Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits - Available May 8th {Review and Giveaway} - TWO Winners!

If you've been an ace and friends' reader for awhile, you probably know how much my kids (as do I) enjoy Kidz Bop CDs. With all the hits that have been they compiled over the past twenty one releases, there are many we wish were on the same CD so we could listen to them together. On May 8th, they will release just that... Kidz Bop - Ultimate Hits. The best of the best... and ALL our favorites together on one album. 

Track List: 1. Tik Tok  2. Dynamite 3. California Gurls  4. I Gotta Feeling  5. Billionaire 6. Party In The USA  7. Break Your Heart  8. Hey Soul Sister  9. DJ Got Us Falling In Love  10. Fire Burning  11. You Belong With Me  12. Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)  13. Fireflies

Kidz Bop Ultimate Hits -  available May 8th!

ace and friends thoughts: Kidz Bop 21 - Ultimate Hits, is a complete and entertaining compilation of songs that my kids truly LOVE! They really did a great job in picking the best of the best songs one one album. Each song is very recognizable because each is a current top pop song. The kids had a great time listening to this new CD and have requested this in place of their current listening prior to heading to bed. As always, I appreciate that my kids can listen and enjoy today's hit songs without having to worry about inappropriate lyrics! If you are looking for music that you can enjoy together with your kids, make sure to run out on May 8th and get Kidz Bop - Ultimate Hits, you (and your kids) will absolutely love it!

Make sure to check out Kidz Bop Block Party - A Super Cool New Radio Show.

Kids can hear more of their favorite Kidz Bop music by tuning into Kidz Bop Block Party!, a new two- hour weekly interactive radio show on Sirius Radio's KIDS Place Live Channel 78, every Friday from 6pm - 8pm ET, 3pm - 5pm PT!

Kids can easily participate on the show by visiting KidzBop.com.

************************************************************

Buy It 

Kidz Bop - Ultimate Hits will be available on May 8th at Kidz Bop. In the meantime, make sure to check out the current release, Kidz Bop 21 for a great mix of current pop songs.

************************************************************

Win It 

TWO LUCKY *ace and friends* reader will win

a copy of Kidz Bop - Ultimate Hits of their very own.

************************************************************

Pin It

Enter To Win A *Silpat* Baking Mat & $100 Gift Card to Sur La Table {Giveaway}

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and Silpat has you covered with a Mother's Day Giveaway.

Silpat, the original non-stick baking mat, is giving away a Silpat Half Size and a $100 gift card to Sur La Table.

Give these prizes as a gift for Mother's Day, or keep them for yourself. Silpat is the perfect tool for baking cookies, roasting vegetables, spreading chocolate and more.

Entering is EASY, here's how:

• Visit the "Giveaway" tab on Silpat's Facebook page
• "Like" Silpat's Facebook page
• Complete an entry form
• Click "Submit"

Enter before noon on May 7 for your chance to win!

Pin It

Marvel's The Avengers hit theaters May 4th! {Giveaway}

Marvel Studios presents Marvel’s The Avengers—the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson, and written and directed by Joss Whedon, Marvel’s The Avengers is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects!

************************************************************ 

Marvel's The Avengers hits theaters May 4th, 2012.

************************************************************ 

Get a sneak peak of movie below:

Need More...

• Visit marvel.com/avengers_movie
• Like Marvel's The Avengers on Facebook
• Follow @Avengers on Twitter

************************************************************

Win It

One LUCKY ace and friends reader will win a Marvel's The Avengers Prize pack that includes a t-shirt, set of 6 buttons and a pair of limited edition 3D glasses!

************************************************************ 

Pin It

2012 Spring Fling Guide: Keurig MINI Plus Brewing System - Now Available in WHITE {Review & Giveaway}

Featured Sponsor

It look likes Spring has officially arrive and with that I LOVE brewing a tasty iced-coffee. Thanks to Keurig, brewing iced-coffee is super quick, easy and delicious. If you are looking for the convenience of your own personal brewer, look no further than the Keurig MINI Plus Brewing System, it's simply wonderful! This model is more compact than a regular coffee maker and doesn't take up much space. It brews a fresh cup of coffee in under two minutes, with no mess, and fresh water each time.

The MINI Plus Brewing System is not your average personal coffee maker! Not only can you make coffee, but you can also make cappuccino, latte, espresso, hot chocolate, tea and iced beverages. Essentially, Keurig beverage choices are limitless. What's great about this brewer is that is uses convenient K-Cups which are available at a variety of retailers. Each K-Cup contains a premeasured amount of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Just insert the K-Cup and brewing simply begins with the push of a button.

Keurig MINI Plus Brewing System

The MINI Plus Brewing System, now available in WHITE,  brews a perfect cup of coffee, tea, hot cocoa or iced beverage in under two minutes at the touch of a button. With the choice of three cup sizes, the MINI Plus brewer offers a removable drip tray to accommodate short travel mugs. To operate, you simply add fresh water into the single-use reservoir, choose your favorite K-Cup® portion pack, brew and enjoy.

Features:

• Personal Brewer
• Choice of 3 cup sizes (6 oz., 8 oz. and 10 oz.)
• Single-use water reservoir
• Energy Savings Mode – Auto Off after 90 seconds

Fun Additional Accessories 

I love all the additional accessories you can purchase to enhance your at home coffee experience, but my new obsession is the K-Cup™ Storage Dispenser. It contains two holders which keeps a total of 48 portion packs at your fingertips and is ideal for kitchen cabinets, pantries and countertops. A transparent area lets you easily see what flavor is available. The generous opening and slanted interior allows for easy filling and selection. Add more dispensers for unlimited storage of all your favorite K-Cup® varieties.

• Includes two dispensers
• Each dispenser holds 24 portion packs
• Dimensions: 3.00" wide x 9.25" tall x 11.50" deep (each dispenser)

Why Not Try These Flavors?

Only available for a short period of time is my all-time favorite Spring flavor, Island Coconut by Green Mountain Coffee. 

Indulge your senses with the delightfully fragrant, tropical taste treat. Green Mountain Coffee captured the lush aroma of freshly grated coconut - fruity, fresh, exotic - and blended it with the subtle sweetness of a lightly roasted, Central American coffee. The result is as refreshing as it is unexpected. Stock up now as this variety is available for a limited time only! It smells and tastes like heaven!


Also perfect for spring, Keurig offers Brew Over Ice k-cups and a specific 16 oz. Iced Beverage Tumbler. The BPA free double walled tumbler keeps your beverage cool to the very last sip. Perfect for these sunny and warm days! Although, all brewers can brew over ice, and all k-cup portion packs can be used to brew over ice, the Brew Over Ice k-cups, including French Vanilla Iced Coffee and Sweet Raspberry Perfect Iced Tea are enhanced portion packs specifically designed for iced beverages.

What I REALLY liked:  The Keurig MINI Plus Brewing System is compact in size, making it easy to place on a countertop or desk area. Ideal for those looking to brew a single cup of coffee quickly. Fresh water added to brew each cup. Brewer is available in five colors. Brews a variety of flavors and types. 

Potential Downside: If you need to make multiple cups of coffee, the single reservoir could be a hassle. Limited to three cup sizes.

Make sure to check out my UPCOMING full review of the *Keurig's Vue Brewing System*.

************************************************************

Buy It

You can purchase the MINI Plus Brewing System for $99.95 at Keurig.com, at a variety of retailer including Bed, Bath and Beyond, Kohl's as well as other online retailers.

************************************************************

Win It

Thanks to Keurig One LUCKY ace and friends reader will win a

WHITE MINI Plus Brewing System (pictured above), of their very own!

************************************************************

Pin It

American Reunion Original Motion Picture Soundtrack {Review & Giveaway}

Featured Sponsor

As soon as I heard that American Reunion's Soundtrack was released, I knew I was gonna need to have it. There were several tracks that had me reminiscing about my high school days... a definite must have for the collection!


About American Reunion - The Movie


In the comedy American Reunion, all the American Pie characters we met a little more than a decade ago are returning to East Great Falls for their high-school reunion. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn't and that time and distance can't break the bonds of friendship.


It was summer 1999 when four small-town Michigan boys began a quest to lose their virginity. In the years that have passed, Jim and Michelle married while Kevin and Vicky said goodbye. Oz and Heather grew apart, but Finch still longs for Stifler's mom. Now these lifelong friends have come home as adults to reminisce about - and get inspired by - the hormonal teens who launched a comedy legend.


Track List

1. Last Night - Good Charlotte
2. You Make Me Feel (feat. Sabi) - Cobra Starship
3. Here Comes The Hotstepper - StooShe
4. Wannamama - Pop Levi
5. My First Kiss (Feat. Ke$ha) - 3Oh!3
6. I'm A Man - The Blue Van
7. Bring It On Home - Kopek
8. Rump Shaker - Wreckx & Effects
9. Wannabe (Radio Edit) - Spice Girls
10. I'll Make Love To You - Boyz II Men
11. This Is How We Do It - Montell Jordan
12. The Good Life - HP
13. My Generation - Thomas Nicholas Band
14. Class Of '99 - Lyle Workman
15. American Reunion - Lyle Workman


ace and friends thoughts

The American Reunion Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is little of a hit and miss. There are some great nostalgia songs that will bring you back to your high school hey day... such as This Is How We Do It as well as Rump Shaker... but in addition to these catchy tunes of the past, there are twice as many current pop songs. I'm not opposed to current pop songs, so I had no issues singing along. 


If you are looking for some great pop songs to sing along to this Spring, make sure to get your copy of the American Reunion Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album.


Overall, an interesting mix of old and new. A fun new addition to any music collection!

Enter this fun American Reunion Original Motion Picture Soundtrack sweepstakes, featuring a dorm room prizepack consisting of a JBL OnBeat Xtreme™ docking station, a copy of the American Reunion Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, and a delicious assortment of KIND Bars.  The OnBeat Xtreme™ docking station is compatible with the iPhone, iPad or any mobile device and can be controlled remotely by blue tooth, so this is 

truly a cool prize! 

Enter HERE!

Additionally, the American Reunion Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is in stores now, but is streaming for free this week on Grooveshark.com HERE.  ENJOY!

************************************************************

Buy It 

You can visit Amazon to purchase the American Reunion Soundtrack album.

************************************************************

Win It 

TWO LUCKY *ace and friends* reader will win

a copy of American Reunion Soundtrack album of their very own.

************************************************************

Pin It

2012 Spring Fling Guide: NOVICA {Review & Giveaway}

Featured Sponsor

Admittedly, I am a sucker for something unique, eclectic and beautiful. Recently, I was introduced to NOVICA.com offering just that.  NOVICA.com (in association with National Geographic) is online site that is in many ways different from many others that I have come across out there. They bring together a collection of  unique, hard-to-find items at great values.

About Novica

(source: Novica.com)

NOVICA unites you with more than 2,000 extraordinary master artists around the world. Read about their lives, explore their fascinating cultures, and customers have the ability to select from more than 30,000 handcrafted works of art.

NOVICA.com was founded twelve years ago as an online, fair-trade marketplace based in Los Angeles, with offices in eight developing nations. NOVICA features more than 30,000 limited edition and one-of-a-kind handmade works of art daily, ranging from artisan-crafted jewelry to handmade apparel to world-style home decor. So far NOVICA has succeeded in helping change the lives of more than 50,000 people in developing nations, including artisans and their dependents, uniquely helping each artisan earn personal recognition and real-world prices for their work.

 ace and friends thoughts

NOVICA's amazing unique gift section immediately got my attention. I've always loved the designs and creations from around the world. From their beautiful selection of Spring home decor, from their Murano hand blown vases to natural fiber baskets, there is definitely something for everyone. I was instantly attracted to the stunning jewelry, including a wide selection of Garnet Dangle Earring to beautiful Silver Pendent Necklaces.

I completely fell in love with Tiger's eye and carnelian cluster earrings and the 'Garden Bower' Beaded cocktail ring from Thailand.  Included with each piece is an artisan story card that has a particular quote from each artist as well as a description of the purchased piece. Admittedly, the earring and ring were even more lovely in person and I was completely thrilled with my selection. I can see all the love and hard-work that went into each detail of these earrings and ring.

Because each piece is shipped directly from their international fulfillment center, shipping takes around two to three weeks, but the wait is well worth it! Overall, the selection at Novica.com is a little overwhelming, but I certainly enjoyed looking at all the amazing and beautifully creative pieces, as I am sure you will too. I will definitely return to NOVICA in the very near future to add to my new artisan collection!

************************************************************

Buy It

The earrings and ring as well as a wide selection of many artisan pieces are available at NOVICA.com.

************************************************************

Win It

Thanks to the NOVICA, one LUCKY ace and friends reader will win

a $25 Gift Code to spend on their heart's content!

************************************************************

Pin It

Fun, Delicious and Tasty Veggie Recipes With Country Crock

This post is sponsored by Country Crock. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

-----


I don't know about your household, but in ours... vegetables are a hard sell to the kids. No matter how I try and serve them... it's takes a lot of convincing to even get them to try it.


The smart folks at Country Crock just recently introduced something I think my kids are going to LOVE. The Crock Country Chronicles offers easy vegetable recipes ideas that are delicious and more importantly, kid-friendly.


If you head on over to the Crock Country Chronicles, you can download a cookbook for FREE - A Very Veggie World by Clare Crespo.

This particular cookbook offers colorful pictures and inspirational recipes to make serving those veggies a little more fun for the family. From veggie pets to lighting bolts, veggie volcanos to rocket ships, your kids will certainly get a kick out of at least giving those veggies a shot.

For my family, I opted to give the Pasta Full of Posies a try. The recipe was simple to follow and called for the following ingredients:


2 yellow and/or orange bell peppers

1 package (16 oz.) whole wheat penne (or pasta of your choice)

3 Tbsp. Country Crock® Spread
1 Tbsp. olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 5 cherry tomatoes, halved

7 basil or baby spinach leaves 


Chop off top and bottom of peppers. Slice down the side, remove the seeds and lay pepper flat. Cut into petal shapes.

Boil pasta according to package directions; drain.


Melt Country Crock® Spread and heat olive oil on the stove over medium heat in a pan big enough to hold pasta. Cook garlic and peppers together for about 5 minutes. With tongs, remove pepper petals and set aside.

Add pasta and cheese to garlic and toss together. Put pasta in shallow serving dish. Arrange tomato halves on top and surround them with pepper petals to make “flowers.” Add a basil or baby spinach leaf to each flower.
-----


Thankfully, I had the majority of ingredients on hand and the directions were easy enough to follow.

First, I wanted to get the pasta started.

Then, gathered my veggies - yellow pepper and cherry tomatoes.

Began to cut my flower petal shapes from the yellow peppers.

Added my Country Crock, along with olive oil to the pan.

Saute the yellow pepper flower petals along with the garlic in the pan.

Removed the flower petals from the pan and added the cooked pasta to the pan, along with the parmesan cheese. Stirred for a minute or so.

Once combined, added to a serving dish and created my posie flowers with the yellow peppers, cherry tomatoes and baby spinach leaves.

I loved how it turned out and so did the kids... they said, "How did you do that?" I thought, YES, they LOVE it. The overall flavor of the pasta was actually more delicious than we expected it to taste. The peppers that were sautéed with Country Crock (with  70% less saturated fat, 30% fewer calories than butter and 0 trans fat) had a nice crisp, roasted flavor. The kids added a little extra parmesan to their pasta mixture and were super pleased! Ahhhh... a veggie success!

Want to learn more about Country Crock, please visit:

• Country Crock on Facebook
• Country Crock on Twitter

Are you looking for quick and simple tips and recipes to make serving veggies more fun? Download the free Clare Crespo Cookbook here for fun and whimsical recipes your family is sure to love!



Pin It