The beginning of the end?

Could this really be it?  I think I've been waiting for this time of my life since I was 13 and first got my cycle.

Auntie Flo has never been my friend.  I can barely remember the "excitement" about becoming a woman when I was a tweenager because when Auntie first came to visit I was like "WHAT THE???  Who in their right mind thinks this is a good thing?  OYE!"  (note: I've tried to put a better spin on things for Darly.)  But honestly, what is good about this?

So when I started noticing some signs of peri-menopause, I was THRILLED!  I couldn't be more happy about entering this time of my life.  I was ready to start singing

But then things started going back to how they were before!  What was going on???  and then I figured it out...seems that lovely Darly was sharing her hormones with me.  oh boy!

Luckily that only lasted a few months and it seems I'm back on track for menopause again.  w00t!  Although there are some symptoms that I'm having that I would rather do without.

One thing is that I don't want go through menopause on hormone replacement therapy.  My mom and mother in law both used HRT and did okay, but I think that I'm pretty well informed about the pros and cons and it just doesn't seem to me that HRT is the way to go for me.  So I've been looking into products like Estroven.  

Estroven® products are herbal supplements made with all-natural ingredients to provide natural menopause symptom relief. Black cohosh plus soy isoflavones are combined with essential nutrients like calcium, folic acid, and B-vitamins. These work naturally in the body to help reduce hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms. Hundreds of thousands of women trust Estroven® products every year, and pharmacists recommend them 3 to 1 over other brands of menopause supplements.†

Estroven has different menopause formulas to help combat symptoms, so I'll be grabbing the one that looks right for me.  I'm also going to make more of an effort to get to the gym (swimsuit season is coming up fast!) so that should help too.

I'm also liking Estroven on Facebook so I can keep up to date on savings.  Just looking at their wall I'm learning all kinds of great stuff. :D

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Estroven and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

"Life As We Know It" – Review

2 Moms – kids – hubbies + Fun Movie = GIRLS NIGHT OUT!!!

About a week ago I got the most awesome opportunity in my email box. This is something that I never in my wildest dreams ever thought would happen. I got asked to go to a pre-screening of “Live as We Know It” a new Warner Bros. movie. Little ol’ me! Who wudda thunk??? So of course I asked my buddy Marsi to come with…we both needed a girls’ night out.

As luck would have it, I had saw previews for this movie and it was something I really wanted to see. Here, you watch this http://lifeasweknowitmovie.warnerbros.com/ and tell me you aren’t interested…go ahead, I’ll wait…

Let me just say THE ENTIRE MOVIE IS THIS FUNNY! (okay, there are sad parts, the baby’s parents die) but the rest of it was FUNNY! Oh and to make the movie even more fun, there are plenty of EYE CANDY shots of Josh thrown in!

Movie Synopsis:
In the romantic comedy “Live as We Know It,” Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) is an up-and-coming caterer and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) is a promising network sports director. After a disastrous first date, the only thing they have in common is their dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter, Sophie. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in the world, Holly and Messer are forced to put their differences aside. Juggling career ambitions and competing social calendars, they’ll have to find some common ground while living under one roof.

I can’t really tell you much more about the movie without telling you the entire story…cuz I love to blab, but this is a really good movie to go see with your friends. I think that all parents would get a kick out of this movie because Holly & Messer are really good at making a mess of things. The movie is rated PG-13 (note: she didn’t call that stuff on Holly’s face poo).

If you're still not convinced that you should see this movie, check out the link again http://lifeasweknowitmovie.warnerbros.com/ and check out the other stuff they have there. I need to go back and check out the sweepstakes!

I attended a complimentary screening of this movie to facilitate my review and received a gift card from Mom Central as a thank you for my time.

Kellogg’s FiberPlus™ Antioxidants Cereals

We all live busy lives and trying to keep up with the latest nutritional advice is pretty tough…especially if what we should eat doesn’t taste all that great. But the folks at Kellogg’s has done it again and come up with a very tasty way for us to get our fiber. Recently I was asked if I might like to try FiberPlus cereals. Since Darly has been consuming huge quantities of cereal lately, I jumped on the chance to get free samples. (anything to help with the food budget, right?)

The day the samples arrived Darly's bff was visiting and they decided it was time for a snack (this was at about 5pm…almost dinner time!) so they each poured themselves a full bowl, and chowed down. I reached into each of their bowls and got my hand back with all my fingers! The girls continued scarfing down the Kellogg’s FiberPlus™ Antioxidants Cereals in Berry Yogurt Crunch and Cinnamon Oat Crunch. Needless to say both flavors were a huge hit. I sent home a zip lock bag of each flavor with Darly’s friend.

Here’s what Kellogg’s has to say…
Berry Yogurt Crunch
With 40% of your daily fiber and antioxidant vitamins C and E, this healthy high-fiber cereal also tastes great. Kellogg's FiberPlus™ Berry Yogurt Crunch cereal mixes whole-grain wheat and rice flakes with crunchy berry- and yogurt-flavored clusters. Many Americans don't get the fiber, whole grains, vitamins and minerals1 important to a healthy diet, but delicious Kellogg's FiberPlus™ cereal helps supply 25 grams of whole grains per serving.

Cinnamon Oat Crunch
With 3X more fiber than Honey Nut Cheerios®*
and more than 2X the fiber of MultiGrain Cheerios®1
Delightful cinnamon flavor and crunchy oats make this healthy high-fiber cereal sweetly satisfying. While many Americans don't get enough fiber and antioxidant vitamin E daily2, Kellogg's FiberPlus™ cereals deliver nutrition and great taste. With 35% of your daily fiber and antioxidant vitamins C and E, this delicious cereal is a great way to jump-start the day

Me again…
We received the full sized boxes of both flavors on the 25th. Last night when I went to get myself a bowl both boxes were almost empty! Someone (Darly) has been scarfing down this stuff for dessert and breakfast and afternoon snacks! I think I’m going to have to go stock up on this.

I wrote this review on behalf of Kellogg’s FiberPlus Cereal. Kellogg’s sent me a box of each cereal to try.

I was going to put some lovely clip art of the logo and cereal boxes but I couldn't figure out how to make them post here. Sorry! :(

The HPV Test

We’ve all heard all the news about the HPV vaccine for our girls. I’m not going to debate this here. However, there is something that all women can do for the early detection and fight against Cervical Cancer. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women worldwide, yet is easily preventable because we know its cause, HPV.

There is a test for HPV. HPV testing can identify if you have one of the "high-risk" infections on your cervix that can cause cervical cancer. The HPV test can be performed at the same time as the Pap test to help doctors identify which women are at greatest risk. However not all doctors automatically use both tests.

That is why it is essential that women act as their own health advocates.

Learn about what you can do to protect yourself against cervical cancer:

• THE PAP TEST looks at a sample of cells taken from a woman's cervix for any cell changes or abnormalities. Pap testing should begin at age 21.
• THE HPV TEST is conducted from the same sample as the Pap and identifies women with high-risk HPV infections that can cause cervical cancer. When used with a Pap in women 30 and older, the HPV test increases the ability to identify who is at risk of developing cervical cancer.
• If you are age 30 or older, ask your doctor for the digene HPV Test together with your Pap test.
• If both tests come back normal, then the tests don’t need to be repeated for 3 years. But remember to return each year for your annual health exam.
• If one or both tests come back abnormal, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have cervical cancer. It simply enables your health care provider to monitor you more closely or treat pre-cancerous cells before cervical cancer develops.
• HPV testing isn’t necessary for women younger than 30, because HPV infections in young women usually go away on their own without causing problems. Women under 30 will only have HPV testing if their Pap test is inconclusive.

Please check out http://www.thehpvtest.com for more info about the HPV test and remember to ask your doctor at your next yearly exam to run the test.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of the QIAGEN digene HPV test. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Nature Made SAM-e

I think we’ve all had times in our life where we didn’t feel quite ourselves. There just doesn’t seem to be any reason for us feeling down…we just do. What I was surprised to learn was that this is normal.

As we get older our bodies start making less SAM-e, a naturally occurring compound, which ultimately works to maintain a balanced mood.

You know, I hadn’t even heard of SAM-e before. So I checked out www.sam-e.com to see what I was missing out on.

Nature Made SAM-e Complete helps replenish your body's natural levels of SAM-e and when taken daily it can begin to help naturally restore a healthy mood in as little as 7 to 14 days. For more information, please visit www.sam-e.com.

On the website you can see all the benefits of SAM-e and decide for yourself if taking SAM-e is right for you.

Nature Made SAM-e Complete recently launched called “Give a Smile,” http://www.sam-e.com/give-a-smile. They are working with Dream Factory, the second largest children’s wish-granting organization in the U.S., to grant the wishes of three children suffering from a critical or chronic illness. Through this campaign SAM-e will donate to a child’s wish for every social action you or your readers complete (like uploading an image to their mosaic). The more actions, the more SAM-e will donate. You can find out more about the program using the link above and learn how your actions lead to SAM-e donations!

One of my readers will get the chance to try Nature Made SAM-e with a 3-month supply as well as a reusable water bottle and journal.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Nature Made and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review.”

U by Kotex - Review

My sweet little girl is growing up. Today we’re going out to get her bras & summer clothes. Pretty soon we’ll be dealing with all the other issues that come up as a girl becomes a woman. I have tried to talk to Darly about this and it has been awkward. I know that Darly is embarrassed and uncomfortable. I remember how “the talk” with my own mom went. I’ve tried to make it much better, but we’ll see. I’ve tried to use humor to ease the tension so I’m making sure to…
“Be prepared, be prepared,
This lesson must be shared,
This lesson must be shared,
Be prepared!”

Sorry for the Hoodwinked song there…

In an effort to “Be prepared” and to help young women feel less embarrassed, Kotex launched U, a new line of tampons, pads and liners, which feature a slim, thinner design, making them easier and more comfortable to use. And with bright, bold packaging and colors, girls don't need to send their Mom to Walmart for them or feel embarrassed the next time the conversation comes up with their friends. 

They’ve also set up a website http://www.ubykotex.com/ where you can order free samples of the new U by Kotex line, now available at Walmart stores around the country. For more information, and to download a fun Daily Journal iPhone or iTouch application that lets you take pictures, add play lists and geo-target your location for each entry, visit www.walmart.com/ubykotex.  And, if you haven’t seen the hilarious new commercials, you can check out some of our favorites like this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n09SejxpcFA.

I think I’ve done an okay job with our talk.  One of the books that Darly read is "Are You There God, It's Me Margaret" so our running joke is if she needs any "teenage softies."  We have U products on hand and I'm sure she'll let me know when she needs more.  I remember that even though I wasn’t all that impressed with the job my mom did, I was prepared.

 “I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Kotex and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Old London Melba Toast - Review

Okay I'm probably totally showing how old I am again...but back when I was a little girl we would sometimes go out to restaurants where they would have a basket of crackers on the tables. Anyone remember those?

Now days when you go out you're lucky if the place brings the basket of crackers with your soup or salad...most places give you just a packet or two of saltines with your soup or salad. :P

But if you're lucky and get the basket my favorite thing to do is see if they have Melba Toast in the basket (some places still have a variety of crackers to choose from!) I just love Melba Toast. It's just so yummy and crunchy! Much better than a cracker.

So I was so excited to find out that I had the chance to try out some new flavors of Melba Toast. So excited in fact that I ran out to my grocery store to look for them and bought a box. I didn't know that you could just buy Melba Toast in the store! *blush* Before I was always just hunting for them in restaurants.


I scarfed down my box of Melba Toast and they were as yummy as I always remember. I tried them with all sorts of stuff and "lookie!" the Melba Toast folks even came up with some nifty recipes you can try to have with your Melba Toast! They awesome just right out of the box too...and lucky for me a serving is only 50 calories. In fact I had to go grab my box so I could munch some while I'm trying to type out this post. LOL

Another cool thing is the folks at Old London Melba Toast are currently running a promotion. It is called ‘Dance Your Way to Hollywood’ http://www.toastforeverydayhealth.com/dance/. Here’s some information about it from the website:

“Dance Your Way to Hollywood” will send one lucky winner and a guest to Tinseltown for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, including private dance lessons and tickets to watch the taping of a highly popular television show. The four-day, three-night, all-expenses-paid experience includes air travel and accommodations at a popular Hollywood hotel. Sweepstakes entries accepted March 17 through June 30, 2010.”

While you're signing up for the contest...check out the other cool links on the website about staying healthy and keeping fit.

okay I better go put away my box of Melba Toast before I scarf them all up. Mffpthh muh yummm he he

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Old London Melba Toast and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Rosarita Salsa Blog Tour

The story of a dinner that didn’t end up on Failblog! ;o)

As many of you know, I suffer the indignity of living with two very picky eaters. The stuff these two won’t eat is just surprising. So perhaps you can imagine my distress when I was asked to try out the new line of Rosarita Salsa… in a recipe! Normally around there the most we do with our salsa is to put it on top of rice with some cheese (dipping tortillia chips into is a normal thing though.)

Luckily the good folks at Rosarita were nice enough to send me a few recipes that I could try the salsa with…and they looked like they might be something I could get my picky eaters to try.

Enchiladas Verdes – Green enchiladas

Ingredients
• PAM® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 1 jar (16.8 oz each) Rosarita® Medium Salsa Verde, divided
• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
• 12 corn tortillas (6 inch)

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray 13x9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1/4 cup of the salsa over bottom of dish; set aside.
2. Combine chicken, 1/2 cup of the salsa and 1/2 cup of the cheese in medium bowl; mix well. Set aside.
3. Spray both sides of each tortilla with cooking spray. Heat one at a time in skillet over medium-high heat on both sides until slightly puffy and softened.
4. Top each tortilla evenly with about 1/4 cup chicken mixture; roll up. Place seam-side down in prepared baking dish. Cover with the remaining salsa; sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
5. Bake 30 minutes or until cheese melts and sauce is bubbly.

Cook's Tips
1. For delicious Enchiladas Suizas, drizzle with Mexican cream. As an alternative, serve with sour cream.

Or I could try
Spicy Chicken Tostadas

Ingredients
• 1 can (16 oz each) Rosarita® Traditional Refried Beans
• 12 tostada shells, heated according to package directions
• 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
• 4 cups thinly sliced iceberg lettuce
• 1 cup Rosarita® Hot Salsa Taquera or Rosarita® Mild Salsa Mexicana
• 1 cup crumbled queso fresco cheese
• Fresh avocado, peeled and sliced, optional


Directions
1. Place beans in medium microwave-safe bowl. Cover; microwave on HIGH 3 minutes or until hot.
2. Spread each tostada shell evenly with beans. Top each with chicken, lettuce, salsa and cheese.
3. Serve with avocado slices, if desired.

However, when it came down to cooking time, I ended up doing a variation on a Salsa Chicken recipe that I found online. See I had a raw chicken in the frig that I needed to use up with no time to cook and shred it…so instead I put my cut up chicken in a baking dish, covered it with salsa and baked it at 425 for 40 min (turning it over at 20 min). I cooked up a pot of rice to serve with it (adding 1 tbsp of beef bouillon per cup of water, onion and butter). I figured that worst case my picky folks could eat the rice.

Well the verdict was… it’s YUMMY! They both loved it and so did I. They of course didn’t eat extra salsa on the chicken, but they did put the salsa on the rice. I had a bag of tortilla chips out too for them to dip into the salsa. Now I need to try the Salsa Verde! :D

Here’s what the folks at Rosarita would like you to know…

Rosarita, maker of the #1 selling refried beans in the United States, is excited to introduce our new authentic Mexican salsas! Available in three distinct and flavorful varieties, Rosarita Salsa is more than a dip – it’s an ideal topper and ingredient for creating any authentic Mexican dish.

Rosarita Salsa comes in three authentic flavors

Mild Salsa Mexicana – a mild Mexican salsa
Medium Salsa Verde – a zesty, green salsa
Hot Salsa Taquera – a hot, spicy Mexican taco salsa

Rosarita Salsa is made in Mexico using only the best ingredients, giving it the authentic flavor, spice and heat of a homemade salsa.

Rosarita Salsa is now available in the Hispanic foods aisle in four cities — LA, Dallas, Phoenix, and Denver at Walmart locations and select grocery stores for the suggested retail price of $2.99 - $3.29 for a 16.75 oz jar.

Make sure you go check out www.Rosarita.com for more yummy recipes! They have a very nice recipe search there!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Rosarita and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Oxfam America Unwrapped Blog Tour

Make your own Countdown Clocks

With the holidays right around the corner, my thoughts inevitably turn toward the challenging task of buying gifts for friends, family, and colleagues. With an ever-growing list of people to buy for, each year I find myself searching for unique, meaningful gifts that fit my budget. Instead of giving to the Human Fund, I found this…

This year, Oxfam America Unwrapped introduces gifts that help those who need it most. From $20 for a pair of school uniforms donated to a poor community to a $50 goat sent to a struggling farmer to help provide fertilizer and food for his family, Oxfam America Unwrapped offers a convenient, easy way to find something for everyone on your list while helping those less fortunate and avoiding the excess of the holiday season. When you buy a gift from OxfamGifts.com, your recipient gets a card with the image of your specific gift and the money goes toward providing lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice in over 100 countries.

To see how your donation affects the lives of people around the world, log on to the Oxfam America Unwrapped website and click on the "How your donation helps" section. Visitors can learn about Oxfam America's amazing work on projects such as restoring Mangrove trees to Vietnam's coastline and the creation of savings and loan programs in Mali, Senegal, and Cambodia.

Last year we were able to provide a donation of chickens to a village. It reminds me of the saying “Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime.” And I’m also reminded of the Girl Scout law that says “Make the World a Better Place”. I hope in some small way I can do that, one gift at a time.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Oxfam America Unwrapped and received a credit for a gift on the Oxfam site.

Table Manners - by Mia King a book review

There's nothing like reading a good book in the summer. So I was very excited to get the chance to review Table Manners by Mia King.

I had originally planned to read this book while working out on my poor neglected eliptical trainer...or even take it with me on my camping trip...but alas when I picked up this book it was too good to put down and I polished it off in just two days without even taking it near the eliptical trainer. ooops!

From the Author:  Meet Deidre McIntosh, the ever-resourceful lifestyle maven who has a knack for getting back up when life knocks her down.  At 41, Deidre has created a new life for herself with her own line of branded baked goods and a wonderful relationship with Kevin Johnson, one of Seattle's most eligible and sexy bachelors.  Creative, energetic, and loving, Deidre is the person people go to whenever they need a helping hand.

But when Kevin's ex-fiancée, the sultry and successful magazine publisher Sabine Durant, appears in Seattle, suddenly it's Deidre who needs help.  Already intimidated by Kevin's glamorous, moneyed world--and his sister, Marly Banks, who wants Deidre out of Kevin's life--Deidre knows she's no match for Sabine.  She turns to her friends for advice, but finds they're having crises of their own.  When her business begins to slip from her fingers, Deidre knows she must do something to keep her career and her love life from imploding.

This book is the sequel to Good Things.  I read Good Things a while ago so it was fun to get back into the story and catch up with the characters and see how they are all doing now.  And if Mia needs an idea for her next book I would love to hear what happens with Sarah next. ;) 
I found the story to be funny and intriguing.  I loved the dinner scene where the character Marla thinks that Deidre needs to have better table manners. 

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Penguin Group Publishing. Mom Central sent me a gift card and a copy of Table Manners to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Better Bandz - review

Today Darly & I went to the Parker Country Festival.  One of our favorite things to do is see the parade and watch all the dogs that get brought along.  But the next thing we do is go see all the vendors.  I love checking out all the great new ideas that they have there and today we came across something that was a bit different.

Better Bandz - "The Leader in custom, Sport and Designer Head Bandz"

We've done reviews on headbands before, but this band was much more comfortable.  I'll have to get a picture of Darly wearing her headband here later (she currently needs to wash her hair!)  but designs are very cute and comfy.  And they stay in place so very well.  They sell the bands for wearing while doing sports (we will have to try them for gymnastics!) too and I can just tell that they will be great at keeping our hair back and staying in place.  I can so totally see all the girls at the gym wearing one with our gym's name on them.

Their bands currently come in 3 sizes, small/medium/large, which is a good thing since nobody has the same sized head and they have very comfy elastic that hides under your hair to keep it nice and snug.  The velvet liner keeps your hair in perfect style and every hair in place.

I'm going to update this post with pictures and reports on how the band holds up at the gym for you, so that will have to wait until at least Tuesday.  :D

Free Signature Generator

Meeting Mr. WRONG! – Review

For all you single gals out there in the dating pool I sure hope that the fish were you live are much better than the ones in this book and for all you married gals, this is what could be available if we need to date again…ARGH! I think I would rather become a nun.

Stephanie Snowe writes about her own experiences in the dating world after suddenly finding herself single thanks to a real jerk. Stephanie is a fellow mom blogger who normally writes at 'Jason. For the love of God' You should read it too, it’s good stuff.

Description
'Don't email me if you want a supermodel. I'm twenty-two, divorced, and I have twins. I'm also overweight, unattractive, and have no education to speak of. I'm pretty much not going to bring anything to the table except the fact that I'm pretty nice and won't ask you to pay my bills. Here's my email address. Don't email if you're full of it.'

With this ad, Stephanie Snowe relaunches herself into the world of dating. In this real-life account, she discovers that the search for Mr. Right can include a lot of wrong turns. With light-hearted sass, Stephanie introduces us to each Tom, Dick, and Denny, and their neuroses, pets, mullets, lies, and puking.

A girl can get discouraged having to deal with dive-bombing birds, first-date proposals, and eavesdropping mothers. Is there a knight in shining armor out there with a higher IQ than his horse? Stephanie hopes so.

About the Author
Stephanie Snowe is the author behind the blog, 'Jason. For the love of God'. In her spare time she does things like hold down a full-time job, parent her children, and pander endlessly to her dog Ginger. She also enjoys plotting elaborate revenge fantasies involving angry monkeys trapped in boxes, and preparing boxed dinners that she pretends are homemade.

So I get a copy of the book and I laughed my head off. This was so very funny. I was also so very very very thankful that I have my wonderful husband… so ifwhen I get upset at my husband I guess I should grab this book and remember what else is out there. :p

And to all my single friends out there, I’m going to be praying for you that you don’t end up with anyone like these guys.

If you would like to see what all the fuss is about check out Meeting Mr. Wrong or Jason. For the love of God.

Thanks to Mothertalk.com for another great read!

Dollar Off Coupon! Kellogg's Eggo Bake Shop Twists

Hey do you remember that review that I did on Kellogg's Eggo Bake Shop Twists? What? You don't? *sigh!* Okay, go read it again real quick...I'll wait (the link is in the name above).

Well the kind folks at Kellogg's sent me a nice email asking me to let folks know that if they visit http://www.redplum.com/pages/ViewOffer.aspx?ec=send_offer&id=1056351 they can get a dollar off coupon! Isn't that sweet? I though so, and I'm going to go get some more twists.

I wonder what they would taste like with ice cream on them?

Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner - Review

I just took this survey that says I'm an Avoider Cleaner.  Hummm I really didn't need a survey to tell me that.  LOL!  It's a dirty job, but it must be done...by someone...preferably not me.  hee hee but seeing as there isn't anyone else here, I guess I better do it!

So I was happy to try out Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner cuz well I bought these silly tables that have both glass and wood in them. :p  and cleaning them is a bear.

It's cleaning made simple

Today we're constantly on the go. Thankfully, there's a multi-surface cleaner that keeps up with our busy lives. With Pledge® Multi Surface, you can move from surface to surface, room to room, cleaning and dusting in no time at all. Easy to hold and easy to spray, Pledge® Multi Surface tackles dust, smudges and fingerprints on nearly every household surface, including mirrors, glass, wood and stainless steel. With an antistatic formula, it's great for cleaning electronics too. Get the residue- and streak-free clean of Pledge® Multi Surface and clean more, faster.

Safely cleans many surfaces:
Wood

Wood Laminate
Plastics
Stainless Steel
Glass
Mirrors
Electronics
Granite

Well the Pledge Multi Surface made easy work of my multi surface tables and did a great job on my dining room table too!  I've already mentioned that I'm an Avoider Cleaner so I don't have to tell you that I didn't go cleaning my entire house...right?  Okay...I didn't go clean the entire house!  and I probably won't...but when I do get off the computer and clean some of the house, I'll be grabbing the Pledge Multi Surface. :D
http://www.howicleannow.com/  to check out the stories of 5 other bloggers and click on the link for a $1 off coupon for Pledge Multi Surface.

Free Signature Generator  Thanks Family Review Network for the chance to try this out.

Lemonhead Stylish Urban Accessories

Being a girl is so much fun! Getting all dressed up and such and having a daughter is one of the greatest joys of my life...it doesn't hurt that she loves to dress up too. That’s why we’re always looking for stylish hair accessories and Lemonhead has just that.

COMPANY DESCRIPTION



We don’t use magnets/hot glue and NOTHING squeezed out of a bottle like silicone or rubber. Our premium patented GRIPSTRIP is made of a unique reliable material that is identical in every clip - that means you are getting the same feature every single time!!! We have also patented several processes to make the Clipeez and attach embelishments reliably to our Clipeez that is so secure it impresses every time.



MY REVIEW



We received a Clipeez and a Bandeez Headband to review. The first thing I noticed was the quality and workmanship that went into producing these pieces. Each part was put together securely and you can tell that they really had safety on their mind. No loose parts to worry about.



However, the best thing is that they look great our hair. Not only were the colors vivid and bright but they really stayed in place. A very important trait for hair accessories.



So if you’re looking to add something to that special outfit or for just everyday use, stop by Lemonhead and check out their vast selection of colors and styles.



Thanks Family Review Network & Lemonhead!

The Spare Wife – Book Review

Alex Witchels’ newest novel, The Spare Wife, brings readers into the world of socialites in Manhattan with a story full of secrets, affairs, fancy parties, and high society life. The single, divorced Ponce Morris, known as "the spare wife," navigates this world well, managing the lives of the powerful couples around her with grace. "She watches football with Stan Crandall, while Bitsy reads magazines in bed and thanks God she doesn’t have to; she plays golf with George Stein, because Carol only likes tennis; and not only does she go to Knicks games with Larry DeLynn but she lets him eat as many hot dogs as he wants and never tells Lila, who forbids him to have nitrates." Not only that – she also goes shopping with the wives, making her the perfect, non-threatening companion for everyone – until a young reporter suspects that she’s having an affair with the city’s most successful (and married) doctor. This book is as intriguing as it is witty, and the fun story combined with the biting satire make it the perfect waiting-for-summer read. You may not be lounging on a beach with a book quite yet, but The Spare Wife is still an entertaining escape.

This was a very intriguing book to read. The author kept everything up in the air the entire time…nothing was predictable. For me that’s a good thing, I get a bit weary of reading the same book over and over…well not so with The Spare Wife. It was totally original. I found myself towards the end of the book seriously worried that the main character, Ponce, wasn’t going to come out on top and this young reporter might actually win…oops! I guess that’s a bit of a spoiler for you, but I won’t tell you how.

The Spare Wife

Thanks to www.MotherTalk.com for another juicy read!

Haagen-Dazs Five - Review

After running around all day, whether it's chasing toddlers or shuffling kids to and from soccer practice, Moms deserve a treat at the end of the day. However, for those of us watching what we eat and the ingredients in the foods we buy, we are sometimes limited in our sweet-toothed choices. Snacks that are packed with artificial ingredients are among those off-limits treats that we not only don't want to buy for our kids, but for ourselves.

Haagen-Dazs, original maker of super premium ice cream, now goes beyond their goal of using pure ingredients. The new Haagen-Dazs Five series is made from just five all-natural ingredients of milk, cream, sugar, eggs, and one hero flavor ingredient such as vanilla bean, mint, coffee, ginger, or milk chocolate. Using just five pure and simple ingredients naturally lends itself to an ice cream with one-third less fat. What makes me appreciate this clean label product (other than the taste, of course!), is that it's a dessert you can feel good about sharing with the whole family.

Discover Ice Cream…UNPLUGGED!


We’ve all appreciated the purity and simplicity of an “unplugged” concert where the sinter’s true voice and natural talent shine. The Haagen-Dazs brand matches that experience with the introduction of the Haagen-Dazs Five series… unadulterated flavor is focused on the simplicity and goodness of five simple ingredients. Those interested in clean label products will be thrilled with this superpremium ice cream. Now available nationwide. http://www.haagendazs.com/products/five.aspx

Okay so when I got the chance to review this product I had to think about it for all of half a second! ”Try Ice Cream? Hummm let me think about this… YUP!” LOL! So the day when our ice cream arrived it was pretty difficult to wait to try it. Darly & I decided that we would try a bit of each flavor that they sent to us. Like all Haagen-Dazs products this ice cream was smooth, creamy and very yummy!

Thanks www.MomCentral.com!

X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover - Review

I don’t know how you feel about cleaning the bathroom, but when I walk into mine I just wanna toss a bomb in there and start over! I’m pretty sure that the person who decided what materials and colors to use in there had never actually tried to clean a bathroom in his life…and the person who installed the tile in the shower…well let’s just say I hope this isn’t his day job! One of these days I hope that we’ll get the chance to re-do my bathroom… but until then I’m so thankful for products like X-14!

When I got offered the chance to review X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover I jumped at the chance. I’ve used X-14 products before and love them. X-14 makes my life so much easier. I loved being able to just spray down my tile and walk away. There are other products out there that claim that you can just spray and walk away…but none of them hold a candle to X-14. This stuff really works!

X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover

The Quick Way for Busy Moms to combat Mold and Mildew Stains

Moms know mold and mildew stains aren’t just a bathroom problem – they can appear anywhere. X-14 can help!

How it Works:

X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover effectively removes mold and mildew stains without scrubbing, keeping surfaces stain-free for up to two weeks.

Key Features:

Removes mold and mildew stains two times faster than the leading competitor.

No scrubbing required

Safe for use on sealed grout, vinyl and plastic surfaces when used as directed.

Where to Use:

X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover can help fight problematic stains in all areas of your home, boat or RV – from the bathroom and kitchen, basements and even on items stored below your boat’s deck.



Well I don’t have a boat or RV, but this stuff is pretty handy around the house. ;-)

Thanks to http://www.x14brand.com/ and http://www.momcentral.com as well!

The Household Guide to Dying - Review

The Household Guide to Dying is a moving, witty, and uplifting novel about Delia, who writes an acerbic and wildly popular household advice column. When Delia realizes that she will lose her long battle with cancer, she decides to organize her remaining months—and her husband and children’s future lives without her—the same way she has always ordered their household, and she knows just what to do. She will leave a list for her daughter’s future wedding; fill the freezer with homemade sausages, stews, and sauces; and even (maddeningly) offer her husband suggestions for a new wife. She’ll compile a lifetime’s worth of advice for her children, and she’ll even write the ultimate “Household Guide to Dying” for her fans. There is one item on her list, however, that proves too much even for “Dear Delia,” and it is the single greatest task she had set for herself. Yet just as Delia is coming to terms with this, an unexpected visitor helps her believe in her life’s worth in a way that no list ever could.

Imbued with Delia’s love for food, Jane Austen, clucking hens, and fragrant gardens, and interspersed with her secrets to making a pot of tea, removing wine stains from lace, and the ingredients to the perfect wedding cake, this is a gorgeously crafted novel that captures the reader—heart and mind—and expands our understanding of a meaningful life.

I found this book to be easy to read word wise, but hard to read topic wise. I’m very emotional and cry over Hallmark commercials, so this topic hit me pretty hard. Don’t worry, the book is filled with plenty of humor so it isn’t all doom and gloom, but like Darly pointed out …
see more Lolcats and funny pictures :D

If you have a box of tissues and don’t mind a good cry then check out The Household Guide to Dying by Debra Adelaide.

Thanks www.mother-talk.com for another great book!

Kellogg's® Eggo Bake Shop™ Twists- Review

New!
Kellogg's® Eggo Bake Shop™ Twists Apple & Strawberry

Like most families, mine always loves to wake up to the smell of fresh baked pastries for breakfast. But like most Moms on a typical morning, I lack both the time and energy to bake or make a trip to the bakery. Here breakfast is usually a “fend for yourself” situation. Recognizing this issue, Eggo, maker of the breakfasts we've loved for years, has come up with a whole new way for our own families to make their way to the kitchen for a fresh, aromatic pastry.

Eggo has introduced Eggo Bake Shop™ Twists, its first microwaveable pastry that combines soft, pull-apart dough sprinkled with sugar crystals and delicious Strawberry or Apple filling made with real fruit. And, in just 2 minutes and 25 seconds, your family can enjoy a warm, bakery-like breakfast, without the run to the bakery.

Darly & I tried these last night for our dessert. (hee hee!) I was please with how simple it was to make these. This is a product that Darly can make for herself without my help. YAY! Just pop one in the microwave for 25 seconds on high and let it cool for 2 minutes without opening the door.

And we were both pleased with how good these tasted, these pastries are both very yummy. Darly really liked the apple cuz she just loves cinnamon. I have a feeling that she will gobble these up before DH gets home from his trip.

Here’s a link to the Kellogg’s website for more info Strawberry or Apple. I’m sure your family will love them too.