1) The casual fun game.

Games like the ones you’ll find on Kongregate or Cheekybingo.com are great for those who don’t want to really dig into a long game. Lots of short or easy-to-pick-up titles can be found at these sorts of sites, and it’s a great way to ease yourself into something fun after work if you’re just killing some time.

2) The MMO.

The MMO, or Massively-Multiplayer Online game, is basically what it says on the tin – you will play the game alongside a lot of other people at once. How it works in practice depends on the game, but many of them are role-playing games, in which you take your adventurer across strange lands, building your powers and using them to defeat monsters, while enjoying lots of story content. Deep, but can be very fun if you’re the sort of person who enjoys this sort of thing.

3) The FPS.

The FPS, or First Person Shooter – a game all about running and gunning, and while a lot of these are online, not all of them are. Some will see you playing against others, and some will see you playing as a lone soldier taking on hordes of enemies in an attempt to save the world. Exciting, fun, and often quite challenging, these games can really get your blood pumping.

These are just a few examples, but your best bet is to look around, download a digital games download client (ideally Steam) and browse around until something holds your attention. Then, it’s gaming time!

Mighty Fine follows the Fine family, from Brooklyn to New Orleans, where the father Joe (Chazz Palminteri)  hopes that the move will improve their lives and he’ll be able to provide the very best for his wife Stella (Andie MacDowell), and daughters Maddie and Natalie (Rainey Qualley and Jodelle Ferland). While clear to me that Joe did care deeply about his family, his explosive temper and out of control spending habits hurt them deeply and put up numerous barriers between them.

“The story of “Mighty Fine” is fictional, but it draws to a great extent on writer/director Debbie Goodstein’s vivid memories of her childhood. “My father had anger issues, ups and downs, and living in his world could be a bit of a rollercoaster ride,” says Goodstein. “He loved his family but had self-destructive impulses and a rage that made life with him unpredictable and sometimes very scary.” Many of Goodstein’s friends also had fathers similar to her own, and she contrived the character of Joe Fine as a composite. Goodstein sees Joe as a creature of his time, someone who couldn’t exist today: “Joe Fine is the king of his castle, like so many men of the seventies. But even then, things were changing rapidly, and men like Joe, with all their bravado and patriarchal dominance, were poised for extinction. Today, with so many women in the workplace, that castle has become more of a stronghold of equanimity.”

Recently, I was given the privilege of viewing an advance screening of Mighty Fine, in the comfort of my own home!

After the premiere, a Q&A panel was held with Chazz Palminteri and Rainey Qualley. Although I was too shy to actually participate, it was very cool to hear how they prepared themselves for thier individual roles and how they related to one another on and off set.I didn’t realize until the Q&A that Rainey is actually Andie’s daugther! Another interesting layer! Not only was this their first time acting together, but also Rainey’s first movie role!

Having been in an abusive marriage, myself, I could definitely relate. Living with someone so mercurial, someone who could become quite angry so fast and and who was quite unpredictable all of the time, took a toll….on me and my children. Just like in Mighty Fine, the emotional toll it can take dealing with such emotional abuse is still quite painful. For those who have dealt with anger issues or abuse, this is definitely a film you will want to see.

If you have the opportunity to see this film, I highly recommend that you do so. but please leave younger viewers at home as this emotionally intense film will simply be too much for them.

Mighty Fine is a powerful family drama about a father’s love for his wife and daughters, and their vulnerability in the face of his unpredictable and explosive rage. “Mighty Fine,” premiering in select cities May 25, strikes a chord among those who’ve experienced the often incomprehensible behavior of an abusive parent.

Visit the Mighty Fine website for more information and to learn about this film.

On May 25th, Mighty Fine will be released to limited screenings. Please check HERE to find the closest theater to your location. Be sure to connect with Mighty Fine on Facebook.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Mighty Fine and the distributor. I received access to an online showing of the film and a promotional item to thank me for participating

How’d you like a chance to win a Louis Vuitton Handbag? Well, here it is!

I myself have never owned a Louis Vuitton…I’m not entirely sure I’ve ever been close to one…so I’ll have to content myself with living vicariously through the lucky winner of this incredible event!  Just hop on the Rafflecopter and get your entries in!

**Powered by Madame Deals and Slop Swap**

Along with our hosts:

Go Momma Coupons
This Mama Loves Her Bargains
Dixie Lands Deals Product Reviews
Flabby Fashionista
Saving More Than Me

Present this Louis Vuitton Giveaway Event!

Giveaway will run May 12 12:01 am EST thru June 12 11:59 pm EST

You have a lot of chances to WIN! Complete the mandatory entry and unlock the bonus entries.

Bonus entries are Facebook likes.

Wait for the Rafflecopter to load and enter below:

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It’s funny, sometimes, how childhood memories stay with us. One of the very first books I remember from my childhood is pat the bunny. I have a very clear memory of touching the bunny’s ‘fur’ and the scratchiness of daddy’s ‘beard’ while thumbing through the sturdy pages.

I’m sure my fond memories contributed to the fact that pat the bunny was always a part of my own children’s lives too. There was always a battered copy in my home, tucked in to my diaper bag, or in the car for the littles.

It was written by Dorothy Kunhardt, who was a successful children’s author when she wrote pat the bunny for her 3-year-old daughter, Edith. It was partly an experiment in using interactive elements in a book, which was unusual at the time. It was endorsed by experts in child development for its “developmental features” and “sensory approach”

Dorothy Kunhardt incorporated everyday activities like looking into a mirror, smelling flowers and feeling Daddy’s scratchy face to encourage interactivity and sensory stimulation. Today, pat the bunny continues to inspire togetherness and first memories between caregiver and child by introducing baby to new experiences like patting Bunny’s fur or putting a finger through Mummy’s ring.

Since its publication, in 1940, pat the bunny has sold over 6 million copies, making it the number 6 all-time bestselling children’s hardcover book, according to Publishers Weekly.

pat the bunny is currently available for SRP $9.99, and a deluxe edition of the book with four pages restored from the original 1940 edition is currently available for SRP $14.99.

Connect with Random House Kids on Facebook

Connect with Random House Kids on Twitter

This promotional post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. I received a copy of pat the bunny in return for this post. Thoughts are my own.

Doggone Great Collar Giveaway!

Dog Collar Boutique:

Unleash your Love! Whether you are looking for the latest in fashion or trying something new, you will love the wide selection of designer dog collars, dog harnesses, carriers and yes, even leashes. Perfect for strolls and adventures!

Do you know how to measure your dog for a collar?

A good fit is very important to ensure the collar is snug enough to keep from slipping over your dog’s ears, yet loose enough to be comfortable. A good fitting collar will not be the exact size of your dog’s neck. This is too tight. It should be snug but not choke.

To measure your dog, use a soft measuring tape, such as a seamstress’s cloth tape measure. You may also use a piece of string, simply measure it after. Make sure your dog is standing. Measure snugly around your dog’s neck where the collar would sit. Then add from one to two inches; one inch for a small dog and two inches for a large dog. This is the collar size for your dog. For a correctly fitted collar, you should be able to slip two fingers, flat, in between the tape and neck. For a very small dog, it may be one finger and for a much larger dog, three fingers

This technique will match the size of the collar when the collar is measured from the buckle to the last hole (the largest fit). Since some manufacturers size collars differently, see the manufacturer-specific Size Guide link on the collar product page you are considering purchasing.

Review by Mom Does Reviews:

As a dog lover and owner of Camp Wags Pet Resort, dogs are our life! I was excited get a chance to review and giveaway a great collar from Dog Collar Boutique. We have a Border Collie and Yellow Lab of our own. The Border Collie, Marley, is busy rounding up chickens and kids. He could care less about collars. The Yellow Lab, Gracie, is a girlie girl. She was excited to get a new collar. I picked the Suns collar from the Stylish Trends collection. The Navy Blue contrasts so nicely with her “Blonde” fur. She loves it. Gracie gives her new collar 4 paws up and a great big tail wag.

I love the quality of the Suns collar. It is heavy material, bright and fun print and has high quality plastic closures and rings. There are so many designs and styles to pick from, it was hard to pick just one.

The website was easy to use. It even has online live help in case you have any questions.

Shipping was fast, which is very important to my doggy diva. Once I told her about her new collar, she bugged me until it came.

Mom Does Reviews gives Dog Collar Boutique 5 out of 5 stars! Come enter the giveaway, your furry friend will thank you for it!

The Giveaway:

One lucky winner will get a $15 Gift Certificate to use at Dog Collar Boutique. Giveaway is open to US residents only, ages 18 and over.

Enter on the easy Rafflecopter below. Giveaway ends 5/22 at 1201am.

Be sure to follow Dog Collar Boutique on Facebook and twitter!

Thanks to Life in the Lost World for helping promote this fun giveaway.

Disclosure: I received this product for review purposes only. I was not given any monetary compensation. All opinions are 100% my own.

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Dale and Thomas Popcorn

One of our favoritest sponsors, Dale and Thomas is back with another delicious gift box, featuring some of their most awesome varieties, just in time for Mother’s Day!

You couldn’t say thanks in any better way! Show just how grateful you are with Dale and Thomas’ tasteful gift box. This delightful gift box prominently displaying “Thank You!” is filled with four footlong bags of popcorn (Chocolate Chunk N’Caramel, Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Drizzlecorn, Hall of Fame Kettle Corn, and White Cheddar & Black Peppercorn).

It really is no wonder, at all, that the Today Show calls Dale and Thomas the Rolls Royce of popcorn!

Chocolate Chunk N'Caramel is a rich and sensuous combination of our finest, fresh-popped corn topped with buttery caramel and studded with chunks of deep, chocolaty indulgence. The caramel adds overall sweetness and crunch, while the chunks of chocolate, well, if you love chocolate then you know how important each and every one of those chunks can be. The result is a snack that’s simple, yet sumptuous!

Welcome to heaven. Nirvana. Whatever you want to call it, our Peanut Butter & White Chocolate DrizzleCorn takes you there. This sweet-and-salty, creamy and crunchy delight will blow you away! Think you’d like peanut butter popcorn? Intrigued by white chocolate popcorn? The combination of the two is like hitting the jackpot! We start with our plumpest, fluffiest, crunchiest just-popped corn and top it with creamy peanut butter. Not too much — just enough to get the best of the flavor, without being overpowering. Then we hand-finish it with a drizzle of rich white chocolate!

Hall of Fame Kettle Corn is the quintessential version of the all-American classic: our finest, fresh-popped corn sprinkled with sea salt and kissed with a touch of pure cane sugar. A sweet-salty combination you can't resist.

White Cheddar & Black Peppercorn is one of our most addictive flavors, light, fluffy and crunchy kettle-popped corn is covered with Land O' Lakes creamy, aged white cheddar cheese, fresh cracked peppercorns and clarified butter. You can't get enough of this cheesy delight!

Each bag serves between 2-4 people. All of Dale and Thomas popcorn is gluten free and kosher OU-D. Send this yummy assortment as a gift to Mom she is sure to feel appreciated!

You can order your very own “Thank You” gift box (as well as tons of other great assortments) at Dale and Thomas online, or you can simple cross your fingers and enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below for your chance to win one courtesy of the great folks at Dale and Thomas! Thank you so much!

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Disclosure: The blog owner (that’s me!) received a product(s) from Dale and Thomas to facilitate this review. I received no other compensation for this post and the opinions contained herein, are my own and reflect my experience with the product(s). Your own may differ.

I have a large extended family with some of us scattered all the way out to the midwest. Email helps us keep in touch but there are times that nothing will do except to hear a loved one’s voice. Thank goodness for the telephone!

As grateful as I am to have something as marvelous as a phone at my disposal, oftentimes I find myself postponing tasks that need to be taken care of in favor of a phone call…or worse, putting off a loved one because of the task at hand.

Even with a cordless phone, multi-tasking can be difficult. Have YOU ever tried to knead bread dough with the phone held between your chin and shoulder? NOT recommended!

Enter my new VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking Phone System! *in my best Carrie Bradshaw voice* Hello Lover! Where have you been all my life?

No longer do I have to put everything on hold when the phone rings! Thanks to the comfortable headset I can easily answer the phone while kneading bread, folding laundry, or even when I’m all the way out at the chicken coop (thanks to the 500 foot range!) When waiting for an important call, I’m no longer tethered to my desk while I wait. I REALLY like that. In addition, the system includes two cordless handsets, providing high-quality sound with HD Audio and Push-To-Talk intercom (“walkie talkie” functionality).

The VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking Phone System has tons of great features but some of my own favorites are:

Blue backlit keypad and display.

Supports RoHS initiatives by reducing the use of hazardous substances including lead, mercury and cadmium.

Caller ID/Call waiting stores 50 calls.

Slim Handset Size.

Protect yourself from identity theft with digital security. Your call is digitized and encrypted, making it nearly impossible for someone to eavesdrop

Voice Announce Caller ID audibly announces the name and number of the caller on all of the handsets and base unit.

Hearing Aid Compatible.

Trilingual prompts allow you to choose between English, Spanish or French.

Push-To-Talk Multiple Handset Walkie Talkie

Still looking for that perfect Mother’s Day gift for the busy mom in your life? I think the VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking Phone System is the perfect gift for moms, bloggers, really, anyone who loves talking on the phone and needs a fresh way to multi-task while doing so!

The VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking Phone System is available at fine merchants everywhere and retails for $99.99. It is also available online, with FREE shipping, at www.vtechphones.com

Check out VTech on Facebook and Twitter.

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of VTech and received a product sample to facilitate my review.

Rubbermaid

Rubbermaid is very excited to introduce the Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler that gets recyclables off the counter and hidden out of sight. The features of the product include:
Easy attachment to a cabinet door with hooks included with the product or screws
A convenient handle allows the bag to easily be transported to wherever your recycling is stored for pick-up or transport
A 5 gallon bag that holds up to 36 12-ounce cans and can fit a milk jug The bag has a leak-proof liner and is machine washable to make it easy to clean after any unexpected spills
The bag is soft-sided allowing for flexibility inside any cabinet The bag and all packaging is made from recyclable material, and the product, itself, is recyclable

We go through alot of beverages in aluminum cans, here in the lost world. I normally keep a small trash can, just inside the laundry room door, for empties.  It’s certainly not ideal as most days, I seem to be the only person in the house capable of rinsing a can before tossing it in the can to await recycling.

After several days, as you can imagine, the bottom of the can is a sticky icky mess and guess who gets to clean it all up? If you said me, you’d be absolutely right!

At any rate, when I was offered the chance to try and then review the new Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler, I jumped at the chance! When it arrived I was immediately impressed by it’s general sturdiness…no wimpy little trashcan, here!

It took all of 3 minutes to install on the cupboard door just below my sink. My thought was, if placed here, folks might be more inclined to actually rinse their empties before tossing, and I was right! Hooray for me! Hooray for Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler!

Of course, you can’t have everything, and my family still doesn’t really drain the cans before tossing but that’s less of an issue now.  The Hidden Recycler has a sturdy leakproof liner to contain spills and is easily cleaned by tossing in the washer.

It’s sanitary, convenient, lightweight and a great testament to good old fashioned American ingenuity! I love this product!

The great folks at Rubbermaid would like to offer one of my readers a chance to win a Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler, like the one I was sent, all you have to do is jump on the Rafflecopter for your chance to win!
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Thanks Rubbermaid! You rock!

Disclosure: The blog owner (that’s me!) received a product(s) from Rubbermaid
to facilitate this review. I received no other compensation for this post and the opinions contained herein, are my own and reflect my experience with the product(s). Your own may differ.

In search of the Ultimate Veggie Burger Monday

Couscous and Quinoa Patties with Vegetable Yogurt Sauce
Baked Beans
Chips

Taco Tuesday

Black Bean Cakes with Chipotle Remoulade and Corn Salsa
served rolled in a tortilla
Mixed Green Salad
Chips and more Corn Salsa

Wednesday

Veggie Lo Mein
Vietnamese Spring Rolls

Thursday

Chef Salad w/ Gardein Crispy Chick’n
Home made Whole Wheat Rolls

Friday

It’s Pizza and a Movie Night

Saturday

Chickpea Salad Sammies (Tuno Salad)
Chips
Fresh Fruit

Sunday

Grilled Veggie Kabobs with Gardein Buffalo wing chunks
Grilled Sweet Corn
Watermelon

That’s it for my menu plan.  How about you? What manner of yumminess will you be serving up this week?

Some of you will remember the day I came out of the YA closet and told you about my love of Young Adult books after reading Laura DeLuca’s Destiny. You can read my review HERE.

I know it was disappointing, to many of you, when the winner of our Destiny giveaway was chosen, and I’m pleased to be able to tell you, that today, you have another chance!

To celebrate the release of Destiny Unveiled, they are giving away Destiny for FREE for this weekend only!!! FREE FREE FREE! You can only order it free on smash words.  Just enter the code DY64R at check out. Offer ends 5/7 so hurry and get yours today!