Momma Drama

The Popcorn Factory Love Ya Gift Giveaway

2012-02-03T08:24:00.000-05:00

The Popcorn Factory is full of delicious treats that would be sure to make your loved one smile this Valentine's Day. From buckets of flavored popcorn to candy and sweets, there is something for everyone on your list.

The Popcorn Factory is making this Valentine's Day extra special with a limited edition Love Ya Gift! This popcorn heart comes with 4 foil wrapped chocolates and is only $4.99! It also comes with a special coupon for the recipient to receive 20% off their next order.

You can learn more about The Popcorn Factory and all it has to offer on their Facebook page. You should also check out this perfectly corny video!

3 Lucky Winners will receive a Love Ya Gift!

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Unique Gifts from Novica

2012-02-02T07:37:00.000-05:00

If you're like me you are always on the hunt for unique gifts. I love to give gifts that are different and unique enough to make the person go "Oh where did you ever find this!" Novica is the perfect place to find these gifts.

Novica gives artists and artisans around the world the opportunity to share their work with the entire world, and you the opportunity to have these pieces of art in your home. Their website is designed in such a way that when you view a product you get to see and learn about the person or people who create it. You are introduced to an artist who may be on the other side of the world who has something beautiful to share.

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to shop on Novica and see the beauty up close. I was immediately drawn to the silver jewelry and all of the fabulous options. You can search by region or by style to find what you are looking for. Check out the silver pendant necklaces and amethyst dangle earrings to see some of my favorites. Amethyst is my birthstone!

Novica has much more to offer than just jewelry. From clothing to glasses to games to home accents. You can find a wonderful variety of items all in one spot. I would highly recommend that you take some time to explore this wonderful fair trade artisan website that works with National Geographic. Be sure to check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

And don't forget to visit the NOVICA Live to learn about how you could host a party! If you sign up be sure to mention that you learned about it from Momma Drama!

My Fairy Tale Books Review

2012-02-01T12:42:00.001-05:00

As a mother and a teacher and I am a huge advocate for reading. I believe that reading to your children from a very young age is so important. Not only is it beneficial for them, but it's a wonderful time for you to bond with your children and go on some exciting adventures!

My Fairy Tale Books offers a really unique reading experience. It allows you to personalize a story with your child's name, hometown, their friends names, age, and so much more. This brings the idea of going on an adventure through reading to a whole new level! It makes the book incredibly personal and special to the child.

My Fairy Tale Books is the perfect place to find personalized books because of the variety they offer. They have a ton of titles and genres to make finding the perfect one for your toddler or young child easy. Some of the titles also feature some beloved characters, like the gang from Sesame Street. They even offer personalized kids DVD's. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to check one of their personalized books out in person for this review. Since my daughter loves the story of Beauty and the Beast I decided to go with that title.

I love the set up of their website. You can easily browse your selection of titles, and once you pick one you can look ahead at the story and see all the places where the book will be personalized. This truly sets this company apart! The ordering process was so easy. I began by competing the information for the personalization. I was even able to right a dedication for my child.

The book arrived quickly and my daughter was beyond thrilled! We read the story over and over again. Each time she heard something specific to her her face would light up! This is the perfect gift for a little boy or girl. They even have special titles for birthday books. What a wonderful way to instill a love of reading from a young age and create a keepsake they will hold on to for years to come.

You can also check out My Fairy Tale Books on facebook and Twitter. And you can learn more about them and all that they offer on their blog.

Cheryl's Valentines Day Hug Bug Gift! Giveaway

2012-01-31T08:21:00.000-05:00

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and Cheryl's is the place to go for sweet treats.They have an amazing selection of cookies, brownies, and more that you can send directly to the door of your loved one. And this Valentine's Day they have a treat that is too sweet to miss!

You can send a Hug Bug Greeting to someone special for only $5! This delicious cookie also comes with a $5 reward card. Check out this sweet deal today!

You can learn more about Cheryl's and all their great products on their website and on the facebook page!

And THREE lucky winners will receive a Hug Bug Gift!

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Lady and the Tramp Diamond Edition is Coming Soon!

2012-01-30T20:46:00.000-05:00

City Grips Review and Giveaway

2012-01-30T09:28:00.000-05:00

I first came across City Grips on twitter and when I read the little blurb about them in their profile I immediately headed over to their website to learn more. I sometimes feel like my stroller is another limb. I never leave home without it and I use it at almost every stop I make. Oh the places it has been.

It was these same experiences that prompted mompreneuer, Camie Gobtier, to take action. When Camie thought about the amount of sweat, dirt, and germs that were on the handle bar of her stroller she became hesitant to then handle her child. Imagine passing those germs to your child who them immediately puts their hands in their mouths.

As moms we take every step we can to protect our children. And now there is an easy and stylish way to help avoid the buildup and transfer of germs from our child's stroller. City Grips are handlebar grip covers that are easy to attach with the use of velcro. You quickly strap them on and start moving. And the best part is that they are machine washable. So you can wash them as often as you would like and ease your mind of the worry about collecting germs and bacteria.

City Grips has designed their grips for single and double handlebars.

City Grips offers a nice variety of styles, so you are making a fashion statement! And the fun designs make it easy to spot your stroller in a sea of them. And they add a little cushion to make the stroll even more enjoyable for your hands.

I was lucky enough to get to check a set of City Grips out on my stroller. I was very pleased with how easy they were to put on and how well they stayed on. At the end of the day I removed them and tossed them in the wash. Very cool and easy. I look forward to sharing this product with lots of moms at the park!

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Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring

2012-01-27T09:02:00.000-05:00

So Pinterest has become my new obsession. I somehow get sucked into this place where time flies by and when I look up from my computer I have passed hours. And this recipe is one of the gems have discovered there:

Sticky Bun Breakfast Ring
All Things Delicious

2 small tubes refrigerator buttermilk biscuits OR 1 tube Pillsbury Grands buttermilk biscuits

3 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted

1/2 C. pancake syrup

1/3 C. packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 C. chopped pecans, opt.

1/4 C. chopped almonds, opt.

Spray a fluted pan with non-stick spray.

Combine your butter and syrup in one bowl. In another bowl combine your sugar, cinnamon, and nuts (I didn't use any nuts in mine).

Pour half of your syrup/butter mixture into the bottom of your pan. Then sprinkle half of your sugar mixture on top.

Lay your biscuits on the bottom of the pan, overlapping to form a ring.

Pour the remainder of your syrup/butter mixture over the top and sprinkle with the remaining sugar mixture.

Bake for 20 minutes at 375. I started checking at 15 to see when they were golden brown and ended up taking them out at 18 minutes... so keep an eye on them.

Let them cool for one minute in the pan and then invert them onto a serving platter. Enjoy!

These are super easy and incredibly delicious! A huge hit in my house.

News From The Nail Bar - Book Review

2012-01-26T10:07:00.000-05:00

New From The Nail Bar

By Christy Powell

Rebecca Harris is a single mum trying to bring up her four year old daughter, while running a company of unreliable staff, nightmare builders, demanding customers, a disastrous love-life and an over bearing boss.News from The Nail Bar is a romantic comedy set in an office of a nail bar company in London. The book follows Rebecca's extremely rocky course as she navigates disaster after disaster leading up to a potentially catastrophic opening party.

This book is told through e-mails and it keeps you wanting to turn the page! I have recently been on a trend of reading heavy books with a lot of drama and trauma. I was certainly ready for something light and hysterical and this was it.

What I love about this book is how relate-able it is. Rebecca is your best friend pouring her heart out about all the things that are going so wrong in her life. We can all relate to the chaos that ensues with being a mom and having a career. But her interactions with her coworkers make you laugh out loud!

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a good laugh. The author has a way of mesmerizing you with her crazy life. It made me appreciate how boring my own life is.

Safe Driving in Winter Weather

2012-01-25T19:46:00.000-05:00

Winter is upon us, though this year we have been pretty lucky in my neck of the woods. After being shocked with a snow storm in October we have remained unseasonably warm. But this past weekend we were brought back to reality with snow overnight that turned to an icy rain during the day. Ahh, winter.

I'm a very cautious driver, especially now that I am toting precious cargo (my two year old) pretty much every where I go. So I try to practice some safe driving tips while still being prepared in case something were to happen. So here are a few ideas for you to keep in mind as you move about this winter on slick or icy roads.

1. Stay Home - My number one tip is that if the weather is questionable and the roads are not great stay home if possible. I know this is sometimes easier said than done, but sometimes it's better to stay on the safe side.

2. Stopping Distance - If you do have to get out in the ice and snow always remember to leave a good amount of stopping distance. It's easy for your car to loose traction and slide forward when coming to a stop. So leave yourself some room.

3. Slow Down - I am often amazed when driving in bad weather with the number of people zipping along as if it were sunny and warm. Take it slow. Keep both hands on the wheel and be prepared to control your vehicle should the snow try and take over.

4. Cell Phone - I try to never leave home without my cell phone, but this is especially true in bad weather. You never know when you may find yourself stuck and needing to call for a ride.

5. Blanket - I keep a blanket in the trunk of my car. This was something my dad always did and he passed it on to me. It's cold in the winter and if you get stuck and you need to keep you and your kids warm for awhile it's a priceless item to have!

There are a lot of things you can do to help prepare yourself for safe travels. I hope some of my tips will make you feel a little better about going out, but the most important thing you can do is be aware of the road conditions. I can't emphasize it enough to just stay in if they are reporting bad conditions. You can also check out the Esurance blog for more tips and ideas for driving this winter.

I wish you all safe travels and a winter full of fun!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Esurance blogging program for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-25T11:27:00.000-05:00

A Balancing Act

2012-01-23T16:03:00.000-05:00

I have to apologize for being so quiet lately. I've been quiet on my own blog and quiet visiting my favorite blogs. I guess you could say I'm trapped in a balancing act.

When I started working again my daughter was 7 months old. I took the job because it was close to home, my mother in law could watch my daughter, and it was only two days a week. Well, my mother in law eventually found the ride down to us in the winter to be too much. So I put her in the daycare at my work. I didn't think it was a bad deal since she was in my building and I could peak on her at any time.

Day care isn't cheap, and I had to pick up a third day of work in order to ensure paid vacation. Because if she was sick I wouldn't have gotten paid but I would still have had to pay for that day in day care. So I could have found myself in a tricky situation.

So that's where I am now.... working three days a week. It's not a bad deal. I love my days home with my little one. And the time at work lets me get some adult conversation in and a change of scenery. But my work load at work in increasing. And it certainly isn't getting any lighter at home. Now we can add dance class and mommy and me swimming into the mix.

So my over all message here is I'm tired..... haha! Raise your hand if you can relate. I see all those hands up! Being home is tiring, being at work is tiring, doing both is tiring. So I have let my beloved blog slide a little. But I am working to get some exciting things going in the next few months. I love blogging and I love my readers. I also love the companies I work with. So I'm not giving up that easy! Thanks for hanging in with me.

Target Deals

2012-01-20T11:41:00.000-05:00

I know every Target is different. They carry different things and have different prices and sales. But with the deals I got today I would encourage all you mommies to hurry out to your local Target!

I found toddler girl dress shoes for between $2.88 and $3.88. I also got a pair of toddler snow boots for less than $6! And a bunch of the Disney themed clothing was on clearance. Hurry!

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T10:25:00.000-05:00

Toddler Tuesday

2012-01-17T13:17:00.000-05:00

So I'm thinking of starting up a toddler Tuesday where I can brag or rant and rave about my darling toddler! And of course, ask my lovely readers for advice, since it take a village!

So I will start out with an introduction:
This is Little Miss

She is 31 months old and has been a very easy baby. A great sleeper, sweet girl. She's currently a pretty terrible eater. She prefers to graze rather than sit down for a meal. Vegetables are out of the question and need to be strategically snuck into her meals. Tantrums are rare, but when they occur I am sure most of you are hearing them. Yes, she is that loud.

So our adventures with Little Miss this month are potty training. She has been potty training for several weeks now. She is a champ at school! She skipped the pull up phase there and went straight to Dora underwear. She has only had 2 accidents in the last several weeks. But at home it is a completely different story. She has NO interest in the potty. We have a sticker chart where she can earn rewards and she still doesn't seem interested. Any tips?

Here's to Healthy Snacking!

2012-01-14T09:24:00.001-05:00

The New Year is upon us and I don't know about you but I am looking forward to a new me! I've pretty much given up on diets. Depriving myself of things or eating the same thing day after day has never worked for me. I tried Weight Watchers a few years ago and was hugely successful! I lost 30 pounds in about 8 months and was able to keep it off until my daughter was born.

So since getting to meetings and weigh in's has taken on a new challenge with a toddler in tow, this year I am making changes. I am going to be much more conscious of what I am eating and when. I don't need to give up ice cream and cake, but having it once every few weeks should be enough. Making small changes can make a big difference! So here are some tips for making better choices in a New Year!

1. Stock your house - Throw out or donate the things you know you shouldn't be eating. I got rid of a whole basket full of candy that I don't need. Most of it wasn't even stuff I really liked but in a weak moment would eat for sure. I instead filled my cabinet and fridge with healthy options that I still enjoy. Fruit and yogurt in the fridge, pretzels and nuts in the closet. I always have veggies in the fridge and freezer and try to eat a bunch at dinner so I don't snack later in the evening.

2. Make a family effort - There's nothing worse than watching someone else eat cake when you are trying to lose weight. Make a decision as a family that you are all going to eat better. I feel like this is especially important to parents success when you have little ones. I always snack on what I make for my daughter, so I can start by making her healthier options. It's a win win for the whole family. You can also through in some fun family activities to help you get active without even noticing that you're exercising! Go for walks, play on the playground, play in the snow. Get moving but keep it fun and family focused.

3. Reward yourself - Like I said... don't give it up cold turkey! Make great choices for a full week and go out for one special treat. Then keep building on that until you can go longer without the treats.

4. Get creative - As I mentioned before, I get bored eating the same things. Get creative with snacks and look online for some healthy recipes. You would be amazed at what you can use to make yummy, healthy snacks!

And number 4 brings me to my recipe suggestion for you. Who knew pretzels were so versatile! There are a ton of recipes out there that allow you to take your salty, crunchy snack to new levels while still maintaining the healthy snack. I found this recipe in the fall from Martha Stewart and it was SO easy and very delicious!

Pretzel Crumbles:

Ingredients

3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons crushed pretzels
3 apples, halved and cored

Directions

Blend butter and flour with brown sugar. Stir in pretzels. Scatter over apple halves. Bake at 375 degrees until apples are soft and topping is crisp, 35 to 40 minutes.

So don't give up snacking but make some healthy choices! Here's to a New Year and a new you!!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Snyder’s of Hanover blogging program, for 6,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Cassandra's Angel - Book Review

2012-01-12T12:36:00.000-05:00

Wow, the first thing I thought when I saw this book was how incredible the illustrations are. They are truly breathtaking and bring you into the story. The bright colors and attention to detail bring the characters to life! You can truly see their personalities through the art.

As the pictures brought me into the story the words opened up a familiar story. A story about me and probably about you. Cassandra is a little girl who just can't seem to make people happy. They keep telling her she is doing things wrong even when she doesn't quite understand why. From things as simple as her peers telling her that her hair is too brown and her eyes are too blue. They make her feel like she is doing something wrong when she has no control over those things.

Cassandra's feelings are so vivid as she is yelled at by her mother, her teacher, even the town mayor. She is struggling to find who she is because of what everyone else is criticizing her for. Luckily for Cassandra, she discovers that she has an angel by her side. This angel helps Cassandra to find her way and embrace who she is. To let her own self shine. Such a wonderful and powerful message to share with our children.

I found this story to be very meaningful for children and for parents. Very often we get caught up in the busyness of our lives, sometimes even snapping at our children to clean their rooms, pick up their toys, change their clothes. This made me stop and think about how my words and my tone could be making them feel. Unappreciated? Misunderstood? Like they are doing something wrong?

This is a wonderful book to share with your children and help them realize how special they are. Everyone can use a lesson on compassion and respect once in awhile, and this is a great way of remembering that.

This book is published by Sterling Publishing and retails at a suggested price of $14.95. It is recommended for ages 5-8, but I can see many more children getting a lot out of this book!

Mega Bloks: Blok Squad Police Force Pursuit

2012-01-11T10:09:00.000-05:00

I think blocks are a must have toy for kids. I love they encourage creativity and logic. They really get their brains going in a fun way. And now with all these fun kits kids have to learn to follow directions to create something awesome!

I was given the opportunity to check out the Mega Bloks Blok Squad Police Force Pursuit in person. This set uses 391 pieces to build three patrol vehicles; an SUV, a patrol truck, and a police boat. It also comes with Police Officers for hours of creative fun!

I was really impressed with this set. After sorting the pieces and getting organized the directions were easy to follow and you were on your way to building your vehicles. I liked that when you were done building you had enough pieces to really create a play set. You could drive your cars around and take your boat to the river. You could chase down bad guys and drive them off to jail. From land to sea you are unstoppable!

Aside from the set being really fun, I also found the pieces to be strong and durable. This would definitely make a fun set for kids ages 5 and up.The perfect activity to keep them busy on a rainy day! This set retails for an SRP of $19.99. Learn more at http://familyclub.megabloks.com.

Purex Crystals and Jockey - A Perfect Team Review and Giveaway

2012-01-09T13:22:00.003-05:00

With the new year just getting started and I am looking forward to working on me! I still have several pounds to shed to get back to prebaby weight and I feel like this is my year to do it. So I was really excited to get the opportunity to check out the 2012 Jockey Tech Terry Performance Sports Bra.

My biggest complaint with sports bras is usually how uncomfortable they are. I feel like in order for me to keep things in place while exercising I have o be squished into something that doesn't let me breath. So when I heard that this new bra has breathable mesh panels to keep you cool AND a soft bottom band to keep you comfortable I was really excited to try it.

Sportswear also has a wicking process that allows the sports bra to help keep you cool and dry. And with that wicking process you aren't supposed to use fabric softeners when washing them because the oil content prevents the wicking process. So it is great news to learn that Purex Crystals fabric softener does not contain oil, so they are safe to use on ALL of your laundry... including your Jockey sports bra, towels, and children's sleepwear.

So when you use the Jockey Tech Terry Performance Sports Bra and the Purex Crystals you should be getting a comfortable sports bra that keeps you cool that can also be washed with these nifty crystals that makes your sports bra smell fresh for days. Sounds great, right? So I put it to the test and I am happy to report that both products are winners in my book!

I found the sports bra to be so comfortable! I felt supported but not trapped. I love the breathable mesh. I feel like it makes a world of difference to not be covered in fabric all over and let some air in. I was noticeably drier and more comfortable. And after working out I tossed the crystals in at the start of my was load and I adore the scent! I got Tropical Splash and the scent is very present after washing. I stuck it in my drawer and a couple of days later I took it out for my next workout and it still smelled fresh. It's a great way to start my workout even if things don't end as fresh... haha!

I would highly recommend you check out both products. And to sweeten the deal.. Jockey is offering a 20% off code so you can get this awesome sports bra. You can't beat it!

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Doodle Darlings Giveaway!

2012-01-09T12:46:00.002-05:00

Great news... Doodle Darlings is now offering a giveaway! I posted a review of their organic onesies and adorable plushes last week. I am a huge fan and I am so excited that one of my readers will get the chance to check out these darling items too!

One lucky winner will get to pick a onesie and plush set in the character of their choice.

These onesies and plushes would make a great baby gift....or just a really fun addition to your little ones wardrobe!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Doodle Darlings

2012-01-06T09:52:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for the perfect baby gift, or just something adorable for your own little one, then you have to check out Doodle Darlings! These adorable little critters were created by a simple doodle. And now they have come to life in such a way that you and your little one can hug and love in adorable plushes!

There are four Doodle Darlings, Snap Dragon Dinosaur, Laurie the Lion, Bramble the Bunny, and Honey Suckle the Horse. Each one has a friendly and loving face that is sure to make your little one smile. They are small enough for your baby to hold and snuggle, yet big enough in personality for them to treasure for years to come.

These fun little characters are also featured on adorable 100% organic cotton onesies. They are available in sizes newborn to 18 months and are so incredibly soft! When I removed the onesie from the bag I just had to cuddle it. It's soft and durable, and the little character is printed front and center. A onesie paired with a cuddly friend would make an incredible gift! And I love that even after they outgrow the onesie they can still hold on to their darling Doodle Darling.

Doodle Darlings also has an app available for your iPhone and Android. Doodle Darling Ditties is four toddler games all rolled into one. With counting, drawing, mazes and more... your little one will have a ball with familiar faces.

And to make this even sweeter....10% of your product or app purchase will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. How great is that! I strongly recommend that you check out the Doodle Darlings today!

Time for a Hug - Book Review

2012-01-03T08:33:00.003-05:00

By Phillis Gershator and Mim Green

Illustrated by David Walker

Wow, what a message to convey to your children. In this very special book Big Bunny makes sure that every hour Little Bunny gets a hug. No matter what they are doing there is always time for a hug. If only we would all follow this beautiful way of life in our own busy lives.

I loved reading this book with my little girl. I love to hug her as often as possible. I want her to know that I am never too busy for a hug and this was a wonderful way to share that message with her. The beautiful illustrations just brought the book to life. We were able to talk about all the things Little Bunny and Big Bunny did in a day and how during each activity they were still able to stop and hug. There is always time for a hug.

Time for a Hug is a perfect book to add to your child's collection. To add to how touching this book is, it is written by a mother and daughter. Their love for each other is shared through this book in such a way that all parents and children can relate to. "Whether they bake or build, bike or hike, a caring hug always feels right."

This book is published by Sterling Publishing and has a SRP of $9.95. The book is intended for ages 3-5, but with National Hug Day coming up on January 21st I'm sure you can find many people who you would like to know that you are never too busy to hug them!

My Favorite Moments from 2011

2012-01-02T13:51:00.001-05:00

This past year has been filled with so much fun! Having a little one makes everything more enjoyable, but it also seems to make the time go so much faster. Here are some highlights from our year:

January: My little one started school and totally rocked at it! Not a tear shed until they told her it was nap time.

February: We got a brand new kitchen!

March: We kissed our (partially) Irish daughter on St. Patrick's day.

April: We had a successful Easter egg hunt!

May: My little one turned 2 and had a fabulous "Tea for Two" party.

June: My husband and I celebrated our 5th anniversary and we took our 3rd family vacation. My daughter also met her Great Grandparents for the 2nd time at our family reunion.

July: We went peach picking for the very first time.

August: We survived Hurricane Irene... but our tree didn't.

September: We had the 10th Anniversary of September 11th and visited the Memorial in NYC.

October: We watched our little girl walk down the aisle as a flower girl at her uncle's wedding. We also experienced the breathtaking beauty of Niagara Falls. Not to mention having a blizzard!

November: I realized how easy children transition and how hard it is for adults when my daughter moved from the toddler class to the preschool class. We also took our first trip to Chuck E Cheese.

December: We experienced our first Christmas with our little one understanding and believing in Santa... Magical!

Here's to hoping 2012 is a great year, too!

Purex Ultra Packs Review

2012-01-02T10:20:00.000-05:00

Raise your hand if you're a busy mom who feels like the laundry basket is never empty? If you could see me you would see that I am raising both hands wildly as laundry seems to be my life. Not only is the basket never empty... it's almost always full. The never ending cycle!

Doing laundry is a part of life. Whether you live alone of in a house full. But Purex is constantly trying to make this chore easier and more effective. Their newest product, which will hit shelves this February, is the Purex Ultra Packs laundry detergent.

The Purex Ultra packs have made doing laundry a totally different experience. You can now eliminate the heavy bottles and measuring out that messy liquid that I always manage to spill while trying to pour. These Ultra Packs are pre-dosed liquid that comes in a dissolvable packet. This one powerful pack contains 2x concentrated liquid detergent, making it have double the cleaning power. Talk about easy!

I had the chance to try these out and I am sold. They were so easy to just grab a pack and toss it in the washer before I put my clothes in. My laundry came out fresh and clean! I was really amazed that such a small little pack of detergent could be so effective.

These packs will be available in Mountain Breeze and Free and Clear!

Bijoux Blitz! Day 8!

2012-01-02T07:41:00.000-05:00

Today is the very last day of the fabulous Bijoux Blitz! Since December 26th Guy and Eva have been offering select pieces at up to 80% off! That's an incredible savings on beautiful pieces of jewelry. You still have time to snatch up this incredible deal. Head on over to www.guyandeva.com/shop to see the selection!

Bijoux Blitz! Day 7!

2012-01-01T09:15:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! Is anyone else going with the saying "a New Year a new me?" Whether you are planning to make big changes this year or little ones.. you can do it in style! Guy and Eva is on their 7th day of Bijoux Blitz. Head on over to www.guyandeva.com/shop to see the gorgeous pieces of jewelry that you can score at up to 80% off. I have a few pieces of their jewelry and they are stylish and built to last. You don't want to miss this opportunity as the sale ends January 2nd!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T08:59:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to all my wonderful readers!

Thank you so much for making Momma Drama so awesome in 2011. I could not have done it without each and every one of you! I will do my best to keep the reviews and giveaways going strong in 2012!

I hope you all have a wonderful year ahead. May it be filled with love, health, and happiness!

- Lara

Bijoux Blitz! Day 6!

2011-12-31T15:02:00.001-05:00

The days are quickly passing, but there is still time to get in on this great sale! Bijoux Blitz is taking place at Guy and Eva. Since December 26th they have been offering beautiful pieces at unbelievable prices. This sale will continue into the New Year and come to an end January 2nd. So you still have some time to save up to 80%!

Hurry on over to www.guyandeva.com/shop and treat yourself to something pretty! Happy New Year!

Bijoux Blitz! Day 5!

2011-12-30T14:29:00.000-05:00

Day 5 has arrived! Bijoux Blitz is in full swing over at Guy and Eva. Now is your chance to save up to 80% off on beautiful pieces. This sale has been going on since December 26th and will continue until January 2nd. Don't miss out on these fabulous deals!

Check out the Alana... and for only $7! Head on over to www.guyandeva.com/shop to shop today!

Purex Triple Action Laundry Detergent

2011-12-30T08:42:00.001-05:00

With a toddler in the house laundry is a big part of our lives! This little one can sometimes manage to go through 2 to 3 outfits a day. And getting her clothes bright, white, and clean can be a challenge. Between food, grass and dirt, and art supplies.... her clothes can be quite a mess!

Purex will soon be offering a triple action product that helps keep your clothes looking bright, white, and clean. Their scientists have worked up a new formula that delivers great cleaning plus improved whitening power. This laundry detergent will be available in all your favorite varieties.

I was lucky enough to get to check this new detergent out in person. I received the Free and Clear kind, which I love since I have a little one with delicate skin. We put it to the test and I am very pleased with the results. Our whites really are looking bright!

Just like all of Purex's current products, the triple action formula has been specifically formulated to work in both traditional and high efficiency washers. So everyone can have the chance to give it a try!

While it is very important that this formula works well, one of the things that I appreciate the most with this product and all of Purex's products is its affordability. Purex really takes the consumer into account when placing these items on shelves and makes sure that they are reasonably priced. I would highly recommend you check it out.

Reindeer Food

2011-12-29T13:24:00.000-05:00

Did you make reindeer food? This was our first year doing it. We took oats and the sugar sprinkles and mixed them all together. Then on Christmas Eve we went out in the yard and sprinkled it everywhere. This way the reindeer can see the sparkles and won't miss your house. It worked really well because Santa arrived right away!

Bijoux Blitz! Day 4!

2011-12-29T13:02:00.000-05:00

Today is the 4th day of Guy And Eva's Bijoux Blitz! This event is taking place from December 26th through January 2, 2012. That's an entire week of amazing sales where you can save up to 80% off on gorgeous jewelry. They have everything from bracelets to necklaces to earrings.

Head on over to www.GuyandEva.com/shop to see the awesome deals! I adore the Donatella.

Eden Fantasys Review

2011-12-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

I think that one of the most challenging aspects of being a parent is playing two roles. Sometimes it's really hard for me to be both a mom and a wife, and usually the role that gets forgotten is being a wife. My husband and I communicate all day, but it's usually us talking about our daughter. We rarely get out for dinner just the two of us. And by the time our little one goes to bed I am crawling into my own bed because I'm exhausted.

Eden Fantasys is a great place to browse for items that can help you bring a little spark back into your relationship. Whether you are looking for something cute and flirty to wear or some relaxing massage oils, you can find a wide variety of items on their site. They even carry a bunch of beauty products with everything from bath and shower products to makeup. Sometimes just touching yourself up can make you feel great!

With Valentine's Day around the corner, now is the perfect time to look around their site and see if you can find something special.

Bijoux Blitz! Day 3!

2011-12-28T12:27:00.000-05:00

Today is the third day of Bijoux Blitz over at Guy and Eva. If you've missed the first two days have no fear. There are some hot items available today at up to 80% off! Head on over to www.guyandeva.com/shop to see some beautiful pieces at unbeatable prices!

This sale will be going on until January 2, 2012... so be sure to check back each day to see what's new.

The Lull

2011-12-27T18:18:00.000-05:00

After over a month of preparing... Christmas is over. This year was the most exciting yet! Our little one is 2 and a half and really got into it this year. She knew who Santa was and "wrote" him a letter, visited him at Santa Land, and looked for his sneaky little elf every day. Her face lit up Christmas morning as she peaked from the staircase to see if the big man had left any goodies under the tree!

This year the hot toys in our house were Buzz Light Year and Woody figures and Rock N Roll Elmo. For me, it's my new iPhone! Yes, I have made the leap into the world of Smart Phones. I love being able to check my e-mail and facebook whenever and wherever I want. I just need to make sure it doesn't become like an extra limb. And as for my husband, he is enjoying a new watch and looking forward to going to a hockey game that he got tickets to. A great Christmas for all!

But the best part was being with our family. This year we were so lucky to have my grandparents with us for the whole weekend. Seeing my daughter with her great grandparents was priceless!

What were the hot items in your house for you and your kids?

Bijoux Blitz! Day 2!

2011-12-27T08:16:00.001-05:00

Guy and Eva is on Day 2 of their Bijoux Blitz sale! Remember, you can save up to 80% on select pieces of jewelry. Here is what is being offered today:

Gorgeous pieces at unbeatable prices! Stop in today at www.guyandeve.com/shop to see the selection! This sale will continue all the way until January 2, 2012!

Bijoux Blitz!

2011-12-26T18:19:00.001-05:00

Guy and Eva is having a HUGE sale! You can save up to 80% off the jewelry listed in their Bijoux Blitz sale.

Here are the great pieces offered today!

This event will be going on from today, December 26th, through January 2, 2012! You have to head over to www.GuyandEva.com/shop today to check out all the gorgeous pieces that are available!

This is one sale you don't want to miss!

Gift Cards Rock!

2011-12-21T16:27:00.000-05:00

The holidays are upon us! Christmas is mere days away and the big questions is.... are you done shopping? Well, the good news is that if you're not there is still plenty of time to give a great gift by picking up a gift card. This year I asked for several different kinds of gift cards for clothing stores, restaurants, and salons. They are exactly what I want!

My mom always asks me why I ask for gift cards when it's basically like giving money. But to me it's really not. If you give me cash I am most likely going to use it on gas or a quick stop at the grocery store. The likelihood that I will put it aside and use it on something I really want is pretty unlikely. But if you give me a gift card to one of my favorite places I have no choice but to use it there! My mother-in-law gives my husband and I gift cards to restaurants all the time. This way we have to use them on ourselves getting out for a night!

But for me one of the best parts of giving a a gift is the packaging. I love to pick out special paper and decorate a gift with a great big bow. So what my family loves to do is package our gift cards up in boxes. This way you could never guess that a gift card was inside, the person receiving gets the joy of opening a gift, and the person giving gets to tie it up pretty in ribbons and bows!

And... the thrill of a gift card keeps giving long after it's been opened! You get the excitement at the moment and you get to experience it all over again when you pick out just what you want and then use your gift card to pay. I love that feeling of not having to spend any of my own money while still getting just what I want.

I love giving and receiving gift cards for all kinds of occasions and to all kinds of family, friends, teachers, neighbors, and others. They are easy and convenient. I can pick up a variety of gift cards in one spot at my local grocery store. And have you seen the deals this holiday season? Some places are giving you a gift card for purchasing one for someone else! Can't beat it!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Gift Cards Rock blogging program, for 6,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates Review

2011-12-15T14:09:00.001-05:00

The holidays are literally around the corner! If you are anything like me you have a few gifts left to purchase. I tend to leave the "tough" ones to the end, and then some others always come up last minute. And once I am done with the majority of my shopping it's like my brain shuts down and those last few gifts become impossible. Well, now I have an answer that will be sure to please.

I recently had the opportunity to check out Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates. I am a big chocolate lover, so I was super excited. When the box arrived on my door step I was shocked by the selection that had been sent my way! Inside I found several samples, including some of their extra dark truffles and no sugar added chocolate bars. Being the traditionalist that I am, I was most excited to dive into their signature truffles.

I started small and opened a 2 pack. With the first bite I knew these were some quality truffles. Creamy and delicious! I loved how they didn't taste super sugary like a lot of other truffles. In fact, they were so good I rushed upstairs with the one left in the box and made my husband try it right away. He loved it as well and right away asked if we could give some to his dad for Christmas... the man has a reputation for having a chocolate problem. And my husband knew he would appreciate this high quality taste.

Guylian Artisanal Belgian Chocolates will make the perfect gift this holiday season. Whether you need a sweet treat for a host/hostess gift, something delicious for your favorite teacher, or want to impress your boss... you can't go wrong with this chocolate. They are perfect to have on hand and serve holiday guests with wine or coffee and tea.

Guylian products can be found in many local retailers. You can find a list of retailers near you on their website. I found them at my local Stop and Shop and Walmart. Hurry and pick up a sweet and affordable treat this holiday season!

Judith Raye Art Review and Giveaway

2011-12-14T11:25:00.003-05:00

Judith Raye has a slogan at the top of her website; Unique, affordable art that brings joy and a smile to all. This statement is incredibly true of this very talented artist. Judith Raye began her journey into art by painting for her granddaughter and quickly realized her passion and a way to escape the business of life and find a sense calm in her work.

Her Inspired by Caden Collection offers bright colors and whimsical characters that are sure to bring a smile to any child's face. From the cute and fluffy animals to the beautiful dancing ballerina, there is something for every little boy or girl.

Judith has also created a Life Collection that is simply filled with the beauty of nature. She takes a moment to pause and take in her surroundings and then put them onto canvas.

I am fortunate enough to have several of Judith's pieces in my home. She was generous enough to send me some art work for my daughter, including a special piece created especially for her and named after her. To me, that is priceless.

I received the Bunnies and the Princess Castle for this review. My husband and I are in full agreement that the Bunnies are FABULOUS! My daughter's first pet was a tiny gray bunny name Thumper. Thumper has recently left us and we are all heartbroken. He will forever hold a special place in our heart and we feel like he was captured in this piece. The fluffy little gray bunny in the center is a constant reminder of our beloved friend, and this piece will forever have so much meaning. We have hung it in our family room for us all to enjoy.

The Princess Castle is the perfect for our little princess. It adds joy and color to our daughter's room. This is exactly the direction I wanted to go in for her big girl room. I wanted to steer away from the typical princess characters and go with a softer look. And the custom piece that she created especially for my daughter is the perfect compliment. I love having multiple pieces by the same artist to pull a room together!

Judith has been a pleasure to work with. She truly wanted to create something special just for my daughter and asked about her room and her likes to make it fit her. She hit the nail on the head and I am so proud to hang three of her pieces in my home.

I have a unique selection of cheerful art for kids of any age. All prints are reproduced from my original acrylic gallery wrapped paintings. I also offer special orders for giclee prints on rolled canvas or gallery wrapped.

You can view her collections on her website and I am sure you will be thrilled to see just how affordable her pieces are with most ranging from $19.95 to $21.95. And she offers FREE Shipping on all US order. You can also contact her regarding special requests. Also, be sure to check her out on Facebook for all the latest news!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas!

2011-12-12T17:30:00.000-05:00

I hope you are enjoying this wonderful holiday season! We have been busy spending time with family and friends and trying to make the most of the season. While I will still be around with reviews, giveaways, and general ramblings of a busy momma... I will be slowing down. I want to make sure I enjoy every moment with my little one and my family, as time goes way too fast!

Scrolls from Santa Review

2011-12-08T10:58:00.002-05:00

The magic of Christmas truly comes alive in the eyes of a child. I have always been a bog fan of the holiday season, but it has taken on a whole new meaning now that I have a child of my own. To see the excitement and joy in her eyes just makes me melt.

This year things have gotten really exciting with her acknowledgement of Santa. She is a huge fan of the big guy and wants to talk about him and her list every day. It also helps that I can use the "Santa is watching" trick to keep her on the "nice list." So when I saw this awesome idea on Tomoson I crossed my fingers and toes that I would be selected to get a Scroll from Santa.

Scrolls from Santa gives you the opportunity to customize a letter from Santa to your child. It comes in a very cool red and white striped package with a ball at the top that becomes a Christmas ornament. Inside your child will find a scroll with a special message just to your child with specifics about them and how they have been good this year. We decided to tell Santa that our daughter was good by helping put the laundry in the hamper, helping Mommy and Daddy cook, and sharing with her friends (all things she loves to do!).

You also get one package of Rudolph character bands and your choice of either 2 pairs of "Christmas Vision Glasses" or one tube of Insta Snow. We chose the "Christmas Vision Glasses" and they really work! When you look at Christmas lights something cool appears! We looked at our tree and it was covered in elves!

My daughter's face absolutely lit up when I showed her the special package with stamps from the North Pole. She couldn't believe that Santa sent her a personal letter letting her know she was on the nice list. It was a magical experience for all of us!

Our Scroll from Santa arrived very quickly, so you certainly have enough time to get an order in before the big day! Bring the magic a little soon with this special surprise... it's worth it to see the look in their eyes!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Snuggle Exhilarations® White Lilac & Spring Flowers Review

2011-12-08T10:31:00.000-05:00

I get really excited about laundry products. Is that weird? As much as I don't enjoy doing laundry, I love fresh,c lean clothes straight from the dryer! I try to fold my clothes while they are still warm and it relaxes me. And if there is a lovely, fresh scent to go along with it then I am really in heaven!

So when I was offered the opportunity to check out the new Snuggle Exhilarations® While Lilac & Spring Flowers fabric softener I was excited. It arrived this week and there is never a shortage of laundry at my house, so I put it right to the test.

It only took a small amount of fabric softener for my pretty good size load. After it was done drying I reached in and pulled out a towel and took a big sniff. Ahhh, you really could smell the flowers! I loved that the scent was not overwhelming, but it was present.

The next morning I went into my closet and I could very faintly smell it again! It had lingered on my clothes long enough that I could still smell it the next day. I love that! Fresh smelling laundry is the best! And my clothes and towels felt soft and looked great. I was pleased with the product!

Disclaimer - I was provided with a free sample of the product by smiley360.com. All opinions expressed are my own.

Nonni's Gingerbread Almond Biscotti Review

2011-12-07T13:53:00.000-05:00

Nonni’s Biscotti grew out of true Italian tradition. In the little town of Lucca, Italy along narrow cobbled lanes surrounded by elegant piazzas, our Nonni (an endearing term for Grandma) made biscotti to share with family and friends. When Nonni came to America, almost a century ago, she brought the family recipe with her.

To this day, the same family recipe using real eggs, butter and gourmet bittersweet chocolate is still used to give our biscotti a light, crunchy texture that is delicately sweet. Our devotion to quality ingredients has been the foundation for the growth and continued success of the company, and the key reason Nonni’s Biscotti is the number one selling biscotti in the country.

This is the perfect treat to have on hand this holiday season! I previously got the chance to check out some of Nonni's flavors and wrote all about how delicious they are! They even passed the test of my husband who is very picky with his biscotti. His mother makes homemade biscotti for him, so he is hard to please and Nonni's was a hit with him. And I am ITCHING to try the Caramel Latte flavor... that sounds amazing!

The Gingerbread Almond is one of their holiday flavors and will add to any get together this holiday season. It is so easy to have these on hand and provide a festive snack. They are crunchy and delicious! You can use their retail locator to help you find a store near you that carries them. I had never heard of them before this year, and now that I am familiar with them I see them everywhere! Pick a box up when you see them and give them a try!

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-12-07T07:53:00.000-05:00

Wholesale Costume Club Review

2011-12-05T12:34:00.000-05:00

Dressing up is not a once a year thing in our house. We have a huge dress up box with all kinds of random pieces of old jewelry, skirts, hats, princess dresses, and more. So I am always on the lookout for fun things to add to my daughter's dress up box. Wholesale Costume Club is the perfect place to go!

My daughter just recently got really into pirates. I think it's because she watches Jake and the Neverland Pirates on Disney. But she walks around saying yo ho ho! So I wanted to get her a fun pirate costume that she could use in her box. And it's something different than the typical princess dresses and tea party hats that she has in there!

Do you like her "Arrrrr" face?

So I browsed Wholesale Costume Club and came across the perfect toddler costume! It has all the pieces to make her look and feel like a real pirate! From the bandanna to the boot covers, it's the real deal for a little girl pirate with a great little dress.

When I took it out of the bag I was really impressed with the quality. Very often you find costumes to feel cheap, but this one does not feel that way at all! The tights felt like real tights and could be warn over and over again. The dress is one piece making it easy to put on and keep on. And the bandanna hat was easy to tie and stayed on while she played. A great product and it retails for only $19.98 on their site.

I would highly recommend you check out Wholesale Costume Club for any costume needs. From Halloween to dress up parties to dress up boxes...they have a huge variety to meet your needs at affordable prices.

Kidorable: New Dragon Knight Collection and Special Offer!

2011-12-05T08:59:00.000-05:00

Kidorable is one of my very favorite companies. I adore that they were able to take functional and fun and make it interchangeable with their products. If you're not familiar with them you really must visit their website! They make practical items (like raincoats, rain boots, umbrellas, hats, gloves, and more) but design them in such a way that they transform into fun themed items!

I have several Kidorable products for my daughter so I can safely say that these items are high quality and built to last! She wears her rain boots even when it's not raining! And they offer such a wide variety of themes that there is something for every boy and girl out there. But in case their variety wasn't wide enough... they have introduced an all new collection!

The Dragon Knight Collection has arrived!

The Dragon Knight collection is steel grey with dark green as accent color, perfect for strong and brave boys. Some pieces accentuate the Knight, others the Dragon, but there is a nice interplay between both characters throughout the set. The umbrella has protruding dragon horns and wings, with a knight, fire, and a castle motif along the bottom. The helmet on the matching raincoat is Kidorable’s coolest hood so far.

The child who wears it can imagine himself as a valiant knight fighting the dragon. The backpack is shaped like a shield for extra play value. It comes with a little stuffed toy sword. The coat is a new material, PU (polyurethane). It’s softer and lighter than PVC.

I got the chance to check this collection out up close in personal. Kidorable very generously sent me the umbrella and I just love it! The deisng is awesome. My favorite part is by far the sword handle. Talk about creating something that encourages kids to want to hold their own umbrella.

Check out the entire collection and all the other collections at Kidorable's website!

*And, for the week of December 5-11 only, use coupon code DRAGON7 to receive a free Dragon Knight umbrella with your order over $20 (make sure you add the Dragon Knight umbrella to your cart first).

My Little Ballerina!

2011-12-03T12:47:00.000-05:00

My little one has started doing dance classes through our town recreation program. We wanted to test it out and see if it would be worth signing her up at a dance school next fall. I think it will be... she loves it!

CakeSpy Contest!

2011-12-02T11:28:00.001-05:00

Calling all sweet teeth! Jessie Oleson (a.k.a. sweet treats blogger extraordinaire CakeSpy) and Sasquatch Books have teamed up to offer a lucky winner a trip for two to CakeSpy headquarters in Seattle! Here's a fun contest for all who delight in baked goodies, fantastic prizes, and a creative kitchen challenge.

CakeSpy is "accepting applications" for dessert detectives in the So You Wanna Be a CakeSpy? Contest. To enter the contest, submit a color photo of your own decadent, sugar-filled dessert and a brief description. The one that strikes Jessie's fancy will win a trip for two to Seattle and visit to one of her favorite bakeries. Other prizes include original signed CakeSpy artwork, CakeSpy goodies, and signed copies of Jessie's new book CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life.

I'm not much of a baker... my desserts are typically from the box. But Jessie's book looks really fun! And this contest sounds like a great opportunity. If you have any fun desserts that you're going to enter, be sure to leave a link for me to check it out. Maybe I will venture out of my instant cake mix world and try to mix up something spectacular.

For full information and details, please visit So You Wanna be a CakeSpy? Contest.

Spy Kids: All the Time in the World Review

2011-12-01T12:13:00.002-05:00

SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD ON

BLU-RAY™ AND DVD

The Fourth Film In The Popular SPY KIDS Film Franchise,

SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD is now available!

The action packed franchise is back…with the next generation of Spy Kids! Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) has it all: married to a famous spy-hunting television reporter (Joel McHale), with a new baby and intelligent twin step kids, Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook). When the maniacal Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) disrupts her domestic bliss—threatening to take over the planet—Marissa comes out of retirement as a top secret agent. With Armageddon quickly approaching, Rebecca and Cecil are thrust into action! With a little help from some familiar Spy Kids friends, Carmen (Alexa Vega), Juni (Daryl Sabara), their faithful dog Argonaut (Ricky Gervais) and some mind-blowing gadgets, they just may be able to save the world!

The SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD Blu-ray™ and DVD bonus features include an interview with director Robert Rodriguez; a “Spy KidsPassing the Torch” featurette; a “Spy Gadgets” clip; deleted scenes; and more! Note: Special features are subject to change.

Learn more about SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD at: www.spykidsmovie.net

I am a huge fan of movies where the whole family can sit down together and really what they're watching. This movie is the perfect choice for family movie night! It's full of action, adventure, and comedy. The adults will enjoy seeing Jessica Alba kicking butt all while being a mom. And the kids will enjoy all the practical jokes and silliness.

My husband was most interested in the special effects. The characters are armed with some really neat gadgets, especially Marissa's car. It does some really awesome things! And a dog who can be turned into an attack dog.

I was more interested in the family relationship. How this family went from a normal life (well, as normal as it can be with 2 step kids who hate their new step mom) to learning your new mom is a spy and being tossed into the fight of your lives to stop the Timekeeper. And through this adventure the two kids get a new look at their new mom and gain a new appreciation for the coolest spy mom ever!

While sequels don't usually live up to the originals this one kind of stands on it's own. This time you're getting introduced to some new characters but with reappearances of some familiar ones. It makes it more of an individual experience and less of a follow up to previous Spy Kids.

The SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD Blu-ray™ and DVD bonus features include an interview with director Robert Rodriguez; a “Spy Kids Passing the Torch” featurette; a “Spy Gadgets” clip; deleted scenes; and more!

SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD is available for a SRP of $39.99 for the Blu-ray™Combo Pack, which includes a Blu-ray™, a standard definition DVD, a Digital Copy of the film, as well as a special bonus disc that includes a 3D Blu-ray™ version of the film—for a total of 4 discs; and $29.98 for the standard definition DVD.

Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas Special Edition

2011-12-01T08:56:00.001-05:00

Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas

Available on Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack, DVD and Movie Download

My daughter adores Belle. She is by far the favorite princess in her world, and she is frequently requesting that we watch Beauty and the Beast. So when I learned that they were releasing this Special Edition of the holiday movie inspired by her favorite Disney classic I knew this was a must have for our home!

The holidays are upon us and we are doing it up big in our house. So being able to sit down for a family movie night with the familiar characters from Beauty and the Beast was a real holiday treat. The first thing that I noticed and loved was that they have reunited the original voice cast! This was a huge plus in my book, as I feel a film looses something when you change the character's voices.

The film is filled with adventure, friendship, love, and holiday cheer. The music is enchanting and the bonus features help to bring that music to life through sing-a-longs and music videos. It truly is a magical experience for the entire family!

Holiday Gift Guide: Dora the Explorer: Celebrate with Dora DVD Review

2011-11-30T11:33:00.000-05:00

Dora the Explorer: Celebrate with Dora

Three DVD Box Set

I can see this at the top of many little one's lists this year! With a two year old in my house I know how popular Dora is. My daughter is a huge fan and gets so excited when we get to watch it. This box set is FULL of some of the best episodes all in one place, perfect for gift giving this holiday season!

Inside this box set you will find 3 DVD's; Dora's Christmas, Dora's Halloween, and Dora's Big Birthday Adventure. Each disc has a funfilled celebration themed episode plus 3 more episodes (Dora's Big Birthday only has three extra episodes because the birthday episode is double length). This provides hours of fun with your favorite characters.

What I love so much about Dora is that the child can be fully engaged and involved with a show that is promoting education. Dora and her friends are constantly asking the viewers to help them solve problems, complete patterns, count, do the alphabet and more early childhood level skills. On top of that they teach lots of Spanish words and phrases. This is so important at a young age as children are sponges. It will be so much easier for them to pick it up early in their lives.

Dora is a wonderful show that kids love and parents can feel comfortable with them watching. The characters are lovable and the messages of friendship, working together, and overcoming challenges are great messages to portray to young children. Add in the educational value and opportunity to be exposed to another language and you have an all around winning situation!

This box set would make the perfect gift for a little one this holiday season! Watch as their eyes light up at the sight of one of the most beloved children's characters. And then sit back and enjoy as they go on adventures with Dora, Boots, and the rest of the gang!

Available on DVD now for a SRP of $29.99. Approximately 291 minutes.

Holiday Gift Guide: Somersault Snacks Review

2011-11-30T08:32:00.000-05:00

Somersaults are the result of our quest to create healthy, tasty snacks for people who want more than just empty nutrition. What followed was a philosophy and lifestyle that adds joy and delicious goodness to your everyday life. We invite you to share in the unexpected pleasures that Somersaults offer, with crunch, zing and a little zest for adventure!

With a toddler at home I am always on the look out for new snacks that are healthy and delicious. I had never heard of Somersault Snacks, but when I looked into what they offered I was intrigued.

Our quest to bake the perfect snack led us to the miraculous sunflower. Just one serving of these tiny seeds have:

4x more antioxidants than blueberries...
More fiber than an apple...
AND 50% more protein than almonds!

We couldn't resist. Somersaults have a healthy bunch of sunflower and sesame seeds in every nugget. In fact, Somersaults are a good source of fiber, vitamin E and offer you the same protein as almonds, but with fewer calories and less fat.

Sounds good, right? But when they arrived my husband wrinkled his nose and said they sounded "weird." Then I started to list off some of the flavors and he started to gain interest, especially when I said Pacific Sea Salt and Santa Fe Salsa. I was most interested in the Dutch Cocoa! And the 4th flavor, Salty Pepper, also sounded good! So we gave them a taste test.

Wow! I have got to say they are delicious! They have an amazing crunch to them and the flavor is really present. They aren't dry like crackers.... they're very unique! My husband and I both agreed that we really enjoyed them! I would recommend you check them out! You can shop online or use their store locator to find a store near you.

My Memories Review and Giveaway

2011-11-29T11:30:00.001-05:00

I love to scrapbook! There is something so special about taking your precious memories and creating a book that you can share with friends and family. And since I take a ton of pictures, it's important for me to organize them and keep up with them. But scrapbooking takes a tons of time. From cropping and mounting to digging through your supplies, it could be hours before you finish one event. So when I was offered the chance to try out My Memories I was intrigued.

My Memories is a scrapbooking software that allows you to create digital scrapbooks. I love the idea of this because it seems like a time saver and I can share my scrapbooks with family and friends who live far away.

I spent the last few days playing with this software and I'm having a great time! I love how easy it is to layout the pages. You can design all your pages from scratch or you can use one of their templates. You can even add audio and video to make your scrapbook interactive! Very cool! I loved that I could include a narration to my daughter telling her all about her 2nd birthday party. I was even able to put in the video of us singing happy birthday to her. It made it incredibly special. You can then send it to friends and family or print it.

But this software isn't just for creating scrapbooks. You can also create cards, calendars, trading cards and more. Check out what I made!

*Use this Share the Memories code (STMMMS37598) that provides a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store - $20 value!

Holiday Gift Guide: Ethical Ocean Review

2011-11-29T08:55:00.001-05:00

Our purchasing decisions affect our society and the planet.

It’s up to each of us to know what we are buying and why—and how each product we spend our dollars on impacts other people, animals, and the environment.

But that doesn’t mean we have to know everything. We can share our knowledge, and ideas, to help one another choose wisely. That’s what Ethical Ocean is all about.

Ethical Ocean takes only the best products that meet one of their criteria - Good for People, Good for Animals, or Good for the Environment. They then offer all of these products in one spot for convenient and ethical shopping. They have such a wide variety of items that you can shop for everyone on your list. From clothing and shoes to electronics, food, and toys... it's all there. And each product offers an explanation of what it is and why it matters.

I was lucky enough to check out two products that are offered through Ethical Ocean. The first one is the Easy-to-Grow Mushroom Garden. I have never seen anything like this! You can actually grow your own mushrooms on your window sill.... and then eat them! This is a really fun thing to do with kids. They get to take care of their mushrooms, watch them grow, and then eat them. And to top it off, this product meets all three criteria and is good for People, Animals, and the Environment!

The next item I checked out is the Memory Stackers. These wooden toys are made from reclaimed wood and are completely non-toxic. Making this item good for the environment and people. I also love that this toy encourages kids to be creative and use their imaginations. They can build and play however they want without any bells, whistles, sounds, or batteries.

Ethical Ocean is a great place to shop for high quality products that are good for us and the future of our world. Check it out this holiday season!

Holiday Gift Guide: Zumba Fitness 2 Review

2011-11-28T11:38:00.001-05:00

Featuring hot new music tracks, electrifying choreography, new venues and double the number of dance styles from the original video game, the Zumba® Fitness 2video game invites players to party their way into shape with a fun and proven program. Get moving with amazing Zumba® presenters, Beto, Tanya Beardsley and Gina Grant as they guide you through each exhilarating routine, ranging from Merengue and Hip-Hop to Bollywood and Latin Pop. For the first time, players can customize their own class with their favorite routines and track calories burned. Whether playing in Single Song, Full Class or multiplayer mode with support for up to four dancers, players will have a blast with this unique dance-fitness experience that shapes, tones and transforms their bodies, and makes them forget they’re even exercising.

My goal when I'm exercising is to not realize I'm doing it. I am one of those people who really does not enjoy going to the gym or going for a run. But I love to dance! It's the only way to get my heart pumping and still keep a smile on my face. So I had a feeling I would really like the new Zumba Fitness 2 game for the Wii.

I had never tried the first version, but I did take a Zumba class in the past. So I knew it was the type of exercise I would enjoy. But I had to stop taking the class because it was too difficult for me to get there with a toddler at home. Zumba Fitness 2 allows me to work out, have fun, and be at home! Perfect for nap time... mommy gets to do her thing while the baby sleeps.

One of the things I really like about this game is that it comes with a Zumba belt. You put your Wii remote in this belt so you are completely hands free. I feel like this made a really big difference in my being able to enjoy dancing! I have a few dancing games for the Wii that you have to hold the remote and feel like I spend a lot of time focusing on how I'm holding it, if I have a tight enough grip, and so on. So it was really nice to be able to just dance and do my thing without holding the remote.

I also love the music and all the options. Whether I want to dance by myself led by a super star Zumba instructor, or get in the groove with a group of friends. The variety is fantastic from the different types of music and artists, to the different play modes, to the backgrounds and locations you can go to! Tons of fun!

Developed by Zoe Mode, Zumba® Fitness 2 for Wii™ is rated T for Teen and available now for the suggested retail price of $39.99.Zumba® Fitness Rush will launch on Kinect™ for Xbox 360® in February 2012.

A New Spin on the Cookie Exchange: Host a Chex Party Mix-Change!

2011-11-28T08:37:00.001-05:00

The holidays are coming and I am always looking for tasty treats to serve my guests. But lets face it... the holidays are a busy time, and finding the time to create the perfect snack can be tough. So Chex Party Mix might just be the perfect answer! You can create a tasty treat with minimal ingredients and minimal time.

This past weekend we had a Chex Party Mix Party! MyBlogSpark provided me with a great party package to get me started. It included 2 boxes of Chex Cereal, 5 yummy recipes, 10 take-out containers to share my party mix, and a $20 gift card to get more ingredients!

We asked each of our friends to make up a batch of their favorite mix and bring it so we could all try the different varieties. I had never ventured outside of the Original Party Mix, so I tackled the Chex Caramel Chocolate Drizzles.

I loved how quick and easy this was to make. And the end results was delicious! It made a lot, so there was plenty to pass around!

This party was a hit! We had a great variety of Chex Mix's to try and everyone found a new favorite. We even made of little packages for everyone to take home and share their Chex Mix with the rest of their families and friends.

Disclosure: The Chex Party Mix-Change product, information, and giveaway have been provided by Chex through MyBlogSpark."

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:35:00.000-05:00

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Holiday Gift Guide: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked Video Game Review

2011-11-23T14:54:00.001-05:00

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS™: CHIPWRECKED VIDEO GAME NOW AVAILABLE ON KINECT FOR XBOX 360, Wii AND NINTENDO DS!

Dance Along with Your Favorite Chipmunks and Chipettes in this Exciting Musical Adventure

The game is based on the forthcoming Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked movie in theaters December 16th, which finds the trio vacationing aboard a luxury cruise liner until they become ‘chipwrecked’ on a remote island. The Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked video game continues the story with an around-the-world journey that has the ‘Munks visiting six tropical locations inspired by the movie. While dancing as the playable Chipmunks or The Chipettes, players perform more than 50 different dance moves to excite the crowd while rocking out to 30 of the greatest Chipmunk tunes that all generations can enjoy together.

The first thing I need to say about this game is that I love the song choices! There are 30 amazing song choices that include hits like La Bamba, Life is a Highway, Hit Me with Your Best Shot, Crocodile Rock, Love Shack... oh, I could go on!

This game is perfect for families. It has fun music that the whole family can enjoy and get moving to. One of my favorite things about the Wii is that it encourages you to move. So dancing games are a hit with me. It gets you off the couch and burning calories without even knowing it because you're having so much fun!

Dancing with the Chipmunks is a great way to get the family together and have some fun! It takes you away on a tropical vacation with it's great graphics. Developed by Behaviour Interactive, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked is rated E10+ and now available on Kinect for Xbox 360 for a suggested retail price of $39.99, and on Wii™ and Nintendo DS™ for a suggested retail price of $29.99.

Holiday Gift Guide: J.A.S.F. Review

2011-11-23T10:02:00.002-05:00

Here's a great gift idea for the teen or guy in your life! I didn't feel qualified to write this review, so I used my expert video game reviewer.... my husband. Here is what he had to say about Jane's Advanced Strike Fighters:

I'm a big fan of flight simulator video games. There's nothing like being in a dogfight with an enemy jet, hearing that radar lock on before launching your rockets and watching the enemy blowup. However, now that I'm a dad, I don't have time to play the traditional flight sims. There are too many options and it takes too long to get into a mission and play it through.

At least, that's what I thought before my wife showed me J.A.S.F. I was skeptical at first, because I knew how complicated these games can be. But this one is different. What's great about this game is that I can turn it on, play a mission or two and get my video game fix before the munchkin is up from her nap! Before each mission you are presented with your objectives, given a choice of airplanes (you can unlock new planes after each mission!!) and prepare for takeoff. That's it! You don't have to configure your airplane or worry about plotting your course.

Once you are in your mission, the controls are intuitive and the graphics are great. I experienced no slowdown even in the most hectic dogfights. And it's great fun to keep unlocking the new planes and taking them for a spin in the new missions. Each plane has different weapons and abilities, so it keeps the game fresh! I recommend this game for the busy parents who enjoy video games, but don't have the time anymore to devote hours to playing.

Available on multiple platforms (Xbox 360, PS3, and PC), Jane’s Advanced Strike Fighters (J.A.S.F.) is the most recent installment of the Jane’s Combat Simulation franchise and is rated T for Teens by the ESRB.

Holiday Gift Guide: Lifetherapy

2011-11-23T07:36:00.001-05:00

This is the first time I have been introduced to Lifetherapy. So I was looking over the website and checking out the story behind how this company got started. It is a really interesting and beautiful story about one woman's desire to enhance a mood or create a feeling. And it touched on something that I can completely relate to... how a scent can transport you to a different place... or help you experience a different feeling. I have found this to be very true of familiar scents in my life. Ones that remind me of certain people or places. I can spray a certain perfume of mine and be transported back in time. It's amazing and powerful.

The woman behind this company is Lynette Lovelace, and I had the wonderful opportunity to check out some of her products. For this review I was sent a sample of the Play Hydrating Body Lotion and Skin Nourishing Body Scrub.

The first thing I do when I receive a new body care product is smell it. the Play line smells truly amazing. It smells fresh and clean, and it made me feel more awake. So I applied some of the lotion and fell in love with how silky smooth it was. IT felt very light and smooth, not heavy or greasy at all. The fragrance was present but not overwhelming. It really was a relaxing experience.

The next day I tried the body scrub and it was devine! The texture of the raw brown sugar and crushed sea salt felt invigorating on my skin. I felt so relaxed scrubbing away to reach the soft skin underneath. When I finished I literally felt like a new person. So I topped it off with some of the Play Body Lotion.

I really enjoyed experiencing these products. They are clearly high quality while still being affordable. I would definitely recommend you check out the site and take a look around. These products could make a perfect gift. They also have jewelry and candles, so browse around!

Prep and Landing on DVD Today!

2011-11-22T11:40:00.001-05:00

Prep & Landing is an adorable holiday story about a high-tech team of elves who ensure homes around the world are properly prepared for their visit from Santa. After working for a tireless 227 years, an elf named Wayne (voiced by Dave Foley) is upset when he doesn’t receive an expected promotion. Instead he is partnered with an idealistic rookie elf named Lanny (voiced by Derek Richardson) to execute a special Christmas Eve mission. While on their journey, Wayne and Lanny encounter unexpected challenges that push them to their limits and ultimately threaten Christmas for children around the world. But in the end, these two elves work together to guide Santa through a raging snowstorm in order to save Christmas.

I remember when this was on tv back in 2009 as one of the holiday specials. We saw advertisements for it and thought it looked like a ton of fun. So the whole family gathered for it's premiere and we were blown away! Seriously, this is so tinsel! And if you don't know the quote then you really have to watch this!

This holiday special quickly became a favorite among kids and adults everywhere, including my house. We talk about this every holiday season and now I am so excited because we have it on DVD! We were so bummed because we didn't get to see it last year, oh frostbite! It's full of adventure, magic, and tons of laughs. These two elves are hilarious! It really will entertain the entire family.

I do love a good holiday special.. but this just might be at the top of my list! This really is a must have for the holiday season!

Holiday Gift Guide: World Vision Review

2011-11-22T08:50:00.001-05:00

During the holiday season it's very easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of things. And it's very easy to forget what this season is all about. It's the season of giving, but there are so many people in this world who would benefit so much from so little.

While we all enjoy shopping for our friends and family, we should keep those in need in our minds. World Vision has created the perfect opportunity to give to those who need it most. Through their World Vision Catalog you can give the gift of life by feeding a family in the US for a day for only $16. You can help fund a child's education for only $32. Or you can purchase a goat for $75. With the purchase of a goat you are providing children with protein from the milk and allowing families to sell the surplus.

Their catalog offers a variety of ways you can make a difference at many different price levels. Or you can choose to make a donation and receive a gift in return. World Vision sent me one of the gifts that they offer, the Artisan Multi-Colored Necklace.

This necklace is beautiful and can be worn long or doubled up. The colors are fabulous! You can also wrap it several times to create a bracelet.

You can check out all the possible ways to give, and perhaps get a gift in return, at the World Vision Catalog.

Holiday Gift Guide: Pink Papaya Review

2011-11-21T11:33:00.001-05:00

Pink Papaya is an awesome company that offers relaxing, spa quality products as affordable prices. And the best part is that you can browse this selection while spending time with your friends at one of their at-home spa parties!

Pink Papaya works like most at-home party companies. You can find a consultant near you... or you can become one yourself!

Pink Papaya sent me a few of their products to check out... and now I am itching to attend an at-home party. I never would have known just how awesome these products are without seeing them in person. So an at-home party is the perfect way to get up close and personal with the products!

Pink Papaya offers natural spa products that are made right here in the USA. And they don't use any animal testing.

I was really impressed with the Ginger Bread Body Wash I received. It smelled yummy and lathered up really nicely. I didn't need to use much to get a nice lather going. This would make a perfect holiday gift! My skin felt smooth after using it.

My husband received two products from their men's line, Murray Hill. He got to try the Sandstone Power Scrub and the Steel Strength Hand Repair.

The Sandstone Power Scrub is awesome! My husband does a lot of work outside... raking, digging, moving the wheel barrow. So his hands are not the softest. This power scrub helped to buff away the dry skin and calloses. His hands felt noticeably softer. And even though it has all kinds of nice things in it, like cucumber, pineapple, and cranberry extracts, it doesn't smell all girly. So he was happy to use it and has been using it frequently ever since!

He also suffers from really dry skin. So dry that during the winter months it actually cracks and causes him pain. So I am really excited that we have the Steel Strength Hand Repair to put it's intense moisturizers to work. I even tried this one to see how it felt and I really liked it. I love how it goes on silky smooth, not greasy. And it dries quickly without leaving any residue behind.

Pink Papaya and Murray Hill have a great selection of items for men and women. I would highly recommend you check out their catalog online and then find a consultant near you. And then if you host a party you can take advantage of all the perks... including the chance to earn free products!

Holiday Gift Guide: Pink Princess Review

2011-11-21T08:26:00.000-05:00

Pink Princess is a great online site that offers so many choices of beautiful dresses. They have everything you would need for flower girl dresses, Communion dresses, Christening gowns and more! Pageant dresses, accessories and pettiskirts and tutu's can all be found on their site. They also have an entire section for Boy Formal wear, as well as shoes for boys and girls.

Pink Princess offers a beautiful selection of holiday dresses. I was fortunate enough to receive one of these dresses for review. It came packaged up beautifully in a plastic garment bag to keep it clean and protected. I took it out of the box and it was ready to be worn. I didn't have to press any wrinkles out or anything!

The first thing I noticed about this dress was the weight. It felt like a really good quality fabric. It wasn't too heavy, but it was heavy enough that I knew it was going to be nice. When I took the bag off I was just so thrilled with the entire look and feel.

Across the mid section there three roses that just add the perfect touch to the dress. They aren't too much decoration, but they dress it up just enough!

Even the back looks classy and beautiful with a simple bow pulling the whole thing together.

I would definitely recommend you check out Pink Princess's selection. They offer free shipping and free returns on all orders over $34.99. They have a variety of products in a range of prices, so there's something for everyone!

Holiday Gift Guide: Embelle Bibs Review

2011-11-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

What is the perfect baby gift for the doctor or businessman in your life? Imagine your little baby girl as a ballerina or Woody from Toy Story? Now your audience can with Embelle novelty bibs. Not only are they adorable,but they are much more affordable than your average novelty bib. Available at Target for $5.00, Embelle bibs are fun and playful while being practical for your baby.

Ok, these bibs are seriously adorable! I checked out the selection on their website and just went... awww! And then I received three for review and loved them even more in person.

These bibs are very soft. I was really surprised to feel how soft they are. And they seem like high quality with nice stitching and bright images on them. They are small, so they are definitely geared for young babies and not toddlers.

These would definitely make a great addition to any baby gift or fit perfectly into the stocking of a little one. They make a stylish statement! Check out their selection and see if you find the perfect one for a little one in your life. Whether it's a doctor, ballerina, cowboy, baseball player, nerd (too funny) or any of the other choices!

Holiday Gift Guide: PetCakes Review and Giveaway

2011-11-19T18:59:00.001-05:00

Seriously, are these little guys not just the cutest? I saw these and fell in love. This is the 2nd Series of PetCakes, the Forest Animals Assortment. In this series there are 4 adorable friends, Honey Cakes, Bamboo Berry, Nutty Nicky, and Roco Coco.

Each PetCake comes in their own little cozy cupcake holder. The plushes come completely out of the cupcakes, so you can mix and match or play with them outside of the cupcake.

My daughter absolutely adores her PetCakes! She loves to set them up and swap their cupcake wrappers around. She thinks their "hats" (the frosting) is just the funniest thing ever! She even pretends to eat them when she's feeling extra silly. And they are the perfect size. I imagined they would be much smaller than they are. But they are a really nice size.

I have to say the PetCakes are even cuter and cooler in person than in pictures. They are soft and cuddly and very well made. They appeal to my daughter who is still very young, but I could also see them appealing to older children. They are a great product!

With the holidays right around the corner, PetCakes is running some specials for you! If you buy 4 or more PetCakes Collectibles you will receive a FREE PetCakes Collectibles Minis 4 pack. All you have to do is pay an additional $1.99 shipping and handling.

Also, when you place an for multiple plush PetCake Collectibles you will pay $6.99 shipping for one and only $1.99 for each additional PetCake.

Holiday Gift Guide: Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker - Book Review

2011-11-19T08:54:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for a fun book that is hard to out down then this is for you! Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, by Marla Martenson, is a glimpse into the lives of the rich and fabulous in such a way that you see the grass is not always greener on the other side.

In Diary of a Beverly Hills Matchmaker, Marla takes her readers for a hilarious romp through her days as an L.A. matchmaker and her daily struggles to keep her self-esteem from imploding in a town where looks are everything and money talks. From juggling the demands her out-of-touch clients to trying her best to meet the capricious demands of an insensitive boss to the ups and downs of her own marriage to a Latin husband who doesn't think that she is 'domestic' enough, Marla writes with charm and self-effacement about the universal struggles that all women face in their lives.

Marla's job is set these incredibly rich men up with the women of their dreams. Except, in many cases their dreams are totally delusional! It's hysterical to read about the check lists that these men create in order to form a picture of their perfect woman. They take shallow to a whole new level! And they are willing to pay the BIG bucks for a chance at "love." And when I say big bucks I am talking up to $100,000!

While many of her clients are entertaining enough with their prerequisites, the laughs continue as she sets them up with a woman. The complaints some of these men come up with are unreal!

This book is like meeting a new friend. You get to know Marla inside and out, from her professional life to her personal life. It's a quick read because it's written straight to the point. You will be turning the pages for more!

Holiday Gift Guide: ZipBin Review and Giveaway

2011-11-18T14:45:00.000-05:00

The idea of the ZipBin came from a parent. Could you have guessed? Parents are geniuses because they know exactly what they wished existed. So when a parent invents a product I am usually fairly confident that it's brilliant. And ZipBin most certainly is!

ZipBins are toys that make less mess. Yay! Why? Because you open them up to play and close them up to clean up. Poof...gone! It's like magic!

ZipBin sent me their Dollhouse PlayPack and I think it's one of the best ideas ever. It's a backpack that unzips and opens up to be a dollhouse. It even comes with a doll. Here is some information about this product:

Got to bring toys everywhere? Keep your fantasy kingdom with you at all times with the ZipBin® Princess Bring-Along BackPack™! The castle walls invite you inside by unzipping into a beautiful courtyard. Unzip the BackPack to find a two story doll house with a slide that leads into a swimming pool! It’s the perfect way for a princess to travel with space for more! When it’s time for your kingdom to move, the castle zips up, capturing the toys inside for easy clean up! This play set includes 1 beautiful 4" doll.

Colorful, durable, wipe-clean surfaces
Sturdy, heavy-duty zippers
Meets child safety standards
Dimensions:
WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts

As soon as I saw this I started to think of all the places we could bring this. It's the perfect toy that encourages imagination and is easy to pack up and bring with you. It doesn't talk or make noise, so it's perfect for quiet places. We will be bringing ours to grandma's house in a few weeks! And are you ready for the best part? It's only $19.99!

Check out ZipBin and their selection of toys for boys and girls! They would make great gifts that kids will love and parents will appreciate. Win win!

Holiday Gift Guide: Eye-Fi Review

2011-11-18T08:56:00.000-05:00

If you are anything like me you will be taking a ton of pictures this holiday season! I am the camera queen and I try to capture every moment with my camera. But then I have a tendency to let them sit on my camera for months until there are so many different events that I don't even want to upload and organize them. So when I learned about the Eye-Fi I was sure it was something I could use!

The Mobile X2 card works with more than 2,000 digital cameras and uses Eye’s Direct Mode technology to instantly transfer photos directly from your digital camera to various devices (phone, tablet, computer) –without cords - so you can share/post photos and images wherever you are.

Wow, this thing is really cool! I love to share pictures and with this you have so many options. You can send pictures to your phone, tablet, even directly to Facebook. Very cool!

The software is really easy to install and only took about 7 minutes to set up. It lets you set up how you want to organize your photos (like in dated folders) and where you want them to be stored. Which is great for me because I need to keep my photos organized with the amount that I take!

I love that you can send them to Snapfish, Facebook, Picassa... pretty much wherever you want. This makes it super easy to share pictures with family and friends.

The only problem we encountered involves sending pictures from our camera to our laptop. My husband figured it out and thinks that you can't be too far away from the wireless router. As soon as we moved our laptop closer to the router all the pictures started uploading super fast. He says this makes sense because the antenna in the device is much smaller than the computer.

Overall, the entire process with the Eye-Fi has been great! I think it's a great thing for moms to have so they can share their pictures quickly and easily. Anything that saves a mom time is a hot item!

The Eye-Fi has a SRP of $79.99 and has 8GB of memory. You can find it at Best Buy, Apple Stores and Amazon.

Holiday Gift Guide: Learning Curve Brands Train Sets Review

2011-11-17T14:15:00.001-05:00

This holiday season Learning Curve Brands has something for every kid on your list from infants to toddlers to preschoolers! This season I was fortunate enough to get to check out two of their hot holiday items!

Chuggington Interactive Railway All Around Chuggington Set:

This set has an SRP of $69.99 and is recommended for children ages 3 and up. It is created with 60 pieces that create a railway that has a 3 foot layout! We first constructed it on kitchen table, but then we moved it to the floor when we realized that my daughter would have trouble accessing everything with it on the table.

Once we put it on the floor she went to town! She was thrilled to learn that there are 3 interactive train stops and the train itself talks! She figured out how to push the button on the train and was having a blast! She loved pushing the train to the top of the hill and watching it fly down the track. This was a huge hit and kept us entertained for hours!

Dinosaur Train Time Tunnel Mountain Set:

Ok, this was a huge hit! This set is designed as a figure 8 and is motorized. So your kids get to watch as the train goes up the big hill! Then the train goes through the tunnel and sets of lights and sounds. My daughter got so excited! She just wanted to keep sending the train up the mountain. The motorized train can also pull up to two trains behind it. It also comes with Buddy and Mr. Conductor collectible figures, which my daughter loves to play with!

This set is also about 3 feet once it is assembled. It has an SRP of $49.99 and is recommended for ages 3 and up.

These interactive train sets would make a fantastic gift! You can check out these set, as well as others from the Chuggington line and the Thomas and Friends line, on their website.

Holiday Gift Guide: Green Toys Review and Giveaway

2011-11-17T11:48:00.000-05:00

As parents we have a lot to worry about. From the moment they are born we worry. About everything from their health to their happiness to their future... and all the little things in between. One thing we should never have to worry about it whether or not their toys are safe.

Parents spend time, money, and effort picking out toys they think their children will enjoy. We shouldn't have to worry about whether or not they are safe or contain toxins. But sadly, in many cases you do have to worry about those things. But not with Green Toys. Green Toys makes their very own line of children's toys that are made from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly products. With their toys you are protecting your children and the environment.... win win!

Green Toys offers a great selection of toys for babies and kids. They have trucks, play food, gardening tools, and more. And I got a chance to check out their newest addition, the Sandwich Shop!

It's lunchtime at your favorite eating spot! With the Green Toys Sandwich Shop young chefs can open their own imaginary deli and take orders, create sandwiches and serve guests. This 15-piece, stackable, mix-and-match play food set comes with all the fixings to create two complete sandwiches. Each realistic part is made in the USA from food-safe, 100% recycled plastic milk containers which save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Interchangeable with other Green Toys stacking play food products. Fits on Green Toys kitchen sets. Set includes two bread slices, bun top and bottom, burger patty, fillet, two cheese slices, lettuce leaf, tomato, two sets of onions, one red pepper, one set of pickles, and Sandwich Shop order form. No BPA, PVC, phthalates, or external coatings. Meets FDA food contact standards. Dishwasher safe. Serve up some Good Green Fun™!

I really like this set! It is intended for ages 2 and up and is a great toy for little imaginations! It's easy to stack with this set, really allowing the "chef" to get creative and serve up what they want. You can teach food identification and let imaginations sore. The plastic is good quality and built to last... very important with toddlers. Check it out and take a look at the rest of the toys offered by Green Toys!

Holiday Gift Guide: Nickelodeon DVD's Review

2011-11-17T08:19:00.000-05:00

What better gift for kids than an adventure with their favorite character? As the mother of a toddler, we spend a lot of time catching up with all our friends on Nick JR and Nickelodeon. And now that she's old enough to ask for what she wants she is very often asking to watch her favorites. So having some great DVD's on hand are a must... and Nickelodeon has so many great ones to choose from! Here are a few hot ones this holiday season.....

This one was my daughter's favorite by far! It features all her favorite friends in over 2 hours of holiday episodes. My daughter knows all these familiar faces and will ask for certain episodes on different days. Dora and Kai Lan are the most popular with her, but she does enjoy them all! It's rare to find a DVD where your child enjoys ALL the episodes, but this one is it for us! A true hit in our household and a perfect holiday gift this season.

Pretty much all the Nick JR shows offer educational value, but this DVD has hit the nail on the head! I love that it is an entertaining show that is also really teaching age appropriate math skills. This DVD offers 3 episodes and one of them is double-length...so you get tons of fun in one DVD. I am amazed at how quickly my daughter picks up counting and patterns after watching this. It's so engaging for her! I would definitely say this is a great gift for a toddler or young preschooler.

Spongebob is geared a bit more for the older kids. So my husband and I decided to review this one on our own without our 2 year old. I find it interesting how a kids show can be so entertaining to adults. Spongebob is one of those shows. Yes, he's goofy and immature, but it is some good, clean fun for the family. I wouldn't recommend it for toddlers and preschoolers, but maybe kindergarten age and on. Mostly because the younger kids won't get all the jokes. But this was a fun one to laugh along with.

Nickelodeon DVD's make great gifts for kids of a variety of ages! They have so many different ones to choose from and are available at most major retailers. Check them out this holiday season!

Spreading Holiday Cheer with #hasbroKREOsets

2011-11-16T15:43:00.000-05:00

Tis the season to be jolly! I adore the entire holiday season! People often complain about the hub bub starting too eary. But for me it can't start early enough! When November 1st came I had to force myself not to start listening to Christmas music!

But one thing that can be started as early as I would like is holiday shopping! I started hunting fro deals and the perfect gifts months ago! But now we are in the midst of the the hottest shopping season of the year and I am seeing more and more awesome toys that I would love to wrap up!

One of those awesome toys is from Hasbro and it's KRE-O Transformers! These building sets look like so much fun and are geared for kids ages 6 and up. I remember transformers from when I was younger, and they have stuck aroudn this long. So you know they must be popular with kids. They also have movies now... yeah, these toys are going to be at the top of lots of kids lists this year!

My daughter is a little too young for KRE-O Transformers, but I love to shop for all the kids on my list. So I checked these out and they are a great option because they range in price. You can get a basic set for as little as $7.99 and move your way up. So no matter your budget you can get a great toy!

I love toys that keep kids busy. That engage their minds and their creativity. Kids can have fun putting this together and then they get to play with what they built. So awesome! In my mind the holidays are really about the kdis. And the smiles they have on their faces when they open a gift they love is just priceless!

While presents do a great job of lifting spritis and keeping everyone bright during the holidays, it's certainly not what the entire season should be about. For us it's really about family. Spending time with the ones we love and celebrating the season and each other. We go out of our way to make sure we see everyone during the holidays. It takes 3 weekends and hours in the car. But it is so worth it to feel the love and warmth from the ones you love. Pluse they adore seeing my daughter and how much she has grown!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hasbro blogging program, for 8,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points and a KRE-O gift. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and don’t necessarily reflect the opinions of SocialMoms or Hasbro. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Holiday Gift Guide: Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Dance & Play Puppy Review

2011-11-16T12:22:00.001-05:00

Let your children dance and play games with their favorite new playmate, Dance and Play Puppy from Fisher-Price's Laugh and Learn toys. Dance and Play Puppy guides children through their first experiences with motions and games while simultaneously teaching them how to count and how to recognize the alphabet.

As a mom and a teacher I can totally appreciate this toy! This puppy talks, sings, and dances with a simple push of a button. There are two buttons (one on each foot). One foot is the "ABC" mode and the other foot is the "Let's Play" mode. The ABC mode is all about learning in a fun way with the alphabet, numbers, and giving simple directions that your child can follow (like "reach up high"). The Let's Play mode is full of fun songs that your child and their puppy can dance and sing along to. It has easy steps, like clap your hands, so your child can participate with their puppy.

I think this is an incredibly engaging toy that has enough features to keep the interactions fresh and exciting. The puppy has a cute voice that is not intimidating, and it is also designed with bight colors and fun shapes - making him very approachable (since he is kinda big in size).

I love that this toy offers a variety of songs, phrases, and activities. Some were new to me, but many were familiar (like Patty Cake). I also really like the fact that encourages movement and gets your child moving right along with him. And if your child stops playing he offers a prompt (such as, "Hey, do you want to play?") offering them the opportunity to continue engaging or signal that they are done.

The puppy has a volume setting on the bottom of one of his feet. It allows you to pick one of two settings. I have to say, my only concern with this toy is that the motor is very loud. When we had it on the lower setting and we were interacting with him, it would become difficult to hear him when he was making a lot of movements and the motor was going a lot. When we switched it to the louder setting it felt like the singing was too loud, but once we were interacting and moving around it didn't bother me as much.

Over all, I would definitely recommend this toy for young children. It is geared for children ages 6-36 months, so it's a toy that they won't grow out of quickly. And even some older kids would probably enjoy it because of how interactive it is, and how familiar the language is. Check it out! I am sure your little ones would love to get the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Dance & Play Puppy this Holiday season!

I received this product free of charge for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Holiday Gift Guide: Contigo Coffee Mug Review

2011-11-16T07:43:00.000-05:00

The Contigo® 20 oz. West Loop Vacuum Insulated Travel Mug with AUTOSEAL® technology keeps your favorite holiday drink hot for up to six hours. AUTOSEAL® self-sealing lid technology offers press-to-sip drinking and automatically seals between sips making it spill-proof and leak-proof – there are no lids to remove and no spouts to open. The West Loop is also top rack dishwasher safe. Throw some instant coffee packs or tea bags in the mug to make the perfect gift. MSRP $24.99

As many of you know... I love coffee and so does my husband. We have at least one cup every morning. But I often find myself running out the door to work and either dumping my coffee or bringing it with me in a travel mug. In fact, I have several travel mugs at home but they're not really working out for me. Why you ask? Because when I walk in the door to my job I am usually pulled in 5 different directions and may not even sit down at my desk until an hour or more later. Cold coffee.

So I was really excited to try out the Contigo Travel Mug and see if it could keep my coffee warm until I could sit down and drink it. But when the mug arrived I met a new challenge... my husband.

Apparently my husband had been researching this mug and was looking into buying one. So he saw it (and how big it was) and snatched it up. He loves to make a big cup of coffee!

Well, his review of this travel mug came back raving! He used it the first day and I noticed it filled again the next day. We even went out on Tuesday to vote and he left it on the counter. I asked if he was going to bring it and he said, "It will keep it warm for up to 6 hours, it'll be fine till I get back."

So the good news is we've found a really great travel mug that is easy to use and keeps our drinks hot. The bad news is I lost it to my husband. But he promises he will look into getting me one of my own!

You can learn more about the Contigo Travel Mug, as well as all of their other products, on their website. Their kids cups look great!

Holiday Gift Guide: Sogno Coffee Review

2011-11-15T18:46:00.000-05:00

As a true coffee lover, I am always up for trying a new type of coffee. And when I read a little bit about Sogno Coffee I knew I wanted to give it a shot.

THE SOGNO STORY

Is it your dream to find that perfect cup of coffee? But among the thousands of chain coffeehouses and the dizzying array of trendy brands, where do you start? Actually, it's simple. Here at SOGNO Coffeehouses, we know it all starts with the beans... and we're here to spill the beans. Truth is, many people have not had the pleasure of enjoying a real quality coffee.No matter the price, brand, or packaging, it all comes down to the beans. SOGNO roasts only the finest Arabica beans in our one of a kind, custom-built roaster. The product is unrivaled: the aroma, the body, and that very sip... it's like un sogno, a dream.

So I'm going to be honest with you. About a year ago we got a single serve coffee maker and our coffee pot kind of got left in the dust. Every once in awhile we will bring it out to make a larger pot or to try something new. But we felt like the coffee just didn't live up to what we were making in the single serve. But when the Sogno arrived I was anxious to give it a taste test.

The aroma from the packaging was enough to make my mouth water for a piping hot cup of coffee. My husband got it brewing and the house smelled fabulous (that is something you lose with the single serve coffee makers because it happens so fast.. I don't feel like the aromas get a chance to fill the air). And then it was time for the taste test.... and my husband and I were both impressed!

We have brewed several pots of Sogno and are really enjoying them! You can go to their site to check out their blends and order some to try out for yourself.

Holiday Gift Guide: The Original Christmas Classics Blu-ray Box Set Review

2011-11-15T09:45:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is cuddling up to watch a Christmas special. It takes me back to my childhood and really gets me in the holiday spirit! And getting a chance to watch the classics is a real treat! And now I can watch them whenever I want because the are available on Blu-ray!

This box set is sure to be a hit with the entire family! It captures four of the most beloved Christmas specials; "Frosty the Snowman," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and "Frosty Returns."

These are some of my favorites and I am so excited to be able to share them with my daughter. Having them on Blu-ray ensures me that each holiday season we can continue our tradition of sharing fun holiday films while eating warm cookies and sitting by the fire. Nothing could get you more in the Christmas spirit!

Watching this was like taking a walk down memory lane. "Frosty the Snowman" is probably at the top of my list, but they were all a blast! I would definitely recommend this as a family must have this holiday season!

This box set is available on Blu-ray wherever Blu-rays are sold for $49.99 SRP.

So do tell, which one of these is your favorite?

The Littlest Angel Review

2011-11-15T07:49:00.002-05:00

Available on DVD Today!

The Littlest Angel tells the story of a young boy who arrives in heaven before his time. Home-sick and lonely, he will travel back to earth, with his friendly pup Halo, to retrieve a most selfless and precious gift for The Baby Jesus. First released in book form in 1946, The Littlest Angel became popular for its ornate words and phrases paired with beautifully muted oil paintings. Tazewell’s book was adapted into a TV musical in 1969 starring Johnny Whitaker, and theatrical versions continue to be done by schools and church groups today. The author would follow-up with another childhood favorite, "The Littlest Snowman," that would be read annually on the “Captain Kangaroo” show.

“This is a story that has made so many people happy over the years,” says Lance Thompson, one of the producers of the film. “We’ve added some new elements to this production, but this is still The Littlest Angel everyone remembers from their childhood, and one that parents will enjoy introducing to their kids. I think Tazewell would enjoy knowing his work lives on.”

It’s a modern twist on the timeless tale of an Angel that discovers the greatest gifts in life are faith, friendship and doing the right thing. This new version of The Littlest Angel features wonderful animation and great vocal talent, including Ron Perlman (“Beauty and The Beast,” Tangled), and is sure to become a holiday favorite, much like the book it’s based on. The Littlest Angel is a motion picture that will put a smile on everyone’s face, and what better gift is there than that.

Oh gosh, I remember having this book as a child! When I learned it was coming to DVD I was anxious to see if they were able to bring the story to life while keeping that sweet feeling of innocence that I found in the book. This little angel doesn't quite seem to fit in at Angel Academy, and ultimately he finds himself learning to be a great angel all on his own (but with the help of Halo).

Watching this movie was really touching. It is a true story of friendship as Halo stands by his angel through it all. It is also so touching to see how the Littlest Angel slowly learns to do good deeds and earns his wings. It's a great story to share with young children and illustrate many good lessons.

Check out the website for more info and activities!

Holiday Gift Guide: HearthSong Review and Giveaway

2011-11-14T13:20:00.001-05:00

If you are looking for fun, exciting, and unique toys this holiday season... then you have to check out HearthSong! HearthSong prides themselves in offering their customers quality toys that allow kids to be kids and get lost in their imaginations. Their website is designed in such a way that you can easily browse their selection to find exactly what you are looking for. The option to browse by age allows you to look at safe and age appropriate items. You can also shop by interests, such as cooking gardening and arts and crafts. The easy layout makes it fun and easy to shop for the perfect gift!

I had a blast checking out all the great toys, games, and crafts that HearthSong offers for boys and girls ages toddler to about 12. I came up with a great list of items to share with family and friends that I think my daughter would love this holiday season. But for this review I chose something that I knew would encourage her imagination, a Corolle baby doll.

My daughter has just reached the age where her imagination runs wild with dolls. She loves to change their clothes, talk to them, carry them or rock them to sleep. She even puts them in a high chair and feeds them apple sauce. But we only had stuffed dolls from when she was younger and I knew it was time for her to move up to a more realistic looking baby doll. The Corolle doll was the perfect choice.

The Corolle Calin Baby Doll comes dressed in a complete outfit that is easy for little ones to put on and off. You can also buy extra outfits from the Mon Premiere collection for added fun. The dolls have stuffed bodies that allow you to position them. Perfect for sitting upright in the high chair!

The Corolle line also offers accessories for their dolls. One of the accessories available is the Carry Bed. HearthSong also sent us one of these and it is a great addition. Now my daughter can put her baby to bed and carry her around. I love how she shushes to let me know her baby is sleeping.

I was very impressed with the selection of toys offered by HearthSong. And my experience with the Corolle Doll and Carrier shows me that they offer high quality products. I would definitely recommend HearthSong as a great place to shop!

Holiday Gift Guide: Country Dance 2 Review

2011-11-14T09:44:00.001-05:00

Kick Up Your Heels to Your Favorite Country Hits with GameMill Entertainment’s

Country Dance™ 2 Available Now Exclusively on Wii™

Country Dance 2 is the ultimate country music video game experience featuring more than 30 tracks from the biggest names in country. The Country Dance 2 star-studded lineup includes music from Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, George Strait, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and many, many more. Building upon the simple gameplay loved by fans of Country Dance, Country Dance 2 amplifies the fun with an all new sing-along features, duet dancing and a new calorie-counting exercise mode. Whether you’re cutting the rug on your own, line dancing side-by-side with your partner, or taking on friends and family in a dancing duel, Country Dance 2 will transform your living room into an energetic dance floor with today’s hottest country songs from America’s best-selling country artists.

If you love Country music and enjoy dancing then this is the game for you. I had the best time boogieing down to some of my favorite artists. I love the variety that is offered to play by yourself, with friends, and even get competitive. My sister and I love to compete with dancing games, so I'm going to practice and then take her on the next time she visits! It's fun and a great workout!

The dancers on the screen make it easy to follow along and move to the beat. It lets you know how you are doing with a score in the corner... so you can check on your friends, too! This is a great game to play at parties or on your own. It would make a great gift this season for the country lover!

Country Dance 2 is available nationwide exclusively for Wii™ for the suggested retail price of $39.99, and is rated “E10+” by the ESRB. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CountryDanceGame. Follow us on Twitter @Country_Dance. For more information about Country Dance 2 or the Country Dance franchise, please visit: www.game-mill.com.

Holiday Gift Guide: Nonni's Biscotti Review and Giveaway

2011-11-13T13:35:00.001-05:00

With the Holidays coming my mind is on all the wonderful things we have to look forward to. And at the top of my list is spending time with family and friends. Of course, that doesn't come without some planning, stress, and worry. When I have family and friends come to visit during the holidays I want everything to be perfect! So I spend a lot of time thinking about what to serve. Nonni's Biscotti has now taken care of that for me!

Nonni’s Biscotti grew out of true Italian tradition. In the little town of Lucca, Italy along narrow cobbled lanes surrounded by elegant piazzas, our Nonni (an endearing term for Grandma) made biscotti to share with family and friends. When Nonni came to America, almost a century ago, she brought the family recipe with her.

I recently had the chance to sample Nonni's Biscotti and boy was I impressed! They offer a variety of flavors to please any crowd. They come individually wrapped for freshness and can be purchased as full ones or bite sized pieces. Nonni's Biscotti is the perfect treat to serve to my guests with coffee, tea, or hot cocoa! Or even leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve!

The real test for taste came when my husband arrived home. He LOVES biscotti. His mom used to make it often and now he has to request it from her whenever we see them. So he can be a bit picky about the taste, texture, the whole 9 yards. So when he gave the two thumbs up I knew this was top quality biscotti!

I would definitely recommend you get a couple of boxes for your holiday entertaining. They would also make great gifts for friends, neighbors, co-workers and family! You can order online or look on their website to find a retailer near you.

Nonni's is kind enough to provide two prize packages! A grand prize and 2nd Prize. Everyone will complete the same Rafflecopter form and the first name chosen will be the Grand Prize winner and the second name chosen will be the 2nd Prize winner!

Holiday Gift Guide: Color of Rain Book Review

2011-11-13T07:46:00.000-05:00

I'm not going to lie... this book was hard to read. It's hard to open yourself up to something so real. This story brings us into the lives of two people who have lost their significant others. One their husband and the other their wife. They lose their loved ones to cancer and are left alone with their children to battle the "why's." As a wife and mother this story was sad and frightening. The idea of losing your best friend, a parent to your children, is unbearable. Yet, there is something uplifting about this story as well.

This real-life Brady Bunch story is about what it means to endure the unthinkable---and still open one's heart to what's next. When two childhood friends die of cancer six weeks apart, the shared experience of loss brings their grieving spouses together. After months of late-night phone calls, family dinners, and countless dreams and tears, this unlikely pair builds a trust, a love, and a shared life. Told from alternating points of view, The Color of Rain illuminates the stepping-stones of healing that lead to a joyful new beginning for Michael and Gina Spehn and their five children. Like many who grieve, Michael and Gina had to choose to hope again. Along the way, they discovered that God can restore the darkest circumstances---and even from death, He can bring new life. Michael and Gina's gripping story of 'growing new hearts' will inspire readers not only to survive loss but also to receive the new courage, faith, and identity that God gives in the midst of tragedy.

While the story is chock full of tragedy and the real life hardships that follow such tragedies, it is also a love story. A friendship that blossoms over the understanding of what the other is going through. The friendship then continues to grow and the hard questions must be asked. Would my significant other have wanted this? Can I love again? How will my children feel?

No one ever wants to find themselves in the positions these two young adults found themselves in. But in way they were truly blessed by circumstances. Their connection before their loved ones passed away opened a door for support, comfort, understanding, and ultimately love. And their faith allowed them to realize that God has plans. My mom once told me, God never gives you anything you can't handle. This was illustrated through this memoir.

These two authors have opened up their inner souls and let us in. They took us into their world and let us know that there is life after death. That you may never be the same and you may never stop loving those lost, but you can learn to live and love again. And that provides a feeling of comfort in an otherwise unthinkable situation. It makes you appreciate what you have, but it also makes you realize how quickly life can change.

While this may not be the cheery holiday book were planning to curl up with, it is a powerful read that I would recommend. Be prepared to cry and smile.

Holiday Gift Guide: Kidorable Holiday Gift Buying Quiz

2011-11-12T08:31:00.000-05:00

Tis the season to be giving! To me, giving is way better than receiving. I love to see faces light up when I find just the right item for someone special! But shopping doesn't always come easy as we hunt for the perfect gift. But Kidorable has a great Gift Buying Quiz that really opened my eyes to what a great gift for a kid consists of.

This quiz will take a lot of the guess work out of gift buying by helping you understand what will be most meaningful and useful in a child's life. I was pretty impressed with myself scoring a 4 out of 5, but it did bring a lot of things to my attention. Sometimes we are buying what we think kids will like without really knowing any better. Guilty as charged! Check out the quiz to understand what I'm talking about and get a better idea on where to begin your holiday shopping.

And while you are there taking the quiz, be sure to look around at their great selection of products! They put the "fun" back in functional. From umbrellas, to backpacks, to raincoats and more. Kidorable products are cute, fun and high quality! And with the weather turning cold make sure you take a look at their knitwear collections of hats, gloves, and scarves! We sure do love our ladybug set!

Fresh Scents from Nature

2011-11-11T16:10:00.000-05:00

Ahhh.. .there is nothing like a fresh scent. I love when things smell fresh and clean. And there is nothing fresher and cleaner than scents straight from nature.

In terms of natural scents I really have a lot of different favorites for different parts of my life. For instance, in my kitchen I adore the smell of fresh lemon. It smells delicious and makes the whole room feel bright! I often buy cleaners and soaps that smell like fresh lemon, and I even have a candle for my kitchen that smells like cut lemons. Yum! There is something very refreshing about it... and it even seems to wake up my senses in the morning when I am trying to get my day going.

But in my bedroom I always use the scent of lavender. I had read somewhere in college that lavender was supposed to be relaxing and even help you sleep. So with the heavy course load I was carrying I was really looking for something that would help get the work out of my head and lead me to dreamland.

I purchased some satchels of potpourri and put them under my pillow and now I'm addicted! I now have a lavender spray that I use to on my pillow every night and it brings me to my happy place. I love how you begin to associate scents with things... and lavender is now associated with sleep and rest for me.

While these scents are fabulous and many companies do a great job of putting the scents into bottles, nothing quite beats the real thing. Sigh, how I wish I could sleep in a field of lavender or have a large supply of lemons that I could keep cutting open and squeezing all day long.

But needless to say we are often left to purchasing our favorite scents. So I buy a wide variety of candles and wall plug ins to help bring that scent home.

This holiday season I have been filling the house with a lot of fresh apple scents. That makes my house feel warm and cozy. It really reminds me of family gathering and chowing down on apple pie. Nothing better on a cold fall night!

I have so many wonderful scents that I love that come straight from nature. From burning candles to body sprays, I do whatever I can to get my fill of them! And each one takes me someplace else and gives me a different feeling. Whether the lavender is putting me to sleep, the lemon is waking me up, or the apple is warming my soul I know I can transport myself with just a sniff!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Seventh Generation blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here

Holiday Gift Guide: Veggie Tales The Little Drummer Boy DVD Review

2011-11-11T15:46:00.000-05:00

When choosing a DVD for my daughter Veggies Tales is usually at the top of my list. I love providing her with an entertaining show that also reinforces Christian morals. Each Veggie Tale DVD is packed with good messages and lessons that I want my daughter learning. So when I learned about their new holiday-themed DVD I was excited!

Veggie Tales The Little Drummer Boy retells the classic tale of a child discovering the true meaning of Christmas. In our world today it is very easy to lose track of what Christmas is all about. We all get caught up in the excitement of gifts and Santa. And all of that is really fun and I am all for it. But I also want my daughter to have a real understanding of why we are celebrating Christmas. After all, Jesus is the reason for the season!

Having Junior Asparagus illustrate this message is a great way to start teaching her at a young age. The DVD is fun, has great music, and an important message all rolled into one. This is a great DVD for a child this Christmas!

Holiday Gift Guide: Gyro Bowl Review and Giveaway

2011-11-11T08:18:00.000-05:00

I had seen an advertisement for the Gyro Bowl on tv awhile ago. I remember turning to my husband and saying, "we need that." We all know that life with a toddler is messy. But they seem to be at their messiest when they are eating. My daughter desperately wants to be independent, and this includes wanting to carry and hold her own snacks.

The Gyro Bowl looked awesome on tv, so when I was given the chance to check it out in person for review I jumped at it. It's designed so that no matter what angle the child holds the bowl at the contents won't spill. It uses a 360 degree technology that makes the inside bowl spin when being carried or dropped. Interesting, huh?

When the Gyro Bowl arrived we couldn't wait to put it to the test. And who better to test it than a 2 year old?

Here she is... sitting so nicely! She loved that the rim creates a nice handle for her to hold onto the bowl.

She was more than happy to put it to the test and hold the bowl on it's side. The inside bowl immediately rotated and get every single Teddy Graham safely inside. Amazing!

This bowl has been great! We use it for snacks at home, in the car, at the park... pretty much everywhere! It has allowed us to make her more independent while not making a huge mess everywhere she goes. This is a must for kids.... of a variety of ages!

Check out their website to learn more and order one for yourself!

Holiday Gift Guide: Om Nom from Cut the Rope Review

2011-11-10T18:35:00.001-05:00

Have you heard of the mobile game, Cut the Rope? It's a really fun game and I have it on my iPad. In fact, my husband and I started with the free version and became so addicted that we purchased the full version. We each have our own iPads, so we race each other to see who can beat the levels the fastest.

Well, Om Nom is the adorable star of Cut the Rope. He loves to eat candy and int he game it's your job to get it to him. When I learned that Om Nom was now available as an adorable plush friend I knew I had to check it out!

Talk about the perfect stocking stuffer! This guy will be tucked into my hubby's stocking as I know he will appreciate how awesome this is! The little plush Om Nom is so cute and a must for any lover of the game. If you aren't familiar with Cut the Rope check it out!

You can find Om Nom on ToyWhiz and Amazon in 5", 8", and 16". And check out Cut the Rope on Facebook for news and updates.

Holiday Gift Guide: My Baby Clothes Review and Giveaway

2011-11-10T07:36:00.002-05:00

If you are looking for a unique and affordable gift for a little one this holiday season you should check out My Baby Clothes. Their team searches for the cutest dresses, tops, bottoms, shoes, tutus, baby hats and more for young children ages newborn to 4T. They then offer these items at incredibly affordable prices. I was really impressed when I saw the name brands for low prices.

The site is very well organized and allows you to search by gender, size, or style. They don't have an overwhelming selection, but they certainly have more than enough options for you to find something you love. They even have a nice selection of accessories, including baby headbands.

I have worked with My Baby Clothes in the past and have never been disappointed. Each time an item was shipped to me quickly and in excellent condition. And the outfits are adorable! This time I decided to go with the Bonnie Jean Fuzzy Gray Leopard Print Dress and Pant Set. I loved this because it will work for a variety of seasons!

Honestly, the outfit is even cuter in person than in the pictures. I know, how is that possible? But it's true. I fell in love as soon as my daughter had it on. She was comfortable and stylish all day long. I had several people comment on her outfit because it is so unique. Everyone wanted to know where I got it!

My Baby Clothes has so much to offer. And this holiday season you must check out their selection of holiday items. From their adorable dresses to cute tights and hair accessories!

Holiday Gift Guide: Lovable Labels "Holly Jolly Gift Pack" Review and Giveaway

2011-11-09T13:03:00.000-05:00

I have had the pleasure to work with Lovable Labels in the past. Their labels are the perfect must have for parents who want their kids stuff labeled. I label everything that goes to school with my daughter. From her lunch box to her sippy cup to her jacket and extra clothes. Lovable Labels has all the right stuff to make sure that her items come home with her.

With the holidays just around the corner Lovable Labels has come out with two great "Holly Jolly Gift Packs" that would make the perfect stocking stuffer for any kid. The Christmas Jewels and Santa's Pick packs come complete everything you would need to label your child's clothes, shoes, books, and more.

Looking for a unique and useful personalized gift idea? The Holly Jolly Gift Pack was designed with the essentials in mind. Wrapped in a pretty red foil package, the recipient will receive 15 Multi-Purpose Stickers, 40 Slimline Labels, 12 Shoe Labels, 24 Press N' Stick Clothing DOTS (6 Large, 6 Medium and 12 Small) and 2 Mini-Metal Tags. Everything you need to cover the basics and more!

I love how easy it is to personalize the stickers to fit your child. They offer a variety of icons that you can choose form to have in the corner of your stickers. All different animals, sports, toys, and more! So your labels are functional, personal, and cute!

These gift sets are only available for a limited time and are $24.99. Check them out!

Lovable Labels has generously supplied us with a pack of "Holly Jolly Gift Pack " for one lucky winner! Thanks, Lovable Labels!

Holiday Gift Guide: Ditch the Joneses Book Review

2011-11-09T09:17:00.002-05:00

The holidays are always a time that we get to spend a lot of time with family. Isn't that a big part of what makes it the most wonderful time of the year? I know I look forward to the time spent together baking, watching holiday movies, sitting around the table with good food and even better conversation. Doesn't it kind of make you wonder why if it's so great it doesn't happen year round?

I know first hand what it's like to balance work and family. My husband works full time and I work part time. Then we add into the mix that we have a toddler who takes dance and swimming. I shop, clean, and cook. And our time together seems to have disappeared. What exactly are our family priorities and how can we make them take a front seat in our lives?

The truth of the matter is that we are living in tough times. The cost of living is high. The cost of having children is high. And we have to work to make ends meet. But this book, Ditch the Joneses: Discover Your Family, is a really helpful tool. It allows you to step back and look at what is important. How do we create a balance in our life that really puts our family first?

This book guides you in looking at your big picture, making small changes that make a big difference, and being happy with those changes. Cathi gives helpful tips on how to save money. Finances are big part of arguments in families everywhere. But analyzing your spending, making decisions together, and being happy with those decisions can make a big difference.

This book is a quick read with a lot of information. It even offers some worksheet activities to help make the content more real and relevant to you by allowing you to look at your personal situation. I would definitely recommend this book to any couple thinking about starting a family and even families with very young kids. You never know what small changes you could make that would make a big difference in your family life. Or, maybe you will discover that you and your family are ready to make a big change, like becoming a one income family.

You can visit Cathi's website to learn more about her book, and you can also check out her video HERE. Cathi is also on Facebook and Twitter, so check her out for all the latest about her book!

Mickey's Clubhouse Space Adventure Review

2011-11-08T15:31:00.001-05:00

Available on DVD TODAY!

My daughter adores Mickey and all his pals. We visit his clubhouse at least once a day, so having some episodes on DVD is a must! So when I was given the opportunity to check out the newest DVD I knew my daughter would love it!

This November, parents and their preschoolers are invited to blast off with Mickey and pals on a rocketship full of fun in Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment’s newest release of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure, a new, full-length intergalactic adventure that takes the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse gang – Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Daisy – into outer space on a search for the ultimate space treasure. Packaged with a surprise, never-before-seen “Goofy’s Thinking Cap” episode and fun, glow-in-the-dark space-themed stickers, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Space Adventure will be available for purchase as a 2-Disc (DVD + Digital Copy) Combo Pack November 8, 2011.

This DVD arrived yesterday and the minute my daughter saw it we had to put it on. I think this may have been my daughter's first adventure into space so she was really interested in where they were. I love how this program is educational and fun. As you go on this adventure with the gang you learn about the Moon, Mars, and the Rings of Saturn. But of course their mission to find a special treasure does not goes exactly as planned. As Mickey and his pals encounter obstacles they call on the viewers to help them solve problems.

On this adventure you are introduced to new friends, like Martian Mickey and Moon Men Chip and Dale, as well as encounter a familiar old face in a new role, Space Pirate Pete. As usual, Pete is up to no good and wants the treasure for himself. But in the end there is a nice lesson about friendship and working together toward one common goal.

This was an out of this world adventure that my daughter truly enjoyed. And a major bonus is that parents can really enjoy watching this with their children. The characters are lovable, the lessons important, and there are opportunities for kids and parents to participate throughout!

This DVD is available today for $19.99 SRP at most major retailers.

Holiday Gift Guide: Tiny Prints Giveaway

2011-11-08T09:44:00.001-05:00

I recently wrote a post about my family tradition of sending out Christmas cards. I talked about how my mom is an artist and she draws an incredible Christmas card each year. Our family and friends look forward to her cards and each one is truly special. I always wanted that perfect Christmas card that people treasured... and now that I have my beautiful daughter I feel like each Christmas card is beautiful and special!

Tiny Prints is the perfect place to go to find the perfect Christmas or holiday card for you and your family. With their huge selection you are sure to find one that fits your personality. And then you can personalize it however you want, even with photos!

Tiny Prints is being kind enough to offer one lucky reader 50 holiday cards from their huge selection! And they also wanted to be sure you knew about a special day coming up.... On November 9th you can receive a FREE card to your kids from Santa! Visit the Tiny Prints Facebook Page to find out how you can personalize one of the following greeting cards for FREE: Checking it Twice or Santa's Scroll.

Holiday Gift Guide: Pillow Pets for the Nintendo DS Review

2011-11-08T08:02:00.001-05:00

America’s Favorite Plush Characters are available on Nintendo DS™ with the Pillow Pets™ Game

from GameMill Entertainment

As the mother of a young child I am very familiar with Pillow Pets! They are all the rage and the kids adore them. Who wouldn't? They are cute and cuddly, and serve as both a pillow and a cuddly pal. A brilliant idea if you ask me!

Now those cuddly friends are part of a whole new world... the virtual world. In October the Pillow Pets game was released for the Nintendo DS. So now your kids can watch their pals come to life in Dreamland. Each Pillow Pet in Dreamland is unique, as your child gets to help create their personality through their style. They can dress them up with accessories like hats and glasses, truly making them their own.

This is a great game for the younger kids. It's an adventure to find your lost Pillow Pet. But it has a lot of the same concepts as many other video games, such as collecting tokens and uncovering rewards.

Here is a little more about the game:

Based on the beloved children’s line of plush pillows from CJ Products that easily transform into snuggly companions, the Pillow Pets™ game for Nintendo DS invites you to jump, fly, buzz and explore Dreamland, the imaginative world where the Pillow Pets™ characters thrive. Get to know your charming pet’s personality as you customize him or her with hats, glasses and more! When your favorite pal goes missing, you must set out on a journey to bring your lost pet home safely. But don’t fret! Along the way you’ll meet cuddly friends and uncover tokens and rewards that will make for an unforgettable experience! Whether playing alone or side by side with friends, the Pillow Pets™ game for Nintendo DS creates a nurturing and fantasy-filled adventure that can be enjoyed by boys and girls of all ages.

Developed by First Playable, the Pillow Pets™ game for Nintendo DS is rated “E” for Everyone by the ESRB. For additional information about GameMill’s line of products, please visit: www.game-mill.com.

I think this would make a great Holiday gift for any Pillow Pets fan who also enjoys a fun video game! The suggested retail price is on $19.99 and this game can be found at most major retailers.

Holiday Gift Guide: My Caring Cross Review and Giveaway

2011-11-07T08:59:00.002-05:00

It's really hard to review something as unique as My Caring Cross. Usually I am looking at a product in terms of it's quality, functionality, visual appeal and so forth. But in the case of My Caring Cross I am looking at something that is much more emotional and symbolic.

Here is a little bit about My Caring Cross:
Caring Crosses^TM are individually carved from a single unique piece of beautifully grained olive wood pruned from the olive trees around Bethlehem the birthplace of Jesus. Christians have been carving crosses like this for hundreds of years, originally for pilgrims and more recently tourists visiting the Holy Land. Each craftsman receives a fair price to support their family and Christian community. My Caring Crosses are designed to fit comfortably into the palm of your hand as an aid to prayer or meditation. Ideal as your spiritual companion for easing children's fears, comforting worries and stresses of adults and focusing the prayer of the sick and elderly.

When I first learned about these crosses I immediately thought, wow these sound powerful. To be able to hold a piece of Bethlehem in your hand that has been hand shaped into the most profound symbol for a Christian. To have that piece with you wherever you go and be able to hold it whenever you feel the need.

When my cross arrived I was surprised to see how large it was. It's still small enough to hold in your hand, but it takes up your hand. You can really wrap your entire hand around it and feel its presence with your entire palm. And when you are holding it the first thing you notice is how smooth and soft it is. It's weird to say that a piece of wood feels soft, but it really does.

This cross is intended for my mother in law. I know that she will truly appreciate it's beauty, symbolism, and history behind it. But for now I am holding onto it, literally. I am caring this cross with me for a week to share it's story. Why? Because I think this is something really beautiful that should be shared. These crosses are beyond unique. Each one is truly one of a kind.

With the purchase of one of these crosses you are not only receiving a symbolic piece of Christianity, but you are also helping to support the local craftsmen who truly put their heart and soul into each piece. And would you believe that these are sold for only $5 plus $3 for shipping? These would make the perfect Christmas gift for someone very special to you.

Check out their website for more information and how to order. You should also check out their Facebook page to see pictures of the crosses being made... very interesting! You can also learn about how to bring these crosses to your church for a fundraiser.

* There is a special for my readers! Purchase 2 crosses for only $10 (shipping included). Just click HERE.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Guest Post: Table Setting Ideas for Thanksgiving

2011-11-05T12:57:00.001-04:00

There are hundreds of different ideas about Thanksgiving table settings, but most decorating ideas involve fall related colors such as red, orange, brown, yellow and green. These colors can be incorporated into very rustic, natural settings or modern table settings with clean lines and minimal decoration. Some table settings include traditional Thanksgiving images such as turkeys and cornucopias, but the table can also look very festive without these images being included.

A Modern Approach

A modern Thanksgiving table is likely to be streamlined and include only a couple of fall colors, such as brown and orange. Gold trimmed China is commonly used because it is both elegant and modern. Some decorators use cloth napkins in fall colors, while others opt for white napkins with elegant rings in neutral fall colors. The centerpieces may consist of floral arrangements featuring only one type of flower or simple branches arranged in vases. Formal table settings may include white place cards with elegant gold trim to match the fine China.

The silverware and serving pieces on a modern table are typically either gold or silver and feature minimal decorate elements. All of the silverware and serving pieces should match. If serving platters are placed on the table, they should be plain colored and arranged in the center of the table in a linear fashion. Most people who prefer modern table settings for Thanksgiving have their guests served full plates from the kitchen so that the table isn't cluttered with serving dishes.

A Natural Thanksgiving Table

Because Thanksgiving is traditionally a celebration of the harvest season, it is common for decorators to bring many natural elements to their Thanksgiving table. Clear glass vases may be filled with layers of legumes in a variety of colors. A pillar candle may be placed in the center of each vase and lit just before the guests sit down to eat. The tablecloth may be light brown or burnt orange and may be embroidered with a leaf pattern.

Simple white plates are placed on a natural table with a large leaf or single piece of fruit decorating the plate. The silverware and serving pieces are usually from the family's collection and it isn't essential that the pieces match. The turkey and other main dishes may be served on wooden platters that complement the natural look of the table, while side dishes can be served in ceramic dishes in a variety of shapes and fall colors. Brightly colored cloth napkins may be placed in simple wooden rings or wire that looks like berry vines. Place cards may be held with wooden holders or each name can be pinned to a pear or gourd for a unique look.

Alyssa DeAlto holds a B.A in Journalism and currently writes for eDrugstore.MD, a safe online facilitator for consumers to obtain a Viagra prescription and other safe FDA-approved medications such as Cialis online. Alyssa uses her journalism skills to cover big pharma news he shares on the eDrugstore.MD Health Blog.