Noteable News: Dove, Big Apple Circus, Land of Nod and more!

I’ve received lots of great information about some programs and initiatives that I wanted to pass along to you all.  Here are a few excerpts from the press releases:

Dove’s “Thank You for Making a Difference” campaign

Dove wants you to submit a 30 second video of your daughter explaining what makes them beautiful to the Dove Self Esteem Fund Facebook page no later than 11/20/09. In addition, Dove invites you to show the difference self esteem makes in your family AND support local self esteem building programs. Post a comment on THIS POST telling me that you  uploaded a video.  The top 5 sites with most videos (including the #1 site) will receive a $1000 donation from Dove in their site’s name to the local chapter of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Plus, your Dove purchase also helps build self esteem. Enter your Dove UPC on Facebook here and select a charity. Dove will donate $1 to inspiring self-esteem programs including the Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Girls Inc.

Big Apple Circus

Bello is Back! under the Big Apple Big Top performing breathtaking feats of humor in the theatrical focus of one ring with no seat more than 50 feet away!  Catch a performance now through January 18, 2010 at cities along the East Coast. In addition to providing the finest in live family entertainment, the Big Apple Circus is also a not–for–profit performing arts and outreach institution committed to invigorating the communities they serve with the joy and wonder of classical circus. You can purchase discounted tickets online by submitting the code POP10 in the Promotional Code box, or calling 888-541-3750 and mentioning code POP10. You may also purchase discount tickets in person at the Big Top Box Office 10AM–6PM daily by bringing a copy of this blog post to the box office. This promo code can save you up to $30 per ticket to Lincoln Center performances with the readers of The Not-So-Blog. For more info, make sure to check out the Big Apple Circus on Facebook and Twitter

.

eDivvy

The holidays are upon us and the economy is still having an impact on our gift giving traditions. According to the National Retail Federation, group gifting is on the rise this year and expected to be one of the top 10 trends of the 2009 holiday season. There are many benefits to group gifting, the main being that friends and family can give more and spend less by teaming up and splitting the cost of one or a bundle of special gifts for their loved one. The group gifting website, eDivvy.com, makes it fast easy and affordable. Friends and family can sign on to the site and pay their portion separately, eliminating the hassle for one person to collect cash. The website is linked to a variety of top retailers like Amazon, Apple, Macys and many more. The site also provides experts who can suggest ideas for those you may have trouble gifting. eDivvy.com has also recently announced the launch of a business to business application that will allow merchants to use the group gifting option straight from their own websites. This is sure to make one of the biggest holiday trends of the year easier and more accessible for online shoppers.

Land of Nod

The holiday season is upon us!   The Land of Nod has everything you need from decorations to gifts. Not only do they have a great selection of holiday gifts but are also offering free shipping on Holiday Decor! From tree skirts to advent calendars, stockings to Hanukkah calendars, you won’t believe the selection! Check out the Shop by Personality feature to find the perfect gift for every person on your list!  

IBW Books

The Not So Blog readers can help their school (or another favorite group) make $2 to $5 on every sale deposited into the group’s account the same day as sales. With IBW books, nonprofit organizations such as PTA/PTSO… youth sports… church groups… arts programs… and more… sell an innovative product that no one else has – which encourages community support and their drive’s success! As a bonus, when a nonprofit uses the Fundraising with IBW Books program because of The Not So Blog reader’s referral, that reader earns 5% of the organization’s total book sales as a finder’s fee. For example, if a PTA sells $1,000 in books, the reader who referred them makes $50. If a group sells $5,000 in books, the finder’s fee is $250, and so on.

WINNERS!

It’s time to pull some lucky winners!  Here we go!

Wear Your Music Guitar String Bracelet:  Aimee B.

Robin Rescues Dinner Cookbook and Tyson coupons: Mrs. Cox

BooJeeBeads:  Susan V. (BooJeeBeads gift card),  BadgerMomma (eyeglass holder gift card), and Courtney (Guardian Angel gift card)

IBW Books:  bridget3420

Post-Its: Miranda A.

CONGRATS!  You will all be emailed shortly!  Please claim your prize within 72 hours of the email.  Thanks to everyone for supporting my blog and the fabulous sponsors!

IBW Books: Review and Giveaway

hypothesis Interactive Book-Webscene (IBW) Books will help to foster a love of reading in my preschooler.

materials One book entitled, “Where can lost bee be?” from IBW Books and my “eager to read” preschooler.  About IBW Books:

The Interactive Book-Webscene proprietary process combines the reading of a print book with the interactivity of online animations. Here’s how it works: At the end of each chapter, the reader is directed to a specific link on a website associated with the book. Here, the reader views a webscene. Webscenes contain 2D and 3D animations. Each webscene is essential to the storytelling. After viewing the webscene, the reader returns to the book to read another chapter, after which are instructions to view another webscene, and so on. Each book contains 6-10 webscenes.

ibwbooks
methods Lily is able to recognize all of the letters of the alphabet and knows all of the letter sounds well.  She is about to enter Pre-K this August, so she is not quite reading, but she is very good with a few sight words such as “yes”, “no”, and “open.”   I sat down with the KA Reader from IBW Books and read the first chapter to Lily.  Following the first chapter, we went online to view the webscene which made the book come to life and reinforced the vocabulary and concepts of the book.  We completed the book in about 20 minutes.

results

My husband (who is a teacher) set out to find books to help keep the skills Lily learned last year in school fresh in her mind.  We are so happy to have found IBW Books because Lily loved it!  She was eager to have me read the next chapter so we could view the corresponding webscene.  While the webscenes were in itself educational, Lily viewed them as a special “treat” for completing another chapter.  I think IBW Books certainly acheived making reading fun!

summary

IBW Books offers several titles in many different educational levels beginning with preschool. Each series has different features. For instance, each book in the beginning reader series, KA Reader, includes English and Spanish text, webscenes, story theme, word count, reading grade level and word pattern families.  If you are intrigued by the concept, please visit IBW Booksellers to learn how to sell these books in your community while earning extra money for your family.  Sellers receive an immediate 20% commission on all sales!

references Want to encourage your child to read this Summer?  IBW Books has generously offered one Not-So-Blog reader TWO free books!!

How to enter:

1. First, visit IBW-Books and tell me which title you would love to try!  Next, visit IBW-Booksellers and tell me how much commission you make for every KA Reader sold.

Additional entries:

1. Blog about this giveaway and link to The Not-So-Blog.

2. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway. Every time you tweet you get an additional entry! Unlimited!

3. Subscribe to my blog.

4. Become a Fan of The Not-So-Blog on Facebook.

5. Favorite me in Technorati!

Contest ends at 11:59pm CST on June 25th. Prizes not claimed in 72 hours will be forfeited. Open to U.S. Residents only.