Hallmark Celebrates 100 Years ~ *GIVEAWAY*!

Yes, 100 years of sharing, caring and spreading love, laughter and tears one card at a time is what 2010 means to Hallmark. Their centennial year is here and they have only just begun!

Hallmark brand products are available in 100 countries around the world and there are 41,500 stores in the U.S. alone. They even have their own movie channel that offers entertainment for the entire family. Though Hallmark began as a greeting card business, they have grown into the all purpose “people connecting” company. Helping all of us find ways to express our thoughts and feelings for one another in many situations or relationships.

Hallmark is not just a greeting card shop. The latest products that stock the shelves of Hallmark Gold Crown stores consist of animated DVD’s that you can personalize with your own photos and send to anyone you wish, a Digital Scrapbook with built in themes and music that just need your photos to create the perfect gift to a friend or family member that lives further than you care to admit, and recordable story books that will be sent miles or oceans away with your voice waiting to tell a story to a loved one you miss dearly. These are just a few of the many products Hallmark has to offer in 2010!

It PAYS to be a Hallmark Cold Crown Member. You earn points with every purchase and every time you purchase 3 cards at one time, you earn an extra 100 bonus points! Every 3,000 point is worth $10.00 (U.S. dollars) and it’s FREE to become a member!

My “NEW” favorite product, just in time for Easter, is the Disney Donal Duck “Don’t Pull My Ears”, walking and singing plush toy.  He is so adorable! I love this little guy so much that I want to GIVE AWAY A FREE ONE!!!

To purchase your own

Disney Donald Duck “Don’t Pull My Ears” animated, plush toy ~ visit your Hallmark store between now and Easter (while supplies last). He is $29.95 or $14.95 with any 3 card purchase! To find a Hallmark store near you, click HERE. To become a fan of Hallmark on facebook, click HERE.

For your convenience, here is a list of Werner’s 9 Gold Crown Stores. Find one near you;

Werner’s Hallmark  22433 Kelly Road  EASTPOINTE 48021 ~ (586)445-0212

Werner’s Hallmark  1817 Van Dyke  IMLAY CITY 48444 ~ (810)721-1116

Werner’s Hallmark  516 N. Lapeer Road  LAKE ORION 48362 ~ (248)693-8004

Werner’s Hallmark  614 S. Main Street LAPEER 48446 ~ (810)664-0618

Werner’s Hallmark  21509 21 Mile Road MACOMB TOWNSHIP 48044 ~ (586)949-2577

Werner’s Hallmark  4866 N. Adams Road OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 48306 ~ (248)475-0919

Werner’s Hallmark 64716 Van Dyke WASHINGTON/ROMEO 48095 ~ (586)336-4011

Werner’s Hallmark 1992 25 Mile Road SHELBY TOWNSHIP 48316 ~ (248)650-1925

Werner’s Hallmark 2073 W. South Blvd. TROY 48098 ~ (248)879-0064

Prize

One lucky winner will receive their own Disney Donald Duck “Don’t Pull My Ears” animated, plush toy. Winner will be notified via email and will need to respond within 24 hours or a new winner will be chosen.

Entry Requirements

To enter for a chance to win, you are required to do the following two things. Make sure to leave a comment after each entry requirement:

1. Subscribe to Detroit Mommies via email or RSS feed.  Current subscribers count.  Leave a comment for 1 entry.
Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

2. Go to DetroitMommies facebook page, ”become a fan”and tell me who you will share this adorable character with if you win him. Leave a comment for 1 entry.

For Extra Entries

1.  Become a fan of Hallmark facebook HERE. Leave a comment here for your entry.

2.  Tweet about this contest on Twitter or post about this contest on DetroitMommies Facebook page.  Come back and leave a comment with a link to your tweet or post.  Copy and paste: Win a Donald Duck “Pull My Ears” http://wp.me/pGVE2-X8

The Fine Print

No purchase necessary to enter. Winners will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Detroit Mommies writers and contributors are ineligible to participate.  Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered.  Open to participants in the US and Canada 18 years and older. Contest ends March  7, 2010 at 11:59:59 p.m. EST.

Disclosure: I purchased a Disney Donal Duck “Don’t Pull My Ears” for this give-away. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone and are not influenced in any way by anyone.

A “TOAST” to Excellence!

I was invited to represent Detroit Mommies for an exclusive tasting event at “TOAST” in Birmingham today. October marked the 1 year anniversary for the downtown Birmingham location and from what I can see and taste, this place is here to stay! My taste buds are still dancing and I wish my arm was hooked up to an I.V. with their amazing Blueberry Margarita I sampled today! Note to self; drooling is not very lady like! EVER! All joking aside, my experience was top notch and I can’t wait to go back!

I had the honorable pleasure of meeting Thom Bloom, who Co-owns the establishment with his wife, and their overachiever Executive Chef, Jeff Rose. I can honestly say I didn’t feel like they were trying to impress me but rather, I genuinely felt they were simply sharing their passion for the food, the wine (other sample size concoctions they teased me with) and the overall unique restaurant experience. Mission accomplished!

When it comes to categorizing or stereotyping  TOAST as a restaurant, one can not. There’s nothing stereotypical about this place. I’m sure to Thom and Regan Bloom, it’s really just their dream come true. As parents to a toddler themselves, the Bloom’s know how important it is to be able to go to a restaurant that will suit the entire family’s  needs. Having an array of menu items from Mac & Cheese to Duck is an open invitation to all Metro Detroit Parents. It’s not just the food and superb service that has kept TOAST in business for this past year, it’s also their prices! I was surprised to see the more than reasonable price list for the entrees as well as their wine list and other adult beverages.

It’s not often that I’m impressed with eateries these days but TOAST does have the ability to pull off “Let’s do Breakfast” to “The Mandatory Business Power Lunch” to “Family Friendly Dining” and then shift over to “Date Night” without breaking a sweat. Now they just need to open one in my home town of Rochester.

TOAST is located at 203 Pierce Street in downtown Birmingham 48009 and the business line is (248)25-TOAST (86278). Make TOAST your next out to eat experience and I’m sure you too will be TOASTing to Excellence!

To follow TOAST on twitter click HERE.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend a tasting at TOAST. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone and are not influenced in any way by anyone.

It Pays to LOVE Pei Wei

In Celebration of Vietnamese Lantern Day you can go to your local Pei Wei Asian Diner this Friday, January 29th 2010 and claim your voucher for a FREE entree of their NEW Caramel Chicken! Yes, I did say FREE! They will provide samples of this new creation all day Friday and everyone will receive a voucher redeemable February 1st through the 7th for their very own entree.

To locate the nearest Pei Wei to you click HERE.  Be sure to spread the news and share the LOVE of Pei Wei!

Downtown Rochester’s Fire & Ice Fest

It’s late January and most of us Michiganders get a touch of cabin fever here and there. If your cabin fever is in full swing, come on over to the 3rd annual Fire & Ice Fest is in Downtown Rochester this weekend.

Beginning Friday, January 29th  (from 6-9 p.m.) and running through Saturday, January 30th (noon-9 p.m.)

There will be so many activities, you’ll want to attend both days! Just look what your entire family has to look forward to;

- Ice-skating (bring your own skates) – Tube Sledding - Horse-drawn Trolly Rides – Beer Tent – Taste Fest – Marshmallow Toasting – The BIG, BRIGHT Light Show – Dogsled demonstrations and rides – Spaghetti Dinner - Snowman & Snowangel Contest – Fireworks each night promptly at 8:00 p.m. and AMAZING ICE CARVINGS!

Come see all the delightful reasons why this festival brought more than 15,000 people to Downtown Rochester, Michigan last year!

For a detailed agenda click HERE.

The Dissolution of New Year Resolutions!

It’s mid January 2010 and I’m already sick of people asking me what my New Years Resolution is! Ah yes, with a new year comes the many procrastinators that, “all of a sudden”, realize they have been ignoring or avoiding something positive they should have been doing long ago! I don’t care if it’s weight loss, being stronger, saving money or spending more time with loved ones, JUST DO IT ALREADY! Why do you want to put off making positive changes until a New Year rolls around?

For me, it’s a daily choice to be positive and choose happiness. Starting each day with a prayer or positive thoughts are simple ways to avoid procrastination. Keep your “TO DO” list close by and always make time to accomplish what needs to be done. If something (or someone) isn’t working in your life either eliminate it (or them) and/or take action to create successful change(s). Sounds so simple right? Well, it is! Don’t allow yourself to pretend it’s going to get better if your not doing anything to make it happen. Fairies DO NOT EXIST people! If you do nothing, you will get nothing!

What ever happened to common sense? It’s seems to be a rare thought process in today’s world but I refuse to be one of those people that sets myself up for failure, only to procrastinate again for another year. I’m not saying creating new goals or making positive change is wrong, it’s the, “putting off until a later date”, that makes me cringe from the inside out! Growing into a better person is a process and when we settle for something less than what we really want, we set ourselves up for an unhappy ending.

Be realistic. Set daily goals that are attainable so you can actually accomplish them. It’s OK to push yourself once in a while and add something more challenging to your “TO DO” list but remember, you are the only one who can MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Good old common sense, . . . If your weakness is donuts, don’t buy an entire box! Get one, maybe once a month, so you are not completely depriving yourself of enjoying a confection here and there! Also, if you complain about something that isn’t working in your life but yet you don’t make attempts to change it, you are allowing yourself to be content with settling. There’s NOTHING worse than doing NOTHING!

Own your personal issues by taking responsibilty for all your actions! Don’t waste another moment procrastinating! Get into the drivers seat of your own life and become your own mentor by living the life YOU want. Live by example, create a new way to live with daily, positive energy and you’ll soon see how addicting and contagious it is!

How to get “WOW”ed!

Tis the season for great deals and even better savings! Let me tell you exactly how I got “WOW”ed with my phone, internet and cable carrier. I have been a WOW customer since September 2008 and have had ZERO problems with my service AND love the fact that there is NO contract!  After taxes I was paying $105.00 per month until now!!!

I have never used AT&T but was about to give them a whirl! They are offering a very enticing package right now with phone, internet and cable service for under $80.00 a month, PLUS a $50.00 gift card! Sounds great, right? WRONG! The offer is for new customers only and the price is “introductory”, which means your bill is going to get blumped up after 3 months! Where’s the savings? There’s more, . . . you are REQUIRED to sign a contract that binds you to them like a marriage, “for better or worse”. Yikes!

Here’s what I did, . . . I called WOW and explained to them that I was considering the AT&T offer. The Customer Service Rep spoke EXCELLENT English and I was actually talking to a fellow American, right here, in my own country! Woo Hoo, we are off to a good start! Then she said to me, “Let me see what I can do for you Miss Cunningham”. I was expecting to be on hold long enough to file my nails but NO! It was less than one minute and her warm as chai tea voice came back to tell me my new and improved pricing. “Well Miss Cunningham, I see that you are a customer in good standning, [a little verbal stroking never hurt], and here at WOW we’d like to offer you something better than what you signed up for over a year ago”. She went on to tell me that I would receive the SAME service I was already getting for $79.00 per month and a $40.00 credit towards my next bill, with NO contract! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME! I was more than pleased with her offer and now look forward to my new $35.00 monthly savings!

It doesn’t hurt to call even when you already receive great service! That’s why there are many companies out there to choose from, spending money to advertise and market, competing for YOUR business! I got ”WOW”ed and would still be paying $105.00 a month for the same service I’m NOW getting for $79.00! WOW! “It’s that kind of experience”!

I am a paying WOW customer and the opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone and are not influenced in any way by anyone.

Michelle Cunningham is a single mother, licensed Esthetician at Virtuoso Salon in Birmingham, Editor for SkinJunkie and a Social Activities Director for her wonderful community at the Village Green of Rochester. “I’m quite passionate about gaining and sharing knowledge in all areas of my life, especially when something changes who I am and I feel myself grow into a better person because of it. We are not going to live long enough to make every mistake on our own so we should make serious efforts to learn from those around us”. Detroit Mommies Editor. @SkinJunkie on twitter.

25% Off Your Entree at Pei Wei – 1 Day ONLY!

Pei Wei is offering 25% off any entree with a non-perishable food donation on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 ONLY! Grab a box of mac n’ cheese or a can of soup and RUN, yes, R U N to the nearest Pei Wei for your discount! Giving back to your community has never tasted better.

To find the nearest Pei Wei location click HERE. Want to “become a fan” of Pei Wei on facebook? Then do so right HERE. 

I admit, those mad lettuce wraps haunt me on a regular basis. Now I have a Holiday Food Drive to entice me even sooner! Join me in a GREAT “cause”.

About the Editor

Michelle Cunningham is a single mother, licensed Esthetician at Virtuoso Salon in Birmingham, Editor for SkinJunkie and a Social Activities Director for her wonderful community at the Village Green of Rochester. “I’m quite passionate about gaining and sharing knowledge in all areas of my life, especially when something changes who I am and I feel myself grow into a better person because of it. We are not going to live long enough to make every mistake on our own so we should make serious efforts to learn from those around us”. Detroit Mommies Editor. @SkinJunkie on twitter.

Homemade Potato Soup

On a chilly winter’s night, there’s nothing like a bowl of Homemade Potato Soup to warm you from the inside out. This recipe is too good to keep to yourself, so feel free to give it as a gift. That’s right, with just a few more items, this recipe can be created into a GREAT GIFT IDEA!

What you will need; ~ A Festive Bowl ~ Ribbon ~ Candy ~ Paper with Holiday Border

Copy and paste this recipe (below) onto the paper with a Holiday Border and print. Feel free to change the font size or style to suit your taste. Roll paper up like a scroll and tie with ribbon (I use a paperclip to keep paper in scroll position until the ribbon is tied). Fill bowl with candy (I use Herhsey’s Kisses). Tie another piece of ribbon around bowl (start from top of bowl, pull under bowl and criss-cross underneath to pull up to top again & tie your bow). Attach scroll by threading ribbon through the bowls ribbon. Gift is ready for delivery!

Homemade Potato Soup

~ 8 slices of bacon

~ 3 scallions

~ 8 russet potatoes

~ 3 1/2 tsp. salt

~ 1/2 tsp. black pepper

~ 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

8 tbsp. salted butter

2 3/4 cups milk

1 cup sour cream

1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese

Slice scallions and set aside. Cook bacon and set aside. Rinse and peel potatoes then cut into quarters. In a 6.5 quart soup pot, boil potatoes in water with 2 tsp. salt. Potatoes should be soft after 45 minutes of boiling. Drain potatoes and place back in pot. Add butter, remaining salt, pepper, garlic powder, sour cream and mash together. Add milk and bring to a simmer for 5 – 7 minutes. Ladle soup into bowl for serving. Chop bacon into small pieces and sprinkle on-top of soup with scallions and cheddar cheese. Proudly serve the yummiest Homemade Potato Soup to 8 lucky people!

*If you actually have leftovers, they will keep in the fridge for 1 week. This recipe may be doubled.

About the Editor

Michelle Cunningham is a single mother, licensed Esthetician at Virtuoso Salon in Birmingham, Editor for SkinJunkie and a Social Activities Director for her wonderful community at the Village Green of Rochester. “I’m quite passionate about gaining and sharing knowledge in all areas of my life, especially when something changes who I am and I feel myself grow into a better person because of it. We are not going to live long enough to make every mistake on our own so we should make serious efforts to learn from those around us”. Detroit Mommies Editor. @SkinJunkie on twitter.

Don’t Miss The Circus!

The Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus was absolutely “Over The Top” and a show I will never forget! It exceeded my expectations by far! This is not your momma’s Circus! Oh no! As a child, I remember being amazed when I saw about 20 clowns emerge from a super small car. Now, as an adult, I was at the edge of my seat in absolute awe, anticipating the next moment of excitement as each act unfolded!

My 4 year old nephew was bug eyed the entire evening and my 8 year old daughter must have said, “how did they do that”, a couple dozen times! My reply to her was, “They practice every day so they can be the very BEST at what they do!” And they are just that, . . . The Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus IS The Greatest Show On Earth!

The Circus is still at The Palace of Auburn Hills until November 22, 2009 and you can still get your discounted tickets right HERE! Be sure to mention MOM in the MC promotion box. It’s affordable Family Fun you can’t afford to miss!

About The Editor

Michelle Cunningham is a single mother, licensed Esthetician at Virtuoso Salon in Birmingham, Editor for SkinJunkie and a Social Activities Director for her wonderful community at the Village Green of Rochester. “I’m quite passionate about gaining and sharing knowledge in all areas of my life, especially when something changes who I am and I feel myself grow into a better person because of it. We are not going to live long enough to make every mistake on our own so we should make serious efforts to learn from those around us”. Detroit Mommies Editor. @SkinJunkie on twitter.

Help Feed Fellow Metro Detroiters

The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries has been providing meals and other necessary services to the needy and homeless for over 100 years. There are 8 locations in the Metro Detroit area, dedicated to human kindness all year round. If you are able to donate just $2.oo, YOU will provide a meal for one fellow Metro Detroiter on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day.

Remember, not everyone will be surrounded by family, have a table to sit at, a meal to share and sadly, not everyone will have the hope that carries most of us thorugh each day. Give someone the gift of hope by making a donation to The Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries during this 2009 Holiday Season.

Give what you can, when you can with what you have. You never know when you will be the one in need. DONATE HERE.

About The Editor

 

Michelle Cunningham is a single mother, licensed Esthetician at Virtuoso Salon in Birmingham, Editor for SkinJunkie and a Social Activities Director for her wonderful community at the Village Green of Rochester. “I’m quite passionate about gaining and sharing knowledge in all areas of my life, especially when something changes who I am and I feel myself grow into a better person because of it. We are not going to live long enough to make every mistake on our own so we should make serious efforts to learn from those around us”. Detroit Mommies Editor. @SkinJunkie on twitter.

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