Tuesday, April 28, 2015

My Little Pony Tales:The Complete Classic TV Series on DVD!

MY LITTLE PONY TALES: THE COMPLETE CLASSIC TV SERIES
IS GALLUPING TO DVD ON APRIL 28!


Los Angeles, CA – Attention My Little Pony fans of yore, My Little Pony Tales: The Complete Classic TV Series is coming to DVD on April 28, 2015, in the U.S. and Canada from Shout! Kids in collaboration with Hasbro Studios! The 2-DVD set includes all 13 episodes of the show, originally airing on television in 1992, as well as sing-alongs.

Ponyland is full of excitement, if you know where to find it, and now all of your favorite My Little Pony Tales are finally collected in one amazing set! Join the 7 Pony Friends—Starlight, Sweetheart, Melody, Bright Eyes, Patch, Clover and Bon Bon — for 13 episodes of outrageous fun! Games, picnics, ice cream shops, roller derbies and even UFOs… nothing is off-limits when it comes to grand Pony adventures!

Episodes include:
Disc 1                                                                                             Disc 2
Slumber Party / Too Sick To Notice                                       Princess Problems / An Apple For Starlight
Battle Of The Bands / And The Winner Is…                          Up, Up And Away / Sister Of The Bride
Stand By Me / The Tea Party                                                   Birds Of A Feather / Send In The Clown
The Masquerade / Out Of Luck                                               Happy Birthday, Sweetheart / Gribet
The Play’s The Thing / Shop Talk                                           Bon Bon’s Diary / Just For Kicks
Impractical Joker/ The Great Lemonade Stand Wars              Ponies In Paradise / Who’s Responsible
Blue Ribbon Blues / Roll Around The Clock

Bonus Features:
Sing-Alongs

My Thoughts:
The coolest thing about my daughter loving My Little Pony is that it's a show that I grew up with. It's like I get to relive my childhood while she enjoys hers. But the new ponies are a little different. They have different names, the graphics are newer and sharper, and it's just not exactly what I grew up with. But this.... My Little Pony Tales... is!

I am so thrilled that I can take my daughter to Ponyland to meet the ponies that I fell in love with! This set is so chock full of fun music, exciting episodes, lovable ponies, and tons of good memories. At first my daughter was not into it and kept asking for her old pals Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle. But once she got to know this group, she started to get into it!

She now asks to watch this version! She often will follow it up by asking for newer ones... but at least I know she loves my old friends!

Friday, April 24, 2015

Sleepy Kitty and Sleepy Puppy Book Reviews

I just got reading two of the sweetest board books with my two kids. Sleepy Kitty and Sleepy Puppy are adorable little books about some kitties and puppies try to stay up! They come up with all kinds of reasons... some I am all too familiar with... to stay up a little longer. The pictures are so adorable. My 2 year old son adores cats and dogs, so this was perfect for him. He loved each and every photo. And my 5 year old daughter is just starting to read... so she was able to read parts of these books to my son. It was such a great experience to share these books with my children.



Sleepy Kitty:
Even though it's bedtime, these mischievous kittens will do whatever they can to stay awake. But despite all their sneaky requests for milk, blankets, and pillows, they'll soon be tucked in and tuckered out!



 Sleepy Puppy: 
These rascal puppies don't care if day is done and the hour has come to sleep: they want to play! So they ask for water and tissues, and beg to check for monsters under the bed. But before too long these tired puppies realize that bedtime is the best time.

Sleepy Kitty
&
Sleepy Puppy
Sterling Children's Books
ISBN: 9781454914648 / 9781454914655
$6.95 (Can $8.50) - Board Book - Ages up to 3
Pub date: April 2015

GreaterGood Shop - Review and Giveaway


If you are anything like me... you like to shop. I love to shop. And being a busy mom of two little ones, I am often doing the majority of my shopping online. There is nothing that beats the convenience of being able to take my time and browse at 10:00 at night when the dishes are finally done and the kids are in bed. Making a few clicks and filling my cart. Having everything I need delivered directly to my door in a matter of days. Ahhh, just thinking about it puts a smile on my face.

We do it. We shop online. All the time. So here's my question. What if you could shop online... at any hour of the night, for any variety of things from toys to jewelry, to unique gifts... have them delivered right to your door... and help the world at no extra cost? Yes, help the world. Help to preserve endangered species in the rain forest, help provide therapy to children on the Autism Spectrum, help provide food to the hungry, and so much more. That's what the GreaterGood Shop is all about.

When you shop at the GreaterGood Shop, every purchase gives back to a worthy cause... at no extra cost to you. It's amazing. It's simple. It's important. I had a great time browsing their incredible selection of products, from apparel to jewelry to pets. Being that I am a mom, I did spend most of my time looking at toys. They have stocked their site with name brand toys and activities that have more meaning behind them. Products that also help the world we live in... and the people living in it.

This is exactly the kind of small way of helping that I am always looking for. While I wish I had the time and resources to really help the world in a big way, I know that every little thing I do matters and makes a difference. And by shopping at a great site I can help make a difference.

The site is easy to navigate and find just what you are looking for. After I placed my order I received a confirmation. Just a day later I had a shipping confirmation, and before I knew it my order was on my doorstep! I highly recommend you check out this great site and do some shopping!

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Friday, April 17, 2015

ABC Universe



In collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Sterling Children’s Books is excited to present ABC Universe (April 2015), the upcoming addition to our beloved oversized AMNH ABC Board Books collection. From astronaut and black hole to yellow dwarf and zenith, this stunningly photographed guide to the alphabet opens up the entire cosmos to children. With extra-large letters to encourage finger tracing and visual memorization, as well as informative descriptions of all 26 terms, ABC Universe takes kids on a photographic journey through comets, flares, and planets and introduces them to supernovas, telescopes, space probes, and more. Perfect for the youngest astronomers!

My Thoughts:
My husband was so excited to learn about this book. He minored in astronomy at The University of Virginia. He has such an interest in space, planets, and stars. He loves trying to share that passion with our kids... but aside from wishing on some stars, a lot of what he wants to tell them is hard for them to understand.  This book is just what he was looking for.


Our son got it as part of his Easter goodies. We love to include books whenever we can to help instill a love and joy for reading! Both kids were excited to check it out the next night at bedtime. It's a really big board book, so they could all enjoy it together. The space pictures are so cool and take the kids on an adventure to see things they've never even dreamed of!

The book is filled with cool space pictures, interesting words, and educational descriptions that my husband then elaborated on. It brought so much more meaning and understanding to have the amazing photos to go along with the cool new words they were learning.

This book is so unique. Everyone has an ABC book. Everyone knows A is for Apple... but this is new. This is all about our Universe!

McFarland USA is coming to Blu-ray!

Based on an Inspirational True Story


Discover Your Inner Champion

New on Disney Blu-ray® Combo Pack, Disney Movies Anywhere, and Digital HD
 June 2nd 


SYNOPSIS:
In the tradition of Disney sports movies comes “McFarland, USA” based on a true story of underdogs triumphing over tremendous obstacles. This heartwarming drama follows novice runners who strive to build a cross-country team under Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) in their predominantly Latino high school. Everyone has a lot to learn about each other, but when Coach realizes the boys’ exceptional running ability, things change. Beyond their talent, it’s the power of family, commitment to each other and work ethic that transform them into champions — helping them achieve their own American dream.

LifebankUSA Giveaway!



Stem cells in cord blood have transformative potential and have been used to treat over 30,000 patients worldwide. It’s been shown that using a higher number of stem cells in a transplant leads to better engraftment and survival. Did you know that you can preserve significantly MORE of your baby’s stem cells by adding placenta blood banking to your cord blood collection?
 
Banking the most stem cells can be critical and only through banking both cord and placenta blood do you have this opportunity. Numerous studies published in top medical journals have shown that transplanting more stem cells significantly increases success and transplant survival rates. In fact, customers who bank placenta blood in addition to cord blood with LifebankUSA preserve 60%-70% more CD34+ stem cells – the cells that are the most important for rebuilding diseased blood with healthy blood.
 
Every day, parents are choosing to bank their child’s cord blood because they know these powerful cells could one day be used to save a close family member’s life. Parents choose to also bank placenta blood with LifebankUSA to make their cord blood collection even more powerful, providing them with even greater peace of mind [T1].


 
LifebankUSA is the only cord blood bank with proprietary technology offering [T1] placenta blood banking with cord blood banking to expectant parents. We are also the only company in the world to release placenta stem cell units for transplant.
 
Your child is being born into a world of extraordinary possibilities that include the enormous potential of stem cell banking. Make the most of this once-in-a- lifetime opportunity by choosing LifebankUSA and add placenta blood banking to your cord blood collection, for a very real, proven layer of protection for you and your family.
 
"LifebankUSA is a pioneer in placenta-stem cell technology. Our stem cell banking program meets and exceeds the highest standards in the industry-and we are the only company that can provide access to technology that allows you to boost the number of cells you can recover after birth."
- Robert Hariri, MD, PhD
CEO and Founder of LifebankUSA



GIVEAWAY
Click HERE to enter for you chance to win one of THREE Graco 4ever 4-in-1 Car Seats! As a mom of two fast growing kids... this looks like the car seat we need!

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Dial - The Boutique Collection: Sugar Cane Husk Scrub Hand Soap


Dial
The Boutique Collection
Sugar Cane Husk Scrub

NEW Dial Sugar Cane Husk Scrub Hand Soap is the newest member of the Dial Boutique Collection Hand Soap line, bringing luxury to your hand washing experience. With an indulgent scent inspired by freshly cut Sugar Cane, this premium formula with gentle micro scrubbers cleanses deeply while moisturizing and smoothing skin.

A deep cleansing formula helps give you clean, healthy hands and skin. Moisturizing formulas with skin conditioners hydrate your skin and visibly improve skin dryness while micro-scrubbers help gently remove dirt from your hands to leave them feeling smooth and refreshed.

A completely new bottle and design with rich colors lets you proudly display your favorite scent throughout your home.

Looks pretty good in my bathroom, right?!?!

My Thoughts:
I am going to admit something. When I first received this product I wasn't super excited. I mean, Dial is my go-to brand in hand soap. They have proven themselves over and over to me as a great brand that I can trust. But I hate scrub soaps. They are usually so harsh and gritty and leave the scrubbers even after you wash it away. But... my husband likes scrub soap. He says it makes him feel cleaner scrubbing the dirt away. Match mad in heaven, huh?




So we gave it a try. This soap is unlike any scrub soap I have ever tried. It is so gentle and subtle that you hardly even feel the little scrubbers. You know they are there working their magic, but they are not harsh. They don't leave any residue, instead they left my hands feeling soft and clean. I figured my husband wouldn't like it because they scrubbers are so subtle... but he did! He said he liked that he knew the scrubbers were there and he could feel them a little. But he also like the gentle feeling. Wow, now we can use the same hand soap. Pretty impressive, Dial. Thanks.

And it smells fantastic! It's not an overpowering scent, but it does remain just ever so slightly present on your hands after rinsing. My husband likes that it's not flowery. You can see that we have trouble finding a hand soap we can both use. This is pretty awesome.

After using this soap we went on the hunt to get more. I found another scent in this collection, Water Blossoms, these are my two favorites! They are great family soaps.

* I received a free product in order to facilitate a review. All opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.


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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Purex Crystals ScentSplash Review and Giveaway!

Purex Crystals ScentSplash
in-wash fragrance boosters

NEW Purex Crystals ScentSplash in-wash fragrance booster infused your clothes with the power of liquid freshness. Simply add a little or a lot directly into your washer.

Infuse your clothes with fragrance for a blast of long-lasting freshness that no one can resist.

  • Fresh Spring Waters - Wade into cool, enchanting waters and give your laundry an incredible just-washed freshness that lasts for months.
  • Fresh Lavender Blossom - Wander through colorful, sun-lit fields of lavender and give your laundry an incredible just-washed freshness that lasts for months.
  • Fresh Mountain Breeze - Capture the exhilarating moment of a crisp, fresh breeze and give your laundry an incredible just-washed freshness that lasts for months.
* 35% more wash loads then 18oz Purex Solid Crystals. 


My Thoughts:
I was skeptical about this product at first. Why? Because I love my solid Purex Crystals. I think they are super easy to use, mess free, and make my clothes smell sooooo good. But when I read that I could get even more loads out of a bottle of the ScentSplash, I was willing to give it a try.

It's still easy to use. You can use as much or as little as you would like, with the minimum recommendation being half the cap. The liquid is a little thicker than a laundry detergent, so that was interesting to me. So I threw my clothes in, used my FAVORITE Purex laundry detergent (PowerShot - talk about easy), poured a little more than half a cap full of my ScentSplash, took a whiff, tossed it in, and started up my machine.


I tried out the Fresh Spring Water scent and I love it. It's so refreshing and clean smelling. And I was so pleased to find out that the scent was lingering on my clothes even after they came out of the dryer. I like my clothes to keep smelling amazing long after they leave the laundry room. 

I am super happy with the whole experience with the NEW Purex Crystals ScentSplash. It was super quick and easy to add to my load and everything came out smelling so fresh. I will definitely be using this again!


* I received a free bottle in order to do an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.


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New Colgate Optic White Platinum Express White Toothpaste

NEW Colgate Optic White
PLATINUM Express White Toothpaste
Colgate's Fastest Whitening Toothpaste

"The new Colgate optic White PLATINUM Express White Toothpaste promises a whiter, brighter smile in just three days (*for best results, use as directed for 4 weeks). This formula contains 2x more Hydrogen Peroxide (**vs. Optic White Sparkling Mint). In addition to being safe for daily use, this product protects your enamel and contains anti-cavity fluoride protection."


My Thoughts:
I am always looking for a whiter, brighter smile, Who isn't? But I need to go about it in the easiest, quickest way possible because I have two kids. I don't have time to sit around with gunk on my teeth for any extended amount of time. But I do brush my teeth... every day... twice a day. So this is exactly what I am looking for. It already fits into my daily routine, and it has results in a short amount of time. 

I started using it a couple of weeks ago. I am happy to say that it doesn't taste gross. That's usually a problem for me, if it strays too far from my expected mint flavor I am not going to use it. This tasted minty and refreshing. I used it with the Colgate 360 Optic White Platinum Manual Toothbrush, which I love. Really, this is an awesome toothbrush that really made me feel like I was getting into nooks and crannies and getting my teeth clean. The bristles were awesome. And it has a cheek and tongue cleaner that is oh so important for removing odor-causing bacteria.


The whole experience has been a good one. I feel like my teeth are clean and looking brighter. I am happy to flash my smile and get up close and personal without worrying about icky breath. I think these are great products that I will continue to use. 

* I received these products from Colgate-Palmolive in order to facilitate a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced. 

NEW Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap Review and Giveaway


MIRACLE OIL
Hand Soap infused with Marula Oil

Experience Miracle Oil Hand Soap, featuring the first formula with Micro Oil Technology.

New Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap brings nourishment and skin hydration to your hand washing experience. Let the smooth feel of Miracle Oil gently remove dirt from your hands and leave them feeling smooth and refreshed.

Miracle Oil is infused with Marula Oil and uses Micro Oil technology to nourish and deeply hydrate your skin while protecting it from skin damaging radicals. 

My Thoughts:
I have super dry hands. Between the harsh, cold winter.... and the fact that I am washing dishes all day long, and no I don't wear gloves, the skin on my hands has seen better days. And honestly, I hate it. Besides the fact that sometimes my skin will crack and burn, it also makes my hands look older. They look flaky and dry and just gross. So a having a good hand soap is important to me, and the rest of my family. I make everyone was their hands all day long to try and escape the parade of germs that we all bring through the house. 




My husband and I were both super impressed with the new Dial Miracle Oil hand soap. It goes on super smooth and feels very soft and you rub it into every crevice of your hands. IT washes off clean and doesn't leave any residue. But my hands finished feeling soft and refreshed. It's true! We've been using it in our downstairs bathroom ever since... since that's where we do the most hand washing. I think it's a great product that I will definitely be looking for in the store. 

* I received a free product in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way. 


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Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Glamorous Garbage



Bobbie’s room is full of stuff—SO full, that it’s hard for her and her “best cousin,” Joanie, to find space to play. When Bobbie’s mom gives her a two–week deadline to clear out the clutter, Bobbie has an idea–instead of taking stuff out of her room, she brings garage–sale finds and other glamorous garbage in. Will Bobbie transform the chaos into a beautiful big–kid room? This title weaves together three appealing themes: letting go of toys and dealing with a messy room, turning trash into treasure, and recycling and repurposing—a part of every school curriculum from kindergarten up.

My Thoughts:
You may remember Bobbie and Joanie from Barbara Johansen Newman's previous book, Glamorous Glasses.  And these two characters are at it again! Bobbie reminds me of myself... and my daughter. I collected everything! Rocks, beads, stickers, little pieces of paper. Yeah, I probably would have fit into the modern day term of "hoarder." And now my daughter is following in my footsteps. Every drawer or box or corner of her room is filled with some treasure that she just can't part with. Oy, it's genetic.

This book has been the perfect bridge for communication with my daughter about her room and letting things go. The light and funny theme, along with the bright and cheerful illustrations, has allowed us to really talk about how you have to part with certain things. Our house would explode if we kept everything. Or we just wouldn't be able to get anything new. My daughter was able to relate to Bobbi, and I relate to her cousin who just wants there to be some space!

This book is totally adorable and very relatable for parents and kids. I love the independence that Bobbi is given to find a solution to her messy room. My daughter and I are now working on some creative ideas to make her room even more special, a little more grown up, and a little less messy!

Check out this fun website to learn more about Bobbi and Joanie, and play around with some fun activities.