I’d planned on keeping it after we moved to West Virginia, but that was about the time that they’d made their announcement.

I then set upon a search for a replacement telephone service.  Money is extremely tight right now, so I NEEDED it to be at least around the same amount as what we’d been paying for AT&T (roughly $35/mo).  On top of that, we needed unlimited long distance.

Then, I happened across a message on Twitter Moms asking for people to do a review of the Magic Jack.

I’d heard of the Magic Jack and had already come to the conclusion that we’d have to at least try one out, so I jumped on that message VERY quickly!

Days later, it arrived.  I was SO excited.  It literally took me 30 seconds to connect it to the USB port on my computer.  Because I don’t have my “auto run” on my computer on, I had to just click on it and make it run.

Within 10 minutes, I was signed up, had my brand new phone number and was ready to make a phone call.  TRY THAT with an ordinary phone service!

I paid $1 for the insurance.  Yes – $1.  If the cat decides to eat the Magic Jack, all I have to do is return the pieces to them and they’ll replace it.

If I’d wanted to, I could pay $3 to pick a specific last 4 digits for our new phone number, or $10 to pick the whole 7 digits.  I suppose I could have chosen something like 1-304-Dawniemom or something fun, but #1, I’m cheap, #2, I didn’t know if I was going to even keep it!

There are NO activation or service fees & taxes.  You know that extra $10 or so that gets tacked on to the usual phone bill? No more!

magicJack costs $39.95 plus shipping and handling.

One year of free local and long distance calling to the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, along with all the other great magicJack features are included with your initial purchase.

You can purchase an additional year of service for $19.95.

This thing is SO cool!

For just $40, you get the following:

• FREE local and long distance service for a YEAR!
• FREE phone number
• FREE call waiting (more on this below)
• FREE Voice Mail
• FREE Caller ID

When I’m on the phone, and I get another phone call coming in, a window pops up on my computer screen.  It shows me the number that’s calling, and gives me the option to accept or reject the call.

If I accept it, it automatically puts your 1st call on hold – AND PLAYS MUSIC FOR THEM – while you talk to the 2nd call.  Once you’re done with the 2nd call, you just “click “end” and you’re back to the 1st call. No messing around with “flash” buttons or hanging up in order to get your other call back.  It’s SO cool!

I also get an email when I have received a voice mail – it allows me to play the voice mail right there.  Seriously, I still can’t believe it’s this full of features for just $39.95.

A few notes:

The Magic Jack has to be plugged directly into your computer’s USB port. It cannot go into an extension or a hub.

The Magic Jack software must be running in order for you to make & receive calls.

As a result, your computer must remain on in order for you to make and receive calls.

If you have a slower internet connection such as we do (the cheap DSL), you may experience laggy phone calls and/or internet service while using both at the same time.

For the cost of ONE month of my previous telephone service, I’m getting an entire YEAR.  That’s a savings of almost $400.  Now I’m gonna be able to afford to upgrade to a better internet! Weeeee!

Seriously, though – I can’t see why anyone WOULD NOT want a MagicJack!

After watching just the preview, I couldn’t wait to see it!

In theaters October 23^rd

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, based on the popular series of books by Darren Shan, is a fantasy-adventure about a teenager who unknowingly breaks a 200-year-old truce between two warring factions of vampires.  Pulled into a fantastic life of misunderstood sideshow freaks and creatures of the night, one teen will vanish from the safety of a boring existence and fulfill his destiny in a place drawn from nightmares.

The Vampire’s Assistant Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/TheVampiresAssistant

CIRQUE DU FREAK has been rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned – Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13) for sequences of intense supernatural violence and action, thematic elements and some language.

DETAILS ON THE BOOK RELEASE:

THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT and Other Tales from the Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan

New movie edition features the first three books–Cirque Du Freak, The Vampire’s Assistant, and Tunnels of Blood– bound up in one volume!

Of course, living in the virtual CAVE of existence that I reside in, I had never heard of the books, but you can be sure I’ll be hitting B&N or Amazon as soon as this blog post is written! But as soon as the movie hits theaters here in Martinsburg, I’ll be there!

UPDATED:  My oldest son (13) and I went to see the movie and it was just as much fun as the previews.  I love John C. Reilly and he never disappoints in his odd ways! 

Besides letting you know about this really cool movie, though, I have a GREAT giveaway for you! and you… and YOU! and oh yeah, you over there too – the one with the pink furry bunny slippers!

THE VAMPIRE’S ASSISTANT

MOVIE GIVEAWAY

One (1) Grand Prize winner receives:

• $50 Fandango.com Gift Card & a family friendly prize pack ($100 value!)

Four (4) Additional winners will receive:

• A family friendly prize pack which includes a backpack, young adult t-shirt, locker mirror & book! ($50 value!)

  

Shipping Guidelines:

Prizing is only available to United States mailing address only. (International readers can enter if they have a friend in the States who can accept their prizes by mail.)

Didn’t I tell you this was a great giveaway?!

As usual, I have LOTS of ways for you to enter to win one of these fabulous prizes.  Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you choose to do, though – that way you get lots of chances

• Leave a comment here with the last movie you saw in the movie theater.
• Leave a comment here or blog about what vampire super power you’d like to have.
• Grab my button and put it on your blog.
• Become a facebook fan.
• Follow me on twitter.
• Tweet this contest!  Use the hashtag #dawniemomvampire and comment here with your twitter name. You can tweet a maximum of 4 times a day!
• Share this post with my handy-dandy buttons below, and then send me the link showing that you’ve done so (leave that link here in a comment).
• Winners will be drawn on October 31st!

The day that we received the new Baby Einstein dvd, World Animal Adventure, Zachary had been in a particularly difficult mood.  He was mad that we had come into the house (he LOVES playing outside) and was throwing a fit.  I’d sent Libby out to check the mail, and she came running in yelling "mama, you got a package!".  I opened it, knowing what it was, and got all excited!  I hardly had time to look at it when Libby snatched it back from me – she was a Baby Einstein baby too!

We quickly popped it into the dvd player and Zachary stopped crying the second he heard the familiar Baby Einstein music. 

Within 10 minutes, all three of my kids were ensconced in the video.  When it was over?  They watched it again!

The World Animal Adventure DVD, which debuts September 29, brings animals from around the world home to your baby, presenting dozens of playful animals in their natural habitats. Set to original world music specially orchestrated for little ears, the DVD includes fun baby animal puppet shows and animals from each of the seven continents. The DVD also presents a Grow with Me feature, offering a second viewing mode with content that changes as your baby grows so that you can get more out of the DVD.

I LOVE this feature!  (And just as soon as I can find the DVD remote, I’m going to switch it to that feature LOL!

If your kids love music – if your kids love animals – if your kids love puppets and funny faces and just everything that comes with those things – you NEED to get this DVD.  Visit Baby Einstein.com and explore the numerous & fabulous products that have been a part of our family for 2 kids now.  And tell them Dawn sent ya! LOL

My thanks, as always, to Mom Central.  “I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Baby Einstein and received a World Animal Adventure DVD to facilitate my candid review.”

I picked up Skinny Cow Mint ice cream sandwiches and was (frankly) a little skeptical.  How could low fat ice cream possibly taste good?  Reluctantly, I took a bite.  I MOO’ed!

It was that good.

In all seriousness, at only 150 calories and 2 grams of fat, this was like heaven wedged between 2 chocolate cookies!  It was delicious.  The ice cream tasted like full-fat normal ice cream.  The chocolate cookies were rich & chocolately and just simply a w e s o m e!

AND!

It’s Best Live Approved!  That means that when I do my 30 Day Challenge on the Wii Active, I can still eat them!  Woot!

Skinny Cow offers lots of varieties of yummy frozen treats, and they really are yummy.

Check them out – check out their site – and moo for yourself!

Just in time for Earth day, Electrolux kicks off its virtual flower garden campaign to drive awareness and raise funds for Global Green USA.  Starting today, when you go to http://www.electroluxappliances.com/ and plant a virtual flower for a friend, Electrolux will donate $1 to Global Green USA to support their healthy green schools initiatives across America.  Everyone who logs on to the site and plants a virtual flower will be automatically entered for a chance to win a new eco-friendly Kelly Green front-load washer and dryer!

I have been using a new laundrymat that has high-efficiency washers and dryers and they’re amazing!  They’re so fast, and only require 1/4 of the laundry soap, so it saves time AND money.  How great would it be to actually WIN a set of Electrolux machines !?!?

So head on over to Electrolux’s virtual flower garden and plant a virtual flower and win a chance to win!

I have FOUND my new breakfast! 

I must hide these from my kids.

I want them all for myself.

Isn’t that sad? LOL

But those are the thoughts that went through my head when I tried Kellogg’s new BakeShop Twists!  With just the right amount of delicious (real fruit!) fruit filling and a light, flaky pastry, it wasn’t OVERLY sweet, and really did taste like I’d gotten it from a bakery, NOT the freezer.

Although the directions say to make these in the microwave, I did mine in the toaster! (Because I’m a rebel like that!) 

You can find Eggo BakeShop Twists in the freezer aisle, right next to all the other yummy Eggo products! 

My thanks to MomCentral for the opportunity to try these out. Yum!

As a result, I jumped at the chance to review this awesome Rain-X pack!  Living in New Hampshire, the snow, sleet and ice is horrible – even in March.  So as soon as I received my new Latitude wipers, on they went!  These new wipers literally HUG the windshield, so clearing whatever happens to be flying around here is a cinch. 

Visibility is so paramount to safety, so I go through wipers like tissue!  But the Latitude are so well designed, I know that even when it comes time to replace them, I’ll replace them with more Latitudes!

In fact, according to a report released in June 2008 by sciencedaily.com, nearly a quarter of all automobile accidents occur in rainy and wet weather so making sure you have properly working wiper blades is important to help avoid accidents in poor weather conditions. By routinely checking your wiper blades and performing safety checks on your car you can help increase your safety while driving during inclement weather.
Since winter is not quite over yet here are some tips from Jody DeVere to stay safe while driving in the rain, snow, slush and ice:
• Conduct a regular walk around checking your lights, antifreeze, windshield washer fluid and wiper blades regularly
• Ensure your tires are properly inflated and have sufficient tread
• As the temperature drops keep your gas tank at least half full; the extra gas reduces condensation that can plug your fuel line with ice and stall your engine in cooler weather
• Create an emergency pack; items like a blanket, first aid kit, snacks, bottled water, an ice scraper, flashlight and a bag of kitty litter

Despite the fact that Spring “officially” began last week, it’s certainly not here!  A blizzard this week in Colorado proves that.  So how cool is it that I have a Rain-X Car Care package to give away.  Unfortunately, due to my own problems with computer, sick kids, etc. today is the last day that I can give the company my winners – so I need you to fill out the form below with your name, mailing address, make & model of your car, etc. so I can give the company all the necessary information. Any entries missing the required information will be discarded.    I have locked the entries so no one else can get your info so your privacy IS protected

Enter Fruit Roll-ups.  It’s fruit.  But it’s fun.  But it’s fruit!  But it’s fun!  (See a pattern?)  Fruit Roll-ups have contiually evolved and changed to keep kids engaged and wanting more.  When the first ingredient in a kids’ snack is a FRUIT, I’m sold.

Now Fruit Roll-Ups can be PERSONALIZED, too!  Now, I have to explain something.  My oldest son has never liked Fruit Roll-ups because he doesn’t like getting his fingers sticky (I know… ), so I ordered our personalized Fruit Roll-ups for my daughter.  When she first opened the package and unrolled it, she saw the message I’d put on there for her: 

She got SUCH a big kick out of that!  Over the next couple of days, as the box of 30 dwindled, my oldest decided to try one.   HE LOVED it! LOL 

Ok, so anyway – you can order your own personalized fruit roll-ups for any occasion!  I am thinking they’d be a great birthday party favor!  

The best part, of course, is that I have a code to give away for you to receive your OWN box of 30 personalized fruit roll-ups (a $30 value)! 

If you’d like to win, leave a comment below!  Want extra entries?  For each thing you do, leave an extra comment!

• Tweet about my birthday bash giveaways and use #dawniemom in your tweet.
• Post my button and a link to this blog on your blog, then enter your blog address in your entry.
• If you have a food blog, head over to my food blog and sign up for the Food Buzz Publisher program through my link – that’ll earn you 10 extra!

I also have a major issue with allergies so yeah, this was perfect for me!

I put the Protect-A-Bed Premium mattress protector on my bed & pillow immediately, and was pleasantly surprised!  I was concerned that, because it’s got a waterproof protection side to keep moisture from the mattress, that we’d hear it crinkle when we moved around.  But this thing is so quiet!  You’d never know that it’s waterproof at all.  Even the pillow case is waterproof!

The very next morning, I noticed that when I woke up, my head wasn’t all stuffy, as it typically is because of my allergies.  The pillow protector had worked!  It was awesome! 

I know, there’s not a whole lot I can say about a mattress pad, but seriously, I’m SO pleased with it!   Visit Protect-a-Bed’s site and check out the variety of products they have for your bed and even the baby’s CRIB!

Best of all, of course, is that I have a giveaway for you!  One lucky lucky reader will win their choice of AllerZip Mattress protector, a Premium Mattress Protector or Crib Mattress Protector!  You’ll also receive a Premium Pillow Protector!  

Would you like to win? Tell me why you need a Protect-a-Bed Mattress Protector! Allergies? Other?   [USA & Canada Please]

I’ll draw a winner on my Birthday!  (March 12th)

This is only 1 of several giveaways I’ll be having during the next week in celebration of my sisters’ (March 6th) and my birthday (March 12th)!  So be sure to come back and see what else I have in store

Add me to your feed reader. I have lots of really cool giveaways coming up in the next 6 days!

Enter Johnson’s.  From the day she was born, she’s been bathed in Johnson’s.  The very first bath your baby receives in the hospital is done with Johnson’s Baby Wash.  How comforting that is!   Johnson’s has always been the best choice for babies – but for us, even as they’ve grown up, we still use Johnson’s for all the same reasons:

• JOHNSON’S® is the #1 choice of hospitals
• NO MORE TEARS® formula is as gentle to the eyes as pure water
• Soap-free, dye-free, hypoallergenic and allergy tested Dermatologist and pediatrician tested
• Rinses easily
• Gentle enough to use everyday for both girls and boys

That last point is particularly important when it’s a little girl with extremely sensitive skin, too!

Also – just ONE time getting shampoo in her eyes is enough to remind me that we MUST use Johnson’s for her hair – because all hell breaks loose if we don’t!

What’s hard to believe, though, is that Johnson’s has been doing this for FIFTY years! So that means that even MY first bath was probably in Johnson’s.  That’s good, seeing as I also have extremely sensitive skin!

Johnson’s just released a brand new Head-to-Toe Foaming Wash that I simply LOVE.  Getting Zachary to stay still long enough to wash his hair with 1 thing, and his bod with another – not possible.  Johnson’s new Head-to-Toe Foaming Wash makes it SO much easier.  Just pump it into one hand and go to work!  No worrying about things running into his eyes because he’s wiggling around, and no worrying about his skin drying out, which is always a problem in the winter.   With Johnson’s, I don’t have to worry – and that’s probably the BEST thing of all

You can pick up Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Foaming Wash, as well as their Bubble Bath & Wash in food, drug and mass-market stores (like you didn’t know that!)