How did I ever live without it?

Legacy of Clean All Purpose Cleaner

2010-10-02T23:03:00.007-04:00

What motivated me to buy a white kitchen trash can, I may never know. With a 4 year old and a 1 1/2 year old {and my husband and I}, the outside of that thing was never clean. Water will actually leave spots. In Illinois, it stayed next to a highly traveled door and was constantly dirty, unable to keep it clean, I only cleaned the outside when I cleaned the kitchen floor {and not always}. It was the perpetually dirty trash can.

Fast forward to our move down south. My sister sent me the coolest housewarming gift, cleaning supplies! The Legacy of Clean Intro Bundle to be exact. So many cool things came in this box {all full size, no sample sizes here}, but I want to focus on the LOC All Purpose Cleaner.

This is the cleaner to beat all cleaners. A big title, I know {in my opinion} but try it! I've used it everywhere. In my home, its home, is in the kitchen and that is where it is primarily used, it keeps my table and counter tops oh so pretty. I've used it in nearly every room of our house. I've used it to spot clean our floors when I don't want to get the steamer out, I've used it to wipe chocolate fingerprints off a framed picture, to clean the inside and outside of the refrigerator and freezer, the stove and microwave, it's my go-to cleaner for anything sticky found, well, anywhere.

And the scent, oh the scent...
Sorry, had to take a moment and clean something so I could enjoy it yet again. {No really, I just cleaned my daughter's booster seat.} It has a soft, citrus scent that is clean and crisp. I will go out of my way to find things to clean. My white kitchen trash can, it has never been so clean!

Furthermore, it is environmentally friendly, dermatologist tested and NEVER tested on animals.

Check it out, you'll be glad you did.

You can find more information and purchase Legacy of Clean products here.

Holy Cow!!!!

2010-09-07T21:33:00.000-04:00

I can't beleive it has been over 2 months since any of us has posted anything!! I feel horrible about that. I promise we will get better about this and get back on the ball. I know I have a few products I want to review and I am playing with a few ideas to make this more active again!!

I greatly apologize to our loyal followers!! We will be back VERY SOON!!!

Simple Green Dog Stain & Odor Remover

2010-06-24T15:14:00.000-04:00

When we decided to get a new puppy, I totally forgot all the work that goes into having a new puppy. The most pain-staking part to me is the housebreaking. It is so give or take with our newest addition. We have good and bad days but after talking to people, I am under the impression that things are right where they should be.

The unfortunate part of housebreaking is that our entire house is carpeted and the previous renters had a dog. So of course Daisy found the few spots that the previous dog frequented also. I have been trying everything to get her to stay away from those spots. I tried regular carpet cleaners, regular vinegar, cider vinegar and nothing seemed to work.

Until I tried Simple Green Dog Stain and Odor Remover!!

It is amazing. I cleaned up a spot she urinated on, one that she continued to go back to and she hasn't gone back since. Any spot that she had peed on, I used the cleaner and she hasn't gone back. I even cleaned out her kennel and you couldn't even tell she peed in there. The scent of the cleaner is so fresh and clean, you can't even tell that we have a puppy who is housebreaking.

It has Fresh Bond® Odor Eliminating Technology. But the best part is that it is non-toxic and biodegradable, which makes it people, pet & surface safe!! Having small children playing around on the carpet made me concerned that using all these chemicals might start affecting them too. Finding this product has been not only a miracle for us but it has saved my sanity during the hardest part of owning a new puppy.

Simple Green Dog Stain and Odor remover can be found at both PetSmart and PetCo. It runs between $9.99 and $22.99, depending on the size you purchase. You can find more information on the product at http://www.simplegreen.com/products_pet_dog.php!!

Dove Damage Therapy Shampoo (Free Sample)

2010-06-16T11:17:00.001-04:00

A few years ago I swore by the Matrix Sleek & Shine line of products. They are amazing products, but they really put a dent in your wallet at about $20/bottle. About a year ago when we moved and bought a new home, I decided it was time to find something cheaper. I've been bouncing between brands and have finally found something that I love!
Dove has come out with a Damage Therapy line. I use the Dove Damage Therapy Shine Boost Shampoo and Conditioner. It leaves my hair so soft after I blow dry it. The best part is, it's only around $4/bottle! There are actually two places to receive free samples right now:

Dove Website

Costco (The Costco ID number is not required)

Weigh-In Wednesday: Road Trip!

2010-06-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

I've been racking my brain for something that I just could not live without during our pack out. Unfortunately, nothing stands out. But the road trip, now that's a different story. You see, I just made a 16 hour (2 day) road trip with two munchkins, my husband in a different vehicle. I had two things I could not have made the road trip without; Pepperidge Farm Mint Milano Cookies and an audio book.

Now, I could review the cookies but I don't have any on hand and I must be able to snack as I type and seeing as I'm visiting my parents, I can't run out to get some (they live in the middle of nowhere). So I will save them for another day.

And as we're getting ready to make another road trip I'm hoping some of you can help me. I'm in the market for a new audio book and am looking for suggestions.

What audio book can you not live without?

Please bear with us!!

2010-06-03T12:05:00.000-04:00

To all of our faithful readers, I just wanted to send a note and ask you to please bear with us!! We all have crazy times going on in our lives right now so that is why the blog has been slacking. Hopefully things will settle down for us soon and we will get back into the swing of things. I know for myself personally, I have a few things I want to write about very soon!!

To my fellow co-authors, good luck with everything!! Ally, congrats to your family being whole again!! Rose, good luck with the move!!! I know it will be an awesome one for you!! Pam, teething will pass and mobility gets better once you are used to it!!

To our readers, thank you so much for all your support and understanding!! Look out for us coming back soon and as chatty as ever!!!

We love you guys!!

Minute Maid Fruit Falls vs. Capri Sun Roarin' Waters

2010-05-20T15:44:00.000-04:00

If you're like me, you (and your kids), probably enjoy the convenience of juice boxes, especially during beach and picnic season. The problem with juice is all that sugar! I was so ecstatic when I found out about the Capri Sun Roarin' Waters while vacationing in Tampa last year. The common assumption was, "It's just water, so they can have as much as they want." FALSE!

On a recent trip to the grocery store I compared the labels on the Capri Sun Roarin' Waters and the Minute Maid Fruit Falls. I was shocked at my findings! I expected them to be identical. Truth be told, the Minute Maid Fruit Falls are the better choice.

The Capri Sun option contains 30 calories and 7 grams of sugar per serving, whereas the Minute Maid option contains 5 calories and less than 1 gram of sugar per serving.

Here is the nutritional information for the Berry flavor of each beverage from each company's website, however, the box of Capri Sun that I looked at in the store listed High Fructose Corn Syrup as the second ingredient. ACK! :

Our 2nd Giveaway

2010-05-11T16:25:00.001-04:00

It is about time for our next giveaway!!! This giveway will be a Crayola gift pack which will include the Crayola Twistables that we featured several weeks back. The post can be found here: http://navymomthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/03/toy-of-week-crayola-twistables.html

There are a two ways to enter this giveway: 1) Share our blog with your friends and have them post a comment that you directed them to us. They will get an entry and you will get an entry. 2) Share with us your favorite rainy day activity that you do with your children or if you don't have children, maybe one from when you were younger!!

A random winner will be chosen on Sunday, May 16th via random.org. We will then make a post as to who the winner is and then we will contact the winner to arrange delivery.

Good Luck

*If we don't receive shipping information from the winner by Tuesday, March 23rd, the initial winner will forfeit their prize and another winner will be selected via random.org.

One for the ladies!!

2010-04-26T22:36:00.001-04:00

SEX!!!! There, I said it!! If talking about sex embrasses you, then do not read the rest of this blog post!!
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Ok, that being said, I wanted to tell you all about KY Yours and Mine. It is absolutely amazing and totally worth every penny I spent on it.

Ever since having my babies, things some times don't work quite right down there. I will be in the mood to have sex but my body doesn't agree with my mind. So I started looking at options to help things along. Someone close to me suggested the Yours and Mine but I was a little shy about buying it. I finally got over that and ended up buying it as a gift for us. I am so glad I got over it because it has helped us have some amazing "private" times together.

The lubricant is compatible with latex condoms ONLY. This product is not a contraceptive and does not contain spermicide. Different couples felt different sensations. The KY companies discovered that it was dependent on the individual, how sensitive they were, how much product was used, etc. More importantly, the product encouraged more communication between us which made the time we spent together even more enjoyable. It has deepened not only our physical connection but our emotional one as well.

It costs anywhere from $15 to $20 depending on where you purchase it. The package contains one "his" 1.5-ounce bottle and one "hers" 1.5-ounce bottle. The blue goes on him for an invigorating sensation and the purple goes on her for a thrilling sensation. When the individual lubricants mix during sex, they combine to create an exciting sensation!! So, if you are interested in spicing up your time behind closed doors or are in general need of an additional lubricant, I recommend this one completely!!!

Happy Earth Day!

2010-04-22T15:38:00.000-04:00

If you ask me, every day should be Earth Day. Our planet has a limited amount of resources and we need to stop taking them for granted, if not for our sake, for the sake of our children and grandchildren. If you’re new to the whole green scene, an easy first step is purchasing and using reusable shopping bags. A few years back a group of friends and I ordered bags from go-againbags.com. I still use the very same bags. They are incredibly durable and have many uses. I keep them in my car to avoid forgetting them.

The next step you can and should take is recycling. There are SO many benefits to recycling, not just for our beautiful planet, but for our economy as well. And right now, our economy can use all the help it can get! The National Recycling Coalition gives us the Top 10 Reasons to Recycle:

1. Good For Our Economy
American companies rely on recycling programs to provide the raw materials they need to make new products.

2. Creates Jobs
Recycling in the U.S. is a $236 billion a year industry. More than 56,000 recycling and reuse enterprises employ 1.1 million workers nationwide.

3. Reduces Waste
The average American discards seven and a half pounds of garbage every day. Most of this garbage goes into to landfills, where it's compacted and buried.

4. Good For The Environment
Recycling requires far less energy, uses fewer natural resources, and keeps waste from piling up in landfills.

5. Saves Energy
Recycling offers significant energy savings over manufacturing with virgin materials. (Manufacturing with recycled aluminum cans uses 95% less energy.)

6. Preserves Landfill Space
No one wants to live next door to a landfill. Recycling preserves existing landfill space.
7. Prevents Global Warming
In 2000, recycling of solid waste prevented the release of 32.9 million metric tons of carbon equivalent (MMTCE, the unit of measure for greenhouse gases) into the air.

8. Reduces Water Pollution
Making goods from recycled materials generates far less water pollution than manufacturing from virgin materials.

9. Protects Wildlife
Using recycled materials reduces the need to damage forests, wetlands, rivers and other places essential to wildlife.

10. Creates New Demand
Recycling and buying recycled products creates demand for more recycled products, decreasing waste and helping our economy.2.5.
If you’re fortunate enough to live in a city that provides you with a curbside recycling program, there really is no reason not to participate, is there? Especially if they don’t require you to sort your recyclables. I keep a garbage can in one of my kitchen cabinets that is just big enough to fit a paper grocery bag. I think I purchased it at Lowes for about $5. I toss all of my recyclables in there and take them out to the bin when it fills up. This is just as easy as taking out the trash! Unfortunately, not all cities are up to date with a recycling program. If not, there is probably at least a recycling center in your area, but I would encourage you to do what you can to convince your city to start a curbside recycling program. Write your mayor, go to town hall meetings, rally the neighbors, etc. Your kids will thank you some day!

There are a number of other ways to be green. I also compost, and will write about that in the near future. What do you do in an effort to be green?

Weigh-In Wednesday: To Wax or Not to Wax

2010-04-21T01:30:00.003-04:00

I feel like I should be whispering, "do you wax?" I know whispering is not needed, this is not a taboo topic but I still feel silly bringing it up, I don't know why.

I had my eyebrows waxed this week after, well, I honestly don't remember the last time I had them done. While sitting in the chair, shaking, I began to think of the ladies who get "more" waxed. Let me clarify, I was shaking with anticipation, not fear as I know eyebrow waxing really isn't painful. But what about other areas, I wondered...

So, do you wax?

Weigh In Wednesday: Bug Spray

2010-04-07T22:14:00.000-04:00

Well, Spring is here and with spring brings the re-birth of all of God's wonderful creatures including those pesky beings we call BUGS!!! While yes bugs do serve a purpose in life, I still haven't figured it out as I am sure most people haven't...LOL!! Nothing is more annoying than trying to enjoy a meal or playtime outside and being surrounded by flies, mosquitoes or other flying creatures.

So while you are venturing out of hibernation and enjoying your camping, hiking, or just general time outside, which bug spray do you favor? And for all you Mommas out there, do you have any tips on keeping your family safe from bugs and critters this spring/summer?

Tuesdays Tips

2010-04-06T09:44:00.000-04:00

Ok, so these aren't real tips but I thought I would give everyone a little chuckle today!!

AMAZING SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES:

1. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.

2. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.

3. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.

4. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.

5. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.

6. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.

7. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

8. IF YOU ARE CHOKING ON AN ICE CUBE, DON'T PANIC. SIMPLY POUR A CUP OF BOILING WATER DOWN YOUR THROAT AND PRESTO. THE BLOCKAGE WILL BE ALMOST INSTANTLY REMOVED.

Happy Tuesday!!!

Fruitables by Apple & Eve

2010-04-05T16:32:00.001-04:00

My children do not like vegetables unless it is raw carrots. I try and try to get them to eat veggies and it never turns out in my favor. So I took to buying V8 Fusion. The Strawberry Banana one seemed to be a favorite until suddenly one day, Little Man decided he didn't like it anymore. So I was back at square one with trying to get vegetables into his system some how.

Then I got a coupon for Fruitables juice boxes so I decided to give them a shot. You never know what your kid may or may not like.

Well, my kids LOVE them!! I bought two different flavors, Apple Harvest and Berry Berry. They do not have that "veggie" aftertaste and both flavors are very yummy. My kids suck them down so fast, just as they would Capri Suns or other juice boxes.

Fruitables are 66% juice and have 1/3 less sugar than regular juice boxes. They are about 70 calories or less. They have no artificial flavors or colors, no high fructose corn-syrup, or other chemicals. They have other flavors such as Strawberry Kiwi, Pear Peach and Tropical Orange. They come in 2 different sizes of juice boxes as well as 46 oz bottles.

Fruitables can be found at Wal-Mart, select BJ's wholesale clubs, select Costco’s and grocery stores in the Northeast. I was able to purchase mine at the base commissary.

For more information and a money-saving coupon, go to http://www.appleandeve.com/

Weigh In Wednesday: Shampoo

2010-03-31T14:40:00.001-04:00

I have really long, thick hair and of course it has a mind of it's own. Some days it looks amazing but most days, it is a rats nest!! Being a mom, I typically wear it up in a messy bun as that is the easiest way to wear it when you are always rushing out the door!! The worst part is my hair gets so dried out, so I am always looking for a shampoo that will keep it moisturized without giving me dandruff. Currently I am using Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths Shampoo which seems to do a good job. If I leave my hair down, it doesn't feel oily or dry, it feels just right. I am able to go my usual 2-3 days without washing it and it doesn't feel nasty. Plus, it does make my hair look healthy.

So, now it is your turn to weigh in. What kind of shampoo do you use? Why do you like? If it isn't your favorite shampoo, tell us which one is and why!!

Tuesday Tip dedicated to our friend Anna

2010-03-30T07:00:00.003-04:00

When cutting bangs, place a piece of scotch tape arcoss the child's bangs, then cut above the tape....gives you a straight line and easy clean up.

Pampers Extra Protection Diapers

2010-03-29T21:39:00.002-04:00

About 6 weeks ago, Princess started waking up in the middle of the night crying....no, make that screaming. I would go upstairs, get her calmed down, and turn around to leave only to have her start crying again. Every night she would end up in our bed and that got old pretty fast. Finally one night, I decided to change her diaper even though it didn't seem to be full. Well, low and behold that worked and she went right back to sleep without ending up in our bed. So every night she would wake up screaming, I would change her and then back to sleep she went. After about 17 days of this, I decided enough was enough and decided to try the new Pampers diapers.

I LOVE THEM!!!!

Ever since the night we first used them, Princess has slept through the night without fail. She wakes up and her diaper is extremely wet but doesn't feel like the softball size diaper it used to feel like with the basic Pampers. The diapers are so soft and extremely flexible for my little one. I have read that other overnight diapers are stiff and you can feel the gel in them but not these. I was really impressed.

Pampers Baby Dry Overnight extra flexible tabs expand and contract with your baby, ultra absorb core outstanding overnight absorbance and it has a comfortable contoured fit. They feature Xtra-absorb zones in the core and stretchy sides with soft fasteners that stretch and overlap for a snug fit. They are my new sleep saver!!!

**Disclaimer: I have not tried other overnight diapers as my daughter has extremely sensitive skin and Pampers are the only diapers that do not break her out.**

Toy of the Week: Furry Fun Chatter Elmo

2010-03-28T12:30:00.007-04:00

As I looked around my house for my toy of the week, I was struck by the amount of Fisher Price toys we own. My goodness, I should own stock. As my last toy review was a Fisher Price toy, I wanted mix things up so I began to search for a toy my girls love that isn’t Fisher Price. Then Elmo giggled and I thought how perfect. I began a web search for a picture of this lovable character but was having a hard time locating the specific toy so I had my daughter bring him to me in order to look at the tag for the actual name. To my astonishment I discover he, too, is a Fisher Price toy.

So without further ado, I bring you the Furry Fun Chatter Elmo.

This is, without a doubt, the cutest annoying toy I’ve ever seen. It’s a little plush toy, only about 8 inches tall. His head is on a hinge and each time his head moves he says a part of a sentence or phrase, in that adorable Elmo voice. What makes it hilariously annoying is if you shake him fast enough he repeats the same word before moving on to the next word of the sentence. For example, one phrase is, “Elmo is so giggly.” If you shake him on the Elmo, he repeats Elmo over and over and over, every time his head moves, until you give him a little pause to move on.

Furry Fun Chatter Elmo is suggested for children 18 months and up but my 15 month old LOVES him! She’ll sit and shake him with such force and he just giggles. He’s durable enough to withstand a few tosses down the stairs and usually laughs with every stair he hits. He requires two AA batteries (which were included) and most retailers sell him for about $10.00, making him an affordable addition to any Sesame Street loving family.

There is also a Furry Fun Chatter Cookie Monster.

**My apologies for lack of picture, I'll share just as soon as blogger allows**

Graco Quattro Tour Duo Stroller

2010-03-22T15:36:00.008-04:00

A friend on Fabebook posed a question to her friends regarding double strollers. I felt I couldn’t simply say, “I have the Graco Quattro and its great,” and that be the end of it. I began writing a review for her. So instead of trying to fit this review into a nice little FB box, here it is.

I have the Graco Quattro Tour Duo and it’s perfect for my family.

It’s a tandem double stroller that, quite frankly, steers quite well, especially when the heavier load is in the back seat. It fits through all standard doors and has a great “parent tray” with cup holders and zipper pockets.

One of the reasons I chose this stroller is that an infant carrier can be placed in the front or back seat (it can also carry two infant carriers at the same time).

The reason this is such a good thing is the rear seat lies all the way down so if your toddler needs to take a nap or falls asleep somewhere, you don’t have to figure out how to get them to sleep sitting upright in the front seat.

It folds up as easy as the Graco single strollers with the one hand. It’s obviously heavier and bigger than single strollers but I found it to be lighter than some others on the market.

It has a drop down basket so you don’t have to bother the child in the back seat to access the basket. There’s even a smaller basket under the front seat, perfect for toddlers/preschoolers to pack away a couple of their own toys.

And the Winner Is..........

2010-03-21T00:21:00.003-04:00

{insert drum roll here} The lucky number from random.org was 6, and the 6th comment belonged to.......wait for it..............The Edwards Family!

Congrats to you for winning our first giveaway! Considering there were only 12 entries, and you had 3 of them, your chances were pretty darn good! :) I hope you and your boys enjoy the Hexbug Nano!

Thank you to everyone who entered! There are more giveaways to come!

Weigh In Wednesday: Favorite Beer, Ale or Cider

2010-03-17T18:20:00.003-04:00

Ahhhhh.....March 17th, a day I once looked foward to in my younger years. It is a day for anyone Irish (or Irish by association) to have an excuse to enjoy food they wouldn't eat on a daily basis (yummy corned beef and cabbage) and consume ridiculous amounts of green beer!!

In honor of St. Patrick's Day and massive amounts of beer drinking going on in the world today, share with us your favorite kind of beer, ale or hard cider. Even if you aren't a beer drinker, what kind of beer have you found best to cook with if a recipe calls for it? What is your significant other's favorite?

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of our loyal readers and may you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live!!

My new "must have" Gadget...

2010-03-15T22:13:00.000-04:00

Is my Kitchen Aid food processor! As many of you know, I have made most of Six's baby food. The whole idea of store bought baby food having such a long shelf life kind of freaked me out a little, so I researched making baby food from scratch and have found it to be pretty easy.

Before getting my Kitchen Aid, I had tried a cheaper 3-cup food processor and my blender. Both worked ok, but each had cons. The 3-cup was WAY too small. I was having to do a couple of batches at a time. The blender held more, but I was constantly having to stop and stir my ingredients to get everything mixed. But with my Kitchen Aid, I can drop everything in, turn it on and in a few seconds its all done, and in one batch.

It comes with alot of other attachments, such as a dough mixer, a shredding blade, a slicing blade and a few other things that I am still not quite sure what they are. (But I will find out!) I used the shredding blade the other night to grate cheese and it worked better than any cheese grater. I also used the slicing tool to slice cucumbers for a salad the other night and it sliced them thinner than I ever could by hand. The instruction book/recipe book has a home-made carrot cake that will be my next adventure. I will let you know how it turns out!!

Product Features:

Large Feed Tube & Pusher
Dough blade saves you the time and effort of hand-kneading by kneading yeast dough quickly and thoroughly
The stainless steel multipurpose blade chops, minces, blends, mixes, and emulsifies foods quickly and easily
The Pulse control allows you to precisely manage operation when a light touch is needed
4-cup mini bowl with stainless steel mini blade fits inside the work bowl for small chopping and mixing jobs
9-cup work bowl allows you to quickly process food with power and efficiency

MSRP: $199.99

You can find this and other products at http://www.kitchenaid.com/.

Toy of the Week: Crayola Twistables

2010-03-14T21:41:00.001-04:00

My children are coloring fanatics, especially Princess. Everywhere we go, I bring along crayons and coloring books or pages because it is a guaranteed pleaser and something that always keeps them busy, especially when we go out to eat. The downfall to that though was I was always dealing with broken crayons and the little pieces getting everywhere. Then, when the kids would color, they would get frustrated that the crayon was broken and I constantly had to peel back the paper to get it exposed enough so they could color.

That is until I discovered Crayola Twistable Crayons!! They are absolutely amazing. They are crayons that require no peeling or sharpening. When the tips get worn down, just twist them up and you're ready to keep on coloring. The clear plastic barrels keep them from breaking and make it easy to see how much color is left. They come in a variety of amounts and 2 different sizes, regular and minis. The twisting mechanism is so easy that even Princess can twist them up if they get used to low. I bought 2 packs of the minis and found mini coloring books and keep them in my purse so they are available at all times. They have not only saved me many a meltdown, but it has been nice to go in my purse and not find a bunch of broken crayons.

The Twistable line also includes markers and pencils. The markers are cap-less so no more worrying about missing caps or dried out markers. The pencils are erasable which allows you change and re-do drawings or correct "mistakes." Now kids can complete picture-perfect homework assignments and reports in color—without having to start over.

These products are amazing and rather inexpensive. I paid $1.14 for the 10 pack of minis at Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart carried the entire line of twistables.

So I recommend to anyone who has an avid colorer, invest in some Twistables and never experience broken crayons again!!!

Our First Giveaway!

2010-03-13T23:00:00.006-05:00

Are you feeling lucky? St. Patrick's Day is this week, so in honor of the lucky holiday, we're holding our first ever giveaway! The prize........last weeks "Toy of the Week", a Hexbug Nano! (Recommended for Children 3+)

There are a few different ways you can enter.

1. Follow us on Blogger and/or Facebook and comment below that you are a follower.
2. Share our link with your friends via Facebook, Twitter, your blog, etc. and comment below if you do so (include a link if possible).
3. Leave a comment stating what you like about our blog and/or what you'd like to see more of. We'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions!

Make sure you leave a separate comment for each item as each comment counts as your entry, so you can enter up to 3 times. A random winner will be chosen via random.org on Sunday, March 21st. We will post who the winner is and we will contact the winner if we have a means of doing so.

Good luck!

*If we don't receive shipping information from the winner by Tuesday, March 23rd, the initial winner will forfeit their prize and another winner will be selected via random.org.
*Please note, color of prize may vary from photo.

Weigh-In Wednesday: Organized Activities

2010-03-10T08:12:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited, B has her first dance class today! She's going as a guest with her friend and it's the place I've been wanting to take her to, we're both thrilled. I love the idea that she will have an outlet for some of her energy and she loves to dance!

During my research I found a few places that offered classes for infants (4 months old) and it begs the question:

What is too early for organized activities?

Bonus Tuesday Tip

2010-03-09T23:33:00.003-05:00

Here's a tip from The Mrs. on her blog, Trying Our Best, which I follow. The tip tells you how to get stuck gunk off of your pans and dishes! I actually posed this question on Facebook not too long ago when I was trying to figure out how to get some sticky gunk off of a cookie sheet, and I remember someone telling me to do this. :)

Handy Kitchen Tip

Tuesday Tips: Dryer Sheets

2010-03-09T07:58:00.001-05:00

I absolutely love dryer sheets and the way they smell but using them once is such a waste to me. So I started coming up with creative ways to reuse my dryer sheets so that way they wouldn't go to waste, especially since after only one use most dryer sheets still have some scent and static protection left in them. Here a few ideas to share:

1) Dusting: used dryer sheets can knock the dust off nearly any surface, including furniture, blinds, car interiors, baseboards/molding.

2) Keep your clothes fresh: tuck a few sheets in your drawers to keep that ‘just-washed’ smell happening for weeks. Throw one in your dirty clothes hamper to prevent any odors from escaping into your bedroom.

3) Scrub your showers: Lightly wet a used dryer sheet, and scrub to remove soap build-up and mineral deposits.

4) Reduce static cling: Pat your self with a sheet to combat static on your clothes, stockings, and even long hair! Keep a few in your purse to help in the drier winter months while you are out and about.

5) De-stink your pets: Scrub incoming dogs or cats (especially wet ones) with a dryer sheet before they come back into your home. You can also place one in your litter box to cut down on odors.

6) Clean your laundry room: When you finish drying a load, hold on to the dryer sheet, and wipe down the inside of your dryer’s drum, your lint trap, the outside of your washing machine and dryer, and scrub away any excess or spilt laundry detergent.

7) Wipe up hair: A dryer sheet is perfect to wipe up pet hair from your furniture, or even your own hair from your bathroom.

8) While traveling: Place a few dryer sheets in between items in your suitcase to keep both your clothes fresh and to prevent your items from picking up any mustiness from old luggage.

9) For diapers: Keep a few sheets in a baggie in your diaper bag so if you get caught having to change a diaper you can't dispose of right away, wrap a sheet around the diaper to prevent odors before you have a chance to throw it away.

10) In you vacuum cleaner: Place a dryer sheet in your vacuum bag or dust containment unit. As the hot air moves as you vacuum, you’ll bulk up your cleaning efforts. (Make sure this is in NO WAY a fire hazard)

Lastly, if you want to make your box of dryer sheets last longer, cut them in half. They are just as effective even cut in half!!

Toy of the Week: Hexbugs

2010-03-06T22:08:00.013-05:00

I'd like to introduce you to the coolest ant I've ever seen! E-Ray got one of these for Christmas from my parents. When we turned it on and placed it on the carpeted floor, we weren't sure what to expect. As soon as it touched the floor it began racing all around the room, and thanks to it's antennae, whenever it ran into something it would instantly reverse direction. We were all VERY ammused! This is by far one of the coolest little toys I've ever seen. I believe the age on the package said 8 years and up, but I'm not sure why. My 3 year old LOVED it! The only downfall is that the batteries don't last very long.

There are actually a variety of creepy crawlies in the Hexbug family. There is the Original, which resembles a roach, an inchworm, a crab, and the nano. We have a couple of the nanos. They are pretty cool and always a favorite among E-Rays friends when they come over to play. They like to watch them go down the stairs. The batteries on these little guys last much longer than the ants, but they don't work on carpet.

I look forward to adding to our Hexbug collection, and I forsee these being popular birthday gifts for E-Ray's friends. :)

If you want to get your hands on these and don't want to wait for shipping, I know they sell them in store at Radio Shack. I haven't seen them elsewhere, but Toys R Us sells them online, so they may have them in the store as well. I do suggest picking up extra batteries right away. If your kids love them as much as my little guy does, you'll need them!

You can become a fan of Hexbugs on Facebook.

Another Opportunity to Weigh-in!

2010-03-04T11:30:00.000-05:00

No, it's not Wednesday, but here's another opportunity for you to weigh-in! Parents Magazine wants to know what your favorites are when it comes to baby gear.

"From bottles to highchairs, diapers to bath time, we want to hear all about your favorite baby gear! Vote once in every category to make sure all of your favorite things get recognition!"

The Pick Your Faves: Best for Babies Awards will be featured in the October issue.

Pick Your Faves!

Weigh-in Wednesday: Cleaning Hard Floors

2010-03-03T17:02:00.007-05:00

After moving into a home with primarily hard wood floors for the first time, I truly miss carpet! Sure, wood floors are attractive, but when you have an 80 pound yellow lab that sheds, they are a nightmare! Vacuuming carpeted floors is SO much easier than sweeping and mopping hard floors.

My only experience with a traditional mop was in the Navy. As an Operations Specialist, whose job is pretty unessential when the ship is in port, I swabbed the deck quite a bit. I found the mops to be absolutely disgusting and vowed to never use one again.

I put my swabbing days behind me and bought a Swiffer Wet Jet. Let me first say, I obviously always sweep before I mop. I used the Swiffer in my home in Great Lakes, where I had laminent flooring in the kitchen and bathrooms and tile in the basement. It did ok. It always seemed to leave a bit of a film behind and wasn't great at getting dried up little messes off the floor, but I never felt like trying anything new. If something stuck I would just resort to a brillo pad.

Now, in the new house with the wood floors, I just couldn't stand the film left behind by the swiffer. I decided to try a steam mop. I'm pleased with it. The steam sanitizes and certainly breaks up dried messes better than the swiffer. I have the SteamFast Floor Steam Mop, which I think is very reasonably priced, and as I said, I am happy with it.

What do you use to clean your hard flooring? Why do you like it? Did you try anything in the past that didn't meet your expectations?

Tuesday Tip: Ingredient Substitutions

2010-03-02T20:32:00.001-05:00

Have you ever found yourself in a baking mood, pulled out the ingredients for your masterpiece and realized that you were missing an egg or some vegetable oil?? Instead of throwing in the towel and giving up your baking, try these substitutions if you are in a pinch.

baking powder (1 teaspoon): 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar plus 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch

buttermilk (1 cup): 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup (let mixture stand 5-10 minutes)

cake flour (1 cup): 3/4 cup all purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Sift together

cornstarch for thickening (1 tablespoon): 2 tablespoons all purpose flour

flour, self-rising (1 cup): 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder plus 1/4 teaspoon salt

sour cream (1 cup): 1 cup plain yogurt

milk,evaporated whole (1 cup): 1 cup half & half

eggs (1 whole egg): 2 egg whites or 2 egg yolks

cooking wine: You can replace red cooking wine with the same quantity of grape juice or cranberry juice. To replace white cooking wine use apple juice or white grape juice. The flavor will be affected somewhat.

fresh lemon zest (1 teaspoon): 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract.

allspice (1 teaspoon): 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

white granulated sugar (1 cup): 1/2 cup molasses or corn syrup but liquid in the recipe must be reduced by 1/2 cup. OR 3/4 cup honey but reduce liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup. OR if you don't mind the change in flavor, you can use 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

Hope these help you in a pinch!!!

Toy of the Week: Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Learning Home

2010-02-28T22:00:00.002-05:00

I would have never thought a toy could make such a difference in the lives of my family. But the Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Learning Home really has.

Fisher-Price boasts that the Laugh and Learn Learning Home teaches letters, numbers, counting, shapes, opposites, colors, greetings, and more! The big lesson learned in my home wasn’t listed; it taught my 3 year old and my 1 year old how to play nicely with each other.

When we gave this to our 1yo for her birthday our 3yo was under the impression all the toys in the house were hers and her little sister was just borrowing them. The little one took to this toy right away and the older one quickly learned she could sit on one side and her sister could sit on the other and they could play together. Many an hour was spent pushing every button, turning every knob and flipping every switch. The 3yo quickly learned what was required to play her favorite songs (putting balls in the down spouts plays Itsy Bitsy Spider) and now is trying to teach her little sister all the tricks. They both enjoy it immensely!

It’s said to have 21 “delightful” songs, some of which will get stuck in your head and you’ll be singing them all day. The various activities are bound to keep the interest of just about any toddler.

The suggested age range is 6-36 months which I think is pretty much on, although I’m sure my oldest will be playing with it as long as her little sister is interested.

The only downfall I’ve found is the price. The suggested retail price is $80! You can usually find them used if you look and you can order missing parts from Fisher-Price.

Avon Ideal Shade Smooth Mineral Foundation

2010-02-26T06:49:00.000-05:00

I am a loose powder person, I very rarely use liquid foundation anymore but hate leaving the house without something on my face. Years ago I'd use liquid foundation to cover everything and powder to cover that. Since having children, my make-up routine has dropped to about three items: powder, blush and mascara.

Let me be upfront and say I used to sell Avon so most of the make-up I own and use is, in fact, Avon. I quit selling a couple months ago and didn't even know I owned this powder. The loose powder I was using was suddenly empty and I was scrambling to find something to use before heading out the door, I found Avon Ideal Shade Smooth Mineral Foundation in Transparent Glow.

I found the coverage to be incredible, especially since it was a transparent color. When I saw the color, I expected it would simply take away any oily shine from my face but it worked so much better! It was light like a powder should be and covered surprising well, it was by no means heavy and evened out my skin fairly well. The best thing was it actually covered my blemished, I was so delighted.

Avon says the Smooth Mineral Foundations have a medium coverage of a liquid and
the featherlight feel of a powder with a natural luminous finish. I agree!

The foundation powder retails for $11.oo (it's on sale quite often) which is comparable to other mineral makeups. You can get it from the Avon website or your local representative.

Tuesday Tip: Wax Removal from Carpet

2010-02-23T08:26:00.001-05:00

Yes, it’s happened to me, I fell asleep with the candle burning and wax ended up all in the carpet. No fun!

I went online and read all the different methods and decided to try the “paper bag” method, or it started out that way.

All the different methods agreed that the first step to wax removal is to scrape the wax to remove any loose wax. I used a butter knife but hindsight being what it is, I think a stoneware scraper would work much better. Don’t scrape too hard, you don’t want to rip carpet fibers out.

For the next step you’ll need a dry iron, a paper bag or an old towel you don’t mind ruining. The directions I was attempting to follow suggested laying the paper bag on the wax, using a low heat on the iron, and then ironing the paper bag to bring the wax up. This did work. It just seemed to take forever, I even tried turning up the heat a little. I finally decided to use an old hand towel. I was able to keep it at the warmer temperature and it came up very quickly. Plus, as silly as it sounds, it felt more natural ironing a hand towel instead of a paper bag. It’s important you don’t use too high of heat on your iron or you could burn your carpet.

The upside to spilling wax on your carpet, even after you’ve removed it, your room smells good every time you vacuum.

Weigh In Wednesday: Laundry Detergent

2010-02-17T17:29:00.003-05:00

What kind of laundry detergent do you use?

Why do you like it?

I have always been a Tide lover. Growing up, my mom used Tide always so that carried over into my grown up life until I had children. My babies have very sensitive skin just like their mother so I stuck to the baby detergents like Dreft and All Baby until I discovered Arm & Hammer Essentials. I love it!! It has no scent which is great and it is dye & perfume free which is great for sensitive skin. But the best part is that it very natural and safe for the environment. It has a natural water softener in it so even if you have hard water, you clothes still feel soft after using it. The price can't be beat also considering it costs about half of what Tide costs!!!

My husband and I have a difference of opinions as to what makes a good laundry detergent. He is always looking for something that smells good and when he buys it, it makes our munchkins break out. I look for the sensitive skin ones that contain no perfumes or dyes. I also go with what is a good price per ounce and if I have a coupon, that is always better!! I try to go with what is good for our environment now too (thanks to Ally!!).

What do you think? What makes a good detergent for you?

Tuesday Tip: Hydrogen Peroxide

2010-02-16T13:51:00.003-05:00

I know many people that clean with chlorine bleach. I, however, have never been one of those people. I’ve always found bleach to be far too intimidating. It’s ruined some of my favorite shirts, has a pungent smell, and is rather toxic. A wonderful green alternative is hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is simply water with an extra oxygen molecule (H2O2). It is produced naturally in both animal and plant cells and occurs in the environment as a product of sunlight acting on water. Did you know that H2O2 is typically the active ingredient in many “oxygen” cleaners?

When you purchase hydrogen peroxide at the super market or drug store it is commonly diluted down to a 3% solution, which is the safest way to purchase it. Here are some H2O2 tips and uses which I found on greenlivingtips.com and helium.com:

- Keep H2O2 out of direct sunlight and in a cool place, as exposure to the sun and heat will quickly break it down into oxygen and water; rendering it ineffective. Store it in a dark bottle and remember to keep it out of reach of children.

- Dip your toothbrush in a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide solution to help kill bacteria on the brush after brushing.

- Mouthwash: A tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in a cup of water can be used as a mouthwash - swish for up to 60 seconds once a day; but don't swallow and be sure to rinse your mouth out afterwards. This can also help whiten teeth.

- Hydrogen peroxide can also be used as a gargle to help relieve a sore throat or to help prevent the onset of certain illnesses such as colds and the flu. By killing some of the cold and flu germs present in the throat, you decrease the likelihood of getting sick.

- To help kill bacteria such as E. Coli on fruits and vegetables, add a quarter cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a sink full of cold water. immerse, rinse with cold water and drain. By killing bacteria this will also help keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer. You can also use a spraybottle containing a 50/50 mix of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water - just spray and rinse.

- Household disinfectant: Hydrogen peroxide can be used to disinfect almost any household surface, including cutting boards, countertops, toilets, and floors. Simply wet the surface to be cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, then leave it sit for a few minutes. If germs are present, you will see fizzing and foaming as the peroxide does its job. After a few minutes, rinse and repeat if desired.

- Half fill a spray bottle with a 3% solution and then top it up with water for use as a bathroom and toilet disinfectant and cleaner. This is especially useful if you have a septic, greywater or blackwater treatment system as it won't harm the bacteria in the treatment areas - the hydrogen peroxide would have diluted to a point that renders it harmless by that stage through the interaction with flush water.

- Mix a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution with two parts water in a spray bottle and use on areas affected by mold. You can try a neat 3% solution for areas like bathroom tiling, but be careful on the strength in relation to painted items as it may bleach them.

- Make a whitening toothpaste by mixing baking soda and enough 3% Hydrogen Peroxide to form a paste

- Use 3% hydrogen peroxide to sterilize cuts and abrasions - the fizzing you'll see occur is normal.

- Add a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide to your whites wash in place of bleaches

- Remove bloodstains from clothing by blotting stain with 3% hydrogen peroxide, then rinse promptly with cold water to avoid bleaching of the fabric.

- To remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths, fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry

- Acne: After cleansing, use a cotton ball to apply 3% hydrogen peroxide to the skin. Apply to the entire face to help heal existing acne, and to freshen and kill the germs that can cause new acne breakouts.

- Windows & Mirrors: Hydrogen peroxide leaves a streak-free shine on glass surfaces in your home. Simply use a spray bottle to wet the surface with 3% hydrogen peroxide, and wipe with a clean, lint-free cloth. This can also help disinfect, which is important in homes with little ones who like to put their mouths on the glass.

Toy of the Week: Leapster 2

2010-02-14T16:55:00.002-05:00

My son loves video games, even at age 3!!! I blame both myself and my husband on this as we both love video games. But not the new high-tech video games, we love the traditional Mario games!! We both own a Gameboy Advance and Super Mario 3 along with other games. In October, we moved and were without entertainment for the kids for a few days so we decided to let Little Man try the Gameboy. Big mistake...he rarely put it down. So for Christmas, I decided to get him a video game machine that was educational. After a lot of research and comparing, I opted to get him the Leapster 2. I even managed to get him the Star Wars Edition, which he loves!! It came with one game, Jedi Math and we purchased a few additional games.

He plays it constantly and enjoys the games. It is a great item for traveling and for when we are out and he has to wait. It keeps him occupied. He has learned different aspects of math, counting and numbers with the Jedi Math. We purchased a game called Digging for Dinosaurs where he has learned about dinosaurs and science facts. In the other games we purchased, he has learned word recognition, letters, colors and shapes. The nice part is that he is always learning even though he is playing a video games. It isn't mindless, he has to think to advance through the games. And I know that he is learning!! I can hook the game up to the internet and see exactly what he excels in and what he struggles in, which helps me focus on his learning throughout the day.

The Leapster 2 is backwards and forwards compatible, so old games can play inside it and the new games can be played in the old system (The Original Leapster). The system plugs into a USB cable, and you can download your kids’ progress as a part of LeapFrog’s Learning Path. Parents just create a profile for their children on a computer, then connect the Leapster 2 handheld to it. This is a way to keep track of what kids are learning, and it’s a way of building confidence and enthusiasm for learning–both from parent and child. When kids connect to the system, they can upload and unlock online rewards–like baby Achievements! Like the first Leapster, Leapster 2 auto-levels to make sure keeps are continually challenged. It is a great system!!

The Leapster 2, which is recommended Ages 4-8, is available for around $69.99 but I have found that Leapfrog.com has some great budle prices!! The only recommendation I can make is to purchase the rechargable battery pack. It has saved us on batteries and has already paid for itself!!

Weigh-In Wednesday: Diapers

2010-02-10T09:35:00.009-05:00

What brand of disposable diapers do you prefer? With my son, I swore by Pampers. With my daughter, I just can't decide. Lately I've been buying whatever I have a coupon for. When she was a newborn I initially used the Pampers Swaddlers, but they left little bits of clear gel all over her girly parts every time she wet her diaper, even if it was just moderately wet. So, I switched to the Huggies Newborn. I loved those! I liked the cut-out for the umbilical cord stump, and I also liked the flap on the upper back part that prevented poop from going up her back. As she grew into the size 2, I had a problem with the Huggies leaking on the sides when she pooped. I decided to try Luvs, which I hated with my son because back then they didn't have a stretchy waist band, but this time I was pretty impressed. They hold A LOT of pee without leaking. But, lately the poop has been going up her back, as it does with Pampers also. I recently read some good reviews on the Huggies Pure and Natural, so I will try them next.

I think the perfect diaper would include the absorbency and fit of Luvs, the back flap of Huggies, and a rewards program like Pampers.

Now it's your turn to weigh-in. Which brand of disposable diapers do you prefer and why?

Oh, and what about Night Time diapers for bigger kids? I swear by Under Jams. They rarely leak, and you also collect Pampers Points with them. Ethan outgrew the Pull-Ups by the time he turned 3 and the Goodnights constantly leak.

Tuesday Tip: Sun Bleaching

2010-02-09T14:07:00.005-05:00

Another great stain removal tip.

I cloth diaper my one year-old and as you can imagine her diapers can stain fairly easily. I had heard many a cloth diapering Mamas rave about sun bleaching but it took me forever to try it. Now that I have, I am (or would be if the sun and warmth were present) an avid follower.

It’s simple and you can do it with just about anything with a stain. Wash your garment as you normally would but instead of putting it in the dryer, place it outside in the direct sun light to dry. Inside, in direct light doesn't work very well. I like to leave it out most of the day, I’m not sure how long is actually required. The garments will be stiff but nothing a little air fluff in the dryer won’t soften up.

This also worked on food and other "natural" stains on my daughter’s clothes.

I've had one Mama tell me if it gets rained on then sun dried it works even better but I have yet to try it.

Toy of the Week: Motor Works by Discovery Toys

2010-02-08T09:59:00.013-05:00

This weeks terrific "Toy of the Week" is brought to you by Ally.

Back in December I hosted a Discovery Toys party. Discovery Toys is a wonderful company that specializes in educational toys for children. They offer a lot of great products, but there was one that certainly stood out to the kids at the party; Motor Works. It is an adorable little building set with a battery operated drill and a manual screw driver. The set includes a race car, prop plane and motorcycle, all of which can be easily taken apart and reassembled. The screws are large enough for little hands to manage, and the set includes extra screws in case some get misplaced. It all comes inside of an adorable tool box with a handle for portability.

The recommended age is 4+, but I would recommend it for ages 3+ so long as you're willing to help your little one assemble the toys. My 3 1/2 year old has played with this toy set daily ever since he received it, and this toy has become a favorite among his friends at play dates.

Motor Works encourages your child to develop tactile thinking skills. It's a 3-D puzzle that they will love doing over and over again, and I even have fun assembling the toys with him. It also focuses on fine motor skills.

There are also two additional vehicles, a train and a truck, available for the Motor Works toy set. They are sold separately.

Motor Works can be purchased online at the Discovery Toys website, or you could host a Discovery Toy party. Click here to find a Discovery Toy representative in your area. If you live in the Hampton Roads/Williamsburg area of Virginia, my consultant is AMAZING! The first time I met her was when she hosted my party. She's one of those people that when you meet her you feel like you've known her for years. You can contact her here: melanie.courtney@discoverytoyslink.com

I do have one small negative issue with Discovery Toys. I was initially considering becoming a consultant, until I saw their website. It leaves little to desire. When it comes to a company that makes sales online and through host parties, you should be able to allow customers to purchase products online and have them count towards a party. I also am not a fan of the way the website is laid out. The online shopping portion of the website looks "cheap" to me. They should take some pointers from the way the Tastefully Simple and Pampered Chef websites are set up and hire a new web designer.

Lasik!

2010-01-27T17:58:00.004-05:00

It's hard for me to believe that it's been a whole year since I had laser vision correction! It was one of the best investments I've ever made. It has truly simplified my life and made me feel more secure.

Before receiving laser vision correction, I wore contacts, and I was blind as a bat without them. I rarely ever wore glasses. I was near-sighted and had astigmatism. After I had my first child I was overcome with a fear that something terrible, such as a fire or tornado, would strike in the middle of the night and I wouldn't be able to see well enough to rescue my baby. This might sound absurd to anyone who is not a parent, but if you are a parent I'm sure you understand where I'm coming from.

My husband actually had PRK surgery years ago and was the one who suggested I get Lasik. My dad had also had it done recently, so I went ahead and scheduled the consult. I went to the Lasik Plus in Schaumburg, Illinois. I don't remember exactly what it cost, but I think it was around $3000, and it was worth every penny. I can see even clearer now than I did with contact lenses and I don't have to mess with contacts or spend the money on them for the rest of my life. And now I also have the comfort of knowing I will be able to see if, God forbid, some emergency arises in the middle of the night.

Tyke Light Jr.

2010-01-26T01:33:00.004-05:00

My children don’t sleep! I’ve been blessed with overly happy children who just don’t sleep well. When we decided it was time for our oldest to lose the binky on her 3rd birthday, I knew something would have to replace it. A special, only for bedtime, help keep her mind off her loss, “thing.” The “thing” became the Mobi Tyke Light Jr. Night Light.

We started with the green and have since added the pink, I prefer the green. It puts off just enough light without brightening the whole room. It sets less than 6 inches high and can be placed on a flat surface or, as mine likes to do, left in bed. It’s made of a sturdy plastic so when it does, and it will, get dropped and thrown, it’s durable enough to sustain. The on/off button is on the bottom and is slightly raised so you can feel it, you don’t even need light to turn it on. My daughter can turn it on by herself. It has three settings, a little light, a little less light and a 15 minute timer.

***My 1 year old thought we should point out that they're not water proof.

Wii Active and More Active

2010-01-25T15:24:00.001-05:00

Several months ago, I got on a big kick of trying to lose my baby weight. I gained 75 pounds with Noah and 55 pounds with Jordan, which is something I was not used to. While I was able to lose a considerable amount with breastfeeding and cutting back on calories, I needed to add a workout routine to my "battle of the bulge". I had purchased the WiiFit and enjoyed it but I was looking for something more. My mom's best friend suggested I try her Wii Active so I did. I fell in love!!!! Unlike the WiiFit, the exercises continuously go rather than having to pick each individual exercise. You can pick you workout level and workout as much or as little as you need to. It also has a 30 day challenge to help you stay on track with working out. It is awesome!! The exercises, along with the resistance bands, got my heart pumping and my weight started slowly falling off.

Then we moved.....

Our move put a wrench in my workout schedule and I just couldn't find the motivation again. So for Christmas, my husband got me the Wii Active More Workouts. He figured since I loved the first one, maybe the 2nd one would get me going again. Well he was right. The 2nd Wii Active is so much better than the 1st!! They have added abdominal exercises and step aerobics which I love. They have added some more difficult exercises and made it more exciting with an island feel. Even the music is great. I have been doing the program for a little over 2 weeks and I have already lost almost 10 pounds!! There is a 6 week challenge that I love and it is helping me keep on track with working out. It also includes a nutrition book to help with your diet adventure.

Wii Active Includes:
1) EA SPORTS Active Disc: Featuring more than 25 exercises and sports-inspired drills.
2) Leg Strap: See your movements tracked on-screen with the specially-designed leg strap.
3) Resistance Band: Increase the intensity of bicep curls, shoulder presses and many other exercises.

Wii Active (More Workouts) Includes:
1) EA SPORTS More Active Disc: Featuring more than 35 all-new exercises and sports-inspired drills.
2) Special Edition Bob Greene Nutrition Best Life Book: features tips on creating a balanced lifestyle, recipes from the Best Life Diet Cookbook, and a daily journal.

So if you are like me and do not like going to the gym and would prefer to workout in your own home, why not put your Wii to work? Look into it.....you will love it!! Check it out at http://easportsactive.com/home.action

Happy Exercising!!

New Year, New Planner

2010-01-24T18:22:00.007-05:00

A year and a half ago I won a makeover with Parenting Magazine. Part of the makeover involved becoming more organized. My husband was deployed to Iraq, I was a full time student and I had an almost 2 year old little boy to chase around. In other words, I wore many hats. For my makeover, I was given a Whomi Planner and a Whomi Calendar. They changed my life! I was able to keep track of my assignments and appointments so much easier than ever before. I used the main white part of the planner to denote birthdays and appointments and was able to assign a class to each color. Not only are they practical, they are totally cute! I actually customized mine with pictures of my husband and son, since I missed them so much while I was at school, and it made showing off my little cutie pie to my classmates easy. :)

Speaking of stain removers.....

2010-01-23T00:08:00.004-05:00

I have a 3 month old daughter who is breastfed. Breastfed baby=bright yellow poop! In the first two months, her diaper leaked a few times and I had the hardest time getting the yellow stains out of her adorable pink clothing. Finally, I mentioned it to my friend Davina, and she suggested the Dreft stain remover spray. Needless to say, I now swear by it. I actually used it today to get an old poop stain out of an infant onesie that my 3 1/2 year old son once wore. This poop stain was literally over 3 years old, had been previously washed and dried, and the Dreft still removed the stain. I was shocked and quite impressed!

You can click here to sign up for money saving coupons on Dreft products.

There is also a printable coupon here. It's a PDF file.

Tide Stain Release

2010-01-22T15:26:00.002-05:00

I recently purchased the new Tide Stain Release. I had a $1.50 off coupon that came out of my daughters diaper box. I went online to read the reviews and after reading, decided I needed to try the product for myself.

I love it!! It made my whites look brand new and it made the random stains come out of our clothes with the exception of one, a grease stain on my white sweatshirt. Having 2 smaller children, it worked wonderfully because it made their clothes look brand new also.

I bought the liquid version mainly for 2 reasons: 1) a lot of the reviews I read stated that the duo-packs had a hard time dissolving and 2) the store was out of them. I am glad I bought the liquid because I can control how much I want to use. I was a little concerned though because I read in one review that it stained someone's clothes orange (which is the color of the liquid). I poured it directly into the water stream and have no new stains on my clothes!! It worked great!!

Tide Stain Release comes in three different form:. Dou-packs, liquid and powder. If you visit http://www.tide.com/, you can print out a $1.50 off coupon!! I recommend that everyone try it at least once!!

Happy Laundry-ing!!

~Jaime~

Keurig Coffee Maker

2010-01-21T20:12:00.000-05:00

We recently purchased a Keurig Coffee Maker. My mother had received one for Christmas and we fell in love with it so we decided to get one for our house!! I absolutely love it!! We got the Special Edition Keurig because we found it on sale.

The specs on it are:
Three Brew Size Choices: 6 oz, 8 oz, 10 oz *
Removable 48oz. Water Reservoir
Programmable LCD Message Center
Removable Drip Tray
Blue backlit LCD & Water Reservoir
Chrome Accents
Quiet Brew™ Technology

I love that I don't waste a pot of coffee every day because some days we drink more coffee than others. It is convenient for us also because we both like different strengths of coffee. Hubby prefers darker, bolder tastes and I prefer lighter blends. You can also brew tea and hot cocoa with it. The K-Cups are not too expensive and we have found a few websites that carry the K-Cups cheaper than what you find in the store. There are so many flavors to choose from; everywhere from Butter Toffee to Extra Dark Roast to Swiss Chocolate Almond. My personal favorites are the English Breakfast Blend Tea and the Donut Shop Blend.

The nice thing about ours also is that it has a timer for the water reservoir. The water reservoir keeps the water constantly heated which is why it is able to brew instantly. However, you can set the time for it to heat up and shut down at certain times of the day, for example shut down at 9 pm and turn on at 4 am. I also like that we have 3 different cup sizes available to us so you can make your beverage stronger or weaker if you like.

I have read other reviews on the coffee maker and some people say their maker is loud. Ours and my Dad's are very quiet yet my mother's is a little noisy. I don't know if there is any rhyme or reason to it, maybe it is just luck of the draw but it isn't so noisy it would wake anyone up in your house or anything.

Lastly, we purchased the special K-Cup they have for people who may want to use their own coffee or tea. We did that primarily for when we have company or if we run out of K-Cups and need something quick. Hubby used it once so far and liked the coffee so much more than what he was getting out of our old coffee maker (that was only a year old). The coffee never has a burnt taste like you can get from coffee that has sat for a while and like I said before, no more wasting coffee!!!

If you plan on purchasing one, look for sales. They range anywhere from $99 to $250 not on sale. Ours cost $129.99 originally but we got it on sale for $99.99!! And when you are ready to buy coffee, check out the following sites:
www.coffeecow.com
www.coffeegiant.com
www.coffeepeople.com

For more information on the Keurig coffee makers, visit www.keurig.com!!

Happy Coffeeing!!

The beginning

2010-01-20T14:40:00.000-05:00

I decided I start this blog more for myself than anything. I love to tell people when I have found a great product. I also love to tell people when I have found a not so great product. I am an avid reader of reviews and think that if more people would give others the "411" on what's out there, we wouldn't have so many duds and lemons come across our path.

I am hoping to find a few people who might want to join me in this endeavor. I am only but one voice so who knows, maybe with more than one, we can find the steals and the deals and the things we should avoid!!! Shopping is therapy for me so what better way to help my therapy than to share my experiences with people!!!

I hope you all enjoy!!

Happy Shopping!!