November « 2007 « The Parent Bloggers Network

Blog Blast: What Makes a Gift Memorable?

Friday, November 30th, 2007

It’s official: holiday gift giving season is here, with its accompanying onslaught of commercials and sales intended to empty our wallets and fill our hearts and homes with joy - or, barring that, a zillion new toys.

Don’t get us wrong; we love shopping, for ourselves and for others. But how much of what we buy is quickly forgotten - both by givers and by receivers?

Excitations is a site designed to make gift giving fun and memorable for givers and receivers alike by offering a wide variety of “experience” gifts for all ages, interests, and budgets. For example…

Instead of an electric razor, how about a flight in a World War II-era aircraft?
Instead of a gold brooch shaped like a Christmas tree, how about a champagne tasting?
Instead of all those battery-eating toys, how about a trip to junior rodeo school?

Today we want to hear what makes a gift memorable for you. Whether it was good or bad, whether you were a child or an adult, whether you were the giver or the receiver - which gifts have stood out in your mind and why?

1) Write a post on your blog discussing this topic with your readers anytime before midnight PST today, November 30.

2) Make sure to link http://blog.parentbloggers.com in your post.

3) Additionally, please link to Excitations via this link somewhere in your post:

http://www.excitations.com/?utm_source=referrer&utm_medium=
email&utm_content=BloggersNetwork&utm_campaign=112607BlogNet

4) Email us the link to your post (parentbloggers@gmail.com) and we’ll be rounding them up all day right here.

What can you win? A Purple Circle Choice package - experience(s) of your choice and location up to a total value of $250! Keep for yourself or give as a gift!*

A Barbie Dreamhouse for Me?!

Brown Eyes

Can You Keep a Christmas Secret?

Every Story, New or Ancient…

Gift Giving at its Finest

Gift Horses

Give a Gift That Says, “I Bought This Especially for You”

Great Gifts

It’s The Thought That Counts, Except if Your Husband Thinks You’re a 67-year-old Woman With No Taste

Memorable Gifts

Memorable Gift Giving

The Best Gifts for the Holidays

They Aren’t as Good as Stompers

What Makes a Gift Memorable?

*Experiences available in several US metro areas and values depend on metro area - check the Excitations site for specifics.

Have you signed up for our mailing list? If you do it by the end of the day, you’ll be entered to win a $100 Amazon GC. We send out newsletters once a month as well as blog blast notifications.

Vote for us on Sk*rt and help us spread the word!

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Posted in Blog Blasts | 3 Comments »

HP Photo Printer and Photo Books - Campaign Launch

Thursday, November 29th, 2007

While I adore the instant gratification that comes from taking pictures with a digital camera, I’ve not been so quick to jump on board the photo printer bandwagon. I’d like to think that I’m so digitally entrenched that I’ve fully adopted the online viewing and CD storage paradigm, but it would be closer to the truth if I just admitted that I’m lazy. It’s also why I’ve never gotten into scrapbooking.

HP might just have enticed me to change my mind - both about printing photos at home and organizing them into lovely little books.

The HP Photosmart A626 compact photo printer is what I never thought a photo printer could be. It really is compact; no permanent desk space required - just get it out when you need it, put it away when you’re finished. And it’s so versatile - with functions ranging from basic photo printing (from a memory card or USB cable connection) to actual photo editing within this teeny tiny printer and its touch-screen and stylus. My love for instant gratification has come full circle; I’m hooked.

But wait - it gets better! Now I can take those printed photos and immediately pop them into cloth-bound HP Photo Books. I don’t have to slide them into flimsy plastic holders like those in traditional photo albums. And if I feel really creative, I can break out the design software that comes with each book and turn those prints into real scrapbook pages.

Twenty of our bloggers each received an HP Photosmart A626 printer and HP Photo Books to evaluate, and they’ll post their reviews (and hopefully some of their handiwork too!) over the next few weeks. The printer will be on special at various retailers through the holidays - check your Sunday circulars - and you can get 20% off the photo books with the coupon found here.

Whether you’re looking for a gift for yourself, or the means to create fabulous gifts for others, check out these reviews.

Fri 11/30 - Island Review and In the Trenches of Mommyhood
Mon 12/3 - Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting and Toddler Planet
Tues 12/4 - Lawyer Mama and Suburban Oblivion
Wed 12/5 - Rookie Moms and Soul Gardening
Thurs 12/6 - Little Bird Reviews
Fri 12/7 - PunditMom
Mon 12/10 - Jumping Monkeys, Ruth Dynamite, and Mid-Campaign Post on PBN
Tues 12/11 - Ebony Mommy and Lipstick to Crayons
Wed 12/12 - Lather Rinse Repeat
Thurs 12/13 - Karianna
Fri 12/14 - Views from the Pants
Mon 12/17 - One Plus Two
Tues 12/18 - Mrs Dub Reviews
Wed 12/19 - Marketing Mommy
Thurs 12/20 - Round-Up Review on PBN

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Posted in Electronics | 2 Comments »

Autolite Flareglo and Spotglo - Campaign Launch

Thursday, November 29th, 2007

If you haven’t already stocked your vehicle with safety and convenience supplies, particularly with the coming winter ahead, you’ll be interested in this campaign featuring products from Autolite. We’ve got ten bloggers set to review these two products:

Flareglo Safety Lite: reusable battery-powered electronic safety flares
Spotglo Seatbelt Lite: compact LED light source that clips easily to a seatbelt

The Flareglo is an essential safety product, useful not just at night, but also during storms or other compromised driving conditions during the day. Having once gotten a flat tire just short of a freeway entrance ramp during a snowstorm, it didn’t matter that it was daylight - I needed to ensure that other vehicles saw my disabled one. It would have been helpful to have had some flares in my car.

The Spotglo is an excellent alternative to other reading lights. It stays fastened to the seatbelt and focused on the right spot. The reader doesn’t have to adjust, and the driver isn’t distracted. Not only is it ideal for adult passengers, it’s also a great way to encourage kids to read in the car - assuming they’re not prone to carsickness.

Check out the blogger reviews of these Autolite products - perhaps you’ll want to pick up a few for your own vehicles!

Fri 11/30 - Halloween Lover
Tues 12/4 - Mom Reviews
Wed 12/5 - Ruth Dynamite
Thurs 12/6 - Karianna
Fri 12/7 - Mid-Campaign Post on PBN
Mon 12/10 - Mommy’s Must Haves
Tues 12/11 - My Two Cents
Wed 12/12 - Mom to the Screaming Masses
Thurs 12/13 - Lawyer Mama
Fri 12/14 - Jumping Monkeys
Wed 12/19 - Round-Up Review on PBN

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Posted in Automotive | No Comments »

Jump Start World: Here’s What They’re Saying (and playing) So Far!

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

If I had a K, 1st, or 2nd grader, I’d be running out (or online, thanks to the beauty of technology) to purchase or download Knowledge Adventure’s new educational game Jump Start World. That’s just how much the kids and their blogging parents are loving it. Said one mom, “Out of ALL the things I’ve reviewed this is my absolute favorite. I would absolutely buy this (and I plan on buying the other levels I don’t have).”

Take this blogger’s son. “From the start, The Boy has been enamored with it. I’m not even sure he knows he’s learning. He loves collecting the gems as a reward, and frequently wants to show me what he’s doing. He takes serious consideration as to what character he’s going to be for the day’s adventure.”

Not familiar with Jump Start World? It’s a computer game featuring a series of 12 adventure packs that help your kids work on critical thinking, reading, and math. The parents thus far called it everything from savvy to sophisticated. “My review for this was due on Wednesday - and honestly, it is late because I couldn’t get my kid to stop playing this game long enough for me to review it! He absolutely loves it, and as always, I’m impressed with the savvy approach that JumpStart uses to keep kids engaged.”

One mom really hated calling it a game since so much learning was happening.”The “Game” can even by customized with the child’s birthday, holidays, uploaded photos and artwork. I hate to even call it a game - there is so much learning that goes on.”

But the game format was extremely motivating to kids, particularly the gem collecting, which many bloggers mentioned in their reviews. “My son, like almost every kid his age, is motivated by rewards, and he thoroughly enjoyed the “gems”. I like the fact that he can trade the gems online for rewards, and if I remember, I can check up on what he’s doing in the parental controls section.”Another blogger concurred. “Once MB realized that the gems he earned could be used to purchase rewards, he was an absolute madman! Whereas before the discovery he just wandered around and played a game here or there, he suddenly had to try out ALL of the games and missions giving him a chance for better rewards each time.”

One blogger offered a full play-by-play starting with the initial downloading of the game through to her child’s experience with it.

As the kids play, parents can keep track of their progress. “As I mentioned before, all of their progress is tracked and reported through the Parent Center so I can see what areas my child is doing well at and which ones he could use extra work or assistance with.” Another mom noted, “I was also able to go unit by unit and see exactly what was being covered - a little math, a little reading, and a little bit of brain-stretching critical thinking. That got big thumbs-up from me, because the kid gets seriously bored if it’s “just” one thing that the program focuses on. Mix it up, and he’s hooked.”

One blogger noted that the game not only addresses academic skills (whether they be easy or challenging for your child), but social skills as well. “And so, even if the program isn’t quizzing him on advanced mathematics or having him read stories on his own, it seems that there are some other educational concepts that the Cat will need to work on, such as social skills, and will enjoy doing so given this interactive universe and reward system.”

The only difficulty that a few parents mentioned was the initial downloading portion of the game. However, other parents felt it was simple. “It was very simple - non cluttered and easy to navigate which is nice in comparison to other sites we’ve been using lately. It basically told me what I needed to know and did so in a simple, clean way. I like that.”

Jump Start World is definitely not a one-off game, as one blogger carefully noted.

One of the other really novel ideas about JumpStart World is how it can grow with your child. The game comes with two Adventure Packs, and you can subscribe to the JumpStartWorld site, and you’ll receive a new Adventure Pack with more games and skills each month - for a total of 12 Adventure Packs per grade. Unlike typical educational software that is quickly mastered and outgrown, this allows the product to stay current with your child’s development.

If you’re not sold yet, why not try the free download! You’ll have just enough time to purchase the game for your kiddo before the holidays ($19.95).

Check out our other reviews, as well as our fantastic Parent Bloggers approved Holiday Must-Haves list!

Wed 11/28 - Island Review

Thurs 11/29 - Domestic Diva

Fri 11/30 - Lipstick to Crayons

Mon 12/3 - Chaos Theory& Krississippi

Tues 12/4 - Midwestern Mommy, Slouching Mom

Wed 12/5 - EbonyMom, Mama Maven

Thurs 12/6 - Get in the Car

Fri 12/7 - Mothergoosemouse

12/11 — FINAL ROUND UP

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Posted in Elementary School, Kids, Media | 3 Comments »

Day Runner Family Matters - Here’s What They’re Saying So Far

Tuesday, November 27th, 2007

“To do or not to do, that is the question. Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of organization through an erasable wall calendar and color coded storage cases or to take arms against a sea of disorganization with my Gmail and my Outlook Calendar and by opposing end it. To be organized - to sleep, perchance to dream; and by sleep to say only until the twins wake up at 5:30 AM, the heartache and a thousand natural shocks.”

What? You think that’s a bit melodramatic? You’re not a parent yet, are you?

Day Runner, the pioneer of personal organization materials, has launched a new line dedicated to families, and our parent bloggers, who fall all along the organization continuum, were eager to check it out:

The bloggers received a variety of materials, including an erasable wall planner, a wirebound appointment book, color-coordinated activity folders and storage cases, and erasable door reminders.

The wall planner received largely positive reviews:

The wirebound appointment book is dated for 2008, so the bloggers weren’t yet able to give it a test run. However, two bloggers in particular are already planning how they will use it. One noted: “The wirebound monthly/weekly appointment book looks super cool…[and] 2008 is the year I will most likely be looking for gainful employment. This could, no doubt, come in very handy when I need to juggle a work schedule with [my son's] education and my hubby’s job, which happens to involve A LOT of travel.” Another blogger has even higher expectations for the book: “…this desk planner is going to organize my entire life come January. It has a spiral binding so it can lay flat on the desk, and each tab opens to a two-page month at a glance. But then turn the page, and each page within that month is only four days of the calendar, with five colored columns…and then the bottom row is a Priority/To Do column with check boxes. It’s BRILLIANT.”

The folders and storage cases are extremely versatile, and the bloggers used them in a variety of ways:

And the erasable door reminders got mixed reviews. Some bloggers adored them:

But for some bloggers, particularly those with toddlers, they posed too much of a challenge to be truly useful:

A couple bloggers have immersed themselves so completely in digital-based organization that this analog model just doesn’t work well for them anymore. One blogger lamented: “It all is very logical, and it is all designed to work in a family information center. My problem? It doesn’t work for our family. If [my husband] or I have an appointment we need to notify the other of, we email each other. I am not kidding. Really, sometimes we will be in the very same room, both working on our computers and talking to one another at the same time, and one of us will remind the other of something, and the inevitable end to the conversation is, Email me a reminder, please.“ She went on to conclude that: “…as much as I like the concept and the logic of the Day Runner products, and as much as I was looking forward to using them, they don’t seem to work for us. The system might work for us when [our daughter] is old enough to have a large number of activities but not old enough to have her own Outlook account.”

But even though most of the bloggers agreed that the system is best suited for families with activity schedules that can’t be contained in one mom’s overworked brain, almost all of them found a way to incorporate at least one of the products into their own organizational plan. As one mother put it, “I have to say I am very much in love with these products, and will be buying the wall info center when it becomes available. Hopefully Day Runner will help me make 2008 a little more organized!”

We’ve got many more reviews coming up - check the schedule below!

Tues 11/27 - Cootie Chronicles
Wed 11/28 - In the Trenches of Mommyhood
Thurs 11/29 - Crazy Momcat, Creature Bug
Fri 11/30 - Mayberry Mom
Mon 12/3 - A Gaggle of Girls, Mommy Needs Coffee
Tues 12/4 - Lather Rinse Repeat
Wed 12/5 - Mommy’s Must Haves
Thurs 12/6 - Lipstick to Crayons, Seabird Chronicles
Fri 12/7 - Get in the Car, Mom to the Screaming Masses, Rookie Moms
Mon 12/10 - Three Kid Circus
Tues 12/11 - Mama Maven
Wed 12/12 - Round-Up Review on PBN

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Posted in Household | No Comments »

Discovery Channel Store Toys (ages 5+) - Campaign Launch

Monday, November 26th, 2007

Today, we’re launching the second of three campaigns in which our bloggers will review toys from the Discovery Channel Store (the first campaign launch - toys geared toward ages 3+ - can be found here). Fifteen bloggers received either a Spark Talking Microscope - 5x magnification of actual specimens! - or a Spark Talking Telescope - full color images of space, courtesy of NASA!

Check out the upcoming reviews of these toys - we expect the microscope and telescope to be big hits!

Tues 11/27 - Midwestern Mommy
Wed 11/28 - Chaos Theory
Thurs 11/29 - Builder Mama
Fri 11/30 - Three Kid Circus
Mon 12/3 - Mom to the Screaming Masses
Tues 12/4 - Mom Ma’am Me
Wed 12/5 - mothergoosemouse
Thurs 12/6 - Mayberry Mom
Fri 12/7 - Island Review
Mon 12/10 - Karianna and Mid-Campaign Post on PBN
Tues 12/11 - Little Bird Reviews
Wed 12/12 - Mommy Needs Coffee
Thurs 12/13 - Ebony Mom
Fri 12/14 - Mama Maven
Mon 12/17 - Sarah’s Dandelions
Tues 12/18 - Round-Up Review on PBN

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Posted in Elementary School, Kids, Toys | No Comments »

Introducing the Parent Bloggers Network Holiday Must-Haves List

Friday, November 23rd, 2007

In honor of Black Friday (I know, cliche’ but hey, why not?), we’ve combed through our archives to offer you the best of the best — products and books that we’ve reviewed over the last year that make perfect holiday gifts in our Holiday Must-Haves List.

And rest assured, they are all Parent Bloggers approved with some of the best “ratings” from your favorite moms and dads.

Not finding what you need? Check our archives. There are plenty of great items that had great reviews, but that may not have made our holiday gift list (Julie and I aren’t huge fans of getting a burp cloth for Christmas, but if you are, more power to you!).

Make sure to stay tuned throughout the month of December as we’ve got some exciting Blog Blasts and excellent gift ideas. Just pop our feed into your feed reader and hop over to our site when you see something that interests you. (And you don’t even need to leave a comment! YAY!).

And don’t forget to sign up for our mailing list. You’ll get “in your email box” reminders about upcoming blog blasts as well as our monthly newsletter chock full of great tips on how to monetize your blog, plus blogger interviews and web deals galore. PLUS, if you do it before 11/30, you’ll be entered to win a $100 Amazon GC.

That’s a whole lot of toys!

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Posted in Books, Clothing, Features, Games, Household, Kids, Media, Music, Out and About, Outdoor, Toys, Travel | 3 Comments »

Simply Gargle - Campaign Launch

Friday, November 23rd, 2007

It’s cold and flu season, and I’d bet more than half of us couldn’t locate a cough drop. Not even one that’s a year old, half-unwrapped and stuck to the bottom of your purse.

And it’s always at the most inconvenient time that you start to feel a cold coming on. You get that urge to swallow, only to find that your throat feels dry and scratchy, and you know what’s next. But more often than not, you don’t have medication on hand - especially if you’re at work or traveling. Or maybe you’d rather not take it, being wary of the possible side effects.

That tried-and-true home remedy - rinsing with salt water - is always a good one. Sure, it tastes pretty awful, but it’s cheap, easy, free of side effects, and it really does work. But mixing up a salt water rinse isn’t logistically feasible when you’re out and about.

Enter Simply Gargle, individually-packaged ampules of a salt water rinse (plus vitamins, herbs, antioxidants and astringents), that are perfect for tucking into your purse, your briefcase, the glove compartment of your car, even the pocket of your winter coat. When the first signs of a cold strike, just duck into the nearest rest room and swish away.

Ten of our parent bloggers tried out Simply Gargle, and they’ll report back as to how well it worked for them, especially while on the go.

Wed 11/28 - Life with Heathens
Mon 12/3 - Island Review
Thurs 12/6 - ValuewIT
Mon 12/17 - Creature Bug
Wed 12/19 - Seabird Chronicles
Thurs 12/20 - My Two Cents
Mon 12/31 - Mid-Campaign Post on PBN
Wed 1/2 - Sarah’s Dandelions
Mon 1/7 - Lather Rinse Repeat
Thurs 1/10 - Baggage Reviews
Wed 1/16 - Taste Like Crazy
Thurs 1/17 - Round-Up Review on PBN

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Posted in Household | No Comments »

Beauty Confidential - We Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty…

Wednesday, November 21st, 2007

When I finished reading Beauty Confidential, I gushed to anyone who would listen to me gush about how much I loved that book. I carried it around in my bag. I showed it to the woman who rang up my purchases at Sephora (all bought on the author’s advice, of course). I sat at my laptop and dog-eared pages as I wish-listed all the items that I had to have.

And I started to feel kind of silly. After all, I’m no product whore, and it’s only a book - certainly not one that you’d find in a courtroom or hotel room night table drawer.

But after reading the reviews of Beauty Confidential from our parent bloggers, I’m feeling vindicated. At the very least, I’m not alone in my adoration. As one blogger wrote:

“Beauty Confidential by Nadine Haobsh is hands down the best beauty book I have ever read. I could kiss the ladies over at the Parent Bloggers Network for bringing it into my life. Also, I want to find Ms. Haobsh and make her be friends with me. Not just because she wrote this awesome book but also because we have the same favorite band and TV show. As soon I read, I don’t enjoy Pearl Jam casually. They are my favorite band in the history of the world and I am besotted by them and they will be the soundtrack of my life until the day I die, I knew I would follow this woman’s advice on just about anything.”

A large part of the book’s appeal is thanks to Nadine’s personable writing style. Our bloggers loved her spunk - “She won’t let a few beauty editors stop her, and I truly admire her for this.” - and her wit - “Who knew you could write about beauty and maintain a sense of humor?” Even more, her honesty resonated with the bloggers: “It’s a comprehensive guide that doesn’t cajole you into buying anything or believing a bunch of pricey products will change your life; it’s one woman sharing what she knows about the beauty industry and how to make the most of what you’ve got.”

All of the reviewers - with varying levels of product knowledge - learned something from Beauty Confidential. One blogger, who was already quite beauty savvy, commented: “As a teen I always wondered why my make up didn’t look just like the magazine’s cover model when I would go out and buy all the same stuff. Now that Nadine has come clean with the facts I now know this another magazine advertising trick.” Another blogger divulges those details along with twelve other tidbits, including the secret of Kiss Me mascara, the history of Creed Fleurissimo perfume, and the reason why a Mason Pearson hairbrush is worth the $XXX (yes, that’s the correct number of digits).

Mostly, our bloggers were thrilled just to have some advice that they could actually use:

Even better, one suggested that the book would be a perfect gift guide: “Men, you need this book. It has a million and one gift ideas in it. I guarantee that you’ll find something that your wife/girlfriend/mother/great aunt Tessie will adore. The section of fragrances alone will keep you in steady supply of gift ideas for years.”

Although the book does cover skin sensitivities, one blogger noted that chemical-induced side effects (short- and long-term) were not given much thought: “She does devote a section to organic products – but she misses one of the basic reasons behind many organic products: they are here to provide some protection against many of the harmful, cancer-causing chemicals that are in many synthetic cosmetics. She is focused more on whether the organic products work better than their synthetic counterparts.”

Perhaps it seems frivolous for a bunch of mothers to concern themselves with finding a list of products recommended by a twenty-something beauty girl, but I’d say anyone who thinks so just hasn’t seen themselves in Lancome Definicils mascara and NARS Orgasm blush. Beauty is about feeling good - “On those days when I’m feeling bad about my post-partum belly flab or my lack luster social life, a good blow-out or sexy scent can make my day.” - and helping others feel good too - “If there is anything I like more than knowing what perfumes are hot at the moment, it’s being able to tell someone else about it. It’s a small pleasure for this not-too-hip-at-the-moment-sweat-pant-wearing-mom.”

To get your own copy of Beauty Confidential (and I assure you, you will not be disappointed), click here!

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Posted in Bath & Beauty, Books | No Comments »

Dangerous Admissions Final Round Up

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007

If you’re looking for a fun who-dun-it fiction with wonderfully descriptive writing, then our bloggers say check out “Dangerous Admissions,” Jane O’Connor’s newest book. Our first set of bloggers greatly enjoyed this murder mystery and our final few bloggers shared similar sentiments.

One blogger took issue not with O’Connor’s writing but with the cover art.

With the best-selling author of the wowing children’s book, Fancy Nancy, Harper Collins should have spared no expense on the book cover’s design, which was alienating to me. My high-brow BookClub would object to Dangerous Admissions based on the cover design alone as the book cover features a photograph of a middle-class, middle-aged woman who gives the impression that the book is hokey and mediocre. O’Connor does a great job capturing the language and feel of modern teenagers and the cover betrays this keen insight by suggesting the book is not hip or current.

She wasn’t alone in her feelings about the cover. Maybe there will be a redo for the sequel?

That bloggers noted that it was a simple read, and while predictable, it definitely held their attention. “The point is that it was engrossing enough to hold my attention during a family reunion. The book was also an easy read. It was fairly predictable, and there wasn’t anything that shocked me.” This blogger concurred. “I really got to the point where I wanted to keep reading - forget that I had said I was only going to read two chapters, one more couldn’t hurt and maybe it would settle a theory I had.”

Another blogger added “Honestly, the book did not grab my attention at the beginning, but after a few chapters I became invested in the life of Rannie, the out-of-work copyeditor and main character of the book.” Also, “The storyline is realistic and yet novel, with just enough suspense to keep the reader turning pages long after the kids are in bed. ”

Summed up well, “This book was a great, fast-paced read that I’d recommend to anyone.”

The lucky winner of a copy of Dangerous Admissions: Karianna! Congrats! Didn’t win? Purchase it here for $12!