearning to do this album for decades. “It’s been twenty years since I came to live in the United States,” he explains, “and practically every year, with every record label who’s signed me, I’ve asked to make this style album. ‘Let me play softly,’ I said. ‘Let me play ballads with big orchestration behind me. Let me hear the violins and violas, the oboes and the flutes. Let me be inspired by a symphonic setting.”

However, record labels were reluctant to endorse this type of work by an artist known internationally for his own style of bebop-influenced Afro-Cuban jazz and for his technical precision. So, he took matters into his own hands by recording 20 tracks in his home studio that he described as speaking “the language of love.” A superb keyboardist as well as trumpet player, Sandoval played all the instruments and suggested the strings through a synthesizer...While the album features selections from the Great American Songbook of jazz standards, the focus is reinterpreting the works of classical composers including Ravel, Feure and Piazolla...

A highlight of the album is the track featuring Sandoval and guest trumpeter Chris Botti on Ravel’s “Pavane for a Dead Princess.” Says Field about the collaboration, “Having two of the most famous trumpet players on the planet in the same room playing together was an event unto itself!”

Another highlight features vocalist Monica Mancini singing on the Astor Piazolla composition "Oblivion," which debuts an English lyric written for her for the recording.

I had a chance to listen to both Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess) and Oblivion (How to Say Goodbye), and really enjoyed them, especially Oblivion.

I am definitely not a jazz aficionado, but I still enjoyed the smooth, mellow, slow tracks from Sandoval's A Time for Love and I think many others will too!

Shop: You can purchase Arturo Sandoval: A Time for Love on Amazon.com at various other retailers online and nationwide (ARV $18.98).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Arturo Sandoval: Time for Love!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to katklaw777!

• To enter, visit Arturo Sandoval and comment on your favorite track from any album (excluding anything mentioned in this post).
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Arturo Sandoval (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)The deadline for entries is June 7, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 8, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

Thank you to Universal Music Group for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Save 10% off at HersheysStore.com!

Enter Code HSHAF510.

Offer Expires 6/30/2010.

For moms and dads who may want to help make their homes a bit healthier, 3M, the makers of Filtrete filters, created Clear Advantages. You can register to receive seasonal e-newsletters featuring money-saving offers, filter change reminders and better home living tips.

Now through July 31, those that sign up for Filtrete Clear Advantages will be entered in the Filtrete Cleaner Air Getaway for a chance to win a seven day/six night Alaskan cruise for a family of four! To sign up for Clear Advantages, visit www.Filtrete.com.

And, for a downloadable mail-in rebate for $4 off the purchase of two Filtrete Air Filters with a 1000 Microparticle Performance Rating or greater, your readers can click here.

Finally, please also see tips below from Healthy Housekeeper Laura Dellutri, author of The Overworked Mom’s Stress Free Home Keeping, to help make the home healthier this spring.


When it comes to the routine of cleaning, homeowners tend to be more concerned with stacks of dirty dishes (66 percent), piles of laundry (58 percent) and dust balls on their carpet (57 percent), according to a survey commissioned by 3M, maker of Filtrete air cleaning filters. But they often forget about other areas of the home – such as bedding, shower doors and even stuffed animals – that can be breeding grounds for bacteria, mildew, dust mites and foul odors.

Healthy Housekeeper Laura Dellutri offers these tips for cleaning your home from top to bottom and making it healthier in the process:

• Start at the Top: Ceiling fans, tall mantles and bookshelves, and the tops of door frames tend to subscribe to the “out of sight, out of mind” motto. These areas often harbor dust, so it’s important to wipe them down regularly to help remove dust buildup. Start at the top and work your way down, collecting all of the dust and dirt that falls to the floor while you’re cleaning.
• Clean the In-between: While cleaning what you can see, don’t forget to clean what you can’t see – the air you breathe. Use a high performance air filter in the home, such as the Filtrete 1” Elite Allergen Reduction filter from 3M, to help capture particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mite debris and pet dander from the air that passes through the filter. Be sure to change your filter at the start of every season, or every three months.
• Think Horizontally: Dust mites are nearly everywhere. In fact, the American Lung Association estimates that roughly four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at least one bed. Reduce dust mites by encasing your mattress and pillows, and wash your bedding in hot water about once a week. Also, since dust mites are microscopic, place strips of duct tape on the mattress case to prevent the dust mites from sneaking through.
• Freeze the Fur: Stuffed animals can harbor dust mites so it’s important to pay special attention to them. Place stuffed animals in a large plastic bag and freeze them for four to five hours. Remove them from the freezer and plastic bag, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove any leftover dust particles.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

I've never heard of Lindsey Ray before, but after listening to her CD, Picture Perfect, she's become one of my favorite artists.

Lindsey Ray doesn't shy away from writing songs about life's trials and tribulations, but she maintains a positive outlook that gives listeners hope for a better tomorrow. Her optimistic nature assures us that although life is never picture perfect, we are perfect just the way we are. Lindsey has collaborated with various songwriters, most notably Tim Myers (OneRepublic). One of the songs that they wrote together, a duet titled "Brand New Day," powered the Target national ad campaign and commercials from 2008-2009. Lindsey's debut EP Picture Perfect is now available, and she is currently in the studio completing her forthcoming full-length album to be released July 27, 2010.

I loved the tracks on Picture Perfect not only because they were all relatable, but Ray's voice, her lyrics, her song style--they all just made me feel happy, and coincidentally my favorite track on the CD is You Make Me Happy. With lyrics such as It's the look in your eyes when I'm wearing your t-shirt/Your cute little smile after a long day of hard work/And I know that you know that I can't give you up, anyone who's in love or who has ever been in love can relate to the giddiness of this song.

I also really liked the title track--Picture Perfect, with sweet lyrics and a catchy chorus.

I wish this CD had more tracks (there's 6 tracks), but her full-length album will be out in just a couple of months so I'll be anxiously awaiting its release!

Shop: You can download Picture Perfect on iTunes (ARV $5.94)

Win: One lucky winner will receive a signed copy of Picture Perfect!

• To enter, visit Lindsey Ray and comment on your favorite track (player is in the bottom left corner; excluding anything mentioned in this post).
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Lindsey Ray (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 6, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 7, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

With Father's Day just around the corner, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Dad: 101 Stories about Gratitude, Love, and Good Times would make a great read for any dad or dad-to-be.

This book gives fathers the pat on the back they deserve. Children of all ages share their heartfelt words of thanks and loving memories in this collection of 101 new stories. Personal accounts of learning from Dad's example and lasting lessons, special moments and memorable outings, encouragement and expectations will bring any father joy, inspiration, and laughs. Whether the reader is a new dad, a father to one or more, a father of teens, a father of grown children, or a grandfather, these heartwarming and humorous stories will resonate with him. He may even find that his kids did pay attention after all! Expect plenty of celebrity contributors!

In true Chicken Soup for the Soul style, Thanks Dad featured many stories that made me laugh, cry, and reflect on my own life.

One of my favorite stories in the book was titled Fathers, Sons, and the Angel in the Stadium, a touching story about why a retired New Your City Fire Department Fireman would look for a father and son pair whenever he had extra tickets to give away to a Mets game. The reason why he did this made me end up in tears!

There are so many more stories--from how dads show they care in ways big and little, to how others will go to great lengths (and sometimes cut off great lengths of hair!) for their children.

Thanks Dad would make a wonderful gift for any dad or father-figure for Father's Day or even for a birthday, and would even make a sweet gift for a father-to-be!

Shop: You can purchase Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Dad at various retailers online and nationwide (ARV $14.95).

Win: Three lucky winners will each receive a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Dad (note: delivery by Father's Day is not guaranteed).

• To enter, simply comment on what makes your dad (or other father-figure) special, or what you love about being a dad.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Thanks Dad (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 5, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 6, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

Thank you to Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

To encourage moms to share their own “nugget” of mealtime wisdom, Tyson is launching the “Tell Us Your Little Nugget” program at

www.yourlittlenugget.com for a chance to win great prizes. Simply submit your “nugget” of mealtime wisdom, which can include any tip that has pleased the young, picky eaters in your household while building the fundamentals of balanced nutrition.

Through a random drawing, three entrants will be selected to receive a $1,500 savings bond and a year supply of Tyson® 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets. The drawing will also determine a grand prize-winning entrant who will receive a $5,000 savings bond and a year supply of Tyson® 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets.

For more information on Tyson® 100% All Natural Chicken Nuggets and to read more of Robin Miller’s “nuggets” of mealtime wisdom, please visit www.tyson.com.

I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Ideas That Spark: Mom2Mom

Stretch Your Family Meals

By Renae Chiovaro for Ideas That Spark

Cooking at home is the most economical way to feed your family. Here’s how to make the most of your time and money.

• Cook once, eat twice. That doesn’t mean you have to serve the same meal each night! Cook extra servings of the main ingredient from which you can make several meals. A baked whole chicken could be used for tacos, a casserole or a salad. Plan your meals ahead and don’t just eat leftovers: Eat leftover makeovers!
• Take time to plan a menu. Without a plan, it’s too easy to eat out. Recipes that call for seasonal ingredients are more affordable -- this is especially true for produce. Warm weather is a great time to visit the local farmers market for fresh produce
  at a lower price.
• Substitute ingredients for items you have on hand. Most recipes can be altered with similar substitute ingredients. Don’t be afraid to deviate from the recipe.
• Try cooking with less meat. Meat is the main ingredient in many recipes, and
  generally, it’s also the most expensive part of a meal. If a recipe, such as a casserole, calls for 1 pound of ground beef, try using half. Compensate with additional grains, pasta, rice or
  vegetables.
• Serve smaller portions. Instead of plating a whole steak for each person, cut the
  meat into portions. Seconds can be served if needed.
• When cleaning up, don’t immediately toss plate leftovers. If your kids are
  picky eaters but enjoyed the meal, contain leftovers for tomorrow’s meal, should they not enjoy what you’ll be serving tomorrow as much.

Stretching your meals is doable with a little planning and experimentation. Make the most of your meals by turning leftovers into new dishes and substituting ingredients. Most important, take inventory of your pantry and freezer and use items already available to you.

Renae Chiovaro is a mother of two boys who blogs at madamedeals.com on how to save money in all aspects of life.

White rice is a staple in Hawaii, so I was eager to try out Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice. New Uncle Ben's whole Grain White Rice is the first and only whole grain rice that looks and tastes like White rice. The new product provides moms with a secret weapon to incorporate whole grains at dinner. Made with natural ingredients and low in fat, Whole Grain White Rice combines the familiar taste, texture and cooking time of white rice with the goodness of whole grains. Just one serving of Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice is a good source of fiber and nearly delivers the recommended daily amount of whole grains. It's whole grain goodness everyone will love.

I was fortunate to receive some boxes of Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice and a cool Uncle Ben's apron for when I'm busy in the kitchen.

I've never cooked rice on the stove before (I always use a rice cooker), so I was very eager to try this technique. It really was quick and easy to cook the rice--just a few minutes to stir the water and rice together and bring it to a boil, another 10 minutes to let it simmer, and another 5 minutes off the heat to let it soak up the rest of the water. I served it with some chicken strips, and although I personally didn't think it looked and tasted like white rice--I could see and taste the whole grains, it still tasted fine. Even Smiley Boy ate it!

They do have other flavors that I'm eager to try, such as Broccoli Cheddar or Taco Style, but I think the next time I make this rice I'll try and incorporate some cheese and chicken on my own to make a more flavorful rice that could be hearty enough for a meal!

What's great about Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice is that it is made with natural ingredients, is a good source of Niacin, Thiamin, and Folic Acid, and is a good source of fiber, containing 45g of whole grains per serving.

I love that the Whole Grain White Rice is nutritious and easy to make, and now I can't wait to try out some of the recipes from the Uncle Ben's website!

Shop: Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice products will be available in grocery stores nationwide beginning in July 2010.

Win: Two lucky winners will each receive an Uncle Ben's apron and a box of Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice!

• To enter, visit Uncle Ben's and comment on your favorite recipe.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Uncle Ben's (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 4, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 5, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Centralon behalf of Uncle Ben’s and received samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Tropicana Juicy Rewards offers a lot of great rewards, but of all the different types of rewards they offer, my favorite is the Dining Rewards.

Although the variety of rewards offered in/near my zipcode is minimal, there is one reward that immediately caught my eye--Enjoy One Single Scoop when a Second Single Scoop of equal or greater value is purchased at Baskin-Robbins, for just one point.

We love going to Baskin-Robbins to get sweet treats for the entire family, so any time we can save makes the trip there even sweeter.

We ended up getting Oreo Cookies 'n Cream (my all-time favorite ice cream flavor) in a sugar cone, as well as Pralines 'n Cream, also in a sugar cone, and we all shared (DH, Little Music Man, Smiley Boy, and I).

And we all were in ice cream bliss.

Such a simple treat like ice cream can make any day better, and thanks to Tropicana Juicy Rewards I have many more opportunities to save whenever we go to Baskin-Robbins. I can't wait to try a Fruit Fusion or Blast the next time!

And now that summer has "officially begun" since Little Music Man has ended school, you can be sure I'll be constantly checking out Tropicana Juicy Rewards to find ways to save on all of our summer activities!

DH loves Friday Night Lights, but I've never watched it, so when I had a chance to review the Friday Night Lights Soundtrack Volume 2, I didn't think I would enjoy it very much, but I sure was wrong!

Reflecting the passion and emotion of the show, Friday Night Lights Vol 2 Original Television Soundtrack, boasts a wide variety of artists including White Rabbits, Band Of Skulls, Augustana, Heartless Bastards, A.A. Bondy, Jakob Dylan, John Doe, The Avett Brothers, AM, Sufjan Stevens, Fink and Snuffy Walden.

Commenting on this diverse and spirited album, Jonathan Platt, the soundtrack’s co - producer says: “We are extremely excited about releasing this amazing soundtrack which is so reflective of the spirit of this show consisting of some of the most relevant artists of today's ‘Indie’ and mainstream music scene."

“Working on this show is a music supervisor’s dream,” said Richardson. “On this compilation, we’ve focused on a handful of the more emotional selections to give the soundtrack more cohesiveness. Our selections range from various rock music tracks, to hip hop, to some more prayer-like “twang!” There’s so much amazing music in the show, we could go on and on for volumes!

The eclectic Friday Night Lights Vol. 2 Original Television Soundtrack features the following:
1. PERCUSSION GUN - WHITE RABBITS
2. SWAY - HEARTLESS BASTARDS
3. KILLED MYSELF WHEN I WAS YOUNG - A.A. BONDY
4. FIRE - AUGUSTANA
5. SOMETHING GOOD THIS WAY COMES - JAKOB DYLAN
6. I KNOW WHAT I AM - BAND OF SKULLS
7. THE MEANEST MAN IN THE WORLD - JOHN DOE
8. IF IT’S THE BEACHES - THE AVETT BROTHERS
9. WHAT YOU HIDE - AM
10. COME THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING - SUFJAN STEVENS
11. THIS IS THE THING - FINK
12. FNL MAIN TITLE - SNUFFY WALDEN

With the exception of Jakob Dylan, I've never heard of the other artists featured on the Friday Night Lights Original Television Soundtrack Volume 2 before, but I really enjoyed listening to the entire soundtrack and being introduced to the sounds of these new-to-me artists.

My favorite track was If it's the Beaches--such a pretty song, with lyrics that are just so beautiful: If it's the beaches/If it's the beaches' sands you want/Then you will have them/If it's the mountains' bending rivers/Then you will have them...

Other songs that I thought stood out were Sway, Something Good This Way Comes (I'm a fan of Jakob Dylan), and Killed Myself When I Was Young--a song that I thought was really thought-provoking.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the Friday Night Lights Original Television Soundtrack Volume 2 despite not watching a single episode of Friday Night Lights or not having heard of majority of the artists, and I'm really glad that I had a chance to listen to it because I've discovered many new artists that I'm eager to hear more of and now have some great songs I can keep listening to over and over.

Shop: You can purchase the Friday Night Lights Original Television Soundtrack Volume 2 at various retailers online and nationwide (ARV $13.98).

Win: Two lucky winners will each receive a copy of the Friday Night Lights Original Television Soundtrack Volume 2!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to nightowl, one frugal lady!

• To enter, visit Friday Night Lights Original Television Soundtrack Volume 2, take a listen to the track samples, and comment on your favorite track (player is in the upper left of the page).
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Friday Night Lights Original Television Soundtrack Volume 2 (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 3, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 4, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

I say "officially" because Little Music Man is now done with school.

He was not eligible for an extended school year because he showed no signs of regression during the school breaks, and I'm totally fine with that, but now that means I have to find ways to keep him busy and his brain stimulated.

I've already found some great blogs online that do activities with their kids throughout the year based on different themes, and I think I'll try some of them.

It's going to be a learning experience...not only for Little Music Man, but for me too.

What do your kids do during the summer? Does your family have any exciting plans over the summer?

Thanks to Aurora World Inc., my boys received more adorable YooHoo & Friends plush toys!

YooHoo & Friends is a virtual world based upon characters created by Aurora World. The characters are based upon real animals in their natural habitat all over the world. Some of them are endangered and children will be able to learn about each animal.

We were fortunate to receive a 5" Scarlet Macaw and Tan Iberian Lynx (ARV $7.00 each).

The boys (especially Smiley Boy) just love them. They have big eyes, are colorful and furry, and they make the cutest sounds when you squeeze them!

What's great for Little Music Man is that he can go online and go to the YooHoo & Friends website where he can do all sorts of fun things, such as play games, decorate a pet's room, and so much more!

And don't forget about their fun new contest:

“Design YooHoo’s Next Friend Contest” entries are being accepted now; the contest runs through May 31st.The “Design YooHoo’s Next Friend Contest” encourages children to submit drawings of who they think YooHoo’s (the original character from YooHoo & Friends) next friend should be. Every entry, such as the “pouch rat” is posted on the Facebook fan page. Three winners will receive various prizes including plush toys from the YooHoo & Friends line. Winners are chosen based on creativity (50%), colors (30%) and choice of animal (20%) and will be notified by June 15, 2010. For more information visit the Design YooHoo’s Next Friend Contest.

Shop: You can purchase YooHoo & Friends plush on Aurora World.

I've had some really great teachers growing up, but it wasn't until Little Music Man started school in a special education preschool class did I start to really appreciate teachers and all that they do for our children.

Thanks to Mom Central, I found out about how Bing is committed to helping students across the country succeed and is enabling us to show our appreciation to teachers all over the nation.

Education is a powerful thing. It can transform our communities, our country, and eventually the world. The potential that lies within each student inspires us daily. In partnership with DonorsChoose.org, we've created a simple, effective way for Bing users to bring classroom projects to life - one click at a time.

One way that people can get involved with Bing's effort is by going to the Bing Teacher Appreciation Website: Share a story about your teacher and if posted, Bing will mail it to your teacher's school and give you a $5 donation to help other teachers.

It's easy for anyone to show their appreciation to any teacher--simply type in your teacher's name, post a story, select the school, and that's it!

I posted a short story about one of my elementary school teachers who always tried her best to give all her students a fair shot at success. I later got a $5 code to apply towards a classroom project on DonorsChoose.org.

Thanks to Mom Central, I also received a $100 DonorsChoose.org giving code to use toward a project listed to help a class in need.

DonorsChoose.org is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Here's how it works: public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on DonorsChoose.org. Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit, to violins for a school recital, to microscope slides for a biology class.

It was so difficult to choose from all of the deserving projects, but ultimately I ended donating to the Little Hands, Big Ideas project.

After reading more about the students and the project, it really hit close to home because it sounded very familiar to Little Music Man's situation.

He participated in our state's Early Intervention Program for kids ages 0-3 and received speech and occupational therapy. He subsequently enrolled in a special education preschool class at a public school where he continues to receive speech and occupational therapy.

What the students do and need in Little Music Man's classroom is similar to what the students need in the Little Hands, Big Ideas.

Great teachers play a big role in helping children succeed and develop, but without the proper resources, growth and success can be impeded, and I hope with the donation, the students in the Little Hands, Big Ideas project can continue to make progress in speech and all other areas of development.

If you have a teacher you'd like to show your appreciation for, visit the Bing Teacher Appreciation Website, and if you are a teacher or know of one who could benefit from creating a project, visit DonorsChoose.org.

I cook with Campbell’s products often, but I never really thought about what it takes to make a can of Campbell’s soup until I found out about their Help Grow Your Soup program.

Preserving barns is one way that Campbell recognizes the American farms and farmers who grow the high-quality ingredients that go into each can of Campbell’s® condensed soup.

Photos, videos and stories of the 10 nominated barns were featured on the program website, Help Grow Your Soup, from October through December, 2009...More than 375,000 votes were cast for the nominated barns, and the five winning barns (were/)will be preserved as follows:
• Providence Grove H.S. Farm in Climax, N.C.: Preserved April 9-11
• The Dull Family Farm in Thorntown, Ind.: Preserved April 15-18
• The Just Wait and See Farm in Union Bridge, Md.: To be preserved May 7-9
• The Bowers School Farm in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.: To be preserved June 4-6
• The Augie Fudala Farm in Bark River, Mich.: To be preserved June 10-12

Take a look at the before and after photos of Providence Grove H.S. Farm.

Isn't that awesome?

To see more photos and videos of this barn, as well as the other finalists, visit Help Grow Your Soup.

The Help Grow Your Soup campaign ultimately affected the lives of so many people--from those who live and work on the farm, to those who helped with the restoration, as well as us, the consumers, because it's farms like these that help to nourish our families.

To find out more about how Campbell's is meeting their commitment to "making quality soups that taste good and do good," visit Help Grow Your Soup.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Campbell's Prize Pack which includes four (4) cans of soup (random varieties) and the book Who Grew My Soup (book summary: Who Grew My Soup? tells a fascinating story about ten-year old Phineas Quinn, a curious youngster who loves junk food. When his mother serves him a bowl of vegetable soup, Phineas says,"I like stuff that’s deep-fried and loaded with sugar. But vegetable soup? Yikes! I’d rather eat boogers!" Phineas hatches a plan to avoid eating vegetables. But his scheme backfires and he finds himself on a hilarious adventure, flying from farm to farm in a giant tomato balloon. Along the way Phineas learns where his food comes from and he meets the farmers who grow it.).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to haydensmommy05!

• To enter, visit Campbell’s and comment on your favorite product (please be specific).
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Campbell’s (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 1, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 2, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

M80 contacted me on behalf of Campbell’s and provided the products for giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

It’s cupcake vs. cupcake in Food Network’s tastiest competition yet premiering Tuesday, June 15th at 9pm ET/PT! Each week on Cupcake Wars, four of the country’s top cupcake bakers face off in three elimination challenges until only one decorator remains. The sweet prize: $10,000 and the opportunity to showcase their cupcakes at the winning gig. Whether a special Ace of Cakes anniversary celebration, a star-studded magazine party, or an A-list celebrity golf tournament, these Cupcakes Wars really heat up. Candace Nelson (owner of Sprinkles Cupcakes) and Florian Bellanger (chef and co-owner of online macaroon company MadMac) serve as permanent judges with a third rotating judge each week, and Justin Willman hosts.

I can't wait for the series to start!

California Poison Control System (CPCS) (http://www.calpoison.org/) has launched an innovative social media collection of helpful information about poison for both English and Spanish speaking families, including free text messaging, Twitter updates and Facebook quizzes. Tips, news and information about poisoning are designed to saving lives and prevent injury. Poisoning is the second leading cause of childhood injury in the U.S. leading to more than two million poisonings each year.

Bilingual text messaging in English and Spanish will provide moms and dads with information about poison prevention. Texting the word TIPS or PUNTOS (for Spanish) to 69866 sends an important weekly tip to cell phones, such as “Chemicals can burn. Never use toilet bowl cleaners, drain openers, rust removers and oven cleaners when kids are around.”

“Many people now rely on information texted to their cell phones and through Twitter, Facebook and community Web sites,” said Dr. Stuart E. Heard, executive director of CPCS. “This social media campaign is critical because there is so much poison exposure at home.”

CPCS’s game at www.pillsvscandy.org challenges moms and dads, as well as grandparents, to decide what are look-alike pills versus candy. It’s easy to mistake one for the other, and the game makes learning fun instead of preachy. CPCS invites users to sign up as Facebook fans at California Poison Control System and challenge themselves with quizzes about poison plants, batteries, chipped paint and what dangers lurk in kitchen cabinets. Twitter users can find interesting tips @poisonhelp.

Here are some poison prevention tips from the CPCS:
• 1-800-222-1222 for poison help should be added on or near all phones.
• Medicines and cleaning products should be kept in locked cabinets.
• Never keep cleaning products, gasoline, antifreeze, paint and paint thinners, or lighter fluid in food or beverage containers.
• Do not store food and household cleaners in the same cabinet.
• Never call medicine candy.
• Products should be kept in the containers they came in.
• Do not take medicine in front of children; they love to do what adults do.
• If you are taking medicine or using a cleaning product and are called away, take it with you.
• Makeup, perfume, cigarettes, alcohol and vitamins must be kept out of children’s
reach.

Earlier in the year DH bought prescription glasses that cost over a hundred dollars. It was a pretty basic frame and lenses with no special features. Recently, he was able to order stylish prescription glasses for less than half the price at Just Eyewear!

The prices you see on this site reflect how much glasses should cost. We don't have an expensive retail store lease or sales staff to pay. We don't have to hold expensive inventory to get you in the door, and we don't try to upsell you on high-priced designer frames after you see the "managed care" tray.We do our best to provide you with all of the information you need to make your own decision about what type of glasses you need. We strongly believe in the equality brought by the internet and the power of transparent pricing. We encourage you to comparison shop.

After browsing through Just Eyewear's extensive selection of frames, DH ended up choosing Style GV141, an Italian inspired design.

Once he made his selection, we went through the ordering process, which was very easy. You go through step by step to ensure you're getting options you want, and if you have any questions, there are several how-tos and help links (How to Order From JustEyewear.com, Guide to Buying Glasses Online, and How to Choose a Frame). I even had a question about DH's prescription and Just Eyewear offered an answer very quickly!

Once we submitted our order, within the week, DH received his glasses! It was so quick!

He did mention that he wishes there were an option where you could upload a photo to "try on" the frames and see how they'd look, but despite that, the overall navigation of the site and ordering process was very smooth.

As for how they looked, well, of course DH looked sharp! The style of frames was something I didn't think he'd choose, and he said he normally wouldn't choose that style either, but he wanted to try something new, and it ended up looking nice and fit him perfectly.

DH is very pleased with his glasses, and because of how much cheaper glasses are on Just Eyewear than at other retailers, he could now afford to buy numerous pairs in all kinds of different styles!

We were fortunate to download a free copy of the StoryChimes book The Queen Bee.

The Queen Bee is a tale of three brothers, princes actually, who couldn't be more different. The youngest and simplest of the bunch sets out in search of his much more adventurous brothers. His brothers find him something of a nuisance, and simple too! They tease and bully him the whole journey until they arrive at an enchanted castle that's been turned to stone. They are given three challenges to complete to restore the castle to its original beauty, and whoever completes all three tasks will be rewarded with the princess' hand in marriage. Simpleton finds a way to beat the odds and break the enchantment, living happily ever after.

I had never heard of The Queen Bee before, but Little Music Man and I really enjoyed this story. I let Little Music Man "turn" the pages whenever he heard the chimes, and although sometimes he was a little impatient and wanted to turn the page before we heard the chime, he seemed content listening to the story and seeing all the colorful illustrations.

I thought the story itself was great--teaching lessons such as how being nice to everyone (including animals and insects) is important and rewarding and how to never give up. What really added to the storytelling experience was the wonderful narration and background music.

This app did indeed remind me of books that came with accompanying cassette tapes or CDs that I used to read when I was little, in which I'd have to turn the page whenever I heard a chime.

StoryChimes offers many more books for little ones to enjoy, and it's an inexpensive way to entertain and educate kids while also teaching them important life lessons.

Shop: You can purchase The Queen Bee (ARV $.99) and other StoryChimes books on iTunes.

Thank you to StoryChimes for providing the product for review free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Noplastic.ca offers a lot of great eco-friendly items for your home, including some practical laundry items, such as the following:

Thanks to ecostore USA I received a couple of products that I can feel comfortable using in my home or on my kids.

The team at ecostore USA loves making a difference in people’s lives. ecostore USA does not compromise on performance, so customers can be assured of the efficacy of the products - they truly work. We offer more than 100 products, each one meeting the most stringent environmental and sustainability standards. The guiding principle of every formulation is and will always be that the end product must not only be good for the user, but good for the planet.

I was fortunate to receive a bottle of the All Purpose Cleaner (ARV $9.00) and Baby Body Wash (ARV $10.00).

The All Purpose Cleaner sprayed easily, cleaned well, and smelled nice and citrusy. I love that it doesn't contain a lot of harsh chemicals and is naturally antibacterial.

The Baby Body Wash had a very mild, but refreshing scent thanks to the essential oils, and it was very easy to lather. It didn't sting my boys' eyes, and I ended up using it on myself too!

It's great to know that ecostore USA offers products that I can feel safe using in my home or on my boys and myself, and I can't wait to try out their other products (like the Coconut and Vanilla Body Wash or the Manuka Honey & Kelp Soap)!

Shop: You can purchase household products, baby products, and more on the ecostore USA website and get free shipping on orders over $25, or you can find their products at Meijer and Duane Reade stores.

It's not too late to enter the Seventh Generation Search for Mother Nature Contest!

Seventh Generation, the nation's leading brand of environmentally responsible household solutions, is looking for real life “Mother Nature” inspirations. Celebrate some you know who’s an inspiration when it comes to caring for our families and the natural world we all depend on by entering the Search for Mother Nature contest on www.seventhgeneration.com/mothernature.

The contest, which runs from now until May 31, includes a grand prize of a $5000 green home makeover. Both the nominated Mother Nature and the winner will also receive a year’s supply of Seventh Generation products and $2,500 donation in our Mother Nature’s name to an organization working to make the world a safer place. Six finalists will also receive a year’s worth of Seventh Generation products to help them protect planet home.

Visit www.seventhgeneration.com/mothernature for more information on how to enter the contest and official rules.

Seventh Generation’s own Mother Nature inspiration, Ivette Melendez of Women’s Action to Gain Economic Security (WAGES), will be a judge of the contest. WAGES helps low income women in the San Francisco region establish cleaning service cooperatives whose environmentally-friendly methods protect the health of both co-op members and their clients. “Little things can make a big difference when it comes to protecting the planet,” said Melendez. “We work with non-toxic cleaning products every day, which protects our own health and also ensures that the homes we clean are safe for the families living there and safe for the environment.”

Ivette’s Five Golden Rules of Cleaning
Rule 1: Go Top-to-Bottom.
Whether it's a room or a bookcase, clean from the top to the bottom and you won't have to go back and pick up any stray dirt or errant dust that falls as you go.

Rule 2: Go Back to Front.
Always clean from back to front for similar reasons. If it's a room, start in a rear corner and work toward the door. If it's a cabinet, begin in the back and clean out toward the edge.

Rule 3: Work Clockwise.
Pick a starting spot and work in a steady clockwise direction. Working systematically in this way will ensure that you don’t forget anything and won’t have to spend any time thinking about it!

Rule 4: Don't Use or Do More Than You Need To.
Always start with a small amount of cleaning product and use more as necessary for tough spots and other challenges. Using more than you need to start only creates more work when it's time to rinse everything off!

Rule 5: Look Before You Leap.
If you're cleaning something you've never cleaned before and/or using a product for the first time, you'll save a lot of premature hair loss by always testing things first to make sure you won't cause any damage.

For more of Ivette's great tips, visit http://www.seventhgeneration.com/mothernature.

Shop: You can purchase Seventh Generation cleaners, baby products, and more at various retailers online and nationwide, or you can click here to find a retailer near you.

Savvy Savings: Become a Seventh Generation Nation member and access great coupons and special offers on Seventh Generation Products!

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Seventh Generation Kit which includes: Ivette’s top three cleaning tools (pocket scraper, microfiber rag and scouring pad); Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes; Seventh Generation Natural All-Purpose Spray; Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid; Seventh Generation Recycled Paper Towels.

• To enter, visit Seventh Generation and comment on your favorite product or product you'd like to try (excluding the giveaway items).
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Seventh Generation (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• 6)Follow Seventh Generation on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 7)Like Seventh Generation on Facebook (leave your Facebook name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is May 29, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on May 30, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Fresh off a triumphant sold-out tour debut, a headlining performance at The White House, a critically-acclaimed, chart-topping album, and an appearance at Coachella that garnered rave reviews from spectators and media alike, DJ Lance Rock and the cast of YO GABBA GABBA! are heading back on the road with YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! to play to enthusiastic fans on a 60-city tour across North America. Today’s hottest live show for families will make stops at top theaters, arenas and amphitheaters throughout North America, starting August 27 in Bethel, NY and ending in Dallas, TX on December 12. YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! is produced by S2BN Entertainment in association with Wildbrain Entertainment and The Magic Store.

Champions on the stage and in the community, the Gabba Gang will participate in various service projects aimed at building homes and hope in the cities they visit during their four month journey across North America. In addition, $1 from every ticket sold during the 2010 YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY North American tour will be donated to the Habitat for Humanity local affiliate in each tour city to further their homebuilding efforts.

Pre-sale tickets are available to American Express Cardmembers starting Thursday, May 20. A special Gabba Tix pre-sale offer for members of the Gabba community will begin on Wednesday, May 26 at 10 a.m. VIP packages with premium tickets and meet and greets will also be available. For complete tour, ticket, and VIP package information, visit www.yogabbagabbalive.com. Children under one year of age will be admitted free to sit on a parent’s lap.

To celebrate the North American tour and partnership, DJ Lance Rock and friends are inviting fans and Habitat for Humanity families to a dance party at Brooklyn Bowl on Thursday May, 20.

The state-of-the-art production features music, singing, dancing and animation. The show is an interactive experience that offers audience members of all ages the opportunity to witness their favorite characters come to life. Joining the characters on stage will be hip-hop legend Biz Markie to teach kids how to beat box with “Biz’s Beat of the Day”. Special guests will join the party on stage for the Super Music Friends Show and Dancey Dance segments.

To find out if the Party is coming to your City, click here.