I had recently done a review & giveaway of another Mama Mio product and I am really loving this line! Can I just tell you how much I love Bootcamp For Butts, the new product I have reviewed? I LOVE this product!!!  And while there will be no before and after pictures to back me up as proof, I have to say that Bootcamp For Butts really works! I am so pleased with the results! Right after the first use I could feel a difference on my skin and with just 3 minutes a day for exercises you just can’t go wrong.

Bootcamp For Butts is a butt lift in a box – a complete skincare and exercise system to lift your butt in 30 days. And it really works!!! As with all good things it takes work, the exercise part of this kit is an important aspect and adds to the general look as you work the muscles to become more fit. To explain it right here is an excerpt from their website:

Do you have one single friend who is at ease with her rear view? Our Bootcamp for Butts system includes our 3 step skincare wonder-combo to smooth, soften, tone, tighten, increase circulation and reduce the appearance of cellulite. To ensure a dramatic difference, we have honed in on 2 simple but highly effective daily exercises that take no more than 3 minutes a day. Everyone can find 3 minutes a day and, rest assured, if you commit for 30 days, you will see results. Bootcamp for Butts contains:

• A 3 minute kick-ass exercise programme - targeting your Gluteus Maximus and more - created by celebrity trainer Efua Baker
• Body Buff - feel great in the buff - A gentle body exfoliator - kick start circulation encourage cell renewal. 100ml/3.4 fl.oz
• Tummy Toner - a gym for slack skin A body toning serum - lift, tighten and tone exactly where you need help. 100ml/3.4 fl.oz
• Shrink To Fit - a bootcamp for bulges An amazing cellulite cream - packed full of active ingredients. 100ml/3.4 fl.oz

Again I can’t tell you what a few minutes of exercise a day and the Bootcamp For Butts did for me, and now I can be at ease with my own rear view. And guess what? Mama Mio and I want to help one lucky Dirty Shirt reader feel confident too, so they have offered one Bootcamp For Butts kit for a giveaway. Rules are below:

• MAIN RULE - Go to the Mama Mio website and tell me  in comments one other product you would like to try. (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
• 1 Extra Entry - Subscribe to my RSS feed or by email (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Stumble this post and leave your Stumble name (I will be checking) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Favorite The Dirty Shirt in Technorati and leave your name (I will be checking) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Follow me on Twitter (button in subscribe section on on the right sidebar) and let me know your Twitter name in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry for Tweeting about this giveaway. Please leave direct URL in comments so I can check.
• 2 Extra Entries - Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and to Mama Mio’s website.

This giveaway will run through midnight on January 21, with winner being announced the morning of  January 22. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and submitted to PRIZEYWinners as well as notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

honestech VHS to DVD  Deluxe 3.0 is a revolutionary software that allows the easy and simple production of DVD/CD movies. Videotapes can deteriorate over time. Deteriorated videos will have color bleed, white specks, and other distortions. Don’t risk this happening to your home video collection!

All-in-one solution

• Best choice for preserving your irreplaceable home videos.
• Provides everything you need to easily transfer your video into VCD, SVCD or DVD movies.
• USB 2.0 video capture device/hardware included.

User-friendly interface

• Advanced scene editing tools allow you to record movies and easily trim out commercials or unwanted scenes.
• Easily add transition effects, titles, and chapters.

Music conversion

• Revive old music to new digital formats.
• Record audio from cassettes, LP records, or video tapes.
• Create MP3 files that you can play on MP3 players, PSP, iPod, or PDA devices.
• Convert Cassette tapes and LP records into audio CDs.

We used this to transfer some of our home movies onto our PSP and we love it. The software is very easy to use and my son even got a few of his favorite action shots of his skateboarding onto his iPod. Very happy to have found this product and I recommend it to everyone wanting to save their home movies on DVD.

The great folks at honestech have offered a VHS to DVD Deluxe 3.0 package to one Dirty Shirt Reader. See rules below:

• MAIN RULE - Go to honestech product page here and tell me  in comments one other program you would like to try. (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
• 1 Extra Entry - Subscribe to my RSS feed or by email (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Stumble this post and leave your Stumble name (I will be checking) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Favorite The Dirty Shirt in Technorati and leave your name (I will be checking) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Follow me on Twitter (button in subscribe section on on the right sidebar) and let me know your Twitter name in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry for Tweeting about this giveaway. Please leave direct URL in comments so I can check.
• 2 Extra Entries - Write a post on your blog linking to my blog.

This giveaway will run through midnight on January 16, with winner being announced the morning of  January 17. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and submitted to PRIZEYWinners as well as notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

I recently got the chance to watch Goldilocks and the 3 Bears Jim Henson style!! What a creative, adorable show. Growing up watching everything Jim Henson made I am happy to see his legacy continuing in the direction he became well known for. My children absolutely loved this show. My toddler loves when Goldilocks is on the screen especially the scenes with all the colorful candy. Very good family show and good lessons to be learned for the kids.

Goldilocks, a spoiled TV star, moves in with the three bears to be filmed 24/7 for a “Big Brother”-type reality show in an effort to boost her career.  As they attempt to capture audiences, Goldilocks and the bear family must learn to get along if their show is going to be a ratings success.  A fresh spin on one of the most famous fables of all time featuring the voice talents of Golden Globe nominee Brooke Shields (“Lipstick Jungle,” “Hannah Montana”), Tom Arnold (“Chasing Christmas”) and Jamie Lynn Spears (“Zoey 101”), GOLDILOCKS & THE 3 BEARS is another instant family classic from the beloved Jim Henson Company. A riotous fable the whole family can enjoy together, UNSTABLE FABLES: GOLDILOCKS & THE 3 BEARS is a great movie!

What??? It’s only January you say, I know but Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays to let everyone I know just how much I love them. And what better way to say that than with cards from Tiny Prints Valentine’s Day Collection. From Valentine Photo Cards to party invitations and stickers, Tiny Prints has something for everyone.

And they have the most adorable selection of Valentine’s Day Cards for your kids to take to school and pass out to all their classmates. The one above is my daughter’s choice for her friends this year. This year she can pass out an original card with her name printed right on it and she is super excited about that. Tiny Prints has done so well with my photo cards for Christmas last year that they will be getting me as a returning customer for all occasions.

Being a homeschooler, I am always excited to discover new and exciting way to teach my children. I found a great way to introduce them to folktales from around the world through Amy Friedman. Tell Me A Story: Timeless Folktales from Around the World and Tell Me A Story 2: Animal Magic have both won Parents’ Choice Silver Honors Awards and National Association of Parenting Publications Gold Medals as well as rave reviews. Their third release, Tell Me A Story 3: Women of Wonder, will be released this spring.

Each CD is made up of 7 or 8 multicultural folktales from Amy’s long-running newspaper feature (Tell Me A Story is syndicated around the world by Universal Press Syndicate, www.uexpress.com/tellmeastory). Each story is read by another talented actor of stage or screen fame (including some Tony, Emmy and Oscar winners). And each story is also accompanied by original music written by the amazing musician (and mom), Laura Hall (best known as the pianist from Whose Line Is It Anyway).

These stories from the popular newspaper column, Tell Me A Story, read by eight of stage and screen’s most talented actors, with music by renowned composer Laura Hall, will delight listeners from 5 to 95. From the banks of the mighty Mississippi to a sparkling stream in Kyoto, from the misty moors of Scotland to Africa’s folktale forests, listeners will be transported as legendary heroes, mythical maidens and talented tricksters weave their magic.

We put this CD on in the car on a recent car trip and my toddler was fascinated by the Two Frogs from Japan tale. My middle daughter loves listening to this CD, and although my son claimed he was too old to listen to the stories I found that to not be true as he told the baby to “shh” during A Sense of Theft and was talking to my other daughter about The Clever Girl after we reached our destination.

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The multicultural rhythms and tales of Tell Me A Story: Animal Magic reflect the spirit of these words offered in 1854 by Chief Seattle:

“…if all the beasts were gone, men would die from a great loneliness of spirit…”

The stories are from far and wide:

• The Tortoise and the Magic Drum is a Nigerian tale
• The Poet and the Dragon is a Chinese tale
• Kerplunk is an Australian tale
• The Elephants Reward is an East Indian tale
• The Talking Cat is a French Canadian tale
• Coyote’s Gift is a Native American tale
• The Cricket’s Song is a Guatemalan tale

Jillian Gilliland’s artwork

Both of these CDs are wonderful and such a great way to introduce a different culture into your children’s reading/storytelling. My children loved all the new stories that they heard, yes, even the 16 year old who said he wouldn’t enjoyed them. And on a recent run to the grocery store I popped it in for the kids to listen to and we had to stay in the car until it was over. I am very pleased how my kids have taken to the stories on these CDs. I highly recommend them to all homeschooling parents as a wonderful way to introduce a world of stories to your kids. And I have some good news! Amy Friedman has offered a reader of The Dirty Shirt a set of both of these great CDs. Rules are below:

• MAIN RULE - Go to Myths and Tales and tell me  in comments one person from the list of those involved with the CDs and what they added to them. (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
• 1 Extra Entry - Subscribe to my RSS feed or by email (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Stumble this post and leave your Stumble name (I will be checking) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Favorite The Dirty Shirt in Technorati and leave your name (I will be checking) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Follow me on Twitter (button in subscribe section on on the right sidebar) and let me know your Twitter name in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry for Tweeting about this giveaway. Please leave direct URL in comments so I can check.
• 2 Extra Entries - Write a post on your blog linking to my blog.

This giveaway will run through midnight on January 16, with winner being announced the morning of  January 17. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and submitted to PRIZEYWinners as well as notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

Sorry for the delay in this had major internet issues that lasted until this evening. Without further delay here is the winner of the Yes We Will Eco Bag…

Here are your random numbers:  12 Timestamp: 2009-01-06 00:14:41 UTC

Jennifer from Rundpinne - please keep a lookout for my email and get back to me within 48 hours, or I will have to choose another winner.

WeightView is a digital and personalized motivational tool that uses the power of visualization to help to achieve weight loss success!

See what you might look like 20 pounds lighter! Weightview.com will generate an image for you of how you might look if you lost 5, 10 or even 20 pounds!

With your WeightView image, you can print out results, save it on your screen, pin it on your wall, post it on the fridge, keep it in your wallet, even download the results to your cell phone - we provide a tangible, visual tool to strengthen your motivation and resolve!!

“Losing Weight” -it’s the most popular New Year’s resolution, but it’s also the hardest one to keep. Once the holiday celebrations are over, the biggest challenge for most of us is to not only get back onto our regular schedules, but to achieve our New Year’s resolutions at the same time.

Here are 5 simple tips from WeightView.com (the free visual weight loss tool) to help get you started on your visual “New You” Resolution…

1. Be graphic: Imagine a line graph documenting every pound you’ve lost -it’s only a matter of time until you see the downward trend your weight loss has made on the graph. If you can imagine that downward trend you’ve made, it can be really motivating! Each pound takes you one step closer towards your goal. Remember that taking one small step is better than taking nothing at all. Track your progress as well as recognize your small achievements too… and keep going!

2. There’s strength in numbers: If your friends share the same goals as you, why not get together to help each other? The more buddies you team up with, the easier it will be for you to stay on track. For instance, instead of ordering that bowl of pasta, make a pact with your friend to both order the salad together… or at least share that bowl of pasta! Staying connected to like-minded friends could be the key to your success.

3. Knowledge is power: Do Your Research! Not only will reading up about weight loss educate you on what you’re doing right and what you’re doing wrong, it will help keep your resolution top of mind. Surround yourself with information to help you achieve your goals. You may even discover that nugget of information that really resonates with you so you don’t jump off the bandwagon!

4. Fake it till you make it! Changing your diet and fitness habits is only one part of how to achieve your goal. The other part is to visualize yourself actually achieving your goal. Once you can see yourself as the person you want to be, it will keep you in the mindset of where you are going to be.

5. If at first you don’t succeed, then try again! Don’t give up just because you ate that slice of pecan pie! Understand that there will be setbacks and many temptations but anytime you lose focus or will-power, take a good hard look at your WeightView results photo and remind yourself of your underlying motivation.

Losing weight involves an overall lifestyle change that won’t happen overnight. It’s a process that takes time to accomplish: not to mention commitment and patience too. The most important thing is to keep track of your progress and to build a support network of buddies –it can make all the difference!

To help stay motivated, WeightView.com provides free, realistic and motivating photos for those with a weight loss goal. Just upload a full body image of yourself, let WeightView know how much weight you’d like to lose, and they will send you back a version of the new, slimmer, healthier you. Additionally, there is a new Facebook community and application just in time for after the holidays, and all with the convenience of being on your social networking platform, Facebook!

WeightView’s Facebook application isn’t centered on a specific diet or subscription-based service. The new Facebook application allows users to:

• Track their progress with daily entries of your weight loss journey
• Connect with buddies for motivational support
• Discuss key weight loss issues with experts and other WeightView users
• Accrue points to be redeemed for additional motivational items from WeightView such as prints, mugs, and t-shirts featuring the “After” photo

Check out WeightView today and find the motivation to keep that resolution this year! And check out the following segment that ABC TV’s Good Morning America did on “Hot Trends for 2009” on Sat 12/27, that included WeightView as one of the hot trends of 2009…http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6534474&page=1

Science Kit + Textbook = KitBook

Kit•Book - Patented new instructional concept which combines the visual-learning features of a textbook with the kinesthetic-learning features of a hands on science kit.

When I was contacted to review this product it couldn’t have come at a better time. I am a homeschooling mom and my son was stuck in this particular section of his science textbook. Well that all changed. And not only for the electric section of his learning but on how he wants to learn from now on. Hands on. By using this book he was actually excited about his lessons, he didn’t drag his feet to learn like he usually does. He dove right in and used this KitBook for over 3 hours.

One of the key features that sets the Electric Circuits KitBook apart from other science kits is the educational content. The text is written to the National Science Education Standards providing in-depth learning that is not possible with toy-like kits. The KitBook includes dozens of experiments in nine major activities spanning simple circuits, batteries, conductors and insulators, switches, series and parallel circuits, and electromagnetism.

I am so impressed with how complete a study this is, and both of my kids whom I homeschool have enjoyed learning from this. My 9 year old daughter has just started working on it for the semester and she is already loving it and wants to do more.

KitBooks:

• Are proven effective.
• Are a 2008 Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Award winner.
• Are a 2008 Association of Educational Publishers Distinguished Achievement Award winner
• Are safe for your children.
• Are designed for home and the classroom.
• Are totally self-contained—batteries included, no extra parts to buy, no assembly required.
• Are sized for home or travel.
• Are structured to enable self-paced learning.
• Are rugged—they’re classroom tested.
• Are extremely cost-effective over the life of the product.
• Are maintenance free—designed and tested for maximum usefulness.
• Are printed and assembled in the US.
• Make learning fun!

The Electric Circuits KitBook includes nine cool experiments:

• Turn on lights, spin motors, buzz buzzers.
• Make series and parallel circuits.
• Build a circuit to test insulators and conductors.
• Learn about and use two different kinds of switches.
• Discover the difference between primary and secondary batteries.
• Send Morse Code with a series circuit and a buzzer.
• Detect magnetic fields in wires using a compass.
• Make an electromagnet with a battery, a wire, and a nail. See what you can pick up… and what you can’t.
• Learn fun facts about electricity!

I highly recommend the Electric Circuits KitBook to all teachers that want a better learning experience in their classroom, to parents as homeschoolers, this really is a complete lesson in one convenient place, to parents just to give that added help to their student, and to kids, because I believe that hands on learning is the best way for young minds to learn.

At Aylio, we recognize the vast benefits of resistance training and want to share those benefits with the world. Our unique resistance bands allow users at all fitness levels to tone and sculpt their bodies from the comfort of their own homes, while simultaneously boosting energy and leading a healthy lifestyle!

When the opportunity arose to try out the Aylio Resistance Bands I jumped at it. I have been wanting to try out this form of exercising for ages but all the machines that do it are way too expensive. The Aylio Resistance Bands are just the solution.

The unique bands by Aylio Fitness allow users to attach one, two, three or four bands simultaneously to match his/her preferred level of resistance. Aylio uses the highest quality rubber latex tubing and metal clips as opposed to cheap plastic offered by their competitors. This training set is ideal for all fitness levels from beginner to professional athlete or bodybuilder. These bands are also great for the elderly and for those in rehabilitation after an injury or surgery. Easily packs into suitcase for traveling. The door anchor can be used to create over 100 exercises targeting every major muscle group in the body!  This is a total home gym for just $34.99 + shipping. And you can check out the free instructional videos at Aylio’s partner site, resistancebands.org.

Set includes:

• 1 Low Strength Blue Tube
• 1 medium Strength Red Tube
• 1 High Strength Yellow Tube
• 1 Ultra Strength Black Tube
• 1 Pair of Handles
• 1 Pair of Ankle Straps
• 1 Door Anchor
• *Free Aylio Pouch

I have used the Aylio Resistance Bands this week and let me tell you, they work!!! I feel it working while I am using them and most definitely after the workout. I am very excited that I got the chance to use this system, and now I will be sticking with it and getting fit in 2009. Would you like the chance to win an Aylio Resistance Band set for yourself? Thanks to Max Krishtul, CEO of Aylio Fitness, I have an extra set to give away to one of The Dirty Shirt readers. See below for rules:

• MAIN RULE - Go to Aylio’s website and tell me one of their other products you would like to try and come back and tell me in comments what it is. (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
• 1 Extra Entry - Subscribe to my RSS feed or by email (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Stumble this post and leave your Stumble name (I will be checking) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Favorite The Dirty Shirt in Technorati and leave your name (I will be checking) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Follow me on Twitter (button in subscribe section on on the right sidebar) and let me know your Twitter name in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry for Tweeting about this giveaway. Please leave direct URL in comments so I can check.
• 2 Extra Entries - Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and Aylio’s website.

This giveaway will run through midnight on January 16, with winner being announced the morning of  January 17. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and submitted to PRIZEYWinners as well as notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

I have the winners of the Customized Fruit Roll Ups and Avon Naturals Gardenia Set Giveaways that ended last night. Here they are, and congratulations, there were a lot of entries for both of these products.

Customized Fruit Roll Ups winner is:

Here are your random numbers:  188 Timestamp: 2009-01-03 13:44:18 UTC

Monique Rizzo - no blog - please keep an eye out for my email and get back to me within 48 hours, or I will have to choose another winner.

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Avon Naturals Gardenia Set winner is:

Here are your random numbers:  170 Timestamp: 2009-01-03 14:10:05 UTC

Margaret Smith - no blog - please keep an eye out for my email and get back to me within 48 hours, or I will have to choose another winner.