stomach flu

I had all these plans on catching up on some reviews this weekend but my little one got the stomach flu last Thursday and is still not out of the woods, no more being sick but she still gags once in a while. My hubby came home at 2 today feeling really cold and miserable and he feels like he's going to be sick so I guess he's next on the list.

I hope it ends with these 2.

I will try and write a review tonight and otherwise tomorrow.

CPSC recall

Sassy Inc. Recalls Refreshing Rings Infant Teethers/Rattles Due to an Ingestion Hazard

Vive Vita products-perfect for little ones and toddlers

Have you ever been worried in the grocery store that your little one will walk off? Ever been stressed in a shopping mall and/or the airport? Well, I sure have and I now have a fun solution for this.

I had the great opportunity to test out the Gripsterz Character Handle from Vive Vita.

The Gripsterz is an adorable adventurous monkey attached to a ring that is swinging from a vine strap. The Gripsterz combines cool fun for little ones with a great function for moms and dads. Kids will refexively keep their monkey friend gripped tightly in hand, while parents are free to walk or stop as they desire. If going to the grocery store or shopping mall gives you stress, then try this product. Abby doesn't like to sit in the cart anymore and she loves to hold her monkey while we shop. She's allowed to connect the other end of the Gripsterz to the cart and then she holds on to her monkey. We will definitely be using the Gripsterz this Summer when we fly to Belgium and England, this is a great solution for us at the airport as we will have our hands full with 3 kids and all the luggage.

The Gripsterz Kit includes a monkey ring with attaching clip, 2 vine straps (1 ft & 2 ft) with an attaching clip, an adult handle, a storage bag and a Grippy book for kids. Abby also loves to read this book at night.

The second product we received for our review was the Bandette.

Personalize your kids' cups and bottles while alerting others to allergies and other preferences by using Bandette cup labels. Help avoid spread of germs as children and adults easily recognize and use their own cup or bottle.

We've used these Bandette's on Abby's water bottle at her play school and also at home. She loves to put these on her cup so her big brother doesn't use her cup.

You can write your kids' name, date, allergies and other info on the "name plate". Pen markings can be rubbed off or made long term by boiling or dishwashing the band with the writing left on. The Bandette cup labels are dishwasher and microwave safe and fit most cups and bottles. They are reusable and easily moved from one cup to another.

The Bandette is made of non-toxic material that meets FDA standards for plastics that come in contact with food.

Check out Vive Vita for more products you can use when you have smaller children in your family. Or they would actually make great baby shower gifts!

Thanks Vive Vita for letting me try these products, I think they're very useful if you have kids and I wish I had known about these when my 2 older ones were younger. Would have saved me some stress in the shopping mall.

You can follow Vive Vita on Twitter and like them on Facebook to stay up to date with more great products for your kids!

"Disclosure: I was sent the Bandette and a Gripsterz for this review. The review is based on my opinions only and they might differ from others. I was in no other way compensated for this post."

CPSC recalls

The Land of Nod Recalls Status Furniture “Rosebud” Drop-Side Cribs Due to Entrapment, Suffocation and Fall Hazards

Family Dollar Stores Recalls Remote Controlled Toy Tanks Due to Burn Hazard

Yoplait Light 2 week Tune Up: review/giveaway CLOSED

And the winner is....

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-02-21 22:26:03 UTC

And this is: Raven in a blue room, an email has been send for you to confirm.

================================

As most women out there I want to lose some more weight. With the New Year started I've started to eat healthy, drink plenty of

water and do 30 minutes of exercise a day (well, almost every day, I work out 4 days a week) and run after 3 kids, I guess that also counts as exercise, right?

My goal is to lose 20 pounds by June as we're going home to Belgium and my hubby's home in England.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark and Yoplait Light I'm a little bit closer to that goal.

Did you know that Yoplait is giving women a great new way to get ready for special occasions with the launch of their new Two Week Tune Up plan?

More info about the 2 week plan. This plan is based on a recent study where women lost a significant amount of weight when they replaced their breakfast and lunch with a Yoplait Light, a grain and a fruit as part of a reduced-calorie, structured meal plan rich in lean protein, along with 30-40 minutes walking daily.

If you've been reading my blog for a while then you know I'm using a product called Sensa to help me with my weight loss and I know it's working as I've lost 42 pounds so far with Sensa and 53 pounds in total.

One of my problems is breakfast and that's where Yoplait Light comes in. I always eat a Yoplait Light in the morning and with 33 different flavors out there, it's a treat to have one of these. My favorite is the Boston Cream Pie flavored one, I can eat that one all day long!

Also when I feel like snacking on something in the evening, I now grab a Yoplait Light as it's tasty and filling at the same time!

Yoplait Light is a favorite in our household and yesterday my 3-year old and my 9-year old actually argued about who was going to get the banana flavored one. My husband also loves the Boston Cream Pie, so it's always a race to see who gets it...

I actually lost 5.2 pounds over the last 2 weeks and I know it's a combination of the Sensa, my 30 minutes of exercise, drinking plenty of water, AND the Yoplait Light as I know from my past experience that when I skip my breakfast my weight loss doesn't happen and I have cravings all day long.

Yoplait's website is full of tips and advice along with valuable online weight loss tools such as a meal planner, healthy recipes and a daily food and exercise tracker. Go check it out, there's lots of useful info on their site.

Thanks to Yoplait and MyBlogSpark, I can give away a Yoplait Prize Pack to one of my readers. This prize pack will include a gym bag, a reflective wrist wallet, a pedometer and 1 VIP coupon for a free cup of Yoplait Light.

Note: This coupon offer for the Yoplait Light yogurt is not valid in some States, inclusing California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.

For a chance to win this wonderful prize, you can do any and/or all of the following options:

Like Yoplait on Facebook
Follow Yoplait on Twitter
tell me what you normally eat for breakfast
tell me for what special event you would participate in the 2 week Tune Up
tell me your favorite yogurt from all 33 flavors
follow me on twitter (leave username)
tweet about this giveaway, linking back to this post (once per day, leave tweet link)
follow me on google friends connect (right side of my blog)
Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post (10 entries, leave URL)
add my button to your blog (leave URL)
subscribe to my blog (3 entries, leave email used)

The deadline for this giveaway is 2/16/11 midnight PST. THe winner will be selected with Random Integer, emailed and announced at this post on the 17th. The giveaway is open to US only with the reminder that the coupon is not valid in certain states, see above for the list.

"Disclosure: Yoplait through MyBlogSpark send me a Yoplait Light gift pack to use for this review and will send the above giveaway prize pack t my winner. I was in no other way compensated to write this review and all opinions in this review are mine alone."

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Beauty Tips Campaign

I'm sure you've heard and used Arm & Hammer products before. We have the cat litter by Arm & Hammer, we use the baking soda for the fridge and I use it to scrub my sink but did you also know you can use Arm & Hammer for a beauty treatment? I sure didn't!

I had the privilege to receive the Arm & Hammer gift basket with all kinds of products to enjoy an at-home spa experience and let me tell you 2 days ago I really needed some mommy time, no kids, no hubby...just the bath, Arm & Hammer and myself! Do you ever have the feeling that some days are hard and you kinda drag yourself through the day? Well, I had one of those on Tuesday and I was so happy to be able to use my gift basket.

Some of the things included in the basket: Baling Soda, a tea cup and some tea, an amazing aromatherapy candle (which I want to look for again when this one is finished, I LOVE the scent of this candle), some lavender oil, a hair wrap and more. Also included in the basket was a booklet with some amazing treatment tips!

Have a look at some of the tips, you will be amazed. I didn't know you could use Arm & Hammer in so many ways!

Beautiful with Baking Soda!

Stay fresh and beautiful the natural way with ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda! Exfoliate your skin, jumpstart your home pedicure, rid your hair of chemical buildup, and freshen your breath… all for under a dollar!

Facial Scrub and Body Exfoliant

For smooth, radiant skin, give yourself a gentle facial and body scrub with ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda. Make a paste of 3 parts ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate skin and remove dead skin cells. Rinse clean. Gentle enough for daily use!

Hair Care

Get rid of product buildup by sprinkling a small amount (quarter-size) of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly. The ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.

Soothing Bath Soak

For a relaxing ending to a long day, add 1/2 cup of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration. Your skin will feel silky smooth!

Home Pedicure Foot Soak

Start your home pedicure by dissolving 3 tablespoons of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda in a basin of warm water and soak feet. Gently scrub with a paste of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda.

Pearly Whites

For gleaming smiles, brush teeth with ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda. . Just sprinkle baking soda into your palm, dip a damp toothbrush into it, and brush*. For a refreshing mouthwash, use 1 teaspoon baking soda in ½ glass of water. Swish the solution through your teeth and rinse.

*ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda does not contain the anti-cavity ingredient fluoride. Use it where water is fluorinated or when non-fluoride toothpaste is desired for adult use or as directed by your dentist of physician.

Hand Cleanser

Soften skin with a paste of 3 parts ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to 1 part water. Forget the harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with 3 parts ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda to your liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean.

Clean Brushes and Combs

For lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean with ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda. Remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and allow to dry.

Natural Deodorant

Dust ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda under arms as needed to feel fresh all day. The magic of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda actually absorbs odors instead of just covering them up.

So far I've only used the Arm & Hammer Baking Soda with a couple of drops of the lavender oil and some water, made it into a paste and used it to wash/exfoliate my body and I have to say, my arms were so soft and with the lavender oil my body smelled amazing! Nothing better than a bath with a candle around and a good book in hand.

I will also try the Arm & Hammer on my teeth. When reading through the booklet I told my hubby about it and he had heard about this before. I hadn't, but will definitely give this a try as I LOVE to drink coffee and I know it stains your teeth.

For more tips and tricks to use Arm & Hammer for, go check out their website. I'm going to try to make the Play Clay with my youngest!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Arm & Hammer and received a beauty basket to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

CPSC recalls

For more info and more pictures, please click on recall links.

Strollers Recalled to Repair by phil&teds USA Due to Amputation and Laceration Hazards

Food Dehydrator Recalled by NESCO American Harvest Due to Fire Hazard

Prairie Mountain Inc. Recalls Youth Jackets Due to Strangulation Hazard

Alpha Industries Recalls Children’s Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Due to Strangulation Hazard

Kid O Products Recalls Baby Rattles Due To Choking Hazard

Teething Rings Recalled by Calisson Due to Ingestion Hazard

Toy Mobile Phones Recalled by Discovery Toys Due to Choking Hazard

Holiday cookie exchange...or just cookies for the kids CONTEST CLOSED

And the winner is....

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-01-28 00:55:20 UTC

And this is Mari. I've send you an email to confirm.

=========================================

Thanks to MyBlogSpark I received a Betty Crocker's sugar cookie mix, Glad Storage Containers and a $25 Safeway card to use for this review.

I was asked to participate in a cookie exchange but there wasn't enough time from when I received the box to still do this over the holidays. So last weekend, the kids and myself made some very delicious sugar cookies.

We actually still had some other cookies left (strawberry shortcake cookies) from my daughter's fundraiser at school, but when we finished baking these sugar cookies, my kids absolutely loved these more. And the strawberry shortcake cookies moved to the end of the line.

They actually loved them so much I went out this week to get another packet to make more sugar cookies this weekend after Lisa and Jamie finish their swim meet.

This time the cookies won't be just plain round, we're actually going to use the cookie cutters to make some fun shapes.

Have you ever participated in a cookie exchange? I haven't yet, but I sure will in the future with a recipe from BakeSweetMemories.com. I can't wait to try the Holiday Lime Cooler Cookies, they sound delicious!

Do you want to try a recipe and organize or participate in a cookie exchange? Well, here's your chance!

Thanks to Safeway, Betty Crocker and Glad through MyBlogSpark, there will be a giveaway for 1 of my readers. The prize is the same gift pack I received!

For a chance to win, let me know what recipe you would love to try from the Bake Sweet Memories website.

Additional entries (separate comments for each):

let me know if you participated in a cookie exchange and which recipe you made
follow me on twitter (leave username)
tweet about this giveaway, linking back to this post (twice per day, leave tweet link)
Blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post (leave URL, 10 entries)
subscribe to my blog (leave email)
follow me on google friends connect
add my button to your blog (2 entries, leave URL)

The deadline for this giveaway is 1/26/11 midnight PST and I will pick the winner on the 27th. The winner then has 1 day to get back to me as I will need to contact the sponsor on the 28th with the info.

The giveaway is US only.

"Disclosure: Safeway, Glad and Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark provided me with a gift card, info and prize pack to use for this review/giveaway. All opinions in this review are mine (and my kids as they ate most of the cookies, I was lucky to get one). I was in no other way compensated to write this post."

......

Time is just flying by and I still haven't written a review. We've been super busy with clearing out all the Christmas decorations and hanging outside lights. My son had a stomach bug and is finally better and back to school. I hope nobody gets this bug cause it was bad.

Today and tomorrow I'm watching a 2 year old and her 5 month old sister together with my 3 year old Abby, so there won't be any reviews. This weekend we're at a swim meet so I think Friday will be the day.

I guarantee you I'm still here, we're just too busy to write on my blog.

See you later,

I'm still here...

Hi there,

I know, you can't wait to read more reviews and enter more of my giveaways but you need to be patient a little longer. I mentioned before that we have a visitor from the critter kind and it/they are still here in my kitchen. I actually caught the bugger on my Flip camera and I just discovered yesterday that they have been in 2 of my drawers in the family room. They've been nibbling on all kinds of official papers! So now I have a rat trap in each drawer and a rat trap in my kitchen in front of the fridge. I can actually smell the rats (I know, it's gross). So I'm apologizing for not posting more but my priority is to get rid of these visitors as I don't want them in my house, especially not with my kids around!

Our cat doesn't do a thing, not sure if he got scared or something, he now sleeps under my bed at night and not downstairs anymore in his own bed.

These rats gross me out but I'm trying really hard to see them as the rat in ratatouille, makes it less gross.

If you have any tips to get rid of them, I really appreciate all the input I can get!!!

trying to get back in a routine

I can not believe it's already Thursday. Monday was hard for all of us to get out of bed and get ready for school. Amazing what a couple of weeks of sleeping-in do to you. The kids are all settled in in school again and are having fun.

We still need to take the Christmas decorations down and I just can't get started on it, it's so much work and we still need to get the boxes out of the loft. I know once we start it'll be ok, but taking the first step always takes a while.

Both my husband and myself have started the New Year with Sensa again. We booked our flights to Europe, we'll be going back to Belgium and England this Summer, so I really want to lose my last 20 pounds. I'm curious next Monday what the scale will say. I've started a 6-week training program on EA Active and it's working as I've been sore. I worked out Monday, Tuesday, had off yesterday, worked out today and now I have 2 days of rest and then I start again on Sunday.

I'm working in Abby's school tomorrow morning and this weekend we'll be at a swim meet. I'm curious how it will go. First meet in the New Year.

I've got some reviews and giveaways to write but it will have to wait till Sunday.

I selected winners for the Candy Land giveaway, Gaddy Nipper Crayons giveaway and Gallery Collection giveaway. Check your emails if you entered.

New Year, new chances to win....

You want a chance to win a iPad?

For a chance, enter HERE and if you refer your friends and they win, then you win too! And on top of this, Tanga has GREAT daily deals!

Wordless Wednesday

Ok here we go again, New Year, new critters.

We thought it was the cat nibbling from the apples...NOT.

Family Movie Night "Change of Plans" giveaway! GIVEAWAY CHANGE- CLOSED

And the winner of this giveaway is.....

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

Timestamp: 2011-01-21 22:44:14 UTC

And this is Bloomerbear. I will send you an email to confirm.

=====================================

UPDATE: the prize pack for this giveaway has changed! One winner will now win a "Change of Plans" fleece blanket and all 3 movies to date: that's "Secrets of the Mountain", "The Jensen Project" and "A Walk in My Shoes". Because "A Change of Plans" won't be hitting the shelves until later this Spring, this movie can't be included in the giveaway.

=======================================================

Are you ready for the next family movie night?

Walmart and P&G are continuing their commitment to deliver quality family entertainment with the heartwarming drama, made-for-TV "Change of Plans."

About the movie:

"Change of Plans" is a humorous and heartwarming story that reveals how fulfilling life can be when you look beyond your own plans and invest in the lives of others. Up to this point, Sally Danville's (Brooke White, "American Idol") life has played out just as she hoped it would. As a free-spirited musician, she and her fighter-pilot husband, Jason (Joe Flanigan, "Stargate Atlantis"), live life on the go, free of domestic responsibilities. But with a single phone callfrom Child and Family Services case worker, Dorothy (Phylicia Rashad, "The Cosby Show"), she learns that things don't always go according to plan. Sally is met with the news that her best friend from college has died in a tragic car accident on a Peace Corps mission and has named Sally the legal guardian of her 4 kids- 3 of them adopted from third-world countries. Now Sally and Joe must quickly learn to parent and help the kids deal with the culture clash of life in America.

As with "The Jensen Project" and "A Walk in My Shoes" music mogul Randy Jackson has produced the movie soundtrack for "Change of PLans" with tracks from some of today's hottest artists, including Brooke White, the star of the movie.

We loved "The Jensen Project", loved "A Walk in My Shoes" even more and I can not wait to see "Change of Plans". I can't wait to see Brooke act in this movie, the trailer looks awesome!

Have a look below, mark your calendars and set your DVR's, "Change of Plans" will be on TV on Saturday, January 8th at 8/7c on FOX.

Mark you calendars: Saturday, January 8th at 8pm EST/7 Central on FOX.

Thanks to Walmart and P&G one of my readers will win a "Change of Plans" viewing kit along with the DVD/CD soundtrack bundle. The viewing kit includes fun trinkets to help you and your family enjoy the movie together!

Update:

One winner will now win a "Change of Plans" fleece blanket and all 3 movies to date: that's "Secrets of the Mountain", "The Jensen Project" and "A Walk in My Shoes". Because "A Change of Plans" won't be hitting the shelves until later this Spring, this movie can't be included in the giveaway.

For a chance to win this kit, you can enter with any and/or all of below options. Separate comments for each entry:

let me know what your favorite snack is to eat when at the movies and/or at home
did you watch "The Jensen Project" and/or "A Walk in My Shoes"?
Which one of the above 2 movies was your favorite?
subscribe to my blog (leave email used in comment)
add my button to your blog (leave URL)
follow me on Google Friends Connect
blog about this giveaway, linking back to this post (10 entries, leave URL)
tweet about this giveaway, once per day (leave tweet link)
follow me on Twitter (leave username)

The deadline for this giveaway is 1/11/11 midnight PST. The winner will be selected with Random Integer, emailed and announced at this post on the 12th. This giveaway is open to US residents.

"Disclosure: I was sent a "Change of Plans" movie viewing kit and DVD bonus pack from P&G and Walmart in exchange for my honest review/opinion."