Zach once again woke up with a cold...I think I am getting one too!

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Being in elementary school Zach is around so many other kids.  This has lead to many colds this year already.  I noticed him coughing a  tiny bit last night, but I kind of thought he was goofing around.  This morning he woke up with a runny (crusty) nose, coughing and sneezing.  He asked his favorite question lately, "no school today?".  Sorry Zach thanks to PediaCare I have cold medicine for you...you get to go to school today. 

I am not always crazy about giving my kids medicine, but he seemed to have all the symptoms listed for this cold medicine except the fever...but a little acetaminophen sometimes just helps them feel better.  So I thought I would try it out.  He seemed to love the flavor and did not mind taking it at all...he even said Thanks.  I guess we will see how he is when he comes home. 

PediaCare carries a line of childrens products from the simple fever reducer/pain reliever, to products for Flu to Allergies.  You can check out their symptom checker to find the right product for your child.  While many of the cold/allergy  products are for children 6 years and up.  The pain reliever/fever reducer can be used for children 2-11 and they offer an infants one also.  We ar not quite done with cold season, and allergy season is just starting...So why not check out PediaCare Childrens.

For more information please visit   http://pediacare.com/

I was also thankful to have some samples of Boogie Wipes. I used a Boogie Wipe to clean up his crusty nose he woke up with this morning. 

Boogie Wipes are soft, moist wipes made with natural saline and are alcohol, phthalate and paraben free. Boogie Wipes are available in Great Grape, Fresh Scent, Magic Menthol and Simply Unscented.  This time I used the unscented as I have used the other samples with Kennedy.  She has had a stuffy nose for quite a while and these wipes have been great, especially in the morning.  The grape scent is a fun one for the kids.  I thought the menthol scented was quite refreshing.  If you want ones for us grown ups...check out Achooz. 

Disclosure:  I received full size and samples of the products mentioned free for review.  These are my personal opinions.

Im participating in the Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse Test Drive Program

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I am excited to have been chosen to  participate in the Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse Test Drive Program.  I have been interested in trying out the Crest Pro-Health products as I know I have gingivitis.  According to Crest in a survey of over 100 Women’s Health readers selected to receive free samples of a new Crest Pro-Health Rinse, 89 percent felt more confident about their next dental check-up after regular use of Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Rinse.

Production Description:
Gives you a fresh, invigorating clean you can feel—so you know you’re working toward a better dental check-up. 24 hour protection against plaque and gingivitis. Use twice daily. Invigorating sensation.

Kills germs
Reduces plaque buildup
Helps prevent and reduce gingivitis for healthy gums
Fight bad breath
Keep teeth cleaner longer, versus brushing alone
Invigorating sensation







I currently have been using TheraBreath products.  Before using the TheraBreath I was typically just using toothpaste(not mouthwash).  I would use Crest and Colgate brands...typically what ever was on sale at the time.  I never really found a mouthwash I was that crazy over before. I thought most brands just covered up your bad breath with a strong minty scent, but really did not do anything else. I do like the TheraBreath toothpaste and mouthwash, but really want to try the Crest Pro-Heath mouthwash to see if it can help with gingivitis.

For the test drive program I will post again and let you know how it is working for me.  I think I will post in 2-3 weeks with my results.  I started using the Crest Pro-Health Invigorating Clean Multi-Protection Rinse yesterday.  My first reactions to it is it was very strong and hot!   It definitely has an invigorating taste and scent. My mouth did feel quite fresh after using it.  A couple hours after using the rinse I could still taste and smell the mintiness.  It was not strong at that time, but refreshing.  I am not great about brushing twice a day, so I forgot to do that or use the rinse last night.  This morning after eating breakfast I went to brush and rinse, and checked out my teeth more.  I did feel like my breath was still ok, and my teeth were still quite smooth.  So far, even though the flavor is a bit overwhelming, I am already impressed.  Now lets see how it works over the next couple of weeks and see if I notice a difference with the gingivitis. 



Disclosure:  I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Crest and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central Consulting sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

My cute stick figure family

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I love seeing all the cute stick figure family stickers on car windows.  I have always thought they were so adorable and wanted one for my family.  I found some great choices at Belvedere Designs. They offer iconic, themed, classic or custom family stickers. I love all the choices. 


The themed family stickers are a cute way to show off your family.  Are you a beach family?  They have a really cute beach themed family.  The themed family stickers can also be customized with a family name or text like a cute quote.

(themed family sticker with text)

I really like the iconic family stickers....and they have a huge selection to choose from! Besides using these for representing the whole family I think these would be something different for a business or to represent what trade or hobby your family member enjoys.  I could see getting something like these for my husband for his vehicles with his fish farm.

You can always have these custom made also.  They charge a small fee but can add custom text to these and can even arrange the text the way you want (ex. curved on top) or add a custom font.  So you could create a cute design like this one below....which I think would make a great Father's Day gift!

You can also go back to the classic family stickers, like what you see on many vehicle windows. 

For the classic you can choose stick figures like the picture above and can even add text.   If you want to add more personality to them then you have to check out their custom family stickers!  They are great!  For those you can choose so many more options for heads and body styles.  They have many career and hobby types for the bodies and many male, female and baby heads to choose from.  Also dont forget about your pets!  You can add pets to both the classic and custom family stickers.  You can also add individual and family names to both the classic and custom stick figures. 

When ordering your custom family sticker you can also pay extra and have this made into an art file.   With the art file you can then print your design on shirts, address labels, use it as a  logo or even as a header for your blog!  I would love that!  I could see using it in many ways. 

Check out my family stick figures

I love that I was even able to represent Kennedy in her wheelchair.  I decided to put my sticker on my door windows instead of my car.  It was really easy to do and went on the window great!  It came as one long sticker, but thought it would be easier to apply if I cut it down.  This was easy to do and didnt have any problems.  They come with printed instructions but you can check out their site for instructions with pictures for a better idea on placement.   The stickers are made out of high quality outdoor vinyl, which is rated to last 7+ years in any weather.  They can also cut them from indoor materials to be placed on walls or doors in your home or business.  If you are looking for other ideas on decorating your home or office you can also check out their wall quotes and vinyl letters.  There you can even create your own custom wall quotes!

For more ideas check out their blog at http://www.belvederedesignsblog.com/  There you can submit photos of their wallquotes each month for a chance to win a $50.00 gift certificate with our monthly photo contest.  Click here to see Decembers winner.

 Like them on facebook for exclusive discount. http://www.facebook.com/belvederedesigns

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

How do you keep your family happy?

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Having children of various ages and abilities really makes it difficult to keep everyone happy!  Even typical families have a hard time keeping everyone happy.  The kids start fighting, that makes us adults grumpy, then the kids get grumpier.  It is sometimes just a vicious circle of unhappiness.  Then there are times things just go right.

A day at my house can be overwhelming and sometimes overwhelming even just to keep everyone happy.  I have three children that live her full time, then twin stepdaughters here everyother weekend.  Here are some things I do to keep them all happy....although I can't guarantee they will all be happy at the same exact time...haha.

Keeping teenagers happy:
~Internet:  Of course most teens like having the ability to get on the internet.  My stepdaughters love playing online games, chatting with their friends, reading emails, or checking out facebook.
~Playing sports:  Many teens love sporting activities...and joining a team sport can really keep them busy and out of trouble.
~Games:  Having various types of games can keep the teens happy.  We love playing the Wii as a family, and this typical makes everyone happy (except the baby).  We also like to play board games and card games together.  A family game night is always a good time. 
~Movies:  I like to rent movies I know my stepdaughters will want to watch when the come over.  This keeps them happy for a couple hours, especially if you add in some popcorn!
~Having friends over:  If they are getting too board, invite a friend over.  They can normally find something to do once someone else is around.  This also tends to lead to my other suggestion....
~Food:  Junk food is always a treat, and tends to make most happy (unless you are dieting and feeling guilty).  For my stepdaughters having a nice home cooked meal makes them happy.  They especially love homemade soups. 

Keeping younger children happy:
~Toys:  Make sure you have plenty of toys around that can keep your kiddos busy.  My son loves building his trainsets and playing trains.  Having toys that take time to set up, yet are easy to set up tends to keep them busy and happy for quite a while.  Sometimes having simple toys like bouncy balls are enough to make them happy.
~Playing outside:  I know my kids have all kinds of stuff to play with outside.  Swings, sandbox, bicycles, trampoline, sporting equipment, bubbles.  There are many things that can keep them busy and happy.
~Cooking:  Young children love making messes and creating things in the kitchen.  This can be a really fun family activity.  It doesnt even have to be difficult.  You can buy simple cut out cookies and let them decorate them. 
~Crafts:  This is always fun.  You can do simple things like just coloring pages.  This time of year coloring Easter eggs is always a fun craft! 
~Cartoon:  I am sure your little one has a favorite cartoon. Right now mine is happy as can be watching Thomas! 

Keeping a baby happy:
~Basics:  Feeding, changing, and sleeping.  That is pretty simple right....yeah right....its just guessing which one the baby needs right! 
~Baby games:  play some peek-a-boo, or other games and watch their faces light up!
~Bathing:  For some I am sure this is a very unhappy time, but others like mine love it.  They can relax in the water, or splash around if they are a bit older.


Keeping a severly disabled child happy:
I have a child that physically can not do many activities.  She loves watching cartoons and listening to music.  Put on an episode of Little Bill or Laurie Berkner Band and she is smiling ear to ear. 
Reading books is something that makes just about all my kids happy.  For my disabled daughter it is an activity that makes her happy because she gets lots of interaction as well as the story.  Another thing she can do is swinging.  We have a swing set up in her bedroom for all year long fun.  My daughter is exclusively tube fed....but occassionally we like to do some slushies/icies and this makes her happy.  She gets a taste of something good yet doesnt have the anxiety of swallowing a lot of something. 

How about you......What keeps your family happy?  Do you have special circumstances like us?  Do you have special activities or treats that keep your family happy? 


disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Farm Rich blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Thinking Mother's Day... What has been your best Mother's Day?

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Last year definitely was a Mother's Day that I will remember.  It is pretty hard to not remember a day when your child is in the hospital!  Obviously I would have loved to have been spending my Mother's Day at home with my children, or even by visiting my Mom, but that was not in the cards for us. 

Kennedy started having an increase in seizures the week or so before Mother's Day and had to be hospitalized.  Being a mother it is tough not being able to take away all your children's pains, and having to see them suffer with a medical condition.  When your child is hospitalized it is a rough time on the whole family.  As Mom I do not want to leave my child that is in the hospital, yet have to live with the fact that I am then leaving my children that are at home.  On Mother's Day you just want to spend the day with the whole family and be blessed with all your children around you. 

Last Mother's Day I had such mixed feelings.  I felt sad that Kennedy was once again having problems, yet I also felt sad that I was not planning on spending the day with all my children.  I was surprised though when my stepdaughter's Mom was so nice and brought them and my son to visit Kennedy and I at the hospital.  It was so nice to have all the kids around for Mother's Day! This helped raise mine and Kennedy's spirits that day!

I can not say it was my best Mother's Day, but it has been my most memorable.  I am hoping that this year will be my best Mother's Day!  Last year I had just found out I was pregnant  and now I have another little girl this year.  I am hoping Kennedy continues to be in good health.  She has not been hospitalized since last Mother's Day and I am hoping we keep it that way.  Being able to celebrate Mother's Day with all of my children home, healthy, and happy will be the best gift ever!

Sometime's holidays just don't work out the way you think they will.....but that does not mean you can not make them special.  I do not think I have been able to spend a Mother's Day with Mom since I moved away from home.  I still think of her, and hope I show her how much I care.  This year we are planning a trip home for Easter and hopefully I can get some great photos of the family.  That way I can create a great gift for my Mom from Tiny Prints. 

Tiny Prints provides simple, modern and unique stationery from Fathers Day Cards to personalized greeting cards to thank you cards, business cards, and even custom wedding invitations or photo birth announcements. Offering exclusive designs from the nation’s top designers, easy card personalization, a powerful preview engine and top-notch customer service and paper quality, their designs have been lauded by numerous television networks, publications and celebrities. With Tiny Prints by your side commemorating every holiday and momentous occasion is a cinch! They offer perfect party invitations for every occasion and memorable personalized photo-gifts like notebooks, photo books and calendars to commemorate the event.

I think one of their great calendars would make a great Mother's Day gift....Mom can see the photos and feel special all year long! Don't forget to send a special Mothers Day card this year from Tiny Prints.  They offer Mothers Day greeting cards for all sorts of moms – mom friends, moms, mothers-in-law… You want to tell her she’s doing a great job as a mom or thank her for being there for you? They have the card for it! I know I would love to receive one and will be sending one to my special Mom!  I love Tiny Prints greeting cards and how you can customize them.  I especially love the ones that you can add your own photos to.  What Mom wouldn't want a card with a special picture of her children! 

Tiny Prints

disclosure:  I will be compensated by Tiny Prints for this sponsored post.  I have used Tiny Prints a few times and have loved their products.  These are my personal opinions.

#Mamavation Monday ... Started phase 3 of New Mommy Makeover

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BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Earth Footwear.


Question:  Where will your feet take you this year? Any plans for a big hike, race, or just a lot of walking?

I do not have any big plans, besides hoping the weather warms up so I can get out walking again.  There is a great trail near me that I like walking.  Last spring I was walking that during the day and then doing my workouts in the evening and was really making some good progress losing weight.  I want to start that up again.  This week was winter again here, so I really didnt get in any walks. 

This week I started phase 3 of the New Mommy Makeover.  It is again another great increase in the workouts.  I love how so many of the exercises are combined now to get a full strength training workout in, plus have the quick intervals to raise my heart rate in between sets.  I am glad I picked up some more weights as I have felt a difference using the heavier weights.  After the first workout of phase 3 I noticed my inner thighs sore...a good sore.  I feel the workouts working!  I think phase 2 and 3 are definitely something I can use even after I am done with the 12 weeks.  They are not just for New Moms, but are great workouts for anyone. 


disclosure:  The post is written in part as the Mamavation carnival which is sponsored this week by Earth Footwear.  I have a chance to win a product from Earth Footwear for posting this.  The second half is written as my review of New Mommy Makeover dvds, which I received free.  These are my personal opinions.

Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies

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Do you have picky eaters?  I know I sure do, which means my child probably is not getting enough fiber.  Our children can now get a great tasting fiber supplement by chewing Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies.  These fun penguin shaped gummies have 2 grams of fiber each.  For children 2-11 it is recommended that they chew one gummy three times a day to help promote regularity.  Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies are sugar free and gluten free.

I know for my son it is sometimes difficult knowing he is getting enough fiber.  He is pretty picky.  There are times he will eat a veggie, and then other times he will not.  He also does not eat much for cereals or grains that have added fiber. The Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies are a nice way to supplement.  They have a sweet fruity flavor, much like the gummy candies.  The only thing we have a problem with is sometimes Zach is picky about textures too.  The Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies are kindof harder to chew.  They are pretty similar in texture to most gummy bear candies, which are to me a bit tough.  I wish we could find supplements that are a softer gummy (more like a gumdrop vs. gummy bear).  My suggestion on this type of chewables is to just watch younger children to make sure they chew them well.  Otherwise I think the Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies are a great alternative for the suggested age group.

disclosure:  I received the Fiber Gummies for free to review.  These are my personal opinions.

StickerYou.com

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Do you need custom stickers for an event or tradeshow? Do you want a easy way to organize your home office?  StickerYou.com can provide custom stickers and labels for any event, business, or even for your home.  You can design and customize stickers just as you would like them.  These are great for any events, tradeshows, organization, parties, crafts, or just for fun! 

They have recently launched a new site and now with their new interface they can quickly provide a cost for your stickers and a template of what your stickers will look like.

I decided to make some stickers for myself.  The site is very easy to use!  They have blank pages so you can design your own stickers, or upload your design from your computer.  This is great for designing or using your already designed logo.  They also have pages for Wine, address, home, kids, food, event, cd/dvd, jar, and shape labels. 

I really liked how easy it was to create custom stickers or labels, or to use their ready made stickers and pages.  The ready made are nice as you can choose from the many categories and print a whole page like it is, or just the stickers you want, and in the sizes you want.  You can use many different images, and edit them, add backgrounds and add text.  If you are not sure exactly what to do check out their tutorials for ideas. 

The sizing options are great!  No matter what design you want, you can really play around with the sizing.  You can drag the sticker you want and adjust the sizing to what ever you want.  You can then copy and paste the sticker.  When you paste the sticker, if you are running out of room on the page it will automatically make it the next size smaller to fit.  You can keep doing this smaller and smaller until you run out of room on the page.  You can also use the "auto" button to rearrange the stickers to fit the best on the page.  For my stickers I used these functions and was able to make a custom page of stickers that were in six different sizes.  This is nice because you may want your logo/sticker on something large like a laptop case, or small like in a corner of an envelope.  My page had 1 sticker the size of my hand, a few as small as my thumb print, and many in between! 

The quality of the printed stickers are great also!  They can cut them any shape you would like and can outline the shape of each sticker also.  They are easy to peal off the page and do not rip or tear when pealing them off.  They stick well to many items.  I definitely recommend them!  I told my husband to check them out when he wants some for his business! 

You can check out their community, and purchase stickers created by others, or start your own community store.  You can also save money by referring a friend.

Tell a friend about StickerYou.
Your friend will receive 10% off* and you will receive 50% of the price they pay for their pages in funds credited to your account.

Want to create some stickers now?  You can  enjoy their 25% off sale until March 31st
Use the Promo Code: "NewHomepage25"

For more information be sure to follow Sticker You on facebook and twitter:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/StickerYou
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stickeryou

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Orange flavored Carmex

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I recently received an exclusive stick of orange flavored Carmex Moisture Plus™ to review.  This is a test product that is not out yet.  Carmex was looking for people to try it out and provide feedback on the new flavor to help determine whether or not to advance this product for further in-market testing and potential launch.

I liked it!  It still had the same effectiveness as other Carmex products, but with a orange flavor and scent.  You could definitely smell and taste the orange, but it still had the "Carmex" scent and flavor.  I say this as I think Carmex has a kind of menthol scent.  The combination of the two flavors worked together.  It was not too fruity.  I think the citrus scent will appeal more to females, yet it isnt too strong that I think men would like it too once they try it.

So I guess we will see what others think, and maybe see this in the stores in the future.

Wubbzy's Egg-Cellent Easter dvd (review and giveaway)

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Giveaway closed.

Congratulations AmyD.

To help celebrate the release of the brand-new Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD, Wubbzy’s Egg-Cellent Easter, now available, one lucky Wubb fan can win a one-of-a-kind, original piece of Wubbzy-inspired artwork, from series’ creator and artist, Bob Boyle.


For more information about the sweepstakes, and to enter, please visit: http://www.wubbzy.com/. The sweeps is live March 21 – April 10, 2011.

We had a fun evening last night and enjoyed watching Wubbzy's new dvd "Wubbzy's Egg-Cellent Easter".  If you are a Wubbzy fan than this is great for enjoying this spring.   You can watch six fun episodes of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! In these 6 egg-ceptional episodes, Wubbzy discovers new ways to decorate eggs, celebrates the first day of spring and has to save Easter! 

Episodes included:
✽ Eggs Over Easy
✾ Big Bunny Blues
✿ Flower Day Parade
❀Watch the Birdie
❁Wubbzy Bounces Back
❃The Flight of the Flutterfly

My kids loved the dvd.  Zach of course was bouncing around just like Wubbzy.  Kennedy was cracking up.  She loved the squarish looking Easter bunny!  This is a fun dvd and we love all the spring and Easter episodes.  Place the dvd in your computer and you can print out a few fun coloring pages to go along with the dvd! 

Wow! Wow! Win it!
One lucky reader can win this dvd!
To enter:  Tell me your favorite Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! character.

Extra entries:
Subscribe to my blog.
Follow my blog with google friends connect.
Follow my blog on facebook.
Share this giveaway on facebook. (1 extra daily)
Follow me on twitter.
Tweet this giveaway (1 extra daily)
Blog about this giveaway (3 extra entries)
Write a review of my blog on alexa (3 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US only.  This will end on April 3 and the winner will be chosen by random.org.  Click here to see my giveaway rules and guidelines.

Spaceship clock

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Originally submitted at CSN Stores

fun clock for kids

By Colleen from WI on 3/27/2011

4out of 5

My son loves checking out what time it is lately, so it was time to get him a clock for his room. He has also been interested in stars and planets lately too. I saw this clock and thought it was great. While I was a little bummed because when I received the clock and took off the plastic coating over the face it was dull. It looks like their is a film over it so it is a bit difficult to see the time that way. I however could not return it because my son was in love with the projection. He loves having the time and planets on his ceiling! With the lights off in his bedroom this shows up very well on his ceiling. I like that it has the time and date and alarm functions. It is easy to set and has battery compartment for power failure. I am going to have to use this as my son likes to have his spaceship fly around and I am sick of resetting his clock every night.

disclosure: I purchased this using a gift card provided by csnstores.com for featuring them on my blog.

(legalese)

"The Adventures of Onionhead in Space" by Jordan Coleman

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Over a year ago I was introduced to Onionhead.  Onionhead is a non profit company that is "empowing loving feelings". 

No matter how old we are, our happiness is based on our ability to deal with problems in a compassionate and mindful way. Onionhead’s creations share the art of living core values, such as respect, integrity, compassion and trust. They increase self-awareness, teach anger management, promote empathy towards another and encourage appropriate intimacy. They show one how to nurture their problem solving skills and conflict resolution options.

They offer many programs and products to help our children learn about emotions and deal with their emotions positively.  I have used the Onionhead A-Z dictionary of 52 emotions with Zach which helped him learn and put a name to the emotions he was feeling. Onionhead has products to help children of various ages.  While the A-Z dictionary was great for Zach being a little younger, he has now ready to take a step further into learning about his and other people's feelings and how they effect all of us.

The Adventures of Onionhead in Space takes us on a journey to the possible.  For seven nights, Onionhead visits different planets and discovers incredible wisdom that he will brang back to help our planet Earth.   

The layout of this story is nice that you can help your child learn a lesson each night.  Onionhead takes a journey every night as he goes to bed. On Monday he dreams of going to the Moon, and on Tuesday, Mars.  He visits the planets every day of the week and takes from this journey a lesson that the inhabitants of those planets teach him.  For instance "Saturn is called The Transformation program- to bring positivity to our world".  This chapter teaches the reader about changing negative thoughts into positive ones.  The story was very imaginative.  I think some of the topics were a bit "over his head" for Zach yet, but is a good start to help introduce these topics to him.  Zach is a little behind on topics of feelings but I think this book would be good for many elementary aged children.  It is a good reminder for those to think about others and how positive and negative emotions can effect all of those in our world.

For more information you can visit http://www.onionhead.com/
or visit the Onionhead blog at http://www.onionhead.com/blog/


disclosure:  I received this book free to review.  These are my personal opinions.

Nutella

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I recently received a package courtesy of Nutella through MommyParties.  I was able to invite some friends over and introduce them to Nutella.  Nutella is a great tasting hazelnut spread made with skim milk and a hint of cocoa.  Even before the party, my son made me break open our jar of Nutella.  We first tried it out on some toast, and both loved it!  I even had to make him a second slice! 

It seemed as breakfast time was difficult to get people together as we all have pretty busy schedules.  We ended up having friends over for dinner and decided to use the Nutella for some desert type items, and tell them how they could use it for a great quick breakfast item. 

We made two types of cookies and a wholesome wrap with the nutella.  For cookies we made a simple peanut butter cookie, but added about a 1/2 -1 cup of Nutella to the batter.  We also made chocolate chip cookies and frostened the tops with Nutella.  I do not think we had one adult or child that did not love the cookies.  They really liked having a little bit of twist to some classic cookies.  I also made a great breakfast or snack wrap.  I got the idea from the recipes that I received from the MommyParties package.  These were great!  I took some whole wheat tortilla wraps and spread them with Nutella.  I then sprinkled some raisins, dried cranberries and dried cherries and rolled the wrap.  I cut these into smaller portions.  They made a great snack, but could make a quick healthy breakfast item.  The adults really seemed to like these.  I know I personally have been making these a couple times a week now!  My son likes them too, as long as I leave out the dried fruit. 

Overall I think everyone liked the Nutella and were interested in using it.  I personally had only used Nutella once many years ago.  I had one other Mom ask me if I had a hard time spreading the Nutella.  We both had remembered having to refridgerate the Nutella in the past.  The Nutella now does not have to be refridgerated and spreads as easily as peanut butter!  We both thought this was a great change. 

For more information on Nutella, enter their monthly sweepstakes and to print a $1.00 off coupon visit:  http://www.nutellausa.com/


Disclosure:  I received free products and samples through MommyParties™ and Nutella® .  These are my personal opinions.

TheraBreath (review and giveaway)

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Giveaway closed.
Congratulations Ezmerelda!




How's your breath today?  We get up and have that "lovely" morning breath.  Our mouths are dry and feeling yucky.  I have been using a great toothpaste and mouthwash that helps keep my breath fresh all day long!  TheraBreath toothpaste and oral rinse are sure to get rid of bad breath and leave you with a cleaner, healthier mouth! 



I mostly wanted to try the TheraBreath brand with Kennedy.  Kennedy does not eat anything by mouth anymore and gets very bad breath.  She has a hard time with toothpastes because they get so foamy and that makes her anxious as she is afraid of swallowing it and can not spit it out.  In the past I have been using a mouthwash on her toothbrush but it never has really taken care of the bad breath.  Plus so many are so strong of flavors(even the childrens) that I have to dilute them. 

I first tried the TheraBreath on myself to see what it was like.  With the TheraBreath toothpaste you do not add water.  The toothpaste does not get foamy much at all.  I always thought the foaming really helped get the toothpaste where it needs to go.  I do not believe that anymore.  I found that the TheraBreath toothpaste covers very well and leaves my teeth feeling very smooth, and looking a bit whiter.  The flavor is very mild.  It does have a minty flavor but it is pretty weak.  The packaging reminds you to brush not only your teeth but your mouth/tongue too, as this is where the bacteria likes to hide that causes bad breath.

Don't stop there though, to get the best results I finish up by using the TheraBreath oral rinse.  By gurgling with this mouthwash it really gets the odor causing bacteria that is in my throat.  I personally think this is the biggest area that causes bad breath.  I also think TheraBreath oral rinse does a great job eliminating it.  This is what I use with Kennedy now all the time!  I put this on her toothbrush, and I do not even dialute it.  When you first use it the flavor is not necessarily the best.  It is a very mild minty flavor but to me kind of tastes a bit like baking soda.  After you are through it leaves a mild minty flavor in your mouth and feeling very fresh.  This has extremely helped get rid of Kennedy's bad breath.  She smiled the very first time we used it, so she must have liked the mild flavor.  I myself like it too, it just took a couple rinses to get used to the flavor.  It is nice though that it does not have alcohol in it and is so mild.  There is no burn like many mouthwashes! 


TheraBreath Toothpaste and TheraBreath Mouthwash  will leave you feeling confident all day long.  You can purchase these online for $10.50 each.  If you want something for in between brushes, you must try the TheraBreath Lonzenges ($13.00 for a box of 100).

Stage 1 uses our pleasant citrus mint formula to quickly eliminate any unpleasant flavors or odors in your mouth. Stage 2 uses the power of Zinc, Oxygen, and Xylitol - our clinical strength active ingredients -to attack the germs that cause bad breath. Stage 3 introduces our proprietary salivary agent to eliminate dry mouth and stimulate your body to produce saliva, a powerful germ fighting agent.

These have a wonderfully fresh flavor and really do work.  Having an infant I have been getting up often to feed her during the night.  I find my mouth extremely dry and just do not have the extra hands to get a glass of water.  I keep the box of mints right on top of my fridge and can grab one while I make the baby's bottle.  They help freshen my breath and moisten my mouth.  They are great.  I love that they are individually packaged.  I keep a bunch in my purse and car too.  I was chewing a lot of gum and now I just grab a mint instead. 

For more information on TheraBreath products you can visit:
WEB : http://www.therabreath.com/
BLOG : http://blog.therabreath.com/
YOUTUBE : http://www.youtube.com/user/prokatz


Giveaway:
I really like the TheraBreath products.  They sell many others too that I would like to try out.  One lucky reader can win one tube of TheraBreath Toothpaste and one bottle of TheraBreath Oral Rinse!  To enter:  Visit TheraBreath and tell me another item you would like to try.

Extra entries:
Follow TheraBreath on twitter.
Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway.
"like" TheraBreath on facebook
"like" my blog on facebook.
Share this giveaway on your facebook wall.
Subcribe to my blog.
Follow my blog with google friends connect.
Blog about this giveaway, linking back here (3 extra entries)
Write a review of my blog on Alexa (3 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US only.  This giveaway will end on April 9 and the winner will be chosen by random.org.  To view my giveaway rules and guidelines click here.


disclosure:  I received the products for free to review.  These are my personal opinions.

Grey's Anatomy Spot the Scanner contest

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New episodes of Grey’s Anatomy* return tonight!! Which means it’s time for the Exergen contest “Spot the Scanner” contest to continue.* Since the scanner didn’t appear in recent episodes, 35 people could win a home model if it’s shown tonight!

If you can be one of the first ten people to “Spot the Scanner” in this week’s episode and email your name, address, time and the specific doctor who was using it, you could win! Don’t worry if the scanner doesn’t appear in every new episode, the contest runs throughout the rest of the season!

BONUS – For every new episode which doesn’t show the professional model (shown below) of the Exergen TemporalScanner, 5 subsequent thermometer prizes will be added to the next new airing. Once a new episode featuring the TemporalScanner runs, prizes will be re-set to 5 once again. That means 35 people will win a home model if the thermometer is shown this Thursday.

Email: http://www.blogger.com/goog_1721647224

For official contest rules please visit: http://exergen.com/spotthescanner/

*this contest is not affiliated with or sponsored by ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy

Ready for your Taste Drive?

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Get a taste of the latest in fully loaded flavor efficiency. Just grab a bowl and hold onto your spoon, because this breakfast cereal will put you in the fast lane to fruit flavor! Sign up to taste drive a sample at Touch of Fruit.

Nobody Listens to me

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I'm a Mom.  A mom and stepmom to children of many ages....and like most moms sometimes I feel like I am here just to wait on the kids and my husband.  I'm here to do this, get that, listen to all their concerns.  So I listen, but am I heard.  Yeah right, how many mom's feel like this?

I just saw this tshirt and thought "man that is how I feel" lol!!!  This "nobody listens to me" tee is perfect! The kids have all asked me about it and thought it was funny...now I think they actually listen to me some.   I know my 6 year old son has taken notice.  Not quite sure it is notice of me or my funny tshirt from http://www.crazydogtshirts.com/

("Look Mom, the same")

Watch out they may not listen but they do take notice!

Are you looking for a funny tshirt to get noticed too?  Crazy Dog Tshirts has tons of funny tees for the whole family.  They have mens, womens, kids and funny onesies.  They even have ones for your dog!  Check out their Daily Deal.  I found this tee there for just $6.99! 




click here to go to "the daily deal"



disclosure:  I received this tee for free to review.  These are my personal opinions.

"21 Day Weight Loss Kickstart" by Neal D. Barnard, MD (review and giveaway)

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Giveaway closed.
Congratulations Nickolay and /\Heather/\!

About the book:

For years, Dr. Neal D. Barnard has been at the forefront of cutting-edge research on what it really takes to lose weight and restore the body to optimal health. Now, with his proven, successful program, in just three short weeks you'll get fast results-drop pounds, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, improve blood sugar, and more. With Dr. Barnard's advice on how to easily start a plant-based diet, you'll learn the secrets to reprogramming your body quickly:


~Appetite reduction: Strategically choose the right foods to naturally and easily tame your appetite.

~Metabolism boost: Adjust eating patterns to burn calories faster for about three hours after each meal.

~Cardio protection: Discover the powerful foods that can help reduce cholesterol nearly as much as drugs do in just weeks.

Whether you are one of the millions who are anxious to get a jumpstart on weight loss or who already know about the benefits of a plant-based diet but have no idea how or where to start, this book is the kickstart you've been waiting for. Complete with more than sixty recipes, daily meal plans for the 21-day program, tips for grocery shopping, and more, this book will teach you how to make the best food choices and get your body on the fast track to better health.

Review:

While I have not actually done the three week kickstart, I found a lot of information from this book about the benefits of a plant based diet.  Dr. Barnard talks about needing support to really commit yourself to this diet, which I do not have.  My husband is a big meat eater and milk drinker, so it would be very difficult for me to completely go without animal products.  I did however take a lot from the book.  It really talks about the benefits of not eating meat and dairy.  It did a great job showing from research and people that have done the 21 day kickstart how well the diet could work for anyone. 

For me it gave me ideas on ways to cook with more vegetables,grains and legumes.  It has a great section on recipes, plus talks about the different types of foods and where you can find them.  It tells you how to use items like Tofu, Tempeh, TVP, and Seitan.  These are items that I am not familiar with and did not know how to add them to my diet, or even what they tasted like.  I am now intrigued in using these.  After reading this I did purchase some easy items that I plan on adding more into my diet like bean, lentins, and barley. 

It really talked about the negatives of meat, dairy and eggs.  I think it will make anyone who reads it think again about the nutrious value of these items when they put them on their plates.  It has me!  If I had more support I could most likely do this diet with out much problems. It has sections on eating at restaurants and gives you ideas on items you can have, so you can eat while out.  It even has sections that talks about going grocery shopping, making up a list of items that you would eat.  There are so many already for me, that I would like that are included in this diet.  Really it is not about limitting yourself from snacking and you do not count calories at all.  You pretty much just eliminate any animal products (meat, fish, cheese and eggs) and try to really limit oils. 

So if you are interested in trying new recipes and want to challenge yourself for three weeks, check out this book.  It is an easy read and one you may want to keep on hand well after the three weeks!

Giveaway:
Two lucky readers can win a copy of this book.  To enter:  Leave a comment about a non animal product food you would like to try.

Extra entries:
~I think the hardest area of this for me would be to eliminate milk, as I have not found a different type yet that I would want to swap.  Leave a comment telling me what would be hard for you in this type of diet.
~Subscribe to my blog.
~Follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway (1 daily entry)
~Follow my blog on facebook.
~share this giveaway on facebook.
~Follow my blog with google friends connect.
~Write a blog post about this giveaway linking back here (3 extra entries)
~Write a review of my blog on alexa (3 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US and Canada only, and can not be mailed to PO boxes.  You can only win this book once( so if you win from another giveaway, you will only receive one copy).  To see all my giveaway rules and entry guidelines click here.  This giveaway will end on April 6 and the winners will be chosen randomly.

disclosure:  I received a copy for free to review.  These are my personal opinions.

#Mamavation Monday ~ New Mommy Makeover wk # 8

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BLOGGING CARNIVAL: This week’s blogging carnival is sponsored by Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn. Two blogging carnival participants will receive an Orville Redenbacher’s Very Important Blogger (VIB) Gift Basket which includes popcorn, exercise kit including clip n step meter, exercise bands, healthy recipe mix-ins, yoga kit with yoga mat, blocks, strap, and beginner DVD ($100 value). To be eligible answer the following blogging carnival question in your weekly Mamavation blog post and mention Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn with a link back to their site.You can join in too by writing a post and then link up your post at Mamavation.

Are you a sweet or savory snacker? What do you look for in a healthy snack?
I am both, it just depends on what I am craving.  This week I was actually a lot better about finding healthy snacks.  I looked for something nutritious.  I did some wheat thin crackers with roasted red pepper hummus, cottage cheese, string cheese, apple slices with a little peanut butter, air popped popcorn, veggie slices, whole grain wrap spread with nutella and sprinkled with dried fruit, or a handful of nuts.  Some of these are less calories, while some might have more calories, but may be more nutritious.  I really try to stay away from the snacks that say they are low calorie or low fat but are really junk food like the prepackaged cookies.  I find these things just make me want more junk food and really do not have anything nutrious about them so why both eating them.  I have been reading a book called 21 Day Weight Loss Kickstart that talks about the benefits of being Vegan.  While I do not know if I can really do that, I have found some great ideas and recipes and will be trying to eat a lot less animal products.  I am going to limit the cheeses and meats, and get more protein through beans and veggies.  I will be having a giveaway for the book probably later today(If I have time to get it posted) if you are interested stop back later or tomorrow. 

I did a lot better with the snacking this week than I did last week.  I tried to stay busier and found I was a lot better.  The one day I was not too busy I ended up munching too much.  So my goal for this week is to continue to stay busy and not overeat.  Last Monday I was really upset with myself because I was so bad the week before.  I have been on a rollercoaster with my eating.  The week before I had lost two pounds, then I didnt weigh myself last Monday, but did it Tuesday and was up I think three pounds.  This week I am back to the same weight I was two weeks ago, so I lost that three pounds. 

Monday I exercised, even though Monday are my rest days.  The last time I lost a lot of weight(before getting pregnant) I was using the Wii alot.  So I have been wanting to add in more Wii fit hula hooping, as I can feel this a lot working my core.  So Monday night after exercising I got out my calendar and scheduled all my workouts....for a month!  I thought about my routine and what works best.  I scheduled in some workouts for everyday, because I figured I would probably miss one somewhere.  Which I did as we had company over Saturday night so I didnt get that workout in.  I am trying to do the Wii fit hula hoop every morning to get me going.  Then I am trying to do some sort of walking while Kennedy is at school M-W-F, Then I scheduled my typical workouts everynight at 7pm.  I am doing the New Mommy Makeover dvd three days, the Wii two days and the Gorgeous Core dvd I won from mamavation two days.  The regular workouts are just 30 minutes.  The walking and Wii workouts I am aiming for at least 30 minutes.  The Gorgeous core are short, like the Wii hula hoop, and are about 10 minutes.  I figure even though some may be short they get me moving and it adds up.  This week I totalled 240 minutes of exercise out of my goal 290 minutes.  I lost 50 minutes because I skipped the 30 minute workout on Saturday, and skipped two of my morning 10 minute hula hoops(blaming on the baby being up too much that I was just wiped out).  This week I am going to do them even if I am tired, cause I gotta listen to my Mamavation leader Leah who says that exercise gives you energy!

 I have been using a lot of my Mamavation prizes I have won this week too!  I already said I started using the Gorgeous core dvd I won.  I am also wearing my Earth Footwear exerwalks while I do my walking.  I got my Hydracoach this week and have been using that.  I always thought I drank a lot and now realize that indeed I do.  I have the hydracoach goal set for 100oz of water.  I have gone over that everyday, plus have sometimes had other things to drink too.  It is pretty cool though and I will love it for busier days like today while I am out.  It will be a good reminder to drink water while I am not at home. 

This week I will be starting the phase 3 dvd of the New Mommy Makeover program.  I finally got some heavier weights to be using with the dvds so hopefully I will start showing some more toned arms.  I can definitely tell a difference using them.  I will do my weigh in and measurements Thursday.  I think I will see some results as I can fit into jeans again!  I am going to do my best with eating this next four weeks, as I will be finishing up these dvds.  Easter I will be visiting my family and want to look better.  I think I will most likely be using the New Mommy Makeover dvds even after because I just love the routines!  It will be an easy thing to pack with me while I go visit my family.  Maybe I can get my sister to workout with me and see how she likes it.  I really think it can be workouts for anyone, not just new moms!


Disclosure:  This Mamavation post is sponsored by Orville Redenbacher in hopes to win a prize.  Many items I mentioned in this post I have won through contests ran by Mamavation.  The New Mommy Makeover dvds were provided free for review(not through Mamavation).   These are my personal opinions.

The movie Zach just cant wait to see.... Cars 2

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Agoo $1000 shopping spree

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Click here to enter to win $1000 Shopping spree from Agoo!

You can also get extra entries on their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/Agoo4u

Agoo has new spring bamboo leggings and you can save 70% off (giveaway)

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Giveaway closed.

Congratulations Ktgonyea!

I love leggings for my girls...absolutely love them!  I can use them in so many ways. The Agoo brand leggings are really nice.  Agoo now has five new striped patterns of bamboo leggings. 

We got to try out a pair, Girl Power, which have pink stripes.  They are so soft.  I like that they are thin enough that they are not too warm, yet have great coverage.  I think they are great for all year round.  They will help for warmth in the cooler weather and help for sun cover in the warmer weather.  Here are some ways my girls are wearing them.:

 Here Lauren can wear them gathered covering her legs completely.

I love that they are pretty good size that they fit from infants to girls.  Kennedy is 60+ pounds and can wear them too.  For her she wears them in several different ways:

She can wear them on her arms as mock sleeves under a tee.  This is a great way for the boys to wear theirs also.  I like this because this time of year it is pretty cold in the morning, but then warms up in the afternoon.  This makes is so your child can dress accordingly yet does not have to change later in the day.  When they are warm they can just take off the Agoo "sleeves" leggings.  I also love using legging to cover Kennedy's hensinger.  This is a collar she needs to wear when she is travelling or sitting up a lot.  This gives her support because she has very weak neck control.  I love finding leggings with a cute pattern that will match her outfit.  The Agoo leggings are great as they have so many patterns to use.  Also they are long enough that putting both on fits the hensinger great!  Some store brand leggings, that you can find in the infant/toddlers are just too short for Kennedy.

I love using the leggings on Kennedy so that they look like capri leggings. This is pretty stylish under skirts or skorts. Did you know that Agoo sells other clothing also?  They have some really cute sporty squarts (skirts with shorts under).  They even have matching tanks, shirts, and jackets.  I took advantage of a great sale they have going on right now and bought a couple pairs and a couple pairs of leggings to go under them.  I cant wait to try them out!  I think they will be a great addition to her Easter basket this year! 

Just visit Agoo and you can save too!  This is a great deal!  I was able to get two pairs of squarts, and three pairs of leggings plus shipping for just over $33!!! 

Win it:
Agoo has also generously offered a giveaway for a pair of bamboo leggings to one of my readers! 
To enter:  Leave a comment telling me which pair of bamboo leggings you would like.

Extra entries:
Visit Agoo and tell me another item you would like from them.
"like" Agoo on facebook.
"like" my blog on facebook.
Share this on facebook ( 1 entry daily)
follow Agoo on twitter.
follow me on twitter and tweet this giveaway (1 entry daily)
follow my blog with google friends connect.
subscribe to my blog.
Blog about this giveaway (3 extra entries)
Write a review of my blog on alexa (3 extra entries)

This giveaway will end on April 1 and the winner will be chosen randomly.  You can click here to see my giveaway rules and guidelines.


disclosure:  I received a free pair of leggings from Agoo for review.  These are my personal opinions.



Facebook giveaways

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I know yesterday I mentioned entering giveaways on facebook and how much I liked it....well here are some more to share with you.


Conair “Sneak Peek” Sweepstakes


Want fabulous hair? During the month of March, Conair is offering a “Sneak Peek” giveaway for a chance to win a choice of three new Conair hair styling tools. One winner each Friday! Give your hair some love with Conair and “LIKE” the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/conairhair) for more details!






scünci "Bendini Blitz" Daily Giveaway

Just “Bend and Snap!” Starting March 7 - March 25, 2011, each day, one lucky Facebook fan will have the chance to win scünci’s newest hair accessory -- the Bendini Clip! Add a touch of sparkle to any hairstyle with a Bendini clip! Show your hair some love and “LIKE” the scünci Facebook page (www.facebook.com/scuncihair) for more details!








Anti Monkey Butt Powder Sponsor My Butt Sweepstakes

Athletes love AMBP and we love athletes! If you’re part of a team here's a chance to win your team a prize package! From March 1 - March 31, 2011, enter to win one of 10 team prizes! Ten teams will get an Anti Monkey Butt Powder Team Prize package (which will be enough to share with 10 team members!). Connect with Anti Monkey Butt on Facebook (www.facebook.com/antimonkeybutt) and tell the Monkey you "LIKE" him. Enter and tell your friends...help spread the monkey love!


At Last Naturals "Get Lucky" Sweepstakes


Test your luck this month and enter for chance to win the At Last Naturals, “Get Lucky” Sweepstakes! Each week during the month of March one lucky winner will be randomly selected to win the At Last Naturals gift set including a $50 Soft Surroundings gift card, the entire line of At Last Naturals and more! Connect with At Last Naturals on Facebook (www.facebook.com/atlastnaturals) for more details....we’re sure you’ll “LIKE” what you see!

Plus, from March 4 - March 31, 2011 At Last Naturals is offering a 20% discount. Visit http://www.atlastnaturals.com/ and enter the code: LUCKY20.






Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies "Moving & Grooving" Facebook Sweepstakes

Now through March 25, 2011, each week one Facebook fan (oops, we mean "liker") will be randomly picked to win 8 bottles of Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies. And that’s not all! At the end of each month (February and March) one lucky winner gets the "Moving and Grooving" gift set, including 4-months worth of Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies and fun games for the kids!So get movin’ and connect with Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies on Facebook (www.facebook.com/fibergummies) for more details!








"Catch the Wave" OCEAN Giveaway


Cold and flu season is upon us, and one of the best ways to fight back is with regular nasal irrigation! So, to help you in the fight, we’re giving away one random entrant per week a free OCEAN nasal care prize pack! Whether you’re suffering from sinus issues, or just looking to prevent illness with regular nasal irrigation, OCEAN nasal care products can help (available at Rite Aid, Walgreens, Walmart and drugstore.com). So, "LIKE" OCEAN on Facebook (www.facebook.com/oceannasalcare) to “Catch The Wave” and get more details!