Best Birthday Dinner Ever!!!

Tonight, we celebrated my birthday….once again. Originally, the Alex and I had plans to go to dinner and a movie sans kids, but that was just a pipe dream.
On my birthday, the hubs made steak, potatoes, 4 cheese rice and salad for my birthday dinner.
I mainly ate the salad and the rice since the steak wasn’t exactly to my liking.
So tonight, we celebrated my birthday with the BEST BIRTHDAY DINNER EVER!
After watching a variety of shows about food throughout the day, I had decided I wanted Greek food.
I REALLY wanted a gyro.
And I got one.
We have been tying to find a reason to eat at Greek Boy’s Gyro since they opened but haven’t found the time.
However, tonight I was not in the mood to dine out.
So, the amazingly wonderful Alex of mine hopped in his car and he was off to retrieve dinner.
He returned with 5 of these bad boys

Yes!
1 for each of us.
The great thing was that you could order 5 under their Alpha deal for only $19.99 instead of $4.99 a piece.
We also picked up an order of Greek Fries

They were amazing!
Nice hot fries seasoned with Greek oregano, topped with Feta cheese (THAT I LOVE!) and a spritz of lemon juice.
Finally, we were left with dessert….
Baklava!

Can we say food orgasm?!
It was beyond delicious!

Needless to say, after devouring all of this Greek goodness we were stuffed!
Thanks for the best dinner ever Alex, Zack, Libby, Alexander and of course Greek Boy’s Gyro!

Baby Einstein Discovery Kits Review

There are few things that grasp my little Alexander’s attention aside from his vroom vrooms, Mickey Mouse, Spongebob and Elmo.  The one thing that he will give his full attention too outside of these is animals.  You can play a video of a pig rolling in the mud, a lion running or a fish swimming and he will lock his eyes on it.  It is because of his love of animals, that we were more then pleased to review the new Baby Einstein Wild Animal Safari Discovery Kit.

The Baby Einstein Discovery Kits are an innovation new interactive experience that helps parents introduce their children to music, nature and animals.

A great thing about these discovery kits is they are created to grow with your child and offer three different levels of discovery.

We had the chance to review the 2nd level which is Exploring.  Alexander’s Wild Animal Safari Discovery Kit includes a DVD, Discovery Cards, Music CD and a
Parents’ Guide.

Through this DVD, he was able to take an exotic musical expedition and meet wild animals across the close. He loved watching it and matching up the correct Discovery Card with each animal as we watched it.

He got really excited during the opening of the DVD watching all of the different animals and then when he laid his eyes on the fish, he began to jump up and down yelling,”Wook Mommy! Is my fish!!” ( AKA: Look Mommy! It’s my fish!)

The boy was entranced with the DVD and when naptime arrived shortly after we finished watching it, he insisted on taking the Discovery Cards to bed with him because he wanted to keep looking at the aminimals (AKA: Animals).

The first six Discovery Kits became available for purchase on November 23rd, 2010 and three additional kits will be unveiled in early 2011. The suggested retail price is $19.99 (U.S.) and $24.99 (Canada).

For more information about the Baby Einstein Discovery Kits and other Baby Einstein products,
visit www.babyeinstein.com.

Disclaimer: “I received this free Discovery Kit through a Click Communications/Baby Einstein program. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and no other monetary compensation took place.”

Plus Size Costumes Review

No joke….I’m far from thin.
I am most definitely a plus sized girl.
Of course, being a plus size chica can have it’s downfalls in the area of shopping for different things.
You know like clothes, swimsuits…..costumes.

I have searched for years to find plus size adult costume‘s for both the Alex (he isn’t exactly plus sized, but he’s definitely not short and toothpick thin either!) and myself.

Thanks to the great people at Plus Size Costume Super Center, I have finally been able to locate some plus size women’s costumes that I like and that come in the right sizes.

The problem when buying a plus size costume in the store is that most places think Plus Size means a size 16 and up and they usually only go up to an 18/1X.

Plus Size Costume Super Center offers a variety of costumes in a variety of sizes all the way up to 4X.

Hey….big girls should get to wear cute costumes too!

These are a few of my favorites from the site:

Who doesn’t LOVE the Queen of Hearts?

Anyone up for a little Midnight Sizzle?

Become one with Mother Nature.

Plus Size Costume Super Center was very generous and gave me a costume of my choosing in exchange for my honest review of their product.  I am very pleased with my costume, it fits very well and is very well made!  I can’t wait to show everyone else next year!

Until then, you will have peruse the website and see if you can figure out which costume I chose!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

ReBinder Office Products Review & Giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com
This giveaway is now closed.  Congratulations to Shanda!
I LOVE office supplies.
And I know I am not the only person out there who does.
I could walk into an office supply store and spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
I’m always trying to find new products to help keep my little office organized.
Lately, I’ve been steering more towards products that are recycled, since you know, it’s good for the environment!
I have to tell you, I have stumbled across a product line that is recycled, that is sturdy, that carries a variety of options and I love it!
Enter ReBinder Office Products.

ReBinder is the leading manufacturer of unique green office supplies. All ReBinder product materials are sourced from verified FSC and SFI certified sources and assembled by a local, AbilityOne certified disabled workforce. Their eco friendly products make a difference and make sense.

I recently had the opportunity to review and sample pack of ReBinder’s green office products.

RePocket: Our two pocket folder is ideal for presentations, media and press kits or back to school. RePockets are thicker and more rigid than traditional folders. Made from 100% Recycled 20 point FSC Certified bending chipboard.

My thoughts: I love that this folder is so sturdy and nothing like the flimsy folders you usually find that have tears in them within a week of purchasing.  I have swapped this folder out with the one my Libby had been using for her school take home folder (and we usually go through those every other month) and it has held up perfectly!


1″ ReBinder: The original 3 Ring Binder with a removable and recyclable cover. Made from rigid recycled corrugated cardboard, our 1 inch ReBinder is the binder choice for every day use around the green office, as well as a by top architects, graphic designers and creative agencies. Your presentation and image will stand out from the rest when you present in a ReBinder.

1.5″ ReBinder: Rougher and tougher, our 1.5″ ReBinder is made from 100 point solid FSC Certified recycled chipboard and contains our unique removable ring metal assembly. Just because it’s not made of plastic, doesn’t mean that it’s not durable!

My thoughts: Again, another VERY sturdy product; and believe me I was worried when I saw the binders made of cardboard.  I thought for sure they would fall apart shortly after their first use, but they look better then the binders I have covered in vinyl!


RePouch:When your proposal requires an additional pocket, CD and or business card, RePouch fulfills all those requirements. Made from 20 point recycled bending chipboard, it holds up to continuous page turning.

My thoughts: I own a few of these types of pouches made of plastic and have had to replace them multiple times due to tears and folds.   The RePouch is sturdy and doesn’t crinkle or crumble under the weight of documents.


ReTab: Divide your documents with our rigid brown ReTabs. ReTabs are made from rigid 18 point FSC Certified bending chipboard in a five-cut tab configuration. We also carry an eight-tab version (not included in the sample pack).

My thoughts: Finally tabs that don’t rip, have adhesive or fall off!!


ReSleeve: A Recycled CD jewel case…making plastic cases a thing of the past. ReSleeves are made from 16 point rigid FSC Certified bending chipboard to protect your CD/DVD . The perfect off the shelf solution for the software company, the music label, the band or the board room. Show off the artwork on your CD through the open hole in the front…or choose the version with no hole.

RePlay: Ideal for one disc or two, RePlay comes with two open pockets that fit a single disc and a small booklet or two discs. Looks like a traditional jewel case but made from 18 point recycled FSC Certified bending chipboard. You’ll want to replace all your broken plastic jewel cases with a RePlay.

My thoughts: Definitely A LOT better then those plastic CD cases that are always cracking and falling apart!


ReBadge: Tradeshows, Conferences, and Seminars all produce a lot of waste. Green up your event with a ReBadge. Your attendees won’t believe that their badge is made from plants and not from plastic! We hope you’ll reuse your ReBadge multiple times, but if you can’t — compost it! Comes with a sample of 100% recycled perforated brown cardstock.

My thoughts: I love the idea of using this at conferences and reusing it by simply just inserting an updated business card every time.


ReWrite mini— LINED: We’ve created the perfect sized 5″ x 8″recycled notebook for taking notes, sketching or doodling. Our ReWrite mini comes with 40 pages of 100% Recycled / FSC Certified paper and a recycled FSC Certified bending chipboard cover. You’ll get a sample of our most popular college ruled (lined) version but our ReWrite are available in case quantities in ruled, blank or quad ruled graph paper.

My thoughts: Swoon!  LOVE this! It is the perfect size to take with me EVERYWHERE!


ReBound:Make your presentation a game winner — go for the ReBound. Document Finishing supplies have been limited to plastic and non recycled paper options. ReBound’s clear cover looks, feels and performs like plastic but it’s made from plants! ReBound can be used with any comb or coil binding system and comes with a clear PLA cover and a 20 point recycled FSC Certified chipboard back. It’s the perfect solution for proposals or LEED proposals.

My thoughts: Honestly, I haven’t had a chance to use this yet but I do know I will be putting it to use after the holiday season!


Now, for all of the other office supply lovers out there…..I have an AWESOME opportunity for you!

You can enter to win a ReBinder sample pack!!!

Here’s how to enter!

MANDATORY 1st ENTRY:

Tell me how you will utilize these products.

For additional entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter for 1 entry. Leave a comment with your Twitter ID.

2. Tweet: << @Anne54304 is giving away a @ReBinder Prize Pack!! Enter now! http://themegalomaniacmommy.com/rebinder-office-products-review-giveaway/ >> then leave me a comment with the link to your tweet. (CAN BE DONE DAILY!!!)

3. Subscribe to my newsletter and leave a comment with your email address for 2 entries.

4. Subscribe to The Megalomaniac Mommy via a reader for 2 entries.

5. Follow me on Google Friend Connect (at the bottom of this page) for 2 entries.

6. Like The Megalomaniac Mommy on Facebook for 2 entries.

7. Follow The Megalomaniac Mommy on Networked Blogs (at the bottom of this page) for 2 entries.

8. Grab my button and add it to your page and leave me the URL for your page for 3 entries.

9. For 5 additional entries, blog about this giveaway and leave me a comment with a link to your post.

10. Submit this post to the social networking site of your choice and receive 1 entry for each submission just leave a comment with a link for each.

11. Like ReBinder on Facebook for 1 entry.

12. Follow ReBinder on Twitter for 1 entry.

This giveaway will begin on December 16th 2010 and end on December 30th 2010 and 12 Noon CST.


I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

The Best Gift I Ever Gave

SWAGG is a free mobile app (download here) that lets you shop smarter using your mobile phone. Buy, send or swap SWAGG GIFTS and organize your old school plastic gift cards.

For every download of the app between now and Dec. 31, 2010, SWAGG will donate $1 to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) , up to $125,000.

Clever Girls Collective and SWAGG are sending a pair of movie fans to the Sundance Film Festival! Download the SWAGG app and then visit the Ultimate SWAGG Getaway Sweepstakes site to enter to win a trip for two to the Sundance Film Festival. Entry deadline is January 3, 2011, 11:59pm, PST.

I’ve thought long and hard about the gifts I’ve given to others over the years. There are the homemade gifts I gave to my mom as a child, the awesome things my children asked for non-stop, the gift I gave my husband that brought him back to his childhood….the list goes on and on and on. After all of this thinking, I decided to go with the gift that I gave to my cousin, Anna Tyrone, for her birthday one year.

My cousin Anna is a writer. It is the one thing she loves to do more than anything. She does it all the time and always has. She has filled notebook after notebook after notebook. These days, she does blog but she still enjoys putting pen to paper more.

For her birthday in 2009, I gave her a gift bag filled with 10 or 15 of her favorite composition notebooks and a package of her favorite pens.

She was beyond thrilled! Since that day, she is constantly telling me it was the best gift ever!

I admit, Anna is a hard person to shop for. There are at least two things she owns that I know she loves more than life itself….her Chuck Taylor shoes and her coveted iPod Classic.

When buying her gift that year, I could have purchased a gift card for her to buy some music or bought her another pair of shoes. Instead, I went with what I knew….the girls loves to write and needs a place to do it!

Needless to say, I was very happy when I saw the smile on her face when she opened her gift!

These days when I’m shopping for the perfect gift for someone, I use every outlet I can before I make a purchase. For me, the first place I turn is the Internet and now that I’ve been introduced to the SWAGG app on my Android phone, shopping just got a whole lot easier!

Learn more about the coolest new app that revolutionizes the whole shopping, gifting, and gift card-organizing experience and Download the SWAGG app to your iPhone or Droid. I was selected for this sponsorship by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity.