It's been a full 2 weeks since I started using my Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000 with SmartGuide and I must say that my teeth are better off because of it. I've been taking turns using my old school human powered toothbrush and my Oral-B power toothbrush. The differences are quite noticeable. First off, I don't stand there brushing my teeth on my own for 2 minutes. I simply don't watch the clock as I typically brush my teeth with my eyes closed. With the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000 the SmartGuide always has me focused on the time spent brushing, notifying me when it's time to stop and move on the next quadrant of my mouth (divide your mouth into four sections and you'll get the idea). However the biggest, most noticeable and most welcome change is the Floss Action brush head. It gently flosses your teeth while you brush. I'm not sure it's a 100% replacement for flossing but it's a wonderful feature that has effectively stopped a gum irritation I was experiencing between two of my back teeth when I first began using the new brush. I also appreciate that notifies me that I'm applying too much pressure by stopping when you are brushing too hard.

Pardon the cliche statement, but in addition to taking my word for it, you should try out the brush yourself. Oral-B is currently offering a $10 mail-in rebate on select power toothbrushes now through June 16, 2012. Please visit OralB.com for more information. And of course, Like Oral-B on Facebook (that is if you're on Facebook).

“Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Dad Central Consulting on behalf of Oral-B and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

---

Thanks for reading! To learn more about me, you can read my story.

“I got my first cavity when I was 25. I had my teeth straightened via Invisalign when I was 38. Short of the cavities (several erupted between 25 and 28) most of my visits to the dentist have been uneventful formalities --- a cleaning, a high five for taking care of my teeth and no candy or stickers for the road.

Up until recently I've been following the dentist's orders, brushing with a soft brush head, flossing daily and I eat apples to clean my breath when I'm not home. My kids have perfectly clean teeth. My son got a couple of cavities when he was younger but hasn't had one since becoming a teenager. Both my kids have it engrained in their heads that they brush their teeth when they wake up and before they got to bed. Every 6 months they go to the dentist without fail. And the couple of times I have failed, I get yelled at to schedule their appointments.

Despite all this diligence I've always wondered about those electric toothbrushes. The ones that sit at Target and BestBuy made by Braun with the tiny circular head that claim to do the job better than you can. "One day," I've told myself many a time, "I'm gonna try one of those out to see if they are any good."

And then came the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000 with SmartGuide:



Now through June 16, Oral-B is offering a $10 mail-in rebate on select power toothbrushes. Please visit OralB.com for more information. To learn more about this and Oral-B's entire product line follow them on Twitter and Like them on Facebook.

What do you do to keep your teeth looking and feeling their best? Please share your suggestions in the comments below.

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Dad Central Consulting on behalf of Oral-B and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

---

Thanks for reading! To learn more about me, you can read my story.

After packing up a 3 bedroom apartment and moving into a 4 bedroom home best believe I did what most people and especially men do --- I unpacked what was essential and the rest I stuffed away not too neatly in corners and the garage, making the mental note to "get to it later." Later didn't happen until now.

Armed with my Brother P-Touch Label Maker, 2 sets of wire racking, a Husky tough hook and some generic wire hooks from IKEA I set out to change the unbearable into the functional.

(Sponsored Post)

I hate junk mail, actually I hate mail period. Not hate mail, just mail in general. It quickly becomes clutter and if not protected it easily can become a goldmine for anyone looking to swipe an identity. Before I was shredding I was spending hours tearing up mail and important documents. And then I reached real adulthood (age 25 or so) and I invested in my first shredder, a piece of garbage that attached to the top of my garbage can and created long strips of paper. It took less time, but then I had new problems --- paper jams, overheating and occasional smoke.

It seems that with each degree of maturation, the more advanced the shredder I've acquired along the way. I made the leap to semi-high end cross-cut shredding a couple years ago and never looked back. But it's no less time consuming and god forbid I spill the container while dumping. The clean-up is similar to sweeping up broken glass, you just never seem to get it all.

Back in August of last year I initially reviewed the Brother P-Touch Label Maker and tested the durability of the labels under the stresses of wear and tear and water. The labels passed with flying colors. From there it was time to put them to practical use around my home.

I began in my garage. That deep dark place where men stuff junk. Only a very small fraction of men own what I call "coveted garages" those stylish places where everything is neatly arranged along the wall, their is functional lighting, maybe even some artwork on the walls and the car or cars sit beautifully tended to smack dead in the middle, like beloved stallions. Then there are people like my father who upon raising the door a gasp of fright fills your lungs and you blurt uncontrollably, "Oh...my...God."

I'm trying to be in the first category. I'm not trying to be my dad on this one (sorry, Dad). Making matters even more challenging I am a recent transplant from the Northeast to the Southeast.

Let's face facts if you read my blog you're doing so because you can relate to some if not all of what I write. One thing I think we can all relate to is living in either a home or apartment. As someone who's done both I can say my least favorite part of the places we all call home is The Can and the odors that hang out there. I'm not talking about those odors that come about as a result of natural functions. Fortunately those pass...eventually. I'm talking about the damp odors that linger in towels and rugs and drains. No one has the time to clean the can everyday unless you have a maid or butler, neither of which I do, so room fresheners will have to do.

A few years ago I was eating dinner at my mother-in-law's house and got spaghetti sauce on my favorite tie. I immediately panicked and she sought to fix my problem as any mother would do. She got a bowl, filled it with warm water and dumped a spoonful of OxiClean in it. I handed over my tie, she dabbed a rag in the solution of OxiClean and went to work on the stain, leaving a silver dollar sized white spot smack in the middle of my blue tie. My panic erupted into horror. Forget the marinara stain, there was no putting color back into my tie. It went into the trash with the scraps from my dinner. I learned one thing that night: OxiClean is concentrated and I never went near the stuff again.

That is until recently when OxiClean sent me a 3 pound tub of their new and improved formula and a bucket.

My daughter has had a at least one pair of Crocs in her life since she began to wear shoes. Each pair has been more sophisticated than the last pair but they've all been variations on the same theme: some sort of open-toe or open-heel shoes made of some kind of foamy rubbery stuff. They are the quintessential wash and wear summer slip on. She's rarely worn them to school and on those occasions (when Mom dressed her in them) the teacher would always pull me aside at the end of the day to politely ask me to make sure she wears closed toe shoes. Well now the game has changed.

I'm a neat freak. I don't know if by nature, but definitely by nurture. Ever since college days as a fraternity pledge cleaning up the filth of other college aged boys (and some men) caused me to quickly develop a heightened sense of cleanliness and a distaste that borders on disgust for all things slovenly.

Maybe awareness even predates college. Maybe as a child I was being programmed to become neatness personified while I watched Odd Couple reruns with my mother. Felix Unger is alive and well inside me, particularly to my wife's chagrin, who prior to meeting me prided herself on being neat and clean. However when I get into cleaning mode, especially because I lecture while doing so, she's made it a point not to like me.

So when the good folks over at Brother offered, I jumped at the chance to get my hands on a Brother P-Touch Label Maker.

Near the end of 2010 I was asked to test a product that not only cleans but disinfects the touchscreens of electronic devices. At first I was skeptical wondering how it could be better than Windex or your standard eyeglass cleaning cloth. But after using Clens all of my handheld, touchscreen electronic devices are now as clean as they were the day I popped them out of their boxes as brand new toys.

I was so impressed I wanted to share my discovery with all of you and offer one lucky reader a free gift pack (pictured, right)!

Bausch Lomb introduces a new touch-screen cleaner, Clens, that not only removes those annoying smudges, but the germs and potential viruses that can be left behind along with them. Clens is a new, two-step cleaning system offering the most antibacterial protection for your devices - a perfect gift for gadget lovers and "germaphobes" alike.


GIVEAWAY RULES

1. To enter, you must be a fan of the Makes Me Wanna Holler Facebook Page (if you are not, click here and let me know here in the comments that you are either already a member or have joined).
2. You Must become a fan of Bausch + Lomb on Facebook and comment on this post. Five (5) winners will be chosen at random. Giveaway ends this January 28, 2011 at 11:59pm EST.

If you don’t win, you can always purchase Clens at your local retailer.

Thanks and good luck!

Official Giveaway Rules :

MakesMeWannaHoller.com is the official host of the giveaway and is sponsoring the giveaway, Bausch + Lomb is just providing the prizes to the eligible winners.

Winners will be chosen via random generator and then checked on Bausch + Lomb’s facebook fan page for eligibility. Only those who both comment & become a fan via Bausch + Lomb’s Facebook fan page are eligible to win.

Only those whom are in the domestic United States are eligible to win.

Contest ends January 28, 2011 at 11:59pm EST



Additional Product Information:

A series of recent studies highlight how touch-screen devices can easily harbor and transmit flu germs, with one showing mobile phones host 18 times more bacteria than a flush handle in a typical men's restroom. Clens results in a 90 percent reduction in surface germs when exposed to everyday usage, along with 13 varieties of bacteria, yeast and mold and is safely formulated for touch-screen devices and won't harm, scratch or discolor screens.

Clens is available in pre-moistened wipes and spray, and includes a microfiber cloth to gently buff and shine surfaces. The home and office kit comes complete with one 2oz bottle of spray, 6 pre-moistened wipes and 2 polishing cloths (RRP $19.95.) The convenient travel package contains 20 pre-moistened wipes and two polishing cloths (RRP $14.95).

Bausch Lomb tested Clens by simulating everyday use. Researchers handled mobile devices a minimum of 10 times in typical situations, such as during lunch and after using a computer. The devices were also deliberately exposed to 13 varieties of bacteria, yeast and mold. The surfaces treated with the Clens cleaning system yielded at least a 90 percent reduction in surface germs.

This is a sponsored post. Only one product to review was received in consideration of hosting this contest.

Have You Subscribed Yet? * Are You On Facebook? * Do You Tweet?

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED...THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!!!

Jawbone?

"What the [expletive] is a Jawbone?" was what I said aloud to myself when the good folks at OutCast Communications reached out to me. Then I clicked on the supplied links and I thought to myself, That [expletive] is ugly!

At the time I didn't know the Jawbone ICON was CNET's highest rated headset. Ever. Personally, I'm not that much of a Bluetooth guy although I completely understand and admire the technology. But most folks walking down the street looking like Trekkies with their communicators in their ears look, in a word, ridiculous. What's even more ridiculous is how this same set of people think they look so on point with their earpiece. I could see if they were FBI or CIA but usually they're talking to someone they saw a few minutes ago. I'm a fan of understated tech. That is technology you can't see, is wireless, and/or is super-thin and has battery life. Battery life is and always will be critical to me. I'm not a fan of skinny with 1 hour's worth of battery-life.

I've had various earpieces for my cellphones over the years and can't say I truly felt hands-free until I discovered Bluetooth connectivity. Once I experienced in-dash Bluetooth connectivity in a vehicle I was 100% hooked and 100% hands-free, but I was only test-driving that car, so the euphoria was fleeting.

I say all this to say that my last headset, made by Jabbra disappeared somewhere in my daughter's room and I haven't seen it in months. Knowing that I needed something to use while driving (sadly, I am a cellphone-driving and occasional email-reading offender), I responded to the good folks at OutCast and in a matter of days my Jawbone Icon, Hero model was delivered to my door.

I opened the box and was...AMAZED. By far it has to be the sexiest headset I've ever seen. I has a couple of different configurations that allow you to wear either looped over your ear or in it like in-ear headphones. If you have hair (unlike me) you can completely conceal it if necessary. It is affordable-understated, meaning it's about as small as it can get without reaching an absurd price-point. The sound is crystal clear and with their patented Noise-Assassin (military grade noise canceling technology) I can drive with the windows down and the person on the other end of the call is none the wiser.




And it doesn't end there. They have apps! Yeah, just like everyone else these days. Instead of a random computerized voice that provides you with battery-life stats, incoming call info and so on you can pick and choose the voice you want in your ear. I opted for The Ace, a British woman that reminds me of Tony Stark's Jarvis. She's quite snarky too. If I choose to ignore a call she let's me know "We don't have time for that." Cools...

Additional capabilities include being able to dial 411, receiving turn-by-turn directions, voice activated dialing, and listening to music (which includes any videos you have on your phone) all through your headset. It even has the capability for you to voice update social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. However keep in mind, you are limited by the services your actual carrier provides. So if you don't have voice activated on your phone don't expect any miracles from the Jawbone.

I still won't be outside walking the streets wearing this neat little Bluetooth headset because that's not who I am, but anywhere where I need it --- in my home cooking, writing or whatever, behind the wheel or even as a passenger, outside watering my plants --- I'll definitely have my Jawbone ICON Hero stuck in my ear.



GET DAD THE HOTTEST TECH-CESSORY FOR FATHER'S DAY!

I'm giving away one (1) Jawbone ICON Hero Bluetooth Headset to one (1) individual just in time for Father's Day. The Winner will be selected using Random.org.


CONTEST RULES:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Leave a comment on this post stating why you want this for Father's Day, or why you want it for the Father in your life.

Additional Entries (each count as an individual entry):

• Subscbribe via RSS or Email to this log. Make sure you let me know in the comments section below.
  

• Join the Makes Me Wanna Holler Facebook Fan Page (there is an additional perk for the 250th fan of my Facebook Fan Page) Make sure you let me know in the comments section below.
  

• Become a Follower on Google Friend Connect. Make sure you let me know in the comments section below.

• Tweet the following (red text and included link only): Win A Jawbone Icon for Father's Day! RT @MakesMeHoller & Enter to win! http://tinyurl.com/2553c36 #giveaway Make sure you let me know here in the comments of this post that you tweeted so your entry can be counted. 3 tweets per day max during contest duration. (1 additional entry per day of tweeting).
  

• Update Your Facebook Status (red text and included link only): Win A Jawbone Icon for Father's Day! @Makes Me Wanna Holler - Man, Dad, Husband Enter to win! http://tinyurl.com/2553c36 #giveaway Make sure you let me know here in the comments of this post that you updated your status so your entry can be counted. 3 updates per day max during contest duration. (1 additional entry per day of updating).

Contest Duration:

The contest will run from 1:00pm (PST), Wednesday, June 9, 2010 to 11:59 am (PST), Tuesday, June 15, 2010.


Eligibility:

All entrants in this contest must be a resident of the United States or have a valid United States mailing address.


Official Product Info:

As a parent, there are never enough hours in the day but Jawbone ICON, the world's most intelligent and stylish hands-free device, brings new meaning to productivity. This Bluetooth headset helps busy dads multi-task by letting them talk hands-free wherever they are: driving kids to sports practice, talking to a client or packing for a vacation or business trip.

The award winning Jawbone ICON also lets dad listen to music, podcasts or audio books wire-free, along with turn-by-turn GPS driving directions whispered into his ear, all while keeping his hands on the wheel.

Jawbone ICON comes in six striking designs - each with unique names that reflect the personas they embody. So, you can tell Dad he's your HERO!



Disclosure: I did receive a Jawbone Icon Hero strictly for review purposes. This is not a sponsored post. Neither E.Payne nor MakesMeWannaHoller.com is being compensated in any way for this review or giveaway.

As promised, I've got goodies for the Month of the Dad --- the thirty days that lead up to Father's Day.

First on my list is the Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers video game:



A little over a month ago I had the absolute pleasure to visit Atari's Manhattan offices where I got to test out Sandlot Sluggers with the developer who created it.

First off the game is highly intuitive and on my platform of choice, Wii, intuitive goes without saying. Who doesn't want an opportunity to knock it out of the park and not be labored with a whole bunch of commands?

Secondly, meeting a game developer and listening to his passion for creating video games was no different than me listening to a master photographer, musician or celebrated author discuss their motivation and workflow. I know these guys have reputations for being uber geeky, but the guy I met was a master of his craft, plain and simple.

Check out these powerups:



And characters:



This is definitely something to do with the entire family on a rainy day, to set up as an "always-on" activity when hosting a barbecue at your home, or to do when whittling away the day when your games aren't on and the wife is gone for the day with the kids.

Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers offers hours of entertainment with laugh out loud comedic commentary and exaggerated animations for a one-of-a-kind gaming experience. The game is packed with loads of surprises to keep kids coming back for more and stars a neighborhood full of fun and diverse kids – both fan favorite characters and new friends. New features like Power-ups, Mini Games, and Family Co-op allow for a fun-filled experience for the whole family—young and old!


THE GIVEAWAY:

Two (2) copies of the Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers for the Wii will be given away to two (2) individual contestants. Winners will be selected using Random.org.


CONTEST RULES:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Leave a comment on any post on this blog and let me know in the comments section of this post.

Additional Entries:

• Subscbribe via RSS or Email to this log (counts for 5 additional entries).

• Join the Makes Me Wanna Holler Facebook Fan Page (there is an additional perk for the 250th fan of my Facebook Fan Page) (counts for 5 additional entries).

• Become a Follower on Google Friend Connect (see right hand column of this blog) (counts for 5 additional entries).

• Tweet the following: Fun for the whole family! Check @MakesMeHoller & Enter to win a copy of Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers http://tinyurl.com/2do4de2 #giveaway Remember to let me know you tweeted in the comments below. 3 tweets per day during contest duration. (1 additional entry per day of tweeting).
  

• Update Your Facebook Status: Just in time for Father's Day and the whole family: enter to win a copy of Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers for the Wii http://www.makesmewannaholler.com/2010/05/backyard-sports-sandlot-sluggers-for.html Be sure to let me know in the comments below that you've updated your status so that your entries can be counted. 3 status updates per day during contest duration (1 additional entry per day of status updates).

Contest Duration:

The contest will run from 12:00pm, Monday, May 24, 2010 to 11:59 pm, Friday, June 4, 2010.


Eligibility:

You must be a resident of the United States or have a valid U.S. mailing address.


Good luck!


Official Product Information:
In time for the 2010 season, eager young baseball fans can play rain or shine with Atari’s all-new Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers video game for Xbox360, Wii™, and Nintendo DS™ shipping out May 25, 2010. Based on one of the best selling kids’ sports videogame series, Backyard Sports: Sandlot Sluggers allows players to join their favorite neighborhood friends and play ball in fun and exciting arcade style sports action. Sandlot Sluggers, developed by HB Studios, is a completely new take on a longtime favorite franchise with all-new features, updated graphics, enhanced gameplay, and extensive options that will keep players and gamers alike enthusiastically entertained.


Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Neither E.Payne nor MakesMeWannaHoller.com is being compensated in any way for this review or giveaway.

If I have one shortcoming as a father it's that I don't have my kids parked up in church the way I was. I was in every church play. I went to all my church's youth retreats. I attended Sunday School nearly every Sunday. I was an acolyte. And other than going to McDonald's I did nothing but sit around as working on the Lord's Day was forbidden in my house.

Other than being an acolyte, I hated Sundays.

My personal walk in faith has gone through so many twists and turns and taken me through so many highs and lows of my adult life I don't know where I'd be without it. It has been so intensely personal that I believe that it is actually a fault now. Because although my spirituality is no secret to the people in my life, I often conduct myself as if I'm in a secret society (like a frat) that no one but me can be a part of.

My wife and my wife's family have a much more pragmatic view on church, having a spiritual relationship with God, and religion itself. I, myself make the distinction between these interconnected but very different partners. But after listening and observing them over the years I've deemed it absolutely necessary to keep my thoughts and comments to myself.

And this is where I believe I've gone wrong. It's not that I need to preach from the hilltops (this isn't my gifting anyway). But I could do a much better job as Husband and Father to reign in my own little family to expose them to the possibilities so that they can enter into their own personal exploration as I did. I have a son who is stoic and pragmatic and doesn't fall back on that thing that I used to when I knew I what I was getting ready to do was dead wrong because of some scripture I knew. I did it anyway, but I went into it with the conviction that hopefully no one was watching because of what I knew in my heart --- because of what had been poured into my heart --- because my parents sought to facilitate a foundation for me. So that when I became a man and ideas and hopes began to explode, the floor seemingly dropped out, the sky seemingly fell and friends became enemies, I knew where to go: to my knees in prayer; and I knew what to do: stand strong and tall...in the gap.

I believe that because I pray and because I meditate on the things I want for myself and my family things have a way of coming along to assist. Such as a the set of bibles I received from Zondervan, specifically for kids and teens of African American descent. To be honest with you I balk at the idea of Bibles, the Word of God, being stylized for anyone and not everyone. When I go to church I always see at least three women with bibles for women. I don't get it. But that's just me. I don't have to get it. It's none of my business.

My Holy Bible For African American Children (for kids ages 7-10) sports bright and shiny covers that feature smiling children. The pluses: it comes in the version of your choosing (NIV, KJV, etc.); the text is large and easy to read; there are plenty of illustrations and inserts by esteemed artists of color who put their interpretation on biblical times (just as everyone else does); and the pages are pretty durable. The minuses: the book is huge and though I prefer the look and feel of a real book to today's new infantry of electronic books, I personally can't lug around a big clunky bible. My bible (which is currently missing) is slim and sleek, leather-bound with a magnetic flap to keep it safe from bent or torn pages. But the print is microscopic and you can practically see through the paper it's so thin.

Our Heritage Our Faith: Holy Bible For African American Teens is definitely mature and aimed at the tween and teenage set. The good: It's leather-bound and duo-tone with a funky alligator skin embossed surface. The text is smaller and the pages are thinner. The expectation here is that the own will take care of this book. It has photographs, notes and articles interspersed throughout and features a great section at the end which asks and answers the most if not all of the questions a teenage mind might have about Christianity, God, religions and fellowship. The bad: The book is not for boys. On it's face the cover's duo-tone is deep pink and rich lavender. And the box art only has teenage girls on it. The only kind of male who will even glance at this is a father looking to buy a bible for his daughter. No boy will ever consider it regardless of what's contained inside.

The Old Leave Out On The Table Test: I left the bibles out on the coffee table in my living room. My daughter was immediately drawn to the photo art on the kids bible and like the drawings inside. She let me read to her a little bit at bed time, but lost interest quickly because there were no pictures to go along with the words I was reading. My teen noticed the kids one too, completely ignoring the pink book sitting next to it. He began leafing through the pages and asking me questions. A discussion ensued that left me relieved to know that maybe it isn't to late for me to facilitate pouring a few things into his heart.

I'd love to hear your stories (struggles, triumphs, day-to-day) of how you (male or female) instill your values in your household.

Please visit my Facebook Page where I will be giving away 2 of the bibles discussed here.

Disclosure: I received three (3) bibles from Zondervan Publishing for the purpose of reviewing them. MMWH.com was not compensated financially in any way for this review.


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You can view my entire Bye Bye, Backfat...Hello Boxing Gloves Series to date and more at my Vimeo Page.

Stay tuned for prizes/giveaways on my Facebook Page.

Happy Fatherhood Friday!

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I remember Daddy told me
Fairy tales can come true
But you gotta make ’em happen
It all depends on you
So I work real hard each and every day
Now things for sure are goin’ my way
Just doin’ what I do
Look out boys, I’m comin’ through...

-Princess Tiana

My passing fairy tale, better stated, passing want (not without some work on my part) has come true. I'm very happy and proud to announce the Makes Me Wanna Holler Disney's The Princess & the Frog DVD Giveaway.

Anyone who keeps up with this blog knows how much I love this movie and why. In December 2009, I wrote The Princess & The Frog - NYC Style! to chronicle my sheer jubilation in watching my daughter connect with a movie that I believe has since shaped the course of her childhood imagination and definitely cemented for her that a princess can be of any complexion and any pedigree, and being helpless and in need of saving is no longer a prerequisite. The soundtrack is the first (of many I'm sure) that's she's learned word for word. I created a musical slideshow to commemorate the experience.

And now you have the chance to bring the experience home for your little princesses (or simply enjoy it yourself). Because this is so near and dear to me I'm not tying any "sign up for my site" requirements to this contest. (It's your choice whether or not you want to follow this blog, I have no desire to rope you in temporarily with a giveaway).

The Prize:


Three (3) copies of the Princess & The Frog DVD will be given away to three (3) individual contestants. Winners will be selected using Random.org.



Contest Rules:

To enter you must do one or all of the following:

• Add a comment to this post about your favorite childhood full feature cartoon movie.

• Add a comment to this post about why you want Disney's Princess & The Frog DVD pack.

• Tweet the following: Check out @MakesMeHoller - enter to win (for real this time) a copy of Disney's The Princess And The Frog DVD http://bit.ly/9hLOHY #giveaway Make sure to let me know here in the comment section so your tweet(s) will be counted as an entry/entries.

That's it. Enter as many times as you like. The more times you enter the more chances you have to win!

Contest Duration:

The contest will run from Thursday, March 18, 2010 to 11:59 pm, Friday, March 26th, 2010.

Eligibility:

You must be a resident of the United States or have a valid U.S. mailing address.


Good luck! And I'd like to thank fellow Dad Blogger and great man, MochaDad, for facilitating the relationship that allowed me to host this contest.


Please Click Here For Official Movie & Product Information.

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Neither E.Payne nor MakesMeWannaHoller.com is being compensated in any way.



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If you’re looking to expand your brand, whatever your business might be --- from blogs to pasta sauce, make it wearable. Check out Bender Shirts for some great deals on custom t-shirts. After visiting their site and selecting one of their custom screen printing packages, your brand can be available in everything from doggie tees to long sleeve, cotton XXL anvil shirts in no time.

Disclosure: This has been a paid post.

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Before Halle,
before Salli,
before Paula (Patton),
before Alicia (Keys),
before Jill (Scott),
before Erykah (Badu),
before anyone that I could list here,

...there was Sade Adu...

and boy did I love her music and lust after her beauty. Many a teen and college age night was spent sitting in the dark listening to her music, either lamenting alone over some stupid and immature love lost or with company doing my best to make it last forever (even though I can't say I can remember any of those moments now).

If you haven't heard her very radio-compliant track and title of the album, Soldier of Love, please listen and look below.



The first time I heard this I was driving and I swerved in my car. "Was that Sade?!" I screamed to myself, gasping as all the ridiculous lust I once had for her bubbled back to the surface. Several people I know don't like the cut or haven't made up their mind about it yet. In truth, it's a bit light for those of us who hold Sade and company to a higher standard. But the music business is just that, a business, she had to get the attention of the mainstream and get into the rotation on stations such as New York City's Hot97. This is the perfect song to do it.

If the loyalists aren't ruled by unrealistic expectations, few will be disappointed with Soldier of Love, barring it's title track and interesting video.

The group, best known for their mellow, melodic hits like "By Your Side" and "No Ordinary Love," will release their first album of new material since 2000, Soldier of Love, on Feb. 9.

Among the new tunes is "Babyfather," "about how great it is to be a parent, what a great honor and privilege that is, and what a terrible thing that is to waste," frontwoman Sade Adu recently told PEOPLE. "As long as you feel good about yourself, you can be a good parent, and then it becomes an endless fruitful cycle," she says.

The somber tracks of love, unrequited, unwanted and survived featured in The Moon And The SKy, Morning Bird and Skin will quickly assure you that time has taken nothing from SADE. Like R&B crooner Maxwell, the time off should only make her return that much sweeter.

But I'd rather let you find this out for yourselves...for free!

Presenting my first giveaway for 2010 -

I'll be giving away three (3) copies of Sade's Soldier of Love CD just in time to celebrate the afterglow of a wonderful Valentine's Day.

Contest Rules:

The contest will run from Monday, February 8th to Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. Only 3 winners will be randomly selected.


How to Enter:

• You can either tweet, blog about, or mention this contest on Facebook. Each will serve as a valid entry that you MUST mention here in the Comments Section of this post with the representative links back to your mention. There is no limit to the number of tweets, blogs or Facebook mentions you can make. Winners will be selected using Random.org. And,
  

• Leave any comment love here about Sade. That way no matter what, you have at the very least two (2) eligible entries.
  

Who Is Eligible:

You MUST be either a verified subscriber, a MakesMeWannaHoller Facebook Fan, MakesMeWannaHoller Networked Blogs Follower or a Google Friend of this blog to be eligible for this contest. No other entries will be taken into consideration. If you currently are not and want to play, then sign up and enjoy the blog, why don't you?

You must be a resident of the United States or have a valid U.S. mailing address.


Winners will be announced by the end of the week beginning Sunday, February, 21st, 2010.


Good luck!


Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post nor is E.Payne or MakesMeWannaHoller.com being compensated in any way for the above review. Though I received an advance copy of the Soldier of Love CD free of charge, there was no request for the above review nor any persuasion to make the above comments as they have been stated.

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Besides the lights, camera, and action, Superbowl commercials rank right up there as on the main highlights of the big game. From cars to jobs to Internet domain companies there's nothing that can't be promoted on one of television's most watched nights. And most of them thrive on one major component: they're funny.

Presenting UNITARD, the superhero spokesman for VacationRental.org. UNITARD tirelessly fights for the happiness of travelers, and he will not rest until people learn the benefits of the affordable, quality vacation rental. He fights for us all.

Check out their vacation rental commercial premiering before Superbowl XLIV:



And while you're at it look at all their packages and offers that span the U.S., the Caribbean and Europe.

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In the early 1950s, legendary baseball hero Jackie Robinson literally “tested the ice” for his kids who so eagerly wanted to skate on the frozen lake near their home. Testing the Ice is a stunning metaphor for Robinson’s remarkable racial breakthrough.

This book review is based on a promotional copy provided to me thanks to Scholastic. I was immediately drawn in by Kadir Nelson's compelling illustrations and found myself imagining the rural descriptions contained in the book. Through this storybook I was able to relive moments of Jackie Robinson's life and piece together tidbits and anecdotes I've been told over the years by people who personally crossed paths with this sports pioneer. As my sports-enthusiast son is in high school I had the less than enviable task of testing the book out of my princess, fairy, Dora and Diego loving daughter. Although at the age of three, she wasn't able to grasp the full content of the story but she sat attentive as I read to her and waiting eagerly for me to turn each page to see what picture was coming next. By story's end she understood the overarching theme of not being afraid to do things that need to be done.

The Giveaway:

In conjunction with Big Honcho Media, Makes Me Wanna Holler will be giving away four (4) beautiful hardcover copies of Testing The Ice. This is just in time for the holidays and will make a great gift for a young one who loves to read.

Entries can be one or all of the following:

1. Leave a comment about why you would like a copy of Testing The Ice for your child(ren). (This doesn't have to be long and drawn out. The simpler, the better.)
2. Leave a comment about your love of baseball or Jackie Robinson or a Jackie Robinson anecdote.
3. Tweet about this contest and include my handle, @MakesMeHoller, in your tweet (please leave a comment here to let me know you've tweeted).

You can do any or all of the above as many times as you like. And of course I'm always open to you, my loyal readers, spreading the word about Makes Me Wanna Holler (but this isn't a requirement for this giveaway).

Winners will be chosen by Random.org.

This contest will begins today Friday, November 13, 2009 at the time of this posting, 12:15 p.m. (EST) and ends at 12:15 a.m. on Friday, November 20, 2009. You must be either: a US citizen or have a US mailing address to enter. No purchase necessary to enter.

This contest is now CLOSED. The winners will be mentioned in a blog post on Monday, November 23, 2009.





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Set in the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ruined follows a young woman's nightmarish path to Mama Nadi, a savvy businesswoman who—in the midst of a complex civil war— both protects and profits from the women whose bodies have become battlegrounds. At once heartbreaking and captivating, Ruined pays homage to the courageous and resilient women who must piece themselves together after the ruin.

Source: Theatre In Chicago

I had the absolute pleasure of seeing this wonderful play last night as the guest one of my former acting teachers (and now friend) from Harlem School of the Arts. Aside from the amazing Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Lynn Nottage's emotionally wrenching and almost impossibly layered and textured work, and the amazing multifaceted performances put on by all the actors - I was especially tickled because I met nearly all of the cast a week earlier at my friend's home. It was an intimate little gathering where they dined, chatted casually and played...Taboo.

Ruined is an amazing play complete with some of the best actors I've seen. And as someone who's seen many plays on Broadway (numbering in the double-digits), I was knocked off my feet by this slick, Off-Broadway production.

Ruined's Condola Rashad (Sophie) & Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Salima)

If you're into the theatre, this is one you don't want to miss. It's curtain closes on September 6th of this year. There's still time for those of you who are in New York City or intend to visit in the coming days. Purchase your tickets for Ruined here and be a witness to something very beautiful.

Peace...





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