Are you in need of some fresh summer entertaining recipes and tips this year? Then join author and Southern Living contributing editor Rebecca Lang (@rebeccalangcooks) and stylist and writer Courtney Whitmore (@pizzazzerie) for Sweet Vidalia’s Flavors of Summer Twitter Party set for Wednesday, May 22nd at 4:30pm ET! They’ll be chatting about Memorial Day recipes, decorating tips, and how you can best prepare for summer entertaining. In addition, those who RSVP and join the chat will be entered to win some flavorful prizes including Vidalia onions, summer foods & herbs and a $50 Visa gift card! (Must be a U.S. resident to win).

You’ll also learn about how you can enter the Vidalia Onion Flavors of Summer Contest by sharing your best summer recipes or outdoor entertaining table scapes. Prizes include an Outdoor Entertaining Package from Sears valued at $5,000 or $1,000 cash! While you’re there, check out Flavors-Of-Summer.com for summer recipes, grilling tips and festive menu ideas, as well as some special savings from Vidalia!

Vidalia Onions — America’s favorite Sweet Onion – - were discovered accidentally in Georgia in the 1930s. They are still planted and hand-harvested in south Georgia, but are available in grocery stores throughout the U.S. from late April to mid-September. Learn more about this famous seasonal treat, get recipes and facts at VidaliaOnion.org.

What: #FlavorsofSummer Twitter Party
When: Wednesday, May 22nd at 4:30pm ET
Hosts: @rebeccalangcooks, @pizzazzerie
Tweet Grid Link: http://bit.ly/17XWg5h

TO SIGN UP for the chat and enter to win a prize, Please RSVP on Vidalia Onion’s Facebook Page HERE. (Prizes open to U.S. residents only). Visit Vidalia Onion’s Facebook page for Official Rules.

If you are new to Twitter or not sure how to go about attending a Twitter chat, check out our Beginner’s Guide to getting started!

TweeParties was compensated for this post and for assisting with the #FlavorsofSummer Twitter party to be held on May 22, 2013. 

You have company coming and you’d like to offer them something other than a bowl of chips and dip, but you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.

Did you know that serving up homemade appetizers can be as quick and easy as slicing up some veggies and firing up your grill?

Learn how easy it is to serve fresh appetizers for the gang with Flatout Flabread! Join us May 8th at 4pm ET for another virtual pizza party to celebrate Flatout Flatbread’s 30 Days of Delicious Grilled Pizzas! For 30 days, Flatout Flatbread will reveal a fun and easy pizza recipe that you can make yourself at home using their delicious and good for you Thin Crust Flatbreads. We’ll be chatting about how you can impress your guests at your next get-together by serving Flatout Thin Crust Flatbread pizza appetizers! In addition to sharing recipes and entertaining tips, we’ll be handing out two Walmart gift cards (one $50 and one $100) as well as two Flatout Grilled Pizza Goodie boxes from those who RSVP and attend! If you win, you might choose to use that Walmart gift card to stock up on Flatout Flatbread! Flatout products are available at most Walmart stores. Click here to find a store near you.

Why try making Flatout Flatbread pizzas as appetizers? They’re easy to make either in the oven or on the grill and can be ready in just a few minutes. And what would impress your guests more: a bowl of chips and dip or a fresh grilled, homemade flatbread pizza? Also, Flatout Flatbreads are high in fiber and protein and contain zero transfats so they’re a healthy alternative to many frozen appetizer options.

Can’t wait until the party to try a pizza? Get recipe ideas now on Flatout Flabread’s Facebook page. Some recipe cards contain a coupon for use at your local Walmart, so check back daily! While you’re there, enter to win a two-night trip for two to one of the country’s premiere food festivals: Taste of Chicago!

What: #FlatoutGood Quick & Easy Appetizers Twitter Party
When: Wednesday, May 8th at 4pm ET
Hosts: @TweeParties, @FlatoutBread
Tweet Grid Link: http://bit.ly/13JgRry
Tweet Chat Link: http://bit.ly/Zn34Ho

If you are new to Twitter or not sure how to go about attending a Twitter chat, check out our Beginner’s Guide to getting started!

TweeParties was compensated for this post and for hosting the #FlatoutGood Twitter party to be held on May 8, 2013. 

TO REGISTER for the chat and enter to win a prize, please fill out the following form. (Prizes open to residents of the U.S. and Canada).

So many family vacations involve traveling to be near water whether it’s at the beach, resort pool or campground. But did you know that a family trip on water can be an affordable alternative?

Cruises can be a perfect fit for families. They offer a wide-arrange of activities, amazing kids clubs, affordable itineraries and more. Mom, Dad and the kids–there is something for everyone which is why more families are heading to the high seas!

Join us as we welcome family travel expert Kim Milnes to chat about family vacations, cruises and more Thursday, May 9th at 8pm ET! We’ll be chatting about family travel, tips for trips with kids, family cruises and the inaugural voyage of the new Norwegian Cruise Lines ship the Breakaway! Prizes include two $250 travel gift certificates from Adventures by Kim, a $50 Spafinder gift card, one Trunki ($60 value) and some Norwegian Cruise Lines goodies!

There are so many reasons why cruises can be great for families. First of all, cruises bring new meaning to the phrase ‘getting there is half the fun.’ While you travel to new ports, you can have a TON of fun at on-board water parks, shows, parades and even fireworks. Kids clubs offer so many things for young seafarers to do while mom and dad get some time alone with each other or side-by-side at a spa. And taking a family cruise might be more affordable than you think — special packages can actually help you save money on food and activities while vacationing, and many families live a car drive away from a port, which eliminates having to buy airline tickets.

What does the new ship Breakaway have to offer families? In addition to having three, award-winning Broadway shows and a fireworks show, there’s also Splash Academy (a game and activity area for kids age 3-12), Entourage (a club for teens), a sports complex complete with rock climbing, mini golf and trampolines, a Nickelodeon-themed water park, and five multi-story waterslides, including Free Fall — the fastest waterslide at sea.

What: #FamilyTravel #NCLBreakaway Twitter Party
When: Thursday, May 9th at 8pm ET
Hosts: @TweeParties & @AdventuresByKim
Tweet Grid Link: http://bit.ly/11VfjcC

If you are new to Twitter or not sure how to go about attending a Twitter chat, check out our Beginner’s Guide to getting started!

TweeParties was compensated for this post and for hosting the #FamilyTravel #NCLBreakaway Twitter party to be held on May 9, 2013. 

TO REGISTER for the chat and enter to win a prize, please fill out the following form:

It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like a good pizza. But how hard is it to find a pizza that you’ll like that’s good for you?

Learn how easy it is with Flatout Flabread! Join us May 1st at 1pm ET for a virtual pizza party to celebrate Flatout Flatbread’s 30 Days of Delicious Grilled Pizzas! For 30 days, Flatout Flatbread will reveal a fun and easy pizza recipe that you can make yourself at home using their delicious and good for you Thin Crust Flatbreads. We’ll be chatting about how to spice up your lunches by creating fresh pizzas in just minutes. In addition to sharing recipes, ideas and tips and we’ll be handing out two Walmart gift cards (one $50 and one $100) as well as two Flatout Grilled Pizza Goodie boxes from those who RSVP and attend! If you win, you might choose to use that Walmart gift card to stock up on Flatout Flatbread! Flatout products are available at most Walmart stores. Click here to find a store near you.

Why try a Flatout Flatbread pizza for lunch? It’s easy to make either in the oven or on the grill and can be ready in just a few minutes — great for moms on the go or to quickly satisfy hungry kids! And you control the ingredients — try pear and gorgonzola one day, artichoke sausage the next — or come up with your own creation based on what’s in your fridge. Also, Flatout Flatbreads are high in fiber and protein and contain zero transfats!

Can’t wait until the party to try a pizza? Get recipe ideas now on Flatout Flabread’s Facebook page. Some recipe cards contain a coupon for use at your local Walmart, so check back daily! While you’re there, enter to win a two-night trip for two to one of the country’s premiere food festivals: Taste of Chicago!

What: #FlatoutGood Lunchtime Pizza Twitter Party
When: Wednesday, May 1st at 1pm ET
Hosts: @TweeParties, @FlatoutBread
Tweet Grid Link: http://bit.ly/13JgRry
Tweet Chat Link: http://bit.ly/Zn34Ho

If you are new to Twitter or not sure how to go about attending a Twitter chat, check out our Beginner’s Guide to getting started!

TweeParties was compensated for this post and for hosting the #FlatoutGood Twitter party to be held on May 1, 2013. 

TO REGISTER for the chat and enter to win a prize, please fill out the following form. (Prizes open to residents of the U.S. and Canada).

Is a healthier diet on your list of New Year’s resolutions for 2013?

Then join the National Onion Association’s @Onionista for a special #OnionChat: Power Up With Veggies in 2013 with special guest – @SharonPalmerRD – Thursday January 17th at 4pm ET! Learn about plant-based diets–what they are, why they’re good for you and how to prepare them– as well as how onions and other vegetables can help you “power up!”  You’ll also get mouthwatering recipes and tips to make cooking with onions fun. Those who register & join the chat will be entered to win one of three prize packs that each include Sharon’s book, “The Plant-Powered Diet,” five pounds of onions and great tips & recipes to power up your meals in 2013! (Open to residents of the U.S. only.)

The National Onion Association represents onion growers, shippers and others in the U.S. onion industry. The NOA is also an incredible resource for anyone who has ever encountered an onion! Visit to their website and you’ll find recipes on how to serve onions for any meal, in any season and at any gathering. You’ll also find information on handling and storing onions, as well as nutrition information, how to cut, prepare & store onions, and even info on onions colors, flavors, sizes and seasons.

So it’s no surprise that when I popped in the CD My Personalized Tea Party from MyFairyTaleBooks — and my daughter heard her own name being spoken by Disney princesses — that she came running.

First of all, I must disclose that my five-year-old daughter loves princesses. So when she heard a princess from the CD start to sing, she naturally looked up from what she was doing out of curiosity. But it wasn’t until one princess spoke her name that her feet sent her scampering into our living room!

My Personalized Tea Party is just one of dozens of special products presented by MyFairyTaleBooks, which offers a wide range of personalized books, CDs and DVDs for boys and girls. Everything from Sesame Street ABCs to super heroes and religious books can be personalized and given to the little one in your life. MyFairyTaleBooks makes it easy to order online and the products are affordable, high-quality and fun. Check out their site!

My daughter loves personalized books — seeing her name in print gives the book special meaning and attention. One book we have from MyFairyTaleBooks, My Birthday Surprise, was a present that we have read together all year long. We were excited to try a CD. Let me say that listening to the princess CD is the next best t hing to visiting the Magic Kingdom. The personalization is seamless and the songs and dialogue have the quality of a top-notch Broadway production. It literally had my daughter dancing the entire time!

MyFairyTaleBooks knows that a personalized book, CD or DVD can really capture a child’s imagination and grab his or her attention — perhaps even more so than a non-personalized book. Which is why they have decided to tackle a very important issue that affects kids everywhere: bullying.

MyFairyTaleBooks wants to create an original book called The Good Friend. Aimed at preschoolers through early elementary, The Good Friend will feature personalized areas throughout the book including your child’s name, friends names and the name of his or her school. Mothers who previewed the book had very positive feedback and were eager for its release. However, creating an original, personalized book about bullying is not easy. Since it will be personalized, there are higher printing set up fees that make it a more expensive project to start than a traditional book. Which is why MyFairyTaleBooks needs our help! They are trying to raise $5K in the next few weeks and are seeking donations of any size. Even a $1 donation will help them get closer to their goal. If you are someone who cares about this issue and wants to make a difference in a kid’s life, consider making a donation. Click here to learn more about their Kickstarter campaign and see a cool infographic on bullying.

Now time for a giveaway! Want to try a MyFairyTaleBooks product? Enter for your chance to win one! Just complete the Rafflecopter entry form below to enter to win one book, CD or DVD of your choice from MyFairyTaleBooks! Giveaway ends Friday, October 5, 2012. Contest open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Good luck!

To complete this review, I received a free CD from MyFairyTaleBooks. However, my opinions are entirely my own!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For many of us, July means fireworks, backyard family time, and…grilling! And what better way to celebrate National Grilling Month than with a special #OnionChat: Grilling Edition!

Join the National Onion Association’s @Onionista for a special #OnionChat with special guest – Grilling Vegan Style Author @JohnSchlimm – this Thursday June 28th at 8pm ET! Come meet John and learn about his new book, get great recipes and grilling tips, and learn more about onions–how to grill them and add them to summer recipes to make your backyard get-together even tastier! Those who join the chat will be entered to win one of 5 prize packs that each include one TheGrillion and one copy of Grilling Vegan Style! (Open to residents of U.S. and Canada. Click here for official rules.)

The National Onion Association represents onion growers, shippers and others in the U.S. onion industry. The NOA is also an incredible resource for anyone who has ever encountered an onion! One visit to their website and you’ll find recipes on how to serve onions for any meal, in any season and at any gathering. You’ll also find information on handling and storing onions, as well as important dietary information and research, lesson plans for teachers, and answers to (eye)burning questions such as “why do your eyes water when you cut an onion?” For a small taste of what’s to come during Thursday’s chat, visit the NOA’s Ten Tips for Perfectly Grilled Onions!

For most kids, summer vacation means taking a break from the daily routines of packed lunches, school buses and homework. But how do help them avoid taking a break from reading and learning?

Get some answers and share stories and successes at the #Owlkids “Dive Into Summer Reading” Twitter Party, Tuesday June 26th at 8pm ET! Join us and @Owlkids for an hour of tips, discussion, helpful links and prizes!  

Owlkids Books publishes entertaining and unique books and magazines for kids ages 2 to 13. With engaging writing, bold graphics, and the best children’s authors, books from Owlkids are loved by parents, teachers, librarians, and — most importantly — kids! Owlkids’ mission is to create high-quality books and magazines that nurture the potential of children and instill in them a love of reading and learning — about themselves and the world around them.

Owlkids also offers three age-appropriate magazines for kids – Chirp, ChickaDEE and Owl — that combines reading with stories, puzzles, science and issues that really matter to kids to engage them and get them interested in reading and exploring the world.

At the party, we’ll be chatting about reading together, tips for encouraging reading over other activities such as video games, kids summer reading lists and more! Prizes to be given away at the party include Owlkids magazine subscriptions, activity packs and summer book packs!

Anyone who tweets this before the party will be entered to win an Owlkids assorted book pack! (Only one entry/tweet per person per day).

To enter to win an Owlkids prize during the party, please fill out the quick form below. Winners will be selected from those who register and attend the party! Open to residents of U.S. & Canada! For complete rules, visit our Owlkids rules page.

What: #Owlkids Dive Into Summer Reading Twitter Party 
When: Tuesday, June 26th at 8pm ET
Hosts: @Owlkids, @TweeParties
Where: On Twitter, #Owlkids
Tweet Grid Link: http://bit.ly/KMptSP
Tweet Chat Link: http://bit.ly/Lr5vye

If you are new to Twitter or not sure how to go about attending a Twitter chat, check out our Beginner’s Guide to getting started!

To Register, fill out the following form: (Please note that by submitting your information, you are opting in to receive emails from Owlkids and TweeParties. You may opt out at any time!)

Summer’s almost here, which for many means more family time. But what about those furry members of your family?

Join mygofer.com and a panel of pet enthusiasts to chat about how to save more time in our busy lives and spend it on our pets at the #MyGofer #PetTime Twitter Party this Wednesday, June 6th at 9pm ET (8pm CT)!

What’s mygofer.com? It’s a way to save you time and make life a little easier. At mygofer, you can order all of your pet supplies, groceries, and household items online and pick them up curbside within hours at your local Kmart or have them delivered to you the same day!

mygofer.com understands that running from store to store, parking, standing in shopping lines and searching online one item at a time are hassles. That’s why they’ve developed tools to help simplify and speed up your errands.  For example, mygofer gives you the ability to keep track of your frequently purchased items such as dog food and have them automatically reordered every week, month, or whenever you need them.

@MyGofer will be on hand to answer questions, as well as chat about pets, pet supplies and how to spend more time with your furry family members. They’ll also be giving away mygofer.com gift cards and tweeting out a special offer good for the first 300 people who redeem it!

Anyone who tweets this before the party will be entered to win a $50 mygofer.com gift card that can be used to make any mygofer purchase! (Only one entry/tweet per person/Twitter ID).

To enter to win a mygofer.com prize, please fill out the quick form below. Winners will be selected from those who register and attend the party!

What: #MyGofer #PetTime Twitter 
When: Wednesday, June 6th at 9pm ET
Hosts: @MyGofer, @TweeParties
Panelists: @MomVantage, @DoggiesandStuff, @2kidsandacoupon, @beeacutie2, @UnKatchable73, @savvymavvy, @everdayrambling, @nikki2kids, @theCouponista
Where: On Twitter, #MyGofer #PetTime
Tweet Grid Link: http://bit.ly/Lqjt3U

For a little fun in the meantime, jump on over to see the Economics of Pet Ownership Infographic on the mygofer blog!

If you are new to Twitter or not sure how to go about attending a Twitter chat, check out our Beginner’s Guide to getting started!

To Register, fill out the following form: (Please note that by submitting your information, you are opting in to receive promotional emails from mygofer.com and TweeParties. You may opt out at any time!)