SAHM Reviews

A Whine Tour through France

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:54:00 +0000

Welcome aboard to Nyssa, the latest Contribution Author at SahmReviews! Nyssa is a long-time BzzAgent and word-of-mouth fanatic. The following content was provided by Nyssa:
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I read a *lot*, averaging more than one book a week, and close to half of what I read is non-fiction mostly spread across history, biography, autobiography, and memoirs. I actually prefer autobiographies and memoirs because it tends to bring a much more personal touch to events rather than a list of facts and figures. Is there anything more boring than reading about a battle that goes on and on with lists of commanders and numbers of men on the field in this position or that? Give me the observations of someone who was right there doing things and seeing things first hand then reporting them and his thoughts about it all in his own words instead any time.

In keeping with that, usually when you think of memoirs you think of famous retired generals or politicians or other people who were close to important, historical events writing about their recollections. Or they're written (or "as told to") by celebrities or "personalities" of the moment.

Corked is by none of the above, no one famous or even near-to-the-famous. It's the memoir of Kathryn, an ordinary twenty-something woman, relating a wine tasting trip to France she and her father, Phillipe, take together one fall. But it's not the squishy, sentimental feel-good story you might imagine. There's a history there, and some of it isn't very pretty. Interwoven with the wine tour are stories of her often stormy past relationships with her father and significant others.

Lurking in the background of this trip was a life-changing event that had sent Kathryn into a terrible depression. An automobile accident, in which she was the driver, occurred on a visit home from university several years ago and resulted in the death of an elderly pedestrian. Although ruled an accident by the authorities, Kathryn has not been able to shake off the effects of the incident. Making matters worse in her mind is her father's inability to relate to her or comfort her through this catastrophe. Jumbled up in all of this is Kathryn's heightened realization that her father could die without the two of them truly understanding or knowing each other.

Since Phillipe's greatest passion is his love of fine wines, Kathryn decides that the perfect way for the two of them to bond and share would be to travel to France for an intensive two week tour of famous winemaking regions and wine tastings. It's during this trip Kathryn hopes to both finally live up to her father's expectations of her and exhibit the knowledge of wines that Phillipe has attempted to impart to her over her lifetime while she, in turn, is learning more about him.

The trip does not go well. Beginning with Phillipe's food poisoning from airplane food and moving on to Kathryn's constant fear of not living up to her father's expectations during the wine tastings, all the way through the leftover dregs of Kathryn's breakup with her boyfriend back home. Bad food, bad service, and bad navigation as they drive across France add up to short tempers and many harsh words.

Not all of the tour is conflict, however; there are times when Phillipe opens up to Kathryn and tells her stories of his childhood in France during World War II, what prompted his family to emigrate to Canada, stories of his father, and of his early hardships in Canada. All of this is new to Kathryn. Perhaps there is hope for them after all.

I'll admit to not being a wine fancier. I know that if it comes with a screw-off top, it probably isn't gourmet quality. And I know it comes in shades of red and white and bubbly or non-bubbly. After reading this book, I have a much greater appreciation and knowledge of what goes into making a bottle of wine. I can now see the words "Grand Cru" on a bottle and know that that's the really good stuff plus all sorts of tidbits of information about varieties of grapes, naming conventions, and that sometimes a little fungus on the grapes is a Good Thing.

One important piece of information that I didn't get directly from the book was the significance of the book's title. I got a clue that there was more to the term in the context of an incident related in the book, but it took an Internet search to grasp the meaning of the term "corked." It seems that "corked" refers to an impurity in either the cork or barrel that is imparted into some wines during their processing. More simply, it means that the bottle of wine is off, or ruined. (For a more detailed explanation of this phenomenon see CellarNotes) In keeping with that, it would seem that their wine trip was Corked, Kathryn's relationship with her father was Corked, and her relationship with her ex-boyfriend was Corked. Her life is a mess, and the book reports this mess in agonizing detail.

Oddly enough if this book had been fiction, I probably would have enjoyed it more. Reading this as the report of actual events occurring to actual people, I found myself feeling like a voyeur into these deeply personal events and their reactions to each other. The stories Phillipe tells of his father and wartime France are what I enjoyed most in the book, perhaps because it is part of the now distant past and the telling of these stories will not injure or embarrass anyone. The wine facts too were interesting and informative, again because they were impersonal facts rather than intimate details of real peoples' lives. As for the details of the arguments and issues between Kathryn and Phillipe and Kathryn and her ex-boyfriend, I felt as though they more properly belonged on "Dr. Phil" or "Jerry Springer." The book felt as though it was written as an attempt by the author at self-therapy; rather than spill out her thoughts and feelings about her life to a professional, it was as if she decided to write about it (or should I say whine about it) in embarrassing detail here to purge herself of her demons.

I hope she feels better now.

Whether you enjoy the drama of shows like Big Brother or Jerry Springer or are just a fan of memoirs, here's an opportunity for you to get your own copy of Corked!

The Prize: "Corked" book by Kathryn Borel Jr (5 winners)

Participants -

...must provide a US shipping address
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile.

Sometime on March 20, 2010, five winners will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all valid comments left. Winners have 72 hours from posting/notification to respond. If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the next random selection.

How to enter:

For the first entry (required) -

(1) Book-it over to Hachette Book Group.
(2) Leave a comment on this post at SahmReviews.com telling one Hachette Book Group that you would be interested in reading - other than one that has been reviewed here.

If you want to increase your chances of winning, here are some options to earn additional entries -
-- Three Entries: If you have a blog or website, add my button to your page. (Here's the code:)

-- Two Entries: Publish a blog post regarding this contest by March 18th and link back to it.
-- One Entry (Daily): Follow SahmReviews on Twitter and Tweet this contest by clicking here or copying the following text:
"Win one of five copies of Corked! http://www.sahmreviews.com @SahmReviews @borelcorp Please RT #giveaway". Comment with a link to your tweet.
-- One Entry each: Follow Grand Central Publishing or Kathryn Borel on Twitter
-- One Entry: Subscribe to Kathryn Borel on YouTube
-- One Entry: Become a fan of SAHM Reviews on Facebook. Of course, don't forget to leave a comment.
-- One Entry: Subscribe to the SAHM Reviews feed via RSS or email.
-- One Entry: Follow SAHM Reviews using Google's Friend Connect feature.
-- One Entry: Become a fan of Corked on Facebook. Let them know I sent you!
-- One Entry (Daily): Read any of my non-giveaway reviews here at SahmReviews.com and leave an appropriate comment on that post. Come back here and leave a comment stating which product/post you left a comment on.

Thanks to Hachette Book Group for providing the review copy of this book, as well as additional copies for the giveaway.

Disclaimer: This book was provided to Nyssa by Hachette Book Group for the purpose of preparing this review. No additional compensation was received.

No Appliance Rebate? What Can You Do?

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:12:00 +0000

March 1st at 8:00 am. All I wanted was a small piece of the appliance rebate program to apply toward a new dishwasher. $200 was the allowable amount for a dishwasher. Is that so hard to ask for when the state of Iowa has (or should I say HAD) $2.7 million for the program?

Apparently so. Extremely difficult. No. Impossible.

The phone was busy... constantly.

and their internet site was down... yes, constantly.

By the time DH was finally able to get through to their website, which was in the afternoon, the funds were gone.

Then Kay Luna, a reporter for the Quad City Times, published an article Monday talking about other options - such as rebates offered through the utility companies and contests being conducted by various companies.

It got me thinking about some of the contests currently running that I hadn't taken the time to share. In the past, I've shared links to enter to win an Electrolux washer and dryer, an Electrolux French Door refrigerator and a Frigidaire double oven.

But there are three contests currently running that I haven't shared!

Stop by Kelly-Confidential for a chance to win an Electrolux Induction Range in Kelly's Cake Off for a Cause. Similar to contests they have run previously, for each virtual item (in this case a cake) you create and send, Electrolux will donate $1 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. This cake contest is a joint project between Kelly Rippa and Buddy Valastro, TLC's "Cake Boss". Contest rules are available and it ends March 31, 2010.

Don't need an induction range? How about a washer and dryer? Stop by Frigidaire's "Make Time for Change" website for a chance to win a Frigidaire Affinity washer and dryer in their Spin and Win contest. Each day you take a spin to win, they'll donate $1 to Save the Children. This contest offers a prize daily (see the rules) in the form of an American Express, Lowes, Sears or Best Buy gift card. Contest ends April 25, 2010.

Feel a little more ambitious about trying to win a washer and dryer? Ambitious as in you'll be happy to record a video if it means the chance to win an entire laundry room makeover? In the "Pimp My Laundry Room, Please" contest, entrants are required to submit a video of your plea, beg, whatever you want to call it in accordance with the rules. The video isn't lengthy though... it cannot exceed 3 minutes in length. So if you're a very creative person and can cram a lot of information into 3 minutes, it's worth checking out. The winner will receive a laundry room makeover and video shoot for "Designing Spaces" including a Whirlpool High Efficiency washer and dryer and a year's supply of Wisk HE laundry detergent. Entries are due by March 29, 2010.

Someone has to win so why not you? The Frigidaire and Kelly's Cake-Off for a Cause contests are easy to enter and literally only take a minute. The LaundryHE "Pimp My Laundry Room" contest takes a little more work, but ultimately that will mean better odds for those who put in the effort and creativity to enter. If you need new appliances, it doesn't hurt to enter. Actually... even if you don't need new appliances, it doesn't hurt to enter!

Disclosure: As a thank you for providing details of the Pimp My Laundry contest, MomSelect (BSM Media) will enter my name into a drawing for a year's supply of Wisk HE Laundry detergent. For posting about "Kelly's Cake-off for a Cause", I'll be entered to win an Electrolux Induction Range from MomSelect (BSM Media). And for posting about the Make Time for Change "Spin and Win" campaign, I get a nice pat on the back from MomSelect because the deadline to be entered into any incentive contest for posting the details expired already.

So Easy You Can Do It Twice

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:02:00 +0000

I don't proclaim to be the best cook in the world, but I don't believe I'm the worst, either. I can make some really wonderful meals if I plan for it. Cooking is something I enjoy and if I thought I had a good knack for it, would love to take cooking classes to get better.

Alas, I'm not confident about cooking. Even on days like today when I wake up with enthusiasm and a plan to make pancakes, not everything goes as expected.

Something happens and I get totally deflated.

"Honey... I'm going back to bed. Wake me up when it's tomorrow."

Well, not really. It's more like "Honey, if you make fun of my cooking this morning, you're going to be in big trouble."

Instead, he replies "I see a blog post coming."

Of course it's a blog post. I'm reviewing Bisquick. It just isn't going to be as pretty as I had planned.

...It started off great, with the girls helping to make the batter using Bisquick...

Miss M and Miss K took turns adding the ingredients then proceeded to stir the batter to get rid of all the lumps. When they were done, I heated up the cast-iron skillet provided in the review pack and poured out the mix. The pancakes looked really pretty until I tried to flip them. I had seasoned the skillet when it arrived but I forgot that until a cast-iron skillet is well seasoned, which takes many uses, it needs something to keep the food from sticking. I've become accustomed to my Calphalon griddle and didn't even think about it until the pancakes stuck to the pan... then continued to cook while I attempted to clean the pan and start over.

I'm not sure whether I was upset about them burning or the fact that it went so awry on a day when I wanted it all to be perfect. At least I can't complain about slaving away to prepare the mix - making pancakes with Bisquick is so easy you can make another batch pretty quickly if you feel like it.

Thankfully, DH made light of the situation by making fun of me just enough to help me see the humor in it. Of course, I deserved it for making such a basic cooking mistake.

But this post isn't about my lame cooking skills. I was making pancakes because I received a package from MyBlogSpark to promote the Bisquick Pancake Nation. Most of us know that charitable/non-profit organizations often coordinate pancake breakfasts as a fundraiser. To help organizations prepare for the event, communicate the details and even fund their pancake breakfast, Bisquick established Bisquick Pancake Nation. The site provides information for participating organizations including location details, date and time.

If you are a member of a non-profit organization and are considering a pancake breakfast fundraiser, be sure to check out the toolkit for planning the event, including invitations, signs and more. There are also details on applying for a $250 grant (from now until May 31st) to help host the event.

In the meantime, if you just love Bisquick or are a fan of pancakes, here's your chance to win a Bisquick Pancake Nation prize pack for your own home.

The Prize: Bisquick Pancake Nation Prize Pack (includes Bisquick, a batter bowl, a cast-iron skillet and a pancake spatula)

Participants -

...must provide a US shipping address
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile.

Sometime on March 18, 2010, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all valid comments left. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond. If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the next random selection.

How to enter:

For the first entry (required) -

(1) Visit Bisquick Pancake Nation.
(2) Find the Pancake Nation event nearest to you and leave a comment on this post at SahmReviews.com with the name of the organization who is presenting the event. If there isn't one near you, then stop by Bisquick.com and leave a comment with your favorite recipe.
If you want to increase your chances of winning, here are some options to earn additional entries -
-- Three Entries: If you have a blog or website, add my button to your page. (Here's the code:)

-- Two Entries: Publish a blog post regarding this contest by March 16th and link back to it.
-- One Entry: Share on Facebook. Come back and leave a comment.
-- One Entry (Daily): Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this contest by clicking here or copying the following text:
"Love pancakes? Bisquick fan? Giveaway for a Bisquick Pancake Nation Prize Pack http://tinyurl.com/yfcjy4f @SahmReviews Please RT #giveaway". Provide one comment with a link to your tweet. (From your link, I'll be able to see if you're following or not.)
-- One Entry: Become a fan of SAHM Reviews on Facebook. Of course, don't forget to leave a comment.
-- One Entry: Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email.
-- One Entry: Follow me using Google's Friend Connect feature.
-- One Entry (Daily): Read any of my non-giveaway reviews here at SahmReviews.com and leave an appropriate comment on that post. Come back here and leave a comment stating which product/post you left a comment on.

In case you didn't realize it, Bisquick participates in the Box Tops for Education program so don't forget to clip them before recycling the box!

I want to point out that while the package I received included regular Bisquick, I opted to use the Heart Smart Bisquick that I already had (open) in the cabinet. When I switched to using it, I didn't even notice a difference in consistency or taste.

Disclosure: MyB logSpark and General Mills providing a Bisquick package to facilitate this review. They have also provided an additional package for use in this giveaway. No other compensation was received for this post.

Vegetables Don't Lie

julee_morrison@yahoo.com (Julee) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:36:00 +0000

My youngest child is four and has learned to lie. It drives me bonkers! Usually his lies are about things that aren't really that important. He has an issue with getting into my things. He climbs up shelves in the closet and pantry and just helps himself. When I confront him about "Did you get into the candy?" he'll lie and say, "No." I know it's a lie because I have a handful of wrappers. I tell him, "one day your nose will grow just like Pinocchio!"

He also marches to his own drummer and tends to do what he wants, rather than what I ask of him. He knows the rules, he just doesn't feel he needs to follow them.

I'm always seeking ways to get the point across that "telling the truth is always the best way to go" and that "following the rules makes everyone happier". When I was given the opportunity to review Veggie Tales' Pistachio: The Little Boy Who Woodn't" I was delighted.

We love to watch movies together, the kiddos and I. Today was just such a day. There was no school. Mother Nature brought wet, cold snow. It was the perfect day to just be with my children. Most of the time, my husband and I watch the movie before the children are allowed to view it--just to be sure it meets the values of our home.

Today we sat down to watch Veggie Tales' Pistachio: The Little Boy that Woodn’t. I am familiar with Veggie Tales--I have three SUPER fans so, without previewing it with my husband, the kiddos and I just pushed it in the DVD and hit "play". I appreciate Big Idea Entertainment creating wholesome DVDs and Pistachio: The Little Boy that Woodn't exceeded my expectations.

Like other Veggie Tales, Pistachio is the same story line as the 1883 story of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. I was immediately captivated by this movie with the fun opening song--which has been updated but still holds true to the same sequence-- and the familiar faces of Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber!

My children were laughing right away and were excited to see Qwerty the Computer. He is more modern in this video and my children "ah-ed" and "oh-ed" at the "letter from a child" being a video instead of a letter being read.

I had to smile at the "spin" of "Extreme Home Make-over" with a great duplicate of Ty Pennington appearing after a "Counter-Top Make-Over"!

Veggie Tales take the story of Pinocchio and creates a wonderful storyline complete with a lonely toy maker, his "caterpillar" assistant, three ducks and a toy made from pistachio wood. The toy, aptly named, "Pistachio" encounters temptations, breaks the rules and lies--just like Collodi's Pinocchio.

My six year old was laughing hysterically at the town in which Gelato lived, "Bologna-Salami"!

The characters names are different - the Toy Maker, Geppetto becomes "Gelato" and I was laughing out loud when I saw Gelato's brothers...they're giving The Godfather a "good" image! Gelato's assistant is a caterpillar named, "Cricket". Pinocchi is played by "Pistachio". I thought these were clever adjustments to the story line. They appealed to my "big kid" humor. The name changes, however, didn't fool my children, they knew this was the story line of Pinocchio.

Another thing about Veggie Tales I appreciate is that they are centered around Bible Stories. Pistachio: The Little Boy Who Woodn't is also the story of the parable where the shepherd left his 99 sheep to retrieve the one sheep that had gone astray (Matthew 18:15-20). Pistachio meets up with a "fox" named Confetti and a "cat" named "Purina" and is at a Carnival when he realizes he should have listened to his father.

We were having so much fun that I couldn't believe when we reached the intermission. This is something every Veggie Tales movie features. It breaks things up just when the kiddos start to possibly become antsy. It is something we look forward to in Veggie Tales DVDs. We love the change of pace and the opportunity to get up and dance! This video's intermission is "Obscure Broadway Show Tunes". It is based off of an imaginary hit show "Office Supplies: Where Have all the Staplers Gone?" It was packed with fun and my children were singing along. One caution here is there is a stapler in this scene, at the end, where the staples protrude like fangs. My four year old yelled, "he's a vampire." It could be frightening for some children.

When the movie was over the kiddos and I talked about what the movie was about and the message it was sharing with them. I have smart kiddos! My four year old said, "I should listen to you because I don't know things."

My children really enjoyed this DVD. We've watched it twice and they are begging to view it again! I even enjoyed this movie. The movie runs 50-minutes, which just zips by with its action packed animation, clever characters, delightful songs and a message that fits into my family's values.

The only disappointed we experienced in this DVD is that when it was over my kiddos were excited to access the "Bonus Features". They enjoy playing the Veggie Tales games. Sadly, this video does not contain this "bonus" and my kiddos were bummed.

We're so glad to have added Pistachio: The Little Boy Who Woodn't to our movie collection. It's a movie I'm sure we'll keep in our rotation for a very long time.

The fun continues with a very well put together Family Fun Time addition to compliment this DVD. It has some great activities centered around family and the importance of listening to parents. It's a great follow up to this awesome movie.

If you have VeggieTales fanatics in your house, be sure to become a Veggie Tales fan on Facebook for news, specials and even behind-the-scenes videos! There's even a VeggieTales iPhone App. For a chance to win a VeggieTales cruise on Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas, check out the contest on Big Idea's website.

Disclaimer: A copy of Pistachio: The Little Boy Who Woodn't was provided by Big Idea for the purpose of preparing this review. No additional compensation was received.

I've been shot...oh how unsurprising!

melisme5@hotmail.com (Mel) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:40:00 +0000

During the past month, I’ve been learning how to play Call of Duty Modern Warfare. One of the things I asked for when I had my birthday earlier this month, was to play COD MW on the XBox 360. Well I got my wish! After everyone but my friend Brian left, I played until early in the morning hours. I have been wanting to learn how to play first person shooter games because they are so different and require different skills.

So when I was asked by the Game Review Network to try out Rise of the Triad app for the iPhone/iPod Touch I was up for the challenge. I admit I feel like I failed this challenge though since I struggled to get through any more than 4 minutes of this game without dying. That, however, is an 'I am not the best first person shooter game player' problem. I'm still working on the learning curve. Seems I have a habit of rushing so close to the buildings that all I am able to see are the buildings. See, that’s my problem in Call of Duty as well; I run to the wall and then have to back up. I just tend to go too fast through the games that are set up like this. Guess that is probably why my friends laugh at me when I try first person shooter games.

I should tell you that the best part of the game is the ease of control. You use both your index fingers, one to move your person as well as looking around and one to shoot. If you look at the screenshot I took of the game, you can see the red X which is where you tap or tap and hold to shoot. The circle on the left is for vantage point - a scrolling pad that you use to walk around and look up and down.

Another great feature is that you can choose from multiple characters who each have different abilities. I chose to be Lorelei Ni, who seems to have the ability to run fast! Maybe I need to pick a character that doesn't like walls so much.

I hope even with my difficulties of first person shooter games you will try this game and let me know how you did! I can’t wait to beat my personal best of 4 minutes before dying! This game is available at the App Store for $4.99.

For more information on this game, including news, screenshots, features and more - go to Mobila Interactive's site and have a read. There is also a really awesome video of someone playing the game so you can see how it works.

Disclaimer: I was given the Rise of the Triad app to review but was not compensated in any other way. Obviously, I have been honest in my review because who would claim to be horrible at a game if they weren't. Please visit Game Review Network for a chance to win your own copy so that you can beat my personal best time!

Fundraiser... boring. iPhone... fun.

melisme5@hotmail.com (Mel) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:00:00 +0000

One of my favorite things to do when I’m in the car, not driving of course, or lying in bed before I go to sleep is to play different games on my iPhone. I always play at least one game if not a few before falling asleep. It’s a part of my winding down ritual and helps me quiet my mind. The past week, thanks to a campaign from Game Review Network, I have been trying out a new app called Hellkid. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a great game that is easy to learn and fun to play.

The basic strategy in this game involves just tapping your fingers. For a simple jump, you just tap the screen. But when you're trying to hook and swing across ravines, you tap it once then tap and hold your finger down quickly to grab onto a ledge. I loved that the game only took me a few times of playing to understand. I started playing it when I was bored while I was on break at work and even at a fundraiser I was at last night.

And since I was playing it, my friend Brian tried it, too. He seemed to enjoy playing it even when he kept dying because he wasn’t jumping at the right time across the ravines. We had fun trying to beat each other’s scores. I’m definitely going to continue challenging myself and others with this game. I've included screenshots that I took on my iPhone to show you the opening screen as well as a part where I was playing. I hope you will try it out as well!

Stop by the website to check out a video and other screenshots. Hopefully, I have you curious enough to try this game out so head over to the App Store and purchase it for $.99 or try to win one on the website.

Disclaimer: I reviewed HellKid as a member of the Game Review Network. I reviewed this game honestly and was not given any compensation other than the app download.

Back to... the 80's

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:23:00 +0000

The other day, DH posted a message on Facebook that really made me feel old. He mentioned "Back to the Future" (released in 1985) and how they went ALL THE WAY BACK to 1955. I remember how it seemed like the olden days because 1955 was 15 years before I was born and to a teenager, that's a really long time.

Well, the reason that DH's comment made me feel old was because after he talked about "Back to the Future" he mentioned a new movie coming out called Hot Tub Time Machine. They travel all...the...way...back...to.........1986! I watched the trailer and laughed. That is, until I recognized the hair, the clothes and the music. When a movie way-back machine lands the characters smack in the middle of my high school years, I think I have a right to feel old.

And if I kept all my stuff from then, apparently I would be in style.

Seriously.

For sure.

As part of a campaign for BuzzParadise, I was asked to share information about Usher's “DADDY’S HOME” with CARRERA. In the video, Usher is sporting a pair of Endurance sunglasses by Carrera - glasses that were inspired by the 1980's. I watched... and recognized the glasses... and felt an instant flashback to my younger days.

Check it out:

Usher - Hey Daddy [Official Brand New Video]

Regardless of our age, we want to look good - in whatever style we call our own. If your style is the current retro, be sure to check out the vintage collection at Carrera.com!

As for me... I'm going to start digging through boxes in the basement until I find my collection of high school keepsakes. I'll totally be in style... totally tubular.

Thanks to BuzzParadise for inviting me to participate in this campaign. As a thank you for posting, I will receive non-product compensation from BuzzParadise. These are still honest and sincere comments. If you're interested in becoming a BuzzParadise VIP, drop me a comment with your email and I'll send you an invite!

Stickers are Good...

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:20:00 +0000

The following content was provided by contributing author, Elizabeth:
======================================================

Reviews of Princess Potty and Pirate Potty by Samantha Berger and Amy Cartwright

I became a mother of four overnight, via the foster care system. So my acquisition of Mom skills and techniques was a madly fast combination of trial-error, parent-modeling of my 26-year-old nanny, and dashing off desperate questions to friends via Facebook.

Occasionally I question my qualifications as a "real" mother, but then I look around and notice my kids are happy, well-behaved, fed, and clean, so I must not be doing too badly.

From that perspective I offer the following five-word review of the sticker-based, potty training stories, "Princess Potty" and "Pirate Potty."

Stickers good. Gender stereotyping bad.

Explanation 1: Instant reward gets the best result. The instant gratification of a sticker reward has worked wonders in the bathroom with my 22-month old. (Note: She asked to start going potty because of watching her older siblings. She wants to do everything they do.) My daughter has understood completely that if something comes out in the toilet, she gets a sticker! When she gets 10 stickers, she got a piece of candy! She loves the feeling of pride and all the praise! And she LOVES pulling up her own underwear, flushing the toilet herself, washing her hands. Simple, straightforward, and cheap. Meanwhile, I am still trying to figure out how to put together the punch-out tiara for her to wear. Oh bother... here. Just play with this block!

Explanation 2: Being a princess, in real life, isn't that great. And neither is being a pirate. These two books are sweet stories of a little girl princess and a little boy pirate learning how to potty. OK, call me a humbug of the imagination, but I know that the ideas we teach our little ones from early on give them a sense of what they are capable of. The princess concept of fairy tales is false, and pirates are rogues.

What does a movie princess do for a living? Oh, yes, that's right. She lays around in a slumber (or waits around) for a prince to come and make everything happily every after. Gag me with a spoon. Oh, yes, and pirates are people who steal things, often violently.

Come on, Moms... do you really want to promote that kind of identification with your kids?

Explanation 3: Boys are pirates, and girls are princesses? Barf. My 4-year-old twins are obsessed with princesses. Why? Because in their previous homelife, their other Mom bought them every Disney fairy-princess themed item ever built. And my 5-year-old son was mainlined into the Lightening McQueen/Spiderman items.

Gender stereotyping can and will limit the way your children think about themselves. We want to give our kids boundaries, but do we want to tell our daughters that the stereotypical view of a "passive" female is the role model of choice? Do we want to instill in our sons that they are expected to be aggressive and violent?

According to Angela Gooden, who has study in the impact of gender stereotyping in children's books: "As they develop, children look for structure in their lives and are driven by an internal need to fit into this structure.” When kids are repeatedly given stereotypical messages, their choices of what they want to become or accomplish is limited by these gender stereotypes.

The mere fact that these potty training authors felt they needed to write two different books -- one pirate, one princess -- indicates their willingness to give in to the cultural drive that put limits on who our children believe they can be, and what they can achieve.

I expect that my daughters would have liked dolls anyway -- they are naturally nurturing -- but so is my wildly active son, who loves to play with his sisters' dollhouse and with the dress up clothes that Granny gave them. The girls chase around the backyard with their own makeshift guns, shouting "bang bang bang!" and they want to climb every tree my son does. They all love Astroboy, and see themselves as him. At this age, they are absorbing all the possibilities of life: why limit them to only the "femaley" ones? Or to what boys "should" be?

The princess label isn't big enough for for my daughters, and my sweet, wildly sensitive son would never make a good pirate, despite his desire to swing from ropes.

Conclusion: In terms of potty training, less is more. These books, though pretty and offering lots of distractions, aren't necessary. And when paired with the one-dimensional images of girls and boys in the media, could actually harm your child on a deeper, more meaningful level.

Stickers, however, are good.

Disclaimer: Elizabeth received Princess Potty and Pirate Potty at no charge for the purpose of preparing a review for SAHM Reviews. These are her honest views and opinions.

Winner - Exederm and Walmart Gift Card

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:24:00 +0000

Did I win, did I win? Exederm Skin Care? $50 Walmart Gift Card? The suspense is killing me!

Well, if your name is "Judy" or "Fun times with the Larsen's" then maybe.

Random.org was shining on Judy, Comment #24, in the Exederm Skin Care giveaway. And for the $50 Walmart Gift Card, Comment #129 "Fun times with the Larsen's" was the winner. If they decide not to claim their prizes, I'll move on to the alternate... but seriously, why WOULDN'T they claim their prizes.
It's always cool to be able to work with wonderful companies and networks. Thanks to Exederm and Family Review Network for providing the products for review and giveaway in the Exederm post. Thanks also to Walmart and Mom Central for providing gift cards for the Super Bowl review and giveaway!

If random.org didn't pull your number this time, there are always more opportunities! Check out Mel's review of "A Black Tie Affair" where we're giving away a copy of the book to five SahmReviews.com readers.

...And there's always more to come!

Update March 1, 2010: Wow. Couldn't believe the Walmart winner didn't claim their prize. Per the rules, I moved to the alternate comment... which didn't meet the requirements of a valid entry. So I headed back to Random.org for another winner. #226 came up as the new winner. So congrats to coriwestphal!

You Have 2 Minutes Left

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:15:00 +0000

When Miss M was just a baby, I tried to find educational opportunities wherever possible. For example, if I needed to use the microwave, I would get the food or drink ready, place it in the microwave then go find Miss M before starting it. I would hold her tiny little fingers in mine and help her press the buttons. "Okay, we need 30 seconds so three, zero, start." She didn't have a clue what I was talking about at the time but I continued the task anyhow.

As she got older, we recognized that numbers are a strength for her. Granted, DH and I are both numbers people, but I think the emphasis on learning numbers and time when she was so young certainly didn't hurt.

A few years ago for Christmas, we purchased digital watches for Miss M off of Amazon. Miss K was much too young and small for them. When they arrived, we were disappointed to see that there was no way Miss M would be able to use them because the bands were too big and they weren't adjustable. She tried to use them but it was pretty much a waste. They were inexpensive (like 5 for $6 or something) so she mostly just used them as dress-up around the house.

So I swore off watches for the kids until they're much older.

At least that's what I thought... They're both very interested in watches and learning to tell time. Miss K (Kindergarten) is reading digital clocks very well while Miss M (1st grade) has analog completely figured out - including how many minutes left in the hour. When my contact with The Children's Place sent out some promotional materials that included pictures of watches to accessorize their adorable outfits, I inquired. My daughters are small and I didn't want to request to review an item that might not fit them. She said they size down pretty small so I thought we could take the chance. After all, they are so cute!

When the watches arrived, the girls independently selected which one they preferred and it was great that their favorite wasn't the same. Both of them loved their fancy new watches and couldn't wait to try them on.

But, of course, they were too big. DH took on the responsibility of resizing them down to their smallest size. The bands are a solid link-style band with a flap-over latch, as opposed to the belt-notch type band. He made the process look pretty easy but we were left with a small problem. The watches were still too big for both of the girls. Miss K didn't care though. She slid the watch up her arm until she found a location that it fit comfortably. She pulled out her glass-is-half-full attitude and said "That's okay. I'll wear it up here and I can see it better." She's right, it is closer to her eyes but it's winter so wearing it outside her long sleeves might be her best solution right now.

Miss M gladly wore her new watch also and I was amazed at how much she took an interest in finding opportunities to read it. When she was taking turns with turns with Miss K on something, she said "Okay, you have TWO minutes left." It heightens the control-freak in her, but at least she's learning to accurately tell time!

Miss K, on the other hand, sees it as a fashion statement. An accessory regardless of its primary purpose of being a way to tell time. Regardless of the way she uses it now, it will be readily available when she begins to find an interest in figuring out what time it is. Or more likely, making sure her sister doesn't gyp her out of anything when her sister gives the two minute warning.

Relating to the style - Over the years, I have become accustomed to this type of band and love it. If for some reason it comes unlatched, it has to slide past your hand before you lose it. On more than one occasion, mine has landed in my hand before hitting the ground When I look at how active my kids are, this limits the likelihood the watch will be lost while playing. However, that same benefit is the biggest detriment for these watches for our family. My girls are 1st grade and kindergarten and are both very small for their ages. As you can see from the picture of the yellow watch, when at its smallest setting, the clasp overhangs the wrist. Even at the smallest setting, I can wear these watches, albeit a little tight.

Honestly, these are adorable watches with a variety of styles for both boys and girls. They're just not for petite children. Actually, on a recent trip through a major department store, I saw an entire section dedicated to clothing for plus-sized kids so maybe my kids are just the exception.

Would I buy one of these watches for my daughters? Not right now because obviously they wouldn't fit. Would I consider buying one or recommending one for an older child or a child who has larger wrists? Absolutely. They're totally cute. However, I would recommend that if you plan to do so, you stop in at one of The Children's Place brick and mortar locations to make sure that it's actually going to fit.

If you are not familiar with The Children's Place, I encourage you to check out their website. While I enjoy their casual clothing lines, I love seeing all the beautiful dresses they have around major holidays. (Psst. Easter dress anyone?) If you are familiar, did you realize they have watches?!

You can also stop by The Children's Place Facebook Fan Page where they're giving away The Children's Place gift cards and Johnson's products in their Spring Giveaway.

Although these watches didn't fit right now, watches aren't something you outgrow. I have watches that I've had since I was in high school. Since they're built well, I know they can wear them for years to come.

Disclaimer: A representative for The Children's Place sent me the two watches pictured above in order for me to prepare this review. The opinions and comments that I provided are my own and were not impacted by how I received the items. No additional compensation was received.

They Grow Up So Fast

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:58:00 +0000

Miss M and Miss K got up and dressed this past weekend. Picked out their own clothes and were ready to start the day.

...until I saw them...

Their pants were so short, they looked like capri pants. I absolutely couldn't believe it. Fine, kids grow, but I've been sorting and removing clothes out of their drawers for about a month and these recently fit. I swear! Did they have a growth spurt overnight?!

Yeah, kids grow. And they grow fast. Everyone told me when they were born "Enjoy them because they'll be getting married before you know it." I laughed but they're right. The other day, DH even said "Do you realize that (Miss M) is over halfway to being a teenager?"

Sigh.

It's cool to see them developing a sense of individuality. Not only in their clothes, but other things they do. Toys, sports, friends and even food. I've mentioned before that my kids have graduated to Suave bath products. The products work great and provide a nice stepping stone between baby and adult products. Thanks to a variety of scents, my girls have choices in what their hair and skin smell like, too. It's funny to see how their personalities come out just from the fragrance they select. Suave's new campaign "Wash them Grow" sums it up well.

MomSelect (BSM Media) launched a campaign to spread the word about Suave products and their "Wash Them Grow" Sweepstakes. Well, today's the last day to enter the sweepstakes. Be sure to stop over and get in your entry! I know, I know. It's last minute but even lottery tickets purchased right before the drawing have a chance of winning.

Publish Post

So what are you waiting for? Go enter!

Disclaimer: For participating in the campaign to spread the word about Suave, I received a few Suave products for the kids to use. No monetary compensation was received. The blogger who forwards the most people to the contest would win prizes, but I didn't post early enough to participate in any of those!

Killer Threads...literally

melisme5@hotmail.com (Mel) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:51:00 +0000

Book Review: A Black Tie Affair by Sherrill Bodine

One of my favorite things to do when visiting Chicago is making a stop at the Museum of Science and Industry. Most recently when I was there they had a new display of technology, with the creators of each item and how they came up with the idea. My favorite item was a dress (shown below). Wouldn't you love trying to find somewhere to wear this dress?

That's why when the opportunity came up to read Sherrill Bodine's book "A Black Tie Affair", I jumped on the chance. I love romance books that aren’t typical and this one is based on an actual incident in which Tim Long, costume curator at the Chicago History Museum was poisoned by a Dior dress in 2006. Sounds too good to be true right? I found an article/interview with Tim Long over at Laura Barnett Designs. Plus, this author is somewhat local to me, being as she is based in Chicago, where her story is located. The story is amazing, Sherrill has taken quite a lot of her story from actual places, people and events. After reading her story, it was interesting to me that the fallout shelter in the story does exist somewhere in an Illinois cornfield. Plus, I’m always traveling to Chicago, I am definitely making a stop at the Chicago History Museum the next time I’m there to see the amazing Costume collection.

Athena, the focal character, is a fashion curator. She is working on building a costume collection with different dresses from various time periods. The only problem is trying to get a few dresses from the Claysworth. At the beginning of the book she is driven to the family vault by the aunt of the Claysworth family. Driving from downtown Chicago, they head out into the farmland and, looking around, Athena is not sure where they are. She is told by Bridget, the aunt, that the fallout shelter holding the dresses was designed so not to be seen from the air. This is how they end up in a soybean field, where the roof is soybeans. Pretty neat idea I thought for covering up where it’s located.

Once inside, Athena gets to work with looking over the dresses. This is another place it gets interesting; she puts on gloves and crawls under the dress. Did you know that fashion curators have to look on the inside of the dress to figure out how the dress is made, and what undergarments are appropriate to be worn with them? I learned while reading this book, as well as the article about Tim Long, that curators will have those undergarments made so that when the dress is put on display it is shown in the correct way with all the support necessary for it to look great. Anyway, when Athena is examining the dress, she is poisoned, and thus starts a chain of events that you have to read to believe.

I highly recommend this book with a 5/5 rating. It has some adventure, romance and fiction based on factual incidents and places. For more about Sherrill Bodine, check out her website. She also has a book out called Talk of the Town, hope you check it out! And if you're interested, it's also available in electronic format!

Not only did I give it a 5/5 rating, but I also have FIVE copies to give away to FIVE lucky winners (one copy each, of course). Want to know how?

The Prize: "A Black Tie Affair" book by Sherrill Bodine (5 winners)

Participants -

...must provide a US or Canadian shipping address
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile.

Sometime on March 4, 2010, five winners will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all valid comments left. Winners have 72 hours from posting/notification to respond. If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the next random selection.

How to enter:

For the first entry (required) -

(1) Book-it over to Hachette Book Group.
(2) Leave a comment on this post at SahmReviews.com telling one Hachette Book Group that you would be interested in reading - other than one that has been reviewed here.

If you want to increase your chances of winning, here are some options to earn additional entries -
-- Three Entries: If you have a blog or website, add my button to your page. (Here's the code:)

-- Two Entries: Publish a blog post regarding this contest by February 10th and link back to it.
-- One Entry (Daily): Follow SahmReviews on Twitter and Tweet this contest by clicking here or copying the following text:
"Love books, romance or museums? Win one of five copies of A Black Tie Affair! http://tinyurl.com/y9hxjx7 @SahmReviews Please RT #giveaway". Comment with a link to your tweet.
-- One Entry each: Follow ForeverRomance or Sherrill Bodine on Twitter
-- One Entry: Become a fan of SAHM Reviews on Facebook. Of course, don't forget to leave a comment.
-- One Entry: Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email.
-- One Entry: Follow SAHM Reviews using Google's Friend Connect feature.
-- One Entry: Enter the monthly contest at Sherrill Bodine's website.
-- One Entry (Daily): Read any of my non-giveaway reviews here at SahmReviews.com and leave an appropriate comment on that post. Come back here and leave a comment stating which product/post you left a comment on.

Disclaimer: Hachette Book Group sent me this book to review. I wrote this review based on what I honestly thought, and was not paid or compensated in any way other than being given the book. Additional information regarding 'A Black Tie Affair' can be found here.

Winner - Dremel Multi-Max

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:28:00 +0000

First, I want to thank everyone who entered the giveaway for the Dremel Multi-Max. It's a very cool tool and I was extremely excited to share it with my readers. It was a lot of fun hearing about all the projects people are working on. Unfortunately, there could only be one winner and according to Random.org, that person is Kristy.

Kristy has 72 hours to respond or I move on to the alternate. But since she's an email subscriber, a Facebook fan and a follower, I don't see that as being a problem.

For everyone else, there's still time to enter my giveaway for Exederm Skin Care as well as a $50 Walmart Gift Card. And if you have kids, stop by the Suave Kids Wash Them Grow website for a chance to win weekly prizes or the grand prize of a trip for four to Orlando!

I have several contributing authors who have been hard at work on various projects. There are a lot of great reviews and giveaways still to come so stay tuned!

STILL Not Just For Babies

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 03:37:00 +0000

Do you have a trivial memory from your childhood that sticks? Sometimes I wonder why silly things are so ingrained in my brain - memories of everyday stuff that really didn't have much importance. Whenever I comb my daughters' hair, I have this little flashback to my mom combing mine and me pitching a fit if she didn't use the "No more tangles" stuff. To make it even more ridiculous, I have faded memories of the commercials for it, too.

Well, my kids are currently 5 and 7 so we've mostly graduated out of baby products and utilize Suave body wash and shampoo. However, there are some "baby" products, like wipes, washes and detanglers that aren't just for babies. Even Johnson's sweepstakes at Locks in 10 dispels the myth that baby oil is only for babies stating that "Johnson's Baby Oil is for anyone who wants the trusted gentleness and great looking baby soft skin that only Johnson's can provide."

We use Johnson's Baby Oil to remove stubborn temporary tattoos and Johnson's head-to-toe baby wash is one of our go-to products for the girls' face and more sensitive areas. Even though they are titled baby products, we use them. Why? Because they fill a need for us. The body wash is a quality product that doesn't bother the kids' eyes... and removing the potential for their eyes to burn makes bathing them less stressful. And in case you're wondering - yes, I use Johnson's Buddies detangler when their hair is a total mess.
About a month ago, Mom Central launched a campaign for Johnson's baby products. They asked for bloggers who would be participating in a baby shower. Me? No babies here. Even though we use Johnson's products, I wasn't comfortable with laying claim to the mother load of Johnson's products that would be included in this blog tour. However, just a few days before Mom Central sent out their tour announcement, the woman across the street gave birth to her second baby. Since I'm a true believer in Johnson's baby products, I submitted my name for consideration making specific note that any samples I received would be packaged up and given to my neighbor.

I was pleased to be selected for the tour and was delighted to see the package arrive. I proudly packaged up the items into a cute gift bag and pranced them across the street to the neighbor. Whether it's for a shower or just a gift, the nice thing about a gift like this is that you know it will be utilized. New moms and experienced moms only need a certain number of receiving blankets and picture frames. Disposable items like diapers and bath products will definitely be put to good use. When I delivered them, she looked into the bag and said "Oh, we'll use these!" Even as a seasoned mom, I have to be honest and say that I didn't realize that Desitin was a Johnson's product! We didn't use rash cream very often so I don't even remember what brand I used. With total confidence, I can say that I used all the other products that were in the package from Mom Central were ones that I used on my girls when they were babies.

What I like about Johnson's products are that they have stood the test of time. Like I said, I remember my mom using Johnson's No More Tangles on me when I was young (so yeah, about 35 years ago). But I know that they don't just sit around with the same product. I've participated in a few product tests for Johnson's products (sshhhh, I'm not allowed to talk about it) so I know they ask for feedback from typical families like us. Even from the time that my kids were babies (not long ago), they've launched new products or at least new formulas like Johnson's Baby Bubble Bath.

If you have some time, also check out the Soak in the Secret Sweepstakes. You can also stop by The Children's Place Facebook Fan Page where they're giving away Johnson's products in their Spring Giveaway.

Johnson's products are tried and true. They're great products and make awesome shower gifts. Stop by Johnson's website to see all the products they offer now! Thanks to Mom Central for allowing me to participate in this blog tour!

Disclaimer: Mom Central sent me the above pictured Johnson's baby products as compensation for participating in this blog tour. As mentioned, the package was given to a neighbor but the comments expressed were mine as a result of prior use of Johnson's products. No other compensation was received for this review.

Exploring the World on your iPhone

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:06:00 +0000

The following review was brought to you by Elizabeth. Before settling in to her current home, Elizabeth lived and traveled overseas. She was a great candidate for this review!
======================================================
My kids are constantly trying to get my attention when I am happily engaged reading status updates on my iPhone's Facebook app. Tati even likes to yell: "MOM MOM MOM!" then grab the phone and smack me on the nose if I don't answer her... Oh yes, I forget you were sitting there, darling. Sorry.

I guess the solution is to come up with a way to engage the kids with my beloved technology... and one great way to do that is with educational iPhone apps, just for them.

I tested Lola's Flag Adventures this week, a memory and trivia game for kids 4 and up. It's gives kids the chance to learn flags of the world while honing their memory and fine motor skills. The Memory portion is simple "card turn" game that my 4-year-old twins loved. The Trivia game was also a memory game, but this time it was a multiple choice Q&A. Requires reading skills, or at least Mom and Dad there to read the questions to them.

I wasn't super keen on the sliding-answer tool on the Trivia side-- it was a bit sticky at times. Not a great feature for impatient kids. However, I think this game is a great tool for occupying little hands and minds, for $1.99. Certainly it teaches them more than Bejeweled ever will. I know when I played it, within minutes I learned 10 or so flags that I hadn't known before.

I look forward to more fun games added to it-- perhaps a way to drag your finger over a globe and see the maps interact with the locations of the countries! Probably geography info will be more relevant than just knowledge of the design of the flags.

Overall, worth the 2 bucks, especially if you like to share you iPhone with the kiddos.

For more information on Lola's Flag Adventure, check it out at the App Store or log on to the BeiZ website for this and other educational apps for your iPhone or iTouch.

Disclosure: Elizabeth received a promotional code to download Lola's Adventure. No additional compensation was received.

Girls Can Talk Football too

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:20:00 +0000

Back in the early 90's, DH and I collaborated with my oldest brother and started a fantasy football league for our friends. It was back when common folks like us accessed the internet via CompuServe, AOL and Prodigy. We even utilized a paid service for statistics and software because at the time, free stats weren't available anywhere.

I'm not sure what prompted us to start the league in the first place, but I have great memories of it. I recall how everyone met in the conference room at our office and we conference called the few friends who were out of town. We sifted through players and put together teams consisting of people from various teams. Until that point, I had pretty much been a Bears fan because they are the closest team to us. But with the advent of fantasy football, DH and I found that every game in the NFL had potential. We would spend each Sunday watching game after game, flipping channels and cheering for a variety of players. We wanted our quarterback to pass, but not to that player because he was on our FFB opponent's team.

What I found myself doing is watching and talking about every game. I was able to hold my own in a conversation about any football game... at a time when women didn't typically show any interest in the game except for one specific team. And men were always shocked when I would throw out stats about how many how many yards someone ran, how long the field goal was or how many sacks or fumbles transpired. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't a walking statistical dictionary of all the games... just the games involving my fantasy league team - and my opponent's. I found the whole thing exhilarating.

Since my girls are at an age where we don't want to spend every Sunday in front of the television, we aren't currently participating in a league. However, we do keep up on football and still enjoy rooting for our former players (and the Bears, of course). As for the Super Bowl... well, what football fan would want to miss that? Doubt we'll be able to watch the entire game, but that's okay. It's all about the Super Bowl experience anyhow.

And that experience means something different to everyone. For some, it means hitting the local sports bar to enjoy the game in good (and opposing) company. For others, it means hunkering down on the couch with family and friends. Then there's the group that puts together the full snack spread and invites friends over. If you're one of those people who plans to make it an big event then I hope your shopping is already done. If you're up late planning and doing a morning run for groceries and supplies, then pop over to Walmart's Game Time website. There, you'll find recipes, snack ideas and even printable shopping lists for entertaining from as few as two to as many as 100. And heaven forbid that you haven't picked up the new TV for the game, Walmart has deals on those, too...right on the game time website. Walmart also boasts "Game Time Snacks for Eight for as low as $44".

Live football not enough for you? Counting down the days until the release of Madden NFL 11 so you can get your NFL fix during the off season? Doritos and Madden NFL 11 have teamed up to offer a $20 Walmart eGift Card when you preorder your copy at Walmart.com.

No matter how you look at it, Walmart is a great place to stretch your dollar whether it be for the big game, a holiday or just everyday shopping.

As a frequent shopper of Walmart, I'm excited to be able to spread the word about the great deals that they offer. As part of this promotion, brought to you by Mom Central and Walmart, I have a gift card to give to one of my lucky readers. Want to hear more? Keep reading...

The Prize: $50 Walmart Gift Card

Participants -

...must provide a US shipping address
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile.

Sometime on February 17, 2010, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all valid comments left. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond. If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the next random selection.

How to enter:

For the first entry (required) -

(1) Get your game face ready at Walmart.com.
(2) Leave a comment on this post at SahmReviews.com with which Walmart appetizer, snack or, uh-hmmm, beverage is an absolute must-have at your Super Bowl event. (Edit 2/8: Since the Game-Day website is no longer available, please stop by the Valentine's section and comment on something interesting you found there.)

If you want to increase your chances of winning, here are some options to earn additional entries -
-- Three Entries: If you have a blog or website, add my button to your page. (Here's the code:)

-- Two Entries: Publish a blog post regarding this contest by February 10th and link back to it.
-- One Entry (Daily): Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this contest by clicking here or copying the following text:
"Giveaway for a $50 Walmart Gift Card http://tinyurl.com/ydyhtue @SahmReviews Please RT #giveaway". Comment with a link to your tweet.
-- One Entry: Become a fan of SAHM Reviews on Facebook. Of course, don't forget to leave a comment.
-- One Entry: Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email.
-- One Entry: Follow me using Google's Friend Connect feature.
-- One Entry (Daily): Read any of my non-giveaway reviews here at SahmReviews.com and leave an appropriate comment on that post. Come back here and leave a comment stating which product/post you left a comment on.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Mom Central and Walmart for providing the prize for this giveaway. As a thank you for participating in this blog tour and sharing Walmart's Game Time website and deals, I received a Walmart gift card as well. No other compensation was received.

When Flaky isn't a Good Thing

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:30:00 +0000

I have to say that I've been fortunate when it comes to the health of my kids. Once we got past what seemed like never-ending examinations and tests when Miss M was a baby, it's pretty much been smooth sailing. They're beautiful little girls.

But I've always been cautious of products that I use on them. Bath soaps, lotions and even diapers when they were babies. If it caused a rash, it was banned from the grocery list. My friend, Trish, hasn't been so lucky. Her daughter, now in high school, has been forever plagued with health issues such as asthma and eczema.

So when the Family Review Network sent out word that they needed reviewers for Exederm, I thought "I don't have babies in the target range, let alone babies with skin sensitivities." I originally passed on the idea of reviewing the product so that others could test it out. But then Trish told me that she's been spending an arm and a leg to purchase special lotions, bath soaps and shampoos for not only her daughter but also for her kindergarten son. She was a little more vocal about it than normal because she had recently realized her first grade son was also showing symptoms of eczema. She was quite upset about it. It was hard enough having two children with skin issues but now having a third was overwhelming. It meant special care and caution from everything to normal bathing to standard hand washing.

I gave it a lot of thought then asked if she would be interested in trying and reviewing a few products for SAHM Reviews. Trish was skeptical because her options are slim on which products don't cause more issues. While she was at my house, we read about Exederm and how it's safe for babies. "Baby" lotion and "Baby" shampoo aren't just for babies - it just means that it's safe for babies. Trish agreed that it couldn't hurt to try. The worst that could happen is she crossed another brand off the list. The best... that she had a new line of products to add to the approved list for not only her high school daughter but also both her elementary school sons.

And so the challenge began. I provided samples to Trish and she put them to the test. Here's what Trish had to say about the following Exederm products:
Intensive Baby Moisturizer - It was soothing and creamy. It lasted and was non-irritating. Would buy in the future for her children.
Cleansing Baby Bath - It had a good lather, was non-irritating and did not leave a film. Would buy in the future for her children.
Soothing Baby Oil - It was a thin oil and didn't cake onto the skin. Would buy in the future for her children.
Non Irritating Baby Shampoo - Provided a small lather, Non-irritating and left no residue on the hair. Would buy in the future for her children.
Flare Control Cream - This was Trish's favorite product stating that it worked the best out of all the items. Obviously, she would buy it again for her children. She said it lasted about four hours and required very little to rub in and have the soothing start working.
Hydrating Baby Lotion - It was soothing and non-irritating, but flaky. This was the only product that she didn't feel worked well for her children and would not purchase this for her children.

As you can see from the photos, which were taken immediately after using Exederm, it toned down the eczema into just being red splotches instead of flaky. When Trish and I spoke about the various products and her opinions, she said she was overall very happy with the results.

After listening to Trish talk about the many health woes her children experience, I feel even more grateful to be blessed with healthy children. Thanks to Family Review Network for allowing me the opportunity to introduce Trish and her family to Exederm! I'm also excited to be able to introduce my readers to Exederm. One reader will win their choice of a product from the Exederm line. Keep reading to learn how.

The Prize: One Exederm product from baby line

Participants -

...must provide a US shipping address
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile.

Sometime on February 16, 2010, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all valid comments left. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond. If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the next random selection.

How to enter:

For the first entry (required) -

(1) Check out the various products at Exederm.com.
(2) Leave a comment on this post at SahmReviews.com with which product would work best for your family.

If you want to increase your chances of winning, here are some options to earn additional entries -
-- Three Entries: If you have a blog or website, add my button to your page. (Here's the code:)

-- Two Entries: Publish a blog post regarding this contest by February 11th and link back to it.
-- One Entry (Daily): Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this contest by clicking here or copying the following text:
"Giveaway for Exederm skin care http://tinyurl.com/y9w5wyp @SahmReviews Please RT #giveaway". Comment with a link to your tweet.
-- One Entry: Become a fan of SAHM Reviews on Facebook. Of course, don't forget to leave a comment.
-- One Entry: Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email.
-- One Entry: Follow me using Google's Friend Connect feature.
-- One Entry (Daily): Read any of my non-giveaway reviews here at SahmReviews.com and leave an appropriate comment on that post. Come back here and leave a comment stating which product/post you left a comment on.

Thanks to Exederm and Family Review Network for providing the prize for this giveaway!

Disclosure: In order to provide a review of Exederm products, Family Review Network and Exederm provided the above pictured/mentioned products. Those were given to Trish to utilize as directed on the packaging. No additional compensation was received. Exederm provided an additional product to be sent directly to the winner of the giveaway.

Expedite the Honey-Do Project

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:57:00 +0000

Some of my earliest memories involve my dad wearing a tool belt. A carpenter by trade, a contractor by profession, it has always been his life. When we were kids, he had a shop in the basement with a work bench, vise and wall full of hand tools. I remember how he had outlined the spot where each tool went. If anything was missing, it was plain as day what it was.

And now that he's retired, well, he can't seem to NOT work. He has finally started tackling projects for himself - built a garage for his truck and included a new workshop area, too. He volunteers on committees at the church and when we know he has a few spare minutes, my mom, sister-in-law and I add things to his Honey-Do list.

This past September, we finally started converting part of the basement into a play area for the kids. My dad came over and helped DH with as much as they could. As we neared the end, a PR firm representing Dremel offered for me to test out the new Multi-Max. It is targeted at making small projects easier for DIY'ers so this was perfect timing for us. It arrived when we at the painting stage so there wasn't much we could do with it right away. All other family projects were on hold until the play room was done!

Anyway, after we finished painting, DH explained to my dad that I have this new Dremel I'm trying to review. My dad said that the trim would be a good (yet simple) opportunity to see what it does. They applied the trim everywhere but needed to cut away a few sections near the sump pump.

DH grabbed the Multi-Max while my dad looked on. When DH was done, my dad's response... "That's slick." I was amazed at how quick and easy it was. But honestly, it was just cutting off a piece of trim, how hard could it be the way my dad would normally do it. So I asked him. He rifled through his tool box and pulled out a hand tool. He said "This is what I would have used." He went on to explain that the Dremel was 3-4 times quicker, but more important, much cleaner. He said for someone not skilled at using the traditional tool, it made it less likely that the wall would be damaged.

While I was excited about the Dremel Multi-Max and how easy it was, I was even more thrilled that my dad thought it was cool!

Think I'll go draw an outline of it on his new workshop wall.

So what do you think? Do you have a Honey DIY list that's itching for attention? Maybe if you added a Dremel Multi-Max to the toolkit, the project list might get shorter. (Or... it might get longer as you figure out all the things this baby can do!) You can check out their "30 Minute Miracles" brochure for some great information and ideas. Here's your chance to win one!

The Prize: Dremel Multi-Max

Participants -

...must provide a US shipping address
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile.

Sometime on February 15, 2010, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all valid comments left. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond. If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the next random selection.

How to enter:

For the first entry (required) -

(1) Get some project ideas at Dremel.com.
(2) Leave a comment on this post at SahmReviews.com with a project around your house that you think the Dremel Multi-Max would help you with.

If you want to increase your chances of winning, here are some options to earn additional entries -
-- Three Entries: If you have a blog or website, add my button to your page. (Here's the code:)

-- Two Entries: Publish a blog post regarding this contest by February 10th and link back to it.
-- One Entry (Daily): Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this contest by clicking here or copying the following text:
"Giveaway for a Dremel Multi-Max tool http://tinyurl.com/yc8drzq @SahmReviews Please RT #giveaway @DremelBrand". Comment with a link to your tweet.
-- One Entry: Become a fan of SAHM Reviews on Facebook. Of course, don't forget to leave a comment.
-- One Entry: Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email.
-- One Entry: Follow me using Google's Friend Connect feature.
-- One Entry each: While none of these are required to enter the contest, you can earn one additional entry for each of the following: subscribe to Dremel's YouTube page, become a fan on Facebook or follow on Twitter. Would appreciate you letting them know I sent you but that isn't required. Come back here and leave a comment for each one you did.
-- One Entry (Daily): Read any of my non-giveaway reviews here at SahmReviews.com and leave an appropriate comment on that post. Come back here and leave a comment stating which product/post you left a comment on.

Kudos to Dremel for creating yet another cool tool for DIY'ers. Also, thanks to Dremel for providing the prize for this giveaway.

For more information on Dremel products, check out their website, watch them on YouTube, become a fan on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Disclaimer: In order to facilitate this review, I received a Dremel Multi-Max tool. No other compensation was received.

New Kid (K'Nex) on the Block

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:44:00 +0000

Thanks to Andrea for providing portions of the following content for SAHM Reviews:

==================================================
I absolutely love receiving products in the mail to review, but every once in a while something arrives that isn't exactly suited to my girls. They'll play with almost anything I give them so it's usually not that big of a deal. But when a package arrived from Team Mom before Christmas and included a K'Nex playset, I knew there were better options. DH immediately recommended our friend, Andrea, who has two children firmly placed in the targeted age range.

When I had some free time, I made a stop at Andrea's house to deliver the package and see if she would be able to provide me with some age-appropriate commentary on the Kid K'Nex Neighborhood Police Station set. As Andrea and I spoke about it, her son, Jack, waited patiently for his mom to tell him about the package sitting on the kitchen counter. Andrea later said:

"My kids were so excited, of course, to see that a new toy was here for them to play with. While Jack being 5 years old was skeptical about the Sesame Street theme of the new blocks, it didn’t stop him one bit from tearing into the box to start building. Abby, my three year old, was just as excited to see some new blocks had arrived as she is very into building too. Even Emma’s attention at age one was sparked by the adorable little Elmo and Ernie figures. They liked having instructions for building something specific, but also enjoyed how they could build whatever their imaginations led them to as well. I loved the fact that the blocks easily fit onto all of the Duplo blocks we already had. No matter which way you put them, they all coordinated with one another. So, it wasn’t a huge crisis when they got mixed into the bin with all of the other blocks we already own. It is nice that the colors are slightly lighter, so the kids could easily pick them back out when they wanted to. Overall, a big hit with the kids. You know you have a good product when a 5, 3, and 1 year old all can get enjoyment out of one toy!"

When I spoke with Andrea and her husband after they had a chance to try it out, they said the kids loved it. Originally, they had concerns about whether the blocks could be mixed with other sets but when they realized they could all be combined, they were delighted. It's hard enough to keep things organized but when you have similar products that don't, well, play nicely together it makes it even harder. Kudos to K'Nex for making these blocks versatile enough to work on their own or be incorporated into a larger design limited only by the child's imagination.

A variety of styles and themes of Kid K'Nex sets are available from Amazon or your local retailer. For more information about K'Nex products, stop by their website, become a fan on Facebook or check them out on YouTube. Thanks to Team Mom for sending this for us to play with and for Andrea (and family) for assisting with this review.
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Disclosure: The K'Nex set featured in this review was provided to SAHM Reviews at no charge by Child's Play Communications. The set was given to Andrea and family for the purpose of providing commentary for this review. No other compensation was received.

Winner - Kodak D830 Digital Frame

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:22:00 +0000

Life is a Sandcastle should be jumping from her seat right now. Her number was drawn via Random.org as the winner of the Kodak D830 Digital Frame.

Many thanks to Kodak for providing the prize for this giveaway - and for some very entertaining and informative broadcasts on the K-Zone at CES!

If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, the alternate winner will be awarded the prize.

What Happens in Vegas... Can Be Viewed Online

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:31:00 +0000

We just returned home from an extended weekend in Vegas. It was a nice little getaway with hubby as a surprise Christmas gift. The only thing that I'm kicking myself for is not scheduling it a few days later. It wasn't really an option though since the kids have school and putting that kind of strain on the babysitter (AKA grandparents) just isn't very fair.

What difference did the date make? If I was there a few days later, I could have attended the much coveted CES. When I received invitations to see some of my clients, I was disappointed to have to say "Sorry, I'm leaving Las Vegas on the 5th." The 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs from January 7-10.

But one came through for me. After sending condolences for not being able to attend, he said "There will be plenty of stuff going on streaming video-wise. So it’ll be like you’re there!" While I would have loved to attend in person, streaming is the next best thing. What happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas... unless, of course, it's streaming online.

Kodak has lined up "Live from CES" hourly presentations on the K-Zone. I encourage you to stop by the K-Zone to check out the entire schedule of panels, but here is a sampling to wet your whistle:

The New CMO: Chief Memory Officer (Thursday, January 7, at 11:00 p.m. PST) KZONE1
A look at today’s CMO’s and how they create, share and relive moments in their lives.
Speakers include: Tina Sharkey (Chairman and Global President, Baby Center), Jill Zarin (The Real Housewives of NYC), and Jen Drexler (Director of Brand Insights, Just Ask A Woman)

It’s All About KISS (Thursday, January 7 at 12:00 p.m. PST) KZONE2
And we’re not talking about the rock band. Hear from leading women in technology about why simpler is better in today’s fast-paced world.
Speakers include: Linda Tischler (Senior Writer, FastCompany), Tina Sharkey (Chairman and Global President, Baby Center), Pam Sherman (author and public speaker known as The Suburban Outlaw), and Jen Drexler (Director of Brand Insights, Just Ask a Woman)

Help, My Mom Friended Me on Facebook (Friday, January 8 at 11:00 a.m. PST) KZONE9
Kids eight and under will never know what life was like before Google. Learn how technology is changing their lives – and their parent’s lives in the process.
Speakers include: Pam Sherman (author and public speaker known as The Suburban Outlaw), Susan Getgood (Blogwithintegrity.com), Jill Zarin (the Real Housewives of NYC), Linda Sawyer (CEO of Deutch), Christy Matte (editor of the Family Computing Guide, About.com)

The M-Suite (Friday, January 8 at 3:00 p.m. PST) KZONE13
How momtreprenuers and stay at home moms are building successful businesses.
Speakers include: Amanda Robinson (NaturalMommies.com), Sharon Napier (founder, Partners & Napier), Susan Tousi (Kodak), Soleil Moon Frye (actress), and Stacie Haight Connerty (blogger, Thedivinemissmommy.com)

Father Knows Best (Friday, January 8 at 5:00 p.m. PST) KZONE15
It’s time to hear from the dads! Hear from these tech savvy dads on how they use technology with their kids, and the lessons learned.
Speakers include: Michael Ferrara (TechnoDad), Jeff Hayzlett (CMO, Kodak), Fred Fishkin (technology reporter, Bloomberg Radio), Jackson Lynch (WIRED)

I realize that being there is the primary choice but streaming is the next best thing. However, for some, the timing on these may conflict with other activities but Kodak has provided a reminder service to help ensure you don't miss out. Text the KZone Code to 484848 to receive a reminder 20 minutes before the program airs. And if you miss it, "reruns" are nicely organized by day at the K-Zone or you can find them on YouTube.

Kodak has some great products and I'm excited to be able to work with them. As a thank you for sharing this information with you, they're giving me one of their KODAK D830 Digital Frames. As a special treat, they're also providing an extra for one of my readers! Keep reading for how you can enter to win.

The Prize: Kodak D830 Digital Frame

Participants -

...must provide a US or Canadian shipping address
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile.

Sometime on January 19, 2010, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all valid comments left. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond. If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the next random selection.

How to enter:

For the first entry (required) -

(1) Check out the Kodak Z-Zone.
(2) Leave a comment on this post at SahmReviews.com with which panel other than those I've mentioned sounds interesting.
If you want to increase your chances of winning, here are some options to earn additional entries -
-- Three Entries: If you have a blog or website, add my button to your page. (Here's the code:)

-- Two Entries: Publish a blog post regarding this contest by January 15th and link back to it.
-- One Entry (Daily): Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this contest by clicking here or copying the following text:
"Giveaway for Kodak D830 Digital Frame http://tinyurl.com/yaoohmo @SahmReviews Please RT #giveaway". Comment with a link to your tweet.
-- One Entry: Become a fan of SAHM Reviews on Facebook. Of course, don't forget to leave a comment.
-- One Entry: Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email.
-- One Entry: Follow me using Google's Friend Connect feature.
-- One Entry: Watch one of the panel presentations and leave a comment telling which you watched and one thing you learned from it. You can do this once for each panel that you watch.
-- One Entry (Daily): Read any of my non-giveaway reviews here at SahmReviews.com and leave an appropriate comment on that post. Come back here and leave a comment stating which product/post you left a comment on.
-- New bonus entry (added 1/9/10): Enter the Kodak contests at both Rockin' Mama and Just a Mom's Take on Things and leave a note in your entry that Nicole at SahmReviews.com sent you. Then come back here and let me know you did. Not only will you have a chance to win on each of their blogs, but I'll give you a bonus entry here at SAHM Reviews!

Many thanks to Kodak for providing this gateway to CES in the form of the K-Zone as well as the prize for this giveaway. If you love Kodak products, be sure to fan them on Facebook!

Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was received for this post. As previously mentioned, Kodak is giving me a D830 Digital Frame.

How NOT to Freeze in Iowa

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:17:00 +0000

Have you been watching the weather reports lately? A blizzard just whipped through Iowa and closed us down. The snow plows weren't even out. Neither were the tow trucks. As DH so politely puts it... "Where's this global warming they keep talking about?"

If you've never been to a cold state, you probably don't understand. When we lived in Los Angeles, so many people had no grasp of what COLD really is. When I said "You cover every piece of skin because it only takes a minute to get frostbite if the wind chill is bad enough." Their response, with a cocked head and dazed look... Huh? Their only concept of winter is skiing on the Southern California slopes. Not exactly the same thing.

You know what we do for entertainment here in the winter? We build igloos out of jungle gyms and sled. And shovel the sidewalks and driveway... over... and over... and over again. The only way to combat the cold and have any hope of enjoying the great outdoors is to dress warm. Layers underneath combined with quality outerwear. If you aren't wearing snow pants over your pants then you better have thermals underneath. If the jacket isn't good enough, you'll be cold in no time. Especially if you're outside for an extended time shoveling snow.

As seasoned cold-weather folk, we understand that. When we gather as an extended family - DH, me, my daughters, my parents, brothers, sister-in-law, niece and nephews - we look like a Columbia advertisement. One of these days, I'll take a picture as proof. We all wear Columbia jackets, DH and I have Columbia boots, hats, headbands, sweatshirts. DH even has a few Columbia shirts. I totally should have bought stock in the company.

Well, rant and rave long enough and loud enough and eventually Columbia will hear. I was delighted when Columbia PR asked if I would be interested in reviewing their products on SAHM Reviews. Someone get the smelling salt, I feel a faint coming on. I couldn't type back to them quick enough saying "OMG! Can I? Can I? Really?" My only request was that they find some gloves to send to my daughters. It's the one thing that we can never find on the shelves here. The stores don't stock enough.

Shortly after that email, I received a note that they weren't sending gloves. Instead, they found a few outfits. For Miss K, they sent an Annie Angel set. It's positively adorable and it's designed for a growing toddler. One of the big complaints I have about typical snowsuits is that the shoulder straps don't stay snug and they don't cinch small enough for my small girls. The Annie Angel set doesn't use the normal bib-overall shoulder strap but rather a vest-style secured at the shoulder with Velcro.

Miss M received a beautiful Board Beauty Jacket and Abby Avalanche Bib. One thing that's great about these is that they have a "Grow Cuff" in them so you extend the hem when the inevitable growth spurt occurs. Nothing worse than paying good money for a nice set of snow pants then having your child outgrow them before the season is over. When I saw the cuff, I was baffled. "Grow cuff? Huh? Where?" Well, it's not like some kind of Velcro or button adjustment. It shows more forethought - where the pants are made extra-long and just hemmed up. There is a seam that you remove when you're ready. Yes, remove a seam from a perfectly good snowsuit. Thanks to the hem, the pattern is consistent and it results in extending the life of the suit without making it look like patchwork.

There's one thing I need to say that was a little surprising about the Annie Angel set that Miss K received. The pull tap on the zipper broke within no time. That's very, very unusual for Columbia products. Since Miss K and Miss M stay so warm in these suits, they've been spending a ton of time outside so it's possible that she bumped it against something while on the school playground. I don't know. But I was fine by it. Why? Because Columbia has an incredible warranty program - a lifetime warranty on outerwear - and we've returned other items to them for repair. Not that Columbia stuff breaks a lot, but on a few occasions, the kids have come home with the zipper pull on their jacket broken. Instead of calling the jacket a total loss, we use one of the other Columbia jackets that we have in the closet while we ship the broken one off for repair. Yes, we own OTHER Columbia jackets for the kids. Aside from the two sets we received from Columbia's public relations department for the purpose of this review, we already own... wait a second while I go count... 4 OTHER children's Columbia winter jackets and 4 adult Columbia winter jackets, in addition to the various items I mentioned earlier in this post.

So what do I think of these latest additions to our Columbia collection? Love them. The grow cuff is a novel idea and the modified strap-style on the toddler sets make for a much better fit (and are easier for little kids to get out of quickly when they need to use the restroom.

Would I buy Columbia products in the future? It would take a massive downward shift in their quality, customer service, community service, corporate responsibility and business approach for us to stop buying their products. Columbia outerwear keeps us warm, is comfortable, cute and the company stands behind their products. What else could we ask for?

If you want more information on Columbia products, check them out on Amazon, their website, blog or their fan page on Facebook.

Disclaimer: Thank you to Columbia for providing these products to facilitate a review. Other than the product, no compensation was received. As mentioned in my review, we are huge Columbia fans and regular consumers of their products. Receipt of samples didn't impact this review!

Get your Just Desserts the Easy Way

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:37:00 +0000

Welcome aboard to Julee, the latest Contribution Author at SahmReviews.com! Julee and I go way back to days when I was a very active with BzzAgent.com. I think she's a great fit for SAHM Reviews and hope you agree.

While many reviews are created as a result of receiving a complimentary product, the following content was provided by Julee because it is a product that she believes in and purchases regularly. She purchased this product on her own and was not compensated in any way for her review.
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I'm the mom to six kiddos. It's a diverse collection of children I have, ranging in age from 4 to 20. Three girls. Three boys. ALL very opinionated. The one thing we all have in common, without a doubt, is food. We love it. It's what brings us together. Holler "DINNER!" and the pitty-pitty patter of twelve feet can be heard in the dash for the dining room table.

Our meals are common. The same menus posted on fridges and brought to the table all across the country...mashed potatoes, pot roast, peas, corn, pork chops...but our favorite part of the meal...DESSERT! It goes beyond the ordinary. It's a labor of love. Me. Tiny hands. Big Hands. Creating a dessert is what we love to do TOGETHER. Helping Mom bake...It's a tradition they don't seem to outgrow.

It's an ordinary week when my five year old puts "Peanut Butter Fudge Puddles" on the dessert menu. Our kitchen becomes a place of silly songs, we make up as we go and "remember when's" as she recaps the most (insert: fun, sad, crazy, etc. here) of her ENTIRE LIFE! I love when we pour in the fudge and she says, "Don't you just wish you could jump into that fudgy puddle? I bet you wouldn't be telling me to keep dry!"

Another night of the week my 16-year old announces, "Mom, tonight the ENTIRE drama class is coming over to watch movies." I take a deep breath and suggest, "Hey, you know what would be fun? What do you think about a fruit pizza?" He thinks I'm "amazing" and I forgive him for his last minute announcement.

My seven year old seems to think she's going on 20-something and so for her more "sophisticated" moments, she requests Rocky Road Bars. We turn on the disco music and jive while we make a batch. She practices her fractions measuring. Rolls her eyes when I wipe egg white on her nose and tell her it's a "spa facial". Then we get to add the mini-marshmallows and she remembers she's just not ready to give up being SEVEN!

I have a great husband. I really do. It's just that he fails to mention he "signed up to bring "something" for the office potluck TOMORROW" more times than I care to recall. It's not that it's about the "time" it's about DECISIONS...red raspberry thumbprints? snickerdoodles? gingerbread? There's just too many great desserts out there!

At 20, my eldest still thinks I'm "cool" when he calls 30-minutes in advance and tells me, "I'm bringing my girlfriend home. Should be there in about 30-40 minutes. Can you make a snack?" When he walks through the door and I'm pulling out Baklava Bars I am suddenly, "Mother Extraordinaire" and his girlfriend exclaims, "Your house smells amazing!" and after she has one says to my son, "Your house is the BEST place to hang out!"

In between the demands of my family I'm juggling the role of PTA President, Soccer Mom, Food Bank Volunteer and a fistful of other "titles". Betty Crocker has simplified my life and allows me to be of service to my community without taking away quality time, making traditions and putting good food on the table for the people that matter most to me.

For twenty years, I've relied on Betty Crocker and my absolute favorite staple is Betty Crocker's Cookie Pouch! That week of desserts and demands you just read: Betty Crocker's Sugar Cookies, Double Chocolate Chunk, and Peanut Butter Cookie Pouches and a few other ingredients. Really!

Of course, we sometimes make one of the nine varieties exactly as they were intended--chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, sugar cookies, etc.

The cookie pouch is easy. I can read the instructions while my four year old finds the appropriate measuring cup. I can hold a conversation with my children about something funny or more serious, answer a never-ceasing-ringing telephone and not lose track of where I am in the recipe.

Talk about simple. Betty Crocker's cookie pouches only require a few ingredients. Oil. Water. Eggs. Yup! That simple!

Convenience is a key to running an organized house and Betty Crocker is on the shelf where-ever my Mommy-Caravan takes us--Target, Walmart, Albertsons and dare I admit it? We've bought cookie pouches in a crunch at the gas station!

Betty Crocker Cookie Pouches are typically under $2.00 each and are frequently on sale, making desserts even more tempting and easy on your budget.

Betty Crocker is also part of the Box Tops for Education program. I'm preparing wonderful desserts for my family and giving back 10 cents to my children's school.

There is absolutely nothing about Betty Crocker's Cookie Pouches that I dislike.

So next time you're short on time, let Betty Crocker Cookie Pouches help you get your "just desserts" and bake up some memories!

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Editor's Note: Have you concocted a can't-live-without recipe using Betty Crocker Pouches? If so, then be sure to stop by Betty Crocker on January 4, 2010 for details for turning your cookie creativity into cash! The "Mix It Up with Betty" Cookie Contest offers $5,000 as a grand prize and that can buy a lot of cookie packets! Grand prize winner also walks away with 1000 Box tops! While the contest doesn't begin until January 4, you can brush up on the official rules right now.

If you plan to enter the contest, be sure to print some Coupons before you head to the store to stock up on supplies!

Betty Crocker one of your favorites? For great ideas, discussions and recipes, check out their fan page on Facebook or follow Betty Crocker on Twitter!

Christmas is only ONE Day

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:52:00 +0000

What is it about Christmas? It's a holiday that I'm torn between loving and hating. Of course, I enjoy surprising someone with the perfect gift - or even giving something to a person who didn't expect anything. Seeing the kids so happy in anticipation of the day... watching how excited they get opening even the simplest of packages.

But it hasn't always been so bright and shiny. There was a time when I dreaded Christmas. When we lived in California, the only way we were able to spend the holidays with family is if we made the trek. Christmas became kind of a sour holiday for a number of reasons, but it was especially hard when holiday gifts didn't make it on time.

I'll admit that I'm no saint when it comes to deadlines. I'm a procrastinator and I know it. There have been many times that I'm finalizing Christmas gifts or working on handmade gifts at the last minute. But one thing that I have always been sure of is that the gifts made it on time. Even if that meant I needed to spring for the overnight charges and often researched FedEx, UPS and USPS for the best rate for the shipment I was sending.

In case you aren't familiar, FedEx isn't the same company that it was when I was growing up. Back then, Federal Express was mostly something used by businesses and seldom did I hear of individuals using it except for extremely time-sensitive paperwork. It has come a long way. In 1988, FedEx and Kinkos began working together and eventually, a marriage occurred. The merged companies, now termed FedEx Office, not only offer calendars, cards and printing products previously offered by Kinkos, but also offers FedEx Ground at 10% cheaper than UPS. If you haven't checked out FedEx lately, it is worth checking into.

While we're down to the wire for this Christmas, if you have a particular digital product that you want printed and shipped, you still may still be able to meet the deadline using the various FedEx Office services. However, if you have a last minute gift that needs to get somewhere then today is the day to send it. Period. Find your local center, consider the cost of shipping to be an important part of the gift because Christmas is only ONE day, December 25th. As someone who was previously on the distant end, away from family, I cannot stress enough how important it is.

On a somewhat unrelated note, if you're a fan of Daft Punk, you might appreciate the motto I saw on the wall at our local FedEx Office. "Make it. Print it. Pack it. Ship it." FedEx really needs to team up with Daft Punk on their jingle!

I'll be honest and say that as my girls appreciate the holiday, I'm learning to enjoy it more also. Maybe because Santa knows that Christmas morning is when you celebrate Christmas.

Disclaimer: As a thank you for sharing my thoughts on FedEx with my readers, Mom Central has provided me with a small gift card.

Kids are so Perceptive

SAHMtoo@gmail.com (Nicole) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:56:00 +0000

I'm not sure I'll ever figure it out. Kids, I mean, and their contradicting abilities. They're able to memorize lyrics to songs and the best way to go through a particular video game to maximize points. Yet you ask them if they did their chores and they act like they don't know what you're talking about. I thought selective hearing was something we would experience as our kids got older, but we're already seeing it now (and the girls are only 6 and 5). They're completely oblivious to obvious things like the dogs scratching at the door to go out but then they pick up on some ridiculously small thing when you didn't think they were listening.

While most of the time, the things they make note of are normal events/activities/theories that have just finally clicked. The light bulb went on... "Oh, THAT's why..." Then every once in a while, they'll acknowledge something way out there. I pause then think to myself "I didn't even notice that."

Over a year ago, we had the opportunity to review Prima Princessa: Swan Lake. My girls love it and we've watched it many times. We all enjoyed it so much, that I told Prima Princessa "If you do another one and need reviewers, count me in!" Well, they recently released Prima Princessa: The Nutcracker and sent a copy to us for review.

When I told the girls about it and said we could watch it, they rushed upstairs to their dress-up box to pick the perfect outfit for the red carpet debut at our house. They know that Prima Princessa is one of those DVDs that isn't meant to be watched entirely sitting down. Between acts, the kids are encouraged to get up and dance along with the children on the screen. It's a great combination of real ballet, educational lessons and imaginative play.

The proceeded to watch it and really enjoyed the whole thing. The sat glued to the story,during the acts done by the San Francisco Ballet. Then during the educational parts presented by students from the School of American Ballet and the interactive parts, they hopped up and danced along. They worked hard trying to learn the ballet moves that were being demonstrated. When the DVD was over, they were able to recap the story for me. Introducing kids to cultural differences, various art and music - variety in life in general - is key to raising well rounded kids and I feel that educational (yet fun) DVDs like those put out by Prima Princessa are a great launching pad.

What amazed me, however, was when the DVD was over, they commented about how many acts there were in Prima Princessa: The Nutcracker - as compared to Prima Princessa: Swan Lake. Remarkably, they were right. I figured that with the excitement of the new DVD along with the new storyline, they wouldn't notice something as minor as how many acts it took to present the ballet. Heck, I didn't notice. Cannot take for granted what they do or don't notice.

...but I'm sure if I asked them if they cleaned up the mess that they made from the dress-up box, they would look at me like I was nuts.

The girls really enjoyed Prima Princessa: The Nutcracker but that doesn't surprise me. I'm grateful that Prima Princessa sent this (and previously, Swan Lake) to review. I'm also very excited that they've offered one for me to share with my readers. Keep reading for details:

The Prize: Prima Princessa: The Nutcracker DVD

Participants -

...must provide a US or Canadian shipping address
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile.

Sometime on December 26, 2009, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all valid comments left. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond. If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the next random selection.

How to enter:

For the first entry (required) -

(1) Watch the demo video on the Prima Princessa website.
(2) Leave a comment on this post at SahmReviews.com with what you like most about this DVD.
If you want to increase your chances of winning, here are some options to earn additional entries -
-- Three Entries: If you have a blog or website, add my button to your page. (Here's the code:)

-- Two Entries: Publish a blog post regarding this contest by December 22nd and link back to it.
-- One Entry (Daily): Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this contest by clicking here or copying the following text:
"Giveaway for Prima Princessa: The Nutcracker DVD http://tinyurl.com/y8kx6ey @SahmReviews Please RT". Comment with a link to your tweet.
-- One Entry: Become a fan of SAHM Reviews on Facebook. Of course, don't forget to leave a comment.
-- One Entry: Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email.
-- One Entry: Follow me using Google's Friend Connect feature.
-- One Entry (Daily): Read any of my non-giveaway reviews here at SahmReviews.com and leave an appropriate comment on that post. Come back here and leave a comment stating which product/post you left a comment on.

Disclaimer: Many thanks to Prima Princessa for sending a copy of this for us to review as well as providing an additional one for the giveaway. Hoping they decide to create a 3rd DVD in their series!