Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM LITTLE MISS JULIA



This past year has been a roller coaster of a ride. The ups and downs have been more than many would like to count. I hope that for those who have had a rough 2009 that 2010 rolls in a lot easier and brings much happiness.

Through the tough times there are always bright lights. Even if 2009 was a hard year, take a moment to reflect back and remember the moments that made you smile. It is those smiles that make everything better and something we should never take for granted.

So I raise my glass to you and make a toast, wishing you all the very best in the year to come!!!!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Welcome Home Sean and Congratulations David Goldman!!!!!

I cannot imagine that David Goldman's story did not pull at the heartstrings of everyone who has heard it. I have followed the story closely since first learning about it on the Today Show many months back. No parent should have to experience having their child taken away from them and then have over five years of court battles to get their child back.

I have felt joy for David Goldman each time it looked like he won a court ruling and felt overwhelming sorrow for him when another road block was put before him. However, David Goldman won his battle and the Brazlian Supreme Court granted him his right to bring his son back home to New Jersey.

I would like to extend my sincere happiness to David Goldman and wish him and Sean a very joyous homecoming. I hope that all the pain and trauma that the events over the past five years have caused is quickly replaced by love and happiness and a new life full of good times.

The mishandling of this case at all levels of the Brazilian courts should be an embarrassment to not only the courts but to the country of Brazil. David Goldman loves his son and the Brazlian system robbed him of many years with Sean. He was robbed of many smiles, many hugs, many I Love You's and he was robbed of the opportunity to watch his baby grow into a boy. We can only hope that time will heal the wounds and that the times to come are happy ones.

Once again, Congratulations to David Goldman for keeping hope alive, for not giving up and for loving your son the way you do. Happy Holidays and a Very Happy New Year to You!!!!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Hundreds Gather to Protest Global Warming



A little humor to warm up this cold, snowy weekend that is covering a good portion of the country this weekend.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Great Last Minute Holiday Gift!!!

Not sure what to get that girl or boy who has everything? Rather than getting another toy why not give your special little one a gift from the popular children’s retailer, The Children's Place. They offer clothing for girls and boys as well as pajama's hats, gloves, mittens and even watches.

As winter as quickly comes upon us, the fleece pajamas make the perfect gift. The designs are fun and colorful and come in sizes ranging from XXS (size 2-3) to and XL (size 14). I recently received a sample pair of pj's and I must say they are great pajamas. The fleece pj's are warm and cozy for those cold winter nights. The quality is great and they hold up well wash after wash.



Who would not love any of these styles?


You can now keep up with the fashion trends and news at The Children's Place by becoming a fan of their Facebook page. Click here to become a fan and you will always be alerted to all the great promotions, specials and giveaway happening at The Children's Place.




Disclaimer: Little Miss Julia is not affiliated with The Children's Place.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

The Work At Home Woman


The Work at Home Woman is a website that is dedicated to helping women achieve success while working at home or by starting their own business. The site is full of business resources ranging from marketing, advertising and graphic design to how to run a business on auction sites such as Ebay. You can learn how to use social networking to enhance your business or learn how to build a website. The resources are endless.

In today’s world when women have to juggle careers, children and everyday life having success can appear challenging and at times discouraging. However, there is no reason why women cannot fulfill their dreams. I have heard so many times, “I wish I could but…” It is possible to have a career or own a business and all the other things you may want. It is just important to learn all your options and seek out all the resources available to you. The Work at Home Woman is an all in one package. They provide all the resources and tips you need to take that leap towards working at home while at the same time providing encouragement and support. If you think working from home is something you would like to pursue, visiting The Work at Home Woman is a must.

Starting January 1, 2010 The Work at Home Woman will be launching a new section titled, Woman Owned. This new feature will highlight businesses and blogs run by women. It will be a great place to advertise your business or blog. It will also a great place to find woman owned businesses and help support them. You will be able to find a variety of businesses ranging from services, children’s items and much more.

Visit now and start making your dreams come true.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Cookie Cutters For the Holidays


CheapCookieCutters.com is a great site for anyone who loves to bake. They offer a full selection of cookie cutters with themes ranging from a typical star or heart to more unique themes such a dog breed specific cookie cutters, college mascot cookie cutters, United States cookie cutters with all the states represented and character cookie cutters such as Mickey Mouse, Batman and Star Wars.

I had the opportunity to use the mini Christmas Cookie Cutter set this week. The set consists of a Christmas tree, a mini stocking, a mini candy cane, and a mini angel cookie cutter. I had a lot of fun using these cookie cutters as they cut the cookie dough easily and the shapes of each piece came out perfect. This set is referred to as "mini" however the cookie size was perfect for that bite size snack or for a treat for your little one.

If you are a baker and love to bake cookies, CheapCookieCutters.com is the place for you. It is a one stop shop covering all the different themes and shapes you would want as a baker. Another wonderful thing about CheapCookieCutters.com is that they will custom make a design for you. This is a great option if you are having a special event and want to have a special cookie.

Disclaimer: Little Miss Julia is not affiliated with CheapCookieCutters.com was not compensated to provide any information or opinions on the products offered by CheapCookieCutters.com



Saturday, November 21, 2009

Help Protect Our Right to Own Pets

There is a very disturbing trend happening in the US right now and most people are unaware of it. States all across the country are making efforts to pass laws that will limit our rights to own pets. These laws range from spay/neuter laws to limiting what breed (breed specific laws) can legally live within town, city and state limits. Some laws even go as far as to dictate how many pets are allowed per household. You can view some of the legislative activity in your state by visiting The American Kennel Club.

Pets are our family; we love them and care for them as if they were our children. To think one day our government, be it local, state or federal could have the right to say we can no longer own our dog because of what breed it is, is beyond scary.

View the list of pending laws in your state, contact your local or state representative and voice your opinion against this new type of regulation. Those who want to limit pet ownership are slowly winning the right to do so by quietly getting laws passed. As pet owners and pet lovers we need speak up and be heard. You don’t want to wake up one day and get a knock on your door telling you to dispose of the dog who you so dearly love because of the breed it is or the number you own.

The American Kennel Club issues legislative alerts. You can be updated on a regular basis as to what is happening on a state by state basis by subscribing to these alerts. Click here to subscribe.


The American Dog Owners Association also issues legislative alerts which can be found by clicking here.

Below are some links to informative resources related to the right to own pets across the country.

The American Kennel Club

The American Dog Owners Association

National Animal Interest Alliance

We all have the right to own a pet, care for a pet and love a pet. Don’t let those who think otherwise take this inherent right away from you and your family.


Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Take the 10,000 Step Challenge

Here is the challenge; take at least 10,000 steps a day everyday. Keep walking, getting the steps in and you will be burning calories and getting in shape without even feeling the pain. Every step counts so park a little further away in a parking lot, walk to the bus stop rather than drive and you can even go up and down the steps a few extra times a day. It all adds up!!!

To track your steps you can purchase a pedometer like the one pictured here. The goal is to keep moving and getting those steps in. Track your steps over a period of a week or more and you will be able to see what days you need to make the extra effort. It may be days that you are at work and sitting at a desk or maybe a lazy Sunday. Either way you will become much more aware of how much you are moving.

If you need help or motivation organize walking groups with friends, neighbors or even at your gym. My trainer set this challenge up at my gym. It is great to have the camaraderie of a group and the friendly competition always makes it more exciting.

It is a little over a week since I started the 10,000 steps a day challenge. I must say it has changed my habits. I take walks when I have free time, park further away in the parking lots and overall have been more active. If it is getting to be evening and I don't have enough steps I jog in place, run up and down the steps a few times or jog and around the house.

So go for it!!!! Check in and let us know if you are taking the challenge and how you are doing.

Good Luck!!!

Enjoy this holiday season by knowing you are burning more calories and keeping your body healthier.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Help Spread the Mom Sends the Message Campaign to Stop Distracted Driving and Be Entered to Win 1 of 3 Mini Dell Laptops



Mom Sends the Message, the public service campaign to stop distracted driving, has almost reached 500 pledges. That is a great accomplishment in just a few short weeks. However, more pledges are needed as there are millions of people on our roads everyday. Help Mom Sends the Message exceed 500 pledges this weekend by taking the pledge now. Click here to take the pledge

There are 3 Dell Mini Laptops being given away this weekend in celebration of reaching 500 pledges. All you need to do is take the pledge and you will be entered into the contest.

To get additional entries you can do any of the following:
  • Twiter about the Mom Sends the Message Pledge and use the tag #SendtheMsg

  • Fan Mom Sends the Message on Facebook- Click here to become a fan

  • Blog about Mom Sends the Message, the pledge or the contest and you get TWO additional entries- send your link to contact@themotherhood.com

Enter soon as this contest ends on Monday, November 16, 2009 at 12 noon.

I am happy to say I have been working within my community to get the message out. Several PTA's have endorsed the message and put it on their websites as well as the local police department. I am currently working with other PTA's and police departments and hope to see additional endorsements soon. You can do the same. Make our roads safer for both you and your children!!!!

In honor of exceeding 500 pledges I have extended my 20% discount off your entire order to anyone who takes the pledge. When you place your order please send a link to your pledge and use coupon code MOM at checkout. Offer ends Monday November 16th. Click on SHOP to browse our collection and enjoy your discount.



Wednesday, November 4, 2009

It's a New Twist on Some Old Children's Classics



FUNKY KIDZ is a musical compilation that features 12 of New Orleans' finest artists such as Ian Nevilles, The Radiators, George Porter Jr., Papa Grows Funk and more. The musicians take classic children's tunes like “Zip a Dee Doo Dah”, “Yellow Submarine”, "This Land is Your Land" and “Hokey Pokey” and give the songs a funky and fun twist.

Introduce your children to the sounds of New Orleans while still enjoying the old classics. Have fun in the car or dance around the house, either way FUNKY KIDZ will not disappoint. It will provide both you and your kids some listening enjoyment.

Creative Kids Magazine voted FUNKY KIDZ the 2009 Album of the Year. At only $13.99 this makes the perfect holiday gift for anyone who has a little kid in them.

Visit www.funkykidzmusic.com to purchase a CD or to learn more.

A portion of the proceeds goes toward fostering music education in New Orleans.

Disclaimer: Little Miss Julia is not affiliated with the producer of FUNKY KIDZ and was not paid to review any of the company's products.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Wear Your Music.Org Guitar String Bracelets- Giveaway




Are you a music lover who would love to have a piece of your favorite musician’s guitar? Well, you can!!! Wear Your Music.Org gives you the opportunity to wear a piece of rock history on your wrist in the form of a guitar string bracelet. Artists such as Clapton, Santana, John Mayer and many more are recycling their guitar strings into hip bangle style bracelets designed by WEARYOURMUSIC.ORG. 100% of the profits for these artist bracelets go to the musician's charity of choice. There are hundreds of organizations such as UNICEF and Rock the Vote who are benefiting from the sale of these bracelets. Prices for artist specific pieces start around $50.00 and can go as high as $300.00 for a bracelet made from the strings of Pete Townshend’s guitar.

If you just like the looks of these pieces and want to make a fashion statement at a more affordable price, check out the fashion bracelets which come in a variety of fun colors such as red, teal and purple. These bracelets are priced are around $10.00 each. These fun fashion bracelets make a perfect stocking stuffers or holiday gifts for the music lover in your life.

We are offering one Wear Your Music.Org fashion bracelet to a lucky winner.

To enter this contest:


  • Leave a message why you would like to win this guitar string fashion bracelet.
  • Get an extra entry by following the Little Miss Julia blog.
  • Get an extra entry by adding the Little Miss Julia button to your blog or website. Please leave a link so we know you did it.
  • Blog about Little Miss Julia and get another entry. Please leave a link so we know you did it.
  • Tweet about this giveaway and each time you do get another entry. Make sure to use @littlemissjulia so I see it.
  • Take the Moms Sends the Message Pledge to not drive while distracted and get an additional entry. Leave a link to your pledge so we see it. Click here to take the pledge.
Please leave each entry as a separate comment. That way we can't miss it.

If you do not have a Blogger account please leave your email so we can contact you if you won.

Winner chosen using Random.org

US Residents Only.

Contest Ends Wednesday November 4, 2009 at 9 pm EST.

Disclaimer: Little Miss Julia is not affiliated with Wear Your Music.Org and was not paid to sponsor a giveaway or review any of the company's items.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Halloween is Almost Here- So Go Out and BOO




I first learned about being BOOED three years ago. It was about 3 weeks before Halloween and one night around 8:00 the door bell rang. It took me by surprise as it was late for someone to be dropping by. Chaos followed with the dogs barking, kids screaming and me trying to get to the front door to see who was coming by for a visit. When I finally got to the door no one was there. I just happen to look down and saw a big bowl of candy with some little toys, a note and a Ghost as shown in the picture above.

The note read as follows:

It's A BOO Bag!!!

GOOOOOOOOD Evening!!!

The Phantom Ghost Has Come Around
To Leave You Some Goodies That You Have Found.
If You Do Not Wish A Curse To Fall,
Please Continue This Greeting... This Ghostly Call.

First Post This Ghost Where It Can Be Seen,
On A Door Or Window Until Halloween.
Than No Other Ghost Will Visit Again.
Be Sure To Participate.. If You Don't, Tis A Sin.

Make Two Treats, Two Ghosts, And Two Notes, That's The Plan,
Then Take To Two Neighbors As Soon As You Can.
You Have Only One Day So Be Very Fast,
Leave Treats At A Home Where No Ghost Has Yet Passed.

Deliver After Dark When There's Barely A Light,
Ring The Doorbell And Run, Then Stay Out of Sight.
Don't Let Them See You, Be Sneaky No Doubt,
Check Back To Be Sure That They Put Their Ghost Out!

And Last But Not Least, Come Join In The Season.
Don't Worry, Be Happy.. You Have Great Reason.
Have Fun And Be Scary... Try Not To BeSeen.
And Share In The Spirit Of This Halloween!

This is a yearly tradition in my neighborhood and we enjoy it
. Start it where you live and have some fun.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Mom Sends the Message Gets a Thank You from the Department of Transportation




Congratulations to Cooper and Emily at TheMotherhood.com for the national thanks given to them by the US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. On October 23, Ray LaHood recognized the work Cooper and Emily have been doing with the Mom Sends the Message campaign on his official blog. Hopefully with the work they have been doing and the support of mother's all over the country our roads will soon be safer and distracted driving will become less of a threat.

We all owe a huge thank you to Cooper and Emily for helping to build awareness of this huge problem facing all of us each time we get in our cars.

To read Ray LaHood's post click here.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Mom Sends the Message: Keep Your Mind on the Wheel





We have all worried about the threat presented by drunk drivers and we have all felt the need to be on the defense when driving. With the advances in technology a new threat has presented itself on our roads, one that is as threatening and deadly as drunk driving and that is the practice of texting, emailing and talking on the cell phone while driving.

A new public service campaign has been started by TheMotherhood.com to educate mothers on the danger of being distracted while driving and to encourage moms across the country to take the pledge to not drive while distracted. Mothers (and fathers) hold a lot of power, we set examples for our children, we help mold their values, we set the rules in our houses and ultimately we control if and when our children can use our cars. What better way to teach and encourage our children to practice safe driving practices then by taking the pledge ourselves and setting a good example for them. We not only have a lot of influence over our children but we have it in our communities. Through our schools, PTA’s and community organizations such the mom’s clubs we can help spread the word, the message is simple, “Keep your mind on the wheel”.

TheMotherhood.com is holding a contest for a public service announcement. It is easy, videotape a PSA showing what distracted driving is, keep it is simple and short, no more than 1 minute 30 seconds, upload your video to a video site like You Tube, and post it here using embedded code. Contest ends October 23. For more details click here.

Cash prizes are available to the winners. If you are a member of a club such as the PTA, a Mom’s Club or a community organization ban together and create a video, if you win your winning can go to support your group. If you create your own video you could be the winner of a nice cash prize. It takes a small effort to create big buzz so why not be a part of this exciting campaign. If you are unable to create a video, tell your friends, blog about this great cause or just take the pledge.

I am happy to say I am an ambassador for Mom Sends the Message. Get involved and help spread the word. The more we talk about it the more we can build awareness to this problem and ultimately help save lives on our roads.

Click here or click on the sign the pledge logo above to be one of the many taking to pledge to make our roads and children safer.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

10 VIP Memberships Giveaway to Zulaworld.com in Honor of the My SEO Gal Blog Hop (click here on the title to leave a comment)


My SEO Gal is a friend of ours and we are happy to participate in their first blog hop. Review the list of blogs participating, visit our friends and enjoy all the fun filled information provided on these various blogs.

In honor of kicking off the My SEO Gal first blog hop Little Miss Julia is extending The Zula Patrol DVD giveaway with 10 FREE VIP MEMBERSHIPS to
zulaworld.com. On this fun and interactive site your children can immerse themselves in the exploration of science, math and astronomy. Children can play by themselves or with friends; they can build spaceships and aliens. As your child accomplishes tasks they earn rewards. The reward points can then be used to unlock new levels, decorate their spaceship, and earn badges for their Alien.

Enter to win this fun and exciting contest which ends on Friday October 9, 2009 at 9 pm EST. There will be 10 winners in total!!!

To enter:

Leave a message why you would like to win this special VIP membership

Get an extra entry by following the Little Miss Julia blog.

Get an additional extra entry by adding the Little Miss Julia button to your blog or website. Please
leave a link so we know you did it.

Blog about Little Miss Julia and this great giveaway get another entry. Please leave a link so we know you did it.

Tweet about this giveaway and each time you do get another entry. Make sure to use @littlemissjulia so we see it.

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. That way we can't miss it.

If you do not have a Blogger account please leave your email so we can contact you if you win.

US Residents Only.

Winner is chosen using Random.org




MckLinky Blog Hop

Sunday, September 27, 2009

The Zula Patrol Giveaway- Enter to Win 2 DVD's



Everyone is now back in gear and back in school and we are offering a giveaway that will provide your child with the perfect escape and relaxation time after a hard days work at school. Enter to win The Zula Patrol DVD giveaway and you will have to the chance to win 2 DVD’s from this entertaining but educational series.

The Zula Patrol is a popular animated science and astronomy series for kids that airs nationally on Saturday mornings on NBC, as part of qubo. It also airs on weekdays and weekends on public television stations.

The wacky alien characters include stalwart Captain Bula, brainiac Professor Multo, feisty hot-doggin' space pilot Zeeter, the amazing space pet Gorga, and twin flying explorers Wizzy & Wigg. These characters take children on a fun adventure and help kids to discover interesting facts and things about science and astronomy.

The Zula Patrol: Moons Mayhem will take children on a wild adventure in space as they learn about the planets Venus, Jupiter and many of the moons within the solar system.

The Zula Patrol: Animals Adventures in Space teaches children about, reptiles, mammals and plants. Children will travel through an adventure learning how rocks form and how all living things interact with each other.

The Zula series is a great way to entertain your children but at the same time educate them. The graphics and colors are great and these shows will captivate any young, curious mind.

To enter:

Leave a message why you would like to win these 2 DVD's

Get an extra entry by following the Little Miss Julia blog.

Get an additional extra entry by adding the Little Miss Julia button to your blog or website . Please leave a link so we know you did it.

Blog about Little Miss Julia and this great giveaway get another entry. Please leave a link so we know you did it.

Tweet about this giveaway and each time you do get another entry. Make sure to use @littlemissjulia so we see it.

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. That way we can't miss it.

If you do not have a Blogger account please leave your email so we can contact you if you win.

US Residents Only.
Winner is chosen using Random.org

Contest ends on Friday October 2nd 9pm EST.

Good Luck!!!

Following this contest we will be offering a chance to win a VIP membership to Zula.com where your child will have access to games, special offers and much more. There will be 10 lucky winners!!! Keep your eyes open for this huge offer coming soon!!!!










Monday, September 7, 2009

Back to School Love Notes

It’s back to school; summer is over and time to see your little one get on the school bus to start a new school year. Another year, can you believe it? Didn’t they just start preschool? Where has time gone? I am sure these are questions that run through every mom’s mind as the bus door begins to open. As scary as it may be for you, it can also be scary for your son or daughter. You can give them all the hugs and kisses you want before the bus comes but once the door closes your child is off for the day.

A great way to put a smile on their face and the next best thing to a hug is a lunch note. These fun I Love You notes are a simple way for you to be part of their day. They are simple to make; all you need is a small piece of paper, some crayons and a bit of creativity. I love you, Have a great day and Enjoy lunch are some of the messages you can fill your child’s lunch box and heart with. Don’t forget, keep it a secret so when that lunch box gets opened your child’s face will light up with delight.

I know when I was a child having something that was from my mother with me made everything better. It helped ease the anxiety of a new situation and gave me the confidence I needed to excel in a given situation.

I wish everyone a happy and fun school year and before you know it summer will be back and you will be wondering where did this year go.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Design Dazzle For All Your Decorating Needs

Want to design a nursery, redecorate your child’s room or just add some accents to an already decorated room? If so Design Dazzle is a must visit for you. This stylish decorating site offers a variety of fresh innovative ideas for creating the perfect room. There are do it yourself projects such as creating bookshelves from rain gutters or designing and making your own car or princess headboard. You can find great designers for items ranging from room accessories to bedding. The Design Dazzle photo gallery is a great place to see an endless number of decorated nurseries, boy, girl and teen rooms. You could get lost for hours reading the articles and roaming the pictures posted on designdazzle.blogspot.com




RAIN GUTTER BOOKSHELVES





Do It Yourself Car Headboard






Giveaways are also sponsored and if you enter you could be the lucky winner of great decorating items such as the wall art by Love Letters which is currently running. Click here to see the prize and enter by August 24th for a chance to win.

Love what you see? Click over to designdazzle.com and browse all the items for sale in this sophisticated and fun shop. Not only can you purchase furniture and accessories but you can also look for a decorator in your area by visiting the directory of interior designers, decorators and muralist. Design Dazzle's shopping site offers a variety of articles related to decorating and just adds to the wealth of information provided on their blog.

If you love decorating or need some help with it visit Design Dazzle.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Sid the Science Kid and Dive Olly Dive DVD Giveaway

Sid the Science Kid and Dive Olly Dive are two great TV series that teach children about the world around them, encourage curiosity and learning and at the same time are both entertaining and fun to watch.

Sid the Science Kid is an Emmy nominated PBS series and after watching the DVD's I understand why. Each story teaches a lesson as to why and how things occur in the world around us. From why banana's turn brown to how things grow to freezing and unfreezing objects, Sid the Science Kid makes learning fun. Valuable lessons and educational themes are at the heart of this great children's series.

Dive Olly Dive is also and Emmy nominated series and airs on PBS Sprout. About two submarines in training, Dive Olly Dive teaches children about important lessons such as friendship, learning from your mistakes and not to judge people based on their appearance. The graphics are great and much of the story takes place on the ocean or in the world below the surface.

In a world that is flooded with meaningless shows it is refreshing to watch two series that make your child laugh but also provide educational information. The graphics on both these series are detailed and colorful. The accompanying songs are fun to listen to and just make you want to smile. I highly recommend these shows be added to your child's watch list.

Lookout for five new episodes of Sid the Science Kid to air on PBS stations in September.

The first two DVD's include Sid the Science Kid - Change Happens and Side the Science Kid- The Bug Club and the Dive Olly Dive: Ship Shape Sub DVD are now available in stores. However, I am giving you a chance to win all THREE DVD's. Each DVD contains four episodes each and they all include a Bonus DVD of Front Row Fun.

To enter:

Leave a message why you would like to win these 3 DVD's

Get an extra entry by following the Little Miss Julia blog.

Get an extra entry by adding the Little Miss Julia button to your blog or website . Please leave a link so we know you did it.

Blog about Little Miss Julia and get another entry. Please leave a link so we know you did it.

Tweet about this giveaway and each time you do get another entry. Make sure to use @littlemissjulia so I see it.

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. That way we can't miss it.
If you do not have a Blogger account please leave your email so we can contact you if you won.
US Residents Only.

Contest ends on Friday August 14th at 9 pm EST.


Good Luck!!!





Saturday, July 25, 2009

The New Official Birthday Cake of The American Cancer Society

A few months ago I introduced you to The American Cancer Society’s new mission, to celebrate more birthdays; because the more birthdays that are celebrated the more people are defeating cancer. Due to efforts to encourage people to eat healthier, stay well, find cures and fight back against cancer more than 11 million people who have survived or avoided cancer will celebrate a birthday this year.

Since healthy living translates into less cancer The American Cancer Society teamed up with The Culinary Institute of America to reinvent the birthday cake. Baking and pastry students from The Culinary Institute of America were asked to come up with a cake recipe that was easy to make and that offered healthy ingredients in lieu of the not so healthy ingredients usually found in cakes. Culinary Institute of America alumni along with the star of Food Network's "Ace of Cakes" Chef Duff Goldman
joined in on the effort to help select the winner.

The students had to submit and original cake recipe with a summary as to why their cake was healthier and how it improved the nutritional value of the cake as compared to the traditional birthday cake. The five finalists selected were Alexandra Mudry
, Arthur Battistini, Tamara King, Lorraine Tran and Laura Sansone. Duff Goldman selected the winner Alexandra Mudry at his Charm City Cakes studio bakery. The final judging will air on the Food Network’s Ace of Cakes.

Click here for the recipe of the winning red velvet birthday cake. Congratulations to Alexandra Mudry!!!

Help join The American Cancer Society’s effort to celebrate more birthdays. Spread the word about their new, official birthday cake and help inspire the people you love to eat and live healthier. Visit the ACS at
www.morebirthdays.com to see how you can be part of the celebration movement. You can also spread the word on Facebook or by visiting www.OfficialBirthdayBlog.com.

Read Duff Goldman's message to the supporters of the More Birthdays campaign by clicking here.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Accent Furniture Double Old Fashion and Cooler Acrylic Barware Giveaway



Summer is here and July 4th is quickly approaching. Enter to win and spice up your summer celebrations with stylish and fun outdoor barware by Accent Furniture Direct. From the non-neutral collection we are offering the Double Old Fashioned Acrylic Barware set – 4 pieces and the Cooler Acrylic Barware Set- 4 pieces. Both sets have a retail value of $37.00 combined.

Accent Furniture Direct is your one stop shop for all your home decorating needs with items ranging from home accessories to furniture. In addition to providing a comprehensive selection home furniture and accessories Accent Furniture Direct provides useful information and tips that makes decorating your home easier. Visit Advice Central and have your questions answered on topics such a barstool and table height, coffee table basics and construction questions.

The furniture options are endless, you can shop by room or brand and the price ranges meet all budgets. Visit Accent Furniture Direct and fulfill all your home decor needs from home accessories to furniture.

To enter:

Visit
http://www.accent-furniture-direct.com come back here and tell us what item you would love to have in your home.

To get a second entry: Follow this blog

To get a third entry tweet about this giveaway and mention @littlemissjulia


Keep tweeting about this giveaway and keep getting additional entries. Just make sure to mention @littlemissjulia so we know you are posting.

All comments can be posted on one post.

Please enter your email address if do not have a Blogger profile.

Contest is open to US Residents only.

Contest ends on Thursday July 2nd 9:00 pm EST.

Winner will be chosen using Random.org

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Celebrate More Birthdays with the American Cancer Society

There is not one person who has not been touched by cancer in some way. It may be a mother, daughter, father, son, aunt, uncle, cousin or friend who you know that has been diagnosed or died from some form of cancer. Because of that I have decided to continue my birthday series in honor of morebirthdays.com and the American Cancer Society.

I got introduced to morebirthdays.com because they started to follow me on Twitter. Seeing the word birthday in the name got me interested to see who they were. Upon clicking on their site I quickly learned it was the American Cancer Society. The ACS is honoring birthdays because one more birthday is one more day of survival for so many.

The American Cancer Society is asking everyone to join in their fight against cancer and make them the official sponsor of your birthday. Their birthday kit provides useful tips for fun party ideas, healthy meal choices to serve your guests and great gift ideas.


You can also share your birthday by creating a birthday page on morebirthdays.com. If you like you can ask your friends and family to make a donation in honor of your birthday rather than giving you a gift.

The American Cancer Society provides support to patients by giving them useful information, providing free transportation to treatments and if needed a place to stay if home is far from the treatment center. In addition, they support researchers working hard to find new drugs, cures and preventative techniques that fight this horrible disease. The American Cancer Society works with lawmakers to create movements like the smoke-free law and they lobby for more money to be put towards cancer research. Everyday the American Cancer Society is fighting so many different aspects of cancer with the hopes of helping all those touched by it.

The more birthdays there are the more people there are winning the battle against cancer. This is a great way to help build awareness and honor those who fight this deadly disease on a daily basis.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Leg Huggers by Agoo

Leg Huggers, I love them and wish I had them when I had a baby/toddler girl.

These fun leg accessories make a great fashion statement for any little girl. There are numerous designs to choose from including rainbow hearts, retro argyle, butterfly garden and circus parade. Some of the colors incorporated into the designs include pinks, yellows, greens and blues. In addition to a mix of themes, Leg Huggers are available in a solid light pink and a solid fuchsia pink.

Leg Huggers are soft and comfortable and will help keep those small legs warm under dresses or skirts; it will protect your little one’s knees while crawling, climbing, running, dancing or playing and will liven up any outfit. Not only are these great for the cooler weather but are great to take while on the run. Ever go into a restaurant or mall on a very hot day to find that inside it is like being in the artic? Rather than worrying about your little girl's legs getting cold all you need to do is slip these on and your child will have a comfortable experience. There are so many uses and times when Leg Huggers can come in handy. Everyone should have a pair in the car just in case.

Leg Huggers are made from bamboo so each pair is eco-friendly. The bamboo fibers also help the fabric to be breathable, wick moisture away, and since it is a natural fiber is non-irritating.

Leg Huggers are sold in select retail outlets throughout the United States and Canada as well as at select online stores and can also be purchased at
www.leghuggers.com

I highly recommend anyone with a baby/toddler girl or anyone looking for a gift to check out this innovative, comfortable, fashion forward product for girls
.




Come join Leg Huggers on Facebook and become a fan.

Leg Huggers supports the Free Hug Campaign












Wednesday, May 20, 2009

One Lovely Blog Award

Thank you to Cales at MarieLynn Boutique for including Little Miss Julia in the One Lovely Blog Award. This is a great way to share with others blogs that you believe are noteworthy, informative and fun to read. Below are the 15 blogs I recommend.

How to participate:

Accept the award, post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and link to that blog

Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve discovered and like.

Contact the blogger's to let them know they have been chosen for this award.



1. Mrs. Mo's New Jersey Baby

2. Birthday Party Ideas 4 Kids

3. Adopt a "Do"Cute Girls Hairstyles

4. Pitter Patter Creations

5. Nanny Deprived

6. Dreamscapes Baby

7. My Brand Name Baby

8. Paper*Cakes Finds

9. New York City Mama

10.The Adventures of Whimsical Walney

11.Confessions of A Moody Mommy

12.TLC's Silver Jewerly Blog

13.The Pitter Patter Boutique

14.For The Love of Baby!

15.The Story of A Princess and Her Hair

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Have an Affair with the A Bling Affair Giveaway















A Bling Affair is a fun, stylish custom made clothing line that will make your child the fashion trend setter of your town. Founder, Suzanne Kellner began designing children’s clothing because she saw a need for functional but stylish outfits for both girls and boys. Designs are inspired by vintage and antique fabrics and tattoo art. All pieces are hand dyed, embellished with custom transfers, Swarovski crystals and various paints.

For girls pieces include tanks, shorts, dresses and sweats. Some of the themes are hippy peace signs, hearts and love and skulls with cross bones. It’s a bit of sweetness with an edgy feel.

The boy’s collection includes vintage washed t shirts, tanks and cozy sweats featuring Rock and Roll inspired art. These funky designs are comfortable yet fashionable for your hip young boy.

Enter our A Bling Affair Giveaway and have a chance to win either the rock and roll guitar shirt for boys or the true love t-shirt for girls. Winner will get a child size shirt of their choice. For the boys you can choose either a long sleeve or short sleeve tee. You let us know the size and we will send you the prize.


For a bigger view of each item just click on the picture.
How to enter:

Visit http://www.ablingaffair.com/, browse the site, come back here and tell us which item you love.

Want a 2nd entry, follow our blog, Little Miss Julia.

Get a 3rd entry, talk about this giveaway on Twitter and make sure to use the @littlemissjulia so we see you tweet.

When posting your comment if you don't have a Blogger profile with an email address please leave your email in your post.

All comments can be in one post.

Winner will be chosen using Random.org

Contests ends Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 9pm. Winner will be announced shortly after.

Please note we can only ship within the U.S.

We are dedicating this giveaway to Trisha at momdot.com in honor of her 31st birthday. Happy Birthday Trisha and we hope your Birthday Party: 31 Bloggers in 31 Days is a success.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Birthday Parties- Why Not Make Some Fun at Home?

Birthday parties have changed significantly since I was a child. It used to be that a few friends came over, everyone played and the highlight was cake and opening presents. Today on the other hand birthday parties have turned into major events. Parties have to be planned weeks in advance in order to secure a venue and invitations need to be sent out weeks in advance in the hopes that people are still available come your party date. Not only have the parties gotten more extravagant but so have the favors. Favors have gone from what used to be a bag of candy and maybe a few “crackerjack” type toys to presents in and of themselves.

Where I live the average cost of a birthday party is somewhere between $400-$500. That includes the place, the cake, food and the favors. What has happened to the simple home party and why do we need to indulge our children in such extravagance at such a young age?

Since I find this all so crazy I have decided to share with you some fun at home party ideas. Over the next few weeks, I will be posting fun and creative parties for your girls that would satisfy any age. For those with boys, I will also share ideas for fun boy or boy girl parties.

To start this series I would like to introduce the "Glam Girl or Princess Party". It is easy; tell all your guests to come in dress up clothes. If you have a girl anything like mine than finding dress up clothes is not hard to do. Buy some nail polish, set mirrors and brushes on the table and do hair and nails. If the girls are old enough makeup can be incorporated. Being a mom, you know how to do hair and nails, so you can be the stylist. To add to the excitement your party favor can be a fun hair accessory, a hair brush and mirror set, or nail polish. After all the girls are done up you can serve cake and let the them play and have fun with each other.

Need party favor or gift set ideas? Come visit me at
Little Miss Julia or click on Shop at the top of the page. I would be happy to create favors that meet the needs of your party. Below are some gift and party favor ideas.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Little Jewel Mother's Day Giveaway


Having a baby has to be the most memorable days of a person’s life. Your life from that moment on will never be the same. It is the beginning of an incredible journey and the moment you experience an overwhelming feeling of love for another being. A child’s birth is a moment you want to treasure and remember forever. What better way to do that than with a symbol of your new baby close to your heart.

Little Jewel was created by a mom’s desire to capture the wonder of a new birth and to recognize the beauty of motherhood. Pieces include boy and girl themed pendants in yellow and white gold with or without diamonds or other precious stones. For little girls, bracelets and earring are available.

In honor of Mother’s Day, Little Jewel is giving away either a boy or girl pendant in sterling silver. To enter, visit,
http://www.littlejewel.com/ browse the products, come back here and tell us which item you like and what that item symbolizes to you as a mother.

Entries are welcome until Friday May 1, 2009 9 pm Eastern Time. A winner will be announced shortly after.
**winner will be chosen using random.org
**please leave your email address in the post if it is not listed on your profile.






Sunday, April 19, 2009

OH NO!!! My Six Year Old Made a $100,000 Bid on Ebay!!!!

Last Wednesday morning at 8:15 as I am trying to get out the door for the day my son started yelling from the playroom that he found the perfect Star Wars toy online. This type of event occurs frequently so I did not pay that much attention to it and said “Ok, we can look at it later, let’s go we have to leave.” That was all that was said and we left the house for the day.

I stopped at home later that afternoon before I had to pick the kids up from school and got on the computer for a quick check of orders and emails. The first thing that popped up was the “perfect Star Wars toy”. I started to look at it because my son is biggest Star Wars fan. As I scrolled up the screen I suddenly noticed that there was a statement that said “CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE THE HIGHEST BIDDER.” I could not figure out what I was looking at and then it dawned on me. My soon to be six year old got himself onto Ebay and made a bid for this “perfect toy”. OH NO!!!!

So I was thinking how bad could it be? I was going to have to pay $30.00 for a $10.00 toy? At first I could not believe what I was seeing, it said the maximum bid was at $100,200.00 and I was the highest bidder. My heart stopped but I then saw that the item started at $.99 and the bid increments only went up by a dollar or so making the bid only around a dollar. I did not know that a bid could be retracted but quickly found out and removed his bid from the item.

In the car on the way home from school I asked my son if he knew that he bid on the Star Wars toy. He responded yes. I then asked him if he knew if he put a lot of money in for the bid and his response was, “Yes, I had to make it expensive so I could win it.” That made me chuckle but at the same time it is not funny. You should never underestimate what your child knows or what they know how to do. Ebay is the last place I thought my son would go to find a toy. I am still not sure how he got on it and past my password. He is a little too computer savvy for my liking and will not be allowed near the computer without me present in the room. In the end he did not do any damage but that is not to say he would not the next time!!!!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

MarieLynn Boutique

MarieLynn Boutique is a great find for anyone looking for unique handmade outfits, blankets or gifts for the precious little one in their life. The clothes are hip and fun for both girls and boys. Perfect for summer are the shortalls for boys in variety of colors and themes. There are lots of styles for girls, in particular, the cute and unique Pillowcase dress. Not only will your little girls have style she will also be cool and comfortable on those hot summer days. Monograms can be done on boutique clothing and there are numerous fonts to choose from.


Know someone having a baby? Want to buy them something different but useful? MarieLynn Boutique has the answer for you. There are a variety of wipe cases, diaper totes, diaper bags, baby blankets and burp clothes available. Buy individual items and or buy a coordinating gift set. Either way you can give the new mom stylish but useful baby items that will help make her transition into motherhood easier.

Other notable features of MarieLynn Boutiques are the gift certificates, gift registry and online parties. Host an online party with MarieLynn Boutiques and receive a hostess gift equal to a discount of 10% of all purchases made by your guests or you can choose to receive free items that total 10% of the value of all purchases made. Either way this is a great way to host an online party with a fun, hip, stylish boutique.

MarieLynn Boutique ships worldwide. Custom requests and designs are accommodated, just ask.


Purchase now from MarieLynn Boutique and receive a special discount of 10% off your purchase. Use discount code MLB09 at checkout.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Award of Gratitude


I am extending a very big THANK YOU to Jennica at Peekaboo Kids Gear and I Want to be a Work at Home Mom for including me in the Attitude of Gratitude Award.

Working from home is not always easy but it is rewarding. It provides you with the ability to fulfill your career objectives but at the same time be there for and with your children. I started my business only a few short months ago and I must say it has been a very rewarding experience. One of the best parts of this experience besides having successful sales has been the people I have met and the relationships I have developed. Success does come with time and hard work but it also comes from the help of others. So to all those people who have helped me get my feet off the ground I want to say thank you.

To keep the spirit of the Attitude of Gratitude Award going I nominate the following ten people.

Adventures of Whimsical Walney - Great information provided about CPSIA.

Cafe Handmade - A great place to find everything handmade.

Imaginations - Distinctive and unique photo cards for any occasion.

Marielynn Boutique - Great children's boutique.

My Charmed Life - A blog with information, product reviews and giveaways.

Mom Bloggers Club - A great forum for mom bloggers to meet, network, exchange ideas, blog
posts or just chat.

Retail Minded- A blog about the retail world with valuable information for wholesalers and retailers.

TLC Silver Jewelry- Perfect shopping for the silver jewelry lover.

WAHMPub- A forum for work at home mom and dad to exchange ideas as well as shop in the the WAHMPub shopping mall.

WAHMGroup- A place for work at home moms to connect, gather information and learn.

The Rules of Accepting and Sharing this Award
1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude
3. Link to your nominees within your post
4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they’ve received this award
5. Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award. Tell us how you’ve come to have an attitude of gratitude


Saturday, March 28, 2009

Graphics and Website Design by Deanna

Need A Great Web Designer? Meet Deanna at designsbydeanna.net

When I started my website I was relatively new to online selling, knew very little about creating a website and knew even less about SEO. Thanks to all the people I have worked with this venture has been relatively easy and I will say I believe successful.

I want to extend a huge THANK YOU to Deanna at designsbydeanna.net. After many hours of searching for a web designer I stumbled on Deanna’s website. I was immediately drawn in by her work and I must say, I hit the jackpot when I found Deanna. Her designs are fun, colorful, whimsical and really portray the image of the company in which she is designing for. Deanna really understands how to tell a story with graphics.

In addition to her wonderful artist ability, Deanna is a pleasure to work with. She is responsive to all questions, very patient and always willing to tweak something just ever so slightly if it makes you happy. I have asked a lot of questions and Deanna has always been more than willing to share information and give explanations.

I encourage anyone who is looking for website graphics, blog graphics or logo design to visit Deanna at www.designsbydeanna.net. I can guarantee you will not be disappointed by what you see and you will be more than happy with the end results and service you receive.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Welcome to the Party!!!!

Ultimate Blog Party 2009Welcome to Little Miss Julia. This is my first time participating in the Ultimate Blog Party. I am excited to meet new people and to be a part of this huge event.

For those of you visiting my blog for the first time welcome and to those of you who have been here before welcome back. On my blog I introduce you to products I love for both girls and moms, introduce informative and useful websites and discuss fun and varied topics. For your convenience there is a link direct to our shopping site.

I hope you visit and browse around our selection fun hair accessories for girls. If you want a color or color combination not shown you can create your own. Custom designs are always welcome and there is even a create our own barrette option that lets you design the barrette of your choice.

New spring items are coming and look out for exciting giveaways and discounts soon to appear on this blog. Come join the fun, follow my blog and if you have an item you would like reviewed and showcased contact me via the contact link above.

You can visit 5 Minutes for Mom to see more party details and prizes. Have fun and enjoy the party!!!!