Growing My Kids Reviews

Review: Wuggle Pets!

2012-02-22T16:00:00.000-08:00

One recent weekend morning we were watching TV when a commercial for a new kids' product called Wuggle Pets came on the TV. My kids were totally enthralled by the commercial, so when I got an email later that week asking if I wanted to do a review of Wuggle Pets, I happily agreed. In case you've missed the commercials, Wuggle Pets are smalled stuffed animals that you "bring to life" yourself by adding stuffing, magic dust, and personality charms.

Cuddly Puppy And Magical Unicorn Pets With Clip Attached
1 Fun Filled Factory
2 Bags of Fluffy Stuffing
12 Personality Charms Pet Pet
2 Bags of Magic Dust
2 Birth Certificates
1 Zipper-Up Tool

My kids had an absolute blast filling their animals with stuffing, magic dust and personality charms, and then have been happily carrying them around for the past week. Here are some pictures from our Wuggle Pet experience-

The starter kit that comes with the filling tool and two animals is $19.99. Additional animals are $7.99 each, but you can get a party pack that comes with all 8 animals from the original series for $49.99. New animals will be released in the future.

All in all, we thought this was a fun toy, and that the animals are soft and cuddly and adorable. My kids thought it was a lot of fun, and it's definitely something that I could see being a big hit at a kids' birthday party.

Disclosure: I received the Wuggle Pets starter kit to review for myself. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

Review: Dinosaur Train mural from Murals Your Way

2012-02-21T16:00:00.000-08:00

We live in a small condo in the city, so we don't have a lot of spare space. That means we also don't have a lot of spare walls to decorate, since most of the surfaces are pretty well covered. However, when I got the chance to review a Dinosaur Train mural for the kids' room, I couldn't pass up the opportunity!

Murals Your Way is a company that makes murals for any room in your home or business- in any size you need! You can either choose from one of their many designs, or use your own image/photo. Murals Your Way had 15 different Dinosaur Train designs for us to choose from, and honestly, choosing a design was the hardest part of the process.

Once the kids and I decided which Dinosaur Train picture we wanted on our wall, I measured the space and sent off our dimensions. You can choose either a proportional size mural or one that custom fits your space. Not too many days later, a big box showed up at my front door. We were so excited!

Installation was fairly simple, but it definitely does require two people (as the instructions note). I suggest reading the instructions carefully! The mural itself is on a nice, heavy material, and we were easily able to remove and reposition the mural as needed. It's even reusable, so if you move to a different space, you can take your mural along with you.

Here's our finished product- which we all love so much!

The kids especially liked that the train has their names on the side- what a special touch!

We are very happy with this mural and with our experience with Murals Your Way. If you're looking for some special decor for your home or business, I suggest checking out what Murals Your Way has to offer!

Disclosure: I received this mural to review for myself. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

Giveaway Tuesday Linky!

2012-02-20T19:30:00.000-08:00

I'm particularly excited to see this Tuesday arrive- my husband and I are off on an airplane to Reykjavik, Iceland for a short vacation! But before I go, here's this week's linky. Take a minute, link up your giveaways and enter the others listed here. Thanks for dropping by!

Book review: It's a Big World, Little Pig

2012-02-18T19:42:00.000-08:00

In a bit of fabulous timing, a new book arrived at my home for my kids this week, and their Nana, who loves to read books, happens to be visiting! So after I opened the package, I passed off the new book, It's a Big World, Little Pig to my mom and story time began. And the book was a hit with everyone! Here's a bit about this book, from a press release that I received:

It’s a Big World, Little Pig! follows Poppy as she travels to Paris to compete in the World Games. At first, Poppy is nervous about meeting so many new people in a new place. But, ever courageous and supported by her family (and best friend Emma, too!), Poppy begins to realize that although these animals look different, act different, and are from different places, they are all the same at heart. They all smile in the same language!

It's a Big World, Little Pig is written by figure skating legend Kristi Yamaguchi and 100% of her profits from the book will benefit early childhood literacy programs supported by her Always Dream Foundation.

My mom is a librarian and used to focus on children's literature, so she's an expert on kids' books, and both she and my kids thought the book was great. I read through it myself and wholeheartedly agreed with them. We all liked the great illustrations of Poppy the Pig and her new friends. The illustrations and text work together nicely to bring Poppy's adventures to life. We also really liked the multi-cultural aspect of the story and the fact that it introduces kids to a few new words in other languages. This is definitely a book that we'll be happy to read again!

It's a Big World, Little Pig will be available on March 6, 2012 in hardcover. Visit this link for more information.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to review for myself. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

Special issue magazine review: $10 Dinners or Less!

2012-02-18T10:45:00.000-08:00

If you've been reading this blog for any period of time, you're probably familiar with the fact that I do not excel at cooking. Actually, that's not entirely true. Once I start cooking, I'm fine, but remembering that dinner exists and then coming up with ideas of what to feed my family is a struggle. So when I heard about a new special issue of a magazine from Hearst Specials, called $10 Dinners or Less, I knew I wanted to review it! Here's a bit about this issue, from a press release that I received.

Spend less, eat better!

Who isn’t looking to save money these days? Now you can feed your family without blowing your budget with these cost-conscious recipes from the editors of Good Housekeeping, Redbook, and Country Living. Enjoy all your favorites—pasta, beef stew, meatloaf, roast chicken, even homemade versions of Chinese take-out and pizza, all for just $2.50 or less per person. Plus, you’ll find:

*Expert tips on dollar-smart supermarket shopping, department-by-department
*Strategies for getting the most out of coupons, including buying on sale and in bulk
*Surprising ways to make your food go further than you ever thought possible

Bottom line? With low-cost recipes and excellent advice, you can enjoy healthy, delicious dinners – and major savings - at the supermarket.

GET THIS SPECIAL EDITION FOR ONLY $6.99
Available at your local supermarket or bookstore today, or as a digital version at Zinio.com or Nook.bn.com.

This is such a handy little magazine! It starts out with a section called "Dollar-Smart Shopping" which has all sorts of hints on how to save money in different departments of the grocery store, alternative places to buy food, and a handy time vs. money comparison chart that breaks down the costs of cheap food and convenient food. There's also a section on food storage- I really appreciated this section, as it seems like we are frequently throwing out food that's gone bad before we got to it.

The actual recipes are great too. They're presented in sections called "cheap-cheap chicken", "meat for less", "vegetarian values", "excellent eggs", penny-wise pasta", and "homemade takeout". The recipes are neatly laid out with detailed instructions on ingredients, preparation and nutrition information. All in all, this is a really handy and informative magazine, and I'm glad to have it in my kitchen! $10 Dinners or Less is available now, on newsstands and in bookstores near you.

Disclosure: I received this magazine to review for myself. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

CD review and giveaway: Brian Vogan & His Good Buddies- Born to Wiggle

2012-02-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

My husband brought the mail in the other day and handed me a small package from the bottom of the pile. When I opened it, I squealed with joy. Upon seeing that it was a CD, he asked what I was so happy about. I told him it was a new kids' CD "by that guy whose music we like, you know, the one who wrote the great handwashing song". He did indeed remember who I was talking about, and was happy to let me put the new CD, Born to Wiggle, in our CD player. Here's a bit about Brian Vogan, from his website:

Brian Vogan is a songwriter, performer and early childhood music teacher in Seattle, Washington. He teaches music to infant to preschool age children and the songs he writes are directly inspired by the interests and ideas of the children he educates.

Born to Wiggle is the third album from Brian Vogan & His Good Buddies, and it's just as fabulous as the earlier albums. Brian Vogan & His Good Buddies are incredibly talented musicians, singing songs with great, amusing lyrics, and a fabulous sound as well. The songs on Born to Wiggle range from sweet to outright headbanging music. It's an album that both my kids and I are happy to listen to again and again. Born to Wiggle is available now!

And I have great news for you guys! Brian sent me an extra CD to pass on to one lucky reader! Open to US mailing addresses only, please. Enter at the Rafflecopter widget below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I received a copy of this CD to review for myself, as well as another to give away. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

NurturMe Partners with Feed the Children

2012-02-15T09:54:00.000-08:00

I received some interesting information yesterday about a great partnership between NurturMe and Feed the Children, and wanted to pass it on to you all!

NurturMe (www.nurturme.com) announced today its partnership with charity Feed The Children (www.feedthechildren.org) for their collaborative Open Your Hearts, Nurtur For Nutrition campaign. Beginning February 14^th, today, NurturMe, the first and only quick-dried, organic baby food, is donating one 18-serving variety pack to Feed The Children for every one purchased by a consumer.
The donations will benefit Feed The Children’s Americans Feeding Americans Caravan with a goal of donating over 100,000 meals to children and families over the course of the six-month campaign. Consumers can also elect to donate their purchase at time of check-out, thus doubling the donation to 36 servings directly to Feed The Children. The NurturMe-Feed The Children Variety Pack is an exclusive item available only online at www.nurturme.com.
The distribution is part of Feed The Children’s Americans Feeding Americans Caravan, which has helped more than 335,000 families across the country since it began in 2009. Feed The Children’s tractor-trailers deliver a 25-pound box of food, a 10-pound box of personal care items and a box of Avon products to pre-identified families. The boxes are designed to help a family of four for up to one week.

Book review and giveaway: The Guardian Duke

2012-02-15T09:47:00.000-08:00

I've always been a big fan of books set during the Regency period of time (early 1800s) in England. So when I heard about a new book set in this time period by Jamie Carie called The Guardian Duke, I happily accepted the opportunity to review it. Here's a bit about this book, from the press release that I received:

The Guardian Duke is award-winning novelist Jamie Carie’s most exciting story yet, a uniquely arranged Regency-era romantic adventure where hero and heroine know each other through written letters but have yet to meet.

Gabriel, the Duke of St. Easton, is ordered by the King to take guardianship over Lady Alexandria Featherstone whose parents are presumed dead after failing to return from a high profile treasure hunt. But Alexandria ignores this royal reassignment, believing her parents are still alive and duly following clues that may lead to their whereabouts. Gabriel, pressured by what are actually the King’s ulterior motives, pursues her across windswept England and the rolling green hills of Ireland but is always one step behind.

When they do meet, the search for earthly treasure will pale in comparison to what God has planned for both of them.

I expected a typical Christian romance novel, but boy was I wrong! The mystery and adventure starts on page 3 and never lets up for a minute. I started the book in the evening and ended up staying up WAY too late to finish it because I couldn't put it down. There's a bit of everything in this book- romance, travel, adventure, foreign spies, discussions of faith and duty. It's all beautifully written with great detail. I felt like I was living the adventure along with the characters! (Spoiler alert- skip this next sentence if you don't want to know one fact about the end of the book) I especially liked the part of the book where the character heads off to Reykjavik, Iceland- because my husband and I are heading there next week! Random, but fun!

The only thing that I did not absolutely love was that this book is part 1 in a series, and I have to wait a few months to see what happens next. I can't wait!

I have great news- I'm giving away a copy of this book to one lucky reader. Open to US addresses only, enter at the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclosure: I received a copy of this book to review and the chance to give another away. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

App review: Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App

2012-02-14T15:00:00.000-08:00

Every time that I add a fun new app to my iPod, the battle to keep the iPod from my kids gets a little harder. They know there is fun to be had, if they can just get their hands on that shiny little device! Recently I made things worse for myself when I accepted the chance to review a fun app called "Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App." Here's a bit about this app, from its website:

“Don’t Let the Pigeon Run This App!” lets you create your own Pigeon stories with your pal, Mo Willems. Just follow as the Bus Driver asks you for your ideas—then shake the Pigeon. Your story is ready! Sit back and enjoy the show. Once you’re finished, try it again…and again. You can make as many silly stories as you want.

This fully animated app includes hilarious shake-and-play technology, customized voice integration, and other exciting interactive features. Plus, you can draw the Pigeon with Mo!

COOL FEATURES
Starring appearance by the Pigeon, voiced by Mo Willems!
Also starring YOU! Record your own voice as part of the story.
Pigeon-drawing tutorial with Mo!
Personalized vault for six of your favorite Big Pigeon stories!

EVEN MORE COOL FEATURES!
Three unique storytelling modes!
Read-along option!
Shake-and-tap interactivity!
Pigeon-y sound effects and music!

We're big fans of the Pigeon books, so Ethan was really excited to see this app on my iPod, and he's been playing it often. The app is primarily a storytelling app, with three modes called Egg, Chick or Big Pigeon. Since Ethan is a non-reader, he has been mostly playing with the Egg mode, which doesn't require any user input, it just tells a Pigeon story. The story does change each time you play, which is fun and has been keeping Ethan entertained. In Chick mode, you can personalize the story by choosing from a series of options on the screen, and in Big Pigeon mode, you actually record your voice answering a series of questions, and those answers are then put into the story.

There is also a drawing mode on this app, where you can either free draw or follow along in a "Draw the Pigeon" lesson. Ethan's a big fan of drawing on the iPod, so he's also been having a great time with this feature.

All in all, my family has been having a great time with "Don't Let the Pigeon Run This App!". If your kids love the Pigeon stories, definitely check it out!

Disclosure: I received this app to review for myself, thanks to Disney Publishing and the Family Review Network. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

Giveaway Tuesday Linky!

2012-02-13T20:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Here's this week's linky- please take a minute, link up your giveaways and enter the others listed here. Thanks for dropping by!

Master Lock's Random Acts of Kindness Week!

2012-02-13T07:38:00.000-08:00

I received some interesting information today regarding Master Lock's Random Acts of Kindness Week and wanted to pass it on to you all!

MASTER LOCK CELEBRATES NATIONAL RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS WEEK BY HELPING AMERICANS LOCK-UP THEIR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS
Company Provides Tips and Surprises Thousands of Consumers with Free Locks
MILWAUKEE (Feb. 6, 2012) –While improving health, fitness and organization consistently rank among the top New Year’s resolutions for consumers, recent research shows most Americans have trouble sticking to resolutions. By February, 36 percent of people have already abandoned their resolution, and by April, this total increases to 54 percent1. To help consumers stay on track, Master Lock is celebrating National Random Acts of Kindness Week®2 (February 13 – 19) by offering a variety of tips and products that are sure to help Americans lock-up their resolutions. Throughout the week, visitors to the brand’s Facebook page can enter daily for a chance to win free Master Lock products through a national sweepstakes. The company also will inspire gym-goers in select cities to stick to their fitness plans by handing out free 1534D Set-Your-Own Combination Password locks.
“A New Year’s resolution to positively change or enhance your life is an admirable goal if you can stick to it,” said Rebecca Smith, vice president, marketing for Master Lock. “We feel National Random Acts of Kindness Week is a great opportunity to spread a little kindness by providing consumers with added motivation, tips and products needed to maintain their goals for the year.”
In conjunction with Master Lock’s acts of kindness, the company has created the following set of tips to help consumers strategically adapt to their new lifestyles and make their New Year’s resolutions permanent habits:
•           Write It Down…and Share It. Simply thinking through your resolutions and storing them mentally isn’t going to ensure you stay committed. Having a list of goals in your organizer, smart phone, or social media profile that you can easily access and share will reinforce your promise to yourself and spur encouragement from your followers and friends.
•           Get the right gear. Whether your goals revolve around getting back in the gym or being more organized at home, having the right products to help you succeed is a must. For organization, the 7148D document storage box can help keep important documents safely filed away. To securely organize your digital life, register for a free account at www.masterlockvault.com to safely store your user names, passwords and other confidential data for easy access anytime, anywhere. Getting good shoes, proper work-out wear, and a new gym lock such as the 1534D Password lock will help reinvigorate your enthusiasm to exercise.
•           Do it for a Month. In order for a new behavior to become a habit, you must stick to it for at least 30 days. Setting this small goal will make achieving your overall resolution more realistic. Plus, you can be encouraged when you’ve reached the one-month mark and assess your progress.
•           Keep a Journal. Commit to writing one to two sentences about your progress toward your goals each day. Keeping a written record of how you’re doing will keep your resolution top of mind and motivate you to continue to make changes.
•           One Step at a Time. Don’t set too many goals and then try tackling them all at once. Make one goal your priority and focus on changing your habits to achieve it. Once you’ve mastered it, set your sights on two additional goals, giving yourself realistic timelines to achieve them and go from there.
During National Random Acts of Kindness Week, Master Lock will be surprising gym-goers in six cities with the innovative 1534D Password lock to encourage them to stick to their fitness resolutions and spread a little kindness. The lock is ideal for safely storing your personal belongings during a workout and will be distributed in the following markets:
•           Chicago, Illinois
•           Los Angeles, California
•           San Francisco, California
•           New York, New York
•           Dallas, Texas
•           Miami, Florida
Consumers outside of the six markets can also get in on the fun and celebrate National Random Acts of Kindness week by visiting Master Lock’s Facebook page to enter for a chance to win prizes, including the 1534D Password Locks and Visa gift cards.
For more information about the tips above and other security solutions, please visit Master Lock’s website at www.masterlock.com or the Master Lock Facebook page at www.facebook.com/masterlock

Review and giveaway: Dr. Seuss's Deluxe Edition- The Lorax

2012-02-13T07:09:00.000-08:00

"He speaks for the trees!" Somehow, I made it through more than three decades of life without ever running across the Dr. Seuss story called The Lorax. This problem was fixed last week, with the arrival at my home of Dr. Seuss's Deluxe Edition- The Lorax. Here's a bit about this DVD/Blu-ray, from a press release that I received:

Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax is the classic TV special that tells the tale of how an enterprising but greedy villain named the Once-ler, strips a forest of its lush Truffula trees, bringing them to near extinction for the sake of profit.

The story begins with the Once-ler, a faceless businessman who lives alone in a sad, gray wasteland. He recounts how he first became obsessed with the Truffula trees’ potential to make him rich and how the Lorax, an endearing and wise little forest creature, tried to warn him that his greed was making him crazy.

It’s the Lorax’s job to “speak for the trees,” the wondrous Truffulas, that make up the beautiful forest in which various wildlife live, including Brown Bar-ba-loots, the Swamee-Swans, the Humming-Fish and the Lorax himself. The Once-ler, bewitched by the beauty of the Truffulas, greedily chops them down so he can mass produce versatile garments, called “Thneeds” out of the Truffula’s colorful tufts. As the trees swiftly disappear, so do the Brown Bar-ba-loots, the Swamee-Swans and the Humming-Fish. The wise old Lorax continuously warns the Once-ler but his words of wisdom are for naught as the “Thneed” business booms and the Once-ler is blinded by greed. What will it take for the Once-ler to learn his lesson? Will the Truffula trees become extinct or is there hope for regeneration?

I watched The Lorax with my kids, who are 4 1/2 and 2 1/2 and, honestly, they were a little too young to appreciate it. This is a great story about the importance of taking care of the environment and being responsible for the effects of one's actions. It's definitely very thought-provoking, and would be a great way to start a conversation with older kids about the environment. The show itself is short, only 25 minutes, and was originally a TV special that showed back in the 70s. It's now been digitally remastered and looks great! In addition to The Lorax, the Deluxe Edition also contains a featurette about the importance of trees in daily life, as well as two other Dr. Seuss animated stories- Pontoffel Pock & His Magic Piano and the Butter Battle Book.

Dr. Seuss's Deluxe Edition- The Lorax is available tomorrow, February 14, 2012. Visit this link for more information. And to view a clip from The Lorax, visit this link!

I have good news for you all- I'm passing on my copy of this DVD/Blu-ray/Ultraviolet Digital Copy to one of you! Open to US mailing addresses only, please enter at the Rafflecopter widget below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I received this movie to review for myself. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

Review and giveaway: Gevalia Kaffe

2012-02-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

I've been a big fan of Gevalia Kaffe for years. We used to subscribe to the delivery service from Gevalia when I worked in an office, and I always looked forward to my morning cup of coffee. So I was thrilled when I saw that Gevalia Kaffe is now available in stores! I purchased a bag of coffee, and it was as yummy as ever. So, when I got the opportunity to review several of the other new-to-stores Gevalia roasts, I happily accepted. Here's some information about this coffee, from a press release that I received:

Gevalia has been refining the art of luxurious coffee since 1853 and has a deep history of finding and blending the finest Arabica coffee beans from locations around the world.
Gevalia is expertly made with carefully selected beans, ground extra fine, to produce a rich coffee experience.
Previously available online only, Gevalia is now offering its top-ten varieties in U.S. coffee supermarket aisles nationwide in 10 varieties, including roast and ground, whole bean, flavored and decaffeinated varieties:

Gevalia Traditional Roast (ground and whole bean):
Gevalia Traditional Roast provides a perfectly balanced taste every time. Our most beloved blend – made of choice, mountain-grown Arabica beans – this coffee has a distinctive body and flavor with a lighter intensity. (Medium Roast).

Gevalia House Blend:
A Gevalia favorite, House Blend is a robust yet never bitter coffee. This roast has a captivating aroma that is only matched by its exceptional flavor. (Medium/Dark Roast).

Gevalia House Blend Decaf :
Delivering the same rich, never bitter flavor, House Blend Decaf has the same robust taste without all the caffeine. (Medium/Dark Roast).

Gevalia French Roast (ground and whole bean):
Gevalia French Roast is a coffee of impressive richness and dimension, expertly crafted from prized Arabica beans grown in Colombia and Brazil. Hints of aromatic smoke give this dark-roasted French Roast blend an intense, yet uniquely satisfying flavor. (Dark Roast).

Gevalia Colombia:
Grown high in the Colombian Andes, these beans produce a rich, bright and well-bodied Colombian coffee. This single origin classic is world-renowned, which is why we have sourced these beans for decades. (Medium Roast).

Gevalia Espresso Roast:
Gevalia Espresso Roast is made of premium, mountain-grown Arabica beans from East Africa and Central and South America. This roast is bold and full-bodied with a hint of caramel undertones. (Dark Roast).

Gevalia Vanilla:
This rich blend with vanilla flavor notes is crafted from choice mountain-grown Arabica beans, then roasted for exceptional body and flavor. Gevalia Vanilla is a flavorful and balanced experience with a heavenly aroma.

Gevalia Chocolate Mocha:
Gevalia Chocolate Mocha allows you to indulge your passion for decadent flavor. Rich, velvety chocolate flavor is blended with mountain-grown Arabica beans for a sweetly satisfying experience.

I received two of these Gevalia coffees to review, the House Blend and the French Roast. Normally, I buy the Traditional Roast, so these two coffees were a bit darker and stronger than what I usually drink, but I still really enjoyed them. A nice cup of coffee every time!

If you're a coffee lover, I have good news for you! One of you will win the same prize pack that I received, which contains one package of the House Blend and one of the French Roast, along with a Gevalia coffee mug. Open to US mailing addresses, enter at the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclosure: Kraft Foods has provided sample product and information to me, through MyBlogSpark and is providing the prizes for this program at no cost to me. This program is not administered or sponsored by Kraft Foods or its affiliates, but solely by Growing My Kids Reviews. All opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

Review: Wallaby Organic Greek Yogurt

2012-02-07T15:15:00.000-08:00

I'm a big fan of yogurt for breakfast, greek yogurt in particular. It's just a really nice start to my day (even though sometimes the kids don't let me get breakfast until closer to lunch time). So I was happy when I recently got the chance to review a new greek yogurt from Wallaby Organic Yogurt. Here's a bit about Wallaby Greek Lowfat Yogurt, from the Wallaby website:

Our new Greek lowfat yogurts are authentically strained, rich in protein, and made with premium organic ingredients. In addition to straining, we use our traditional, unhurried cooking process to develop the texture of these yogurts naturally and authentically—bringing you a Greek yogurt that’s not only organic, but unparalleled in taste.
The unique two-compartment cup allows you to control how much fruit is added to each thick and creamy spoonful. What you may not be able to control is how much you love each and every bite!

Wallaby Organic Greek Yogurt comes in plain, blueberry, cherry, honey and strawberry. For the fruit/strawberry yogurts, it's actually plain yogurt with a little cup of the fruit or honey on the side. My kids were absolutely fascinated by this, and kept running up to ask for bites of my yogurt. They thought it was so yummy that I had to start eating it while hiding from them. I really enjoyed all the fruit flavors, and thought the plain yogurt was really delicious as well. The yogurt has a nice, thick texture and I thought the portion sizes were good- just enough fruit to make the yogurt taste a little bit sweeter. I wasn't crazy about the honey flavor, since the honey was much darker and stronger in flavor than I'm used to, but that's just a personal preference thing.

I really enjoyed sampling all these Wallaby Organic Greek Yogurts and will definitely be picking up more at the store for my breakfasts.

Disclosure: I received samples of these yogurts to review for myself. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

Giveaway Tuesday Linky!

2012-02-06T19:30:00.000-08:00

It's that time of week again! Thanks for stopping by- please link up your great giveaways and check out the others that are listed. And be sure to look at my giveaway list on the right side of the screen. I have some new ones up, including a $20 Crate and Barrel gift card and An Original Baby Bullet baby food processer!

Review and giveaway: Cranberry Naturals Juices from Old Orchard

2012-02-06T13:34:00.000-08:00

My family loves juice, but as is true for many moms, I'm concerned about the level of sugar that is in many juices. So I was happy when I got the chance to review Cranberry Naturals Juices from Old Orchard. Here's a bit about these juices, from the Old Orchard website:

All-natural, reduced-calorie cranberry juice cocktails, sweetened with a blend of sugar and Truvia® - No HFCS, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Naturally sweet!

There are a number of flavors in the Cranberry Naturals line- Classic Cranberry, Cranberry Blueberry, Cranberry Raspberry, Cranberry Grape, Cranberry Apple, and Cranberry Pomegranate. We tried the Cranberry Blueberry and Cranberry Raspberry blends, and both Daniel and I really enjoyed them. They're sweet enough to be tasty, but not overly sweet, and with really good flavors.

The Cranberry Naturals juices contain at least 30% cranberry juice, while, according to the information I received, the leading brand of shelf-stable cranberry juice cocktail has less than 20% juice. Cranberry Naturals contains no high fructose corn syrup and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. And only 70 calories per serving!

Cranberry Naturals are now available at grocery stores nationwide. We were really pleased with what we tasted in the two varieties we tried, and I look forward to picking up more in the future and drinking more yummy juice! For more information on Old Orchard's Cranberry Naturals Juices, visit these links!

Twitter: twitter.com/oldorchardjuice

Facebook: facebook.com/oldorchard

Cranberry Naturals flavors: http://oldorchard.com/products/#!/show/groups/cranberry-naturals/

Truvia: http://truvia.com/about/

And I have great news- I have a coupon for free juice to give away to 5 lucky readers! Open to US mailing addresses, enter at the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I received juice to sample for myself, as well as coupons to give away. I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

Giveaway: $20 Crate and Barrel gift card

2012-02-04T09:35:00.000-08:00

I've got a fun giveaway for you guys today- a $20 Crate and Barrel gift card. I love this store so much, there are so many great things to buy there! Open to US mailing addresses only- enter at the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclosure: I received no product and no compensation for this post- just the opportunity to give away a gift card to one of you!

Bob Harper's Smart Success Products

2012-02-02T14:09:00.000-08:00

Back in December, I received an email asking me if I'd be interested in reviewing a new line of products- Bob Harper's Smart Success Products. I agreed, and a box of products showed up on my doorstep shortly thereafter. The box contained the Smart Weight Loss Starter Kit, the Smart Weight Loss pills, the Smart 7-Day Cleanse and the Smart Multivitamin.

After Christmas, my digestive system was thoroughly annoyed with me, so I started using the Smart 7-Day Cleanse. It's primarily a laxative (containing senna), and I did not take the pills for the full seven days, but just for about four days. I thought the pills were helpful for getting my system back on track and when I took them in combination with lots of water, I was feeling much better.

I also really liked the Smart Multivitamin. These multivitamin tablets contained all the vitamins that I like to get in my multivitamin, but were still small enough to swallow easily. As with all of the Smart Success products, the multivitamins are suitable for a dairy-free and gluten-free diet. Definitely a nice product.

My review of the Smart Weight Loss Starter Kit and the Smart Weight Loss pills is a little more mixed. The pills claim that the are backed up by two studies showing weight loss in participants. These don't appear to be published studies and very few details about these studies are given. Before I took the pills, I spent quite a while looking at other reviews on the internet, then I spent more time looking through toxicological and medical databases (I'm a toxicologist by training and have done quite a bit of work with dietary supplements). After a thorough review, I found only one published study using a supplement with the same ingredients (although levels were not indicated in the study or in the Smart Weight Loss pills) as in the TrimSmart Blend of the Smart Weight Loss pills. That study did show weight loss in a small group of overweight and obese people over several months.

I did not find anything that made me nervous about taking the pills, so I decided to go ahead with it. The Smart Weight Loss Starter Kit is a seven day program, designed to help jumpstart weight loss. In addition to the pills, it contains a meal plan and exercise plan, and bonus DVD. There are pills to take in the morning (containing caffeine) and other pills to take at night that do not contain caffeine.

Personally, the level of caffeine in the pills (180 mg per pill) was too much for me to handle and I could only tolerate half the dose. The same has been true for the Smart Weight Loss pills that I have been taking since I finished the starter kit. In addition to taking the pills, the user is recommended to also use a calorie-reduced diet and get regular exercise, as well as not snacking between meals or after dinner. And 8-10 glasses of water daily are recommended.

I've been on this weight loss plan in connection with also being on a weight loss plan for 6 weeks now. And I have lost some weight, but not more than I usually lose when just doing this weight loss plan alone. On weeks when I didn't watch my diet as closely or exercised less, I did not lose weight, despite taking the supplements the same every week. I do like think the caffeine boost in the mornings that I get from the pills is helpful- sometimes I can't even get a few sips of coffee in me before the kids drag me off to do something else, and taking the pill is definitely easier!

So, what's my conclusion here. First- as with ANY dietary supplement, please, please talk to your doctor before taking it. Especially if you are sensitive to caffeine or have any medical conditions. Dietary supplements are not nothing. They have real effects on people and real interactions with each other and with prescriptions. Secondly, in the time I have been taking these pills, I don't think they've caused any more weight loss than the reduced calorie/increased exercise/increased water/no snacking alone would cause. But in the interest of full disclosure, I am taking only half of the recommended dose, because of the caffeine content. I do plan to continue taking the weight loss pills for a while longer, primarily because I need some extra energy and the caffeine provides that, which means I'm more likely to exercise!

Disclosure: I received these products to review for myself and was not compensated in any other way. All opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

Join the Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club!

2012-02-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

We live in the city and are pretty much completely surrounded by concrete and buildings. Which is okay with me, since I'm not much of an outdoors-person. Daniel and I do try to take the kids to parks and other outdoor areas when we can, and we're fortunate to live in an area where tons of beautiful places are easily accessible with just a short drive. Still, I know I need to incorporate more exposure to nature into the kids' everyday life and not just wait for special occasions. So I was really happy to learn about the Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club. Here's a bit about this program, from the PBS Parents website:

Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club is a community of young children, their families and educators committed to learning about nature and doing good things for their environment. Nature Trackers enjoy exploring and having adventures, respecting their environment, collecting things, tracking and observing plants and animals, and challenging themselves to get outside and make discoveries every day.
Buddy, Tiny, Shiny and Don formed a Nature Trackers Club and you can join too! Print out the Nature Trackers Guide Book to get started. All you need to do is complete a Nature Trackers Challenge, and you’re on your way! And to receive your official Nature Trackers token, complete all four challenges and mail in the membership form included in the Guide Book.* And remember, the first rule of the Nature Trackers club is to have fun!
*Offer good while supplies last.

Ethan was off school today for an inservice day, so it was the perfect time for us to start being Nature Trackers! I printed the free booklet off the website and outside we went. There are four challenges in the booklet, and we started with the first one, "Tracking". We walked the same route that we always walk between here and the Children's Museum, but today, instead of hurrying along, we spent time looking for animal tracks, watching birds, checking out earthworms on the path, and listening to the noises of nature all around us (even in the city!). Our Children's Museum has a mountain area, with reproductions of the outdoors, so we went on an expedition to look for birds up in the "trees" and spent time looking at the animal tracks beneath our feet.

We had a great time with this first activity, and I can't wait to take on the other three challenges in the book as well. What a fun way to teach my kids about nature!

The Dinosaur Train Nature Trackers Club is free and easy to join. What are you waiting for!

Disclosure: I received no product and no compensation for this post, but will be receiving a related product for review in a later post. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.

Review and giveaway: The Original Baby Bullet

2012-01-31T13:14:00.000-08:00

Back in December, I got an email asking me if I'd like to review the Baby Bullet. I'd seen it advertised on TV and thought it looked cool, but since my kids are out of the baby food stage, I thought that I'd try it out, write a review and pass it on to someone with an actual baby. Yeah, that's SO not going to happen :) Before I get into the details, here's a bit about the Baby Bullet.

The Original Baby Bullet™ Food Processor allows you to easily make and store your very own healthy and delicious baby food. Simply place the batchbowl or the short cup on the high-torque power base, press down, twist and your making baby food. The batchbowl is perfect for creating large amounts of baby food, while the short cup comes in handy to mix and store ingredients. With the baby blend blade you can puree and blend, while the milling blade is great for milling grains to make cereals with the short cup. Storage cups feature a date dial to show the date you created the food, while the batch tray allows you to freeze large batches. Batchbowl, short cups, blades and storage cups are dishwasher safe (top shelf only).

When the box arrived, Ethan excitedly exclaimed "Mom! I saw that on TV!" After he calmed down, we unpacked the box and lined everything up on the counter. Since I had a fruit bowl full of fruit, I started cutting up pears and threw them into the Baby Bullet. Seconds later, I had pureed pears for the kids. Delicious and incredibly easy. I like the little storage cups with the date dial- very handy for making food ahead of time and having it ready when it's needed.

Since we got the Baby Bullet, we've made applesauce, pear puree, and a mango sauce for the fish dinner we ate one night. It's been a great way to get the kids involved in making their own food, which is a good way to get them more interested in also eating it!

Cutting the mango

Ready to blend!

Enjoying the fruits of our labor

For myself, I've been using the short cup to make myself a yogurt and fruit smoothie every morning. I love that the short cup gives me the ability to make just the amount I need, and cleanup takes just seconds. And having your breakfast smiling at you in the morning is a pretty fun way to start the day :)


My breakfast

All in all, I think this is a sturdy, useful, versatile, easy-to-use tool to have in my kitchen and I'm really looking forward to coming up with new things to make for the whole family.

And I have good news! One of you will win the same box of fun that I received- it contains the Baby Bullet, the short cup, batch cup, spatula, two blades, storage cups and batch tray. Open to US mailing addresses only, enter at the Rafflecopter widget below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received this product to review for myself, as well as the opportunity to give one away. All opinions posted here are mine and mine alone.

Giveaway Tuesday linky!

2012-01-30T21:17:00.001-08:00

Happy Tuesday, here's this week's linky. I can't wait to see what you guys have for all of us to enter this week!

Review: My Blue Bumbershoot

2012-01-30T12:05:00.000-08:00

As you all know, I live in Seattle. And yes, it rains a lot here. And I spend a lot of time walking in the rain, since we're a city family and I do most of my errand-running on foot. Surprisingly though, I don't typically use an umbrella- partly because my hands are full with kids and strollers, and partly because it's very windy when it rains and many umbrellas aren't practical.

So I was very interested when I got the opportunity to review a new product- My Blue Bumbershoot, an umbrella for your stroller! Here's a bit about this, from its website:

Easy to use. My Blue Bumbershoot simply clamps onto your stroller.
One size fits all. Attach it to virtually any type of stroller.
Great design. You'll love how durable, adjustable, stowable and lightweight it is.

My Blue Bumbershoot is the brainchild of much trial and error - and, finally success. My Blue Bumbershoot was designed with Stroller Chauffeurs in mind. It's clear so that you don't crash into oncoming pedestrians. It's shaped like a bubble to protect you from the rain. It has a universal clamp so it attaches to virtually all types of strollers.

My Blue Bumbershoot gives you the freedom to embrace the rain™!

When I take Vivian for walks in the rain (which is often), I'm generally pretty thoroughly rained on by the time we reach our destination. I do have hoods on my coats, but these tend to blow off in the wind, and I don't like to have my hood on while crossing intersections, since it blocks my view. So the My Blue Bumbershoot has been perfect for me!

Finding the perfect spot on my stroller handle to attach the My Blue Bumbershoot took a few minutes, as I looked for a place where it could attach securely, be at a good angle for me, and not interfere with the folding action of my stroller. But I eventually found it, attached the clamp, tightened it, put in the umbrella and was ready to roll.

The My Blue Bumbershoot is a large umbrella, as you can see in the pictures, and it's shaped so that it covers the stroller pusher well, without catching the wind. The umbrella itself seems to be of very good quality and it's also really easy to open and close. You can easily adjust the height of the umbrella (which is really nice when you have two people of different heights pushing the stroller) or the direction that it's pointing, and when you don't need the umbrella, you can rotate the umbrella down to store it on the side, or slide the umbrella out of the clamp. I stayed very dry with this umbrella, all while being able to see where I was going and having no worries while crossing the street.

Us, staying dry on a rainy Seattle evening!

There is an awful lot of rainy Seattle winter ahead of me, and I'm glad to have something that will make my outings less damp and soggy! If you're a parent who does a lot of walking with a stroller in inclement weather, you want to check out My Blue Bumbershoot. And if you're not pushing a stroller, but are in a wheelchair or using a walker, My Blue Bumbershoot can work with those as well. Very handy!

For more information on My Blue Bumbershoot, you can visit the product's page, located here.

Disclosure: This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. I received a My Blue Bumbershoot umbrella to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone.

Free samples from Purex!

2012-01-30T11:20:00.000-08:00

I have good news for those of you who love samples- starting today, January 30th, free samples of new Purex Triple Action liquid detergent are available.

You can get your sample by clicking on the button below.

I do want to note though that FreeSamplePurex.com only allows one Purex sample per household per year. In a few weeks, there will be samples of new Purex UltraPacks available, so if you're more interested in that sample, be sure to wait for it and not request a sample of the liquid detergent.

Valentine's Day Contest from Chuao Chocolate

2012-01-26T14:39:00.000-08:00

I received some information today about a delicious-sounding contest being run by Chuao Chocolate. One person who enters the contest at Chuao's Facebook page will win a trip for two to San Diego where they will spend two nights at the glamorous La Jolla Shores Hotel, enjoy dinner at the beachfront THE SHORES restaurant, and attend a private wine and chocolate pairing event with Master Chef Michael Antonorsi of Chuao Chocolatier. Chuao is also giving away 14 Limited Edition Sweetheart Boxes filled with 22 signature Chuao Chocolatier bonbons featuring delectable, aphrodisiac ingredients. Yum!

Seattle-area people- Winnie The Pooh party at Northgate Mall this Saturday!

2012-01-26T14:09:00.001-08:00

I received some information that I wanted to pass on to those of you in the Seattle area. It sounds like fun!

WINNIE THE POOH'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT NORTHGATE MALL

Celebrate Winnie the Pooh's birthday with crafts, activities, and snacks

SEATTLE, WA, January 23, 2012 — Northgate Mall invites Seattle-area kids and parents to celebrate the birthday of Winnie the Pooh creator, A. A. Milne with the Simon Kidgits Club® on Saturday, January 28, from 1pm-3pm in the Ben Bridge Court.

Kids will be making “hunny” sacks, decorating their own “hunny” pots, enjoying a coloring activity and a sweet birthday treat. Plus, parents can put their Winnie the Pooh knowledge to the test for a chance to win a special prize!

The Simon Kidgits Club is a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children ages 3-8. Since 2003, the Simon Kidgits Club has kept children and parents alike amused with various events and activities while providing incentives for club members such as special offers, rewards and games. For more information about the Simon Kidgits Club, visit http://www.simon.com/kidgits or call Northgate Mall at 206-362-4778.