The Build-a-Bear Workshop Honors #Autism Awareness Month with the Autism Speaks Bear

To honor Autism Awareness Month this April, the Build-a-Bear Workshop has partnered with Autism Speaks to make the Autism Speaks bear.

The Autism Speaks bear ($18) will be in Build-a-Bear Workshop stores as of March 27, 2013 (available while supplies last) and $1 from the sale of this bear will be donated to Autism Speaks.

Throughout April, guests can donate $1 (or more) to Autism Speaks upon check out at Build-a-Bear Workshop  stores within the United States on line at buildabear.com.     

Cute, cuddly and for a good cause, the Autism Speaks bear will make any child - with or without - autism very happy. 

I'm excited to host a $25 Build-a-Bear Workshop gift card giveaway.    

THE RULES:

• You must post a comment with each entry.
• Comments will be numbered in the order they are listed and a random number generator (random.org) will be used to select the winner.
• If you combine entries into one post, you will only have one chance to win rather than up to three.
• Giveaway is open to Continental U.S.
• Gift Card will be mailed directly from Build-a-Bear office.

Mandatory entry: Leave a comment. 

Additional entries - you must leave a comment for each additional entry:

• Follow me on twitter - @LaliQuin  
• “Like” the AutismWonderland Facebook page
• Tweet: I just entered to win an $25 @buildabear Gift Card via @LaliQuin http://bit.ly/15gQHLM #autismawareness 

This giveaway will end Thursday, 3/21/13 11:59 pm EST. Winner will be announced on Facebook & Twitter by 3/22/13 Noon EST.  I will contact the winner and you will have 24 hours to reply.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary Build-a-Bear Autism Speaks bear. All opinions are my own.

Show Someone You Care When They're Sick #KleenexSWS

It wasn't often that I was sick enough that my mother kept me home from school. But when she did, I enjoyed every moment of it. I got her full attention. I got to lay in her bed and watch TV. She brushed my hair back, pressing a cool washcloth over my face. She made her special chicken soup and served me tall glasses of ginger ale with crushed ice. 

The Boy is a pretty healthy kid and it's rare that I keep him home from school. But when I do - it's really tough. Because he can't tell me what's wrong. I have to guess. 

But as hard as it is seeing him sick, I sort of like it. Not like that he's sick. But there's a small part of me that likes that he needs me. I like that, for a few hours, he slows down. He'll lay in my lap and let me read a story without getting up once. And the first time The Boy spontaneously said I love you - was when he was sick.

And those times when he's so sick, he won't get up out of bed and I have to sit him up and hold a cup of juice with crushed ice to his mouth, helping him drink. As I press a cool washcloth over his head, I hope he gets better. Because while I like that he slows down long enough to need me, it hurts to see him helpless. 

As mom's we want to provide comfort to our loved ones they're sick. And part of that comfort is using a soft tissue. 

That's why I love Kleenex tissues. Because when someone sick and sneezing - who wants to blow their nose with sand paper? I was really excited to receive my share pack in the mail. Since I already have my supply of tissues at home for The Boy, I'm taking my share pack to the office and sharing with my coworkers. Because you never you know when someone will need a soft tissue to ease their comfort and make them feel better.   

Would love to send you a share pack! Leave a comment below telling me how you show someone you care when they're sick.

 *Giveaway is open to U.S. residents
* Must be 18 years & older to enter
* Giveaway ends Friday, December 14, 2012 11:59pm EST
* Winner will be chosen randomly via random.org & I will email the winner by Sat 12/16 

Learn more about, visit Kleenex on Facebook

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and Kleenex. All statements and opinions are my own.

Captain America Mask & Shield is Great for Pretend Play #HasbroHoliday

I remember when The Boy was initially going through the evaluation process. The doctor handed The Boy a toy car. Instead of "driving" the car and/or making "vroom vroom" sounds, The Boy, held the toy car close to his eyes and started spinning its wheels. And the doctor said, "I see he has no pretend play skills."

It's pretty hard to imagine a kid with no pretend play skills. It's the kind of thing many parents take for granted. Pretend play needed to be taught to him. And four years later, it is still something we work on.  (Though I am happy to report that The Boy has a collection of cars that he "drives" all over the apartment.)

But lately, The Boy has taken an interest in Super Heroes. And since The Husband is a huge comic book/super hero fan - I love that they have that shared interest. 

We were really excited to receive a this cool Captain America Hero Mask ($8.99 - 5 years & up) & Captain America Triple Blast Shield ($19.99 - 5 years & up) from Hasbro.

The Boy really loved putting on the mask and looking at himself in the mirror. The cool part about the mask is that it adjusts to fit adults - so Mom & Dad can get in on the fun too. He ran around the apartment with his mask and shield pretending to be Captain America. The Husband set up some action figures on a book case and The Boy was able to use the Triple Blast Shield to knock them down. He really got a kick out of that. And it was great to see how far he's come with his pretend play skills. 

For more information be sure to visit www.hasbro.com. They have super cool holiday gifts for kids of all ages. 

I am also really excited to host a great giveaway*. 

One of you could win this Captain America Mask & Triple Blast Shield too. And I'm making this super easy. All you need to is leave a comment below telling me: 

Which Marvel hero toys and action figures are 

YOUR kids requesting this holiday season?

* Giveaway is open to U.S. residents
* Must be 18 years & older to enter
* Giveaway ends Friday, December 14, 2012 11:59pm EST
* Winner will be chosen randomly via random.org & I will email the winner by Sat 12/16 

This is part of a product review campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Hasbro; complimentary products were provided.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Celebrate National Coffee Day with NesCafe & Coffee Mate

It's Saturday morning and of course The Boy is up at 6 am. There is no such thing as 'sleeping in' at Casa de Fontanez. And so when he gets up, I get up. Because if I don't...it usually results in spilled milk, melted ice cream or crushed cheerios.

And the first thing I do when I get up is make a cup of coffee.

I'm a mom who takes my coffee seriously. Because if my coffee isn't made right, my day doesn't feel right. And my coffee needs creamer. I love Coffee Mate's Natural Bliss creamer. It's rich and creamy and I can enjoy my coffee without a lot of guilt.

And mid week, if you're at work and in need of an afternoon pick me up - the NesCafe Memento is the perfect choice. The slim packs fit in a purse or a pocket, making it convenient for the office or school. All you need is a cup and hot water. NesCafe Momento will warm you up on those cool autumn afternoons.

What makes coffee even better? Having coffee with friends so I'm excited that I get to share. I'm giving away a 5 coupons for a FREE bottle of Coffee Mate Natural Bliss cream (16 oz bottle, up to $2.79 coupon void in Colorado, Missouri, Louisiana, Tennesse)  and a box of NesCafe Memento. 

So let's celebrate National Coffee Day and have a cup together.  

How to enter? So easy...Just leave a comment.  

This giveaway will end Saturday October 6th at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be announced on Facebook & Twitter by Monday, October 8th.  Be sure to follow me on twitter @LaliQuin  and/or “Like” the AutismWonderland Facebook page. Winner will have 24 hours to reply.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary coupons for Coffee Mate Natural Bliss coffee creamer and Nescafe Mememto . All opinions are my own. 

Sunday Review: Love Anthony #giveaway

Love Anthony
by Lisa Genova

Gallery Books
Hardcover, 320 pages

New York Times Best Selling author, Lisa Genova's new book, Love Anthony is a book about two women dealing with loss, love, loneliness and autism. In Love Anthony, Lisa Genova has created two believable female characters trying to find the meaning of life and rediscovering their own personal identity.

Olivia's idea of a "normal" life seems hopeless when her son Anthony was diagnosed with autism at three years old. And just as Olivia comes to a place of acceptance, hope and happiness - Anthony died.  Beth also deals with loss after she discovered her husband of fourteen years has cheated on her.  As Beth copes with her husband's infidelity, she realizes that being wife and mother to three girls, she has lost herself in the process. Olivia and Beth's life become intertwined in the most unexpected way and it is their unlikely connection that brings them both a sense of peace.     

While Genova does not have a child with autism, she writes as if she truly understands the mind of a special needs parent. There is a scene early on when Olivia is reflecting about the day Anthony is born and all the dreams she had for him, the moment she held him in her arms for the first time. And she thinks, "She didn't know then she should have had simpler dreams for her beautiful son, that she should've looked upon her newborn baby boy and thought, I hope you learn to talk and use the bathroom by the time you're seven." Or the way Olivia constantly watches other children, looking for signs of autism.     

Being an autism mom, it was natural for me to relate to Olivia but I found myself relating to Beth's storyline also. Beth was once a writer but after becoming a wife and mother, she puts her own self aside, "stuff[ing] so much of herself into a box, banished to the attic for so many years." And through her own sense of loss, she slowly begins to reconnect with the woman she used to be before marriage and motherhood. I believe this is something many women go through. It is easy to forget who we once were. Reading Beth's journey was extremely empowering for me. I learned about myself and my marriage in Beth's story.

Love Anthony is one of the best books I've read in a long time. I related to Love Anthony is so many ways - as a woman, a writer, a wife and a special needs parent. There were moments while reading that I had to close the book, shut my eyes and take a deep breath.  Love Anthony, made me smile and cry. And when I read the last page of the book, I was sad because I wanted to follow these women for the rest of their lives. Beautifully written and painfully real, Lisa Genova, taps into every human emotion. 

Love Anthony is available for preorder and will be available on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 but you can enter to win a free hardcover copy here - see below for details.  

Lisa Genova discusses Love Anthony 

.

Now for The Rules:

• You must post a comment with each entry.
• Comments will be numbered in the order they are listed and a random number generator (random.org) will be used to select the winner.
• If you combine entries into one post, you will only have one chance to win rather than up to three.
• Giveaway is open to Continental U.S.

Mandatory entry: Leave a comment. (I'd especially love to hear if you've read anything by Lisa Genova before.) 

Additional entries - you must leave a comment for each additional entry:

• Follow me on twitter - @LaliQuin  
• “Like” the AutismWonderland Facebook page
• Tweet: I just entered to win Lisa Genova's new book Love Anthony via @LaliQuin http://bit.ly/QN0Ee2 

This giveaway will end Saturday September 29th at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be announced on Facebook & Twitter by Monday, October 1st.  I will contact the winner and you will have 24 hours to reply.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a complimentary copy of Love Anthony. All opinions are my own. 

Natural Wonders a #MaryKayGlam GIVEAWAY!

While attending the LATISM Top Blogueras Retreat last month, we were all pampered by the fabulous ladies of Mary Kay.  I returned home with a new line of beauty and skin products and a new love for Mary Kay. 

And now, I have the opportunity to host a giveaway and you can have the chance to win all of the fabulous products I've been using. 

The products are featured in People en Espanol Spring Trend Report.



photo courtesy of Latina Bloggers Connect



Personally, my favorite trend is "Bold Boho - splashes of cool, bright blues sparkle against flow-y fabrics, petal pinks and earth-tone sandals."   While I am not the fashionista I once was, I love looking at what the current trends are and incorporating  - even in a small way - it into my everyday frazzled mom style. Typically I wear neutral eye colors but I'm excited to experiment with the Mary Kay Mineral Eye Color blues (Azure, Midnight Star and Peacock Blue)  

Before you tell me what your favorite spring trend is - let me tell you about the products in the giveaway. Check it out:

Products featured in People en Esp. Spring Trend Report & Suggested Retail Price (Total $138.50):

$14      Mary Kay® Nourishine Plus™ Lip gloss in Mango Tango

$14      Mary Kay® Nourishine Plus™ Lip Gloss in Au Naturel

$26      Mary Kay® Cream Eye Color in Apricot Twist and Pale Blush ($13 each)

$15      Mary Kay® Lash Love™ Mascara in Black

$13      Mary Kay® Cream Blush in Sheer Bliss

$32.50 Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Color in Cinnabar, Emerald, Ivy Garden, Copper glow and Honey Spice ($6.50 each)

$12      Mary Kay® Eyeliner in Rich Jade

$12      Mary Kay® Eyeliner in Deep Brown

Additional products to complete looks and fill a compact and compact mini  & suggested Retail Price (Total $82.50):

$6.50   Mary Kay® Mineral Eyecolor in Crystaline

$20      Mary Kay® Mineral Cheek color in Strawberry Cream & Sparkling Cider ($10 each)

$18      Mary Kay® Compact (unfilled)

$16      Mary Kay® Compact mini (unfilled)

$12      Mary Kay® Lip liner in Soft Blush

$5        Mary Kay® Cheek brushes (2 per person at $2.50 each)

$5        Mary Kay® Eye brush sets (2 packs per person at $2.50 each pack of two)

Botanical Effects™  Suggested Retail Price (Total $58):

$14      *Cleanse

$16      *Hydrate

$14      *Freshen

$14      *Mask

*Each available in Formula 1 (dry skin), Formula 2 (Normal Skin) and Formula 4 (Oily Skin) - winner will need to let me know which one they want.

A  grand TOTAL: $279.00

Now for The Rules:

• You MUST post a comment with each entry.
• Comments will be numbered in the order they are listed and a random number generator (random.org) will be used to select the winner.
• If you combine entries into one post, you will only have one chance to win rather than up to three.
• Giveaway is open to Continental U.S. and Puerto Rico addresses.
• Mary Kay will ship the package to the winner directly

Mandatory entry:  Click HERE to view the Mary Kay Spring Trend Report (English version) & check out their products.  Then come back to this post and leave a comment telling me what Mary Kay product you'd love to try (or have tried) and why. 

Additional entries - you must leave a comment for each additional entry:

• Follow me on twitter - @LaliQuin
• “Like” the AutismWonderland Facebook page
• Tweet: I just entered to win @MaryKay Spring Trend products http://bit.ly/KC4X7d #MaryKayGlam #giveaway via @LaliQuin  

This giveaway will end Tuesday, June 19th at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be announced on Facebook & Twitter by Wednesday, June 20th.  I will contact the winner and you will have 24 hours to reply.