New Colgate Optic White Platinum Express White Toothpaste

NEW Colgate Optic White

PLATINUM Express White Toothpaste

Colgate's Fastest Whitening Toothpaste

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

My Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

NEW Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap Review and Giveaway

MIRACLE OIL

Hand Soap infused with Marula Oil

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

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

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

My Thoughts:

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

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

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Glamorous Garbage

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

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

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

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

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

Pipsie, Nature Detective - Book Tour!

by Rick DeDonato

illustrated by Tracy Bishop

Pipsie loves everything wild—from dragonflies to oceans to tall, tall trees. She also loves solving mysteries. That’s why she’s a nature detective! When she and her turtle, Alfred, notice that their new friend, Frannie the caterpillar, has vanished, Pipsie is on the case. She grabs her magnifying glass, goes to her tree-house headquarters, and begins to search for clues. It’s time to make this mystery history!

Bursting with personality, this engaging story introduces a spunky new girl detective, a scooter-driving turtle who loves to eat, and a string of simple scientific clues that will keep kids turning the pages until the mystery is solved. Two pages of nature fun facts at the end of the story offer even more information for young nature detectives.

Rick DeDonato started writing and drawing storybooks for his two kids, Alexis and Matt, when they were little. They’re grown now, but Rick is still creating stories! When he’s not dreaming up adventures for Pipsie, he’s an award-winning creative director in advertising. Born in New Jersey, he now lives in Wilmington, Delaware, with Nancy McAleer; their two dogs, Tugger and Nacho; and their turtle, Alfred E. Turtle!

Tracy Bishop won an art contest in kindergarten, and she’s been creating art ever since. A graduate of San Jose State University, she is also the illustrator of Not the Quitting Kind by Sarra J. Roth. She lives in San Jose, California, where she is inspired on a daily basis by her son, husband, and a hairy dog named Harry.

My Thoughts:
This book was the perfect book to share with my nature loving 5 year old. We have been suffering from cabin fever, and everyday she is aching to get outside to have some adventures! Pipsie and my daughter have so many wonderful things in common! They have fantastic imaginations, an itching for adventures, and a thirst for learning!

My daughter and I had so much fun going along with Pipsie and Alfred on their grand adventure to find  their friend, Frannie the caterpillar. Every page was filled with adventure that jumped off the page through fabulous illustrations. It has clues to follow and fun facts to learn. And the pages at the back are filled with all kinds of neat information! You will have to grab this book to find out how they made the mystery history!

Check out PipsieNatureDetective.com for games and coloring, fun facts, more details about Pipsie and her friends, and info about the author and illustrator. There’s also a link to Alfred Z. Turtle’s blog!

And hop on over to Obsessive Mommy tomorrow to follow us along on this book tour!

Giveaway!
One lucky winner will receive a copy of PIPSIE, NATURE DETECTIVE (U.S. addresses). Simply comment below telling me why you would love to win a copy of this great book. Be sure to leave an e-mail address.

My Dolphin Show Review

Description
The dolphin trainer and her dolphin are ready to impress the audience with a specular show. This is not a small aquarium, but a big show like you would see in Sea World or any other water park.

These are the tricks your dolphin can do:
Beach ball hit, donut jumping, hurdle jumping, splash the audience wet, jump through rings, score a soccer goal, coin collect, piñata smash, air stunts, water walk, bowling, basketball, love kiss, golf, volleyball, collect fish from the trainer, underwater ring, fetch the ball, hit the bell and many more fun tricks.

There are 39 fun outfits / marine animals / pets available:
Cheerleader, ghost, pink dolphin, clown fish, banana, lobster, zebra, crocodile, princess, shark, tiger, turtle, scuba diving suit, wedding dress, fairy, polar bear, wolf, sea lion, celebrity, angel, baby whale, Hawaii dress, Dracula, silver dolphin, mermaid, Santa, frog, super dolphin, penguin, hippo, gold dolphin, seahorse, rainbow dolphin, glitter dolphin and more.

The game has 72 levels and more are coming. You’ll be putting on shows in these locations:
Hawaii, Cruise ship (love boat), Las Vegas, theme park, water amusement park (coming soon!).

Go for Olympic gold and swim through the coral and win those 3 golden stars in each show!

It’s a family game suited for kids (boy and girl) and grownups. You’re never too old to enjoy dolphins.

My Thoughts:
When I read about this app it sounded like something my 5 year old daughter would love. She's pretty savvy when it comes to the iPad and is always looking for a new app to try out. We installed it and left it for her to explore. She was able to figure everything out with very little guidance from me and her dad, which is how she likes it. Little independent girl.

Her favorite dolphin is the pink one. She heads off to Hawaii and has her dolphin do all kinds of tricks. Her favorite trick is having her dolphin jump straight up through a ring. She also like hitting the beach balls. She is already on level 6! She loves having new and more obstacles as she continues to play.

It's a very cute game that keeps her entertained and happy! Check it out in the app store!

Strange Magic - Coming to DVD and Digital May 19th

A Music-filled Fairy Tale About Finding Love in the Unlikeliest of Places

Everyone Deserves to be Loved

On DVD and Digital May 19th.

SYNOPSIS:                    
 “Strange Magic” is a music-filled fairy tale about finding true love in the unlikeliest of places. This magical adventure features a host of colorful characters including a princess who has sworn off love, a dubious villain, a slightly nutty Sugar Plum Fairy, a tenacious elf, a mischievous imp, and a knight who is no Prince Charming. Bring home the enchanting tale the whole family can enjoy today!

VOICE TALENT:          
Evan Rachel Wood (“The Wrestler,” “Across The Universe”) as Marianne, Kristin Chenoweth (“Rio 2,” “Bewitched”) as Sugar Plum Fairy, Alan Cumming (TV’s “The Good Wife,” “X-Men 2”) as Bog King, Maya Rudolf (“Bridesmaids,” “Grown Ups 2”) as Griselda.

Dial Miracle Oil Body Wash

As a busy mom, my time in the shower is my special time. They are usually the few moments in a day that I am completely alone. I am free to sing or think or just try and relax. So I am always looking for fabulous products that make my shower an even more enjoyable experience with lasting results... you know, for all the other time I spend out of the shower.

Dial is a brand that I have come to know and trust. I use a lot of their products from hand soaps to body washes. So I was definitely excited to try out their newest product, Miracle Oil Body Wash.

"New Dial Miracle Oil Body Wash is infused with caring Marula oil for beautifully, soft skin. This new body was is formulated with Micro Oil Technology for a luxurious, clean-rinsing lather that leaves skin feeling clean, soft and smooth."

Well, let's face it. The winter has not been kind to my skin. It is rough and flaky... and just overall not looking it's best. As we are approaching spring it's time to get some moisture back into my skin so I can look and feel better.

Enter this new body wash....

Ta-da! It's looks great in my shower with the kids toys, right?

It was time to take this baby for a spin....

Just a small amount.....

lathered up beautifully.....

And it smells great!

I was thrilled my experience with Dial Miracle Oil Body Wash. Just a small amount gave me a fabulous lather that lasted from head to toe.  It really did go on silky smooth with a fantastic scent. It washed clean and didn't leave any oily residue. Afterwards my skin felt refreshed, rather than it's usually dry, tight feeling.  It's a great family body wash that everyone will love!

I would definitely recommend you check out this great product! And one of my lucky readers is going to be able to try it for FREE!

GIVEAWAY! Just comment below telling me you want to win! Be sure to leave your e-mail address. I will contact the winner on April 4th and then send them a coupon for a FREE bottle! 

*Must have a US mailing address.

Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Shop Pals

Your Pet Shop Pals Are All Here!

Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Shop Pals

Bring Home the Adventures on DVD March 17, 2015

It’s always exciting to make new friends, and no one does it better than Blythe Baxter and her favorite pet pals at the Littlest Pet Shop. On March 17, 2015, join the fun as Blythe and her friends, new and old, create a fashion craze with Littlest Pet Shop: Pet Shop Pals from Shout! Factory, in collaboration with Hasbro Studios.

Blythe and her very best friends – Zoe the spaniel, Pepper the skunk, Sunil the mongoose, Russell the hedgehog, Penny the panda, Minka the monkey and Buttercream the bunny –  are back for five more exciting, not to mention hilarious, adventures! Plus, you’ll get a chance to meet some new friends, like a shy tortoise, a spying cat, a famous comedian orangutan, and Pepper’s new crush! Who could it be? Find out with Blythe and the gang in The Littlest Pet Shop – Pet Shop Pals!

Episodes Include:
Books And Covers
Helicopter Dad
Lotsa Luck
The Nest Hats Craze
Sweet Pepper

Bonus Features:
Sing-Along


My Thoughts:
My daughter is a Littlest Pet Shop fan! She loves to pretend that she is Blythe and that all of her stuffed animals are her pet shop pals. We try to catch these adorable critters every day before dinner on Discovery Family, but having it on hand as a DVD has been great for days we miss it or when she just really wants to check in at the pet shop.

I enjoy the show because the characters are all very sweet... and funny. They each of very individual personalities and she knows them all! Her favorite is Minka, the monkey. She thinks she's funny and crazy... oh, and she's pink! What more could a little girl ask for? But she's also a good friend to the other pets and to Blythe. They work together when they get into mischief and show they care about each other.

This DVD is great because it has several episodes. So we can catch a quick episode here and there without settling in for hours of TV at a time. And it offers a great variety by featuring different pets in different episodes. So you are sure to see your favorite being the star of the show!

Rufus Goes to Sea

In RUFUS GOES TO SEA (Sterling Children’s Books, April 2015) by Kim T. Griswell, our favorite pig Rufus is back and dreaming of days filled with adventure – aboard a pirate ship!

Rufus is ready to join the crew… but Captain Wibblyshins says, “No Pigs on pirate ships!” After all, everyone knows that pigs get tangled in the rat lines, picnic in the crow's nest, and even wipe their chins with the Jolly Roger. Can Rufus convince the Captain that he's worthy of joining the crew? Could his ticket to pirate-hood be… reading?!

Kids will love seeing Rufus conquer new worlds in this delightful follow-up to Rufus Goes to School (Sterling Children’s Books, 2013).

Kim T. Griswell is a developmental editor for Uncle John's Bathroom Readers and the former coordinating editor of Highlights for Kids. She helps develop and teach writers' workshops with the Highlights Foundation and has taught with the Institute for Children's Literature.  Kim is the author of the popular Rufus Goes to School (2013) and has published more than 200 short stories, articles, and columns.

Illustrator Valeri Gorbachev has written and/or illustrated more than 50 children's books, including Rufus Goes to School (2013), Turtle's Penguin Day and The Giant Hug (both Knopf).

My Thoughts:
This is an adorable and funny story that has my kids totally entertained! We are familiar with the quirky star, Rufus. My daughter started kindergarten this year, so we met this persistent pig when he went off to school. It has been a great way for us to talk about how wonderful school it and all the fun things you can learn there. Rufus wanted to go so badly so that he could learn to read.... and my daughter wants to learn to read, too. So they are pals.

When we sat down to head out on this high seas adventure with Rufus, she was so excited! She couldn't wait to see what he was up to on his summer vacation from school. Of course, things don't come easy for Rufus and he has to fight for what he wants again. But this sweet pig knows what he wants and will figure out a way to make it happen.

We really enjoyed this story and would definitely recommend it as a great addition to your book collection!