GIVEAWAY: Giggle, Giggle, Quack ... and More Stories By Doreen Cronin on DVD

One of my kids' all-time favorite books is now on DVD - with a bunch of other fun stories!  It's Giggle, Giggle, Quack ... and More Stories By Doreen Cronin on DVD. 

I love love films for kids that aren't all loud  bells, whistles, violence and puppy love, but age-appropriate narrated stories, more akin to a book on (video) tape than a movie. Which is why I'm a huge fan of Scholastic Storybook Treasures adaptations of children's book to film. These DVDs support reading comprehension, vocabulary and problem solving.  I always turn on the read-along function on these DVDs so the kids can follow along with the words as the stories unfold.

Giggle, Giggle, Quack ... and More Stories features more than an hour of animated storytelling by celeb voices like Abigail Breslin (Olive) and Randy Travis. Kids aged 3 - 8 are the target age.

Official DVD synopsis:

The title story is the hilarious sequel to “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type”. This time, Farmer Brown’s animals pull their old tricks on Farmer Brown’s brother, Bob. Duck instigates the action, ordering pizza with anchovies for the hens and renting “The Sound of Moosic” for the cows.

Also included are four additional stories, animated from the original storybook illustrations of Betsy Lewin and Harry Bliss: “Dooby Dooby Moo”, “Duck for President” and the best-selling “Diary of a Worm” and “Diary of a Fly.” As an exclusive bonus, the DVD also includes an interview with illustrator Harry Bliss and Spanish versions of “Giggle, Giggle, Quack” and “Duck for President.”

So if you think every pig deserves a bubble bath, and every cow deserves a good long cry at the end of "The Sound of Moosic", well, this is the DVD for you. I mean your kids.

Leave a comment before May 31 and you'll be entered to win your own copy!  

The good people of Scholastic Storybook Treasures sent my children their own copy to review.

GIVEAWAY: Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie Extended Edition and Wishing Stone

The winners have been emailed and sent the movies - I have the list of Random.org-ly drawn winners somewhere and will update here once I find it!  

I'm giving away 10 copies of Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie extended edition with movie-tie-in jewelry included (a mood ring-like wishing stone with clip for backpacks and such.)

Here's the official DVD synopsis:

Wizards Of Waverly Place The Movie Extended Edition features exclusive footage, behind-the-scenes bonus and awesome extras that take you deeper into the mysterious world of wizardry! Embark on a supernaturally exciting adventure as the Russos, your favorite family of wizards-in-training, join together on a quest full of heart-stopping action and hilarious magical mishaps! While on vacation, Alex (Selena Gomez) accidentally casts a spell that threatens her family’s existence! Max (Jake T. Austin) tries to keep his parents together while Alex and Justin (David Henrie) use every trick they know as they search for the “Stone of Dreams” to reverse the spell and save their family.

Anywhoo,  if you'd like to win this DVD gift set, you must live in the United States and email me at apissgiveaways@gmail.com with Wizards in the title and your address in the body of the email. The winner will be randomly drawn on Monday morning and then sent by me Priority Mail on Monday or whenever mail in the DC area resumes.

Yes, I'll only mail and yes, I'll be shoveling my driveway and taking my desert booty (um, it's 80 degrees in my hometown right now) to the P.O. on Monday morning.   Which means that yes, you'll probably receive before Christmas but don't burn me in effigy if you receive on the 26th.

GIVEAWAY: G-Force DVD BluRay Triple Set

The winners have been emailed and sent the movies - I have the list of Random.org-ly drawn winners somewhere and will update here once I find it!  
I have 9 copies of G-Force (a triple Blu-Ray, DVD & digital copy set) for giveaway...who wants one?

G-FORCE is a rated PG children's film about special agent spies...that are guinea pigs. It's also a Jerry Bruckheimer live-action/animation hybrid in 3-D with ground-breaking special effects. Voiced by Sam Rockwell, Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz, Tracy Morgan, Jon Favreau and Steve Buscemi, its got comedy as well as action. The concept sounds crazy, but what's really nuts is how much my kids (and some of yours too that we saw at the APISS free screening) love this movie.

Hey, remember the hamster dance?  ZhuZhu pets, gerbils as life metaphors/blog mascots...what is it about domesticated rodents these days?

Anywhoo,  if you'd like to win this DVD set, you must live in the United States and email me at apissgiveaways@gmail.com with G-Force in the title and your address in the body of the email. The winner will be randomly drawn on Monday morning and then sent by me Priority Mail on Monday or whenever mail in the DC area resumes.

Yup, you'll probably receive before Santa takes off.  And yup, that's the only way you're gonna get it.  No way will I meet you in a dark alley to give it to you, sorry!

Giveaway: Santa Buddies, The Legend of Santa Paws

The winners are Jenny, Courtney, Tricia and Bill!  Thanks everyone for entering!

On one of our bi-monthly visits to the public library (to pick up books, not play Madden NFL) my daughter Eve brought over a DVD from the video section with a bunch of golden retriever puppies wearing spacesuits on the front.  Since borrowing it was a) free and b) it looked harmless, I agreed.

And thus my kids' Buddies obsession began.  Lord help me. 

The Buddies franchise is a spin off of Air Bud.  In short, they're his litter.  Perpetually live-action puppies and using the technology developed in Babe, these doggies talk, crack benign jokes and get into scrapes.  They refer to each other as Buddy incessantly.  As in, "Somebuddy help him!"  "Everybuddy for himself!" The dogs' names are Budderball (the fat one), B-Dawg (the ghetto fabulous one), Rosebud (the chick), Buddha (the zen one) and Mudbud (the dirty dog), to give you an idea.

I thought I was raising cat kids.  You know, the kind that love their pets and are loved with feline affection in return, but also enjoy cats' independence and cleanliness, the thrill of leaving for a weekend with ne'er a call to a kennel, revel in not having to get up at 3am to walk a large animal in the snow or scoop up dumps larger than an elephant.

But now all my kids want is a golden retriever puppy STAT.  Preferably one that talks and makes cute remarks after it breaks wind.  My daughter sleeps with a huge stuffed golden retriever from Build-A-Bear that she's christened Rosebuddy and every night in her God Bless asks Jesus to make it come to life like Pinnochio. 

As you may have seen from the marketing campaign, the latest in the franchise is this season's Santa Buddies, The Legend of Santa Paws.  My kids have already watched it 5 times.   

Please take one of the four Blu-Ray/DVD combo packs of Santa Buddies I was sent off my hands.   Leave a comment and the four winners will be drawn in one week.

Just don't say I didn't warn you.


Disclosure:  My kids received a free copy for review.  Franks a rot Disney.

GIVEAWAY: New Curious George Feature Film, A Very Monkey Christmas

The winners are Tracy and Laura - thanks everyone!

Ladies and gentlemen, set that DVR:  A new feature length film from PBS Kids is premiering on PBS Kids this Wednesday, November 25 (the day before Thanksgiving.) ) Check here for your local listings channel numbers and air times.  

(If you tape it, you'll have something for the kids to watch on Thursday when your buttered arms are lost in a naked, dead turkey's most private of body cavities.)

The movie is A Very Monkey Christmas starring good old Curious George and The Man With the Yellow Hat.

My kids and I were happily asked to preview the film with a screener copy that made us feel like members of the Academy.  My children loved this sweet, calm tale about how neither guy can figure out what to give the other for Christmas.  The Man is having trouble reading George’s wish list and George doesn’t have a clue about what to get for The Man who has everything. In the meantime though, they have fun trimming the tree.  There are elements of The Gift of the Magi and A Christmas Carol for the parental units, and lots of George's sweet and silly antics to entertain even very young kids in PBS Kids' educational media style. 

The PBS peeps also kindly tucked in a pack of microwave popcorn, some fun holiday recipes, a couple coloring pages and other fun stuff.  You can get many of these freebies in the Curious George area of PBS Kids, and if you leave a comment below you'll also be entered to win one of two fun prizes:

• a brand new DVD (fancy consumer edition that will make a super holiday gift, not our screener copy) of A Very Monkey Christmas 
  
• a brand new CD featuring all the holiday music and original tunes from A Very Monkey Christmas (sadly, there's no Jack Johnson this time but all the songs are still pretty cute) 

AND I also have 3 coupons for $2 off your purchase of the DVD, so email me if you are going to be buying this flick and I'll send you a coupon to use.

I'll draw the winner of the DVD and CD in one week, but the in meantime, don't forget to watch s A Very Monkey Christmas  on Wednesday, November 25 (the day before Thanksgiving.) Check here for your local listings channel numbers and air times.

GIVEAWAY: Where the Wild Things Are & More Stories By Sendak DVDs

UPDATE:  The randomly drawn winners are Kate R., KMM & Leida.  Thanks everyone!

No offense to the genius of Spike Jonze, but my kids more heartily enjoyed watching Maurice Sendak’s beloved classic story "Where the Wild Things Are" and five more stories animated in Sendak's own hand than the much-hyped feature film this weekend.

The DVD they adore and want to watch over and over is Where the Wild Things Are...and 5 More Stories by Maurice Sendak from Scholastic Storybook Treasures. And I have 3 more copies for give away to you guys!

Each story on the disc has an enhanced read-along function which highlights the words as they are read. My early reader Charlie loved reading along with his favorite tales.

Do you remember watching film strips or television specials as a kid in the '70s and '80s of Sendak's stories, with the books sung by Carole King? Her musical compositions to Sendak's words are included in the DVD along with the Sendak tales“Pierre,” “One Was Johnny,” “Alligators All Around,” “Chicken Soup with Rice,” and “In the Night Kitchen.” Also included are special Where the Wild Things stickers (2 pages, so my kids didn't even have to share) and a behind-the-scenes interview with Sendak himself on the special features.

This DVD is part of the Scholastic Storybook Treasures line of DVDs that animate and bring to life kids' favorite classic tales.

Want to win one of three copies of the Sendak DVD for your kid (and admit it - yourself)? Just leave a comment below and you'll be entered for the random drawing in one week. Tweet about this contest for an extra entry with something like "@jessicaAPISS is holding wild rumpus of a giveaway Sendak DVDs: http://bit.ly/apisswildrumpus."

Note: My kids and I received a free review copy.

GIVEAWAY: The Strawberry Shortcake Movie - Sky's the Limit

UPDATE: The winner of the DVD is Rosa!

The Strawberry Shortcake Movie - Sky's the Limit is sure different than the show I remember watching as a kid in the '80s...and I think it's an improvement.

The big hype on this DVD is that it unveils Strawberry Shortcake and her friends' makeovers. Some websites were aghast at this Bratz-ization of the little girl icon of sweetness. I thought the updated look of the computer animation and drawing of the fruity girls was duly sweet, kid-friendly and contemporary. Much like the new Tinker Bell fairy gang, the Berry Gang girls are a diverse rainbow of skin and outfit colors. They're simply more watchable than the outdated Holly Hobbie-looking bonneted kids circa 1982.

Also, instead of short Smurfs-like episodes, this is a 69 minute feature. And instead of saying "berry" inanely and incessantly (again, much like the Smurfs' use of "smurfy'), the Berry Gang has real conversations and friendships and there's an actual plot about saving the water supply of Berry City. Now, I have to admit I didn't pay that much attention. But the target audience - my very discriminating 3 year old daughter - really enjoyed this show.

The Fox Home entertainment promoters kindly gave us our copy to review and keep, and they're also giving away a free one for one of you guys. Leave a comment below if you'd like to be entered and I'll randomly draw the winner in 1 week.

The Strawberry Shortcake Movie - Sky's the Limit DVD
$13.99 and eligible on Amazon for free super saver shipping

Giveaway & Coupon: Snow White Diamond Edition Blu-ray & DVD Combo Pack

UPDATE: Congrats! The winners are Carol, Alex, Sharon H., Kevin & Marie.

In honor of Dave and his cheatin' heart, here are the Top 7 Reasons Why Snow White Rocks

1. She wasn't afraid of vermin (in the forest) or strangers (random Prince Charming appearing at the well.)
2. Snow White looked hot in dresses of rags or dubious color combos.
3. She was accepting of little people and kind to the elderly.
4. Despite her royal lineage, girlfriend could cook. She cleaned too.
5. Before Kate Gosselin cared for 8 kids with the help of some nannies, Snow White cared for 7 untidy dudes singlehandedly, minus the network-comped plastic surgery or Hawaiian vacays.
6. Rather than tramping it up in a tavern in the village, she wholesomely waited for her prince to come.
7. She's been re-released on a re-mastered Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with coupons and free copies for mom bloggers to give out to readers.

As I've written before, I'm totally down with the Disney Princesses. I don't think they're an assault on feminism, rather they're strong, awesome women that are great icons for our kids' playthings. (Sure, they were a tad boy crazy, but they basically make me look like a nun so.....)

And since she made her debut in 1937, Snow White was the very first D.P. of the bunch. We own her movie on VHS, but thanks to the One2One Network, my kids and I got the chance to review the new Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Diamond Edition Blu-ray & DVD combo pack that was just released on October 6.

If you're a D.P. groupie household like ours, this flick is a must-have addition to your movie library and it's only available for a limited time. We haven't yet upgraded to Blu-ray (we chose poorly and went with the convert-to-HD DVD player a few years ago, damn, and will replace with Blu-ray when it inevitably breaks), but it's so cool that this combo pack has both versions so you have both options for posterity.

What's also super cool: If you already have a prior version of Snow White on VHS or DVD, click here to get $10 off when you upgrade to the new Diamond Edition combo pack!

Or you can just try your luck - I have 5 copies of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Diamond Edition Blu-ray & DVD combo pack to give away to you guys, courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment!

Leave a comment with why you or your child dig Snow White, and I'll randomly draw the winners on Monday October 19.

Giveaway: Sonny With a Chance (with Jo from Facts of Life!)

UPDATE: The winners are Cristie, Keli, Whitney, Tricia, Olivia F., John, Jordan, Julia, Kelly W. and BSweet.



I've got 10 copies of another Disney series DVD for teens and tweens, Sonny With a Chance: Sonny's Big Break.

Maybe your daughter loves Demi Lovato, another brunette teen queen from the Disney machine. (She's actually a completely watchable and promising comedic actor.) Or maybe your kid likes Megan Fox and you need to find her a squeakier clean role model or star crush - someone who drinks pop with the Jonas brothers, rather than engaging in dark adult antics with David Silver. Or maybe you just like yourself some free stuff and are already planning your Christmas or Hanukkah attack.

You know why I like Sonny With a Chance? Nancy McKeon - Jo from Facts of Life - plays the mom! After all those made for TV and then straight-to-Lifetime soft focus cringefests, Jo's back! I'm a proud owner of this DVD because I just like to see a sister succeed, especially one who drove a motorcycle and Mrs. Garrett crazy, gave Blair a run for her (piles of) money and got to hang out with an unknown George Clooney.

Your kids won't get it, but Jo's presence will help you have fun when watching the Sonny show with your kids.

Oh yeah, plot. Sonny is a good girl from Wisconsin who comes to LA with her mom to star in a teen sketch comedy show, So Random! She tries to navigate the mean girls and vapid hot guys of Hollywood...while charming everyone along the way of course.

Sonny With a Chance - Four Episodes + 1 Bonus Episode on DVD
Cost: $14.99

The Facts of Life - The Complete First & Second Seasons
Cost: $26.49 + FREE shipping

Leave a comment and be entered to win one of 10 copies of Sonny With a Chance! Winners will be drawn in one week.

Giveaway - The Suite Life on Deck: Anchors Away! - 10 copies

UPDATE: The winners are Patti, Colleen, Val, Mary, Michelle, Jodi, Alec, Olivia, Sara, Kelly D.

The Suite Life on Deck: Anchors Away! - I've got 10 of these DVDs for giveaway...want one?

If you're not familiar with The Suite Life of Zack and Cody or your kids are starting to watch it but you're baffled by why are these blonde boys always alone, wisecracking and why now they're on a boat (I was at first), here's the Cliff Notes version:

These identical twin boys (except one is a bit plumper, don't ask me which) have a mom who's a lounge singer at a fancy hotel so the boys get to live in the hotel full-time (thus, the SUITE life pun, harhar.) While mom's on stage or working, the boys are alone getting into trouble and driving the hotel manager crazy. To reach the tweeny girl demographic, each episode there's always a storyline about two airheaded but loveable Disney Channel princess chicks at the hotel too.

So, Suite Life's been on forever and Disney had exhausted all variations on the "they threw waterballoons out the window, got in trouble and learned their lesson" story and their Adam's apples were starting to show, so they changed it up. Now mom's singing on a cruise ship (thus the ON DECK.) Everyone at the hotel's along for the ride except the blonde tween queen chick who hit it big in High School Musical: The 10 Year Reunion Danceoff. She's replaced by a less blonde cookie who doesn't have a record deal yet.

This DVD has 6 episodes of the popular series, it's rated G, the boys now like-like girls, and I'm sure there's lots of variations on the "they yelled 'Man Overboard!', got in trouble and learned their lesson" story. Your elementary or middle schoolers will dig it.

Cost: $14.49 on Amazon & eligible for free shipping.

Leave a comment to win one of 10 DVDs I have for giveaway. I'll randomly draw the winners in one week!

Giveaway - Thomas & Friends: Hero of the Rails, The Movie

Congrats to winner Natasha!

Thomas & Friends Hero of the Rails is a movie with the same trains your little ones know and love, but they're brand new and improved. The animation and effects are up to date and the trains actually speak to each other in their own voices, not just George Carlin and Alec Baldwin's!

Here's the movie's plot: Thomas discovers Hiro, an abandoned engine from a faraway land. To keep Hiro from being turned to scrap metal, Thomas rounds up a posse of pals like Gordon, Percy, James and even some new gangbangers engines Victor and Kevin to help Hiro out. Don't worry, they're all very useful engines and no one ends up down by the junkyard.

There's also special features on the DVD like a karaoke music video for your kids to sing along and some interactive trainy games.

Cost: $13.99 on Amazon & eligible for free shipping

Know a kid who's in love with all things choo-choo? Know a parent who's going cuckoo and could use an hour of Thomas as the electric nanny? Leave a comment to win a copy of this DVD!

Giveaway - Barney: Jungle Friends, The Movie (DVD & CD Set)

Congrats to winner Kristin D!

Barney, The Movie. These words may strike fear into parents' hearts and joy into toddlers'. Before becoming parents, my husband and I were totally prepared to be anti-Barney. I had lived through my much-younger brother's Barney obsession and blatantly laughed at the earnest, robotic kids on the show.

But then we had our own kids. And Barney was on Sprout. And you know, he's a pretty nice dude. The lessons are all about manners and being kind to one another...and there ain't nothing wrong with that.

So, I give the Barney & Friends™ brand new DVD & CD set Barney™: Jungle Friends two thumbs up. The movie and songs are all about the rainforest with lots of animal fun, not just the usual supsects of Barney, Baby Bop and the yellow one whose name escapes me. The rainforest the dancing dinos and singing smiling kids visit is enchanted, which means the monkeys and other new friends sing and dance too.

There's also special features on the DVD for your older child, like the interactive Safari Match Game, crafts and gardening how-tos. The accompanying CD has all the songs sung on the DVD.

If you have a Barney lover in your family and you've already memorized the entire Barney lexicon, this is the first time new programming has come out with that super-dee-duper purple dinosaur in seven years. That means an entire brand new hour of Barney, never seen before, can be yours. Incredible.

Cost: $9.99 on Amazon & eligible for free shipping

Leave a comment here to be entered in the random drawing for your own copy of this DVD/CD Barney set!

Giveaway - Shaun the Sheep: Little Sheep of Horrors

Congrats to Safire of Living in Maryland!

Shaun the Sheep: Little Sheep of Horrors DVD has two things my kids adore

* Halloween themes
* Shaun the Sheep silliness

The conniving sheep from the Wallace & Gromit series have spun off into into own show, and they're even funnier than the original. The flock make mayhem in the barnyard and drive the farmer crazy...and they don't say a word. I love how this series teaches comedic timing to my kids, and gives them the silliness they crave without bathroom humor.

The best episode of the six is "Sheepwalking," in which lead sheep Shaun sleepwalks and of course the rest of the clueless wooly guys follow him. My kids were breathless with laughter.

Cost: $12.49 on Amazon & eligible for free shipping

Leave a comment and I'll draw one winner of the DVD in one week!

Giveaway - HIT Favorites: Trick or Treat Tales

Congrats to winner Laura K!

Every day can be Halloween special with this DVD featuring Halloween stories by a ton of preschooler favorites. Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine, Barney and Friends, Angelina Ballerina, Fireman Sam and Fifi and the Flowertots all get down and ghoulish in HIT Favorites: Trick or Treat Tales.

My son likes anything sort of spooky, so he revisted his old Thomas obsession and enjoyed the Thomas and Friends ghostly adventure. My dancing daughter thought Angelina Ballerina's costume ball episode was lots of fun.

I liked having one hour of Halloween fun on one DVD that can be broken up into small, commercial-free segments to dole out in increments...like trick or treat candy.

Cost: $10.49 on Amazon & eligible for free shipping

Leave a comment and one winner of the DVD will be randomly drawn in one week!

GIVEAWAY: 30 (Yes, 3-0) Free Copies of Disney's Princess Protection Program

Adorable teen queens Demi Lovato & Selena Gomez do the requisite shopping montage in
Disney Channel's Original Movie, Princess Protection Program

UPDATE: ALL DVDS ARE GONE. THANKS EVERYONE!

If you get the Disney Channel and have a child in your household age 7-17, just skip reading the rest of this text and send me an email with your mailing address STAT.

For the rest of you, I have 30 free DVDs of the latest Disney Channel Original Movie, Princess Protection Program. The movie features charismatic and watchable Tiger Beat regulars Selena Gomez (star of the Wizards of Waverly Place) and Demi Lovato (Sonny With a Chance.)

I saw this G-rated movie with my kids and thought it was fun and promoted good values. I think that Disney is genius to continue the tradition of releasing their teen made-for-TV films in the dead of summer. Princess Protection Program reminds me of the summer TV movie mash-ups of teen actors I used to watch in the '80s like Crash Course with Alyssa Milano or Poison Ivy with Michael J. Fox (NOT to be confused with Poison Ivy II with Alyssa Milano...now that's a VERY different type of cheaply-made movie and this is a family site people!)

Here's the set-up: Tomboy and American gal Carter (Gomez) gets a new "cousin" by helping her foreign service agent father and hiding out royalty, the lovely Rosalinda (Lovato.) In an unexpected (ha ha) role reversal, "Rosie" learns how to act like an everyday girl and Carter finds her own inner princess. Then they become BFFs and dance and sing around and charm the entire freaking world. They're basically two female Jonas brothers with dresses and eyebrow waxes.

If you'd like a copy of the movie for your very own, just be one of the first 30 readers to email your mailing address to jessica *dot* mcfadden *at* gmail *dot* com.

Please put your mailing address in the very first email you send. I'll reply to you if you are one of the lucky winners. If you don't receive a reply from me, then please assume that you were not one of the first respondents. I'll also post here when the DVDs are gone.

Here's a free gift for everyone - a music video of the girls rocking out as hard as you can when you're rated G:

GIVEAWAY: Four Beginner Workout Videos - Moving Free Longevity Solution by Mirabai Holland

The Randomly drawn winners are Melanie, Safire, Grace & Noelle!

The Moving Free® Longevity Solution Series was specifically designed for fitness beginners, boomers and active seniors by Mirabai Holland, MFA. Mirabai is a women's fitness expert and health activist who specializes in preventive and rehabilitative exercise. Her Moving Free approach to exercise is designed to provide a pleasant yet effective movement experience.

If working out makes you freak out, this is a fail-proof, easy way to learn how to work up to your daily 30 minutes of moderate exercise for a healthy heart and body. This could also be a good gift to your mother or another woman in your life, but only if you think she'd be interested and not offended by any you-need-to-work implications. But the fact is, we all need to work out!

I also think these exercises would be a great re-introduction to exercise if you're rehabilitating from surgery, have just given birth or are pregnant...but the videos don't state that they're designed for pre- or post-natal/surgery fitness and I'm not a doctor! What's that they always say at the start of a workout video? "Talk to your doctor before starting this or any exercise program." So true.

These four videos each retail for $19.95, and I have one of each for giveaway:

Ease-In Level 1
This is the starter video for the complete workout novice. Mirabai's Ease-in exercises introduce (or re-introduce) cardio, strength and flexibility exercises so that you can gradually work up to doing 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily, as recommended by the American Heart Association.

Flexibility Level 1
This is the introduction to Mirabai's signature Moving Free Technique. Full body stretching will help you relieve stress, relax, gain strength and get that great post-yoga class feeling.

Strength Level 1
This video of strength training can help reverse the loss of muscle cells, increase metabolism and and sculpt your bod. The DVD includes light hand weight work and exercises using your own body for resistance.

Cardio Dance Level 1
This is a non-complicated, enjoyable way to get your daily half-hour of cardio exercise. If you're into walking for fitness, then this is a good DVD for you. It's effective but not crazy exhausting.

If you'd like one of these four videos, leave a comment before midnight Saturday and I'll hook four of you up!

Note: I have not received any free product or compensation for this review, I just thought that after showcasing The 30 Day Shred, having a giveaway of exercise videos on a less-intense scale would be cool.

Milkshake Mania Giveaways!

UPDATE: The randomly drawn winners are mm619 for the concert tickets, Aimee won the DVD and Anita won the CD!

Did you read my post on Milkshake coming to Baltimore? Are you a true fan of this amazing family band? Then you've come to the right place - the band has sent you some righteous gifts.

I have four tickets to Milkshake's concert in Baltimore on Saturday May 2nd at 11am. Details here. I also have a copy of their latest CD, PLAY! and their DVD of colorful, creative music videos, Screen Play. I'll give all three of these rockin' gifts to APISS reader families. My children too received a free CD and DVD from the band. Thanks Milkshake!

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment with your favorite Milkshake song and whether you'd be able to attend the May 2nd show before midnight Saturday April 25th.

Those that can attend the show will be divided into one drawing, and everyone will be entered in the drawings for the CD and DVD. I'll randomly draw and contact the winners on Sunday.

EARTH DAY GIVEAWAY: 15 Copies of Handy Manny - Manny's Green Team

Giveaway closed - the 15 lucky winners have been notified.

Looking for a fun way to celebrate Earth Day on April 22 with your preschool age kids? The newest DVD from Handy Manny, Manny's Green Team, should fit the bill.

The calm, collected and Wilmer Valderrama-voiced Manny is working to preserve the Earth's resources with the help of his wacky talking tools. On this DVD, the toolbox team will help baby turtles swim to safety, save the baking soda volcanoes at the science fair and discover solar energy. That baby turtle episode? Never seen before on regular Disney Channel programming. I know, that is crazy hot...to four year olds! If you're the bonus features type, the DVD includes an interactive game and green living tips for your child to teach the entire family.

Want one of these babies for your very own? Simply leave a comment with an eco-savvy tip or a local Earth Day event you know of (Yup, I'm making you do my job for me, I suck) by Friday night April 10 and I'll randomly draw the 15 winners this weekend.

Handy Manny: Manny's Green Team
Cost: $12.99

GIVEAWAY: 15 Copies of Tigger & Pooh and a Musical Too

Giveaway closed - the 15 lucky winners have been notified.

Those friends Tigger and Pooh now have their own full-length movie, and your kids can own it.

Tigger & Pooh and a Musical Too tells the story of how Rabbit has started a new 100 Acre Wood Theater Society, and all of the old school and new characters in the Winnie-the-Pooh lexicon are participating in the show.

The film contains six original songs - one by Kenny Loggins (don't deny it, you LOVE working out to Danger Zone and Footloose.) And of course, there's the Super Sleuthing problem solving exercises that kids love about the Playhouse Disney cartoon.

You know what I love, even more than upbeat movie soundtrack tunes from the 80s? The Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment folks have given me 15 copies of this DVD to give out to your kids! Just leave a comment below before midnight Friday April 10 and I'll randomly draw the winners this weekend.

Tigger & Pooh and a Musical Too
Cost: $18.99

GIVEAWAY: 15 Copies of Hannah Montana DVD, Keeping It Real

Giveaway closed - the 15 lucky winners have been notified.

OK, just the title of this Hannah Montana episode compilation DVD, Keeping It Real, cracks me up. And the shows it contains are even funnier and full of the charming, family-friendly sitcom humor that kids and parents both love. This is the first time Disney has released a DVD of HM episodes, and they picked good ones: High School Musical cutie Corbin Bleu guest stars as a crush and there's two brand new bonus features too.

Even though my own children are preschool age, we find Hannah Montana silly and watchable. It reminds me of Charles In Charge or Silver Spoons - corny but cute, moral but without the gag-you-with-it learning lesson at the end of, say, Full House. (My sister and I can STILL imitate the music that would play when Bob Saget would dispense his wisdom to DJ, Stephanie and Michelle at the end of an episode.) By the way, those links to DVDs of old sitcoms above are SO what I'm getting my sister for her 30th birthday this year...along with the DVD of the 1984 made-for-TV movie Nadia. My only regret is that I can't find Crash Course with Alyssa Milano for purchase yet...my sis is going to have to make do with our old taped-off-TV-with-commercials-for-Bill-Cosby's-Puddin-Pops VHS version. Or maybe this poster of Jackée....

Anyways, my point is that yeah, Hannah Montana is frothy TV and has an over-coiffed Billy Ray Cyrus as the dad (not unlike Uncle Jesse's pompadour,) but this day-glo cheese and hairspray is a right of passage. If your kid loves this show and the hairless Jonas Brothers with their purity rings and tries to tie her scarf from Claire's Boutique just like Miley, seriously? Calm down. It's adorable. Remember when you tried to curl your bangs exactly like Kelly on Saved By the Bell? Your kids are still little kids.

The awesome Disney folks have given me 15 brand spankin' new DVDs to hand out to you guys. Just leave a comment below with your favorite character from kids' sit-coms, past or present, before midnight Friday April 10th, and I'll randomly draw the lucky winners this weekend.

Hannah Montana: Keeping It Real
Cost: $13.99