UPDATED: We have a winner! Jaxim is the winner of the random drawing for the Mickey’s Treat DVD. Thanks so much to all of you for entering the drawing. I’m posting a Disney Princess Enchanted Tales Follow Your Dreams DVD drawing on Thursday so be sure to stop back by.

I was thrilled to be asked to review the new Mickey’s Treat Halloween Fun DVD as both my girls, especially Miss A, love the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show on the Disney Channel. This DVD has been a huge hit with the girls and it’s fun to see them enjoy a pimped out version of an old classic.

Now for the fun part. I have a giveaway copy of this DVD, which includes a bonus Halloween episode of Little Einsteins. This would be a great Halloween gift of the non tooth rotting variety!

For an entry into the drawing (one entry per person), comment on this post and tell me what your favorite all-time childhood Halloween costume was. My favorite costume growing up was a witch. I’m sure this has no reflection on how I turned out as an adult. I also recall a Woody Woodpecker costume (GAH remember that show you 1970s children?!) and raiding my mom’s costume jewelry so I could be a gypsy.

I’ll draw a random winner from the comments received by midnight Sunday. You don’t have to be a blogger to enter the drawing, but you do need to leave a valid e-mail address. I’m going to take a small blog break, but will be back on Monday to update this post and announce the winner. Good luck!

I have a Disney Princess Tales: Follow Your Dreams DVD giveaway coming up next Thursday, so stop by then!

p.s. Disney features some great online clips for kids from the Mickey’s Treat DVD. Check them out here. And check out the fun online activities (always good to bookmark for rainy days). You can read more about the DVD, or purchase it, here.

Miss C is on a kick where she announces that she is changing her name to something exotic. Kind of like moms picking their pretend stripper name, but G rated.

Overheard in my car just this week as Miss C and I were on our way to pick up Miss A from daycare and head to weekly soccer practice:

“Mommy, my name is not Miss C any more. It’s Island Princess Anastasia Ariel.”

“OK…you’re name is Barbie Island Princess Anastasia Ariel. Right?”

“No, no, not Barbie. I’m just a girl. It’s Island Princess Anastasia Ariel!” (Rolls eyes in the exaggerated whatever mom/as if/you’re so clueless gesture.)

The new Barbie Island Princess lineup has been launched just in time for Christmas wish lists. Miss C has already announced that she wants to dress up as this new Barbie for Halloween and is longing for every Barbie Island Princess toy she sees advertised on TV. And lo and behold what did my wandering eyes see at our school book fair family night but a Barbie Island Princess book on a table strategically positioned near the entrance of the library. This was no ordinary book, mind you, as it came with an enticing cheap detachable plastic purple hair comb. Every 5 and 6-year-old girl within a 30-mile radius of our elementary school was at book fair family night running willy nilly with the Barbie book in one hand, the comb in the other, and a crazed “I must have it” look in their eye. It was like Filene’s Basement for kids. Miss A, already a discriminating consumer, made a beeline toward the Dora and Diego books, which were, not surprisingly, placed on the lowest shelves.

My dreams of adding some literary masterpieces to the girls’ library, perhaps a Caldecott Medal winner or a childhood favorite, were dashed. I’ll be buying those classic gems when I don’t have two children in tow.

You slick marketing people have the little girls’ market pegged don’t you? Let me just hand you my wallet now, OK?

Also published at DivineCaroline.com. (Where anyone can publish! Go. Now!)

My fabulous Southern friend Debunot alerted me to a heartbreaking story about a 29-year-old mother in Winston-Salem, North Carolina who has ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. My Aunt Marge (my father’s sister) died from this horribly debilitating neurological disease.

A fundraising website for Keri Brown Still has been set up by her good friend Jennifer Lassiter. Any donation you could make would help this young family. Keri is so weak she is no longer able to hold her baby daughter Kellyn, who was born in March. I cannot even begin to fathom what she is going through physically and emotionally.

The Winston-Salem Journal published an article about Keri this week if you would like to read more about her family.To make matters even worse, Keri’s mother is battling lung cancer, so her family has many burdens to bear.

If you are unable to make a monetary donation, blog for the greater good and help spread the news about Keri by posting this information on your own blog.

The hilarious Jess at Oh, the Joys and the cool Nap Warden both surprised me with a Nice Matters Award. Thank you ladies! And yes I know…I’ve posted twice in one day. Crazy! I’m behind on some memes I’ve been tagged for so let’s get this show on the road.

Do you think this blog banner is early Victorian enough? Where are my lace doilies?! I need a cameo broach, stat!

Kidding, KIDDING! OK… I am nice. There is another blog button floating around for this same award depicting a practically nay-ked (as Miss A says) woman in black undies and a bra. I’m not really sure what that is all about, but I thought I’d use this button as my mother reads my blog. Besides, the UPS guy is already giving me suspicious looks because of the DVD packages I’ve been receiving with special attention to my blog name. I’m sure he’s wondering what kind of seedy operation I’m running under the guise of a mommy blog.

Now on to the meme business.

“This award is for those bloggers who are nice people; good blog friends and those who inspire good feelings and inspiration. Also for those who are a positive influence on our blogging world.”

This was tough because most everyone I meet through blogging is definitely “nice,” but I wanted to pick some bloggers who had not already received this award. And some of you I thought of had already received this award. Hmmmpf.

I’d like to pass along some bloggy love to the following seven bloggers:

Nashvillian GingerSnaps, who gave a recent shout out to my hubby’s business.

Fabulous Mommy Fussypants, a homeschooling hottie from Nashville who is expecting baby #5. That’s right. I said FIVE. Dear God someone please hand me a fan.

Jen at Thirty One Style (from whom I won this cute monogrammed lunch tote.)

Mari at BookBelle, who is a busy teachin’ mama with two kids.

Nancy at Mom Ma’am Me, who is a fellow working mom to two little girls.

Liza at Liza’s Eyeview in Hawaii, who my mom also reads and who has pointed out some blogs for my mom to enjoy.

and Mrs. Flinger, who I’ve been reading worshiping from afar since I started blogging two years ago.

Scholastic sent me a review copy of the new Maya & Miguel Cinco de Maya DVD with five episodes and the girls love it, especially Miss C. It’s a great show for the beyond Dora and Diego set, which, frankly, get about as old as stale tortillas after the 9 millionth viewing.

The educational philosophy from Maya & Miguel’s official website describes the show best.

Targeted at children aged 6-11, the overall goals of Maya & Miguel are:

1. To encourage children to value, respect and better understand a variety of cultures, perspectives, traditions, languages and experiences.
2. To support children in building their understanding of the English language, with a special emphasis on vocabulary.

There are a ton of coloring projects, educational games, and even recipes on the official Maya & Miguel site to check out on a rainy day.

p.s. I have two fabulous fall Disney DVD giveaways planned, and not just for those of you with blogs (you need a valid e-mail address so I can contact you should you win)! I am posting the first one on Thursday. I’ll give you a hint…mouse ears. And here’s an easy hint for the second Disney DVD giveaway…princess tiaras. These would make wonderful gifts!

My 2-year-old’s got the sniffles. She had them last week, too. She wiped her snotty nose on my favorite coral 3/4 length sweater (its going to be 92 degrees here today, what the hell), what’s a mom to do?

Oh, I’ve already kept her home from daycare two days last week; I think I need to invest in more hand sanitizer and maybe some Lysol, too.

I’ve got the toddler with a perpetual runny nose Monday, mama needs some more coffee (she will weep if there’s only decaf at the office) blues.

Yeah.

For another oldie but goodie working mom blues ditty from none other but moi, check this one out. It’s like Groundhog Day around here, but with more drainage.

Did you know Company Store has an online sale of the day (with Friday’s being extra special)? Miss C’s very cute bedroom rug is from Company Store Kids.

I didn’t realize that the wonderful charity Soles for Souls is based in Nashville.

Check out the online games at Divine Caroline. I like Up & Down Words.

I heart this t-shirt that I found on a very cute website, The Pink Monogram. I’m a total sucker for the preppy look and I think Miss C looks adorable in her favorite school dress code outfit: khaki skort or shorts and a GAP pink polo (with a headband, of course.)

Please remember blogger Heather at Especially Heather in your thoughts and prayers as she continues her battle against brain cancer.

Tonight is date night with the hubby. Woo hoo! Mama’s gonna have a drink or three, maybe by the water if we check out this restaurant, which was the location of a former favorite. Have a great weekend!