Giveaway Linky Thursday 10/31/13

Thanks for joining in this week's giveaway linky for blog giveaways only, no businesses or contest entries. 

Win Tablet or Smartphone up to $800 11/21

Room on the Broom Book & New Witch Plush 11/4

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Our Spooky Lit Up Pumpkin

These past few weeks I haven't been the best blogger, but I have been an exceptional mom. Your know mom duties come first, I've been busy at the fire station with the PreK. I had school lunch with both my kids. My 1st grader and I spend library time reading together. He has earned 3 metals this year and a t-shirt this week for reading. He now has strep throat again. We went to a Halloween festival over the weekend. PreK was having a pumpkin contest decorating a paper pumpkin and a real one.  So here is our pumpkin.

We drilled a hole in the witches cauldron and ran so lighting up through it. It looks like it's glowing when the lights are dim. We made the witch and the reaper with the little skeletons. Guess we will have to see what the judges think about it. Wish us luck...

DIY Halloween Candy Treats Decorations

Are you strapped for time and need a quick fix for kid friendly decorating Halloween treats? Yep, me too. Here are a few easy ways to decorate your candy. My boys are having a ball fixing up these spooky cute treats to share with their classes. These are simple, inexpensive, stuff we have on hand at home. Construction paper, markers, sharpie, scissors, glue stick, glue gun & glue sticks. You can add special glitter touches or bows for girls. We used snack size Hershey's.

The Ghost:
The ghost is the easiest, fast and cute. We uses plain computer paper.
Fold over one sheet in half. Then fold that in half. Last bring both sides back in to a fold to the center. You should have 4 squares. You will want to keep the main fold at the top, this will be the top of your ghost and allow the paper to cover front and back. You will get 4 ghosts per sheet. Draw on your face, add a message, and a little hot glue adding candy, your ready.

The Pumpkin:
1 sheet orange construction paper will make 3. Make the folds described in the ghost, this time you will need 3 same size squares, cut curved and leave top connected at the fold. Draw on your face, add a message, and a little hot glue adding candy, your ready. -- If you want to add a stem use a little green construction paper to add one with or without leaves. The one without leaves is easier, if you want leaves draw them on a folded piece of green cut them out and you will have a leaf on both sides.

The Bat:
VERY EASY! Start with a piece of  black or purple construction paper fold long ways over towards the center for enough room the size of 2 candy bars. Cut off the remaining strip of black it can be used for Frankenstein hair. Fold same length, you will have 3 rectangles. cut them out. Place them together all fold at top and cut out  two triangles leaving about an inch between them. next go to bottom and cut out triangles all across the bottom. Draw on your face ( used a silver sharpie ) , add a message, and a little hot glue adding candy, your ready.

The Frankenstein:
1 sheet green construction paper will make 4. Fold over one sheet in half long ways. Then fold that in half. Last bring both sides back in to a fold to the center. You should have 4 squares. You will want to keep the main fold at the top, this will be the top of your Frankenstein and allows the paper to cover front and back. Make some hair with left over black construction paper from the bat. Draw on your face, add a message, and a little hot glue adding candy, your ready.

Giveaway Linky Thursday 10/24/13

Thanks for joining in this week's giveaway linky for blog giveaways only, no businesses or contest entries. 

$500 KMART Gift Card 10/28

 5 Winners Fiber Element Bamboo Sheet Sets 10/23

Pacific Rim Blu-Ray 10/27

VTech Cody the Smart Cub 10/30

Twister Dance Rave Game 10/23

Win Tablet or Smartphone up to $800 11/21

Room on the Broom Book & New Witch Plush 11/4

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Sweepstakes Win Tablet or Smartphone up to $800

Welcome To The Choose Your Gadget Giveaway

This is exciting giveaway catering to the need of the winner. The big question is what would you get if you won. I myself would pick an ipad for my son. Who is saving his money to buy his very own and he is six years old. I think electronic device insurance would be necessary.

Organized by: Mom Powered Media. Co-hosted by the following amazing MPM Network Bloggers: Bay Area Mommy, My Dairy Free Gluten Free Life, A Medic's World and Barefoot In Bluejeans.

Emperola.com is the easiest way to create giveaways on any Facebook page. Just simply create new giveaway here and Get thousands of new fans NOW! All giveaways are strongly promoted at Emperola.com

Do You Think Electronic Device Insurance Is Really Necessary?

Some analysts suggest that insurance such as for your smartphone is expensive and unnecessary. While consumer research strongly indicates that the popularity of such phones, and the ease of breaking them, makes insurance on the devices extremely important to consumers. In fact it indicates that 80 million cell phones of all varieties will be lost, stolen or damaged this year. Now that is a lot of money lost on your favorite electronic device.

Asurion Saves You from Mobile Mishaps. In fact a complete Asurion protection package, available through most wireless carriers, provides consumers with (1) Software that protects mobile data against the growing number of cell phone/smartphone threats and helps them locate a lost or stolen phone and (2) A replacement device, usually overnight, in the event a phone is lost, damaged (even water damaged) or stolen. Even better this piece of mind insurance costs a few dollars a month.

What device will you protect?

One lucky reader will receive the Smartphone or Tablet of their choice {up to $800 value}!

Giveaway ends November 21st at 11:59pm, open to US, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck.

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Disclosure: Life Is A SandCastle is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

Sweepstakes Room On the Broom Plush & Book - New Interactive App

Both my boys have enjoyed the book and DVD of Room on the broom. They have even took it to class to share with their classmates. A cute story and perfect example of extraordinary friendship. I have recently learned from the sponsor that there is a new Room on the Broom Games app from Magic Light Pictures. Information, giveaway, and links in this post are provided by sponsor.

The new app is based on Penguin Group’s #1 best-selling Room on the Broom children’s picture book written by much-loved author Julia Donaldson, UK Children’s Laureate (2011-2013), and illustrator Axel Scheffler—the same author and illustrator team that created the critically-acclaimed book series, The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child. Room on the Broom is filled with humor and adventure, and teaches the importance of family, friends and teamwork!

There’s room on the broom for everyone in this high quality game app for 3–7-year-olds, featuring beautiful design based on Alex Scheffler’s original illustrations. Offering children a safe, entertaining and interactive experience they can enjoy time and time again, Room on the Broom Games provides eight imaginative activities that players can interact and explore within, while practicing early learning skills such as counting, creativity and literacy. Collectively, the games explore the world of Room on the Broom, complementing the experience of reading the book and watching the film. Key characters are featured and players get to help them fly, eat and explore their world. Designed to ensure players and parents feel comfortable and safe in the digital space, there are no in-app purchases.

NEW APP!

The new Room on the Broom Games interactive app is available through the iTunes store for iPad, iPad Mini, iPhone and iPod Touch; and on GooglePlay and Amazon for Android devices, priced at $4.99.

Julia Donaldson comments, “‘When Magic Light first mentioned to me the idea of producing a game offering children a different way to engage with the Room on the Broom characters, I was confident that they would produce another beautiful high-quality product to sit alongside their films and merchandise. The games have been especially designed to echo traditional children’s games of observation and memory and are a lovely addition to the world of Room on the Broom.” She adds, “ My own favourites are feeding fries to the dragon and creating constellations of stars!”

Axel Scheffler added, “I’m delighted to see how my original artwork has been used to create such beautifully produced games that give children the opportunity to explore the world of Room on the Broom in a whole new way.”

Fans can play with their favorite characters—Witch, Cat, Dog, Bird, Frog and Dragon in these magical games:

· Join the stars – Fly through the air and connect all the sparkly stars to find the right image!
· Find the hat – The Witch has lost her hat! Is it behind the tree? Help Dog find the hat in the woods.
· Windy day collecting game – It’s a windy day and Cat needs help collecting a few things, will you help? Be careful not to miss them!
· Find the bow – The Witch has lost her bow! Is it in the hay? Help Bird find the bow in the field.
· Find the wand – The Witch has lost her wand! Is it under the lily pad? Help Frog find the wand in the pond.
· Drawing with stars – Light up your imagination by creating pictures in the night sky. Place the numbered stars where you wish and watch the witch transform it into a dot-to-dot picture.
· Dragon loves fries – The Dragon is hungry and is planning to have fries for his dinner! Feed the dragon fries and avoid the other falling objects from the sky!
· Fly the magnificent broom – Whoosh! Join the gang on the magnificent broom and fly through the starry night sky. Take control and steer the broom to collect letters, which spell out a word!

Room on the Broom Fun Products

• Room on the Broom books from Penguin Group. Hardcover (SRP: $16.99) and Board Book (SRP: $6.99) versions are available wherever books are sold.
• Room on the Broom DVD from NCircle Entertainment, available at Barnes & Noble, Target and Walmart, Toys”R”Us, amazon.com, Kmart (SRP: $9.99). Named “Best Animated Short” by the Toronto International Film Festival Kid’s Festival, beautiful CGI animation brings the book’s drawings to life under the direction of Max Lang & Jan Lachauer. Gillian Anderson (The X Files) provides the voice of the witch; while Timothy Spall of Harry Potter fame, lends his voice to the dragon. Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) narrates the story, which also features the recognizable voices of Martin Clunes, Rob Brydon, Sally Hawkins and David Walliams portraying the helpful animals that comprise the witch’s family.
• Room on the Broom plush from Kids Preferred, available at barnesandnoble.com. Witch, Dragon and Cat are perfect for kids of all ages. These surface-washable, soft and moveable plush, help kids to bring the classic story to life with their own twists and imagination. The lovable Witch is 15 inches (SRP: $12.95), Dragon is 8 inches and Cat is 7.5 inches (pricing currently unavailable).

Watch out for a special Halloween broadcast of this multiple award-winning animated movie in its first U.S. broadcast slots on 24-hour preschool network Sprout, airing on Oct 30, 31, Nov 29 and Dec check out The Room on the Broom website for some fun FREE activities including how to make your own wand, a “can you find” challenge, help Witch through the maze to find her bow, and a fun word search puzzle.

One Lucky Us Winner, will win a copy of the board book from Penguin Group (SRP: $6.99) and the new Witch plush from Kids Preferred to review and giveaway (SRP: $12.95). ends 11/4

Disclosure: I've hosted this event, no product or compensation was received. Sponsor provided prize for giveaway and post information.
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Halloween Ghost & Bat Tree Craft

This is our spin on a Halloween Ghost & Bat Tree. It's fun and easy to make on the cheap. Spray paint a tree branch black. The vase I used is actually a recycled cooking oil bottle spray painted black with rocks in it. Decorate with your choice of ribbon. Add some spiders and spider webbing.

The ghost are made with foam balls, with faces drawn on with black marker. Drape with a little white tulle. Add picture hanging screw eyes or piece wire through top of ghosts. Fishing line to hang and your ghost ready.

The bats are also foam balls your in glue shaken in a bag of glitter. Hot glue some googly eyes on. The wings are black plastic plate pieces cut out in the shape of wings. Add picture hanging screw eyes or piece wire through top of bats. Fishing line to hang and your ghost ready. 

Blogger Opp. $1000 Giveaway

Black Friday Shopping Spree Event

Organized by: Mom Powered Media

Prizes: $1,000 {visa gift card, amazon gift certificate or select your favorite store}

Event dates: 11/8 - 11/29

Open Worldwide

Referral prize: $50 Amazon E-Code or Paypal Cash

Requirement to join:

* No more than 2 blogs per person allowed

* Agree to post the giveaway html on the date the event begins and promote at least 3x a week

Mentioned Referred by: 

Life Is A SandCastle

Bloggers: Sign Up HERE

Sweepstakes TWISTER DANCE RAVE Game

My kids love to play games and  love listening to music, the new Twister Dance Rave puts them into action. Thanks to Hasbro for sending us an item to review and sponsoring the giveaway. Links in my post will take you to sponsors site to find your game fun and learn more about Twister Dance Rave:)

First thing you will love about the Twister Dance Rave is you can play your very own MP3 music on it and will not get bored with the same tune over and over. Add the moveable twister dots to the floor and start the fun anywhere. What's great about moveable spots is some kids have shorter legs than others.

This game has three levels of dance. Dance spots should be mirror image of each other. Choose your speed,  music, and move your feet to the color. Very easy for kids and fun. Save battery the console shutdown after 5 minutes of inactivity.

Songs programmed into the Twister Dance Rave:
Hit the Lights, by Selena Gomez & the Scene
Lights, by Ellie Gouding
Glow, Britt Nicole
Caught up in Twister

TWISTER DANCE RAVE Game Age: 8+; Players: 1-2; Available: Fall 2013; Approximate Retail Price: $34.99 It’s party time! The TWISTER DANCE RAVE game brings the fun with today’s hottest music, great speakers and LED lights that shine to create your very own dance floor. Girls will love learning dances and showing off their moves to songs from popular artists, or they can plug their own mp3 players into the console, turning virtually any song into a dance song! The party never ends as players continue to learn new dances by following the lights and moving to the beat on the iconic TWISTER spots in head-to-head or freestyle play. (Requires 4 AA batteries – demo batteries included).

Thanks to the Sponsor one lucky winner will win a Twister Dance Rave Game.  Ends October 23, 2013 11:59pm, one US winner. Disclosure: The sponsor supplied review product and giveaway product. All opinions are my own. . a Rafflecopter giveaway .

Giveaway Linky Thursday 10/17/13

Thanks for joining in this week's giveaway linky for blog giveaways only, no businesses or contest entries. 

$500 KMART Gift Card 10/28

Safety 1st Elite 80 3-in-1 Car Seat 10/19

Sweepstakes 5 Winners Fiber Element Bamboo Sheet Sets 10/23

Pacific Rim Blu-Ray 10/27

Bunnies by the Bay Gift Set 10/20
VTech Cody the Smart Cub 10/30

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Sweepstakes $500 Kmart Gift Card

It’s Halloween Giveaway Event

Organized by: Mom Powered Media. Co-hosted by: Capri's Coupons, My Silly Little Gang, My Dairy Free Gluten Free Life, Oh My Heartsie Girl, Giveaway Bandit and Growing Up Bilingual.

My family loves to decorate for Halloween. Sometimes we make our own decorations and sometimes we visit stores to make our home spooky for Halloween. One of our favorite craft is the milk jug witches and they are so easy. I'm super excited about the Kmart $500 Gift Card Giveaway aren't you.

MPM Network Bloggers are super excited to share their Halloween Recipes, Crafts, Decor Ideas and so much more with you this holiday season. Make sure you take a peek at the fabulous posts below. Surely you will find something that makes you smile!

One lucky reader will receive a $500 K-Mart Gift Card!

Giveaway ends October 28th at 11:59pm, open to US, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck.
a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure: Life Is A SandCastle is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

Halloween Yard

My boys and I spent the whole afternoon out decorating the yard while they were out of school. One of my favorite things was the hands coming up out of the ground. These were cheap Dollar Tree hands for $1 each. We screwed them to a board and add dirt and leaves. The boys use a $1 skull from there to create this pool noodle dead witch. 

Plastic wrap from a package for the ghost with faces draw on. We added orange lights to the porch and the lighted spider web purchased at Walmart looks cool at night. The boys had such a good time.

Sweepstakes VTech Cody the Smart Cub

VTech Cody the Smart Cub Giveaway

Hosted by: Young Mom's Deals and Mom Loves 2 Read

Hello everyone! We've teamed up with some amazing bloggers to bring you the latest and greatest new toy from VTech, Cody the Smart Cub. Cody is an interactive toy that not only plays music and games, but refers to your child by name! How cool is that? If you'd like to learn more about Cody's amazing features, check out Young Mom's Deals' review of VTech's Cody the Smart Cub.

Cody the Smart Cub looks very entertaining and just simply cute. Educational toys are very important to me. Sad, my boys are past the age for Cody the Smart Cub.

The great news is that Young Mom's Deals and Mom Loves 2 Read have teamed up with VTech to bring you an opportunity to win a VTech Cody the Smart Cub of your very own! The contest is open to residents of US who are 18 years or older at the time of entry. Entry is incredibly simple! Just enter using the giveaway widget below!

Easy Craft Milk Jug Witches #2

 A while back I posted the half gallon milk jug witch my boys made, today we made the gallon milk jug witches. We took the easier approach with these and bought witch hats from the store for around $2 bucks and the great thing about these, they had hair attached to them already. One had green hair and one had gray hair. This is a super easy project to create with the kids.

All you need:
milk jug
green tissue paper
glue & water mixed
black permanent marker
googly eyes or draw them
hot glue

Mix glue and water together, a little thicker glue. Add to jug then wrap tissue paper. Let dry & glue hats, eye, and draw the face. EASY EASY EASY!! Hardest part is waiting for tissue paper & glue to dry.

Fall Fun Poppell Farms in Georgia

Are you and your family looking for a family friendly event to share together? Just good old fashion fun can be found in South Georgia, at Poppell Farms in Odum. My family attended last weekend tickets were provided to us and links in this post will take you to the sponsor's page to learn more about the events.

Visiting Poppell Farms was fun and relaxing. They are very family friendly and you feel right at home with good southern hospitality. We sit under the shaded picnic tables and watched the children play on the hopper, ride the swing bull, playing the sand pile, and slide in the children's play area. The got to milk a fake cow and duck race. The boys really enjoyed the duck races.

We climbed aboard the hayride for a ride to the pumpkin patch and guess who was waiting for us there? Charlie Brown, Lucky, & Linus. Each of us picked the perfect pumpkin to carry home and rode the hayride back to the main event. We took a turn at the corn maze and my boys had a great time.

The boys enjoyed visiting with the animals and my little farmer boys was smiling from ear to ear. Our family had an great experience at Poppell Farms and would like to thank them for having us as guests.

Poppell Farms

1765 Hyma Poppell Loop

Odum, Georgia 31555 

(912) 586-2215

Disclosure: Guest passes where provided from sponsor to visit and share our honest opinion. No other compensation was received.

Giveaway Linky Thursday 10/10/13

Thanks for joining in this week's giveaway linky for blog giveaways only, no businesses or contest entries. 

Safety 1st Elite 80 3-in-1 Car Seat 10/19

Sweepstakes 5 Winners Fiber Element Bamboo Sheet Sets 10/23

Hauck Toys Superman or Batman Go Kart $229 10/11

Pacific Rim Blu-Ray 10/27

Bunnies by the Bay Gift Set 10/20

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Sweepstakes Pacific Rim Blu-ray

As soon as I saw Pacific Rim advertise I knew my 4 yr son would love this movie. He is such a fan of robots and says he will build one, one day. Until then he can enjoy them in the movies. We are thrill to share the app, information, and giveaway with you provided by Warner Bros, links in this post may take to sponsor's website.

Go BIG or go EXTINCT!

Directed by Guillermo del Toro, Pacific Rim is an epic science fiction film set in the 2020s. Earth is at war with Kaijus; colossal monsters from an inter-dimensional gateway on the Pacific Ocean floor. Humanity unites to fight these huge monsters by creating the Jaegers: gigantic humanoid robots that are controlled by two pilots whose minds and memories are linked. The story takes place in the later days of the war, following Raleigh Becket, a former Jaeger pilot called out of retirement and paired up with newbie pilot Mako Mori in a final effort to defeat the Kaijus!

Pacific Rim is released on Blu-ray & DVD Oct.15!

  Rules & Eligibility:
Each household is only eligible to win 1 Pacific Rim Blu-Ray via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. The prize will be sent via FedEx or USPS. No P.O. Boxes please. Ends October 27th, 2013 11:59pm. Giveaway open to the U.S. & Canada.

Disclosure: All materials, prize and information supplied from Warner Bros & Partners Hub. No other compensation was received.


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Iron Man Fell Out

He got all suited up to watch Iron Man 3 and made it for about 10 minutes. Next thing we knew he was snoring away.  Our little Iron Man Fell Out. 

Fall Festivals Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch

We are very excited to visit Poppell Farms in Odum Georgia this weekend. Keeping a close watch on the Tropical Storm in the Gulf Coast and hope it doesn't spoil our trip. Poppell Farms is sure to be a big hit with my boys. Pumpkin Patch, Corn Mazes, Hay Rides, Cow Train, Petting Farm, and Pony Rides. 

We have never been but, my youngest wants to visit their Haunted Woods. Don't know about that baby, Momma is a little chicken. Speaking of Chicken The Grand opening October 5, 2013 Chick-Fil-A Day -Meet Chick-Fil-A cow. 

If your in South Georgia and looking for a fun day come join us at Poppell Farms. Connect with them on Poppell Farms facebook or visit their website www.poppellfarms.com to schedule your visit. If your looking for a Fall Festival near you check out a state guide of Fall Festivals here @ http://lifeisasandcastle.blogspot.com/2013/09/coupons-for-us-corn-mazes-fall-festivals.html

Use coupon to save $2 Off Combo Ticket at Poppell Farms click http://www.savannahkidsguide.com/coupon.php?bid=11352&dealid=1415&regionid=357 

MORE INFORMATION

Opening October 5, 2013 and open every Saturday & Sunday through November 3, 2013.  Come climb aboard one of our 7 hay wagons and take a ride down to the pumpkin patch where you can pick that perfect pumpkin to take with you.  Greeting you as you arrive will be Charlie, Lucy, and Linus. This is also the perfect spot to take those beautiful family photos.  You can also get lost in our 10-acre cornfield maze, visit our barnyard friends in the petting farm, take a ride on the cow train, jump on the Crop Hopper (jumping pillow) or just spend the day and play on Farmer Brown's Playground.  Friday & Saturday night our "Fright Thru The Forest" will be open and that promises to give you a screaming good time!  If you are hungry or thirsty stop by and visit The Calf-A Country Kitchen or The Back Porch Grill. We have a large picnic area and also restroom and hand washing facilities available.

Disclosure: Information shared from US Family Guide & The Maize - the association of farms with corn mazes and fall festivals. My family will attend one location for sharing coupon publication.

Sweepstakes Bunnies by the Bay Gift Set

Bunnies by the Bay Giveaway!

Young Mom's Deals has teamed up with Bunnies by the Bay and an awesome group of bloggers to bring you this giveaway for a Bunnies by the Bay Gift set. Young Mom's Deals has recently reviewed this very gift set. If you are interested in reading specifics about this amazing product, read Young Mom's Deals' review.

When I saw this gift set, I thought how adorable. This would make a great Easter gift or new baby gift. Our contest is open from October 5, 2013- October 19, 2013. It is open to US and Canada for persons 18 years or older at the time of entry.

Entry-Form

Disclosure: Sharing this giveaway with a group of blog friends.