Day to Day MOMents

2013-05-17T22:23:00.001-04:00

Did You Know May is Mediterranean Diet Month?

2013-05-16T22:03:00.001-04:00

I received items for the purpose of review. Information and recipes were provided for this post. All opinions are a 100% my own. No other compensation was provided.

Have you had Mediterranean food before? I didn't, but recently in news of May being Mediterranean Diet Month, tried some great tasting all natural Karoun Dairies Mediterranean products. I would have never thought to try it either, but so glad I did. You all know that I love dairy products as I've shared my love for greek yogurt before, but these have just widened my menu of products I love.

If you've ever had home made yogurt before, that's how the yogurts taste like to me. In Karoun’s Non-Fat Yogurt there are 13 grams of protein per 8-ounce serving, so one cup of non-fat yogurt contains the nutritional value of a glass of milk, a banana, and lean meat all rolled up into one. The Greek Yogurt with honey was perfectly sweetened, and all natural as all are all the other product pictured above. Then there was the Grilling Cheese, my husbands favorite. We pan fried them at my dads, they are delicious. I truly recommend that you give all of these a try. Great for any time of day, great as a side on a dish.

The spreadable Kefir Yogurt Cheese (Labne) have been added to my snack items, and I couldn't be happier with it. It's a healthier alternative to the more popular cream cheese spread as it has less sodium and fat. Great to use as a dip, use it in baking, as a topper, and more. Karoun Dairies is an award-winning natural and lower-fat Mediterranean line of quality cheeses and yogurts are only made from cow's milk free from growth hormones, BGH/rBST, are Real California Milk certified.

A healthy diet is important to all of us, and the Mediterranean Diet's focus on naturally healthy foods such as fresh vegetables, olive oils, citrus and low-fat dairy like the products above is a great reason to try adding a little bit of Mediterranean to your diet.

Some easy, delicious, all natural recipes you could try:

Karoun Dairies Mediterranean Yogurt Dip:

¾ cup Karoun Dairies non-fat yogurt

2 Tbsp. fresh chopped mint

1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 Tbsp. minced garlic

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and season with salt & pepper to taste. Serve with pita chips or fresh vegetables.

Karoun Dairies Labne Vegetable Dip

16 oz. Karoun Dairies Lite-Kefir cheese (labne)

1 medium Persian cucumber

1 medium carrot or red bell pepper

1 T. fresh chopped parsley

1 T. fresh chopped chives

Salt/fresh ground pepper to taste

4 T. extra virgin olive oil

Toasted pita chips

Directions:

Mix Karoun Dairies Lite-Kefir Cheese (Labne) with olive oil.

Dice cucumber and carrot (or bell pepper).

Mix Karoun Dairies Lite-Kefir Cheese (Labne), diced vegetables, and parsley together. Sprinkle chives on top and serve with toasted pita chips.

Wordless Wednesday

2013-05-15T23:03:00.001-04:00

say "cheese"

Letting the Happy and Healthy Magazine Guide Our Shopping Trip #DRHappyHealthy #cbias

2013-05-13T15:20:00.002-04:00

*I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.

Ever need help with suggestions on what to get at Duane Reade? Curious of the latest deals? A break down of the items sold? I know I do at times, and now I have that with the Happy and Healthy magazine available both online and in store. In my very recent trip to Duane Reade I let the Happy and Healthy magazine be my guide. I ended up picking up a few items to try, and learning of products I didn't know or notice before which led me to start a "must buy, must try-next time" list. Be sure to follow Duane Reade on Twitter and Facebook, another great way to keep up with the latest.

the Happy and Healthy magazine at Walgreens/Duane Reade stores

loving what Ology is about!

I went through 24 pages online and took a note of what interested me. I saw so many snack items I've yet to try and with the many "2 for $5 w card" deals I thought a great time to give them a try. You know I frequent Duane Reade at least once a week, so to realize I had so many Good & Delish snacks I never tried before was an obvious motivator. Then there was Ology line of products created by Walgreens, which featured laundry detergent, hand wash, dish liquid, tissue paper and so much more for a healthy home. Ology products have no harmful chemicals, artificial dyes or fragrances..and all around all natural for you and your home. This is when my "must buy, must try-next" list started, I'm all about all natural goodness for my family and home, that's what Ology seems to be about.

tempting goodies

ended up using one of the tumblers as a vase, and the other to drink :P
what's left of the snacks :)

Summer items were in, fun toys to items for your next outing. We picked up Coca-Cola Licensed Tumblers which were 2/$4 with card. Another item I'm going back for, since my dad wants a pair as well. We shared all the snacks, and looked through the pages of the Happy and Healthy magazine together. There were lots of "ooh look at that" so it seems I'm not the only one that overlooks the amount of..uhm..everything at Duane Reade.

take a look at the Happy and Healthy magazine online now

Even though we visit Duane Reade often, we are always finding new products new to us, but I must admit being able to view some of them on the Healthy and Happy magazine both online and off made our trip go smoother. I got to do what I love, look throughout aisles without really having to do so, went in knowing what I wanted and knowing what items I wanted to try. I doubt I'll ever stop walking through every aisle but really loving the Happy and Healthy magazine guide me. Can't wait to get to my list of "must try, must buy- next time."

Easy Marshmallow Igloo - Rainy Day Fun Indoors

2013-05-08T14:15:00.001-04:00

This is my "Wordless Wednesday" post..it's been a while. It's raining out, we've got the windows open, it's a good thing when you have seasonal allergies... Anyway, here's on of the things we are doing today...

A paper bowl, cut an arc, place glue all over then proceed with mini marshmallows.

You can use sunbutter or frosting even, if you want it to be edible. We were out so we just used glue.
You can also cut a paper cup in half and place on the opening of the "igloo." Also cover in marshmallows.

*Super easy for kids, not as messy as some other crafting fun. I just took this, my son is half way done with his igloo. He said he wants to make little marshmallow people inside, we shall see. This is a great way to do something fun for cheap, and without needing many items. This idea can be taken further to decorate a cake, cupcakes and so on. The same simple way.

I know it isn't pretty or perfect but my son is making it all by himself. :)

Tummy Ouchy? Get Urgent Rx Upset Stomach Relief To-Go! #cbias

2013-05-06T12:32:00.001-04:00

*I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® . and UrgentRX #cbias #SocialFabric

follow Urgent Rx on twitter

I love food, even when it's varieties of food, even more trying new food..get the picture here? Buffets were my best friend the very few times we went out to eat growing up. But all those experimenting with different foods can cause an upset stomach sometimes - a very uncomfortable unwanted tummy ache come on. I remembered from one of the last times I was at Duane Reade that they carry Urgent Rx Upset Stomach Ache Relief To-Go and went for a visit to pick some up to have with me. Our home is mostly allergy friendly so I do the experimental eating while I'm out so the little packet is perfect on the go. I'm glad I picked some up when I did because I needed it...

great for inside your purse

The Urgent Rx Upset Stomach Relief is great as it doesn't require any water to take it. The amount of powdered medicine inside..it doesn't even fill a teaspoon, and has a subtle taste. I was happy I had picked some up, because the other day I went and had a milkshake while taking a walk, something I haven't had in a very long time because most of my days are dairy free. Well, it tasted good, but I got tummy cramps right away, or as my son would say "my tummy was ouchy." I don't know if it was the milkshake or just the fact that it had been a long time since I had it. I was so happy to whip out my Urgent RX Upset Stomach Ache Relief and take it. It's medicine that's easy to take, gives relief fast, and doesn't taste bad. Sounds good to me. It's so convenient to take along with me. So small and light, fits anywhere. In your wallet, purse, pocket..anywhere.

easy to open but not for a young child to get to (of course still keep out of their reach)

The medicine melts in your mouth, it's said that it works faster that way. Since it's in powder form it enters the bloodstream faster then if it is in capsule or pill form. The Urgent Rx is also available for Heartburn Relief, Head Ache Relief, Allergy Attack Relief, Upset Stomach Relief, Ache and Pain Relief, and Critical Care Aspirin. Now that I list all of them, I might need have all them in hand, I've already tried and have Heartburn Relief.

really small and thin. as small as my 5 month olds little shoe :P

So yeah..what a relief! The moment when you get that ache in your tummy is not pleasant. Quite scary depending where you are too..hehe... But after I took the Urgent Rx Upset Stomach Relief the cramps seemed to disappear fast enough that I even forgot about it when I was walking with the kids the other day. My husband might need it as he joins me in our food adventures often, and he ventures out of his comfort zone quite a bit as he tries different new foods at my dads. Whether you love to try different foods or not, everyone gets an ouchy tummy..of course when you least expect it, so these are handy to have with you.

Tweet and Share To Help Make a Difference! #WorldsLargestBakeSale #cbias

2013-05-03T04:34:00.000-04:00

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Kmart and Shop Your Way for Sandra Lee’s World’s Largest Bake Sale. #WorldsLargestBakeSale #cbias #SocialFabric

Earlier this week I attended Sandra Lee's Worlds Largest Bake Sale, an event to support the Food Bank of New York City and Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Campaign. The amazing event sponsored by Kmart and Shop Your Way took place at Grand Central Terminal in the Vanderbilt Hall. Filled with celebrity faces and appearances all for the cause, hoping to help make a difference. Did you know that statistics show there are 16 million American children that struggle with hunger today, and that's sadly 1 in 5!

I was there late evening as I spotted celebrity designer, Ty Pennington on a speaker cheering everyone on. Speaking for the cause, pointing out the fact that one sweet treat selling for $5 could equal to 50 meals. As a mom of two it hurts my heart to think of the many children that suffer from hunger, and so I bought way more than I could eat that evening.

The amount of delicious treats was overwhelming (in a good way!) as I walked around. I enjoyed trying treats from different vendors all around New York City, all donating the proceeds to the cause. No cause is greater than the other, but this is definitely an important one. I was truly moved by the whole event, seeing the many vendors and people volunteering their time and efforts.

Right across the way Hasbro had a cute setup for kids with Easy Bake Ovens with Play-Doh, tons of Furby toys, Transformers and more!

The best part about #TheWorldsLargestBakeSale is that we can all continue to help throughout the whole month of May, no matter where you are, it takes very little effort. It's a heartbreaking fact and number, so let's do what we can to help.

Kmart will donate $1.00 for every Facebook and Twitter share from http://recipefornokidhungry.com as well as Sandra Lee recipe card shares, up to $10,000!

So please share! Some great pre-written posts you could use to share with your friends and family.

"Easy Facebook share = @ShopYourWay $1 No Kid Hungry donation http://cbi.as/l5qwa @SaraLee #WorldsLargestBakeSale "

"Create $1 donation for #WorldsLargestBakeSale with @Kmart! Share a @SandraLee recipe card: http://buff.ly/10OG4Ed "

"Donate $1 by tweeting for #WorldsLargestBakeSale! @Kmart & @ShopYourWay pledge up to 10K! http://buff.ly/10pVaZk "

Will you share to donate?

Mommy Needs Snack Too - G.H Cretors Popped Corn #Review

2013-05-02T22:52:00.001-04:00

*I received sample items for the purpose of review. All opinions are a 100% my own.

G.H Cretors popped corn is like no other popcorn I've tasted. It's just perfectly popped and flavored! Although this was my first time trying them, they've been around for 125 years. Available in five delicious flavors; Caramel Corn, Cheese Corn, Chicago Mix, Kettle Corn, and Caramel Nut Crunch. I couldn't pick a favorite, as everytime I tasted a new flavor I loved it as much as the last.

picture of the Caramel Corn flavor

They are delicious, but most importanty all natural (no GMOs, no gluten) and that's something we all love. Perfect treat to include in a Mother's Day basket. I think I might make a basket with G.H. Cretors Popped Corn, fresh fruits, and chocolate as an awesome fruit for my friends mom, who's definitely a mother figure to us. Easy, affordable, all naturally delicious gift for Mother's Day!

Dolls, Cribs, Tablets, Blocks, Car Seats, Sounds, Lights and Lots More! #BTBBabyPalooza

2013-04-27T23:44:00.001-04:00

Hosted by @ToyInsiderMom @TheBigToyBook @JoeyFortman @CharChronicles

Rattles, dolls, cribs, blocks, lights, swings, car seats, tablets and more! The items that make our days and nights easier and enjoyable. The brands behind them helping us be better parents, making great products with us and our children in mind. Last weekend I attended The Big Toy Book's first annual Big Toy Book's Baby Palooza event with my 5 month old baby girl and connected with some of these brands, and I'm excited to share some details and pictures with you all from the event. Excuse my photography skills, I had my baby in my arms... :)

Love love these!

Adorable!

Love! Want these for my children! :)

Look how cool these are!

These are so handy to have!

What a great displays in the showroom!

Delta Children has an amazing line of products that I absolutely adore, I saw fun displays and and was able to view the showroom set up as well. Scott Randall from Delta Children shared with us their passion for safe sleep, they have 8 product test facilities worldwide and have made it their mission to educate families nationwide with tips to create the safest sleep environment for our children. It was great to hear their dedication and to know that they were on the same page with us, on the safety of our children when it comes to sleep.

Washable cloth dolls

Alexander Dolls by Madame Alexander have been tested by time, and proven with quality and character now celebrating 90 years of providing families with dolls! In this age of technology these dolls teach children to be nurturing, communication skills and of course role playing. Now an awesome line of dolls have arrived, the washable babies, first toddler and baby dolls are full of fun and function. You know us moms, we all love dolls/toys we can wash!

MegaBloks toys (sorry camera work with baby in arms)

The First Builders

MegaBloks have been testing products across multiple age groups for years, and it's shown that construction toys such as MegaBloks help build a bridge for math, logic, and language skills. Not surprised at all as I remember MegaBloks, was one of the first "big boy" toys I bought for my son when he was about 1, and he still plays with them. My little girl is already reaching out for a chance to play, looking forward to it as it involves sorting colors, counting, figuring out a pattern, talking about his creations and more! Now with new play sets like the First Builders and the Barbie play sets it's only getting better.

The InnoTab2 Baby

Vtech toys

Vtech InnoTab2 Baby is the first tablet for baby to 9 years old. It's a high tech world, and if your young children are playing or interested in gadgets, you want it to be safe and age appropriate, this is the tablet for them. I recently wrote a thorough review on it, check it out here.

The First Years True Fit IAlert Convertible Car Seat by Tomy is for use from 5 to 65 lbs, and is incredible! It basically communicates using an application on your smart phone to monitor key safety areas including installation angle, unattended child alert, un-buckled seat belt, child out of seat alert and temperature check. You get notified in any of these situations, helping you keep your child safe.

Twilight Turtle Tunes

Sleep Sheep - Smart Sensor

Dreamz To-Go Octo

The Tranquil Turtle

Cloud B products are really great for kids..well for everyone if you ask me. Who doesn't like soothing sounds that help you wind down for sleep time and the soothing projection on your ceiling and walls?! The award winning Twilight Turtle has been upgraded, it now has sound features, not just a built in library and useful settings but a bluetooth capability as well. Still projects starlight in blue, amber and green, with the new turtle the lights morph every 5 seconds. Sleep Sheep Smart Sensor is an adorable soft sheep that comes with a sound sensor so if baby awakes it comes on with soothing soft sounds, including mommies heartbeat. So many great products, I love them all, one of my favorites was the Tranquil Turtle, soothing sound and light, the projection shows as if under water with a gentle waive motion.

Pheeuw! I know that was a long one... But I hope you found this to be informative and useful. Also I just realized this was my first mommy and daughter day with my baby girl, a day well spent. :)

*I received products and information at the #BTBBabyPalooza event. I was not obligated to share this information. All opinions are a 100% my own. No compensation was provided.

Vtech InnoTab 2 Baby - The Learning App Tablet #Review #BTBBabyPalooza

2013-04-25T02:12:00.000-04:00

With technology advancing rapidly and so many different gadgets coming out everyday, it's no surprise Vtech has come out with a tablet for baby. And it's no surprise the InnoTab 2 Baby has already become a favorite in our home with it's great features. It is the first tablet of it's kind made with a growing child in mind, recommended age 12 months to 9 years of age. The perfect item for a first birthday present and on. My four year old who has played with other "grown up" tablets, still seems to really like it. It was easy for him to get started as he was able to customize the welcome screen with his own picture and greeting message on his own, which is one of it's great attributes.

Options on screen include: E-Reader, Games, Art Studio, Camera, Video Recorder, Color & Pop, Photos, Videos, Music, Calculator, Friends, Clock, Calendar, Notes, Downloads..and more.

The Innotab2 Baby is full of age appropriate activities and parental controls that give kids a hands on experience with an interactive digital technology where they can have fun exploring safely. It's activities include a simple Noah's Ark e-book reader, a calculator, video player, art studio, and other fun apps for children as they grow. Hundreds of apps are also available for parents to download from the Vtech app store, the Learning Lodge. I felt assured knowing everything that was on the tablet and knowing it was safe. No purchases made accidentally, no advertisement, no worrying about it breaking, only fun and learning.

removal bumper case

One of my personal favorites amongst many is the kiddie camera that rotates, pictures seem to come out a bit dark but it's a kiddie cam and my son doesn't seem to mind. The tablet has a motion sensor, which really grabbed my attention, I didn't think a kids tablet would be so advanced. It's price marked at $89 and if it seems like allot to you, think about how much the simplest toys are these days. In my opinion it's worth the investment, for an item that will grow with your child. At it's simplest it doubles as a child proof camera for your child. It comes with a removal bumper that helps the Innotab2 Baby in case of drops and tumbles while in the hands of your child. Vtech also carries the InnoTab 2S Wi-Fi learning app tablet that is geared for ages 3-9 years old, we haven't tried it, I assume similar great features but for the older child.

comes with 2 styluses and holder for one in the back

Sorry this is long, but I really wanted to cover all the features the InnoTab2 Baby has to offer. But you get the point, we really like it and we recommend it. Hope it was helpful! :)

*I received a complimentary InnoTab2 Baby at the #BTBBabyPalooza event. All opinions are a 100% my own.

It's Crayola's 110th Birthday Bash -Celebrate and Enter to Win

2013-04-23T23:27:00.001-04:00

Imagine "four floors of new interactive exhibits and one-of-a-kind attractions that will bring the magic of color and your child's creativity to life!" I'm talking fun with Crayola! I don't know about you but I didn't even know there was a Crayola family attraction, it's apparently located in Pennsylvania and "where magic of Crayola and color come to life." Sounds like fun right!? Now imagine a trip for 4 to be one of the first to experience it with your family..yeah..awesome, I know. What's even more exciting..you could actually have a chance at winning that trip.

Crayola is celebrating their 110th birthday, the 8 original colors are throwing a birthday bash at the Crayola Experience. They're on an adventure to spread the news and you're invited to join in. Follow the crayons, learn more about them and ENTER to win that trip for 4 to celebrate their birthday and the grand opening of the all new Crayola Experience coming this May, 2013.

Good luck if you enter..and of course happy 110th birthday CRAYOLA! :)

*Crayola provided the information in this post. All opinions are a 100% my own.

Everyday Tasks Just Got Easier with the Duane Reade App! #DRapp #cbias

2013-04-22T13:30:00.000-04:00

Picking up prescriptions, ordering photo prints, and picking up snacks is just a small part of what my days consist of, but these everyday tasks just got easier with the new Duane Reade app. I frequent Duane Reade often, I usually end up their to pick something up in the evenings or weekends with my family. It isn't always when we are home so we have had to go through trouble to look up a location near us on our phone before, but the app makes that a click away. I am so impressed with how user friendly and useful this app is for us. If you shop at Duane Reade, if you want to shop at Duane Reade, or if you've even thought about shopping at Duane Reade download the app today.

simple functions, easy to use

upload photos to print straight from device, facebook, even instagram

photos straight from my camera roll

balance rewards card, info and purchase history at your finger tips

While out this weekend we were able to find a nearby Duane Reade using the store locator, and then order prints straight from my iPad. It allowed me to edit and upload 5 photos at a time then pick up at store in an hour. I will be ordering prints more often now, it's just too easy not to. When I arrived at the new location my photos were all ready waiting for me, and when it was time to checkout - I used my balance rewards card right off my iPad. No more fumbling around for your card, and what's really neat is that it allows you to see your purchase history along with your rewards.

fill prescriptions right from the app

I didn't need it but the app also allows you to conveniently fill a prescription from your account, by scanning, even allowing you to transfer a prescription right from the app. Scan the barcode off an item for more info on the product as well. All the functions are so simple, yet it's all I didn't know I needed to make our trips to Duane Reade easier. Make sure to follow Duane Reade on twitter so you don't miss out on any more news, who knows maybe they'll create an app to cook dinner for you next (just kidding..but a girl could dream). ;)

*I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Duane Reade. #DRApp #cbias #SocialFabric

Lift the Flaps and Learn to Count book - #Review

2013-04-21T23:43:00.001-04:00

Too often kids are turning to apps and screens instead of books. So as parents we have to try extra hard to get them interested in books. Lift the Flaps and Learn to Count by David Carter is a fun book that makes learning how to count to 100 exciting. It isn't a story book but while going through all the pages kids will see fun pop out images all while learning to count to 100.

adventure starts underground as you count to 5

busy city, shady forest, outdoor surprises

on the farm..there's lots to discover as you count to 100!

so much to learn and discover as you make it to 100!

My son was excited to go through every page with me, counting up with me. I highly recommend this book, as it makes learning fun. The book is full of fun educational flip out images of what you can find in the jungle, at the farm, the busy city and much much more. It isn't just about learning to count, it doubles as a great picture book with lots of detailed images.

Watch the book trailer here on youtube.

*I received the book for the purpose of review. All opinions are a 100% my own. No other compensation was provided.

Pledge to Save the Sleeve

2013-04-19T21:17:00.001-04:00

Do you have little one that loves to use their sleeve as a wipe? As neat as my son loves to be, he is a kid, and kids tend to turn to their sleeve as wipes at times! Boogie Wipes has launched a new promotion, and if your kids "Pledge to Save the Sleeve" your family will be entered to win one of 1,000 Save the Sleeve kits. Each kit is filled with Boogie Wipes temporary tattoos, a backback button, Boogie Wipes samples, and coupons. It's a fun giveaway and excuse to go over some basic manners with your child.

I helped my son take the pledge.

While taking the pledge there are great fun facts for you to read to your child, and fun questions you answer to take the pledge. It is only a few clicks to enter.

*Samples were provided for the purpose of this post. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are a 100% my own.

Bye Bye Heartburn with Urgent Rx Heartburn Relief #cbias

2013-04-15T03:51:00.000-04:00

Oh food, how I love food. But sometimes my body just doesn't agree with the food I choose to eat..and no I'm not talking about food allergies as usual. This time I speak of heartburn. If you follow me on twitter, you've probably seen plenty of my tweets "screaming" for relief all throughout my pregnancy. When you're pregnant it is very common to get heartburn and perfectly normal if you do get it, so I used to deal with it. I'd tweet out my frustration, eat ice, maybe cry a little. No, I never cried but you get the point, I dealt with it. I thought for sure I'd only deal with it during pregnancy, but sadly enough heartburn, my dear friend heartburn comes to visit me still. I've yet to notice exactly what foods causes it to come back for me, because it has been unexpected and at different meals every time. Now that I'm not pregnant I need relief, and recently picked up Urgent Rx Heartburn Relief at Duane Reade for it.

It turns out Urgent Rx Heartburn Relief, along with Head Ache Relief, Allergy Attack Relief, Upset Stomach Relief, Ache and Pain Relief, and Critical Care Aspirin to-go packets are conveniently sold right near check out at Duane Reade. And quite the popular group of items as you can see by the picture above.

The Urgent Rx Heartburn Relief is in powder form and comes in a flat packet. It is convenient to have on the go, in a drawer at home, in your pocket and really anywhere. Possibly the most convenient part for me was that it required no liquid. You simply let it dissolve, since it's in powder form it's said that it enters your bloodstream faster than other forms of relief like pills or capsules.

You fold at dotted line and tear it to open, and as easy as it was it isn't too easy for a young child to open - although always important to keep out of reach of children. No one likes taking medicine, so if you're afraid of the taste or amount of powder. Don't be alarmed, it surprisingly tastes pretty good, and is not even a full half a teaspoon full as you can see in the picture below.

That painful burn..oh that horrible feeling... Heartburn, heartburn seems to love surprising me by it's presence lately, but now I'm relieved to know I've got my on the go packets of fast acting Urgent Rx Heartburn Relief ready with me at all times. Now you know where to find Urgent Rx on the go packets at Duane Reade, but here's the links to connecting with them online as well; @UrgentRx and http://facebook.com/UrgentRx.

*I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and UrgentRX. All opinions are a 100% my own. #cbias #SocialFabric

Trying a New Fruit and The Question - How Do You Unsmell a Smell?

2013-04-14T23:58:00.000-04:00

"Let's try a new fruit," I said. "Let's try this" my 4 year old said, as he pointed to a very cool looking thing in the fruit section.

We were out at a supermarket that happens to carry many unique assortment of fruits and vegetables that inspired my idea of exploration. My husband jumped right in and they quickly picked one out as I stood slightly bouncing in place hoping my baby girl cuddled against me in her carrier would stay asleep in our little adventure.

How could I not agree, see how cool it looks? I'm not one to ever shy away from trying new food. It looked to be frozen with slight icicles all over in between it's spikes. But what did we know? It was hard, spiky..and completely new to us, just what I wanted..something new. We were all excited and anxious for dessert after dinner.
We arrived home with the fruit, in a double plastic bag the way the cashier handed it to us, spikes already stabbing through it. Jackets and shoes came flying off, my son ran to wash up and change. There I stood in the kitchen, curious for answers, pulled over my laptop and googled "how to eat a durian." Oh yes, the name of the fruit is Durian. Pictures with instructions, as well as a few articles came up.

screenshot of one of the images that showed up

But then I read this fruit is banned in some public places where it is a common fruit for it's SMELL. There are "No Durian" signs right next to the "No Smoking" signs. WHAT was I getting us into here? I looked down at the plastic bag, lifted it and sniffed it lightly..nothing, I didn't smell anything ::shrugged shoulders:: carried on with my research...

With further reading, I learned that since it isn't a common fruit from the states, the only way we have it in our stores is because it was frozen. We would have to let it thaw before we can eat it. So we had to wait for our new fancy fruit dessert til tomorrow. "Aaaaaaww" my son replied, but understood as he poked at the spikes from the outside of the bag.

The morning came early as I was awoken by a horrible smell, a smell that was so strong I could taste it. My husband had already left to work, so only I complained of the smell the durian fruit was now giving off. My four year old didn't even seem to notice. I ran into the kitchen and sealed the mouth of the plastic bag, the same one I had opened so the fruit can breathe.

Later on, I told my husband what I had learned about the fruit but still invited him to cut into it. "We bought it to try it, so let's try it" I said. At this point in the evening my sister was over with my niece. My husband and I placed tape over our noses as we all giggled away, my sister said she didn't mind the smell and stood as we all watched my husband cut into the fruit.

It didn't look appealing at all, to anyone, but don't judge a book by it's cover we thought. He took the first bite, then as I tried to remind myself of the many that love this fruit I took a nibble. "oooOOooh gawd" I said, I felt the aroma almost burning all over my mouth, it tasted like onions. I like onions, but this was a strong concentrated raw onion taste, a rotten concentrated onion maybe? I read "it melts in your mouth"..it did nOT melt in mine. It lingered. My sister didn't try it, as she hates onions. My son no longer showed interest, neither did my eight year old niece. My husband forced himself to eat a few more bites until he just couldn't. We wrapped the remains of the durian back into the plastic bag, ready to toss it away. I took the tape off my nose, and the aroma was everywhere. My eyes started to water, and the taste in my mouth came clearer. I was happy we were half way out the door before we stopped to try the fruit, I opened all our windows, took the kids and ran out.

I'm glad I tried a durian, but I'm glad it's over with. We had a good laugh, and a good story to tell in the end. I will now know to steer clear of that fruit. BUT if YOU get the chance..try it! Who knows..maybe you'll like it? Many consider it the "king of fruits" and not only truly enjoy the fruit (including it's smell) but make many desserts such as ice cream and pastries with it.

Hopefully the next new fruit we try will be better tasting! Until then I'm happy with a strawberry, a banana, an apple, or a smoothie with all of those familiar fruits. Mmmm..I think the blender is calling my name. Til' next time! ;)

Super Miracle Bubbles Glow Solution and Bubble Bellies - Review

2013-04-07T22:02:00.001-04:00

Everyone loves bubbles. Now imagine bubbles that glow. That's right! Bubbles that glow. My son was so excited to give the Super Miracle Bubbles that GLOW a try, since they are meant for outdoor play only, we had to wait a few days for him to feel better as he was very sick to give them a try. His fever went down but he was still feeling pretty icky today and it was pretty chilly out so I cleared our hallway area and gave these a try. It was exciting to watch the regular bottle of bubbles start to glow once the two solutions were poured in.

All it takes is pouring solution A and B into the bottle of bubbles for the magic activate. Then have fun with bubbles as you normally would. I am looking forward to getting them in the three colors for some serious fun this spring/summer. When we have parties at the park in the summer, we often stay out until the sun goes down, so it'll be perfect fun. Great for anyone with a backyard.

My son playing with the glow bubbles here, and my failed attempt at capturing the glowing bubbles in the air. We tried the blue glow bubbles here, it also comes in pink and orange. :)

As I mentioned my son was/still very sick, he had a fever for two days straight so I needed to keep him in good spirits while he was sick in bed. Imperial Toys also sent over Mitt from the "Bubble Bellies" collection and that brought him some excitement as bubbles often do. Dipping and blowing bubbles aren't always easy for younger kids to do, so this was perfect. Other bubble blowers tend to drip and pour very easily, but I'm happy to report these didn't at all. Bubbles shooting out in a row, fast and fun. Another great item to have for the kids.

The temperature was so much better out and his fever went down after many up and downs, so I took the kids out for a walk as he enjoyed the Bubble Bellies bubble machine. So much fun! We caught everyone's attention as tons of bubbles circled us. Super Miracle Bubbles Glow Fusion is so much fun to see for everyone, perfect now that it's getting warmer out. And of course we also love Bubble Bellies. Watch the commercial for the awesome glow bubbles here.

*I received the item/s for the purpose of review. All opinions are a 100% my own. No other compensation was provided.

Zips Bracelets - Review

2013-04-06T22:54:00.001-04:00

Zips are fun unique bracelets that are fun to collect, gift, and talk about. They come in many fun colors, and the zipper ends come in hearts, flowers and the regular zipper. They are easy to snap on and off. Wear them one at a time or many at a time. You can even snap them with each other to make them longer to get creative and wear them as necklaces. :)

The wrist size on the bracelets aren't adjustable and were perfect on me, so perfect for the older kids. They literally zip open and close while on or off your wrist, great conversation piece, a fun simple, not too flashy way to accessorize.

I have kept the black and white one that resembles piano keys on all week. My four year old often comes over and plays with the zipper. A few (or more) years back I would have collected and worn these all for sure.

The bracelets are simple, lightweight, no extra ways to hook on/off, it's zippers you can wear.

*I received the item/s for the purpose of review. All opinions are a 100% my own. No other compensation was provided.

Do You Have a Mess Master? Here's a Contest Worth Entering!

2013-03-24T00:30:00.000-04:00

Have pets? Have kids? Well if you answered "yes" to either, I'm sure you ran into some sort of mess this week. I've got the best contest for you!

My Dirty Jobs, the company that makes cleaning products formulated to handle the dirtiest jobs is searching nationwide for America's top 'Mess Masters.' All you have to do is send them a photo of the messiest mess your own Mess Master makes. And..if your photo is selected..here comes the best part..you could win a full year's professional maid service from Molly Maids, one of the country's top rated professional home cleaning service companies. I'd personally be happy with an hour of help, a whole year?! I know you can relate too, so go enter! :)

My Dirty Jobs broad line of cleaning products known to be among the strongest and most advanced household cleaning products out there - available for purchase at Walmart, Lowe's, and Alberton's Market stores across the country.

Your pet/s, kid/s make the mess, and all you need for your chance to win is photograph their "best mess"to send in. Have you heard of the words "best" and "mess" together in one sentence? For once, you can be thankful for the mess! The messier the better!

"We developed Dirty Jobs Heavy-Duty Cleaning Products to combat the toughest, dirtiest jobs in America," said Adam Lerner, President and co-founder of My Dirty Jobs. "Our Mess Master contest will spotlight those really dirty mess makers from coast-to-coast and the incredible messes they make."

Dirty Jobs is inspired by the Emmy^®nominated Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs, part of Discovery Communications, the world’s number one nonfiction media company, in whichhost Mike Rowe travels the country showcasing hard working men and women who have some of the country’s messiest occupations.

For more information about Dirty Jobs and the Dirty Jobs Mess Master contest visit http://www.mydirtyjobs.com/or www.mydirtyjobs/messmasters.

The contest started February 21 and will end May 9, 2013

Grand Prize winner will be announced on or about Mother's Day, May 12, 2013. How great would that be, to be awarded a cleaning service because your little one made the best mess!? It's easy and simple to get in on all the fun. Just visit www.mydirtyjobs/messmasters to enter your own favorite Mess Master.

Send them your best Mess Master photo and you will be entered and eligible to win one of the following great prizes:

Grand Prize Winner - Molly Maid Cleaning Service for 1 year
First runner Up - $500 Gift Card
Second Runner Up - $250 Gift Card
Eleven Weekly Prize Winners will win a $100 Gift Card

So what are you waiting for? Go check in the other room, or behind you, there might be something worth capturing..and sending in as your entry! ;)

*Compensation was provided to share this contest.

HEELEYS Shoes with Wheels - #Review

2013-03-23T02:19:00.000-04:00

"Heeleys the original shoe with wheel in the heel."

This fun pair of Heeleys is called the Hipster, it is full of personality. If you haven't heard of Heeleys before, you've been missing out. There are a ton of styles and sizes for young and old. Sure to be a hit for kids, I know personally my niece that is now eight has been wanting one for years. My sister was unsure what she was asking for until I mentioned these to her. My husband wants a pair to try, and I must admit I do as well. When you see anyone with these, you are sure to want one too. My son hasn't quite mastered it, so I couldn't post a video but you'll be sure to catch plenty on Heeleys Youtube channel.

Lucky enough sizes start at Toddler 12, so my son was able to try his first pair. Now that it has been getting warmer out, he has been able to practice outside as it does take practice to get a hang of learning to skate and walk in these. Our neighbors kid has one, and is a pro, seeing him walk and skate keeps my son motivated to learn. Not sure if it is the case with every style but this specific style has a very large sole, elevates my sons step and takes lots of getting used to. Easy to pop the wheels in and out so you can wear it as a shoe, or practice by placing one wheel at a time conveniently.

Wheel installation instructions.

Wheel removal instructions.

Heel plug removal instructions.

A great, fun, unique gift for anyone. Spring is here so as you spend more time out and about, it's another way to add fun to that time by trying out Heeleys. Find out lots more about Heeleys including where to purchase here, as well as on their facebook and twitter.

*I received item for the purpose of review. No other compensation was provided. All opinions are a 100% my own.

$200 Diapers.com Giveaway

2013-03-23T02:13:00.001-04:00

day to day MOMents is very-excited to share with you the opportunity to WIN a $200.00 Diapers.com Gift Card!

If you are you a woman who is pregnant, trying to conceive, or a brand-new mommy you need to look into BellyHood.com. Have you not heard of BellyHood.com? Well, it is an online meeting place to talk to and get advice from other moms. The forums are easy-to-navigate and full of useful information. They also have monthly drawings for $10.00 Babies R Us gift cards!

It's one of the many great online communities out there, I recently joined and as glad as I am wish I had sooner. :)

Blog with Mom and Adventures of 8 have teamed up with a wonderful group of bloggers including yours truly to offer you a chance to win a $200.00 Diapers.com gift card from BellyHood.com!

This giveaway:

Started 12:01 am CST on Monday 3/18 and will run until midnight on 4/7

Is open to entrants 18 years and older living in USA, Alaska, or Hawaii (anywhere Diapers.com can ship to)

All mandatory entries MUST be completed

See all disclosures in the entry form

⇩⇩⇩⇩Enter Giveaway Here⇩⇩⇩⇩

Entry -Form

**DISCLOSURE** day to day MOMents is acting as an advertisement for the Sponsor and is not responsible for prize. Prize will be given by BellyHood.com. This event is brought to you by Blog with Mom and Adventures of 8 through Advertise with Bloggers! If you are interested in sponsoring an event like this, please contact Advertise with Bloggers.

New Friends at Build-A-Bear Workshop - Review & Giveaway #Easter

2013-03-01T14:00:00.000-05:00

We love Build-A-Bear Workshop..but then again who doesn't?! :) Pictured above is Chirpy Chick peaking out of his box. He's our newest addition to our family, cuddly, furry and soft. It's bright color catches my baby daughter's eyes and my son loves him already as he carried it around and used to play/entertain his baby sister the past two days we've had him.

Chirpy Chick is one the newest friends available this Spring at Build-A-Bear Workshop, just in time for Easter. It's also a great time to shop, as they're giving away a free egg decorating kit with a purchase of $20 or more.

We have yet to try it, I need to get egg substitutes for my son so we can enjoy the very cool kit complete with glitter, stickers and more including the egg dipper which he is very excited about.

We love Chirpy Chick, just about the size of my little baby girl now, and oh so cuddly! Follow them on facebook and twitter so you can keep up to date with all our friends and the happenings at Build-A-Bear Workshop! Don't forget to enter below to win $25 to add more fun to your next visit to the workshop. ;)

~*GIVEAWAY*~

Win a $25 to Build-A-Bear Workshop!

Enter using the Rafflecopter below.

Good luck! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*I received Chirpy Chick for the purpose of review. Giveaway is sponsored by Build-A-Bear Workshop. All opinions are a 100% my own. No other compensation was provided.

It's About Food Allergies

2013-02-28T02:53:00.000-05:00

I want to talk about food allergies...
But every time I sit down to write about food allergies I find myself with too many thoughts and emotions making it hard to make sense or make a point. So I'm just going to go back to what I wanted to do initially express myself, relate to whoever you are out there without trying to make a point.

Almost four years ago our journey with food allergies started when my son was six months old when he had an anaphylactic reaction after being fed a little homemade soup with wheat flour. Since then we have met many with food allergies, but not one that has the same food allergies as my son. That's one thing about food allergies, even when you've found others that can relate, you're still alone. I guess that can be said about anything though, it's always your experience with it.

Our first year with food allergies I used to look forward to relating with someone, hoping to meet someone, wanting so much to spread awareness, getting excited to meet someone that can relate with us somehow... But now I don't want to run into anyone, I don't want to talk about it at all really. After the ignorant responses, the know-it-all answers/suggestions, and the one too many "I have allergies too" responses I'm all drained. My frustration isn't all with these people that I've come across, it all goes back to my love for food allergies.

Food allergies makes me upset, makes me sad, scared, mad..the emotions are endless. Anyone with food allergies understands that, no matter how severe or subtle your food allergies are, you get it.
Not a day goes by without all these emotions and more making any little moment challenging.

As I type, I sense a vent coming along so I'll focus on that...
I understand there are many different kind of allergies, different level of sensitivities but I've heard far too many say they have allergies to x, y, and z and then eat it right infront of me. When asked, or reminded of what they had just told me, they say "oh I just itch a little sometimes." Then there's the moms that really seem to want to relate to me having a son with severe food allergies. "Oh yeah my son can't eat aNyThInG either..." then bring out all the junk they bought from the store to give to their child walking around covered in cake. Really?!? At moments like this I just want to take my family and live under a rock, it's probably safer there. 0_o

I rather meet someone that knows nothing about food allergies than to meet these people, or the ones that have met/talked to these people. They're the reasons why people don't take my sons food allergies seriously. His is life threatening, no he can't just taste some, and no when I say life threatening I mean it.

Oh and there are those lovely people that try to tell you that you are sheltering your child by not letting them live their life, like allowing them to go to daycare/school. "He should learn to protect himself and learn what he is allergic to early in life, besides most schools have peanut free tables" they say! Note the "peanut free" part of that sentence. Most people seem to think food allergies=peanut/nut allergies. That may be the most common allergen or most known but it isn't the only.

I respect every one of you that has food allergies, I do, even if you just get a little rash or itch or tingle, but state that to anyone you may talk to about food allergies. You saying "I'm allergic to dairy" and then drinking it or even have it baked into foods, makes it seem like that's the way it is for everyone with a dairy allergy. You might think who cares, but please educate those around us so we spread awareness of food allergies and help everyone with food allergies safe. My son has a dairy allergy amongst many others, and can't even touch a drop without getting a serious reaction. See what I'm saying?

It's unpleasant no matter the severity. But people need to know/learn that they are different kinds of foods people are allergic to as well as different level of sensitivities. Everyone reacts differently to different foods. Treat every person you meet with a food allergy different from the last. Know that every case is different from the last.

Free Giveaway Opp - $200 Diapers.com Gift Card

2013-02-28T02:42:00.000-05:00

I usually don't do group giveaways but saw this one come up for a $200.00 Diapers.com gift card and have signed up! Diapers.com carries all your baby needs and I've come to rely on the site for so many of my baby needs. Blog with Mom and Adventures of 8 have teamed up with a wonderful online meeting place for pregnancy and mommies of babies and toddlers called BellyHood! They are looking for 50 other family-friendly pregnancy or baby/toddler niche blogs to join in. Once approved each blogger will receive a free twitter link for posting and promoting the giveaway opp and event. Keep a look out for this awesome giveaway soon!

If you are a family-friendly pregnancy, parenting niche blog

CLICK HERE to apply for a spot in this free giveaway opportunity

Smiling Brighter Thanks to Prime Time Smile from Duane Reade #DRsmile #cbias

2013-02-13T07:17:00.000-05:00

image of Prime Time Smile Dual Action Whitening System

One of the many things I would love is to have some time to take care of myself, and by take care of myself, I mean my appearance. I'd like to get my nails and hair done, go shopping, you know..many of which I don't get to do these days. I treasure the days I get to take a long bath or actually have time in front of the mirror. Speaking of in front of the mirror, I got to look at myself the other day! And sadly I wasn't not pleased, my teeth seemed to have lost some shades of white. I'll blame it on the extra amount of coffee and tea I have been consuming in the last three months with my infant. Luckily I went to Duane Reade and purchased Prime Time Dual Action Teeth Whitening System that not only worked but didn't give me the sensitivity that I highly feared. Oh and of course a huge plus was that it only takes 30 minutes at a time for one treatment.

two pens and instructions inside

two pens and instructions in the kit
apply morning and night for 30 minutes at a time

twist to release gel, takes a good few twists for first time application

apply the blue pre-whitening treatment first

then brush on the teeth whitening gel right after-
leave on for 30 minutes and you're done

Like many I've always wanted my teeth whiter and brighter, but never gotten passed just trying a simple toothpaste or mouthwash with extra whitening ingredients. As I mentioned I was terrified of possible sensitivity that teeth whitening products/treatments might cause so I was always scared to actually give a product a try, but with this Prime Time Smile product I read some reviews online as I've learned to do before I headed to Duane Reade to purchase. One thing I read repeatedly was not only that the product worked but it didn't cause sensitivity - I had to give it a try, I wanted a bright #DRSmile! I haven't tried other similar products to compare but I've seen friends use the tray, and this was much more convenient and easy.

specific instructions the kit comes with - also available online :)

The whitening system came with two pens and the instructions, it couldn't be simpler! It only took thirty minutes of my time twice a day. Morning right before the kids wake up and right after they fell asleep at night for five days. I feel more confident and although my husband initially said that he didn't think I needed teeth whitening, he has mentioned that my smile is brighter - which makes me smile! My biggest fear was sensitivity and after four days, I have no complaints! If you give these a try, the only added suggestion I have is to place a cotton under your lips to help with saliva. Let me know if you have you try it, I'm purchasing one for my husband and more for me once I'm done! I'm so thrilled to have seen results and no sensitivity!! :D* Remember you can always keep up to date and in touch with Duane Reade on twitter and on facebook of their latest products. And of course you can learn more about Prime Time Smile on their twitter and facebook accounts as well as to connect with them.

*I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This content has been compensated as a part of the social shopper insights study of Collective Bias, Duane Reade and Prime Time Smile. #Cbias #SocialFabric Bias. All opinions are always a 100% my own.