Real Moms Real Views

How far would you go to protect your pen? {Paper Mate Review}

Hollie — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:28:49 +0000

Has this happened to you? You have a favorite pen, one that you love to use on a daily basis. You keep it with you, in your purse, or at your desk. Then one day it disappears. It’s gone. It’s disappeared and it is no where to be found. Kind of like the socks you put in your dryer?!? Where do these things go???

Guess what I got to test out today?….Paper Mate’s latest innovation, InkJoy!

With a revolutionary new ink system which features the smoothness of a gel pen with the fast-dry of a ball point.

Most pens, are just pens….but not the new Paper Mate InkJoy! I found myself hiding them from my hubby. I didn’t want them walking off. They glide so smoothly and dry instantly. I have found a new love with my InkJoy pens. {heart heart}

CONTEST ALERT: Paper Mate is running a fun contest on the Paper Mate Facebook page. Head over and enter for your chance to win!

You can pick up these awesome NEW pens at your local retailer or office supply store!

Hollie

Hollie is the owner and coordinator of Real Moms Real Views. She loves spending time with her family which consists of her handsome hubby and three kiddos ages three and under. She loves her fur baby (dog), the smell after it rains, red nail polish, chick flicks, and anything chocolate!
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This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

Create Your Own WHATEVER!! {Happy Toy Machine Review and Giveaway}

Erin — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:59:37 +0000

We have been to Build a Bear. We have Wuggles. We even have an American Girl doll that looks like my daughter. If you ask me, my kids (and all kids for that matter) like to create something that is theirs. They love to personalize with colors, clothes, and accessories. That is what makes a doll or toy special…when it is just theirs and no one has one like it. Happy Toy Machine has taken this concept one step further….create and personalize the entire toy!!!

What is Happy Toy Machine?

Happy Toy Machine lets you create your own cool, cute, and crazy custom plush (stuffed) toys.

Design as many toys as you want for free, share them with your friends, and only buy one when you’re ready.

When you order we’ll make your one-of-a-kind custom toy and ship it straight to you.

Think it sounds amazing?! Wait until you have tried it!! My kids had so much fun creating their animal. She went from cute, to weird, back to cute again. Once they figured out how to change her hands, her feet, her face and even the shape of her head; they were in heaven! My kids played on the website for about an hour making the perfect animal to have created. They made her eyes big then small. They swapped noses over and over. The image on the tummy was the most difficult for them to agree on. Once they had her created, named and ordered, the week long wait began. They checked the mailbox daily looking for their new friend. After about a week, she arrived and looked IDENTICAL to the masterpiece they had create! They couldn’t have been happier with how she turned out. Everything was perfect. You can tell by the pictures how close she really is. The picture on the left is the image that my kids created using the Create a Toy feature. The image on the right is the item that we received. The colors, shapes and proportions are identical to the image that they created. I was amazed at how close it really is!! As a mom, I was really impressed with the quality and detail of the creation! Also, the detail that is put into creating the creation! You can change the color of everything!! If you want green eyes, have green eyes! Need a black tail, spin your animal around and give it a black tail! Want a sweet little kitty?? You can create the purrfect little kitty. How about a freaky alien? Add three eyes and pincher hands. This is super fun!! Go and create a frend of your own! Remember Happy Toy Machine for your favorite niece, nephew, grand-kid or your kid! Who ever it is for will not only love receiving it, but will love creating it too!

Want to win one??!

Mandatory 1st entry:

1) Check out Happy Toy Machine! Take minute to check out the different options when creating and tell us what your kiddo would like best.

Once the mandatory entry is completed you can gain additional entries from the following:

2 entries: “Like” Happy Toy Machine on Facebook.

1 entry: Follow Happy Toy Machine on Twitter.

1 entry per day-Tweet the following and leave us your tweet url link.

Happy Toy Machine is Real Mom (and her creative kids) Recommended!!

You have until March 7th @ 11:59 PM EDT to enter the giveaway. All giveaways are open to USA only.

Erin

Erin is a mommy to 4 fab kiddos! She serves as their maid, cook, and taxi driver. She has been married to the “man of her dreams” for 11 years now. They love spending every free minute together enjoying activities such as camping, swimming, playing games and having movie night.
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This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

Practical Maternity Clothing Advice for Mums-to-be

Hollie — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:32:18 +0000

Of course you are happy to be pregnant, but maybe not so happy about wearing tent dresses and baggy tracksuits and looking like a less than chic mum-to-be?

Do not fear. Being pregnant does not condemn you to nine months of looking like a fashion disaster, not if you know where to look, and what to look for.

Vertbaudet offers a wide range of comfortable, stylish and practical maternity clothes that allow expectant mothers to remain elegant and fashionable right the way through their pregnancies. Being a mum shouldn’t mean being mumsy. Just because we are pregnant doesn’t mean we suddenly lose our desire to be stylish.

When it comes to maternity wear, we ask a lot from our clothes. Not only do maternity clothes need to be practical, comfortable, extremely stretchy and gorgeous, they need to be affordable. Every expectant mum knows how costs start escalating as the bump grows. If equipping the baby wasn’t enough of a strain on our finances, now we have to kit ourselves out with a new wardrobe too.

The good news is, at Vertbaudet you can find maternity wear that offers great style and great value. Even better, you can do it all from the comfort of home by shopping online or from their catalogue. We all know that when pregnancy fatigue starts to kick in, this can be a real bonus.

If like me, you have to continue working for some time into your pregnancy, it may be important for you to find maternity wear which looks professional and smart. You will find a range of fashionable and stylish maternity trousers, suitable for the office, alongside skirts and dresses. Combine softly tailored jersey tunics with close fitting skirts to create a pleasing feminine silhouette.

For casual wear, team stretchy jersey T-shirts and draped tops with stretch denim skirts, maternity sweatshirt dresses in organic cotton or fun playsuits in riotous colourful prints. Make a splash at the beach or swimming pool in Vertbaudet swimwear, offering practical and fun options for the expectant mum.

For that time in early pregnancy when you are just beginning to show and can almost fit into your favourite jeans, but can’t quite fasten the buttons anymore, why not invest in a maternity stretch band? Made from 100 per cent organic jersey cotton, these ingenious stretchy bands come in one size and are worn around your bump, cleverly concealing gaping waistbands and really pulling your whole look together. These maternity bands look great with a loose fitting shirt thrown over the top and come in several attractive colours and prints.

Modern women demand glamour from their maternity wear. Vertbaudet obliges with pretty floral prints and maxi dresses in the lightest of gossamer fabrics to stylish and sleek dresses that make you feel ultra-feminine and sexy and help show off your bump proudly. Revel in your femininity at this special time and make the most of some of the added perks that pregnancy brings, such as an enhanced bust. At Vertbaudet you can choose cleverly cut maternity underwear that gives you all the support you need.

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Hollie

Simple Tips for a Healthier Family

Hollie — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:43:06 +0000

Small changes can be the key to helping your family live healthier, happier and longer lives. It doesn’t take a lot to make a big difference, and sometimes starting small will encourage your family the keep it up. Even small changes can yield results, and whether it’s dad’s long term concerns about heart disease or mom’s worries the kids are learning poor eating habits, it won’t take long before you know your family is on the right track. Here are some tiny tips for simple things you can do for the whole family.

Discuss making joint goals. Studies have shown you are more likely to maintain any exercise, weight loss or general wellness routine if you have a partner. It’s not only that you have someone to keep you accountable, but it’s all much more fun when surrounded by friends and family. Sit down as a family and talk about what you’d like to see as an improvement in your overall health. And start with the simplest of goals, like one extra pull-up, or two more laps at the swimming pool. Whatever it is, allowing yourself incremental goals will see you having successes right from the very beginning, undoubtedly increasing the chances you’ll keep it up after the goal is reached.

Recess isn’t only for kids. We spend around the first two decades of our lives going to school, and at some point recess disappears. That one period of each day automatically dedicated to running around, playing sports, or climbing on monkey bars. The vast majority of health problems people face as they get over are related to side effects of a sedentary lifestyle. So remember, recess isn’t only for the kids. Get out of the house, and out of the gym for that matter, and get your exercise where it’s also play. There’s sports for families to take part in at all times of year. So whether it’s skiing or swimming, playing tag or monkeying around at the playground, make time for exercise and fun coming together again.

Get the kids involved. You want to clean up the menu? Incorporate for veggies, less fats? Bring your children into the process with you. And not just in the kitchen. Get them involved in the foods you pick up at the grocery story. Talk to them about ingredients, where it comes from, and how not all foods are the same, no matter what the pictures on the label look like. Then when the shopping’s doing, they might want to help see it all come together. Try to have fun with the cooking. Shop fresh and local, so the food is as vibrant and colorful as possible. And if you’re lucky, the experience they had being a part of the process will make the dinner table experience much less painful. It’s tough to make them eat those brussell sprouts, but if you get them involved earlier in the process, your kids might just surpise you.

Talk about the reasons why. Communicating your health goals will make all the difference. If you have concerns about your family’s health, bring it up. Make it clear you want to face these concerns together, and why you’re worried. Without the right context, your kids may see the changes as unnecessary. You don’t have to earn a mha online to understand the best way to put it, you just have to know your family. But whatever the reasons you want to make a change, make it fun, and the results will speak for themselves.

Hollie

Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax DVD {Warner Home Video Review}

Christina — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:00:15 +0000

“Speak for the trees”

Adults and children alike have a soft spot for the genius of Dr. Suess! From tongue tying words of rhyme to the vivid color of each character, he truly captures the imagination. The story of The Lorax adds in another element…….that of preserving nature. Dr. Suess was already thinking “green” so many years ago.

The tale begins with a greedy entrepreneur named Once-ler telling the sad story of how his obsession with the beautiful Truffula trees caused the barren forest that surrounded him. He had been warned by the Lorax over and over to stop chopping down the trees because he was sending away the creatures who called them home, and if kept up, one day there would be nothing left. Once-ler unfortunately ignores him, claiming that his Thneed clothing business is booming and he must keep producing. The tale ends on the gloomy side, with a picture of a wasteland, but also with hope……Once-ler having understood what he caused, gives a Truffula seed to a little boy and tells him to plant it and nuture it. I almost wish there was a sequel so we could find out if the forest ever comes back to life!

My girls got the message, and immediately started telling me that the Once-ler was “so wrong”. They understand the importance of taking care of what has been entrusted to us. Although we have been given trees and such to help our existence, if we abuse our privilege we’ll have nothing left. We all must work to conserve what we have and plant more. I plan on passing The Lorax DVD along to my children’s teachers. With bonus features teaching about trees and conservation, it will be a great science tool.

Real Mom Recommended!

The Lorax is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD. Pick up your copy today!

Christina

Christina married her college sweetheart & best friend 12 years ago & they are proud parents to two lovely ladies, one who is an official “tween” & the other not far behind. She owns an event floral business & is very creative. She loves dressing up, crafting, and planning parties.
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This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

Who Makes You Smile?!

Hollie — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:34:51 +0000

Who makes you smile each day? Your little baby, your adorable toddler, your husband???

Enter a photo of the person here http://www.topdentists.com/smile to let TopDentists.com know!

The grand prize is a teeth whitening session in NYC with one of our Top Dentists plus all expense paid trip, $1,000 in spending money and photo session for you and your guest. There are also daily teeth whitening kits from Love That White Smile and chances to win teeth whitenings in:

Aventura FL, Austin TX, Beverly Hills CA, Philadelphia PA, and Troy MI from Top Dentists in those ares!

Contest ends Feb 24th..Enter Now!

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Hollie

Snack-tastic Wholesome Goodness {Kraft Milk Bite review}

Audrey — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:00:16 +0000

We’ve all been there. It’s 3:00pm and the afternoon snack monster decides to strike. I usually have a variety of bars on hand to grab for when I’m on the run, or if I’m home and super busy, they are also great to grab. I recently had the opportunity to try a bar that brings snacking to a whole new level! Kraft has come out with a fantastic granola bar called Milk Bite. It is part granola bar, part wholesome milk all rolled into one. I was generously sent the strawberry and chocolate versions to try.

KRAFT MILKBITE Bars are a new, unique innovation in snacking made with real milk and calcium to provide the same calcium as an 8 oz. glass of milk. A wholesome alternative to existing bars, KRAFT MilkBite Bars are a deliciously different snacking experience your whole family can enjoy!

Found in the dairy aisle or refrigerated case, each KRAFT MILKBITE Milk & Granola Bar combines real milk with whole grain granola and other tasty and nutritious ingredients like fruit or roasted nuts, while offering 30% of your daily recommended value of calcium.

I was super excited to try these bars. And let me tell you, they definitely lived up to my expectations. Creamy and crunchy at the same time, they are DELISH!! There is also something very delightful about having them chilled as well! These have found their way into my hubby’s lunch as well as my cooler pack for running errands. They would also make a perfect addition to a kiddo’s lunch box as a snack on the way home from school! And I really like that they have as much calcium as 8oz. of milk. Perfect if your kids don’t do milk very well! I am super excited to try the other varieties as well, which include peanut butter, oatmeal raisin and mixed berry. These bars are available nationwide and remember to look for them in the dairy isle with the milk! Thanks Kraft for making my day a little healthier and milkier!!

Audrey

Audrey has one very sweet baby boy & has been married for 5 years. She is a licensed massage therapist and enjoys being a SAHM with her little munchkin! She loves working out…especially running, cooking, shopping, makeup, reading, playing the piano, traveling, & spending time with family!
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This site receives free products and other forms of compensation for posting. See the Real Moms Real Views disclosure & giveaway rules here.

Real Moms Real Views Giveaway Link Up {2/19}

Hollie — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 06:23:37 +0000

Link up all of your great giveaways this week.

Please link up in the following format

Blog Name, Giveaway Item, End date

Example: Real Moms Real Views ($25 Gift Card) 2/18

*Please link directly to your giveaway’s URL address.

*Links directing to your home page will be deleted.

Hollie

Spring Break!!…..Where will you go?

Christina — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:00:31 +0000

Looking for a family friendly destination this spring break?

Being cooped up in the house throughout the winter months makes my stir crazy. If you live in a northern climate, you know just what I’m talking about! Having spent most of my childhood in the midwest and northeastern U.S., I’ve experienced my fair share of cold days and frigid nights, not to mention heaps of snow. I love a first snowfall but after a week, when there are piles of brown mush everywhere, it’s not exactly appealing. Although I live in a warmer climate now, where it rarely snows, I still get those winter blues. By the time February arrives, I’m dreaming of warmer days ahead, planting my garden and spring break!

Stealing a minute to browse the web for photos of vacation destinations definitely perks me up. Just the thought of being able to get away with my family to experience someplace other than our norm puts a big ol’ smile on my face. This year I’m so excited to visit Chattanooga, Tennessee, a quaint southern city nestled between the Appalachian mountains and Tennessee river! My family will enjoy breathtaking views while we explore all the city has to offer, like the Tennessee Aquarium, Ruby falls (an underground waterfall!) and Incline Railway.

With so many cities trying to capture your attention, spring break is a great time to look for deals. In Chattanooga for instance, The Chattanoogan Hotel is offering spring breakers an adventure package (March 16 – April 15, 2012), where you receive VIP combo passes to the Tennessee aquarium and IMAX with overnight accommodations (more than $100 savings)!

How fabulous, you get AAA 4 diamond rated accommodations, complete with indoor pool overlooking the mountains (Spa available for mommy too:)), and a built in activity with a visit to both the River and Ocean Journey’s at the Aquarium. Even if you can only escape for a weekend trip it promises to delight.

Check-In to Chattanooga!

Christina

Tilex “Cancel the Mold Show in Your Bathroom” {Sweepstakes} #TilexClean

Hollie — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:58:56 +0000

We all dread it…cleaning the bathroom. For me it’s the one place I don’t want to clean. I will fold the laundry, organize the pantry, and even clean out the fridge, before I want to even think about tackling the bathroom. We all know what is lurking there…..MOLD! Yuck. For us, the toilet is the worst. It seems to always have mold in it. No matter how many times I clean it.

But the bathroom isn’t the only place we find mold. I have seen it in the bathtub, in the fridge, the kitchen sink, and even near our back door on the floorboards. The truth is mold grows in damp places, so beware, it’s there.

How is one able to keep their bathroom clean and mold free?

Using a bleach based cleaner is an effective way to rid your home of this pesky mold and keep it clean.

One way that I like to keep the mold out is using a bleach-based toilet tab that you put in your toilet tank. That way I know it’s helping curb our mold problem. You can also use Tilex Mold Stain & Mildew Stain Remover or Tilex Bathroom Cleaner. I like using a product with a name I can trust. Tilex has a product for just about every surface in your home, and it will keep the grime away for sure. I love that their new products have fresh scents. I always hate using cleaners that are super strong and abrasive.

Another thing we do is crack the window when taking a shower. This allows fresh air to flow in and helps keep that mucky damp moisture out of the room. You can also change your air filters regularly, and even better let the bright sunshine flow in as often as possible!

SWEEPSTAKES ALERT:

Tilex “Cancel the Mold Show in Your Bathroom” Sweepstakes

Tilex is giving away a bunch of awesome prizes, one of which is a 40” flat screen TV! How’s that for cool? The more friends you tell the more entries you get. You can enter on the Tilex facebook page. Tell your friends and get your Tilex on.

Remeber to let the fresh air flow in your home everyday if possible and keep that mold away from you and your family!

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

Hollie