Father’s Day is quickly approaching, and Mixbook has launched the Dad’s Got Talent Contest to honor your favorite dads.  I am a personal fan of Mixbook, so I was thrilled when asked to be one of five judges for this year’s contest. HHM will help choose five first place dad photos to win $50 gift cards to Amazon.com. We are looking forward to seeing the awesome dads in your life, and I can’t wait to see the silly, embarrassing, and sweet pictures you all have to share.

Not only is Mixbook giving away $250 for Amazon.com, but they are also offering 5 free Mixbooks on Twitter to entrants who share their photo on Twitter using hashtag #mixbookdad, and one Grand Prize winner will receive $1,500 to spend at Best Buy for receiving the most online votes. I know that is a lot to take in, so here is the breakdown on how it works (starting May 15th through June 17th):

• Find or take a picture of dear old dad that highlights his hidden talent
• Go to Contest Page: https://www.facebook.com/mixbook?sk=app_226105637428999&app_data=Dads-Got-Talent-Contest and upload photo
• Share with friends and family and get them to vote for your photo
• Once a week, participants who have tweeted that week with hashtag #mixbookdad will be selected at random for the weekly prizes from Mixbook
• Judges will choose the top 5 First Place winners after June 17th
  • 1 Grand Prize: $1,500 Gift Card to Best Buy – Most Votes!
  • 5 First Place Prizes: 5 $50 Gift Cards to Amazon.com – Judges’ Choice!
  • 5 Twitter Prizes: 5 free Mixbook photo books – Tweets with hashtag!
• Winners will be notified no later than June 20th, 2012

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

enter mixbook’s dad’s got talent contest 2012 is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

As you all know, Nike recently selected HappyHourMom as one of the lucky (blessed) blogs to take part in the Nike Young Athletes Innovation Summit. Now, ideally I would have been posting blog updates real time throughout the trip, from start to finish, but I was just having too much fun with my daughter being spoiled by the fabulous #NikeKids team. Seriously, Nike is no joke, and the trip was beyond all expectations for both myself and my daughter. Let’s start with the First Class airfare. Yes, FIRST CLASS! Now for some of you this might not be a big deal, but for someone like me who travels on both domestic and international flights several times a year, and constantly finds herself walking through those first rows of the plane with a little bit of envy and whole lot of  admiration, I felt like a giddy school girl when I realized we would be traveling like rock stars. As you can see in the picture above, my daughter was just as excited! The first leg of our flight from Fresno to San Fran was on a smaller plane, so while our seats were no different, we still enjoyed walking right to the front during check-in and when going through security. As someone who frequently travels, it’s amazing how the perks of a First Class ticket helped to eases the stress from check-in to departure and everything in between. (So while I want to thank you Nike, I also think you may have ruined all future “average” flights from this point forward!)

As if the flight wasn’t amazing enough, we were greeted in Portland by a Nike Rep who then escorted us to the car that would take us to our Hotel. This is where it really started getting good. We check in at The Nines Hotel and were greeted with two invitations to breakfast the following morning. Again, I would have been content with that…but no, Nike had more planned for us! As we walked down the gorgeous corridors, my daughter felt like a queen, and couldn’t wait to find our room (Note to self: When you have to enter your key card in the elevator just to get to your floor, you know it’s got to be good!) When we entered our room, my daughter’s first reaction was that someone else forget their belongings, but I immediately knew that Nike had outdone themselves. We were greeted with Nike gear and apparel, treats, champagne, and a welcome letter with our itinerary for the following day. WooHoo! Despite the fact that it was 1AM at this point, I was wide awake with excitement and adrenaline. I tried calling my husband to tell him all about it, but of course he was out like a light, so I sat in the room like a grinning fool looking through my new goodies for about an hour before I was finally able to get some sleep. You can see all of our amazing pictures below, and stay tuned to read all about our full day of fun at the Nike Young Athletes Innovation Summit the following day (from our gourmet fancy schmancy breakfast, to the Nike paparazzi, to our inside look at the Nike World Headquarters and the Nike Sports Research Lab). You heard all about our fun and exciting adventure, now we’d like to hear about one of yours. Leave a comment below and share a fun place you have visited with your kiddos!

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

nike young athletes innovation summit, first class affair is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Nike puts a great deal of time and energy into its research and development team,  employing some of the greatest minds for the Nike Sports Research Lab. One thing was clear, after spending a day on the campus of the Nike World Headquarters–Nike as a whole has an insatiable desire to meet the needs of each consumer. With new research studies launching each year, combined with the conclusions of decade-long studies, Nike is able to utilize the information and developments from the NSRL to design products that will better meet each of our needs and lifestyles. It is amazing how science factors in to the quality and functionality of our wardrobes–from footwear, to active wear and everything in between. Because of the fact that Nike’s Sport Research Lab is home to some of its most confidential information, our tour of the lab was truly a once-in-a-lifetime, exclusive opportunity. Evident in the reactions and excitement of the Nike representatives who were hosting our tour, the are was so secure that most employees are not even allowed in the NSRL portion of the Mia Hamm building.

Not only did we have the great honor of even stepping into the building, we also met one of the individuals behind the magic, Research Director of the Nike Sports Research Lab, Jeff Pisciotta. An invaluable experience, I took away a sense of appreciation for all that goes into each Nike product. Mr. Pisciotta is the man when it comes to orthopedic biomechanics (say that five times fast!), and dove right into the analytical side of the human gait. The craziest part about the entire presentation for Nike Free  ”footwear” is that he talked a whole lot about “foot” and absolutely zero about “wear!” Creating a flexible shoe with barefoot technology meant that much of the research conducted at the NSRL focused on the study of the human gait, mechanics, etc. I never realized how much thought actually went into studying the shape and build of our feet, how they function, and how that impacts (or is influenced by) the way walk and run. It was incredible to see the slides and videos showing the movement of our feet both with and without shoes, all the way down to the first steps of our children. In fact, much of the research has been used to make suitable shoes for our young children, giving them the flexibility they need to build and strengthen their “walking” muscles.

Following the presentation in the NSRL, we learned more about the different components of the lab and the kids were able to try out some of the technology in the lab that has been used by the best athletes in the world. Check this video of my daughter Kira, shot at 500 frames per second, as she kicks a soccer ball, it is SO COOL!

After our time in the NSRL, we headed back to our gorgeous gathering point/blogger station and had the pleasure of meeting and learning from, the king of the Innovation Kitchen, Innovation Director Tobie Hatfield.  He elaborated on Nike’s barefoot technology, and made the connection between the research phase that Jeff Pisciotta touched on, and the innovation and development  phase for a Nike Free shoe. In fact, he said that barefoot technology is the most researched technology–more than all other research combined! Here are a few pictures of Tobie Hatfield as he shares a few slides…

Take a look at the pressure distribution when we walk, and compare distribution when wearing a traditional shoe, walking barefoot, and when wearing a Nike Free shoe…

Want to meet Jeff Pisciotta and Tobie Hatfield and learn a little about Nike Free? Take a look at the video below…

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

inside look at the nike sports research lab #nikekids is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Go green, eat organic, save the environment…these are all common words and phrases that have become hot topics and obsessive trends over the past decade. While I have always been supportive of these efforts and often eager to be a part of the positive initiatives, I have to admit that I have also been overwhelmed, unsure, and sometimes even unwilling (ugh, I know, I am such a bad person!) to commit to certain long-term changes. I am the type of person who likes consistency, and tries to avoid drastic changes when it comes to the day-to-day routines. I may change my zip code, or country code for that matter, every 6-9 months, but don’t even think about asking me to switch up my brand of shampoo, face wash or even laundry detergent. My motto is don’t fix it if it’s not broken, and I often worry that a new or different product might not live up to my expectations. So when recently asked to take part in a VIP Blogger partnership with SheSpeaks, Tide and P&G’s Future Friendly “Take a Load Off” campaign, I wasn’t sure what to expect. All I can say, is that I wish every single one of you could have come with me, because I know you would have been impacted in the same way I was, and overwhelmed with the fact that a little bit of knowledge and education can go a long way–even when you are talking about something as “simple” as a load of laundry! P&G is encouraging all U.S. residents to wash their laundry loads with cold water instead of warm or hot. This “Take a Load Off Campaign” is P&G’s effort to convert 70% of all wash loads to cold by 2020. They have partnered with Tide, who now offers Tide Coldwater to provide a deep clean when washing in cold water, in hopes of making a difference. Not only is this an attainable goal, it is a necessary one as well! By simply using Tide Coldwater and washing each load in cold water, you can make a huge impact in the amount of energy used, as well as the amount of money spent each month. I learned so much, and have already made the commitment to “going cold.”

Apart from the fact that I was provided with a car service and didn’t have to drive through the horrid So Cal traffic, and treated to a tasty lunch at Twist in the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, the team of representatives was incredible. First, there is with the beautiful  and impressively well-informed expecting momma, Vanessa Lachey who truly knocked my socks off. Let’s be honest, you never know what to expect with Celebrities, as you often wonder if they are truly passionate about the brands the are working with, but Ms. Lachey was a doll who clearly believes in the product and message she is backing. So hats off to Tide and P&G for working with a soon-to-be mom who practices what she preaches and looks good doing it! Accompanying her was the Tide R&D Representative, Jack English. This is where I wish every one of you could have been there. He was so informative and knowledgeable, that I was able to truly understand the significance of washing my clothes in cold water, and the value of using Tide Coldwater to make sure my clothes are still getting the most effective, deepest clean possible in cold water temperatures. Jack offered knowledge that you don’t hear on the commercials, or see on the product labels. He really explained the research and development that P&G implements to guarantee its products maintain the highest quality and effectiveness. Not only did they test Tide Coldwater with the tap water in their labs, but they took into account the water types geographically,  with geological testing to account for the different enzymes needed to effectively achieve that deep clean we all desire. I know it sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo, but let’s keep it simple–the Tide Research and Development team covered all bases to make sure our laundry is getting the deepest clean at the coldest of temperatures. Once we had a great understanding of the product, it came down to understanding WHY it is important to make a switch to cold water washing, and what it means for our wallets and the environment. Because, let’s be honest, as moms that’s what we REALLY want to know!

The amount of money and energy you can save by switching to cold water is astounding. Here are some mind-blowing facts provided by Tide and P&G:

If everyone in the U.S. washed in cold water, the energy saved:

• Could power the Empire State Building for 444 years.
• Is equivalent to the energy produced at the Hoover Dam for 4 years.
• Could power the streetlights of the “City that Never Sleeps” (New York) for 71 years.

If a household switched to cold water washing for a year, they would save enough energy to:
• Watch TV for 1,363 hours.
• Play Xbox 360 for 684 hours.
• Charge an iPhone 4S 30,861 times.
• Power an average new refrigerator for nearly 4 months.

The pledge is simple…Wash your clothes in cold water. All you need to do is change that dial before you start your load, and leave it there! Finish that detergent you have now (or push it aside and start now!), and switch to Tide Coldwater for your next purchase. Just think, you can also help preserve those colors and prevent shrinking of your favorite clothes! To join me and your fellow happy hour moms and take the pledge, head over to P&G’s Future Friendly page and pledge to “Take a Load Off” by switching to cold water. Plus, they are giving away some AWESOME prizes, including a new HE Washer and Dryer, and a year supply of Tide Coldwater! Here are some pictures of the event (notice the environmentally-friendly, refurbished shipping container with bamboo flooring that was used for the pop-up “Laundry Lounge”–no detail went unnoticed!)…

HappyHourMom received VIP perks during this event. All content and opinions are those of HHM.

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

one simple way to save money & energy, take a load off and start today! is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Are there any ladies who don’t like to shop? My guess is that there may be a few who can’t handle the crazy crowds at their local malls. Or, hauling their children, strollers, bags, treats, snacks through the endless aisles while trying to focus on putting together a cohesive ensemble. Sometimes it can be a blessing and a curse. After our adventures in New York at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week a few weeks ago all I can think about are the amazing clothes we saw. I am excited to add a few pieces to my own personal collection. Prior to our trip, I visited Neiman Marcus with a co-worker during their mega shoe sale. Had I not taken advantage of the discounted prices on a pair of Tory Burch, Cole Haan, and Stuart Weitzman’s I would have been SOL in the shoe department. If you are looking to spice up your closest with a few new pieces from the luxury retailer  you should check out this free shipping Neiman Marcus code on Coupon Cabin first. CouponCabin.com works directly with Neiman Marcus and more than 3,700 other retailers to offer incredible savings on quality goods. Users can grab a code quickly (less than 90 seconds on average), or sign up for CouponCabin Rewards to earn points toward gift cards. Or, you can enter our latest Happy Hour Mom Giveaway for $100 gift card to Neiman Marcus!

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Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

neiman marcus $100 giveaway | coupon cabin is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

One of the hardest things to do as a working mom, is head back to work. To complicate things even more, moms who are exclusively breastfeeding must transition their little ones to the bottle. Finding the perfect breast pump is one thing, but finding a bottle with a nipple that closely mimics a mother’s breast, is just as important. In fact, one of my girlfriends is getting ready to head back to work on Monday, and her beautiful little princess simply refuses to take milk from a bottle. In fact Mom has tried over 10 different popular bottle styles and brands, sippy cups, regular cups–she’s tried everything! Everything but mimijumi that is.

I have never used a mimijumi bottle personally (or for my kiddos), but saw them for the first time a couple weeks back when Anthony Sabato Junior was shown feeding his baby boy on Celebrity Wife Swap. As moms we know how it goes when we’ve “tried everything” and nothing seems to be working, so I gave her the name and am anxious to hear how mimijumi bottles work for her. I am excited to offer one of our Happy Hour Moms a chance to try them out too!

mimijumi Key Features

• mimijumi’s “Very Hungry” baby bottle is breast like in appearance and texture, so babies are less likely to have a problem transitioning  between breast and bottle
• Free of BPA and phthalates, the nylon bottle is easy to clean and has a wide mouth for easy filling, a screw on one piece nipple, and a non skid base
• Soft silicon nipple is textured and colored to resemble skin, and includes an integrated ventilation system to aid in the baby’s digestion
• The “Very Hungry” baby bottle (8 oz) and nipples retail for $14.99 and the “Not So Hungry” baby bottle (4 oz) is available for $13.99, both nationwide and also online at thenewmomshop.

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Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

giveaway | transition from breast to bottle with mimijumi is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Have you joined our Happy Hour Mom book club yet? What better way to follow our latest suggested title than with your own Kindle. Happy Hour Mom has teamed up with Calorie Lab to bring you this amazing giveaway.

Winner will receive a Kindle plus the eBook download for  “115 Reasons Why It’s Not Your Fault if You’re Fat”, written by Robert S. Wieder.

About the eBook “115 Reasons Why It’s Not Your Fault if You’re Fat”, written by Robert S. Wieder.

The former stand up comic, Robert S. Wieder write about whether blaming expanding waistlines on “plate tectonics,” (that is, larger restaurant plate sizes, #80), or Facebook (we just aren’t flirting enough in person, #87), Bob hands readers fat rationalizations with a comedian’s finesse. He uses the latest health research in his quest to show that the science of fat is more complicated than any of us may have thought. Bob calls these justifications “fat-inducing factors.” The eBook is available here:http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LWGJP6 Stay tuned for the book review.

About Calorie Lab:

CalorieLab maintains the world’s largest and most up-to-date calorie and nutrition facts database.

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Toni Danielson

Toni Danielson, ad agency working mom of a big brown-eyed little man, wife to an amazing husband, Digital Media Lover. Blogger. Infographic-obsessed. Expat. Happy Hour Mom. BBall Wife. Not all in that order. Join me in my journey to become the ultimate Happy Hour Mom!

    

See larger image 115 Reasons Why It's Not Your Fault If You're Fat (Kindle Edition) By (author) Robert S. Wieder Release date December 13, 2011.

kindle + eBook giveaway | calorie lab is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

While Terri Giuliano Long has enjoyed remarked success with her self-published novel In Leah’s Wake, she recently “announced the European launch of a revised version of her self-published book by Inspired Quill Press.” In a recent Inspired Quill Press release, author Terri Giuliano discusses the latest edited release of In Leah’s Wake:

The newly edited edition features two new chapters and several new scenes. “I listened carefully to responses and suggestions I received from readers and reviewers,” Long says. “I cut over 60 pages and added insights while still maintaining the integrity of the original edition and showcasing what I felt were the best parts of the novel.”

With the launch of Happy Hour Mom’s Book Club, the wonderful Ms. T.G.Long thought it was only fitting that our Happy Hour Mom readers received the first of the revised edition. We couldn’t be more thrilled! She has generously offered to giveaway 4 fantastic prizes :

1) Signed copy of the novel, In Leah’s Wake, with a bookmark (3 lucky readers will receive this offer!)

2) Grand Prize: Canvas Tote, a $ 15 Starbucks card, a signed copy of In Leah’s Wake, and a bookmark (1 reader will be selected for the grand prize!)

Bonus: While not part of the giveaway, Happy Hour Mom will also be featuring an interview with Terri Giuliano Long towards the end of the month, and each of you will have the opportunity to submit questions directly to the author herself!

Don’t miss out! Please enter the giveaway only if you are truly interested in participating in the HHM Book Club. We are looking for moms who are passionate about reading, and who would love to discuss great novels with other like-minded mommas. The HHM Book Club is going to be full of fun giveaways and great surprises, and we can’t wait to go on this exciting adventure together. So sign up today, and enter to win!

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Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

giveaway :: 3 signed copies of in leah’s wake & a special grand prize offer is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

What to Expect When You’re Expecting has been a household name for expecting moms for years. The “What to Expect” series has managed to extend its stay in the home for a couple extra years with the addition of the “What to Expect The First Year,” and “What to Expect The Second Year” editions. I personally enjoyed the “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” and “What to Expect The First Year” with my pregnancies, and found them to be informative and helpful with both. I always looked forward to reading about my little bun with each week of my pregnancy, often reading ahead to see what was to come. The “What to Expect The First Year” was especially helpful because it covers many topics you don’t necessarily cover at happy hour or during dinner (yea, I’m talking hemorrhoids, booby milk, etc.). As new moms (and even moms on her second or third go around), it is helpful to have a handy resource for tips when it comes to baby care, fevers, expected milestones, reminders on what to ask your Doc at the next check-up, etc.

It really doesn’t matter how many pregnancies you’ve been through, or little tots you have running around, the “What to Expect” books are great to have on hand. Often times you will experience something with your latest pregnancy or little angel, that you never went through in the past. Surely plenty of moms have gone through the same thing, and chances are that authors Heidi Murkoff and Shannon Mazel have you covered in one of their 3 books. This is why we are excited to offer 2 HappyHourMom.com readers a collection of the What to Expect Book Series (that’s right 6 books in all, so 2 winners will receive 3 books each! woot woot):

• What to Expect When You’re Expecting
• What to Expect The First Year
• What to Expect The Second Year

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Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

giveaway :: win 3 “what to expect” books is a post from: Happy Hour Mom

Happy Hour Mom has long been a fan of BUTCH + harold. After all, what is not to love about peel and stick art that you can move from wall to wall and room to room? As a traveling mama, I love my BUTCH & harold Stickr Frames because I can take them around the world with us–they are light-weight and add the perfect bit of style to the drab walls in our new “temporary” homes. Then when it is time to leave 9 months later, I peel them off, pack them up, and off we go to the next stop. As the holidays approach, I am excited to say that we are giving away TWO BUTCH & harold products.

On Twitter…we are giving away one of their newest products, the Stickr Pockets. They are the perfect tool to help you stay organized and keep track of your busy schedule. All you have to do is tweet something on your to-do list this holiday season. Enter to win on Twitter.

On Facebook… we are giving away one of their most popular products, the Stickr Frames. All you have to do is share one of your most frame-worthy pictures and “Like” BUTCH & harold on Facebook. Enter to win of Facebook.

Enter to win these must-have peel and stick (and peel-and-stick-again) Stickr Frames and Stickr Pockets by BUTCH & harold. Not only will you love them for your own home or office, but they also make the perfect gift for:
1) Moms {we have lots of cute little faces and moments to share}
2) Expats {you can travel anywhere with these super flat and light-weight frames}
3) College students {the fewer holes in the wall the better, plus you can rotate your favorite pictures weekend after weekend!}
4) Anyone who likes change–no hammers, no hooks, no hassle, no commitment!

Don’t miss out… Enter to win on Twitter, Enter to win of Facebook, or Both!

Enter to win on Twitter.

Enter to win of Facebook.

Shannon Hughes

Co-Founder/CEO of HappyHourMom.com, Freelancer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and Social Media lover. Wife to an amazing husband, mom to two beautiful little girls, and follower of Jesus Christ. I am a Happy Hour Mom…are you?

    

giveaway | the perfect holiday gift: butch & harold peel and stick re-usable frames and decor is a post from: Happy Hour Mom