Every cloud has a silver lining. With its 101 stories of optimism, faith, and strength, this book will encourage readers to stay positive during challenging times and in their everyday lives. Readers will be inspired by these real-life stories from people just like them, taking a positive attitude to the ups and downs of life, and remembering to be grateful and count their blessings. This book continues Chicken Soup for the Soul's focus on inspiration and hope and its stories remind us that each day holds something to be thankful for. A great start to the New Year.

As expected, there were many wonderful stories in Think Positive about people realizing how much they have to be thankful for--from the little things to the big things.

However, one story truly sticks in my head that I think about all the time--Magic Stains.

It's about a mom who was embarrassed by all of the stains on her carpet--paint, carpet, food coloring...

Then a friend commented on how she should thank her floors.

Soon the mom realized that she's very thankful for her stained carpets, as they represent a family that has created wonderful memories!

Whenever I see stains on the floors or crayon markings on the wall, I always think of that story to remind myself of how lucky I am to have a family, and how I too would much rather have stained carpets than impeccably clean and sterile ones!

Even though I'm still a worry-wart, Think Positive has really helped me see things differently, and it's a wonderful book for just about anyone on your holiday list!

Shop: You can purchase Think Positive at various retailers online and nationwide (ARV $14.95)

Win: Three lucky winners will each receive a copy of Think Positive!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***
Congratulations to rubynreba, snowluvnferret, JR911!

• To enter, comment on a situation where positive thinking has helped you or a loved one.
• You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Chicken Soup for the Soul; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed (1 extra entry)
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 4)Add my Holiday Gift Guide button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 5)Follow me on Twitter; leave your Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 6)Tweet this giveaway; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Holiday Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29m86ac"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 8)Leave a comment on the Holiday Wish List post stating what item(s) is(are) on your holiday wish list this year (3 extra entries)
• The deadline for entries is December 14, 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 or about December 15, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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 products for review/giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Aurora - Cheeky Charlie™ & Carmen™: Retailers know Aurora’s go-to monkeys with personality, lovable smiles and signature banana in the tail, Cheeky Charlie™& Carmen™, fly off store shelves. Three newer styles in the line include Cheeky Charlie “Rock Star” which features Charlie with a Mohawk, sporting a guitar and t-shirt (14.5 inches). Cheeky Charlie Surfer (14.5 inches) in a visor and board shorts is ready to hit the beach with his surfboard. Cheeky Charlie Zoo Keeper (14.5 inches), Wrangler Cheeky Charlie (pictured, 14.5 inches) and Carmen “BFF” (pictured, 14.5 inches) are some other top items in the line. Each monkey’s Velcro hands make “hanging out” easy! Ages three and up. All “14.5 inch” Cheeky Charlie & Carmen styles retail with a suggested price of $17. All of the plush we received were just so cute and cuddly, but Smiley's favorite was Wrangler Cheeky Charlie!

Smiley kept saying "monkey, monkey!" and would giggle whenever playing with it. His Velcro hands made playing with him even more fun, as we'd constantly hang him on furniture and gates, and connect him with Carmen.

The Dreamy Eyes Fantubulous Frog was also very cute--its eyes really are "dreamy!"

There are so many adorable plush toys that Aurora has to offer, that it's easy to find something for the little one(s) on your holiday list!

Shop: You can purchase a variety of Aurora Plush on the Aurora website.

• To enter, visit Aurora and comment on what Aurora product you think your child(ren) would love (excluding any of the giveaway items).
• You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Aurora; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed (1 extra entry)
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 4)Add my Holiday Gift Guide button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 5)Follow me on Twitter; leave your Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 6)Tweet this giveaway; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Holiday Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29m86ac"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 8)Leave a comment on the Holiday Wish List post stating what item(s) is(are) on your holiday wish list this year (3 extra entries)
• The deadline for entries is December 13, 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 or about December 14, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US and Canada 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 Aurora for providing the products for review/giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Concord Jazz is proud to announce the release of Daylight at Midnight, the newest album from the pianist/composer Taylor Eigsti. This innovative collection includes original Eigsti compositions, as well as other remarkable musical renditions by composers such as Nick Drake, Imogen Heap, Elliot Smith and Rufus Wainwright.

• To enter, comment on why you'd like to win!
• You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Taylor Eigsti; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
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• 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Holiday Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29m86ac"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 8)Leave a comment on the Holiday Wish List post stating what item(s) is(are) on your holiday wish list this year (3 extra entries)
• The deadline for entries is December 12, 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 or about December 13, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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 for giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

I've read many articles about how massage is beneficial for babies because it helps soothe them and even helps them sleep better, so I couldn't wait to try some on Smiley.

After placing the bottle in hot water to warm the oil, I opened it up and immediately noticed how pleasant it smelled. It had a citrusy scent from the mandarin essential oil, and it wasn't too oily (I've tried some baby oils that were really, really oily and I could still feel it even after I washed my hands!).

A little went a long way, and although I really couldn't tell if the massage oil helped Smiley sleep better since he's already a good sleeper, I know I can't wait to try it on DS3 once he's here (and old enough--recommended for babies ages 12 weeks and older).

I love that the massage oil is all natural and contains no parabens or sodium laurel sulfates.

I'm actually very tempted to use it on myself since I'm so stressed out these days!

There are many other IntelliCeuticals products for both mom and baby, and you can find them on the IntelliGender website.

• To enter, visit IntelliCeuticals and comment on which product you'd most like to try.
• You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and IntelliGender and IntelliCeuticals; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
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• 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Baby Essentials & Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29gb9uk"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 8)Leave a comment on the Must-Have Baby Products post stating what your all-time favorite baby product is; please be specific (3 extra entries)
• 9)Follow IntelliGender on Twitter; leave your Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• The deadline for entries is December 11, 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 or about December 12, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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 IntelliGender for providing the products for review and giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

Oral Care And Health Daily: Your Best Self

5 Superfoods You’re Not Eating

By Ella Brooks for Oral Care And Health Daily
We’ve all heard about the amazing powers of salmon and blueberries, but some commonly neglected nutritional superstars deserve a spot in your shopping cart too. “There are thousands of phytonutrients that have potential health benefits,” says Beth Reardon, a registered dietitian and the director of nutrition at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, N.C. “We are just beginning to understand the synergy between foods and their bioactive compounds.”

Here’s the dish on five standouts that prove it’s smart to think outside the superfood box.

Secret Superfood No. 1: Black Rice

Like its brown counterpart, black rice is packed with cholesterol-lowering fiber. But that’s not all: Researchers from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge recently discovered that it’s a powerful source of antioxidants. In fact, it contains anthocyanins, the same phytochemicals in blueberries that have been shown to help maintain brain function. You can buy the Asian cooking staple online or in an Asian supermarket.

Super idea: “Try black rice in pumpkin or butternut squash soup -- it’s perfect for fall,” says Reardon.

Secret Superfood No. 2: Cabbage

Cabbage isn’t only for coleslaw. When you chew this cruciferous vegetable (ditto for broccoli and kale), you break down the plant cell walls and trigger the formation of a powerful anti-cancer compound called sulforaphane. “Sulforaphane detoxifies carcinogens and speeds their elimination from the body,” explains Reardon. One study from Georgetown University found that compounds present in cabbage help cells recover from the damage of breast and prostate cancer.

Super idea: Put cabbage on a burger or toss it into a stir-fry.

Secret Superfood No. 3: Chia Seeds

Flaxseeds aren’t the only game in town: Chia seeds contain antioxidants and heart-healthy omega-3s. In one study in the journal Diabetes Care, people with type 2 diabetes experienced health benefits when they ate chia seeds for 12 weeks. “The soluble fiber in the seeds slows the digestion and absorption of glucose over time,” says Reardon. Study participants also had lower blood pressure.

Super idea: Sprinkle chia seeds on oatmeal or stir them into yogurt.

Secret Superfood No. 4: Watercress

This peppery green was reportedly used by the Greek physician and father of modern medicine, Hippocrates. “Watercress contains high amounts of antioxidants that protect cell DNA,” says Reardon. In one British Journal of Nutrition study, breast cancer patients who ate watercress had significant levels of compounds that seemed to interfere with cancer cell development.

Super idea: Add watercress to a turkey sandwich or stir it into pasta dishes.

Secret Superfood No. 5: Black Raspberries

These dark-hued berries have been shown to reduce the risk of oral cancer, as well as esophageal and colon cancer in animal studies -- perhaps due to a compound called ellagic acid. And new research from Ohio State University also shows promise for humans, lowering levels of oxidative stress.

Super idea: Serve black raspberries with vanilla ice cream or on top of Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey.

Ella Brooks is a New York City-based health writer and editor. Her articles have appeared in such national women's magazines as Shape, Prevention, Natural Health and Woman's Day.

Sage and Savvy is a Studio One Networks Media Partner.

Bryan Adams' Bare Bones is an inspired collection of minimally arranged hits culled from Adams’ impressive body of work spanning three decades. Recorded in spring of 2010 during his "Bare Bones Tour," the disc captures a raw Adams, featuring only his distinctive voice and guitar, accompanied on select songs by keyboardist Gary Breit, lending a newfound appreciation and perspective to what many consider some of the most beloved songs in pop/rock music.

Inspired by his experience recording “MTV’s Unplugged” in the 90’s, Adams decided to revisit performing his material pared down once again in 2008. With a consistently loyal following on the road, Adams continued playing live shows with these new spare arrangements in 2010, and as an experiment decided to start recording them for a possible record. Comments Adams, “as the tour rolled across the USA and Canada, many people were asking for a recording of the songs as they had just heard in the show. So in response to that, I decided to record a few shows to see if a recording was even interesting… I like the way the songs carry themselves warts and all, bare-boned, without the original arrangements of a full band or an orchestra.” He continues, “These recordings only have the voices and handclaps of the fans in the audience and the ambiance of the room to lift them.

Shop: You can purchase Bare Bones at various retailers online and nationwide (ARV $16.98).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Bryan Adams: Bare Bones!

• To enter, comment on your favorite Bryan Adams song.
• You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Bryan Adams; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
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• 5)Follow me on Twitter; leave your Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 6)Tweet this giveaway; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Holiday Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29m86ac"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 8)Leave a comment on the Holiday Wish List post stating what item(s) is(are) on your holiday wish list this year (3 extra entries)
• The deadline for entries is December 10, 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 or about December 11, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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 for giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

If you love to give homemade edible delights for the holidays, Ziploc's Holiday Prints and Colors are a great way to present the treats to the lucky recipient!

This year, give homemade treats to your friends and family as a special holiday gift. Homemade treats are always loved and appreciated, plus they’re delicious and come straight from the heart. To keep them fresh and fun, pack them in Ziploc® Holiday Bags and Containers. The trusted Ziploc® seal lets you feel confident your treats will stay fresh, while the festive designs and colors add an extra touch of holiday sparkle.

• To enter, comment on what you'd fill the Ziploc Holiday containers with!
• You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Ziploc Holiday; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
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• 4)Add my Holiday Gift Guide button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 5)Follow me on Twitter; leave your Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 6)Tweet this giveaway; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Holiday Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29m86ac"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 8)Leave a comment on the Holiday Wish List post stating what item(s) is(are) on your holiday wish list this year (3 extra entries)
• The deadline for entries is December 2, 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 or about December 3, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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 SC Johnson for providing the products for giveaway free of charge. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

When life gets crazy, it's often necessary to just stop, take a breath, and remember what's important.

But that's easier said than done, which is why I think the mama mantras parenting cards and iPhone app are very handy to have.

Mantras such as "The days are long, but the years are short," "It's ok to take a break and hide in the bathroom" and "Will it matter in five years? Five days? Five minutes?" really help to make you stop and think.

The cards are small enough to carry with you anywhere--you can carry the entire set or slip some in your wallet, your purse, your pocket, and even keep some in your car when you're stuck in traffic!

The mama mantras iPhone app allows you to easily "favorite" mantras you love, and it's great for when you're waiting at the doctor's office and your kid is screaming because he doesn't want to get a shot, or maybe you're waiting in a long line somewhere.

The days can get chaotic, especially now during the holidays, and when they do, I know I can pull out a mama mantras card or check my iPhone for a mantra that will help me remember what's important in life and to get myself together.

And then maybe I'll go and hide in the bathroom...

Shop: You can purchase the mama mantras parenting cards (ARV $8) on the mama mantras website or the iPhone app (ARV $.99) on iTunes.

Win: Three lucky winners will receive a download code for the mama mantras iPhone app!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Stuff Parents Need, Ransomed-Redeemed, FDP 4 Life!

• To enter, comment on a situation you'd think mama mantras would come in handy.
• You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and mama mantras; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed (1 extra entry)
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• 4)Add my Baby Essentials & Gift Guide button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 5)Follow me on Twitter; leave your Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 6)Tweet this giveaway; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Baby Essentials & Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29gb9uk"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 8)Leave a comment on the Must-Have Baby Products post stating what your all-time favorite baby product is; please be specific (3 extra entries)
• The deadline for entries is December 8, 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 or about December 9, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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 mama mantras for providing the products for review and giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

How much is 1+1? Think the answer is 2? Not always, as this playful approach to addition proves! David LaRochelle takes children on a joyful mathematical journey that will engage their minds and teach them to think about numbers in a creative, outside-the-box way.

Brenda Sexton's wild and wacky illustrations add layers of witty fun to LaRochelle's clever game.

Here is an excerpt from my review:

1+1=5 is indeed really clever and although my boys simply enjoyed the colorful illustrations, identifying the objects, and counting since they're too young to figure out the equations on their own, I personally had a lot of fun trying to figure out when 1+1 didn't equal 2.

For instance, 1+1=3, when you have one unicorn with one horn, and one goat, with two horns.

Get it?

1+1=5 is a great book for the entire family to go through together to challenge thinking and encourage creativity, resulting in a whole lot of fun!

Shop: You can purchase 1+1=5 at various retailers online and nationwide (ARV $14.95)

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of 1+1=5!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Emillie Rose!

• To enter, comment on why you'd like to win!
• You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and 1+1=5; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
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• 4)Add my Holiday Gift Guide button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 5)Follow me on Twitter; leave your Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 6)Tweet this giveaway; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Holiday Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29m86ac"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 8)Leave a comment on the Holiday Wish List post stating what item(s) is(are) on your holiday wish list this year (3 extra entries)
• The deadline for entries is December 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 or about December 8, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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!

For years, author Elizabeth Lyons has been asked how she does it all.

Whether she’s negotiating a truce between her 10- and 5-year-old while eulogizing goldfish, swinging a sledgehammer in her garage-to-be-nursery, bribing her twins to keep their pants on in the grocery store, planning her product line, strategically placing carrot seeds in her garden, receiving life lessons from her oldest daughter, or explaining to her kids why a fellow post office patron has pierced nipples, Elizabeth Lyons has discovered that the secret to navigating through the land of euphoria and hysteria is a carefully crafted set of rules—for herself!

You Cannot Be Serious is a contemporary and humorous roadmap for “doing it all” that any woman can relate to for untying her own “nots.” And for moms who lie awake at night wondering if their sanity will remain intact until the kids move out, Lyons provides a girlfriend-to-girlfriend guide, not just for getting through each day, but for being able to say with conviction, “I love my life!”

As a mom, I often wonder how other moms can "do it all," since I often find myself struggling to stay calm and sane during so many situations.

Many of my friends who are moms seem to always have it together, but You Cannot Be Serious made me realize that I'm not alone when it comes to feeling like I'm losing my mind.

The first thing that struck me about Lyons was not only her humor, but how I could actually relate to her in so many ways.

For instance, she seems to be quite a germaphobe, and so am I!

I cracked up as she wrote about not wanting to use a shopping cart in fear of the swine flu, and how she thought her son was using a "possibly Ebola-contaminated lip balm" found in the parking lot. That totally sounds like the kinds of thoughts I would have!

I also learned a lot of interesting lessons on how to better handle certain situations, but I learned a lot about myself too.

I learned that it's okay to indulge and have a "Treat of the Moment" (Rule 6), how to create something good (or memorable, or blog-worthy) out of crazy situations (Rule 7-Bedlam Breeds Innovation), and most importantly--how no one really has it easy.

It's difficult to find that balance in life, especially when you're a mom, but I think the challenges and obstacles we go through as a mom are all worth it.

It's all a matter of perspective and accepting that there will be chaos. Things change. You can't control everything, especially when it comes to kids and being a mom.

You Cannot Be Serious is such a funny book (I can't wait to see what kinds of conversations my kids have with me when they get older--human bladders? hot girls?) and ultimately enlightening, and I know Lyons' 32 rules will come in handy time and time again (especially once DS3 arrives!).

Shop: You can purchase You Cannot Be Serious at various retailers online and nationwide (ARV $13.95)

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of You Cannot Be Serious by Elizabeth Lyons!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Ellen C.!

• To enter, visit You Cannot Be Serious and comment on which chapter (please list chapter title) you're most interested in reading.
  You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and You Cannot Be Serious; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed (1 extra entry)
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• 4)Add my Baby Essentials & Gift Guide button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 5)Follow me on Twitter; leave your Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 6)Tweet this giveaway; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Baby Essentials & Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29gb9uk"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 8)Leave a comment on the Must-Have Baby Products post stating what your all-time favorite baby product is; please be specific (3 extra entries)
• The deadline for entries is December 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 or about December 7, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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 Elizabeth Lyons for providing the products for review and giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

After all of the vehicles were taken, we randomly pulled names for the Pull Along Musical Pirate Ship.

The winner had no problems letting everyone else play with it! My boys loved playing with the pirate ship. Musician especially liked firing the cannon!

Although a couple of parents thought opening up the Mega Bloks toys were a bit difficult, once the toys were out, the kids had a blast!

Smiley had fun making a tower, Musician kept driving his boat through "water," and everyone else happily played with the other Mega Bloks toys, including the Play'n Go Table and the Mega Bloks Classic 80 piece set.

The Mega Bloks are bright and colorful, and are very easy for the little ones to manipulate. They had no problems putting them together and taking them apart.

I love how the Mega Bloks foster imagination and allow little ones to be really creative.

One of the moms commented how she thinks Mega Bloks are great because of how they offer a lot of products targeted to younger kids, such as the Mega Bloks Ni Hao, Kai-Lan and Thomas and Friends sets.

The Mega Bloks were such a hit, so much so, that when I asked the kids if they wanted to eat a snack (cookies, Mega Munch, cheese and crackers, etc.) or drink some juice, they all said "later."

Even the littlest party-goers got a taste of how much fun Mega Bloks are!

The Mega Bloks party was a success. The kids left more than happy with their Mega Bloks toys, and I know many of the parents left with some great holiday gift ideas as they browsed through the Mega Bloks catalog!

Since my boys love Thomas and Friends, I know exactly what to get them for the holidays, but the only hard part will be deciding on which Mega Bloks Thomas and Friends set to get them!

Thank you to Mega Bloks and MommyParties for providing the products for review. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

They are a great alternative to regular mashed potatoes, or can also be served in addition to mashed potatoes, and they taste delicious with Kikkoman Tonkatsu Sauce.

For the recipes for the above dishes, along with many other delicious recipes, visit the Kikkoman website and "wow" your friends and family at your next holiday gathering!

Shop: You can purchase Kikkoman products at grocers nationwide.

Savvy Savings: Click here to find a Buy One Get One Free Coupon.

Win: One lucky winner will receive two full-sized Kikkoman products (winner can choose two products, but if those products are unavailable, sponsor will send a similar product instead).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to sksweeps!

• To enter, visit Kikkoman and comment on which two products are your favorite or which two you'd most like to try!
• 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 Kikkoman (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 December 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 or about December 6, 2010(make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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 products for review and giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

After browsing the recipes on The Great Stuffing Debate website, I decided to go with the Quick & Easy Stuffing, primarily because I'm not the greatest cook, and the easier the recipe it is, the better.

This stuffing would also serve as my "practice" stuffing for a real holiday meal.

I've made stuffing several times before as a side dish for dinners, but I've always used water. Using the Swanson Chicken Broth instead of water made the stuffing so much tastier.

The stuffing was moist and delicious, and the Quick & Easy recipe really was quick & easy!

Now that I'm fairly confident in my stuffing-cooking skills, I'm going to try the Sausage & Mushroom Stuffing recipe next (with a little twist, using Portuguese Sausage instead of Pork Sausage).

Visit The Great Stuffing Debate to find great stuffing recipes and to see what the question of the week is!

Win: One lucky winner will receive a $150 Visa Gift Card to purchase Swanson Broth and everything else you need to make the perfect stuffing!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to sodahoney!

• To enter, visit The Great Stuffing Debate and comment on your favorite stuffing 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 The Great Stuffing Debate(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 Swanson Broths on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is December 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 or about December 5, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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 M80 for contacting me on behalf of Swanson and providing the gift cards for review and giveaway. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

I love the blue gift box design and the expressions of goodwill and joy!

Once you select your card, you can select the greeting (you may also customize it or leave the card blank), and add an optional personalization imprint (I added my family's last name).

You then choose what type of envelope you'd like (I selected self-adhesive), and you can add a personalized imprint on the envelope if you wish (I added our home address).

The entire process was quick and easy!

The Gallery Collection also offers Sympathy Cards, Birthday Cards, and even Gift Bag Ensembles!

Whether you're looking for cards to give away to your colleagues, acquaintances, family, or friends, visit The Gallery Collection to see what they have to offer!

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Gift Bag Ensemble (winner's choice of Everyday, Elegant, or Classic Ensembles).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Jennifer T.!

• To enter, visit The Gallery Collection and comment on your favorite holiday card.
• You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and The Gallery Collection; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed (1 extra entry)
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 4)Add my Holiday Gift Guide button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 5)Follow me on Twitter; leave your Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 6)Tweet this giveaway; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Holiday Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29m86ac"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 8)Leave a comment on the Holiday Wish List post stating what item(s) is(are) on your holiday wish list this year (3 extra entries)
• The deadline for entries is December 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 or about December 4, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.

Good luck!

I was fortunate to receive a black Sansa Fuze+ MP3 Player. I immediately noticed how compact and light it was, and I couldn't wait to start using it!

It comes pre-loaded with a few songs, and to add more songs, you simply need to drag and drop!

The audio was clear with the included headphones, and even connected to our cars audio system it sounded great!

To add video and photos to the Sansa Fuze+ MP3 Player, I had to download the Sansa Media Converter.

Once I launched the Sansa Media Converter, for some reason it took a while to update the player--it couldn't recognize it, and after numerous attempts at turning it off and on, I was finally able to get all the files I needed so I could use the program.

And using it was simple too. I just had to find whatever media files I wanted to upload (video, photo, etc.), and in just a few moments the files were converted for playback on the player.

DH and I love listening to the songs, and the boys love watching the home videos and viewing the photos we uploaded.

The Sansa Fuze+ MP3 Player also has the ability to play, pause, and record FM radio, record your voice, and play podcasts! It also has a slot for microSD cards, and SanDisk offers a variety of slotRadio cards which offers lots more music.

I was also fortunate to receive the VH1 Classic slotRadio card. Each slotRadio card contains 1000 songs, and I really enjoyed the VH1 Classic songs. I especially enjoyed the 80s songs--so many great songs I haven't heard in a long time by Bon Jovi, Tears for Fears, and more!

I do have to admit that I'm still not used to the controls, simply because I'm so used to touch screens. The Sansa Fuze+ MP3 Player has a control panel that you swipe to change screens, select options, etc., and I often found myself trying to swipe the screen instead!

Despite the initial difficulty in converting media and getting used to the Sansa Fuze+ MP3 Player's controls, it's lightweight, has a nice, big screen, and so far we've all been enjoying this versatile player!

Shop: You can purchase the Sansa Fuze+ MP3 Player (ARV $79.99) and slotRadio cards (ARV $29.99-$39.99) at various retailers online and nationwide.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of SanDisk and received the SanDisk Sansa Fuze+ and VH1 slotRadio Card to facilitate my review.

After 45 weeks at the top of the Billboard Classical Crossover chart, Canada’s Platinum-selling vocal group, The Canadian Tenors, have released their debut holiday album, The Perfect Gift. The album was released on October 12th through Decca Records and includes a beautiful duet, Wintersong, with Grammy Award winner, Sarah McLachlan.

This year, The Canadian Tenors have appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and Dr. Phil. They were also featured, singing the national anthem at both the 2010 NBA and MLB All-Star games. The Canadian Tenors also performed at the closing ceremonies of the G20 Summit of world leaders, in Toronto, in front of an audience, which included Barack and Michelle Obama, and also performed for Queen Elizabeth II upon her visit to Canada that same year.

I visited The Canadian Tenors website and previewed some of their music after launching the music player--such beautiful voices they have! I think The Perfect Gift will really make a "perfect gift" for just about anyone on your holiday list!

Shop: You can purchase The Canadian Tenors: The Perfect Gift at various retailers online and nationwide (ARV $$16.98).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of The Canadian Tenors: The Perfect Gift!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to vwestermeyer!

• To enter, comment on why you'd like to win.
• You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and The Canadian Tenors; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed (1 extra entry)
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 4)Add my Holiday Gift Guide button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 5)Follow me on Twitter; leave your Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 6)Tweet this giveaway; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Holiday Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29m86ac"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 8)Leave a comment on the Holiday Wish List post stating what item(s) is(are) on your holiday wish list this year (3 extra entries)
• The deadline for entries is December 2, 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 or about December 3, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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 for giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

It´s time for a wake-up crunch! The delicious Fiber One taste you know and love has just gotten even better! Now getting the fiber that you need can be the most delicious part of your day with Fiber One cereals and bars. With guilt-free and indulgent choices that now taste even better than before, Fiber One helps make it easier than ever to increase your daily intake while leaving your taste buds jumping for joy.

When hunger strikes and you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, Fiber One has you covered with at least 35% of your daily value of fiber in every serving of their cereals and bars.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark, I received some coupons for Fiber One cereal and bars and a $25 Safeway gift card so I could pick up more of my favorite Fiber One Oats & Chocolate Chewy Bars, as well as try one of the cereals.

I love the Oats & Chocolate Chewy Bars. They are really delicious and quite chocolaty! And the fact they are a good source of calcium and fiber is a bonus!

There were so many Fiber One cereals to choose from, but I ended up choosing the Fiber One Honey Clusters. There didn't seem to be too many honey clusters, but I thought the cereal still tasted good. It was just sweet enough, and I think that it's great that it contains a lot of fiber--13 grams!

Fiber One offers a lot of tasty ways for me to get my fiber, and I can't wait to try out the other bar and cereal flavors!

Shop: You can purchase Fiber One cereals and bars at various grocers nationwide.

Win: One lucky winner will receive VIP coupons good for one free box of Fiber One cereal and one free box of Fiber One bars, along with a $25 Safeway gift card (also valid at Dominick´s, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Vons, and Genuardi´s).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to clc408!

• To enter, visit Fiber One and comment on which of the bars or cereals you'd most like to try.
• 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 Fiber One (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 December 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 or about December 2, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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 Fiber One and MyBlogSpark for providing the Safeway gift card, VIP coupons, information, and giveaway items free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

On November 16th, Norah Jones will release ...Featuring, an album of the multi-platinum selling, multi-Grammy Award winning singer Norah Jones' musical collaborations from the past decade. The 18 songs on the album include duets with such legends as Ray Charles, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton, and with 21st century icons from OutKast to the Foo Fighters.

"A lot of the people on this record are people I've worshiped since I was a kid, and some of them are younger and more my contemporaries," says Norah. "Even though the musicians are so varied, the vibe of the songs makes sense when we put them all together." These collaborations reveal Jones' astonishing musical versatility, from jazz to country, hip hop to rock. Songs on the album range from classics recorded by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Joni Mitchell to new material by such wide-ranging innovators as Ryan Adams and Q-Tip, as well as recordings by some of Jones' own bands and side projects (The Little Willies and El Madmo).

The tracks on ...Featuring span her entire career, from one of her earliest recording sessions with guitarist Charlie Hunter in 2001 to her most recent performance, a song called "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John" that she cut with indie rock legends Belle and Sebastian, which will also appear on their new album. The result serves as a kind of parallel history to her own four albums, which have sold over 40 million copies worldwide.

Tracklist
1. The Little Willies - "Love Me"
2. The Foo Fighters feat. Norah Jones - "Virginia Moon"
3. Sean Bones feat. Norah Jones - "Turn Them"
4. Willie Nelson feat. Norah Jones - "Baby It's Cold Outside"
5. Norah Jones and Sasha Dobson - "Bull Rider"
6. Dirty Dozen Brass Band feat. Norah Jones - "Ruler of My Heart"
7. El Madmo - "The Best Part"
8. Outkast feat. Norah Jones - "Take Off Your Cool"
9. Q-Tip feat. Norah Jones - "Life Is Better"
10. Talib Kweli feat. Norah Jones - "Soon the New Day"
11. Belle & Sebastian feat. Norah Jones - "Little Lou, Prophet Jack, Ugly John"
12. Ray Charles feat. Norah Jones - "Here We Go Again"
13. Norah Jones feat. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
14. Ryan Adams feat. Norah Jones - "Dear John"
15. Norah Jones feat. Dolly Parton - "Creepin' In"
16. Herbie Hancock feat. Norah Jones - "Court & Spark"
17. Charlie Hunter feat. Norah Jones - "More Than This"
18. Norah Jones feat. M. Ward - "Blue Bayou"

Norah Jones has such a beautiful voice, and I enjoyed all of her collaborations with the various artists on ...Featuring, from the first track to the last.

I found her sultry voice to be perfect on such tracks as Love Me and Blue Bayou (my favorite track), and it easily shined on so many others, such as Take Off Your Cool and Life is Better.

Jones' collaborations span different genres, and it was neat to hear her team up with such artists as Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Outkast, and Q-Tip!

...Featuring really showcases Jones' talent and voice, and I think the CD will make a fantastic gift for the holidays!

Shop: You can purchase a copy of ...Featuring on Amazon.com and at various other retailers online and nationwide (ARV $18.98)

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of ...Featuring!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Mrs. Desimone!

• To enter, visit Norah Jones and comment on your favorite "Featuring" Video Vignette.
• You may do any of the following for extra entries (be sure to leave a comment on this post for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Norah Jones; leave the link in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed (1 extra entry)
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 4)Add my Holiday Gift Guide button to your sidebar; leave the URL (1 extra entry)
• 5)Follow me on Twitter; leave your Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 6)Tweet this giveaway; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 7)Tweet the following "Check out @sagemom's Holiday Gift Guide http://tinyurl.com/29m86ac"; leave your link/Twitter name in your comment (1 extra entry)
• 8)Leave a comment on the Holiday Wish List post stating what item(s) is(are) on your holiday wish list this year (3 extra entries)
• The deadline for entries is November 30, 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 or about December 1, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) 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 products for review and giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.