The new Transformer show, Transformers Prime, will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on March 6th!  Here are a few clips for you to enjoy.  We’ll be sharing a review closer to the release date, so keep an eye out for that!

Here’s the Intro:

And check out Partners

Photo Credit: Arm & Hammer

Our big orange tabby, Freckles, gets picky about his box.  He likes it to be clean or he’ll go outside of it.  He will mew and beg for his box to be scooped!  He’s also picky about what he will go potty on.  I tried to use these beads the vet gave us to cover the bottom of an empty litter box when trying to get a urine sample.  That cat would NOT go in that box.  The vet thought he’d scratch around in the beads, but no.  I even locked the poor guy in a room with that box while I was at work (plus food and water, of course!).  When I got home he still had not gone, but as soon as I opened the door he ran down in the basement and went to the bathroom in that litter box.

Talk about frustrating!

Getting samples from my cats is the worst.

So, we have three boxes in the basement for them, right?  Well, they like to use one for peeing in and the other two for poop, though there is often a mix of both in all boxes.  We find it interesting that they seem to have designated one box for #1 and the others for #2.  It makes scooping interesting.  To really put Ultra Last to the test, we used it in only the pee box first.  The baking soda that covers the granules is keeping the smell down.  It hasn’t been scooped for a couple days (Shh!) and doesn’t smell that bad.  I mean, it’s still a cat box, but I can get near it without gagging.

The other feature that is nice is how s0lid the clumps form.  I hate when the clumps disintegrate mid-scoop.  Ugh!  Talk about making clean up a pain.  Then there is lots of crumbled dirty litter in the box which doesn’t help the smell.  This in turn will lead to Freckles going outside of his box.  It’s just not a pretty site!  So, solid clumping is a definite plus.

If you are interested in trying some Ultra Last out for yourself, head on over to Target or Walmart and pick yourself up a box.  I think you’ll like it, especially if you don’t scoop daily!

Where to buy: All national Target and Walmart stores so it’s easy to find!  Available in 20lb., 28lb. and 31lb. boxes with suggested retail price of $8.99 to $13.99.

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Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf Arm & Hammer and received a product coupon to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

This was the first demo that I saw outside of the grocery section.  Usually it’s food samples.  I was curious how exactly they would administer lotion samples.  The stand was by the beauty section, not far from where all the lotion was kept.  The stand was stocked with a few kinds of Dial™ NutriSkin™ lotion.  The top of the stand had four bottles (one of each kind) ready to go and a big stack of $1 off coupons.

The woman working at the stand shared some information about the ingredients.  Unfortunately, I don’t really remember what she told me.  She asked which one I wanted to try.  I wasn’t sure, so I sat there for several LONG minutes as I looked at them back and forth.  Finally I settled on the extra sensitive skin formula.  The mens formulated lotion definitely didn’t apply to me and the others just didn’t seem quite right either.

I told her I wanted to try the extra sensitive skin lotion.  She put on clean gloves and squirted some onto the back of my hand.  I rubbed it in and was surprised at how quickly it absorbed.  It wasn’t greasy either.  Most lotions have at least a little bit of a greasy feel or leave me still feeling dry.  This stuff felt very nice!  As I grabbed a bottle off of the side shelf of the stand, she said that one was selling a lot today.  I think she said she had just restocked it.

There aren’t always test bottles in regular stores, but it sure is nice to try something like a lotion before buying it.  There are several I would never have bought if I’d tried it first no matter how good it smelled!  I do wish there was a sign that said what the stand was for.  I know they want people to walk up to it, but when others are blocking the way, it’d be nice to know what is being showcased.  You can see where the demo stand was and where to find this lotion in the store in my Google+ album.

I did end up leaving the lotion with my mom because she suffers from extremely dry skin.  But, I will probably pick up some more for our home!

Did you attend the in-store demo?  Do you like seeing these at Walmart?

Connect with Dial™ NutriSkin™ Facebook and on Twitter at @DialNutriSkin or search for conversations with #DialNutriSkin.

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Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias  #DialNutriSkin All thoughts and experienxces shared are our own.

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: The Friendship Express

Release Date: February 28, 2012

Synopsis/About:

My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: The Friendship Express will arrive on DVD on February 28, 2012, from Shout! Factory in collaboration with Hasbro Studios. Featuring 5 pony-riffic episodes, Friendship is Magic: The Friendship Express will also offerbonus features such as  Meet the Ponies, sing-a-longs and coloring sheets. It will also include “Yipper Caper,” the very first episode of the new Pound Puppies series.

My Review:

I am loving the return of some of my favorite cartoons from my childhood! I loved My Little Pony toys and show. They have a new look which is crisper, more colorful, and more anime-styled (you can see it in the eyes). I actually really enjoyed watching this DVD with Rissa. Maybe too much? I keep getting the theme song stuck in my head…

This DVD contains five episodes and several bonus features, such as sing along songs and the new Pound Puppies episode, Yipper Caper. (Yes! Pound Puppies!!):

• Friendship Is Magic, Part 1 (Mare In The Moon)
• Friendship Is Magic, Part 2 (Elements Of Harmony)
• Over A Barrel
• Hearth’s Warming Eve
• The Last Roundup

The first two episodes set the stage for the new series and introduces you to the characters.  Twilight Sparkle is a bookworm and tries to warn Princess Celestia about the 1000 year prophecy of the Dark Mare.  Twilight is surprised to be sent to Ponyville and instructed by the Princess to find friends.  Through friendship, Twilight is able to save the ponies from the Dark Mare.  I found Over a Barrel interesting as it dealt with the ponies of Appleoosa and the buffalo disputing over land use.  It was quite political for a children’s cartoon – which was unexpected.  Hearth’s Warming Eve is a holiday special focused on cooperation rather than feeding off of anger and fighting.  Then the last round up teaches the importance of facing your problems rather than running from them and that your friends can help if you tell them what’s going on!

Here is a clip from Heath’s Warming Eve:

All the shows carry themes about the importance of friendship and communication. Almost any problem the Ponies face can be overcome by one or the other, but often a combination of the two. I think this is a good message for children. I like that no one is really “bad” in the end. They are able to redeem themselves or compromise in order to re-establish peace.  The character development and story writing are quite good in all honesty.  I wasn’t really expecting that.

Rissa loved the sing a long feature, since it was all music. I liked that they included a full Pound Puppy episode. Their look has completely changed too, but it’s nice to watch one and a great way to let parents know it’s also available. While the Ponies tend to appeal more to girls, the Puppies are a great gender neutral option.  The new Ponies aren’t girl specific as the stories can be enjoyed by boys as well and they might like Spike, the baby dragon.

Where to buy: Available My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: The Friendship Express
on Amazon!

One way I try to stay healthy is by taking supplements. I know I don’t get enough of essential vitamins and minerals each day so… I have to make up for it somehow. It seems like nowadays everyone needs to take something.

Makes me wonder what’s so different now that we can’t get what our bodies need from our diets. Well, besides all the processes food. Okay, so I answered my own question…

It’s true, I do find it easier to get my daily nutrients in a pill rather than diet. I know straight from the food source is likely best, but I know I wouldn’t be able to get the right nutrients in the right amounts each day.

Recently I’ve been trying these Ultimate Omega D3 soft gel pills from Nordic Naturals. They contain double strength EPA and DHA which support healthy brain and eye development. I like taking DHA supplements for providing Rissa with it via my breastmilk. They also contain Vitamin D3, which is the natural form of Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is supposed to be good for bones, joints, immune systems and more. It’s another one we don’t seem to get enough of anymore. I know a few doctors say Wisconsin residents should supplement with Vitamin D because we don’t get enough sun year round (a source of Vitamin D) due to winter and more cloud cover than “sunshine” states.

To include these as part of your daily regimen, take two soft gels once a day with food. I tend to take my vitamins at supper each night.

I’ve been taking Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega D3 for a little over a week now. They are larger than other DHA supplements I’ve taken. Although they are long and skinny, I have some issues swallowing them down.

My husband asked if I was supposed to chew them based on their size and statement of a great lemon flavor. I said no, but I don’t like lemons so I hoped not to taste it. So far so good.

Nordic Naturals wants to hear from you! They have a contest going on called What’s Essential where you can share what is essential in your life for a chance to win Nordic Naturals products. You can also stay connected with Nordic Naturals on Facebook.

There’s also a special contest just for bloggers! If you post about what you find essential in life, you can enter for a special prize! See more information at Nordic Naturals What’s Essential Blogger Contest.

Do you take supplements? What do you think is essential?

She goes through stretches where they are inseparable. While she was super attached last month, I started to worry about what would happen if he got lost. How would we recover? When she starts searching for him and asking “Where’d it go?” we pretty much have to find him before she will settle down. Or, what about if he gets really dirty? She likes to have him at her side at dinner and during diaper changes.

I don’t know if this is normal or not, but I decided I must buy a stunt double. A kitty that is capable of making her happy in case Peaches gets lost, dirty, or otherwise damaged.

I bought a duplicate Peaches. I call him Kitty2.

When Kitty2 arrived, my intention was to hide him until his services were needed. It’s not easy to hide things in our house (if I want to find them again, that is!). He remained in the shipping box for a bit as I tried to figure out where to stash him. Plus, I had to do it while she couldn’t see what was going on.

Well, I waited too long… She found him.

She got super excited too, shouting “Kih-tee! Kih-tee!”

I had no choice. I had to let the second cat out of the bag. Now we have twin kitties that she plays with. If you are wondering, yes, I can tell them apart.

Have you ever bought a twin toy?

15 Fun Facts About Rissa

1. She loves to dance. It has to be catchy music or metal. Lullabies and oldies get curious looks from her, but do not get her booty shakin’. There are commerical jingles that she will drop everything for in order to dance along, often Subway wins this honor.
2. She loves to read. She will page through the same books over and over again. Forwards, backwards, skipping around. She will bring books to us and climb into our laps. She’s even been known to physically put her book in my hand.
3. She’s curious, fearless, and stubbornwhich can be a challenging combination. She climbs everything and wants to know how it works. She has no fears about climbing and perching on the arms of the couch.
4. She is, however, terrified of the vacuum cleaner and the Swiffer mop. The mere sight of them sends her whimpering and backpedaling into mama’s arms.
5. Her vocabulary is constantly expanding. If she doesn’t know how to say the word or sign it, she may be able to pick it out of a line up.
6. She’s growing, but is dainty. Her height and weight are now below normal according to the doctor’s growth charts, but her head circumference is average for her age. So, she has to grow into her brain yet. That’s okay, I was a small baby and toddler too. Let’s just hope she doesn’t suddenly get fat and pudgy like her mama did when puberty started!
7. She loves to look at pictures and movies of babies and kids, especially when it is herself. She will laugh and clap right along with videos of herself.
8. She’s already mastered the toddler limp rag doll move which makes it difficult to pick her up.
9. She’s very sociable with other children. She’s mostly sociable with other adults, but tends to be shier around them. Older men are scary if only if they get within arms reach, such as her grandpas. Though if she approaches them, then it’s all good.
10. She’s starting to hide after she poops. She also is starting to dig into her diaper and trying to take it off.
11. Finding bellybuttons is a fun game. She will lift her clothes to find hers and lift mama’s shirt too.
12. She’s been saying her first sentence “Where’d it go?” though it sort of sounds like one word “weardigo.”
13. She’s getting more interested in cartoons and animated movies than before. She will point out things she sees such as a duck or a dog.
14. She’s amazing at spotting kitties. They are her favorite animal. Our large tabby, Freckles, even puts up with her laying on him and hugging and tugging him.
15. She’s fascinated by bunnies right now because of how mama wiggles her nose. She tries to do it too, but does more of a scrunch face. She’s doing it for many different animals as she learns how to categorize and group them.

What about your little ones? What are their current fun facts?  Write a post and share the link in the comments or put your list in the comments.  You don’t even have to do 15 – do as may or few as you want!

Futurama Season 6 on Blu-Ray and DVD

Release Date: Dec. 20, 2011

Special Features (Blu-ray and DVD):

• Deleted Scenes
• Audio Commentary
• Professor Farnsworth’s “Science of a Scene”
• Reincarnation Explained! With Director Peter Avanzino
• Futurama F.A.Q. (Frequently Axed Questions)
• Christopher’s Big Score: The Music of Futurama
• Futurama Fans: 101 Questions

Synopsis:

Fry was a mid-twenties nobody pizza delivery boy when he was accidently cryogenically frozen for 1000 years.  He starts over in New New York as an interplanetary delivery boy at Planet Express.  Here he gets into shenanigans with the rest of the crew which features a foul-mouthed booze-loving robot named Bender, a female one-eyed mutant named Leela who captains the ship, and Professor Farnsworth, an elderly mad scientist who is actually Fry’s nephew.

My Review:

If you aren’t familiar with Futurama, you may not be aware that it ran on Fox for a few years, was cancelled, then reruns aired for a few years with some straight to DVD production before being picked up again by Comedy Central.  The zaniness of this show continues and it’s awesome that it’s been renewed for a 7th season. It’s one of our favorite animated (adult) series.  I love the way it blends dumb and smart humor with a dash of geekery. My favorite characters are Fry and Leela, though Bender comes in at a close third. There are some running jokes throughout Futurama that will pop up from time to time. While you don’t have to watch all of the episodes (or even in order), you will understand broader character development if you do, such as the ups and downs of the love tension between Fry and Leela.

While this show is not created for kids, it’s pretty family friendly.  Or maybe it seems that way to me since any fighting is usually with aliens (though they often try to resolve what’s going on).  My favorite episode is Yo Leela Leela where Leela ends up with a children’s show after a visit to the Orphanarium she grew up in.  I’ve often wondered how one could develop such successful children’s characters and songs!  I’m not going to spoil it for you though, but I suspect they are spot on with how the whole thing works.

Recommended - If you enjoy The Simpsons or crave humorous science fiction, then you will likely enjoy Futurama!

Fuzzybuttons and Babybuttons are upcycled creatures born out of the craft closet of a mother and daughter team. They are made out of yarn and fabric scraps and buttons. Well, the Fuzzybuttons use buttons, the Babybuttons do not. A great way to use up craft supplies instead of throwing them out!

The Fuzzybuttons are ideal for children over 3 years of age due to the buttons, though they seem fairly secure. The Babybuttons use only yarn so they are safe for littler ones, such as my 15 month old daughter. The colors and button styles give each one a sense of character. They are small and easy to take anywhere, which is a plus for kids. The variety of textures provides sensory development and exploration from curiosity to being the new worry stone. I know I find rubbing certain fabrics/textures to be soothing.

My little guys don’t want to sit up on their own though because the buttons are heavy enough to make them roll. Rissa enjoyed throwing her Babybutton. To her, it was a new ball! She squeezed it then tried to bite it – testing it all out! – but didn’t like the yarn on her tongue. We throw him around since that’s how she wants to use him plus he’s pretty soft. Now I can (hopefully) reclaim the dryer balls she claimed as her own!

Here is the story of Fuzzybuttons straight from their creator:

Fuzzybuttons are handmade collectible plush toy creatures that are on a secret mission to save the world.
Lost and sad little buttons from all over the world end up in a magic place called Buttonwood. Here, the and collectible buttons join with left over fabric scraps, woolly and shaggy yarns and earthy fibers to begin a new re-purposed lifeas Fuzzybuttons who go around the world doing good deeds for humankind. When a Fuzzybutton is adopted and given a name, their secret power comes to life for as long as they are with you.

From bringing luck, comforting you, or keeping you company, each and every Fuzzybutton is a charming one-of-a-kind goodwill ambassador and lucky charm ready to embark on their mission helping make people happy in every corner of the world. Great for birthdays, holidays and as special gifts, Fuzzybuttons are guaranteed to make everyone smile!
Each Fuzzybutton comes with its own adoption certificate where you can fill in their name, certifying they are authentic and handmade with love.

Those who adopt a Fuzzybutton receive a lifetime membership in the private club, Friends of Fuzzybutton on FaceBook. Membership offers preview sales, first editions and rewards and discounts!