Insomnimusing: Allons-y!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of iNetVideo . All opinions are 100% mine. I went downstairs for a cold glass of water. I don't really like the taste of our water from the tap, but I've got a great water filter pitcher that makes it taste fantastic. Oh, there's nothing wrong with our tap water. I've seen the water analysis reports, and it's perfectly safe. A lot of people aren't so lucky. Have you heard of Charity Water ? It is a favorite charity of Will and Jada Smith, and it provides wells for safe drinking water for areas of the world in need. How big is the problem? Well, 4,500 people die EVERY DAY from water-related illnesses. Is that big enough for you? iNetVideo.com is getting involved to help Charity: Water by donating $1 for every purchase of selected items on their website. Just look for the items marked with a water drop , and $1 from your purchase will go to a great cause. You can also donate directly to iNetVideo's campaign . On...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PlayStation MOVE . All opinions are 100% mine. Winter's coming, which means the holiday season as well as cold weather that keeps us all cooped up inside. The kids occasionally venture outdoors. They also occasionally find quiet activities, such as reading, to occupy their time in the house. But more often - and I think all mothers know this - they get cabin fever, and need some physical activity. For two girls ages 9 and 12, that often means yelling and screaming at each other. This Christmas, I might just have found the perfect outlet for them - something that will keep them entertained and physically active even while they're cooped up indoors - the new PlayStation Move . I've been thinking about getting something like this for quite a while. It's something we can do together, have fun with and keep the kids entertained (kids this age are always "bored"). My youngest loves to play her video games, but that...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of BH Cosmetics . All opinions are 100% mine. Most of the time I go for a pretty natural look, but sometimes I want to play with my look. I'll glam things up, or go sexy, or play rocker chick - or sometimes just play around with the make-up tricks I've seen on TV. I'm a former model, and I find myself sometimes just locked in my bathroom experimenting with different looks. But we all know how expensive cosmetics can be, and getting a great variety and huge palette can really break the bank. A lot of times I'll shy away from a new makeup color if it's something I'm not sure I'll be using a lot. But I've just discovered something that will let me play with my look all I want, without breaking the bank. You can find huge and amazing palettes of eyeshadow at BH Cosmetics for less than you ever thought possible. These shadows are blendable - so you can experiment with all the latest techniques - and highly pig...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC . All opinions are 100% mine. As many of you well know, I'm in the newspaper business. I work for a community newspaper in a rural county, so naturally, the school systems are a big topic in our paper. More than once - in fact, more than a dozen times, I'm sure - I've looked at the stories and said, "I should have gone into teaching." From the standpoint of a journalist, it starts to look like a pretty good deal. Now you can get your Master of Arts in Teaching from the prestigious USC Rossier School of Education online, with the privacy and convenience of working from home - around your schedule. The program includes a highly interactive online course combined with real-life field experiences. There's also a tuition reimbursement program, and you can complete the accelerated program in as little as 12 months. Scholarships are available, and you have the opportunity to become a part of the elite USC Trojan...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NMEDA . All opinions are 100% mine. No two people with disablities are exactly alike, and they don't have the same mobility needs. The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association understands this and can help you find an NMEDA qualified dealer to provide a safe, reliable vehicle with the modifications and enhancements you need. NMEDA doesn't sell anything. They're a non-profit trade association that will help you find a dealer you can trust to get the handicapped-accessible van or vehicle modified as you need it. NMEDA qualified dealers provide an in-person evaluation to be sure you are getting the right driving solution to meet your needs - as well as any training you might need to learn to use the modifications of your vehicle. NMEDA not only can match you with a dealer, they also have the Quality Assurance Program. This is the only nationally recognized accredited program for the adaptive mobility equipment industr...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels . All opinions are 100% mine. This summer, Hampton Inn is giving you the chance to win AN ENTIRE HOTEL for a weekend in the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes ! That's right. I said, an ENTIRE HOTEL. Not one room - 100 rooms! For two nights! Imagine the possibilities. That's just the grand prize though. They're also giving away a daily prize of a weekend stay for you and three friends. It couldn't be easier to enter. Just visit the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes page and complete the simple form. You know - all the usual stuff - name, address, phone, email - that kind of thing. Who doesn't need a little weekend getaway? If you're one of the daily winners, you get to grab your three closest friends for some much-needed rest and relaxation. And if you're the grand-prize winner of the whole hotel? Well, that's a party, isn't it? :) Where would you go? Well, Hampton Inn's got...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of USC . All opinions are 100% mine. If you're an educator - or an aspiring teacher - you know the importance of education. You also know that applies not only to your students but to yourself as well. Let's face it - the money in teaching isn't great, but the job is one of the most fulfilling you can have. Still, higher pay is a good thing, but the only way often to get that higher pay is by having advanced degrees. Problem - you're working in a career that takes up a lot of your time, and maybe you also have a family to take care of as well. (They probably want to see you sometimes too.) So how can you do both? Fortunately, these days, it's become a little easier. You can pursue your advanced degree while continuing to work and have time for your family too. The USC Rossier School of Education has been ranked #22 in the U.S. and #9 among all private universities by US News and World Report. And you can get your Mast...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dermajuv Skin Care Products . All opinions are 100% mine. I'm at that awkward age. With an awkward skin type. Or awkward hormones. Or whatever it is, I get to deal with the beginnings of wrinkles (maybe a wee bit more than beginnings....) as well as acne (which decided to reemerge with a vengeance after giving me a decidedly easy time of it during adolescence). As a result of this brilliant joke by Mother Nature on me, the skin care products industry is reaping the rewards. I'm not completely random about it though. I try a lot of different products, but I generally refuse to shell out the big bucks if I haven't at least had the opportunity to try it. However, if I have had the opportunity to try something, and it seems to offer some improvement, I will absolutely lay out the cash for it. (Little tip to the marketers, those sample packs WORK for selling your product if your product WORKS). And if I find something I love, I...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of CryoCell International . All opinions are 100% mine. Science is continually finding new ways to help us stay healthy and new ways of treatment for those illnesses and injuries that befall us. The latest news is that menstrual blood can be used as a source of stem cells. We've all heard of stem cells and the controversy surrounding the harvesting of stem cells from human fetuses. This exciting development means that your moral issues are safe. If stem cells can be extracted from menstrual blood, imagine the possibilities in medical science! The April 2010 issue of Stem Cells and Development features cover story about stem cells from menstrual blood and its potential to help victims of stroke. In testing, scientists found that the stem cells significantly reduced cell death and significantly reduced behavioral and histological impairments. Read the 'Stem Cells and Development' article and find out more for yourself. Menstr...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of 20th Century Fox . All opinions are 100% mine. Hey, I've got an idea. Let's put Steve Carrell and Tina Fey on the silver screen together. We'll make them a bored suburban couple wishing for a more exciting life and relationship. Then..... we'll give it to them. Hehehe. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? How many interesting scenarios can you come up with? Some breaking and entering is a must. And of course, a car chase. A shootout? A showdown? THE MOB? YEAH! Guess what? You've got it! Everything you wanted all wrapped up in one neat little package that will be opening this Friday. Okay, so it wasn't really MY idea. Not initially anyway. It's the Date Night Movie , and with all that, you know it's going to be fun. Check out the trailer: This movie has got to awesome. You've got Steve Carrell - and every guy loves him, right? There's Tina Fey, who's sublimely brilliant. It's got the action ...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Alvin and the Chipmunks . All opinions are 100% mine. I remember when I was growing up, I used to love watching Alvin and the Chipmunks. Especially around Christmas time, my sister and I used to sing THAT song to the point of annoying everyone within hearing range. It's pure silliness, of course, but isn't that the fun of childhood? I don't know if the modern incarnation of Dave and the boys quite lives up to my childhood memories, but then, what does? It does serve as a nice transition though to introduce the kids to the Chipmunks, however, and then show them my memories. Of course, kids these days prefer the slick animation to the kind from the "olden days." (Just to note: I'm not so old that I was watching when they originally came out. Don't age me anymore than absolutely necessary, please!) The latest adventure "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel" is now out on DVD, Blu-ray and availab...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Incendia Health . All opinions are 100% mine. Some time ago I blogged about the "You Gotta See This" iLASIK Video Contest . The contest had entrants make a video saying how laser vision correction would improve their lives. Abbott Medical Optics has now announced the winners of the iLASIK Video Contest , and you can see the winning videos and all of the other entries now at www.GottaSeeThisNow.com or by clicking the iLASIK Video Contest links above. The winner of the $5,000 grand prize was Alex who created a "You Gotta See This Music Video." Entries were accepted in three categories: 1) My Contacts Are Getting in the Way of My Good Time; My Favorite Sport or Activity Would Be So Much Cooler with Better Vision; and You Should See Life After the iLASIK Procedure. First place winners in each category won a $2,500 value HDTV package, and second place winners won a Flip UltraHD camcorder. I got laser vision correction s...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of LG Chocolate Touch . All opinions are 100% mine. Everybody knows that chocolate is a girl's best friend. I mean, diamonds are good. They're all pretty and sparkly and whatnot, but chocolate is .... well, CHOCOLATE! And chocolate can be pretty and sparkly too, you know. In fact, it can be a lot more than that. It can call your friends, send text messages, let you use the Internet, link you up with all kinds of social media, take pictures and video, and even play your favorite music using Dolby Mobile technology for amazing sound quality. Chocolate can do all that?!?! It can if it's the new LG Chocolate Touch . Imagine the joy of having that kind of chocolate at your fingertips. It's everything you need all in one. You don't need a separate MP3 player anymore - and with Dolby Mobile's crystal-clear sound quality, this will sound better anyway. You can access your social networking sites with a single touch - that...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of iCoke.ca . All opinions are 100% mine. Vancouver is preparing and celebrating for the 2010 Winter Olympics, and Mac's Stores have teamed up with Coca-Cola to offer their customers a special way to remember the occasion. Exclusively at Mac's customers will be able to receive one of three free collectible Coca-Cola Medallions celebrating the Vancouver 2010 Games by purchasing any two 591mL Coca-Cola products at participating Mac's stores. The offer is available at participating Mac's locations from Jan. 4 through Feb. 28 (Jan. 6 through March 2 in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. That gives you a chance to buy all of your favorite Coke products and collect all three commemorative medallions. That's how simple it is. Just buy your favorite Coke products and get an exclusive commemorative medallion of the Vancouver 2010 Games. Whether your favorite is Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke or Coke Zero, just buy two of the 591mL bo...

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Popstation . All opinions are 100% mine. I'm a closet X Factor UK and American Idol addict. I don't really sing myself, except in the car and in the shower. But I know and understand the dream of becoming a pop star. The odds are long out in the real world - they're only slightly shorter if you can manage to get through one of those reality shows. But you've got another option. You can make your break for the charts at PopStation , where you can sing for your chance at an album deal. Original Popstation songs are available in the practice rooms for two weeks. You pick what you want and make it your own, then enter the songs into the contest. Real people vote on your songs, and if you're good enough, work your way up to Number 1 on the charts. Every three months, one Number 1 artist will, with a guest, be awarded a three-night trip to New York City to stay at a super-hip hotel and spend two days in a professional r...

Abbott Medical Optics Inc. (AMO) is sponsoring an iLASIK Video Contest inviting entrants to make a video showing how better vision can make or has made their lives better. Users can submit a video in one of three categories: "My contacts are getting in the way of my good time"; "My favorite sport or activity would be so much cooler with better vision"; or "You should see life after the iLASIK procedure." Once you submit a video, get your friends to vote on it by posting a link on your blog, Facebook page, Twitter - or any way you can think of to promote it. The grand prize winner gets $5,000, so if you haven't had iLASIK, your prize money will get it for you, or if you have, you can use that money to do all the things that are so much better now that you've got great vision! Three first prize winners will be awarded an HDTV package valued at $2,500 (one per video category). Three second prize winners will receive the Flip UltraHD camcorder (one pe...

I can't participate in this one, but I know from checking my blog stats that a lot of you can, so I'd like to let you know about the opportunity to win a $32,000 dream kitchen makeover from Maple Leaf Market. Canadian residents can enter the contest every day to win a $32,000 kitchen makeover or one of twelve Frigidaire refrigerators to be given away by Maple Leaf Foods. And while you're at the Maple Leaf website (this goes for non-Canadian residents too) you can pick up great cooking and kitchen tips by visiting the butcher, the baker and the pasta maker, so there's something in it for everyone. Need some advice on making great meals in minutes? They've got that here too. You can put together a meal plan in minutes, find recipes and get a customized shopping list, so you can easily find everything you need. Whether you're looking for quick and easy meals, gourmet meals, snacks or side dishes, Maple Leaf Foods has got you covered. So enjoy the site, and don...

Cirque du Soleil has never been your typical circus. It's always been so much more. I remember seeing Cirque du Soleil for the first time on television when I was young. I never knew what to expect, but I knew this was something different. Then when I saw it, I understood. I didn't see a circus before me - I saw a dream. It wasn't comic silliness. It was grace and beauty that seemed to defy the laws of physics. It always had an element of the fun and silliness you expect from the circus. It also had the death-defying feats of human skill - but far beyond the usual tricks and stunts. Cirque du Soleil's latest offering, Banana Shpeel , is their own unique spin on classic vaudeville. The show blends comedy and a variety of dance styles with a hilarious storyline generously sprinkled with slapstick in the tradition of vaudeville shows - but in a way that only Cirque du Soleil can do it. With all of the actors/dancers dressed as the classic (but sophisticated) vaudeville clo...

Lose the ugly and find your bliss! Upload your ugly for a chance to win an LG Bliss phone. Check out the gallery of ugly on the LG Bliss Facebook page . We've all got something ugly in our lives we could do without, right? I'd upload a picture of my ex-husband, but I've destroyed most of those. :) You can upload pictures or videos of your ugly stuff, be it old outdated electronics, that awful sweater your aunt gave you for Christmas or the neighbor's nasty dog, and enter for a chance to win a sleek and sexy new LG Bliss phone! When you upload your ugly pic, you're automatically entered to win an LG Bliss, exclusively on the U.S. Cellular network, or a $50 gift card. The contest runs through Nov. 6, 2009. There will be five grand prize winners of a brand new LG Bliss phone and 50 second prize winners of a $50 gift card. You can enter only once per Facebook account, and you must be 18 to enter. So take one last picture of those neon parachute pants before you burn the...

The new season of truTV's Rehab Party at the Hard Rock Hotel has kicked off for another round of WILD, and this season promises that the hottest party in the world's sexiest city will get even hotter, with celebrity performances, more partiers and new Rehab staff members trying to get the hang of this whole crazy, chaotic spectacle! The partying is intense, but the business is serious, as staff members have to work not only to keep some kind of control but also to keep Rehab as the biggest and best party on the strip to compete with neighboring pool parties in this tough economy. I have to tell you, I went to Vegas this year, but I wasn't part of anything like this! No yard-long drinks, puking in the potted plants or waking up next to a stranger for me! (Although, I might admit that I miss that life .... just a little....) I haven't been to a hot party in a long, long time, so TruTV's "Real life television" is a way to live vicariously. This is "real...