The Full Mommy

Cooking Light for $5!

2009-11-08T22:00:00.001-05:00

This week on Amazon, Cooking Light magazine is only $5. You read that right, five dollars!

At that price you can check off quite a few people on your holiday shopping list.

(Thanks to My Little Patch of Sunshine for the great tip.)

Have You Found PlanToys?

2009-11-08T00:00:00.004-05:00

Have you begun your holiday shopping? Um yeah, me neither. (Or kudos to you if you are ahead of the game!)

It's so hard to know each year which toys on your children's wish lists will have longevity. I have found that the open-ended toys tend to last a little longer before being forgotten. Both of my children love toys that can be played with in different ways, rather than rigid toys that are meant to be played with in only one intended way.

I also like toys that both of my kids can play with, whether that means that both can play with it now or it can eventually be handed down to my second child. An added plus in my book are gender-neutral toys (or those that can easily be adapted for a boy or girl).

I am also moving more and more toward safe and non-toxic toys, those made from recycled materials, and wooden toys (that maybe I can even save for grandchildren!).

I have been perusing a few websites trying to formulate a list and I am drawn to the PlanToys website. We were recently at a children's museum and I fell in love with the PlanToys dollhouse.

Have you discovered PlanToys? Their lineup includes baby toys, developmental toys, educational toys, and wooden toys.

In my quest for great toys, I even became a fan of PlanToys in Facebook. (You can too!)

Look for an upcoming review and giveaway of one of the toys made by PlanToys.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

MADD's The Power of Parents

2009-11-06T00:00:00.006-05:00

Nationwide on Power of Parents, It's Your Influence by MADD from MADD Online on Vimeo.

My oldest child is a good ten years from being handed the keys to the car. But that doesn't mean that I don't think about drinking and driving. Someone very close to my family was hit by a drunk driver sustaining injuries that eventually caused his death. It was senseless and could have been prevented had the person just handed over his keys or taken a cab.

If your children are getting close to driving or already are, it's important to talk with them about driving and alcohol. I know this may be an awkward conversation to begin, but there are resources available to help open up communication, like the Power of Parents website (see video above).

Also look to these resources from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD):

Safe travels!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of MADD. A donation was made to MADD in my name to thank me for taking the time to participate.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

New Disney Releases: Snow White and TinkerBell

2009-11-04T00:01:00.005-05:00

Here's my Full Mommy confession: I am tired of race cars, trucks and robots. Sometimes I want to want to watch a chick flick.

Since most of my T.V. viewing is done during daytime hours my choices are strictly G rated. This is where Disney comes in. I recently received two movies newly released on DVD: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition and TinkerBell and the Lost Treasure.

I don't know that I have ever been able to watch Snow White on DVD, much less in the format that it has just been released in, which is the Diamond Blu-Ray version. The picture is advertised as "Flawless" and I have to agree it is. For the tech savvy, the Diamond edition is presented in 7.1 Digital Theater Surround Sound. I don't really know what that means, but I agree the picture and sound quality is second to none.

So high quality video is very nice, but doesn't do much for you if you don't want to watch the film. No problems there. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is just as enchanting now as I remember it being many years ago. I dare you to watch it and not sing Hi-Ho for the rest of the day. Go ahead. Try it. Bet you're humming it right now.

After watching a Disney film I was very familiar with, I was interested to see something from Disney that was a bit more contemporary. I had never met TinkerBell and I didn't know much about the fairy series.

In Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, Tinker Bell’s greatest adventure yet takes place in Autumn, as the fairies are on the mainland changing the colors of the leaves, tending to pumpkin patches, and helping geese fly south for the winter. From there, the plot got somewhat complicated involving things like blue moons and pixie dust, but at the heart of the story is friendship and adventure; two themes every good chick flick needs.

Both Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and TinkerBell and the Lost Treasure come with bonus materials and features, are available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack and are in stores now.

This was written by AmyJo. You can visit her in Binkytowne.

Holiday DVD's That Are Sure To Be A HIT

2009-11-03T00:00:00.025-05:00

My children, two and five, love the characters featured on the DVD's produced by HIT Entertainment. In anticipation of the holiday season, HIT sent our family several DVD's to watch together. Though there's no snow on the ground yet, we're getting in the holiday spirit with these winter-themed DVD's.

HIT Favorites: Frosty Friends
This DVD has a little something for everyone. Of course my Thomas-obsessed son loved the episode featuring his favorite engine, but he also enjoyed the Bob the Builder show. My daughter loves watching Pingu (a show we only get to see on On Demand) and thought Kipper was cute.

(From the DVD:) Bundle up with your favorite preschool pals in these fun-filled wintertime tales. Join Barney, Bob the Builder, Pingu, Thomas & Friends, and Kipper as they enjoy playful adventures in the snow. Learn the true meaning of Christmas with your best friend, Barney, build a snowman with Bob, go sledding with Kipper, whistle down the tracks with Thomas, and laugh along as Pingu plays hilarious tricks on his friends.

Thomas & Friends: Holiday Express
This DVD was released on November 3, 2009 and comeswith an exclusive Take Along Thomas engine with Santa hat and snowflake garland. The new engine excited my son because a little boy can never have too many engines, right? This is a nice collection of some of the pre-CGI episodes that your little guy will surely enjoy.

(From the DVD:) All aboard for snowmen, Christmas trees and festive train rides! When you ride the rails with your jolly friends, you never know what to expect. Enjoy exciting adventures filled with lucky trucks, Christmas puddings, surprise parties and much, much more. Join Henry, Emily, Percy, and Thomas for trainloads of fun in the HOLIDAY EXPRESS!

Thomas & Friends: Sodor Friends Holiday Collection
Okay, if you haven't had enough Thomas or are looking for a more comprehensive gift, this three DVD gift set will keep your guy entertained for hours. I think our favorite episode is when Percy is mistaken for Jack Frost!

(From the DVD:) There’s fun around every turn in these joyful wintertime adventures! Catch the holiday spirit as Thomas & Friends prepare for the grand opening of the Toy Workshop. Laugh and play along as Percy tries to fool his friends into believing he’s Jack Frost. And hold on tight for some of Thomas’ most thrilling races, rescues and runaways in this heartwarming holiday collection.

Bob the Builder: Building Crew Holiday Collection
Does your child like the Can-Do Crew? This three DVD Bob the Builder gift set has snow and ice and is entertaining on a cold winter day.

(From the DVD:) Just in time for the holidays, discover why "the fun is in getting it done” in these action-packed, fun-filled adventures! Join Bob and the Can- Do Crew as they rescue their friend from a winter storm in "Bob’s White Christmas.” Then it’s time to build a log cabin and smooth the ice rink for the Winter Games. And finally, come along as Bob and Scoop hunt for buried treasure – and make some amazing discoveries – in this one-of-a-kind collection that's the perfect holiday treat for Bob the Builder fans.

Also from HIT Entertainment for the holidays is the Barney: Tee-riffic Holiday Collection, which also includes three DVD's.

(From the DVD:) Bundle up with your best friend Barney for this special collection of wintertime favorites! Take a musical journey to the North Pole with Barney, BJ, and Baby Bop in "Night Before Christmas." Sing along to your favorite Barney tunes in the fun-filled game show, "Can You Sing that Song?” And join Barney, Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends and more for the magic of "Winter Wonderland” in this tee- riffic holiday gift set!

Take a look at more DVD's featuring your children's favorite characters from HIT Entertainment, which are regularly featured on The Full Mommy.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Disclosure: HIT Entertainment sent us these DVD's to watch together.

Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories

2009-11-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

This time of year I am sure that I get strange looks from the people in the cereal aisle. I methodically remove Cheerios boxes from the shelves to find the packages that have the books that we don't yet have.

We don't buy any character or sugary cereal for our household. Our poor kids (that was sarcasm) don't usually get cereal that comes with a treat. But we buy lots of Cheerios and it's a bonus when the box comes with a free book.

Once again this year Cheerios is giving away six million children's books inside their boxes through Spoonfulls of Stories. The books are for children 3 to 8 years and include a brand new "Trucktown" series book that is only available inside Cheerios boxes.

And what's really cool is that this year all the books are in both English and Spanish.

I was lucky when I was asked to be a panelist on a GNO Twitter party with authors Karma Wilson and Derek Anderson and illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser. It was fun talking books with these experts and with all the other moms who read to their children daily.

All five books this year are from Simon & Schuster Children´s Publishing:

Junkyard Fort, written by Jon Scieszka, and illustrated by David Shannon, Loren Long and Dave Gordon: Join Gabriella, Jack, Melvin, Ted, Lucy and the other Trucktown characters as they make their own fort, using things found in the junkyard. Ages 4-8.

Tea for Ruby, written by The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser: Wherever Ruby goes, a bit of disaster seems to follow. But one sunny morning, things change when the postman brings Ruby an amazing invitation: would she like to have tea with the Queen? Ruby needs to polish her manners, and quickly. Ages 4-8.

Sleepyhead, written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by John Segal: In this rhythmic bedtime story, a cat is the parent and a teddy bear is the child who doesn't want to go to bed. All ready for bed with teeth brushed and story read, Sleepyhead teddy tries anything to prolong his bedtime; books and his quilt provide ample fodder for his imagination. Ages 3-7.

Ballyhoo Bay, written by Judy Sierra and illustrated by Derek Anderson: Mira Bella, an artist who teaches painting and sculpture, loves Ballyhoo Bay and what it offers: sun, sea, sand, and sky. But one gray day a billboard arrives, announcing an impending development that would take all the fun out of the place. Read along to see if Mira Bella and her art can save the day and Ballyhoo Bay! Ages 4-8.

What´s Under the Bed?, written and illustrated by Joe Fenton: Young Fred cannot stop worrying about the scary creature that might be hiding beneath his bed. Finally summoning the courage to peer under his bed, Fred, with his cumbersome glasses, sees that the only thing there is Ted, his friendly Teddy Bear! Ages 3-7.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: CHEERIOS
Prize: Cheerios Spoonfuls of Stories gift pack, which includes a set each of the five Spoonfuls of Stories books, a box of Cheerios, and a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble.
Number of Winners: One
Entry Question: What is your story time ritual with your kids?
Enter By: November 10, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! She has more children's books than the public library.

Cheerios provided me with the free product, information, and a prize pack through MyBlogSparkTM.

Holiday Shopping 2009

2009-11-01T14:47:00.003-05:00

The Full Mommy is looking for products and companies to feature for the 2009 holiday shopping season. If you are a company or PR representative and have a product that would be a good fit for review on The Full Mommy, please send us an e-mail at fullmommy (at) gmail (dot) com or use our simple product submission form and we will consider your proposal. Our readers appreciate discounts and giveaways (these generally garner more interest). Please read our product review policy for more information.

We are particularly looking for toys, games, books, clothing, etc. that meet any or all these criteria:

Imaginative play
Skill building
Eco-friendly
Child-friendly (no BPA, PVC, or phthalates, etc.)
Not made in China
Appropriate for ages birth through 14 years
Parent-owned/operated companies
Boutique businesses
Etsy stores

Also consider placing an ad in our sidebar. For an additional fee, we will link to the product review in the sidebar in a special holiday shopping guide section that will remain in place until January 1, 2010.

Donate a Coat, Get a Lands' End Discount

2009-10-30T00:00:00.002-04:00

(If you are reading in a feed reader, you may have to click over to watch the video. Thanks!)

It's getting chilly in my part of the country and it's time to break out the winter coats. My kids have no doubt outgrown theirs from last year. They are gently used, but still have life left in them.

Wouldn't it be great to pass on your coats to someone who needs help staying warm this winter?

Lands' End has teamed up with the National Coalition for the Homeless for a program they are calling the Big Warm-up. Through this program, people across the country can donate their gently used coats which will be redistributed to the more than 3.5 million homeless women, men in children in the U.S. right now.

Beginning October 29 until November 30, Lands’ End is hosting Big Warm-up coat donation sites at its 252 Lands’ End Shops at Sears and 13 Lands’ End Inlets. Donated coats will be distributed in nearby communities.

As a thank you for your donation, Lands' End is giving 20 percent off the purchase of a new coat for each one donated.

Visit WWW.BIGWARMUP.COM to see how each coat can warm a heart, track donations, find donation sites, watch an inspiring video and spread the word.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Pediped Shoes to Grow With Your Child

2009-10-28T00:00:00.003-04:00

I like to purchase quality shoes for my children that will make it through a season without falling apart and that will give them the support and flexibility that small feet need.

What I don't like are shoes that are outgrown so quickly that they look like they have never been worn. I feel like I've wasted my money.

Pediped asked if they could outfit one of my children in a pair of shoes for fall. I printed out their shoe sizing guide and told them what size I thought my son would wear.

When I received the Jake Flex shoes I feared they would be too big. But we put the included extra footbed inserts into the shoes, which snugged them right up. When the shoes start getting tight with the extra insert, I can take them out and get a few more months out of them.

My son's new pediped's have taken him to the zoo, to the pumpkin patch, to school and all over town. I love the smart styling (they don't look babyish). They are also easy to get on and off with their stretchy "shoestrings" and hook and loop closure.

My son's new shoes are hip, but you should see the girls' shoes. I'm a sucker for a cute red shoe!

Pediped is currently running a celebrity auction with proceeds to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

(From pediped:)
More than 50 well-known entertainers and athletes will participate in Stars for a Wish, an online auction of autographed pediped® baby shoes to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The auction will run Oct. 25-Nov. 5 on Charity Buzz. Celebrities who signed pediped® baby shoes for the auction include: Jennie Garth and Heidi Klum and celebs from movies, television, and sports. Bidding will start at $250 for the signed shoes. Recipients will receive the shoes attractively displayed in a cherry-finished shadow box or clear acrylic box complete with an engraved plaque.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! She has a thing for shoes.

Disclosure: Pediped sent me a pair of shoes for my son to wear.

Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo

2009-10-26T00:00:00.009-04:00

I guess you can judge a book by it's cover.

When my five-year-old took a look at the front of our new book, she said, "Oh. She's doesn't look very good."

With all the colds and flu circulating right now, Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo is a very timely book. It seems like half of my child's class has been out sick with one thing or the other and this book helps explains how germs can be spread.

We follow Felicity as she goes to the zoo, wipes green gook into her hand, and then touches every single animal in sight. Needless to say, every animal marked with her green hand print catches what she's got!

My five-year-old enjoyed the book's illustrations and text (and was even able to read some of it). My two-year-old was equally interested in the animals at the zoo and making there noises as we turned each page.

From the author: E. S. Redmond was inspired to write this, her first book, after a trip with her children to a petting zoo. She says, "I remember watching all these smiling, wobbling toddlers surrounding the animals. Every little nose was running, and the sheep resembled very large mounds of tissue. It struck me as altogether funny and ironic that the hand soap was mounted on the fence at the exit. Nice for us, not so great for the sheep." E. S. Redmond lives in Massachusetts.

Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo is a good introduction to preschool and younger school age kids on how germs spread and how this widespread illness could have been avoided had she just used a tissue and washed her hands.

Oh, and maybe stayed home when she was sick!

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Disclosure: Candlewick Press sent this book for me to read with my children.

Halloween Safety Tips from Safe Kids USA and FedEx

2009-10-24T00:00:00.002-04:00

Halloween is my family's favorite holiday. We attend several parties and of course go Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood. As a parent you want to make sure your little ghouls and goblins are safe as they haunt the neighborhood after dark. One thing we always do is clip our flashing bicycle light to our daughter's costume.

Moira Donahue is a child pedestrian expert. She is working with FedEx and Safe Kids USA to help make kids safe this Halloween. Here are her tips for both pedestrians and drivers for All Hallow's Eve:

For kids:

Always trick-or-treat with an adult until age 10
Only trick-or-treat in familiar areas that are well lit
Cross streets at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks
Look left, right and left again when crossing; always walk, don’t run, when crossing streets
Make eye contact with drivers and watch for cars that are turning or backing up
Walk on sidewalks or paths; if there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible
Never dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars
Wear light-colored, flame-retardant, costumes decorated with retro-reflective tape or stickers
Wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes to prevent trips and falls
Carry a flashlight or glow stick to increase visibility to drivers
Wear face paint and makeup; a mask can restrict a child’s vision

Drivers need to do their part to keep trick-or-treaters safe from harm. FedEx reminds motorists to be extra careful this Halloween and recommends that drivers:

Be especially alert in residential neighborhoods
Drive more slowly and anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic on and near the road
Be sure to drive with your full headlights on so you can spot children from greater distances
Take extra time to actively look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs
Remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle
Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully
Remember that children are excited on this night and may move in unpredictable ways
Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are during the typical rush-hour period, between 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and pedestrians

To help make your family safe this year, we are giving away three Trick-or-Treat bags filled with safety goodies. Have fun on Halloween!

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: SAFETY
Prize: Trick-or-Treat Bag filled with safety goodies
Number of Winners: Three
Enter By: October 27
Entry Form:
Loading...
Because this is a time sensitive prize, we are asking for your shipping info on the entry form. This info will not be used for any other purpose other than to quickly ship the prize to winners in time for Halloween. Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Disclosure: These tips are provided by FedEx and Safe Kids USA. I was provided with Trick-or-Treat bags for my children.

Spooky Raisin Spiders

2009-10-23T00:00:00.009-04:00

My daughter loves two things: cooking and Halloween. What better way to combine her two passions than with a recipe that gets her hands on in the kitchen making a spooky treat.

California Raisins sent us all the ingredients that we needed to make Spooky Raisin Spiders and we had fun whipping up a batch and sharing them with the rest of the family.

Come on over to Multi-Minding Mom to get the recipe and see our results and then enter below to win all the ingredients you need to scare up your own batch of Spooky Raisin Spiders. (Hint: Look for the number of servings.)

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: Raisins
Prize: California Raisins and all the ingredients needed to make Spooky Raisin Spiders
Number of Winners: One
Entry Question: How many servings does the recipe make? (Click over to see the recipe.)
Enter By: October 30, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! She regularly writes about cooking on Fridays.

CitiBlocs: Gravity, Balance, and Imagination

2009-10-21T00:00:00.005-04:00

We are big fans of open-ended toys that allow our children to use their imaginations. We have built up quite a collection of wooden blocks over the years that our children use to build skyscrapers, train bridges, and entire cities. You know how they always say that kids like the box better than the toy itself? Well wooden blocks provide hours of fun without the bells and whistles of battery-required toys.

CitiBlocs sent our family a set of 100 of their building blocks to gets a hands on look and feel. Right out of the box my daughter and I spent the entire afternoon building and rebuilding. We duplicated some of the pictures shown in the brochure and made our own designs. My husband was amazed when he came home to find a wooden helicopter in the middle of the table.

Don't let the simple design of these building blocks fool you. They will engage both you and your child as you dream up construction projects. And they will challenge you as you try to recreate the pictured creations.

(From the company:) Citiblocs are high quality wooden construction blocks which inspire both traditional building and modern design. The secret behind Citblocs is that every piece is exactly the same shape and size. Each block is precisely cut from Grade A Radiata Pine from certified renewable forests in New Zealand. Citiblocs Building requires no glue, no snaps, no connectors and no magnets: just gravity, balance and imagination. Citiblocs are recommended for ages 3+. Citiblocs are certified safe and non-toxic and have been tested and approved according to all Consumer Product Safely Improvement Act (CPSIA) regulations.

They can be purchased in a number of sizes: from 52 to 500 blocks per box. The box of 100 CitiBlocs retails for $28.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

1-800-Flowers

2009-10-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

We travel each year to a relative's house for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Each time I whip up a fantastic gourmet dish to share with the guests and each year it goes uneaten. I am sure it's because my in-laws are used to their normal family fare, but it always hurts my feelings a little to see that no one will even try what I brought. I have to say that I gave up and I have a new M.O. to show my appreciation for the invitation and hospitality: flowers.

And what better way to give flowers than to send them ahead of time. Have you been to the 1-800-Flowers website lately? Of course they offer the most beautiful floral arrangements including those designed by Martha Stewart herself. But they also offer a wide selection of plants and gift baskets great for any occasion.

I know you've heard of 1-800-Flowers, but did you know they have a new service called 1-800-Baskets? They even offer 40 gifts under $40.

Did you completely forget to get a gift for someone important in your life? (Yes, I know this happens, and it's okay. We are all overwhelmed.) Don't worry because 1-800-Flowers and 1-800-Baskets have many items with same day delivery.

And when you give a 1-800-Flowers gift card, the recipient can select a gift from 1-800-Flowers, Plow & Hearth, or Fannie May (I LOVE their Pixies!).

Become a fan of 1-800-Flowers on Facebook and you may even get a discount code.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: FLOWERS
Prize: $25 1-800-Flowers Gift Card
Number of Winners: FIVE
Entry Question: Name one of the "occasions" for which 1-800-Flowers offers gift ideas.
Enter By: October 26, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Disclosure: I held a charitable party and 1-800-Flowers provided a gift certificate for me and each of my guests.

Halloween Spooktacular DVD

2009-10-17T00:00:00.002-04:00

I already told you about three spooky Halloween DVD's that your children might enjoy: Shaun the Sheep Little Sheep of Horror's, Wallace and Gromit a Matter of Loaf and Death, and HIT Favorites Trick or Treat Tales. But here's another that your preschool children might enjoy:

Hit Favorites: Halloween Spooktacular

(From the DVD:)
Join your favorite HIT friends for some lovable Halloween Fun! Barney takes you trick-or-treating in your very own magical costume. Bob the Builder gets you worked-up with a batty adventure. Fireman Sam teach fire safety with scary jack-o-lanterns. Angelina Ballerina dances the night away, and Thomas & Friends take you on a hair-raising ride to see a ghostly engine that disappears in a puff of smoke. Don't miss this season's Halloween Spooktacular!

What I like about the HIT favorites DVD's is that they feature a wide variety of characters that my two children like. In other words, there is something for everyone. And HIT always delivers great themed collections for every time of the year.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

May the LeapFrog Force Be With You

2009-10-16T00:00:00.002-04:00

You know I am a big fan of LeapFrog toys because I think they are both educational and fun. I have told you about their DVD's, Tag Reading System, Tag Junior, Disney Fairies themed games and books, Leapster2, Fridge Phonics and Wash & Go Vehicle Set, and ClickStart Computer.

Have you heard about their current sweepstakes? You'll definitely want to enter for this one.

LeapFrog is holding a sweepstakes and the grand prize is a Star Wars themed party for your child and 10 friends. The Star Wars prize package is worth $3500!

The prize includes:

11 LeapFrog Tag, Leapster2 or Didj systems with a Star Wars game or book
11 child size costumes and lightsaber toys
Star Wars: The Clone Wars deluxe party kit
Life size Darth Vader or Yoga wall graphic
R2-D2 trash can
$500 Amazon gift card
$200 Merry Maids gift card
$650 for food, cake, and drinks
And more!

So not only can you throw an out-of-this-world party, but someone will come clean up the mess!

There is no purchase necessary and you can enter through January 5, 2010. Just click on the sweepstakes logo to enter.

Halloween Books from Candlewick Press

2009-10-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

My daughter wants to start celebrating Halloween with Labor Day Weekend! But I try to hold off until October 1st to let the decorating and reading begin. Halloween is her favorite holiday and she devours book after book filled with ghosts, ghouls, and witches.

Candlewick Press delivers some great Halloween titles this fall to spook your own little goblins. (The following descriptions in italics are from Candlewick Press.)

Trick Or Treat?
by Melanie Walsh
3 yrs - 5 yrs

Where is the bat, and what is the spider doing? What could be in the cauldron, or rattling in the closet -- or outside the door? For young children awaiting Halloween, here is the perfect board book, full of bright colors, bold illustrations, and ever-so-slightly spooky surprises waiting beneath sturdy flaps. Trick or treat!

Where's My Mummy?
by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by John Manders
4 yrs - 7 yrs

Little Baby Mummy wants just one more game of hide-and-shriek with Big Mama Mummy before bedtime. The night is deep and dark, full of friendly creatures that click their clacky teeth and whoosh past on flippy-floppy wings. But who will comfort Little Baby Mummy if a small, scritchy-scratchy someone gives him a scare? Big Mama Mummy, of course! Fresh, comical illustrations complement this ever-so-slightly suspenseful story with a satisfying ending.

And Then Comes Halloween
by Tom Brenner, illustrated by Holly Meade
4 yrs - 7 yrs

As soon as geese fly south, children take autumn's cue to start their preparations: it’s almost Halloween! With poetic language and vivid collage illustrations, Tom Brenner and Holly Meade follow all the familiar rituals, from hanging paper skeletons to carving pumpkins, from costume-making to trick-or-treating. Halloween lovers will be eager to grab a bag or bucket and join them on this lively and lyrical journey.

Dracula's Tomb

Popping up again by popular demand! Enter, if you dare, the bloodcurdling (and sidesplitting) world of Transylvania’s most infamous gourmet.Open the Velcro tabs on this coffin-shaped tomb -- er, tome -- for a peek at some little-known details of Dracula’s infancy, school days, cherished belongings, and lively nightlife. Peer inside a vampire’s fridge and closet, peruse photos of little Drac with boyhood friends, meet his many pets, and get a taste, so to speak, of what eternal life is like for the world’s biggest pain in the neck. Just beware of the final spread -- who knows what creepy consequences might spring up if visitors don’t obey the signs?

The Bag of Bones
by Vivian French, illustrated by Ross Collins
8 yrs - 12 yrs

When the quill writes GO GO GO frantically on the wall, and the House of the Ancient Crones heaves Gracie Gillypot outside onto the path, it can mean only one thing: there’s Trouble in the Five Kingdoms. This time it’s in the form of a beady-eyed, green-tongued witch named Truda Hangnail, who with her banished Deep Magic has vowed to succeed Queen Bluebell on the throne. Will the strengths, smarts, and charms of a spunky trueheart, a sweet-natured orphan, a scruffy prince, a substantial troll, and two squabbling bats be enough to foil her insidious plot?

Candlewick Press sent me a few of these titles to read with my children.

Skil Isio 2-in-1 Gardening Tool

2009-10-14T00:00:00.007-04:00

I'm an avid gardener with large planted beds full of perennials. The problem is not growing the plants, it's cutting them back at the end of the growing season.

Since it would take me three weekends just to cut back my daylilies, I began using the hack-it-all-down method a few seasons back. There is no way I could individually cut each stem of each of my hundreds of plants. So I began using my husband's hedge trimmers on all but my irises (and I would use them on those too, but it doesn't work for them).

The problems with my husband's hedge trimmers are that they are heavy and they are electric. So while they make short(er) work of preparing my garden for winter, it's still a pain.

Not anymore. I have found my savior: Skil Isio 2-in-1 Gardening Tool.

These lightweight trimmers are cordless and rechargable. They really do cut through my daylilies like butter making quick work of trimming all my plants.

Several times I have been in the backyard with the kids and have been able to grab Isio from the shed and start trimming away. Even ten minutes allowed me to clear an entire bed. (And I left all the detritus for my husband to bag, because that's how I roll sometimes.) I would never have been able to do this with the electric trimmers because it would have taken that long to find the cord and plug it in. Not to mention that I don't use those hedge trimmers around my kids. But I felt confident in the Isio Gardening Tool.

The Isio 2-in-1 Gardening Tool might make a great holiday present for the gardeners on your list. Especially the women who would appreciate a lighter tool that is quick to use.

Isio 2-in-1 Gardening Tool

Compact, Powerful and Lightweight
Laser-cut diamond-ground blades for a clean, healthy cut
Tool-less blade change-Easily convert lawn shears to a shrub trimmer
Lithium-Ion Power Battery holds charge up to 18 months
Powered by an ENERGY STAR qualified battery charger (for a better environment)
Shrub Trimmer Blade and Cover
Grass Shear Blade and Cover
Wall-Mountable Charger

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Skil sent me a Isio 2-in-1 Gardening Tool to try out in my garden.

Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters

2009-10-13T00:00:00.005-04:00

If you reached into my bag of Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters, I bet you would get a slap on the wrist. Seriously. I'm not sharing.

General Mills and MyBlogSpark sent me the four varieties of the new Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters to sample. And like I said, they are all for me.

What I like about them is that they satisfy my snack cravings for sweet, salty, and crunchy. They have no high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is always a plus in my book. And the clusters are much easier to eat than loose granola. The resealable pouch helps to keep it fresh--if you don't eat the whole bag at once!

I think my favorite was the Nut Lovers variety. But quite frankly, they were all very good.

(From the company:)
Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters are a bite size blend of 100% natural ingredients that include select roasted nuts, whole grain oats and a touch of honey - a wholesome and delicious pick-me-up any time of the day. If you love nuts, you´ll enjoy this flavorful little snack featuring the perfect combination of sweet & salty flavors paired with a crunchy texture that you can see and taste. And with the first unique cluster-shaped granola packaged in a handy re-sealable pouch, it´s perfect for sharing on the trails or in your living room! New Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters come in four easy-to-crave flavors: Nut Lovers, Roasted Almond, Roasted Cashew and Honey Roasted Peanut.

Okay, maybe I'll share a little. Enter our giveaway and you may have the opportunity to hoard your own stash of Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: NATURE VALLEY
Prize: Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters "Snack Pack" prize pack that includes all four (4) varieties of the Granola Nut Clusters along with a sling backpack, stainless steel water bottle, flashlight and binoculars!
Number of Winners: One
Entry Question: What other Nature Valley Granola product would you like to try or already love? (Other than the ones mentioned here.)
Enter By: October 20, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

General Mills sent product samples for me to taste test as part of the MyBlogSpark review program.

Caribou Coffee for a Cure

2009-10-12T00:00:00.005-04:00

In my town, many of the local grocery stores have a Caribou Coffee stand. I don't usually buy a cup of coffee when I shop, but the new grocer that's within walking distance to campus has a nice little cafe--perfect for sitting down to read or write blogs!

In honor of October's Breast Cancer Awareness month, Caribou Coffee sent me some of the Amy's Blend coffee and tea to taste test. I wish this was smell-o-vision, because you would not believe the aroma of the beans. Do you like hot tea? Then you have got to try the Amy's Blend tea which has cardamom and cinnamon. I'm drinking a cup of it right now as I try to warm on this wet, chilly day. The cardamom in the tea reminds me of the rice dessert I get at a local Indian restaurant...minus the calories!

With every purchase of Amy's Blend, Caribou Coffee will donate to help find a cure.

(From the company:) During the month of October, Caribou Coffee will donate 10 percent of all sales of Amy’s Blend coffee, tea and merchandise to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Amy’s Blend is named in honor of Caribou Coffee roastmaster Amy Erickson, who lost her courageous battle with breast cancer in 1995 at the age of just 33. To keep her spirit and dedication to coffee perfection alive, the company developed Amy’s Blend coffee in both regular and decaf blends. New this year, Caribou Coffee is offering Amy’s Blend Spiced tea. Since adding Amy’s Blend coffee and merchandise to its offerings, Caribou Coffee has raised more than half a million dollars to support the quest for finding a cure for breast cancer.

They also offer a variety of Amy's Blend merchandise including mugs, water bottles, notebooks, totes, and pens.

I was impressed to learn that their regular coffee is Rainforest Alliance Certified meaning that it is produced according to guidelines that are good for the environment, wildlife, workers and the local communities.

Purchase Amy's Blend coffee, tea, and gift items at all of their locations or from the Caribou Coffee website.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Caribou Coffee sent a variety of coffee and tea for me to taste test for this post.

Harry Connick, Jr. Your Songs CD Will Sweep You Away

2009-10-09T00:00:00.009-04:00

I think I first heard Harry Connick, Jr. sing while watching the movie When Harry Met Sally. Who didn't fall in love with him and rush out to buy the soundtrack?

I can't tell you how many of his CD's my husband and I own or which is my favorite.

Connick's latest offering is called Your Songs.

When you listen to Harry Connick, Jr. you just want to grab your partner and glide across the dance floor.

On this new CD, Harry takes songs that we all know and love and makes them his own. (Did I just sound like Randy Jackson, dog?) If you like Harry Connick, Jr. you will surely enjoy his versions of these classics.

Take a look at the playlist:

Album Tracklisting (Originally performed by):
All The Way (Frank Sinatra)
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
Can’t Help Falling In Love With You (Elvis Presley)
And I Love Her (The Beatles)
(They Long To Be) Close To You (The Carpenters)
Besame Mucho
The Way You Look Tonight
First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Roberta Flack)
Your Song (Elton John)
Some Enchanted Evening
And I Love You So (Don McLean)
Who Can I Turn To? (Tony Bennett)
Smile (Charlie Chaplin)
Mona Lisa (Nat King Cole)

Want to learn more about Connick? Visit his website and become a fan on Facebook.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: HARRY
Prize: Harry Connick, Jr. Your Songs CD
Number of Winners: one
Entry Question: What's your favorite song performed by Harry Connick, Jr.? (Not including the ones listed in this post.)
Enter By: October 16, 2009.
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

The One2One Network provided me with the CD for review.

Band-Aid Blister Block Stick

2009-10-07T00:00:00.009-04:00

So I got these hot new shoes to wear to BlogHer this year. I normally wear flat shoes like Birkenstocks or New Balance running shoes, but I just had to have these Dansko wedges.

But I was afraid, very afraid, that I would have crippling pain from walking more "upright" or from new-shoe blisters.

As I packed my bag for BlogHer, I made sure to throw in Band-Aid Blister Block Stick.

Over the course of the weekend, I applied Blister Block to my heels each time I put on my Dansko wedges. And I am happy to say that not once did I rub a blister on my heel.

(From the company:)
BAND-AID Friction Block Stick has a lubricating formula that glides on smoothly to instantly reduce rubbing on skin. It forms an invisible barrier, making it ideal for open shoes, and provides an easy, non-messy application.

Band-Aid Blister Block Stick would also be great to throw in with your hiking and camping gear for long hikes or new boots. And of course use it when you wear sassy shoes!

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Disclosure: Johnson's sent me a stick of Blister Block to use at BlogHer with my new shoes.

Stop Poison Ivy in it's Tracks with Ivarest

2009-10-06T00:00:00.008-04:00

This year our family started camping with our two kids. Once a month or more we headed to a state park for the weekend to take in a little fresh air.

While we love the park we normally go to, there is poison ivy everywhere. On the edge of each of the campsites and along every trail there is poison ivy. I taught my older child "leaves of three, let them be" and show her each time what it looks like. But it's difficult to tell a two-year-old what specifically to avoid.

The CDC offers the following information to help identify poisonous plants and prevent contact:

Poison Ivy – Found across the entire United States. This plant often grows as low plants, shrubs and vines and is typically seen as three shiny green tapered leaves growing out from one node on the stem. Poison ivy may also have yellow or green flowers and white to green-yellow or amber berries. Just keep in mind “leaves of three, let them be!”
Poison Oak – Found along the entire West Coast and from the Mid-Atlantic states down through Florida. This plant generally has three oak-shaped leaves per stem similar to poison ivy. Poison oak may have yellow or green flowers and clusters of green-yellow or white berries.
Poison Sumac – Found east of the Mississippi from Canada to central Florida. This plant can have seven to 13 leaves on a stem that are arranged in pairs. Poison sumac may also have light yellow or cream-colored berries.

I have a lot of experience identifying these poisonous plants because my job used to take me deep in the forests. At lunchtime and at the end of the day, my coworkers and I often used Ivarest Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam to get off any oils from poisonous plants that we may have been in contact with. Not to mention washing all clothing that may have come in contact with the plants.

When we began camping with the kids, I was sure to include Ivarest in our staple camping supplies. Thankfully no one was exposed to it this summer and we didn't have to reach for the Ivarest Double Relief Treatment Cream. But we were prepared and I think that makes all the difference.

(From the company:)
Ivarest Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam is a new poisonous plant cleanser that’s uniquely effective whether used immediately after exposure or once a rash has begun. For those who know they’ve been in contact with a poisonous plant, treatment can begin immediately to prevent an outbreak. If used soon after exposure, Ivarest Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam’s special combination of cleansers lifts oily plant allergens from the skin surface to be easily washed away, minimizing any reaction and stopping the rash from spreading.

Another unique aspect of Ivarest Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam is its proprietary dispensing system. The foam offers a gentle application that eliminates the need for hard rubbing that can further irritate affected skin. Since additional water is unnecessary to generate lather, the foam also reduces the potential to spread the toxins to other areas of the body while washing. To use, rub the affected area with the foam and rinse the skin with running water. It also lends itself to easy application over large areas of the body, which is especially helpful when the exact area of exposure is unknown.

For more information about Ivarest Double Relief Treatment Cream and Ivarest Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam (including precautions for use), visit their website.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! She's getting itchy just thinking about poison ivy!

(Disclaimer: as with any product, read labels and use accordingly. The company provided me with samples, though I have long been a customer.)

Former Karate Mama Reviews the Ninja Master Blender

2009-10-05T04:38:00.001-04:00

My Ninja Mast Prep Blender and Chopper has been out of the box for about 5 hours as of this writing. The first thing I did after washing the blades, the 2-cup mixing bowl (think mini-Cuisinart-type container, not an actual bowl), and the 48-ounce pitcher, was to chop ice as I saw the Food Network's Robin Miller do at a recent NYC demo. It did a nice job, though I should have given a warning to everyone else in the kitchen who jumped at the loud cacophonous sound of ice being crushed. Next, I threw together a few items to create a homemade iced mocha coffee drink with Starbucks VIA. Guess what? My concoction did not taste like chicken!

I quickly and easily rinsed the clear plastic 2-cup bowl and put it aside for the night.

Or so I thought, because it turns out my tween boys had plans for this new appliance. Within a few minutes, my 11-year-old had gathered the goods for guacamole and we mixed up a batch of that. With what seemed like minimal pulsing, just a handful of one-touch pushes to activate the double set of blades, our avocado and tomatoes were finely chopped and well blended.

And minutes after the guacamole was on the table, I found myself whipping up mashed potatoes with the Ninja. Again, just a few pulses and I was done. The potatoes required a bit more clean-up. I washed the unit by hand, but the blades, bowl and pitcher are dishwasher safe. In addition, the bowl and pitcher are said to be free of PBA.

Both the bowl and the pitcher come with lids, so it's easy to store them in the fridge right in those containers. Take that, immersion blender!

I'm a big fan of my immersion blender (also called hand or stick blenders). The Ninja will likely replace it for many of my blending and chopping needs, though. Safety is one of the reasons.

My immersion blender has an exposed blade on the business end. I don't trust my boys with it. The Ninja Blender, however, has its power in the bladeless "master pod" or motor head. The Master pod fits onto a safety cover that drives the blades. See the Ninja in action here.

This means that as the long as my kids don't touch the blades when they place food into the mixing cup/blender or when they take it out, the Ninja has minimal risks. It seems very safe for children to operate the one-touch pulse, though I'd still recommend adult supervision.

The covered mixing cup also means they won't be splashing bits of smoothie all over the kitchen as they (okay, I) have been known to do on occasion.

The Ninja dices, it chops, it blends, it cleans your kitchen floor! No wait, those are the other Euro-pro products I'll be writing about. Still, the Ninja is a multifunctional product that may well live up to its infomercial hype.

The Ninja Master Prep retails for under $50 and is available at a range of retailers.

Photo courtesy of @NinjaKitchen

Last month I was invited to join the folks from Euro-Pro (Shark and Ninja lines) in New York City to learn about the company's newest products. At the conclusion of the event, I was offered the chance to receive those products for review; the Ninja Master Blender arrived last week.

This was written by Kim, who's creating a buzz with her latest article on working with mombloggers and occasionally writes about food at Scrambled CAKE.

Green Your Bookshelf

2009-10-02T00:00:00.018-04:00

I know I am always writing about eco-friendly and non-toxic products that I have found and love. But did you know I also have a book shelf full of books that help me pick and choose the products that we bring into our home for the family?

I'll say it again and again: You have to figure out what's important to you and do what you can. And you can't fret for the areas where you fall short.

But if you are looking to green up your bookshelf and green up your life, here are some books that can help set you in the right direction. I have way more green living books than this, but here are my latest additions (including descriptions from the books themselves):

Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life
In Gorgeously Green, Sophie offers a simple eight-step program that is an easy and fun way to begin living an earth-friendly life. Each chapter covers topics from beauty to fitness, shopping to your kitchen—even your transportation. Whether it's finding the right lipstick, making dinner, buying gifts, or picking out a hot new outfit, finally, there is a book that tackles your daily eco-challenges with a take-charge plan. Just consider Sophie your go-to girl with all the eco-solutions.

Eco-Friendly Families
Eco-friendliness has grown into a way of life across the country. Eco-Friendly Families is the perfect guide to raising a family with "green" values, whether they're celebrating their first Earth Day or are old hands at recycling, eating organic, and carrying a cloth bag to the supermarket. Parents and children can all live by eco-example by following the tips in this book.

The Mom's Guide to Growing Your Family Green: Saving the Earth Begins at Home
Green products are everywhere--fod, appliances, cleaning products, and more--and all are claiming to be low impact and environmentally friendly. With all the choices out there, how can moms determine what will be best for the health and safety of their families--and the environment? Terra Wellington has the answers. As a consumer advocate and green-living expert, she has the inside scoop on the most practical, time-saving, and budget-friendly ways to live green.

The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget: Save Money. Save Time. Save the Planet.
In The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget, Josh Dorfman takes you inside the latest developments in green living to demonstrate how you can easily and affordably have your designer jeans and your planet too. From raising eco-conscious kids to greening your daily commute, Dorfman provides insights into the next wave of green innovation and the products and services that will lighten your planetary impact and lower your expenses.

Squeaky Green: The Method Guide to Detoxing Your Home
When Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan founded Method, the environmentally friendly brand of cleaning products, they used packaging stylish enough to showcase on the countertop and pleasant aromas such as green tea and cucumber to transform household products into must-have lifestyle accessories. And when they coined the phrase 'People Against Dirty,' they weren't just talking about the stuff you track in on your shoes they also meant the toxic chemicals that make up many household detergents. Packed with helpful tips and surprising facts, their first book, Squeaky Green, is a totally informative and completely entertaining room-by-room guide to giving dirty the boot. Squeaky Green is rehab for chemically dependent homes.

Naturally Clean: The Seventh Generation Guide to Safe & Healthy, Non-Toxic Cleaning
Naturally Clean also features a comprehensive product selection guide that analyzes over 300 natural and traditional cleaners: everything from laundry products through oven cleaners, disinfectants, spot removers, carpet cleaners, and bathroom cleaners. This handy, easy-to-use reference rates the household cleaning products found on the shelves of natural food and grocery stores, providing Seventh Generation's pick of your healthiest and safest options. A resource guide tells readers where to find additional information, and an at-a-glance glossary helps understand key terms.

Ecoholic: Your Guide to the Most Environmentally Friendly Information, Products, and Services
Ecoholic is an eye-opening guide to decoding the green from the greenwashed in the maze of products lining our shelves. Unlike other eco guidebooks, Ecoholic names names and gives you the dirt on what not to buy and why, as well as the dish on the most sustainable food, the greenest clothes, beauty products, home supplies, banking choices, sports gear, kids stuff and much much more. And yes, it will even take the toxins out of your love life. Ecoholic is a witty and indispensable guide to the small eco choices that make the biggest difference. No wonder reviewers have called this "sassy eco-bible" your " sacred text when it comes to making any life decisions."

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! She does what she can and doesn't sweat what she can't.

(Disclosure: I did receive review copies of these books. The descriptions of the books are taken directly from the books or from online listings.)