The Life of Rylie...and Bryce too!

HP Photosmart 6510 e-All-in-One Printer {Review}

2012-02-27T14:00:00.005-05:00

HP must stand for Happy Printing because after testing out my HP Photosmart 6510 e-All-in-One Printer that's exactly how I'm feeling! I had been "stuck" in a relationship with my Lexmark printer for way too long and it was time to break-up! I think it's been close to 6 or 7 years with our current printer and technology has changed dramatically since that purchase.

HP has kicked it up a notch with premium features including a large touchscreen and automatic photo tray. The HP Photosmart 6510 e-All-in-One Printer is perfect for home and home office settings. It's slim and sleek design are eye catching and you can't beat the lab quality photos you can print from the luxury of your own home!

Just check out all of the features that are included with the HP Photosmart 6510:

Outstanding, hassle-free photos

Print photos, copy, and scan using the 3.5" diagonal (8.89 cm) color touchscreen
Print on photo or plain paper—plus a variety of other media types—using the automatic photo tray
Access on-line photo libraries in a snap; use memory card slots to easily print photos without a PC
Get lab-quality, fade-resistant photos using four individual inks

Versatile, reliable Web-connected performance

Reliably print documents, photos, and Web pages, make quick copies, and scan
Access free apps on the touchscreen: print coloring pages, recipes, greeting cards, and games without a PC
Use original HP ink for quality, reliability, and rewards

Wireless printing; even printing through e-mail

Print photos and documents on the go
Use HP ePrint: if you can e-mail it, you can print it
Print from your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch wirelessly with AirPrint
Access a host of mobile printing solutions and automatically connect to a wireless network
Print and share from multiple PCs and stay connected using the integrated wireless networking

Energy conservation and recycling

Save energy with this ENERGY STAR qualified model; use less than 1-watt of energy in Off mode
Use up to 50% less paper with the automatic two-sided printing
Recycle cartridges free through HP Planet Partners

I was amazed how easily we were able to set up the HP Photosmart 6510 e-All-in-One Printer. It took a matter of a few minutes and we were in business! When I opened the box I was impressed to find Eco-friendly packaging including a reusable bag to house the printer in and a few cardboard egg cartons to keep it in place. The directions were fairly simple. You needed to connect the power cord and adapter, plug in the printer and turn it on. The longest part of the process was the cd software that needed to be uploaded to the computer which took all of 5 minutes.

Once I did a quick run through of the touchscreen, I began printing away! I could not wait to test out the ePrinting abilities of the HP Photosmart. On the touchscreen I noticed an app already installed for Snapfish, an online photo sharing/printing service. I was ecstatic! I am a huge Snapfish fan and use them for all of my pictures. I logged into my account from the touchscreen, selected a recent photo and hit print. I no longer have to wait a week to get quality photos, I can print them right at home!

I then tested the Airprint option by printing a recent photo from my iphone. My iphone picked up the wireless printer and to my surprise the photo turned out flawless! We also tested it out on our Apple ipad and got the same quality results. There was no smudging right after coming off the printer too!

I also tested the printer by various other options; printing a document and photograph from the computer. The scanner is really easy to use as well.

Overall I could not be more pleased with the quality of the HP Photosmart 6510 e-All-in-One Printer! I like that the photos and paper feed out of the front of the printer versus at the top like other printers. It really stays true to the compact design. My favorite feature by far is the ePrint option. I love how quickly I can print something off via the ipad and iphone and that it's of great quality. The HP Photosmart 6510 retails for $149.99, but HP is currently offering a $30 instant rebate and free shipping for $119.99! This is an unbeatable value and absolutely worth the splurge!

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a HP Photosmart 6510 for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

No More Diaper Bag!

2012-02-27T07:30:00.003-05:00

For the last four or so years, I haven't often left my house without this...

At the beginning, it carried diapers, wipes, bottles, bibs, an extra onesie and hand sanitizer. Several months later, we added some toys and snacks. Enter kid #2 and we had to pack two sizes of diapers, wipes, bottles, sippy cups, bibs, extra clothes in two different sizes, toys and snacks. As the months went by, the contents of the diaper bag evolved still, and then started getting lighter and lighter.

Quick props here to Carter's for making such a great diaper bag. That thing has been stuffed full, spilled in and on, thrown around and jammed underneath strollers for over four years now, and still looks almost new. This is one baby item I would recommend to anyone!

Anyway...I was ~~cleaning~~ shoveling off my dining room table a couple weekends ago and when I came across the diaper bag, I realized we had not left the house with it in a couple of weeks. Since Bryce had potty trained himself a few weekends ago, we had just been grabbing the kids' backpacks on our way out the door on the weekends, since they always have a change of clothes in them. I decided that it was time to toss the diaper bag, and a few minutes later, it looked like this...

I guess it was kind of sad to part ways with my long-time shoulder companion, but it was also so freeing! We no longer have to worry about checking the diaper bag before we leave to make sure it contains all of the supplies we need. If Rylie and I are just running somewhere for a little bit, I can literally walk out of the house with just my purse, as long as her Epi-pen is in it. If we are going to be gone for a while, I do grab her backpack, and we always grab Bryce's backpack when we take him out of the house. In the early stages of underwear wearing, you just never know. I also packed up a small bag with wipes, hand sanitizer, Band-aids, foaming cleanser for cuts and scrapes, and some lollipops for when the kids need a bribe. The backpacks and that bag stay in the car, but we have them if we need them.

We went out to eat tonight and as we were leaving, Brian said "wow, it is so nice not to have to gather everything up when we leave." We had nothing with us, and it WAS nice. We just paid our bill and left.

Bryce has been doing so remarkably well with his potty training! I thought Rylie was easy, but it has been a breeze with him! He rarely has accidents. We do have a little issue with keeping the pee in the potty, and it sometimes gets on his clothes, but that isn't his fault and he just needs some practice with his "aim", I guess. If any moms of boys have any tips on how I can stop these "incidents", I would love to hear them!

So yeah, no more diaper bag! Yay! Diaper bags are for babies, and I don't have babies any longer. I have big kids!

~~Winners!!!~~ Tollytots, Summer Infant & Kidtoons

2012-02-26T21:36:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to last week's winners!

Tollytots Doll Prize Pack

Summer Infant SuperSeat

Kidtoons Barbie Prize Pack

For more chances to win cool stuff, check out our current giveaways in the sidebar!

Weekend Win It - February 25-26 {Giveaway Linky}

2012-02-24T22:00:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Weekend Win It! This giveaway linky is a great way to spread the word about your giveaways, or find some great ones to enter! And remember...you don't need to be a blogger to enter these giveaways!

I have a few great giveaways going on right now!

Giveaway: Movies on Demand
Ends: 2/26

Prize: Bridesmaids Prize Pack (Includes 1 Bridesmaids T-shirt, 1 wine stopper, 1 water bottle, and 1 tote bag!)

Giveaway: ToiletTree Products
Ends: 2/28

Prize: Bamboo 3 Piece Accessory Kit

Giveaway: Juppy
Ends: 3/1

Prize: Juppy Baby Walker

Giveaway: Diono
Ends: 3/3

Prize: RadianRXT Car Seat

Giveaway: Oransi
Ends: 3/5

Prize: Ionic Fridge Purifier

Giveaway: Firehouse Subs
Ends: 3/7

Prize: Firehouse Subs $20 Gift Card (2 winners!)

Giveaway: Canvas Touch
Ends: 3/9

Prize: 10x14 Canvas Print

Giveaway: Coca-Cola
Ends: 3/16

Prize: Coca-Cola Camcorder Prize Pack

Here are some great giveaways that I found this week...

Giveaway: Mamas & Papas
Blog: Thanks, Mail Carrier
Ends: 3/15

Prize: Baby Snug Two Stage Seat in Teal

Giveaway: Brookstone
Blog: Shibley Smiles
Ends: 3/14

Prize: Big Blue Live Bluetooth Wireless Speaker

Giveaway: Step2
Blog: Mommy of Two Little Monkeys
Ends: 3/13

Prize: Neat & Tidy Cottage

Giveaway: Quaker
Blog: Musings from a Stay at Home Mom
Ends: 3/2

Prize: $75 Visa gift card and the full product line of Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal

Giveaway: Old Navy
Blog: Our Kids Mom
Ends: 3/9

Prize: $100 Old Navy Gift Card

What are you waiting for? Head over and enter these great giveaways now! And if you are hosting a family friendly giveaway (or twenty), please link them up below! I would love to find some other great giveaways to enter! Please come back and let me know if you win a giveaway that you found at Weekend Win It.

Have a great weekend!

*Please enter giveaways in this format: Blog Name - Giveaway - End Date. Thanks!

Five Question Friday - February 24th

2012-02-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday my friends! As much as I would like to say that we had an uneventful week around here, I can't. I don't know if that will ever happen. I guess the week itself was actually pretty uneventful, which was good, considering Bryce started it off with a head injury. Yep! We were at a local playdate place on Sunday afternoon and just as I was telling my friend that he has never been really hurt other than the nursemaid's elbow, he threw himself off the top of a tunnel and landed right on his head...on basically a cement floor. He screamed his little head off, but that wasn't what bothered me. All of the sudden, he had NO color in his face. I mean none. Even his lips were colorless. It freaked me the hell out, to say the least. I jumped up and told Brian we were taking him to the ER, but then his color started coming back.

After second guessing myself all afternoon, I called the after hours line for our pediatrician and spoke to a nurse. Since I had always heard that a bump is good, and he didn't have a bump, I was worried. She said that it isn't bad that there was no bump and it was probably a good sign. We had to wake him up every two hours that night, and then once during the next two nights, and watch him for any neurological symptoms. He seems 100% fine, thank goodness!

I'm still freaked out about my little boy's colorless face, and of course I have been consulting Dr. Google all week. The only thing I could come up with is Pallid Breath Holding Spell. Still, it was beyond scary and I hope I never have to see his face looking like that ever again.

So anyway...

What's going on this weekend? We have another crazy one coming up. We don't have any birthday parties this weekend, but I offered to keep my friend Tiffany's kids overnight on Saturday so they can celebrate their anniversary, so we are going to have FOUR KIDS in our house. Please pray for me! Mama will be up today and will be here to help with the madness, thank goodness. It will be fun, though, and Rylie cannot wait to have her friend spend the night. She has been asking for Payten to come over for a sleepover for months now!

Have a great weekend!

1. What's your favorite way to spend down time (alone or with a significant other)?

Down time? What's that? In the few minutes of downtime we force ourselves to have every few nights, we usually watch TV. We are huge TV watchers, which means our DVR gets full very quickly.

2. Are you the kind of person that wants things more as soon as you know you can't have it?

Nah. There is no point in stressing yourself out over things you can't have. I just try to be happy with what I do have.

3. If you were given $1000 to spend on yourself, what would you buy?

I would definitely buy some clothes that fit, but first, I would put enough away for one massage each week for the next month. Oh, and I would reload my Starbucks card with $100 too!

4. Do you ever go out to eat by yourself?

As in, sit in a restaurant by myself and eat? I have, but usually just for a quick lunch if I'm out and about. I don't think I have ever gone out to dinner by myself. If I do, I just drive through and bring it home. I always feel sorry for people I see eating by themselves. I have been tempted to invite little old ladies over to eat with us.

5. What company would you want to do a blog review for?

I have had the pleasure of doing reviews for several companies and several different types of products, so usually if I want to do a review for a company, I do it. I guess if I could pick any company I wanted for a review, I would go with one of the bounce house companies. My kids would LOVE a bounce house in our backyard!

Turn Your Pictures Into Art With CanvasTouch.com {Review & Giveaway}

2012-02-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

I am a picture fanatic. When you walk into my home, you will find most wall space includes at least one framed picture, but typically there's two or three. Most of which are of my precious lil men. I believe it's important to capture all of their precious memories because time truly flies too fast!

CanvasTouch.com came knocking at my door for a chance to review one of their museum quality 10 x 14 canvas prints, there was no way I was turning them down! While I certainly enjoy having photo studio images and pictures from my own digital camera framed and hung, there's really nothing like a canvas print on your wall. It just says luxury!

CanvasTouch is the premiere photo to canvas printing website, taking your photos and turning them into beautiful museum quality canvas prints. You can create your own personalized canvas art print using photos from your digital camera.

The ordering process can be completed in just a few simple steps:

Select a canvas profile and size-

Their sizes range from a 4 x 6 image to a 36 x 48 image.

The next step is uploading a high quality photo and selecting border options, color filter, wrap thickness and coating.

Then you select add to cart, review your image and that's it! Quite painless really.

My CanvasTouch.com print arrived in a matter of a few days and I couldn't be happier with my canvas. I absolutely love this picture of my boys and just had to transform it into a canvas print. CanvasTouch.com did not disappoint. The ordering process was incredibly simple and their customer service was superb. The quality, richness of colors and canvas texture are amazing!

It was quite tough to get a picture of the true quality of the canvas because the gloss would shine no matter what angle I took the image, with or without flash. I assure you, my boys baby blues look just as real in the photo as they do in real life. It captured them perfectly!

Something else that really stood out to me about CanvasTouch.com is their 30 day Money Back Guarantee Policy. I just love a company that stand behind their products. They want 100% of their customers to be satisfied or your money back.

Their prices (ranging from $12-$200) are competitively priced and they strive for an unmatched quality. I definitely recommend checking them out. And right now they are offering all of our readers a chance to win a 10 x 14 canvas print just like I reviewed! Can't wait? They are also offering 25% off with Coupon Code: THELIFEOFRYLIE. This code is valid through the end of March. You can also follow them on their facebook page (hint this will be an extra entry into the giveaway)!

~*~Giveaway~*~

~*~A 10 x 14 Canvas Print!~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a Canvas print for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. A big Thank You to CanvasTouch.com for the review & giveaway item.

Make Tonight A Family Night With Coca-Cola {Giveaway}

2012-02-23T23:10:00.002-05:00

Do you have "family nights" in your house? We sure do! Since we don't see our kids but for a few hours in the evenings during the week, we make every night a family night. I was just telling Rylie this evening that since it is warm out again and since the sun is shining later and later every day, that pretty soon we will be able to play outside when we get home from school. It is like spring here already! For now, though, we are still stuck in the house in the evenings. We usually play with some toys or put puzzles together after dinner, and then we settle down and watch a little TV after baths.

Before I had kids (and a blog) and actually had time to watch TV on a regular basis, I tuned in every season to American Idol. I loved to watch the singers compete for their time in the spotlight and that big recording contract. I will never forget when Kelly Clarkson won and how happy I was for her! We have caught bits and pieces of the recent seasons, and Rylie loves to watch everyone sing.

Here's a great idea for a family night on these cold, winter nights (well, they are cold for most of you, right?)...grab an ice cold Coca-Cola and watch an episode of American Idol with your family!

This winter, as a sponsor of American Idol, Coca-Cola is looking to spice up the colder months with the Coca-Cola Family Night initiative with My Coke Rewards. At MyCokeRewards.com/family, you can find exciting contests, instant wins, rewards, recipes and games—with many fun American Idol based activities for your family!

I was sent an Coca-Cola Family Night Prize Pack to hep my family create our own family night. I love the American Idol 10th Anniversary CD! It has some great songs from some of my favorite American Idol competitors!

While some of you may spend your family nights watching American Idol and judging the contestants, we used our new Samsung Camcorder to record some of our own performances. Here is Rylie with her rendition of Twinkle, Twinkle Traffic Light...

I think we might have the next American Idol right here!

With the hustle and bustle of our lives these days, I hope that everyone is able to set aside at least one night a week to make it a family night. Whether you are drinking an ice cold Coca-Cola and watching American Idol, playing a board game, or simply reading together, you will be spending time as a family, and that is what matters. Make sure you visit My Coke Rewards for tips on making your family nights fun!

~*~Giveaway~*~

~*~Coca-Cola Camcorder Prize Pack~*~

Includes Handheld Camcorder, American Idol – The Hits Volume 1 CD and Coca-Cola and Pringles coupon!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a promotional item in exchange for this post. The prize was provided by Coca-Cola, but Coca-Cola is not a sponsor, administrator, or involved in any other way with this giveaway.

Missing My Dad On His Birthday

2012-02-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today would have been my Dad's 69th birthday. I would give just about anything to be able to put my arms around him and give him a big birthday hug. Not a day has gone by that I haven't thought about him, but on this day, he is on my mind even more.

That picture was taken around this time last year. My Dad wasn't feeling great, so instead of coming over to my house for the weekend, we met my parents halfway at Cracker Barrel to celebrate their birthdays. My dad played with the kids outside on the benches for a while before we went in. It was such a fun time.

Even though it has been 10 months since my Dad left us, I am still having a hard time. I still feel so much grief and guilt, and I miss my Dad so much. On this day, though, I am going to try to focus on the good. I am going to celebrate the man that did so much for me over the years. I am going to celebrate what a wonderful father, grandfather and friend he was. I am going to celebrate my Dad's birthday.

I mentioned to Rylie last week that Papa's birthday would have been today, and she suggested that we still have a party for him, and that is what we are going to do. My Mom is coming up this weekend, and we will celebrate her birthday, along with my Dad's.

Happy Birthday Dad! I love you with all of my heart, and I miss you terribly.

The Best Tasting Subs Are At Firehouse Subs {Giveaway}

2012-02-22T22:30:00.011-05:00

Welcome to Firehouse! That is what you will hear any time you open the door to a Firehouse Subs restaurant. At a time when I feel that customer service is at an all time low, that is NOT the case at Firehouse. Firehouse wants to do everything they can to keep their customers happy, which starts with welcoming everyone as they walk in the door. After all, a happy customer is a repeat customer, and Firehouse wants you to return.

I had the pleasure of being welcomed to Firehouse Subs last week by the founders themselves. Brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, who opened the first Firehouse Subs in Jacksonville, FL in 1994, hosted a small meet and greet for local media. I was so excited to meet the firefighting brothers and learn more about one of my favorite restaurants.

Here I am with Chris Sorensen (far left), Robin Sorensen (far right) and Erika from My Sentiment Exactlee. Keep in mind that this picture was taken after I worked all day and then stuffed myself with delicious subs! ;-)

Just in case you have never been to a Firehouse Subs restaurant, let me tell you a little bit about my favorite subs. These mouthwatering subs contain oversized portions of only the finest meats and cheeses, which are sliced daily. The meat and cheese are steamed together, which gives the subs a delicious, rich flavor, and then packed into a white or wheat sub roll. Most subs are served “fully involved” with mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomato and onion, and they are all served with a dill pickle spear. These are THE BEST subs I have ever tasted. I’m not just saying that for the purpose of this post, either. My husband and I have been regulars at our local Firehouse Subs now for years.

We were able to try four different subs during this great event. We tried Hook & Ladder, Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket, New York Steamer and Italian. While we were eating, Chris and Robin talked to us about each sandwich, and about the restaurant in general. Robin and Chris have tasted everything, and nothing goes on the menu without their approval. They work closely with their suppliers to ensure the freshest, best-tasting bread, and the crunchiest pickles.

Even though the Hook & Ladder is the #1 selling sub, Robin’s favorite is the New York Steamer. I have picked up the steamer on several occasions for my boss when I run out for lunch, but have never tried it myself, so I was glad we were able to try this one. Yum! I also became a huge fan of the Beef & Cheddar Brisket, and it may have knocked my #1 favorite Italian out of the spot it has had for so long. I am such a creature of habit that I get the same sub every time I go to Firehouse, but these other subs were so good that I might have to switch up my order each time I go.

One question I had for Robin and Chris was regarding a menu for the more health-conscious consumers, which doesn’t exist at Firehouse Subs. Their answer was “we tried it, and no one wanted it.” I have to admit that when I go to Firehouse, I go for the taste. According to Robin and Chris, so do the majority of their customers. A New York Steamer just isn’t going to be the same without the mayo and cheese. I certainly won’t argue with that. Of course there are ways to make a healthy meal at Firehouse, like getting the meat on a bed of lettuce, or ordering your sandwich on wheat bread with no mayo or cheese, but you won't see this girl ordering that way!

From the initial idea to opening the first restaurant, the brothers didn’t really know what they were doing. At first they were just kind of “daydreaming” after visiting various sub shops and knowing they could do it better, and one day, it all just came together. They used loans from friends and family to get started, and I’m pretty sure Chris said he contributed $2. (This was in jest, of course.) They now have almost 500 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and are still growing. To open a new franchise, they make sure they have the right franchisee, at the right time, and in the right location. That is their key to success.

Firehouse Subs is not only proud of their delicious subs, but also of the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The Foundation was launched in 2005 and is dedicated to improving the life-saving capabilities of emergency services. Firehouse Subs donates life-saving equipment, educates the public, and even provides scholarships for individuals pursuing a career in public safety. There are two ways to make donations to this great foundation when you visit a Firehouse Subs restaurant – by leaving your change in canisters on the counters, or buy purchasing a pickle bucket. A pickle bucket? Yes, many years ago a franchise owner came up with the concept of selling the five-gallon pickle buckets to benefit the foundation (and cut down on waste), and you can purchase them for $2.

I could go on and on about this great restaurant and all of the fun business facts I learned while dining with Robin and Chris, but I will wrap this post up. I just have to tell you about one more really cool thing you will find at Firehouse Subs…

The Coca-Cola Freestyle Fountain! This was my first experience with this awesome soda fountain, where you can make over 120 combinations of your favorite sodas. You can create drinks like Orange Sprite, Raspberry Coke, and my favorite, Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper. The possibilities are endless, really!

I would like to thank Robin Sorenson, Chris Sorenson, and Don Fox (CEO, Firehouse Subs) for the very informative and delicious dinner. I learned a lot, and I look forward to seeing what Firehouse comes up with next!

~*~Giveaway~*~

~*~$20 Firehouse Subs Gift Card~*~

~*~Two Winners~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received samples of subs and sodas at no cost, along with a promotional item, when I attended dinner with the Founders. A big Thank You to Firehouse Subs for providing the giveaway prizes!

Wordless Wednesday: Workin' Out

2012-02-22T07:00:00.006-05:00

Or as Bryce says, "Hulkin' Out"!

~~Winners!!!~~ Robby Wash Ball, Hallmark

2012-02-21T22:15:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to last week's winners!

Robby Wash Ball by Oransi

Hallmark Greeting Card Pack

Oransi Ionic Fridge Purifier {Review & Giveaway}

2012-02-20T19:57:00.001-05:00

I don't know about you, but I can't stand wasting food. I feel like I'm tossing money right in the trash can. My family loves fruit, but before we can finish a container of strawberries, grapes, etc they go bad and have to be thrown out. It's frustrating!

I used to purchase a baking soda fridge air filter, but I'd always lose track of how long it had been in our fridge. Before I knew it our food was no longer keeping its freshness and our fridge would have a bit of a funky smell to it. Recently I was introduced to a new kind of fridge air filter, Oransi Ionic Fridge Purifier which is a small battery operated gadget that includes a built-in micro CPU, a patented, and exclusive piezo-electric technology, has an LED light indicator and is completely silent. With the Oransi Ionic Fridge Purifier there are no replacement filters and nothing to clean. The air purifier uses 2 AA batteries that require replacement approximately every 45-90 days. The built-in micro processor controls the operation of the air purifier so it will cycle on and off to save battery life.

I have used the Oransi air purifier in our fridge for just about 2 weeks and I am impressed with this tiny gadget that literally fits in the palm of my hand. Within a matter of a few days I could see the difference in the smell of my fridge and the freshness of my food. One of my favorite features is the low voltage indicator light which reminds me that I need to replace the batteries. Genius!

Oransi's Ionic Fridge Purifier not only eliminates food odors in your fridge, it also kills bacteria, reduces food spoilage, prevents mildew, sterilizes your fridge every 2 hours and neutralizes stale and foul odors with fresh air inside your refrigerator. It conveniently fits anywhere in a fridge and has a neutral color and design. It's also very easy to operate since it includes one button for on/off functions.

Conveniently priced at $39 (currently on sale for $29) this fridge air purifier is sure to do the trick! I'm happy to report that Oransi has offered one to our readers as well!

~*~Giveaway~*~

~*~Oransi Ionic Fridge Purifier!~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received an Oransi Air purifier for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. A big Thank You to Oransi for the review & giveaway item. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Mom Blog Society. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. (http://momblogsociety.com)

Get Sharp For Tax Season With X-ACTO

2012-02-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

It's that time of year again! The time when we gather up all of our W-2s, 1099s, and other tax forms and sit down to file our taxes. You would think that since I'm an accountant that I would do our family's taxes, right? Wrong! My husband actually does ours with the help of tax software. That doesn't mean that I don't have work to do, though. Since I did make a little bit of money off of this blog last year, I have to get my records straight and gather up all of that information for Brian to enter into our tax filing.

Even though I do most of my record keeping on spreadsheets, I'm still a pencil and paper girl at heart. Even at work where we are supposed to be going paperless, you will always find me making check marks on print outs, highlighting important items in contracts and even doing some math with a pencil. I have used mechanical pencils for years, but the problem with those is that if you run out of lead, you can't write anymore, which is what recently happened to me at home.

I was horrible about keeping blog records last year, so I need get all of that information gathered up and put into a spreadsheet that I can run totals on. Part of this process will involve printing out my Paypal history to enter in my spreadsheet. Enter a pencil here. I will need to check off the transactions as I go.

Not only did I need a pencil sharpener, but Rylie has been asking for one too. She has gotten pencils as favors at birthday parties, and last week she got two more on Valentine's Day. The pencils hadn't been sharpened, of course, and we had nothing to sharpen them with.

I recently received a link to an X-ACTO Spira Coupon, and that made my decision as to which pencil sharpener to buy an easy one. I headed out to Walmart with the family earlier this afternoon to purchase our X-ACTO Pencil Sharpener. Even though the tiny little section that held the #XACTO products was in total disarray, I finally found the bright red Spira sharpener. We added some other "necessities" to our cart, checked out (and I even remembered to use my coupon!) and headed home to sharpen some pencils!

Check out my Google+ album to see photos from our entire shopping experience.

Our taxes will be done in Brian's "home office", which consists of his laptop at our kitchen table. We set the new Spira X-ACTO Pencil Sharpener up there so the kids could sharpen their pencils first.

The sharpener worked great! In a matter of seconds, both of the kids had sharpened pencils and were ready to write in their new notebooks.

Note: This product is not meant for children. Always supervise children when sharpening pencils with any type of pencil sharpener.

Once the kids were writing away in their "journals", as Rylie likes to call them, I took the Spira sharpener upstairs to it's permanent home in my home office.

I also brought a couple of the kids' pencils with me. Why should I have to use boring yellow pencils?

My home office is a little bit more elaborate than Brian's. I actually have a desk, even though it is generally cluttered with all of my papers full of ~~chicken scratch~~ blog notes.

One of these days I will get around to recording all of my blog income from 2011. I guess I better get started, though, since "tax day" will be here before we know it!

For more information on this pencil sharpener and more office supplies, visit the X-ACTO website. You can stay up to date on the latest office supplies and even learn about special promotions by liking X-ACTO on Facebook and following Elmer's on Twitter.

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All opinions are my own.

The Secret World Of Arrietty Is Now Playing

2012-02-19T09:50:00.001-05:00

New in theaters this weekend, The Secret World Of Arrietty is a movie that the whole family will love!

Disney presents The Secret World of Arrietty, a movie about very tiny people living in a great big world. Arrietty and her parents are "borrowers". They live under the floor of an old house, and they go out on "borrowings" to get what they need from human beings. They only take what humans don't need, and what they need to survive.

When Arrietty goes on her first borrowing with her father, she is spotted by Shawn, a sickly little boy who is staying with family so he can get some rest before his upcoming heart surgery. Even though Arrietty knows that she is not supposed to make contact with Shawn, they eventually become friends, which upsets Arrietty's tiny little world. The housekeeper ends up finding the tiny house and captures Arrietty's mom, and even though Arrietty is afraid, she, along with Shawn's help, sets out to rescue her. Through their friendship and their exciting adventures, Arrietty teaches Shawn about courage and standing up for yourself.

We had the pleasure of attending an advance screening of The Secret World of Arrietty last weekend. My first thought about the movie was that it was not the usual computer-generated animation we are used to. I loved the detail in the hand-drawn animation!

This movie is a fun adventure that will be enjoyed by the whole family. The story line is simple enough for a child to understand, but also full of meaning which will keep the adults following along. The movie contains some exciting adventures, like Rylie's favorite part when the housekeeper rips the roof off of Arrietty's house and captures her mother, but they are mild enough that they aren't too scary for the little ones.

The Secret World of Arrietty was originally released in Japan in 2010 by Studio Ghibli and was adapted to English by Walt Disney Animation Studios, who had to sync the actors' voices with the characters who were originally speaking in Japanese. I did not learn this until after we saw the movie, and I had absolutely no idea! It was seamless.

My family loved this movie and we will definitely be buying this on DVD when it is available!

For more information about The Secret World of Arrietty, visit Disney.com/Arrietty or "Like" the movie's official Facebook page.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I was provided with complimentary passes to view the movie for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.

Live A More Natural Lifestyle With Johnson's Natural

2012-02-18T14:00:00.000-05:00

Up until a few years ago, I didn't think too much about "natural living". I figured that I was healthy enough and getting by just fine with the way I was living my life. Then I had kids and my thoughts changed. I started paying more attention to health reports about how chemicals in health and beauty products could cause cancer. I also noticed how big kids are getting and how early they are developing, and couldn't help but think that is a result of all of the processed food we eat and all of the hormones given to farm animals to plump them up faster. Unfortunately, we don't live as much of a natural lifestyle as I would like, but we are trying to do better.

When I was pregnant with Rylie, I received several bottles of baby wash and lotions at my baby shower. When it came time for her first bath, it was difficult for me to decide which one to use. I had bottles of bath products made by trusted brands that have been around for years, but when I looked at the ingredients in these products, I couldn't even pronounce many of the synthetic-sounding chemicals listed. I also had bath products that were made with more natural ingredients. It turned out that Rylie had extremely sensitive skin and even suffered from eczema, so we ended up trying several different products until we found the right combination of shampoo and body wash that worked for her. Both of those products were more natural products that didn't contain a bunch of harsh chemicals, and we have been using them ever since.

I recently learned that one of my favorite brands launched a line of natural bath products for baby, and I was asked to review three products from the Johnson's Natural line. Johnson's Baby is one of those brands that has been around forever, and honestly, it is hard to resist the scent that comes from those yellow and pink bottles that we see in every store that sells baby products. I had to resist that "clean baby smell", though, because of the chemicals that were in those products. I just couldn't bring myself to put them on my new baby. So I was excited to learn more about Johnson's Natural baby skin care products.

Here are some quick facts about the new Johnson's Natural products:

JOHNSON'S® Brand is the #1 choice of hospitals
98% natural from plant and fruit-derived ingredients
NO MORE TEARS® Formula
ALLERFREE™ allergen-free fragrance, with a clean, natural scent rooted in our ingredients
Paraben-free, dye-free, and allergen-free
No essential oils
Dermatologist tested
Designed to be gentle enough for newborns

When I opened the new Johnson's Natural products, the first thing I did was sniff for that classic Johnson's scent. The scent in these products isn't quite the same, but I honestly like it better. It is a very light, clean scent. Of course Rylie and Bryce had to smell it too and they both thought it smelled "yummy".

We have been using the Johnson's Natural products for several days, and I am happy to report that we have had no issues with it irritating my kids' sensitive skin. We are using the Head-To-Toe Foaming Baby Wash on both kids. Like other natural products, this doesn't lather as much as your typical baby wash, so I feel like I have to use a little more. The flip side of that, though, is that it doesn't make the bath water super soapy, so I don't feel like I have to rinse them off with fresh water before they get out. We have only used the Baby Shampoo on Bryce only because Rylie has a scalp condition that requires a specific shampoo (I told you she had extremely sensitive skin) and I just can't risk irritating that again for any reason. The shampoo works great on Bryce's baby fine hair, and leaves it squeaky clean. Both of the kids love the Baby Lotion, and I do too! I have extremely dry hands, and several lotions actually burn my hands when I apply it. Not the Johnson's Natural, though. It goes on smooth, is not greasy at all, and leaves my hands silky soft. Rylie has been using it on her hands, arms and legs, and it works great for her too.

The Johnson's Natural products are very reasonably priced. I have found that the more natural products usually cost more, which can cause families to go with the products that are full of chemicals in order to save some money. At less than $5 a bottle, though, you can afford to live a more natural lifestyle with these products.

If you are looking for affordable, natural products in your quest to adopt a more natural lifestyle, I definitely recommend Johnson's Natural. You can visit http://www.johnsonsbaby.com/natural for more information about the products and ingredients, receive coupons and learn how to incorporate natural living into your life.

There are so many ways to live more naturally, and we are taking baby steps to get there. I think it is great that trusted brands like Johnson's are taking their own steps to helping consumers on the path to living more naturally. What about you? What steps are you taking to live a more natural lifestyle?

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Johnson’s Natural and received a product sample to facilitate my review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Diono RadianRXT Car Seat {Review & Giveaway}

2012-02-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

It was time for an upgrade! Our (almost) 4 year old son had been in his current car seat since the moment we turned him front facing. With my lil man weighing in just under 40 lbs, we wanted a car seat that would go the distance. When I started researching car seats, safety was of the utmost importantance to me. I didn't want just any car seat.

I came across Diono (formerly Sunshine Kids) and just knew I had hit the jackpot. The RadianRXT Convertible Car Seat + Booster was exactly what we were looking for. The safety features and NCAP crash test results for this car seat are outstanding! It comfortably seats rear-facing children from 5-45 lbs, forward-facing children from 20-80 lbs in 5-point harness, then converts to a booster for children up to 120 lbs. Top notch safety features, check! Weight limit capacity, check!

Not only did it have the features we needed for our son, but check out all of the additional features included with the RadianRXT Convertible Car Seat + Booster:

Rear-facing: 5 - 45 lbs

Forward-facing: 20 - 80 lbs (and up to 57") in a 5-point harness

Booster to 120 lbs

Steel alloy frame and aluminum reinforced sides

Safestop® energy-absorbing harness system

Adjustable head support, reinforced for complete side impact safety

Energy-absorbing EPS foam panels on all sides

Rear-facing tether capability

LATCH installation up to 80 lb child

Infant body support cushions

Memory foam padding for superior comfort

5 shoulder and 3 buckle positions for custom fit

Expandable sides and longer seat bottom for leg support and comfort

12 height positions for adjustable head support

2 recline positions in forward-facing mode

Sits low on vehicle seat for easy child boarding

Fits 3 across in a mid-size vehicle and offers more shoulder space

Add up to 4 cup holders (1 included)

Folds flat for travel and storage

Rubber bottom grips for no-slip installation

10 year life

I really appreciate the compact style which allows for this car seat to comfortably sit 3 across in most vehicles. I also love that it's portable and includes straps on the back that allow for the car seat to be carried like a backpack which is very helpful during travel, especially at airports.

A feature that was new to me was the SuperLATCH system which allows installation using vehicle lower anchors for a child up to 80 lbs. Seat belt installation is never required, top tether is never required – even at 80 lbs. Combined with it's steel alloy frame and aluminum reinforced sides and Safestop energy-absorbing harness system it leaves most competition in the dust.

My husband (armed with the instruction booklet) headed out to our van to install the RadianRXT. In a matter of 5 minutes, the new car seat was installed. Our son could not wait to take it for a test drive! When asked what he likes best about his new car seat my son says, "that it's comfortable and that it comes with a cup holder."

I am very impressed with the quality & safety features Diono has offered with the RadianRXT Convertible Car Seat + Booster. It's evidently clear that Diono has high expectations for their products and only offers the best to their customers! I am very happy to have the opportunity to not only use one of their products, but also offer one in a giveaway to our US or Canada readers! You can connect with Diono via their facebook & twitter pages as well! (Hint-those will be extra entries into the giveaway)

~*~Giveaway~*~

~*~A Diono RadianRXT Car Seat!~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a Diono RadianRXT for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. A big Thank You to Diono for the review & giveaway item.

Weekend Win It - February 18-19 {Giveaway Linky}

2012-02-17T22:00:00.078-05:00

Giveaway: Tollytots
Ends: 2/18

Prize: Mulan Toddler Doll and Graco Swing High Chair

Giveaway: Summer Infant
Ends: 2/20

Prize: SuperSeat

Giveaway: Kidtoons
Ends: 2/20

Prize: Barbie Prize Pack

Giveaway: H&R Block
Ends: 2/24

Prize: $50 H&R Block Gift Code (5 winners!!!)

Giveaway: Movies on Demand
Ends: 2/26

Prize: Bridesmaids Prize Pack (Includes 1 Bridesmaids T-shirt, 1 wine stopper, 1 water bottle, and 1 tote bag!)

Giveaway: ToiletTree Products
Ends: 2/28

Prize: Bamboo 3 Piece Accessory Kit

Giveaway: Juppy
Ends: 3/1

Prize: Juppy Baby Walker

Here are some great giveaways that I found this week...

Giveaway: Nature's Sleep
Blog: Thanks, Mail Carrier
Ends: 3/9

Prize: Memory Foam Pillow

Giveaway: Coca-Cola
Blog: Shibley Smiles
Ends: 3/4

Prize: Coca-Cola Camcorder Gift Pack

Giveaway: Hoover
Blog: This Mama Loves Her Bargains
Ends: 2/29

Prize: Hoover Elite Upright Bagless Vacuum

Giveaway: SodaStream
Blog: Kate and Kaboodle
Ends: 2/25

Prize: Fountain Jet Soda Lover's Start-Up Kit

Giveaway: Blendtec
Blog: Mama B
Ends: 2/21

Prize: Blendtec Blender with FourSide, WildSide, and Twister jars ($613 value)

Happy Birthday Mama!

2012-02-17T09:00:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday to the most beautiful, kind and caring mom ever!

Would you believe that this is the most recent, halfway-decent picture of us together? Clearly, a photo shoot is in order!

I hope you have a wonderful birthday, mom. I know you will have a great time celebrating with your friends this weekend. I sure wish we were there celebrating with you, but we will be together next weekend to celebrate, and that we will do!

We are all so blessed to have you in our lives. You are not only a wonderful mother, but you are an extraordinary grandmother who brings so much joy into the lives of Rylie and Bryce! We appreciate everything you do for us and we all love you with all of our hearts!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Five Question Friday - February 17th

2012-02-17T07:00:00.001-05:00

Whew! The last 7 days have been so busy! We started out on a high, but unfortunately, we are ending the week on a low.

Last weekend was super fun! Mama took the kids to Sea World on Friday. On Saturday, Brian and I took Rylie to the screening of The Secret World of Arrietty (which starts today, BTW) at Downtown Disney, and then we ended up spending the rest of the day at Magic Kingdom. While we were waiting for our lunch at Rainforest Cafe, I was scrolling through Facebook and saw a post by one of my friends asking if anyone wanted to hang out with her at Disney because she had some extra passes. I think my exact response was "Does a bear crap in the woods?" We were already there, so why wouldn't we want to hang out at Magic Kingdom for the rest of the day? So we did. Of course it was freezing cold, and none of us were prepared for the weather, so Brian and Rylie ended up with Mickey Mouse sweatshirts by the time the night was over. We had a great time, though, although I did feel bad that Bryce missed out on all of the fun. My mom dragged me to a "vacation ownership" ~~seminar~~ scam on Sunday, and thank goodness I went, because I am sure they would have suckered her in. And then on Monday, my mom took the kids back to Sea World for another day of fun.

Brian and I spent Monday evening having dinner at Firehouse Subs with the two founders. There will be more on that posted later this weekend. It was such a great evening, and I learned so much! The kids went back to school on Tuesday with Valentine cards and treats for all of their friends, and had a good time looking at all of their Valentines when they got home. Well, I should say they had a great time eating their Valentine's Day candy.

I think all of the weekend's activities caught up with Rylie mid-week, because she came home from school on Wednesday with a fever. When we got home, she didn't want to eat dinner, and even when Bryce was eating his "Valentine's Day", she didn't get up off of the couch. I knew something was wrong when the candy queen wasn't interested in candy. She stayed home Thursday with Daddy and was still running a low grade fever last night, so I am home with her today. Other than the fever and complaining that her belly hurt a couple of times, she seems fine. Hopefully this is just a little bug that she will kick before the day is over.

To top it all off, Brian and I started a 90-Day Beachbody Challenge on Tuesday. We are seriously out of shape, so the workouts are not that easy for us, and we have spent the week with sore muscles. Unfortunately, the only time we have to work out is at night after the kids go to bed. By then, we are already exhausted, so we have to muster up the energy just to put that DVD in. We are committed to this, though, and we WILL succeed! I will try to blog a little more about this next week, since it is going to be my focus for the next three months.

We have a birthday party to go to on Saturday, and at some point this weekend we have got to get Bryce's hair cut. Other than that, I am really hoping for an uneventful weekend in which I can catch up on some of the chores around the house.

Busy busy busy. I swear, we never stop running!

1. What do you do when you are really upset to calm yourself down?

I cry it out. The only way I can calm down is to just get it all out. A few minutes later, I will be fine.

2. Do you go all out for V-day or is it just another day?

Well, I always have these big plans to go all out, but when it comes down to it, it is just another day. I really failed Valentine's Day this year, thanks to the crazy busy days leading up to it. I made up cards and treats for the kids to take to school, but that was done at 11:00 the night before, and it took all of the energy I had just to get those done. I didn't even get my kids any special Valentine's Day outfits like I normally do. Luckily Rylie had a pink shirt with hearts on it, and Bryce had a dark red t-shirt, and they were both clean. Sigh. I'll do better next year, I promise.

3. Are you more or less productive when Hubs is away?

Generally, I would have to say more, even though my husband doesn't go away. As much as I love my husband and enjoy spending time with him, I do love my Fridays off and my "me" time. I don't get sidetracked and I can actually get more done when no one is home.

4. What is your favorite time of day and why?

During the week, my favorite time is 5:30 PM. That is when I get to leave work and go get my little stinkers! On the weekends, my favorite time is usually whenever I get up in the morning. I enjoy having my coffee and just hanging out with the family before the hustle and bustle of the day starts.

5. What is your go to karaoke song?

Um. This girl doesn't do karaoke. Trust me, it is better for everyone that I stay away from the mic!

Juppy Baby Walker {Review & Giveaway}

2012-02-16T15:00:00.001-05:00

Our 11 month old son was showing all the signs of readiness to walk. I wasn't surprised considering our first son was literally running at 10 1/2 months! Baby boy had been cruising for some time, but as with any baby learning to walk his balance was off and there were quite a few tumbles and falls.

I reached out to Juppy Baby Walker who created a revolutionary training aid for teaching babies how to walk. This simple, safe and affordable baby walker teaches baby balance and confidence and reduces the chances of falls and injuries. It also helps Mom and Dad out too by saving the strain and stress on your back. This is extremely helpful for special needs children with developmental challenges as well. It has a weight limit of 30 lbs and is machine washable.

Perfect for on the go and traveling, Juppy Baby Walker offers a free carrying bag with each order! It comes with 2 options and multiple color choices. You can either select the Original Juppy Baby Walker with no lining in black or the full-lining Juppy in colors blue, pink or black. For a small additional fee you can even personalize your child's name which is a neat bonus option!

We tried out the Juppy Baby Walker on our son and he loved it! There were no more falls as this baby walker is 100% Parent assisted. It was soft and comfortable for baby. Most importantly it was safe to use. He took a few minutes to adjust, but once he understood he could move without falling, he was full speed ahead! I noticed his confidence improve immediately as he felt proud that he could walk on his own.

If you would like to learn more about how The Juppy works, please take a moment to watch the video below. You can also follow them via their twitter or facebook accounts. Now onto the giveaway!

~*~Giveaway~*~

~*~A Juppy Baby Walker with Personalization!~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I received a Juppy walker for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. A big Thank You to Juppy Baby Walker for the review & giveaway item.

4 Moms Origami Stroller {Review}

2012-02-15T21:00:00.000-05:00

Have you caught a glimpse into the future? The future of strollers, that is. 4moms Origami stroller has been featured everywhere since its release in early January of this year. This amazing stroller has been all over the media including CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Us Weekly....and even Kourtney Kardashian is sporting one around town!

Before its release last month 4moms gave their fans an opportunity to win one. Through their website, fans were able to enter once a day for 30 days at a chance to win 1 of 30 Origami's! I was the 25th winner!! I could not believe my eyes when I saw the facebook post and email from 4moms saying that I had won this fabulous; out of this world stroller! I think I jumped up and down like a kid for almost an hour. My two sons aged 3 and 1 were looking at me strangely wondering what on earth their Momma was doing. LOL!

Why am I so crazy over this stroller? Let me share with you some of the amazing features of the Origami stroller by 4moms:

The Origami is the first ever power folding stroller! You simply press a button and it opens and closes for you. No more ~~closing~~ fighting strollers.

The Origami is self-charging. It has generators in it's rear wheels that charge the Origami as you walk and it can even charge your cell phone if you purchase the optional cell phone charging kit.

This bad boy also features a LCD screen with back light that is attached to the handlebars. It includes the battery life, temperature, trip odometer, child indicator and speed.

The Origami is quite elegant! With four legs (including track lights) and a central pod that support a single handle bar and telescoping seat ring, the design of the Origami is as innovative as its features.

Now do you get why I am SO excited?! Living on one income (that being a Teacher's salary) my family would not be able to afford something quite so luxurious. All of the wonderful benefits of the Origami have made my life easier. And my baby boy is riding in style! We get stopped quite often by other Moms who either recognize the Origami or want to know more about the stroller. Two minor cons (that do not outweigh the pros) are the small undercarriage compartments. I'm used to the big baskets for fitting my enormous baby bags & the other is it's top heavy I think due to the generators in the wheels. I still love the Origami anyway and wouldn't give it up!

4moms has reinvented the stroller taking it to a whole new level. I love that 4moms has challenged all other stroller companies to re-evaluate the "norm". The Origami is an amazing stroller and is just begging to be welcomed into your home.

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. No compensation was received for this review.

Wordless Wednesday: RAWR!

2012-02-15T07:00:00.010-05:00

Bamboo Collection From ToiletTree Products {Giveaway}

2012-02-14T22:30:00.005-05:00

When you think of a tropical paradise, what types of images come to mind? For me, I think of sun, waves, palm trees, fruity drinks with little umbrellas, and bamboo. Yes, bamboo. We aren't world travelers or anything, but we have been to a few tropical resorts and I always notice the bamboo touches around those resorts. From picture frames to furniture, bamboo always adds a tropical feel.

Now you can give your bathroom that tropical resort look with the Bamboo Collection from ToiletTree Products! All products in the Bamboo Collection are made from 100% eco-friendly bamboo, and have a modern, unique and functional style.

The Bamboo 3 Piece Accessory Kit will give any bathroom counter top a stylish, sleek look. It comes with a lotion dispenser, toothbrush holder and a soap dish. If you are like me and use liquid soap, you could always put your liquid soap in the dispenser and use the dish for other items like a razor, or anything else you want to keep up off the counter.

The Bamboo Bathtub Caddy will keep all of your bath and shower products within easy reach. The expandable bamboo arms allows it to fit in any bathtub. If you are looking for a relaxing escape and want to fill the bathtub up with bubbles and soak for a while, it also has a slide-in glass holder for a glass of wine, and even a book support that folds down when not in use.

The Oval and Rectangular Floor and Shower Mats are skid resistant and can be used in a bathroom, near the pool, or even on a boat. They are very versatile, and extremely stylish, especially when used with other products from the Bamboo Collection.

My favorite product from the new Bamboo Collection is the Bamboo Towel Rack.This 3-tier rack is a great storage solution for bathrooms like mine that do not have a linen cabinet in them. This would even dress up a patio nicely if you need something to put your beach towels on while you are swimming.

These great products in the new Bamboo Collection are all available at Amazon.com and are very reasonably priced from $29-$34. Any of these eco-friendly bamboo accessories would be a stylish addition to any bathroom!

~*~Giveaway~*~

~*~Bamboo 3 Piece Accessory Kit~*~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: All opinions are my own. I was not compensated in any way to write this post. A big Thank You to ToiletTree Products for providing the giveaway prize!

When The Cure Becomes The Cause

2012-02-13T08:00:00.001-05:00

I have been meaning to post about this for a couple of weeks now. It is just one of those OMG stories that I have to share.

Two days before Rylie's birthday, I received a call from daycare that Bryce had thrown up. Of course I felt sorry for my little guy, but I was also worried that he had a stomach bug that would spread through our house like wildfire, and that Rylie would be sick on her birthday. I had to postpone her birthday party last year because she was sick, and that was a huge mess, so I was ~~a little~~ totally freaked out that I would have to do that again.

I posted my freak out on Facebook, and my friend Jennifer responded with a link to an article at Minnesota Mama's Must Haves about how you are supposed to drink grape juice to prevent you from getting sick if you have been exposed to a stomach virus. She said you are supposed to drink 100% grape juice three times a day for a few days after exposure.

I headed out the next morning and bought some grape juice, and then picked Rylie up early from school so she could get started on the regimen. I had no idea if it would really work, but it couldn't hurt to try. After all, it was just a few glasses of grape juice, right?

Rylie had her first glass of grape juice when she got home and gulped it right down. I had to leave to run some errands for her party (my mom was home with the kids) and I called Brian and told him to give her another glass when he got home, which he did. She gulped that down and asked for another, so he gave her some more. When I got home she wanted some more, and she gulped down another glass. We sat down to eat dinner 20 minutes later and she asked for even more grape juice with her dinner.

She ate all of her dinner and took a few sips of her grape juice. All of the sudden she got this panicked look on her face and said "Does this have nuts in it?" Just in case you don't know, Rylie has a life-threatening allergy to cashews and pistachios and had an anaphylactic reaction to a cashew on Christmas Eve two years ago...and apparently she remembers that. After I saw the look of fear in her eyes, I assured her that the grape juice did not have nuts in it and asked her why she asked me. She said "because my throat is tight!"

I immediately started going over everything she had eaten since she had been home, and I knew she hadn't eaten anything that had nuts in it. I started freaking out myself when she said she was going to throw up and ran to the bathroom. Brian followed her in there, and by the time I got in there, she was hurling up all of her dinner, along with like a gallon of grape juice. While the recommended three glasses of grape juice would not have hurt her, apparently the super sweet juice does a number on the belly when ingested in large quantities.

Rylie did continue to drink the juice over the next couple of days (in limited amounts, of course) and did not get sick. I, however, was not so lucky. I said I was going to drink the juice myself, but stopped after that first day. I guess I should have kept on drinking it because a week later, I was the one doing the hurling. Luckily it only lasted a few hours, and I was better the next day. Next time, I will drink the three glasses a day for several days. It can't hurt, right?

~~Winners!!!~~ Goosie Cards, Uniquely Me, Ring Pops

2012-02-12T20:08:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to all of our winners from last week!

Goosie Cards Flashcards

Custom Birthday Banner from Uniquely Me

Ring Pops Valentine Candy Basket

For more chances to win cool stuff, check out our current giveaways in the sidebar.

The Life of Rylie...and Bryce too!

HP Photosmart 6510 e-All-in-One Printer {Review}

No More Diaper Bag!

~*~Winners!!!~*~ Tollytots, Summer Infant & Kidtoons

Weekend Win It - February 25-26 {Giveaway Linky}

Five Question Friday - February 24th

Turn Your Pictures Into Art With CanvasTouch.com {Review & Giveaway}

Make Tonight A Family Night With Coca-Cola {Giveaway}

Missing My Dad On His Birthday

The Best Tasting Subs Are At Firehouse Subs {Giveaway}

Wordless Wednesday: Workin' Out

~*~Winners!!!~*~ Robby Wash Ball, Hallmark

Oransi Ionic Fridge Purifier {Review & Giveaway}

Get Sharp For Tax Season With X-ACTO

The Secret World Of Arrietty Is Now Playing

Live A More Natural Lifestyle With Johnson's Natural

Diono RadianRXT Car Seat {Review & Giveaway}

Weekend Win It - February 18-19 {Giveaway Linky}

Happy Birthday Mama!

Five Question Friday - February 17th

Juppy Baby Walker {Review & Giveaway}

4 Moms Origami Stroller {Review}

Wordless Wednesday: RAWR!

Bamboo Collection From ToiletTree Products {Giveaway}

When The Cure Becomes The Cause

~*~Winners!!!~*~ Goosie Cards, Uniquely Me, Ring Pops

~~Winners!!!~~ Tollytots, Summer Infant & Kidtoons

~~Winners!!!~~ Robby Wash Ball, Hallmark

~~Winners!!!~~ Goosie Cards, Uniquely Me, Ring Pops