Mommy's Favorite Things: March 2010



Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Good Judy Review & GIVEAWAY




I love perfumes and smelling good. I think when a person smells good it changes everything about them. It's also nice to see what others perfumes are because it reflects on the type of person you are!

When I got the chance to review for Good Judy I had a hard time choosing what I wanted. 

I chose the Cupcake Frenzy Sugar Scrub and the Atomic Cheesecake, Harmony, Gazing Mirror, Love Potent, and Va Va VaVoom Whiffs. 

Cupcake frenzy sugar scrub is YUMMY smelling. It scrubbed me nice (that sounds weird) and left me feeling exfoliated when I got out of the shower.

As for the Whiffs. Atomic Cheesecake smells nice, but not sure I would want to wear it on my body out. Maybe for a day around the house, HOWEVER, Jon likes it :)
Harmony is real nice. It's got a nice sweet smell to it and I really like it! It's citrusy! 
Gazing Mirror is nice, but it's too old smelling to me. 
Same thing with Love potent. It has 2 smells I love them both, but not together. It smells old. It has Jasmine, Ginger, Rose, Spiced Musk, Bay, Violet and Gardenia... Together it's all kind of nasty and too much!
Va Va VaVoom Don't care for this one too much either. First of all It has tobacco in it. Blonde Tobacco, soft leather, Chantilly cream and Sourched Honey... It's okay, but weird!

So those are my opinions on the scents I tried. They are just that opinions and when it comes to perfumes EVERYONE is different, so you may like the scents I didn't care for!

Good Judy is a homegrown perfume business conceived in October 2007 and located in Leicester, NC (just outside Asheville). Good Judy perfume oils are made by meticulously and creatively hand-blending the finest essential oils, fragrance oils, attars, resins, and absolutes. Whenever possible, ingredients are organic and sustainable. Our products are always vegan and cruelty free. We will never knowingly use or purchase ingredients that are tested on animals.

Brainchild of a self proclaimed "smell-goodie" junkie, Good Judy was created to appease the artistic and imaginative persona of Gary Lodato, a.k.a Siggster. Self-taught (with generous help from experienced and accomplished friends) and motivated by a multitude of inspirational subjects (not to mention an addiction to the aforementioned precious smell-goodies) Good Judy's product lines grew quickly. With burning passion, determination, and dedication, Siggster's affectionately dubbed helter-skelter blending style rapidly transformed into focused and purposeful ingenuity…all without compromising integrity and creativity.

Good Judy's mission is simple: formulate enjoyable, customer-centric, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious products that make our consumers smell great…and have a blast while doing it. So, with our mission in mind and with hundreds of unique perfume blends to choose from, Good Judy makes a world of scents! 

Price: The full size bottles of scents are $15. Not bad when you consider that a Perfume is $50 or more sometimes! The small whiffs samples are 6 for $21. So not too bad either

Overall: **** Very good customer service. Fast shipping. And even though I didn't like the scents I'm sure his site has PLENTY that I would enjoy. I just chose the ones I didn't care for. Nothing against the site!


 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


WondaWedge Review & GIVEAWAY



I love to read and I love reading in bed. Well when I contacted WondaWedge I was pleasantly surprised they said YES to a Review AND Giveaway. But I was very happy!

This unique little product is great for support. I use it in bed while I read for my back. I lean against it and it doesn't squish down like a pillow does. It stays firm and supports you while you do your thing.
 
It's perfect for the Beach for reading or just watching the kids. Jon has even used it under his legs at night. It's AWESOME for that sort of thing!

 It's inflatable. So you blow it up and go. It takes just a couple seconds. It's good for traveling and camping because it stores Flat and small. Then just blow it up when you get there and deflate it again before coming home. Same with the beach. Easy for storing because it's so tiny!

We received one in Lime Green and we just love it. We love the color because if we're at the beach or something we'll remember where we were at because it stands out and doesn't blend in so easy. I see us using this WondaWedge quite a bit this summer!

It says it would be good for Sleep Apnea Sufferers as well because of the incline. Well Jon suffers from Sleep Apnea so I should tell him that. Plus you can scoot down a little more on the wedge so you're not on so much of an incline. Awesome! 

Outdoor Recreation
1. Beach lounger
2. Fishing back support
3. Camping lounger
4. RV accessory
5. Outdoor concert seating
6. Picnic seating
7. Boating lounger
8. Gaming/television floor seat
9. Soccer sidline seating
10. Outdoor plays/movies
11. Stargazing
12. Pool lounger


Health
13. Recuperation back support
14. Reading in bed
15. Relaxing on the floor
16. Meditation lower back support
17. Meditation workshop seating
18. Sleep aid for GERD, Acid Reflux, respiratory problems
19. Pregnancy sleep aid/breast feeding back support
20. It's deflatable! Take it with you when you travel! 

Price: ONLY $24!!! WOW! Cheap! 

Overall: ***** I received one WondaWedge and it deflated very quickly. So I casually let them know and without even asking she said she was sending another one. Got it a few days later. And it works fantastically. So GREAT customer service. 


 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!* 


Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Car Seat Safety



We are huge on Car Seat Safety. Avery Rearfaced until she was 18 months old and she will be extended harnessed. MI law is harnessed until 40 pounds AND 4 years old and then you can switch to a Booster, and her car seat goes to that, but I will be buying a Graco Nautilus and will be Harnessing her until 65 pounds.

Please read through these, you could save a child's life!

Not using a safety seat consistently

"We were only going to the grocery store ..." "He hates to ride in his car seat, so just this once I didn't make him ..." "She was having a meltdown, so I took her out of her seat for a minute to calm her down." Safety experts hear these words all too often from distraught parents after tragedy has struck. Remember, a one-time lapse can result in a lifetime of regret.

In any case, using a safety seat consistently and correctly is the law. All 50 states require that children up to 3 years of age (or 40 inches tall in Kentucky) ride in car seats in private vehicles, and many have laws requiring car seats or booster seats until a child is considerably older.

There's good reason for that. Every year, more than 90,000 children under age 8 are injured in car crashes, and more than 1,000 are killed. In fact, auto accidents are by far the leading cause of death for American children.

Safety seats dramatically reduce the risk of death or serious injury in a collision. Stephanie Tombrello, executive director of the nonprofit passenger-safety organization SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A., urges all parents to get a safety seat that's convenient to use, and to make buckling your child into it such a habit that you don't even have to think about it.

Using an old or secondhand seat

That safety seat you scored at a garage sale for a fraction of its original price may seem like a bargain, but it could cost your child his life. The same goes for that older-model seat your sister gave you after her child outgrew it.

Not only are used seats unlikely to come with the manufacturer's instructions (vital for correct installation), but they could be missing important parts, have been involved in an accident (even unseen damage can affect the seat's functioning), fall short of current safety standards, or have been recalled due to faulty design. Moreover, plastic gets brittle as it gets older, so a seat that's too old could break in a crash.

If you must use a secondhand seat, make sure it has the original instructions (or contact the manufacturer for a replacement copy), has all its parts (check the manual), has never been involved in a serious accident, and hasn't been recalled. (Check your seat's recall status here.)

In addition, to avoid the dangers of aging plastic, SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. recommends sticking with car seats that are ideally less than five years old and definitely less than ten years old. You can usually find an expiration date stamped somewhere on the seat.

Turning your child to face forward too soon

Children have large heads and comparatively weak necks, so in a head-on collision (the most common type of crash) a child's head can jerk forward suddenly and violently, resulting in spinal injuries. For this reason, keep your child rear-facing position as long as possible.

The "12-months-and-20-pounds" rule that many parents cite when turning their child forward in the car is actually the minimum size and age requirement. If your child can still ride comfortably facing backward at more than 12 months and 20 pounds, leave him that way. Just be sure the seat is designed to hold children of his weight.

Moving your child out of his car seat or booster too soon

Though safety-seat laws vary from state to state, all require that children under age 3 ride in a safety seat. Experts are unequivocal in their recommendations for safe riding beyond that age:

• Your child should ride in a safety seat with a five-point harness until he weighs at least 40 pounds, or until his shoulders no longer fit under the harness straps. You can use a convertible rear- and forward-facing car seat until your child hits 40 pounds, or the harness system of a car-and-booster-seat combo from as little as 20 pounds up to 40 pounds.

• Your child should ride in a booster seat from the time he weighs 40 pounds and is at least 3 years old until he's 4 feet 9 inches tall and at least 8 years old.

Not installing a safety seat correctly

A safety seat won't do its job if it's not installed correctly. Among the most common mistakes: Not buckling the car seat in tightly enough, and not using the right type of seat belt to secure your child in his booster seat. Check to be sure that car seats don't tip forward or slide from side to side more than an inch, and that boosters are secured with a lap-and-shoulder belt.

Better yet, use an anchoring system if you can. By law, all car seats and vehicles manufactured since September 2002 must be compatible with the LATCH system — or "lower anchors and tethers for children."

This system combines the previously existing top tethers with lower anchors, built into the rear of the car. Some cars built between 1999 and 2002 also have the system. Toddler/booster combo seats are required to have both the upper and lower attachments; booster seats are not required to work with LATCH.

Owners of earlier model cars may want to consider having their car retrofitted with the LATCH system. Check with your local auto dealership for information on cost and feasibility.

You can also have your seat installation checked by a professional. Find a child seat safety inspection station near you.

Not using a locking clip or using it incorrectly

If your car is a pre-1996 model, chances are the lap-and-shoulder belts don't lock unless you come to a sudden stop. This means you need a locking clip — a small metal device that looks like an oversize paper clip or capital I — to hold the seat belt (and thus your child's car seat) tight in the event of a crash.

After you buckle your child's seat tightly in place, see if you can move it more than an inch toward the front or sides of the car. If you can, install the locking clip about half an inch above the buckle — not on the other side of your child's car seat, which pinches the shoulder and lap belts together before they're threaded through the appropriate slot in the car seat.

If you've misplaced the locking clip that came with your car seat, get in touch with the manufacturer to order a replacement or buy a new one at a store that carries car seats and other safety supplies.

Not securing your child in the seat

To make sure the car seat harness straps are snug enough to hold your child firmly in the event of an accident:

• Buckle your child in, making sure the harness straps aren't twisted, and then use the mechanism on the front of the car seat to pull the harness tight. You shouldn't be able to pinch any harness fabric between your fingers.

• Slide the plastic retainer clip that holds the two straps together up to armpit level before securing it. If the clip is too low, your child could be ejected from his seat in a crash.

Not buckling a car seat into the car

Believe it or not, many parents who are cited for car seat violations have their child buckled into a car seat — but have not buckled the car seat to the car. This may be the result of confusion about how the seats work or just of switching a seat from one car to another on a hectic morning.

To avoid this mistake, when you're putting your child in his seat, double-check to be sure that the seat is buckled tightly to the car.

Holding your child on your lap

It's tempting to lift your child out of the car seat and hold him in your arms when he's having a tantrum after hours on the road, or when you're making a quick dash from one place to another with a gaggle of friends and it's easier for everyone to pile into the same vehicle than to take separate cars.

This might seem safe enough. After all, you'd hold your child tight if anything happened, right? But the truth is that even if you're belted in, your child could be ripped from your arms by the force of a collision. And if you manage to get the seat belt around both of you, your weight could actually crush your child to death.

So as much as your child may scream — and as inconvenient as taking your own car is when the two of you could just hop into someone else's — never let your child ride in a moving car unless he's safely strapped into an age-appropriate, correctly installed car seat or booster.

Letting two kids share one seat belt

Don't do it. Crash tests have shown that when two children ride buckled into one seat belt, in an accident their heads can knock together with potentially fatal force.

Letting your child ride in the front seat

Although your child may whine and plead to ride in the front seat with you, the backseat is by far the safest place for him. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that all children under age 13 ride in the backseat every time they get in the car.

Other tips on safe riding positions:

• If possible, buckle your child into the middle of the backseat, where he's best protected from side-impact collisions. (Of course, if you have more than one child only one can ride in the middle!) If your child rides in a booster seat and your car has only a lap belt in the center back (which is fine for car seats but should never be used on its own with a booster seat), position your child's booster on either the right or left side of the backseat and buckle him in with the car's lap and shoulder belts.

• If you have a passenger-side air bag in your car, that's all the more reason to keep your child in the back. Air bags are designed to reduce injuries in adults, but they can cause serious head and neck injuries to children when they inflate, especially if the child is in a rear-facing car seat. To find out whether your car has air bags, look for a warning label on the sun visor or the letters SRS or SIR embossed on the dashboard, or check your vehicle owner's manual.

• If putting your child in the front seat is your only option (for example, if the backseat is full or your car is a two-seater), check to see whether your car's air bag has an on-off switch. If so, turn it off. If not, have one installed. The NHTSA maintains a list of companies that install air bag on-off switches.

If you can't turn your passenger-side air bag off and you need to transport a child in the front seat, put your biggest or tallest passenger in the front, in an appropriate safety seat, and move the seat as far back from the dashboard as possible.

Find more car seat buying advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics.


Chic Clips Review & GIVEAWAY



I've said it MANY time before, but I want to make sure everyone hears it this time! WE LOVE HAIR BOWS. Very much. Every day Avery has something pretty in her hair. When I received this pretty little number. From Chic Clips, I was EXCITED to get it on Avery and see how it looked. Although I didn't get pictures. BAD MOMMY I know!


Susan Brown's Baby Review & GIVEAWAY



Avery isn't really a baby anymore so I was a little leary to contact Susan Brown's Baby. But I'm happy I did. She sent me a mommy product instead!! She sent off the Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer. She also included a few samples as well.

This bottle is the perfect size. It's not too big so it could easily stay in the diaper bag or car. But it's not too small so it's easy to find. It's a just right 4.17 oz bottle!

It has such a nice smell to it, and it doesn't dry me out like sanitizer does. It's nice and moisturizing and goes on more like lotion then sanitizer. It's not as wet and it's much more creamy! I really like it. Mine is in my purse right now and we use it often. I like that there's not a lot of alcohol in it so it's okay for Avery to use. But that also means it probably doesn't remove as many germs as regular sanitizer either. 

It has Vitamin E and jojoba beads in it. They are both GREAT moisturizers and they know how to do their job.
Price: This bottle is just $6. Which I don't think is too bad!

Overall: **** The bottle could be a little bit bigger. And the shipping took a while. Like almost 2 weeks from contact until it was in my hands!

 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


Pacific Jewelry Designs Review & GIVEAWAY




I love jewelry especially necklaces. When Pacific Jewelry Designs told me they would send me the Beach Glass Necklace I was floored. It's gorgeous!

 When It arrived I couldn't wait to open the package and see it. It is even more beautiful in person. I like it because it's simple yet so pretty at the same time. It's something that I could easily wear daily or to a special event. I really like the color as well, it's not over bearing.

I LOVE their new necklace. Simple Elegance Mixed Gemstone


In love with that necklace. It's gorgeous!

I haven't gotten any compliments on mine yet, but I haven't worn it a whole lot out. We stay home most of the time!
Paula has been designing and making her own jewelry for many years. Several years ago she decided to share her love for jewelry with others. Using her background as an artist and painter she uses her artistic talents to create fine quality, beautiful pieces that are meant to become lasting treasures. "Purchase my jewelry with confidence in the beauty and quality knowing that I use the finest materials available at affordable prices. I take great pride in my jewelry and my customer service."

Price: That necklace is just $20!! WOW. Talk about a steal. That's like Target prices right there!
Overall: ***** Shipped super fast, Very unique and it's gorgeous!


 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


Monday, March 29, 2010

Can't Wait To Start This New Chapter...



My mom is an obsessive compulsive hoarder. YES just like the t.v. show on A&E. I haven't been to her house in 3 years. Well Jon had an appointment today north of her house, and we stopped by on our way home. She wasn't there... I saw her house and started crying. It's 10 times worse than when I was forced to move out, because it wasn't fit living conditions for a child. 

It used to just be the inside, but now there was stuff on the outside as well. A chest of drawers on her front porch, tables leaning up against her tree. I want more than anything to take Avery over there and let her stay with grandma... I can't do that. There's no place to walk in her house.

I called her tonight to tell her that until she gets help I can no longer speak to her. I know that sounds harsh, but I absolutely can not keep trying. I always try and help her, I tell her how to get help and what to do, but It's never been enough. So I threatened Myself and my daughter today on her. She can no longer call OR see us until she proves that she's receiving help and cleaning up her house. It HURTS me to see her house like that... I can't believe how much it hurts me.

I feel free of this burden and feel like 100 pounds has been lifted from my shoulders. I can't wait to see if she actually gets help, but she probably won't. I even pushed her in the right direction and told her what she needed to do and who she needed to see. 

Thankfully Jon has his master's degree in Psychology and he has told me that I've done the right thing. He DID NOT hinder my decision in any way. This was all me! I can't wait to start this new burden free chapter in my life and I KNOW that she will probably never get the help. So I feel Mother Free now and I actually feel good about it. I love my mother, but I just couldn't do this anymore.

IsaBooties Earth Day Savings!



The 40th anniversary of Earth Day is right around the corner, and IsaBooties is ready to celebrate. Now through the end of April, save 15% off all orders using code earth10

And, help IsaBooties reduce landfill waste by choosing our new "NO PACKAGING" option at checkout... you'll save an additional $2 per pair

Thanks for helping IsaBooties take another small step towards a better world!

You can shop for them here, and remembers you can save $2 per pair by choosing no packaging!! Worth It!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Please tell me I have finally learned...



My lesson... NEVER grocery shop on a Sunday, EVER! It's horrible. Everyone wants their good deals and they want them the second they go on sale.

I use coupons and I look for the sales, but people the deals are still there on Monday, and so are the sale products. I've been shopping quite a few times on Sunday and no matter what time I go (unless after 10PM) it's so busy. I've been about 8 times now and I will NEVER, EVER do it again. 

However, It's the best for us, because I go to CVS every Sunday so I'm already out. But I will never do it again and that's a promise to myself!

On the plus side I took an $83 grocery bill down to $41 today and that will last us the week and probably then some! I love when I can do that!!

What day of the week do you shop?

Knot Just Bows Review & GIVEAWAY



We love hair accessories and we have a LOT of them! We have everything from Headbands, to bows, to clips, and even some hats. We love them all and there's hardly ever a day that Avery doesn't have something pretty in her hair. 
We get compliments all the time about how pretty her bows are and how cute she looks, well today we got a compliment on a Headband from Knot Just Bows.


Sorry for the lighting... It was a funny day! 
It's a purple headband with a pink gerbera daisy, what I really love is the tulle surrounding the flower for that extra added touch!

Really love this headband, and I can't find it on the website, but I also love this headband


Saturday, March 27, 2010

Summer Dress Store Review & GIVEAWAY



I haven't worn a dress since my sophmore homecoming, so 4 1/2 years. Well I'm starting to like them again. I won a dress last fall, just too cold to wear it, but I've decided I'll start wearing a dress this summer. So when I ran into The Summer Dress Store I contacted them! I was so happy when she said YES!!

I received the Sally Fuchsia Summer Dress, It's gorgeous!

I got the small, but it's a little big in the waist on me. It would look much better tighter! But I think this dress is so cute. It's even cute for the beach over your suit, or a graduation party, or a summer birthday party. BBQ! Whatever. It's so cute and perfect for every casual occasion!

It's such a good material. It's durable, I don't think it's coming apart any time soon!
I also love the Sally with Belt!

And the Sexy Black Summer Dress

Price: $30-$48! very worth it! You would pay this and then some for ANY dress you bought in the store or online. I think this is a great price for such cute dresses!

Overall: *****, Fast Shipping, Great quality, And OH SO CUTE!


 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


Friday, March 26, 2010

New Look



What do you guys think? I LOVED my old template, but I think the 3 column is WAY better as it's not so crowded. And I really like this SIMPLE template anyway! Give me feedback

Sunglass Warehouse Review & GIVEAWAY



Sunglasses are very important to protect your eyes from the damaging rays. Well I just bought 10 pair from that website, so I definitely didn't need any. So I ordered some for Jon from Sunglass Warehouse. I was able to review the SW Polarized Sport #224. 

Jon really likes them. He likes that the bands are thick so they block the sun from coming in the side
He's been wearing them every day on his way to and from work and he says they fit nicely, don't squeeze too tight and they're comfortable. So that's nice! 

In the summer we go a lot of places. Concerts, zoo, parks, beaches. And I think these would be great for that, because they block a LOT of sun!
That's all the info I could get out of him about these, so this is a short review!!

They even have Kids Sunglasses.

Price: $14.41 for this particular pair, But all their sunglasses are under $25!
Overall: **** I was very pleased with the shipment as it was fast, and this seems like a great product so far!


 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


CSN Stores Review coming soon...



I love a place where I can buy everything I need all at once. I love a place that has home stuff as well as children's toys and Home Bars.
That place is CSN Stores. They have over 200 stores to choose from.

The item I will be reviewing is the Paula Deen 5 Qt Porcelain Saute Pan in red. We really needed a new pan ass our stainless steel ones STINK! Since we're getting married in November this gave me a chance to try it out and see if I like it. If I do I'll register for the set!

Are you looking for Furniture, Home Decor, Shoes, Dog Beds ETC! They have so much stuff. They have everything you could ever need. 

Where else can you buy Furniture, Shoes, and dog beds from 1 store?? Only Ebay and most of that is used! I think CSN stores is the way to go! It's easy!


Sweet Arts Design Review & GIVEAWAY




Decorating is something I've always struggled with. I don't have the ability. And when Avery was born there were nothing on her walls. Well Sweet Arts Design makes that easier for you. We were very pleased with our personalized frog print.

On her template online you couldn't tell it was an A because the frog covered it up. But she said she adjusts the image so you can always see the Letter.
We still haven't bought a frame so it's not hanging yet, but I think it will be so cute above her big girl bed she's getting for her birthday! 
You choose the image you want, the color of the Letter, the color of the name and which font!

I think her stuff is just beautiful. Also for it being personalized it was Shipped that EVENING! Like 2 hours after I decided what I wanted it was shipped (well ready to be shipped) It actually shipped the next day and I had it 3 days later. So within 4 days I had my print in hand. That's QUICK and awesome!

I think this would be a great baby shower gift. It's cheap enough, but it's personalized so it means so much! I would've loved this for my cousin who had her baby in January! I think it would've been great for his bedroom.


And more!!
Price: At just $9.95 for an 8X10 and $12.95 for an 11X14 this is a STEAL. AWESOME price.

Overall: ***** So fast shipping, great for a last minute gift. Personalized is always great, and it's so darn cute. PLUS Amy was a dream to work with! 

Take 15% off any Print with code heatherandavery ends March 31st


 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


Thursday, March 25, 2010

Infantino Baby Slings Recalled



Just watch the video! PLEASE get the replacement item and throw away your Infantino Slings!!




SodaStream Review & GIVEAWAY




We love Pop (Soda). And it was so much fun to make our own thanks to SodaStream.

We received the Red Genesis Seltzer Starter Kit. It was fun!! Along with it we also received 10 (YES 10) Sodamix Flavors. 
We received the Cherry Cola, Cranberry Raspberry, Lemon Iced Tea, Lemon Lime, Lemonade, Orange Mango, Diet Cola, Diet Root Beer, Diet Pink Grapefruit, and Energy. WOW!!!
And a mywater flavor essence 3 pack in Lemon-Lime, Orange, and Berry

We haven't even gotten a chance to try them all yet!

So far I'm really liking it. It has a CO2 Cartridge which pumps the carbon into the bottle. And then you add the flavor (1 cap full) and you have pop. Seriously it takes less than a minute to make 1 liter of soda. I think it's genius quite frankly. If you have an unexpected guest and your out of soda... Just make one up real quick. AWESOME!

Making carbonated water and soft drinks is simple! Turn tap water into sparkling water in under 30 seconds, with no clean-up. Enjoy the freshness and convenience of homemade soda and protect the environment at the same time. No heavy bottles to carry, store at home or throw away. Fizz to your taste and add the flavor of your choice to make your favorite drink. Simple to clean and reuse. With a variety of colors and silhouettes, you'll be sure to find a soda maker to match with any decor.

Here you can watch the Video on how to make it.

Price: The genesis I received it $100 and the Bottles of sodamix are $5-$7. Which isn't too bad. Each sodamix bottle makes 12 liters about 33 cans of soda... Worth $5 to me!
Then the CO2 cartridges are $30-$50 for a 2 pack. Depending on if you're exchanging them OR buying spares. Exchanges are cheaper and they give you a label so you can send your cartridge back to them!

Overall: **** I think it's awesome But the price of the unit could come down a LITTLE bit. 


 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


StephieMc Designs Review & GIVEAWAY



I love handmade items, and I love supporting to people who make them. And well, I love jewelry! So when I contacted StephieMc Designs and she said YES I was so excited and couldn't wait to get started!

I received the Mother, Daughter, Friend Necklace and it's just beautiful. I can never capture jewelry good with my camera, so here's the stock photo!


Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Companies I didn't do a Review On



There's 3 companies so far that I haven't done a Review on because I wasn't satisfied with their products. I didn't blog about them because I will not put up a negative review. But I feel the need to let people know how I feel about the companies and not let them just see the good. So I figured I would do this. Every so often when I get more than 2 bad companies I will blog about them. But not a review, just letting you know which product I received and what was wrong with it!

1.  Smart Knit Kids. They were bad. They sent me 2 purple pair of socks and the first pair got a hole in them in just a couple days. It was a BIG hole that Avery was playing with and making bigger. the 2nd pair is still going strong, but at the time they were still fresh. At the time I was supposed to post a Review I would say a * star. But now I'll say *** I'm not sure what happened, but it could have been caused by stepping on something, the dog ETC.

2. Hearthsong. I heard so many good things about this company so contacted them for a review and was able to receive the Sit On Bay Horse. When it arrived the Mane was MATTED big time. I brushed it out with my own brush and it was fine. Then my daughter brushed it with the brush that was included and it knotted right back up. I had to brush it out again and then I braided it. It's now all nasty and fraying and I'm considering cutting the mane off! It's all snarly and nasty!
I spent about 3 hours brushing hair that day!

3. Cover Your Hair. I received the Five Star Hair Band and the Elegant Flower Hair Clip in pink. The headband was missing a few jewels and the Flower clip broke the second I touched it. It came apart. I threw the clip away and the Headband I use for around the house while I'm cleaning... Sad.


Anyway, so far in 6 months of hosting Reviews/Giveaways those are the only 3 companies I've had a bad experience with!


Pirate's Booty Snacks Review



So yummy! I love snacking and I eat about 10 times a day... I eat 3 meals plus, popcorn before a movie. Usually a midnight snack since I don't go to bed until 2AM on most nights. And usually quite a few times in between meals as well. 

Pirate's Booty snacks allowed me to get in my snacking without the guilt!
They are Baked, All natural,1/2 the fat, Cholesterol free, gluten free, Trans Fat free and only 130 calories per bag (1 serving) WooHoo! That's a healthy snack!

We received the Veggie, Barbeque, New York Style Pizza, and Corn. And they were YUMMY. 

I really like them, the first couple don't have much flavor but after that they are delicious with more flavor. It's weird how that works. 

our story

The Pirate Brands story began in 1987 in Sea Cliff, NY with our founder, Robert. Robert, a snack industry renegade and father of two, scoured the high-seas for a tasty treasure that would inspire people to live a little healthier and have fun while doing it. That's when Robert discovered the cheesy rice and corn puffs we know today as, Pirate's Booty.
Thanks to Robert and his tasty treasure, no longer do you have to eat "cheese" puffs dusted with neon orange powder with incomprehensible ingredients. When you buy Pirate Brands products, you are getting wholesome goodness without the guilt.
As the leader of the healthy snacking revolution, we've created products for the whole family that are healthy, all natural, baked and delicious. We've eliminated fryers and trans fats from all of our products and keep the ingredients simple. Our only additives are just good fun.
It's been 20 years and Robert is still continuing his journey by offering fun, healthy and deliciously baked all-natural snacks. You can find Pirate Brands products including, Pirate's Booty, Potato Flyers, Smart Puffs and Original Tings at a supermarket near you or at our online store!
Our consumers, family and friends are very important to us. Your loyalty has been longstanding and we thank you for being part of our journey.

Price: Case of 12, 4 oz bags is $30.50. Comes down to $2.54 per bag which isn't too bad!

Overall: **** YUMMY
*Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


6 Degrees Of Blogging







I just found out about another really neat idea that I think is going to be lots of fun. It's called 6 Degrees of Blogging and you start by clicking on a button on your blog. Then on that blog, you click on another blog button and so on and once you get to the sixth blog, you do a small feature on that particular blog and let them know that you found them through 6 Degrees of Blogging! I am going to try it out this week and see how it goes. I welcome you all to join in and try it out with me.

1. Mommy Of 1 and Counting (Always start with your own)

So my 6 degrees of blogging is From Dates To Diapers. Here's a little about Christine.

Christine is married to her best friend, Ray, and together they have six very active children, all ages 9 and under, with one on the way. She’s a busy mama, spending most of her days homeschooling her crew in the Sacramento area, while battling morning sickness that seems to defy the term lasting all day. She is the proud owner and author of the Mommy Blog, From Dates to Diapers, where she shares about life with little ones, offers advice and encouragement, and writes her thoughts and opinions on some of the greatest products on the market – those that make family life FUN.

In addition to being a wife, mom, teacher, laundry-hater, dish-washer, and boogie-wiper, Christine loves to connect with other moms in various social media spaces. She also enjoys building relationships with companies and brands on a daily basis. Christine was recently tapped as one of Nielsen’s Top 50 Power Moms, is a Lifetime Mom, one of Wal-Mart’s “ElevenMoms” and a spokesmom/host for Johnson’s Baby. (There’s more… Check out In the Limelight.)

You can find Christine on Twitter, Facebook, Gather, in various other online social communities, as well as attending and speaking at conferences online and around the country.

Here are the rules for 6 Degrees of Blogging:

*Start on your own blog
*Click on a link to another blog. On that blog, click a link to another blog, that leads to another and another til you get to 6 clicks.
*Once you arrive on your "six degrees" blog, leave a comment saying "Hey! Found you through six degrees of blogging. Your are featured on my blog! (Leave your blog URL so they can find you.)
*THEN, on your own blog, write a super quick post that includes the Six Degrees Button and a quick blurb saying who you found and something nice about them and/or their blog.
*Encourage your readers to stop by their blog as well and leave some comment love!
Have Fun!! I did


DevaCurl and Fab Beauty Review



I have curly hair, but it's not CURLY anymore, it's a WEIRD wave. If I let it air dry it's all curly and frizzy and icky. But I had a chance to try out DevaCurl and I'm impressed. It really WORKS. Of course I forgot to take pictures, but it WORKS
They sent me the No Poo CleanserOne Condition, and the AnGel.

I'm very happy with these products. Even though the No Poo is technically NOT shampoo it still cleanses and conditions very well. It's kind of weird because it doesn't lather though. The One Condition is AMAZING. It feels great and made my hair so smooth. And the AnGel wasn't like a regular gel. It wasn't sticky at all, it was more like a mousse in texture and feel, but held the curls like a gel!

My PR Agent also PR's for Fab Beauty. Meant for younger girls she sent me like the ENTIRE line Pretty much. I was so surprised when I opened my package. I didn't even know she was sending anything from Fab, so when I opened my package and saw ALL THIS. I was shocked
Can you believe all that?? 
She sent along the Juicy Lip Balm in Cherry(they don't have direct links), Pouty Lip Pens, LOL Lip gloss, Tell all Eye Palette, Nail Bling, Get Glowing Body Glitter, Fantasy Bath Fizzers, Bath treats, Sha Sha Shimmer Set, And some Nail Files!! HOLY COW!

I won't use most of these, so I'm giving some to my 5 1/2 year old cousin for Easter. I think they're adorable and I think she'll love them. Avery's using the Fizzers and likes them. And I'm using the Lip Gloss, but the Sha Sha Shimmer set, Body glitter, and nail files I'm giving to her!! I think she'll really like them.

Overall: DevaCurl ****. Fab Beauty *** 

*Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


A week At my house!



This will blow you guys away! Here's an average week of getting stuff in the mail. This is all the boxes waiting at the door for Thursday night Garbage night!!
 Oh and the bags are from Jon's shredding papers... That's it. Everything else there is my packages!
So that would be all stuff that arrives on Friday afternoon, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday! That's RIDICULOUS! But this is an AVERAGE week for me. I usually get 2-3 packages a day.


Win A year's worth of Robeez



I got a lot of good e-mails today!! My goodness!

Here you can win a Year's Worth of Robeez shoes! WHO doesn't love shoes? Better yet who doesn't love FREE shoes?

Aren't these adorable?
  
These are ORGANIC

Love the Cupcake
Love this Organic Frog and it's UNISEX

They're all so cute, and you have a chance to win 12 pair at the link above!
Good Luck!



Oscar de la Renta Girl's Dresses



Oscar de la Renta is known for expensive clothing and great looking dresses. Great for weddings and evening out. But now he's released a little girl Casual Dress line! And it's gorgeous!

These Dresses are super expensive. Like $220-$330. But if you have the money, I think they're great for graduations, weddings, Easter, Church etc. You could get a lot of use out of them!

I would NEVER pay that much for a dress, but one day I was watching TLC's What Not To Wear and they explained it like this. There was a $350 dress that this woman tried on and they said. If you wear it every other Saturday out and to church once a month, and to work maybe twice a month, and to parties and so on... You break it down and let's say you wear it 6 times a month... times 12 months that would be $4.86 per wear! WORTH IT!

So I look at this like that. And now I don't mind spending $50 on a pair of pants for myself. And good jeans for $80, because I get a LOT of use out of them and it comes down to probably CENTS per wear! That's a great way to look at it!

Anyway these  Dresses are super adorable!
I can't get the pictures to copy, but just check out the link. I LOVE the Polka Dot Print!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Bubble Chocolate Review & GIVEAWAY



I like Chocolate. I never crave it or anything, but I sure do enjoy a good chocolate bar. I love MILK chocolate. Hardly ever do I like Dark Chocolate. However when I received a bar of each from Bubble Chocolate I liked the Dark Chocolate Better


It is literally, Bubbles Wrapped in Chocolate! And it's YUMMY. It's so different, it melts differently, but it's a good different, It's real light and airy. I love it! 

Bubble Chocolate's® mission is to introduce a truly bold new taste and texture experience to the US confections marketplace. Already thrilling millions of consumers worldwide for decades, chocolate-with-bubbles is now destined to captivate the sophisticated American cocoa palate as well. 

If you (like we) have had the good fortune of traveling outside the US from time to time, either on business or for pleasure, most likely you would have discovered one of our European neighbors' most treasured taste experiences....bubbles-with-chocolate (technically known as aerated chocolate). Many years ago we developed a deep adoration for this chocolate's unforgettable sensation. We kept waiting for it to arrive to the US shores. It never came. So we finally decided to take matters into our own hands to make it readily available to all discerning cocoa lovers in the US. From our families to yours enjoy the virtues of Bubble Chocolate® each and every day! 

Price: 16 bars is $40. Which is $2.50 per bar! Not too bad... Hershey's is right around the same price for a 2.82 oz bar!!
Overall: **** Good chocolate, good thought, but it's a little pricey and is a little weird!! Good weird though!


 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


Glee Gum Review & GIVEAWAY




I was addicted to gum for a long time, but now I have this tooth that really bothers me, so I stopped chewing as much as possible about 18 months ago. I've also been getting a lot of cavities, so I assumed it was from chewing gum so much and I also stopped because of that. Well Glee Gum lets you make your own Chewing Gum and Candy.

We received the Chewing Gum Kit in Cherry and Cinnamon

First of all, do you see that HUGE bag? That's all powdered sugar!! YEP! 
Second of all. It was hard to make, was real gooey and was impossible for me to take a picture in the middle of making it!

The gum is REAL chewy. Like too chewy and it looses it's flavor REAL fast!
Here it is in their separate flavors and ready to be cut... Luckily some of the confectioner's sugar got left behind

  Here it is in the bags labeled


We haven't chewed much because we don't like it very much... But that's my opinion! Others might like it better. If you don't like real sweet gum then you'll like this. Even though it's got a lot of sugar with it, it's not very sweet, So that is one thing I really like about it.

Price: Chewing Gum kit is $13!! Seems a little pricey, but for the fun with your kids and them learning how to make gum. I guess it's worth it!

Overall: *** at least they tried, but we don't really care for it


 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


Sunday, March 21, 2010

Plan Toys Review



We love new toys, and we love Wooden Toys. I love what Plan Toys decided to send us!
They sent us the Tower Tumbling set for review and we love it! Avery plays with it for close to an hour a day EVERY DAY. Usually I have to break her away from it just to get her to do a craft or something else for the day. She's so into it and Loves stacking them and even just sorting them onto their own platforms. 


 I think it's so cute and so easy to play with, and yet it's so challenging and developmental for her!

They have Baby/Toddler Toys, Which are both Developmental and Educational

OUR VISION
We create toys that inspire children's imagination as well as promote their physical and intellectual development. We're also proving that it is possible to maintain superior quality standards while steadfastly following a path of environmental and social responsibility.

A pretty good company and their toys are Recycled. They practice the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle concept! YAY Plan Toys!

Price: $20 I think this is VERY generously priced... That's awesome. It's a great birthday gift and I think $20 is cheap for the priceless look on the child's face when they first play with it!

Overall: ***** very great company. Wood, Recycled, Meant for children? LOVE it all!

 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


Friday, March 19, 2010

See Kai Run



I've done a review for See Kai Run before. In fact it was one of my first Reviews! 
I LOVE their shoes.

Avery still wears her Rebekah's. They fit so nicely, are VERY flexible and are SO CUTE!!

See Kai Run has recently come out with their new Spring Line and they're adorable!
How about the Talia's?

 Or the smaller Michelle's?

Or the Theodore's

Or the smaller Campbell's?
Either way you look at it See Kai Run has done it again!! Adorable shoes for little kids!

When you spend over $60 you get FREE Shipping and who doesn't love FREE?? Check them out, you won't be sorry!


Luster Review & GIVEAWAY





My teeth are turning yellow. It's from caffeine and years of coffee drinking (I'm allergic now). I'm only 19 so I shouldn't have yellow teeth as bad as I did. But I did!
Bring in Luster and my teeth are WHITE again!!
I was able to try out the 1 Hour Whitening and it was amazing. It really made a difference and my teeth went up about 4 shades according to their shade chart included in the package!



I noticed a big difference after I was done. Jon came home like 3 minutes after I finished and he noticed it right away!! He said what did you do to your teeth. So I told him and he was surprised that it worked in just one hour!
So you rinse your teeth and then paint on the gel, Then hold the light to your teeth for 2 minutes (it automatically shuts off) and then repeat the steps. It kind of became a pain rinsing, painting, light, rinsing, painting, light... But it did pay off.  And it took about 1 hour 20 minutes to full complete it. 
I still have the light left and some gel, so I think if I do this a couple more times right before Easter here I'll get a revamp and my teeth will be even whiter.
Also I notice I don't get plaque on my teeth much anymore. I'm not one who brushes every day. I brush once every other day (I know shame on me) and sometimes I get a little plaque, but with this I haven't noticed any at all.
Price: The one hour white is $35.99 on Amazon. And their Weekend White is $19.99
Overall: **** I think the steps are a little much, but I do like that it actually worked!

 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*


Thursday, March 18, 2010

Zoodles Review & GIVEAWAY



This website is AWESOME! 
I love playing games with Avery, but sometimes she wants to play games while I'm making dinner, or trying to get in the shower, or feeding the dog. ETC! It's never ending. She LOVES games and I love playing games with her, but it's not always practical!
In comes Zoodles. We've had a membership with zoodles for a little over a week now and I'm really liking it. 

It is free to play and there is no need for a membership, but the membership allows you to track your children's games, limit their time on the computer, as well as block some games you don't want them playing!

I have Barney, Transformers, and a few others blocked on Avery's because I don't want her playing them. It also allows me to see how long she spends at which game, and how long she's played in which subjects. Right now It's telling me Math-4 minutes, Reading-23 minutes, Life Skills-8 Minutes, Social Studies-0 minutes, Science-4 minutes, Cognitive Development-32 Minutes, Creative Development-34 minutes.
So as you can see it's VERY detailed and it maps out all the stuff for you even while you're not there. 

It basically is a website that has all game sites in one. It links to Nick Jr. Disney, Fisher Price and all those other fun sites. But it also has LOTS of others I would've never thought of and that don't show up in Google. It's totally worth the money in my opinion!

Another feature I really liked it that You have to download the browser and when you open it from your desktop, your child can't just close out of it... You have to type a special word to get out. So it's set up VERY safely and they really have though of EVERY angle possible. 
I feel safe that she's on my computer, but learning and not clicking around where I don't want her. I don't want her deleting pictures or telling all my facebook friends I hate them... I like knowing that she's stuck in Zoodles game world for however long so I can cook dinner in peace. Heck she even played 2 games while I was in the shower yesterday. It's better than T.V.

Price: $7.95 a month. $39.95 for 6 months, and A very reasonable $59.95 for a YEAR!! I think this is a great price. and I will continue to pay this. I think Zoodles will go hand in hand with Homeschooling come fall!

Overall: Out of 5 I give it a ********** yep a 10 star. I haven't found anything I haven't liked yet and It's promoting education and development which I'm all about!


 *Disclaimer* I received these products directly from the Company for Review. I was not paid to try out these products!*