My two teens, my husband and I watched this movie together last week and it was worth our time. Based on the #1 New York Times bestseller by Kathryn Stockett, The Help is a courageous and empowering story about very different and
extraordinary women in the 1960s South who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project 00  one that breaks society?s rules and puts them all at risk. Filled with poignancy, humor and hope — and complete with compelling, never-before-seen bonus features — The Help is a timeless, universal and triumphant story about the ability to create change.

Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard all deliver good performances, and the story really makes you think. My kids asked lots of questions throughout the movie and were shocked to witness some of the accepted segregation practices portrayed in 1960s setting.

Here’s one of my favorite parts of the movie and a message I’d like to be sure to deliver to my children regularly:

The Help Blu-ray Combo Pack provides audiences with the chance to delve deeper into the movie through compelling, never-before-seen bonus features, including “In Their Own Words: A Tribute To the Maids Of Mississippi,” which is an honest observation of life in the South from real-life maids, including director Tate Taylor?s childhood caretaker, Carol Lee; Deleted Scenes; and nine-time Grammy Award®-winning and multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter, Mary J. Blige?s “The Living Proof”, music video from the film?s end titles.

In continued efforts to provide consumers with multiple viewing choices and unprecedented quality, value and portability in a single purchase, The Help has been packaged as follows:

3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack  (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) = $44.99 U.S./$51.99 Canada

Exclusive Blu-ray Bonus Features:
The Making of “The Help:” From Friendship To Film
In Their Own Words: A Tribute To The Maids Of Mississippi
Three deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including „Humiliated,? „A
Book About Jackson? and „Johnny?s Home? (which is a Blu-ray exclusive)

DVD Bonus Features:
Two deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor including „A Senator’s Son.
and „Keep On Walkin
“The Living Proof” music video by Mary J. Blige

2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada

Exclusive Blu-ray Bonus Features:
The Making of “The Help:” From Friendship To Film
In Their Own Words: A Tribute To The Maids Of Mississippi
Three deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor including „Humiliated, „A
Book About Jackson and „Johnny’s Home (which is a Blu-ray exclusive)

DVD Bonus Features:
Two deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including „A Senator’s Son
and „Keep On Walkin
“The Living Proof” music video by Mary J. Blige

1-Disc DVD = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
Bonus Features:
Two deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including „A Senator’s Son
and „Keep On Walkin

“The Living Proof” music video by Mary J. Blige

High Definition Digital Download = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada
Bonus Feature:
Three deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including „Humiliated, „A
Book About Jackson and „Johnny’s Home (which is a Blu-ray exclusive)

“The Living Proof” music video by Mary J. Blige

Standard Definition Digital Download = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada
Bonus Feature:
Three deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor, including „Humiliated, „A
Book About Jackson and „Johnny’s Home (which is a Blu-ray exclusive)
“The Living Proof” music video by Mary J. Blige

On-Demand
For additional information and pricing, please contact your television provider or favorite digital
retailer. Bonus features are not offered with On-Demand.

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• Secretariat Available on Blu-ray and DVD
• Must-have New Toy for Preschooler — Mickey Mote!

The movie chronicles the story of the horse, Secretariat, and Chenery, played by Academy Award® and Golden Globe nominee Diane Lane. I was personally moved by her story, when she is catapulted from the role of a homemaker to that of a woman who must operate in the male-dominated world of horse breeding and racing, risking everything to make the horse she believed in a champion.  As I watched the film, I kept marveling at her courage and ability to fight “mom guilt” while setting an example of strength and determination for her children. (See the Q & A interview with Diane Lane, who plays Chenery, below).

My husband, whose family is from Kentucky, has vague memories of the horse’s victories and enjoyed learning more of the history behind the horse. My older children, ages 15 and 12, simply enjoyed the under-dog wins big nature of Secretariat.

The home entertainment debut of the movie will keep audiences engaged for hours with never-before-shared in-depth interviews with Penny Chenery, exclusive behind-the- scenes footage, deleted scenes and more on the story of one of the greatest accomplishments in sports history. We watched the interview with Ms. Chenery, who makes a brief cameo appearance in the movie, and she is still quite spunky.

SECRETARIAT is available in stores nationwide as a 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD in a single package) for the suggested price of $39.99 U.S./$44.99 Canada and a 1- Disc DVD for the suggested price of $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada.

DISC BONUS FEATURES:

BLU-RAY:

The same as the DVD, plus…

• Choreographing The Races – This piece looks at how director Randall Wallace and the filmmakers used innovative tools and technology to accurately and excitingly recreate the Triple Crown races that make the viewer feel like they are standing on the backstretch themselves.

• A Director’s Inspiration: A Conversation With The Real Penny Chenery – Director Randall Wallace sits down with Secretariat owner Penny Chenery to review the movie and some of the key scenes. Penny reflects on what it was like to have been a woman in a male dominated sport and to have been part of horse racing’s most exciting moments in history.

• Audio Commentary By Director Randall Wallace – View the film with optional audio commentary from Director Randall Wallace.

• Deleted Scenes With Optional Audio Commentary By Director Randall Wallace – The same deleted scenes as the DVD, plus four more…

o Alternate Opening

o Introduction

o “Are You A Golfer?”

o No Time To Rest

• Secretariat Multi-Angle Simulation – Relive Secretariats triumphant 1973 Preakness race by viewing the race from a number of perspectives as well as listening to commentaries from fans, announcers and even the jockey who rode Secretariat to their record finish.

DVD:

• Heart Of A Champion – This feature takes a look at one of the most famous thoroughbred horses ever known. Secretariat was a horse with style as well as amazing speed and an unsurpassed racing record. We interview all the key players from the day as well as today’s filmmakers to learn more about the horse affectionately called “Red.”

• Deleted Scenes With Optional Audio Commentary By Director Randall Wallace

o Director Introduction

o Memories

o Seth Joins The Team

o Too Soon T o Celebrate

• Music Video – AJ Michalka “It’s Who You Are”

Rated: US: PG – for brief mild language Canada: G

Feature Run Time: Approximately 123 minutes

————

An interview with Diane Lane, who gives a powerful performance in SECRETARIAT as Penny Chenery, owner of the racehorse that made history around the world as the Triple Crown champion in 1973. Lane stars as a courageous and resilient woman who fought to take her remarkable horse—perhaps the greatest of all time— to victory, against the odds.

Q: Why is the story of  SECRETARIAT so appealing?

A: “The story is amazing because it’s true. It is rare and wonderful   to portray a woman who is an honorable person. She was an inspiration, not just to women, but to everyone. She shows how important it is in general to have faith in yourself and take chances and risks.  For me it was such an inspiring story and to meet the real woman that you’re playing—as I did—is extremely rare. It was very surreal to spend time with her, somebody that you’re going to be bringing to the screen. It raises the stakes. It is incredible that she could actually look at my portrayal of her. Also the story of Secretariat is so amazing, this horse was such a champion and such an athlete, a great, legendary sports figure and wonderful creature.”

Q: What was Penny Chenery like when you met her?

A: “She was great.  She came to the set and blessed us with her presence and was in the seat next to me for one of the races.  She is a lovely women and so impressive because she is a real living legend. She was such an important figure historically and playing her was daunting for me. I am a huge fan of hers and I had a lot to live up to.”

Q: Do you think Penny saw herself as a pioneering role model?

A: “No, I don’t think that Penny ever took on that role or saw herself in any heroic way at all.  It was just her life and it was rather a timeless story from her point of view, taking on the family business and doing what needed to be done to save it. She rose to the challenge and really inherited the mantle of that task. It was interesting to me because she’s such a strikingly handsome woman and you could spot her from across the racetrack with that big hair. I think it was actually distracting to journalists. They wanted to say ‘hey, what are you doing here?’ and she would never stoop to being defensive. So I take a page from her book and salute her for not letting that become an issue.  I think it was an epiphany in hindsight that she made those important footprints in the sand for women.  For Penny herself, she didn’t see it like that. When you yourself are taking these strides, sometimes you can’t really take stock of things until much later.”

Q: What obstacles did Penny have to overcome?

A: “She had to fight to be respected as the voice of authority in her own barn with her own horse, whether she was racing the horse or not. Because she was inheriting her father’s business and   property, there were a lot of big decisions that fell to her, in addition to the fact that she was also a full-time, stay at home mother. There was a deep sense of betrayal that she had about the fact that what she was doing could have been very damaging to the family and to herself. In the aftermath of what Secretariat achieved and in the footage I’ve seen of her interviews, she’s so much more relaxed and comfortable. I completely identify with how she was feeling, being put on the spot with the press, feeling like she didn’t want to   be on the defensive. Yet she had to defend herself because they were all saying at the time:  ‘what are you doing here? You’re a woman, you’re a housewife.’  And she just wouldn’t respond in a way that could be used against her,  so in that way she was  very  smart and  savvy.”

Q:  As a mother and actress can you identify with her at all?

A: “ I completely identify with her. For me, going away to work is the hardest part of my life and career.  I love my work, but there is no price you can put on what you miss when you are away from your kids.   Anybody who travels for their work knows this and understands the compromises you have to make, certainly any mother.

Q: Do you see yourself as a positive role model to your children?
A: “One hopes that as a working mother you are also being a good role model by having a career that you love.”

Q: Can you identify with Penny’s leadership qualities and career drive?

A: “I can relate to this woman a lot because, like Penny, I am my father’s son. What I mean is that of course I’m my father’s daughter but I’m also my father’s son in terms of the business, in terms of the family expectation that I would act. I followed in his footsteps. For me the family inheritance isn’t gender based and it’s true for Penny too. The leadership qualities that she has are not based on her being a woman, but because we’re dealing with the early ‘70s, her strength is sometimes considered to be more masculine than feminine.”

Q: What motivates and propels your character?

A: “I think Penny’s journey is about winning, it’s about having a lot of positive energy and sticking with your dreams even though nobody else believes in you. Sometimes that takes a lot of courage and strength.   My dad used to say it takes two generations to make a star and I think that that’s true for any field, whether it’s a journalist or an actor or a writer or a woman in the horseracing world like Penny. There are layers of information that you can’t just come upon in life by chance.  You have to have the wisdom of your parents and the wisdom of your own experience added to that, it is a combination of skills and what you learn from others.”

Q: Did your own father pave the way for you?

A: “Absolutely, but I didn’t know that he was doing that. I think families do layer information upon each other.  In Penny’s case it involved the study of horse breeding, which was the family business that Penny came from.  It is interesting to analyze the genetic qualities that get passed along; in fact some qualities skip a generation or two. It is also true with animals.  We have seen many  ‘children and grandchildren’ (offspring) of Secretariat, the colts and foals and fillies, and frankly they haven’t turned out to be like him at all and have not possessed the same qualities—although some of his ‘daughters’ and  ‘granddaughters’ have done well.   But we’re still waiting for that extraordinary gene to pop up again.”

Q: What do you think the overall appeal of SECRETARIAT  is internationally?

A: “It is an American story but it could happen anywhere to anyone and I don’t think that the story has to do with a particular nation.  I think it has to do with the human spirit and that crossover of spirit in animals and spirit in people. It looks at the spirit of this horse and the pleasure of running in its simplest form. It’s not always about winning or losing, it’s also about the quality of the experience and the journey itself.

Q: What is it like working with Randall Wallace, the director of SECRETARIAT?

A: “He is wonderful, completely uplifting and has a gift for telling archetypal stories like this one.  I think that Randall’s looking for people who possess that largesse d’esprit, people and actors who understand human nature, vulnerability, what amounts to the flipside of grandiosity. It can be tricky sometimes to work for a director who has written (or contributed to) the screenplay, because they’re often very attached to the writing and want to stick to every nuance. But I have to say that in this case with Randall it’s wonderful, because his direction serves his writing, they go together and it works really well.”

Q: You look beautiful and so elegant in the film, can you discuss Penny’s style?

A: “I think we were all informed by the era.  Penny was a woman of her time. I love those shoes with the authentic heel. I had to fight for them because sometimes in film people will say ‘Oh, can you do the sexier version of this,but I’m grateful that the style was   celebrated and respected so it is authentic to the time.”

Q: Are you interested in horses yourself?

A: “I grew up loving horses. I was relatively obsessed, starting with my rocking horse at age two, all the way through my painting and drawing phase. I grew up loving Pegasus, that was my dream animal and I am sure the same is true for many children, but it was   a little bit more intense with me. I enjoyed riding and rode whenever I had the chance, I would ask my parents to take me riding as often as possible. That’s what I wanted to do as a career.”

Q: And you combined riding and acting didn’t you?

A: “ Well when I started acting, I couldn’t wait to be in a Western and then I’d beg the horsemen to let me ride at lunch and then I’d get lost in the desert on a horse. I remember making Burt Lancaster wait because I was lost. I was 14 and acting in a Western, it was my second film, CATTLE ANNIE AND LITTLE BRITCHES (1981). I have so many memories of wanting to be around horses. Then my husband finally made our dream come true—my dream personally, when we got some horses ourselves and had a ranch. But we had to let go of the ranch and we don’t have the horses anymore.  They’re fine and happy but they’re not in our lives any more. But yes, I do definitely have an equestrian nature and it is a Western experience for me. It is definitely great to be making this film about such a champion   as Secretariat.  There is really nothing like the beauty, strength and grace of a horse like this. I realized working with the horses, they really are individuals with egos and personalities that must be addressed if you’re going to be working with them, which means standing near them. Please and thank you go a long way with a horse.”

Q: Have you always been passionate about acting?  Was it natural for you?

A: “I loved acting, I started as a child and it is interesting because I didn’t compare myself to others that were doing the same thing.  I just felt that I needed to stay focused and stay out of trouble.  I cared very much about the end results and if you stick with that trajectory long enough, you eventually get better and hopefully you’re forgiven for your mistakes in terms of your growth.  Nobody arrives at any level of perfection, you are constantly learning more and in hindsight there are always times that you would have made different decisions,  especially if you’re any kind of an artist.  It is impossible to achieve total satisfaction, it is a constantly morphing thing, it’s like gambling.  You know, you get addicted to the chance that the movie may be wonderful and larger than life and sometimes that is what happens.  In some of the movies that I’ve worked on, I definitely felt like we were winning at gambling.”

Q: Do you have any favorite movies from your career so far?

A: “UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN” was wonderful because Italy is my favorite place in the world.  It was a magical experience to work there, although it was so painful to be away from my family for that long. But a year or two later   I returned for a road trip through Italy with my husband and we stayed in the same hotel I had stayed in and had the same view I had enjoyed from my window, so he could see the view.  What I need now is some horses in Italy (laughs) and then I’ll be satisfied.”

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Moody Mamas’ colorful spring capsule collection will make every expectant mom look as sexy and chic as our celebrity clients.  Each piece is inspired by the runway, from easy maxi dresses to adorable chiffon trim knit dresses. All of our styles are made from luxurious fabrics that give every Moody Mamas piece the feel of relaxing loungewear.  Start expanding your spring wardrobe today! The collection is limited in quantity, affordably priced from $39.99 – $49.99, and extends into plus sizes.  Plus, it features dresses that are perfect for transitioning into fall.

To shop the collection, click here to visit Target and use the discount code MM Discount for 30% off.

If you want to win a dress from the Moody Mamas capsule collection for Target.com then enter the contest below.

Giveaway Guidelines:

Visit the Moody Mamas Target collection and leave a comment here on two or three of your favorite pieces. This is a mandatory first entry. After completing this mandatory first entry method, you can gain additional entries by doing any or all of the following (but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do):

1. Follow Moody Mamas on Twitter
2. Fan Moody Mamas on Facebook
3. Blog about this contest

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time on July 29, 2010. USA residents only. The winner will be announced here and notified via email. If the winner doesn’t respond by July 31, an alternate winner will be chosen.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO MISTIE, COMMENT #1!!

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• $35 Snapfish Giveaway and Back to School Fun – CLOSED
• Win a Disney Vacation

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With a devout following of some major Hollywood hot mamas, Moody Mamas has done it again with creating a fabulous, colorful spring capsule collection for expectant moms who want to look sexy and chic this season.  Each piece is inspired by the runway, from easy maxi dresses to adorable chiffon trim knit dresses. All boast the luxurious fabrics that are both soft and lightweight that gives every Moody Mamas piece the feel of relaxing lounge-wear.  Hurry and start your spring wardrobe today: the collection is limited in quantity and time and is available only online. You won’t want to miss these affordable prices that range from $39.99 – $44.99 and go up to plus size!  To shop the collection, click for Target here. And in celebration of the spring capsule collection, Moody Mamas is offering my readers a discount code for 30 percent off one item. Just use the code MMDiscount when you buy.  

But if you want to win a $50 giftcard for a Moody Mamas item, then enter the contest below.

Giveaway Guidelines:

Visit the Moody Mamas Target collection and leave a comment here on two or three of your favorite pieces. This is a mandatory first entry. After completing this mandatory first entry method, you can gain additional entries by doing any or all of the following (but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do):

1. Follow Moody Mamas on Twitter
2. Fan Moody Mamas on Facebook
3. Blog about this contest
4. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter
5. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
6. Stumble this post
7. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar
8. Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook.
9. Post a link to this contest on your Facebook page.

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time May 7, 2010.  Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Winners will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If any winner does not claim the prize by May 10, 2010, she will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner who will be drawn at random.

USA & Canada residents only please!

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO ASHLEY, COMMENT #26.

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• 10 Pairs of Lee Capris Giveaway! – CLOSED!

Leapyear is a romantic comedy starring Amy Adams and Matthew Goode. It follows one woman’s determined quest to get married to the perfect guy… despite what fate has in store for her. When their four-year anniversary passes without a marriage proposal, Anna (Amy Adams) decides to take matters into her own hands. Investing in an Irish tradition that allows women to propose to men on February 29th, Anna decides to follow her boyfriend Jeremy (Adam Scott) to Dublin and get down on one knee herself.
 
But airplanes, weather and fate leave Anna stranded on the other side of Ireland, and she must enlist the help of handsome and surly Declan (Matthew Goode) to get her across the country. As Anna and Declan bicker across the Emerald Isle, they discover that the road to love can take you to very unexpected places. Go here for more information,  visit the Facebook page and watch this trailer.

 Here are the details on the prizepack: It includes an Airline Comfort Kit, an American Apparel track jacket, a fitted scoop next t-shirt, a copy of Colbie Calliat’s CD Breakthrough, and a journal with a total estimated retail value of $95. (*NOTE:  The CD Breakthrough is currently available on iTunes and includes the hit song, “You Got Me” which is featured in the movie, Leapyear.)

Giveaway Guidelines:

Giveaway Guidelines:

Tell me in a comment below why you want to win this prize pack. 

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest.
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed.
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (you can tweet daily if you want, but make sure you leave a comment each time you do).
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati.
5. Stumble this post.
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar.
7. Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook.
   

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time Jan. 18, 2010. Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Contest open to United States residents only. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winner does not claim prize by Jan. 20, 2009, he/she will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO NOREEN, COMMENT #199.

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Today’s prize is a boxed set of Elvis Presley music – a glittering collection fit for a king. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the birth of Elvis Aaron Presley, Elvis 75 – Good Rockin’ Tonight is the definitive retrospective, a remastered Hot 100 of Elvis classics in one beautifully-packaged four-CD boxed set.

Spanning the breadth of Presley’s monumental, rags-to-riches career, Elvis 75 – Good Rockin’ Tonight presents an artist who exploded in the mid-1950s, when he shook up a buttoned-down world with his mold-breaking music, not to mention his sideburns, swiveling hips, flamboyant wardrobe, and raw sexuality. Until his death at 42 in 1977, he would move from rockabilly, rhythm and blues, bluegrass, and rock ‘n’ roll to country, pop, gospel, and even to light operatic fare to become one of the greatest and most-beloved entertainers the world has ever known. He would also sell several hundred million records.

This set can be purchased here for $43.99, but one lucky Lipstick to Crayons reader can win the one for free by leaving comment below. Hurry — this contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Dec. 17.

This contest is closed. Congrat to Dean, comment #24.

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• Day 6 – 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway
• Day 7 – 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway
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• Maternity Dress Giveaway and Coupon Code – CLOSED

Today’s prize is a new album by Yo-Yo- Ma called “Sounds of Joy and Peace.” For this new album, the multiple Grammy-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma  invited many of his favorite artists from the worlds of popular and classical music to collaborate on a selection of songs — some sacred, some secular, some traditionally seasonal, some simply beloved — connected in their sense of wonder.  Yo-Yo Ma conceived of Songs of Joy & Peace as a universal holiday house party of music “uniting different forms of joy” with the idea of combining familiar material with songs that would offer the listener the gift of discovery performed by old friends and new.

 The album recording has been chosen as a featured holiday selection at Starbucks and also will be sold at select Starbucks locations nationwide. One lucky Lipstick to Crayons reader can win the one for free by leaving comment below. Hurry — this contest closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Dec. 16.

This contest is closed. Congratulations to Chris, comment #9.

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I got to watch a sneak preview of the new series today, and I am heading to my DVR to set up a season pass for the show, which premieres at 10 p.m. (9 Central) Monday, Dec. 7. I really liked it and I think my husband and I will seriously enjoy watching it together.

The show follows three longtime friends as they navigate the changes and challenges of parenting, relationships and careers in mid-life.
It stars sars Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond) as Joe, Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise) as Terry, and Andre Braugher (Homicide: Life on the Street) as Owen. You can meet the characters in the video below — after the 30 second advertisement — sorry).

Here are the basics: Joe is recently separated from his wife, owns a party supply store, was a not-quite-professional golfer who is starting to not recognize the person staring back at him in the mirror. Terry is ladies’ man, a wanna-be actor who takes jobs that let him attend auditions. Owen is married, having some health problems and is frustrated with his position in the family-owned car business.

The series asks these questions: “At what age did you give away your dreams? At what age do you take them back?”

Those are decent questions to contemplate. And they can be contemplated in a humorous way via this comedy/drama, which was co-created by Romano, who is loved by everybody, right?

Here’s an overview of the show that’s worth watching (again, sorry for the 30-second commercial):

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Tomorrow, Rachel Ray’s Thanksgiving on Mainstreet special will air on ABC at 10 a.m. Eastern. (check local times in your area here). During the show, Rachael will host a huge Thanksgiving feast for the town, which has been devastated by the closing of a shipping company headquarters there.  The feast will include replenishment of the food bank facilities (which have been all but depleted) in order to create a meaningful experience for the entire community. 
 
Snapfish has teamed up with Rachael Ray to support the effort. Snapfish is providing custom photo books to members of the community which will feature photos of the town by local high schooler, Zach McCune. The books will document the town and Rachael’s visit through Zach’s lens. To learn more about Snapfish’s partnership with Rachael Ray, visit snapfish.com or rachaelrayshow.com. 

As part of the celebration, Snapfish is offering you the chance to receive 50% off your own customizable photo book using promo code RRBOOK from November 25-December 2. And $1 from the purchase proceeds will go to local food banks nationwide. 

Plus, Snapfish is offering one of my readers a gift certificate for $35, which will cover the cost of an 8×8 custom cover book, an 8×11 personalized cover book or an 8×11 classic photo book, as well. 

Snapfish carries a variety of photo books ranging in price from $4.99 – $49.99, and  in various sizes including 4×6”,  5” x 7”, 8” x 8” and 12” x 12.”  Layouts and designs are available for birthdays, weddings, holidays and other special occasions or just everyday! Each book is customizable with templates and layouts so your book will look truly unique and ensure your favorite memories are preserved and displayed in a way that suits you. I’ve made Snapfish photobooks for my parents and in-laws for Christmas several years running, and they’re always a huge hit!

Giveaway Guidelines:

Tell me in the comment section below why you want to win a Snapfish photobook, and if you happen to watch the Rachael Ray special, what you liked about the show (watching the show is NOT required to enter the giveaway).

Receive additional entries by doing any/all of the following, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Blog about this contest
2. Subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (you can tweet daily if you want, but make sure you leave a comment each time you do).
4. Favorite Lipstick to Crayons on Technorati
5. Stumble this post
6. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar
7. Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time Dec. 4.  Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Contest open to United States residents only. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If winner does not claim prize by Dec. 7, 2009, he/she will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner.

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