Ditch the QTip and Grab a Cloth (Giveaway)
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on Thursday, November 27, 2008 at 4:47 PM
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I consider myself to be pretty technologically savvy - or at least not fearful or intimidated by them. They're always on the list of things we want around here and I embrace advancements - nothing bad can come from electronics. Except for one thing. Monitors and TV screens scare me. When they are dirty, I don't want to clean them because I don't want to scratch or ruin them. Or use the wrong product and damage them. They're expensive and I just don't want to touch them. So if there is dust building up on the screens (or heaven forbid, fingerprints), I holler for hubby. He always said "Just use this and don't use that." But I always worry. Silly, I know.

With DH out of town and Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I needed to just suck it up and clean. Thanks to a review opportunity from the Family Review Network, I had a chance to test out several cleaners from Weiman Products. Among them, the Weiman E-tronic Wipes. I read the can and it said "Anti-Static - Amonia Free Electronic Wipes" and "Safely Cleans plasma/LCD TVs/monitors..." Well, that makes me feel a little better. At least if I ruin it, I can blame the can. So I walked around and cleaned the TVs, the monitors and other electronics - without freaking out. And I didn't ruin anything. Thanks, Weiman e-tronic wipes!

One of the other products I tested out was Weiman Cook Top Glass Cook Top Cleaner. While I found the end product to be similar to the brand I was previously using, I did notice that it was not quite as gritty. I would venture to guess that would explain why they claim "guaranteed not to scratch."


But I think of all the products I tried, the one I liked the most was the can of Weiman Furniture Wipes. I don't have anything against spray cleaners - actually I like being able to spray the furniture polish and wipe. It makes me feel like a kid... don't know why, but that's kind of fun. However one piece of furniture is difficult to get dust-free unless I use a Q-tip. And since I don't like to clean, that's not something I do very often. The spokes of our wagon-wheel table are just impossible with furniture spray and cloth. I figured I would try the Weiman Furniture Wipes specifically on the wagon-wheel table. The wipes are thin enough to easily get into the tight spaces on that table. I turned around and was able to get those tiny ledges around the glass on my curio cabinet. These wipes are great for detail work!

The products I tested were wonderful and will make a great addition to my cleaning supplies. Maybe you could use them too!

The Prize
Participants -
...must provide a United States mailing address.
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond. If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the second random selection.
Sometime on December 6, 2008, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all comments left. Winner will be posted on PRIZEYWinners.
How to enter:
For the first entry -
(1) Check out Libman and Weiman Products.
(2) Come back here and comment on which one product from each company is a necessity for your cleaning cabinet.
For additional entries -
(a) Earn an additional entry by adding my button to your sidebar. Come back here and leave a comment stating that you did so.
(b) Earn an additional entry if you publish a post regarding this contest and link back to it. Come back here and leave a comment providing the link to your post.
(c) Leave an extra comment if you subscribe to my feed.
(d) Stop by The Present Professor and vote for my entry - it's number 11 entitled "Baring My Soul for a Zune (SAHM Ramblings). This bonus entry is only available until the voting closes on November 30th.
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Thanks to Libman and Weiman Products for providing the prize for this giveaway and to the Family Review Network for coordinating this review!

Like a Square Peg in a Round Hole (Giveaway)
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on at 4:46 PM
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A while back, I read on a friend's blog that her house suffers from chaos. C.h.a.o.s. in her definition was "Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome." Ever since then, whenever I look around my house and see destruction, that's what I think of.

I'm not a fan of cleaning... more than once on my blogs I've explained that it's Stay-At-Home-Mom, not Stay-At-Home-Maid. Yes, I clean but it just isn't on the top of my list of things I feel like spending time doing.
When we moved back to Iowa two years ago, we started celebrating holidays with my family. Typically, that means going to my parents' house. Well, my dad had knee surgery a few weeks ago, so I offered to host it at my house. You know what that meant? Cleaning.

Just so happened that I was sent a Libman Wonder Mop to review. Perfect timing, I tell you. I'll also tell you that it worked really well...

When I do mop, it's using the type of mop on the left in the picture. You dip it, use the handle to pull back and wring it out, mop then repeat. When you are done, you try to rinse it off or ditch it and put in a replacement. With the WonderMop, you dip it, then push the handle down and twist. The water comes out of the holes really well. When you are done, you remove the mop head and throw it in the washer. What a novel idea.

While I had difficulty with scrubbing really hard stains, everything else about the Wonder Mop was great. It got into the nooks and crevices around and under appliances. With the other mop, I couldn't even get under the kick area of the cabinets, let along close under the front of the fridge. When using the Wonder Mop, I was also able to do double-duty and get the baseboards at the same time. That's especially good since it meant that I could fly through the baseboards and get the gunk and dust and not have to go back and do them by hand... or worse yet, skip them like normal. Finally, I didn't have to worry about any hard or metal pieces scratching the cabinets or base boards which was always a fear with the other ones I've used.. This is a great product and I'm glad I got a chance to test it out!

And guess what - they are providing an extra 'set' as a giveaway. Be sure to check out my review of some cleaning products from Weiman Products, too!  Here's the scoop on the giveaway!

The Prize
Participants -
...must provide a United States mailing address.
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond. If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the second random selection.
Sometime on December 6, 2008, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all comments left. Winner will be posted on PRIZEYWinners.

How to enter:
For the first entry -
(1) Check out Libman and Weiman Products.
(2) Come back here and comment on which one product from each company is a necessity for your cleaning cabinet.

For additional entries -
(a) Earn an additional entry by adding my button to your sidebar. Come back here and leave a comment stating that you did so.

(b) Earn an additional entry if you publish a post regarding this contest and link back to it. Come back here and leave a comment providing the link to your post.
(c) Leave an extra comment if you subscribe to my feed.
(d) Stop by The Present Professor and vote for my entry - it's number 11 entitled "Baring My Soul for a Zune (SAHM Ramblings). This bonus entry is only available until the voting closes on November 30th.

PhotobucketThanks to Libman and Weiman Products for providing the prize for this giveaway and to the Family Review Network for coordinating this review!

If You Build It, They Should Come (Giveaway)
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on at 10:30 AM
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I want to say "Happy Thanksgiving" to all my readers.  I have so much to be thankful for and I hope all of you do too!
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With the economy what it is these days, people are rethinking their shopping plans.  The stock market is a roller coaster and everyone is feeling the pinch.  Despite the havoc, some people are still finding a way to give back to those who have less or are living in an unfortunate circumstance.

Swing over to the charity section on eBay. The Game Factory is auctioning off several Build-a-Bears that have been designed (and autographed) by celebrities.  There are currently 51 auctions by celebrities such as James Gandolfini, Bonnie Hunt, the Jonas brothers, cast members from shows such as High School Musical 3, Baby G, The Clique and much more.  To top it off, included with each auction is a "Build-A-Bear Workshop - A Friend Fur All Seasons" for the Wii!  100% of the proceeds of these auctions will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California.


Now I have to be honest, I have NOT reviewed this game.  I pride myself in not just regurgitating things you can read everywhere else.  The sponsor was gracious enough to provide one for my readers, so I can't complain.  Of course I want to give one away - especially since it's promotion a worthwhile charity.  Since I haven't actually reviewed it, I can't personally tell you anything about it.  I did notice that the target age is 3 and that's the lowest I've ever seen a Wii game.  Here's some of the scoop from The Game Factory's site:
•Explore the four season-themed islands in the Adventure mode and play lots of fun mini games in the Playground mode
•Enhanced interactive experience with 20 fun mini-games, including ice skating, build a snowman, a croquet party, a cool ride on a ladybug, throwing a Frisbee, and jumping on a jump stick. Some mini games even include surprises!
•Fun for the whole family in single or multiplayer party games with up to four players.
•Discover six secret treasure spots hidden around the islands and dig up a magic chest with a hidden surprise just for each player.
•Collect bear medals, rewards and exciting items to use in players very own Build-A-Bear Workshop® experience. Choose from more than 80 items available for your furry friend!
•Natural and innovative game play takes full advantage of the unique features of the revolutionary Nintendo Wii.

I will say that the game is available at major retailers and cost $39.99 at Amazon.  These auctions have a starting bid of $10.  If you are considering buying this game any time in the near future, be sure to check out the auctions because the winning bid lands you a copy of the Build-a-Bear game, a Build-A-Bear designed by a celebrity and an autograph.  (From checking out the auction, it seems that sometimes the animal is autographed and sometimes the game.)  And the proceeds go to charity.  What's not to love about that?  The auctions close on December 3rd!

The Prize
Build-A-Bear Workshop A Friend Fur All Seasons - for the Wii (approx value $39.99).
Participants -
...must provide a US or Canadian mailing address.
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond.  If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the second random selection.
Sometime on December 3, 2008, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all comments left. Winner will be posted on PRIZEYWinners.
How to enter:
For the first entry -
(1) Check out The Game Factory.
(2) Come back here and comment on which one of their products is on your wish list.
For additional entries -
(a) Earn an additional entry by adding my button to your sidebar. Come back here and leave a comment stating that you did so. 
(b) Link to The Game Factory. Come back here and leave an additional comment stating that you did so.
(c) Earn an additional entry if you publish a post regarding this contest and link back to it. Come back here and leave a comment providing the link to your post.
(d) Leave an extra comment if you subscribe to my feed.
(e) Stop by The Present Professor and vote for my entry - it's number 11 entitled "Baring My Soul for a Zune (SAHM Ramblings). This bonus entry is only available until the voting closes on November 30th.

PhotobucketThanks to The Game Factory for providing the prize for this giveaway and to the Family Review Network for allowing me to participate in this blog event!

Winner - Poingo Reading System 2-Book Set
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 10:39 PM
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It's time to announce a winner in the giveaway for a Poingo Reading System 2-Book Set.  I regret to say that we can only have one winner since so many people were interested in it.  For those that didn't win one, you at least have another idea of something to add to the Christmas list for the youngster in your life. 
And who did Random.org say is the winner?
#69 onangelwings who said "This house loves the Disney Princess' so either Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty would be a hit here."
Alternate:  #1 Pam

I am allowing 72 hours for the winner to get in contact with me before moving on to the alternate.  And I finally received notification from PrizeyWinners with the instructions on how to submit my winners (hooray!)

Thanks again to Publications International for providing the prize for this giveaway.  For more information on Poingo and Publication International's other products, stop by one of their websites Discover Poingo, Publications International, or Books for the Holidays.

Just a reminder - Within the next few days I'll be starting a few other giveaways, including a Holiday Cleaning Gift Pack worth $100 from Weiman Products and Libman!  Stay tuned for reviews of products from these two companies!

Geometry Don't Fail Me Now
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on Monday, November 24, 2008 at 9:21 PM
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Way back in school, so may people said "What am I going to need Geometry for when I grow up?"  I'm a mom now and I can say that geometry is crucial in knowing how to cut things to prevent sibling arguments.  Think cake, brownies, pie, sandwiches.  Yes, geometry is a necessary evil.

But I was a math geek so aside from the PITA teacher I had, it didn't bother me to learn geometry.  Good thing, too, because when I received a box of Toobeez to review, I was amazed at all the possibilities.  When we opened the box, Miss M and Miss K sat down with the creation sheets and pointed out all the different things they could make.  Miss M said "We can use it in the water, or make an obstacle course or...or...."  So the girls picked what they wanted to build - a tent - and we constructed it.  While the pieces were a little difficult for 4-year-old Miss K to snap into place, Miss M had it down in no time flat. 
They played with it until almost bedtime when I told them we needed to take it apart and put it away.  As I was disassembling it, I noticed that one of the walls could serve a different purpose.  Miss M's assignment for the evening was to practice emergency exit routes.  So I told the girls we would work on the fire drill and they needed to start in their beds.  Without telling them, I said "If you see a fire, you need to find a different way out."  I stood my "fire" up in the hall then sounded the mom alarm.  "Eerr. Eerr. Eerr."  Over and over while they attempted to escape.  I was quite amazed that they recognized my 'fire' and found a different exit route.  Hooray!  They returned to their beds, I moved the fire and we did it again.  And again.  And again.  I'm one proud mama knowing they are learning such important safety measures.

We set it up again the next day and I showed them how pieces can be connected in a way that they move.  The girls were able to spin the piece in the middle of this contraption.  I have to admit that I've had a lot of fun working with the Toobeez set.

There is so much you can do with these that it's really more than just a toy.  While I was reading the material provided with the set, I was amazed to see all the supporting literature.  It's one thing for a company to claim that "This product can be used for..." It's a complete different approach to provide the tools to make it happen.  Not only do they provide training manuals to help make the most of your Toobeez (from a non-toy perspective), but their website is filled with sample videos on various team building exercises.  You can also check out Project-Connect "to learn more about Toobeez and how you can use them for team building, collaborative efforts and different therapies."  Teachers take note - Toobeez provides a great deal of written literature on utilizing their product for math, science and language arts.  It is truly a versatile product and I find myself torn at calling it a toy!
If this seems up your alley for the kid (or teacher) in your life or if you have a work budget that allows for team building material - Stop by and check out their holiday promotions, including a giveaway valued at almost $125 and a sale that will save you almost $50 off your purchase.

PhotobucketWe had a lot of fun with this review!  Thanks to Family Review Network and Toobeez for this fun and educational product review!

Sensible Trumps Peer Pressure
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 6:55 PM
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When the school lunch calendar comes out each month, DH sits down with Miss M and they decide which lunches she would enjoy.  They mark them on the calendar then all the others are cold lunches.  For the longest time, Miss M would pick which drink box she wanted to pack in her lunchbox.  Although she had a few choices of flavor, I only let her have 100% juice ones.  But a few weeks ago, she started telling me no juice box.  She wanted to buy milk.  She told me that her friend, Sam, always has milk.  I shrugged it off and figured that milk is a good option so I'm okay with that.  Milk it is.  I guess the reason doesn't matter to me as long as she's getting something healthy.

Miss M is my oldest and just started kindergarten this year so I'm still learning all the ropes.  When I volunteered in the classroom the other day just before lunch, I got a glimpse of how they prepare and line up for lunch.  Kids with cold lunch and drink line up first, kids with cold lunch and no drink (buying milk) line up next and hot lunch kids line up last.  That's the order that they enter the lunchroom and that's the order they sit at the tables.  That's when I realized that Miss M didn't want milk because she likes it (which she does) but because it is the only way she is able to sit next to her best friend.

Then last week, we received a sample of Sensible Sippers from R.W. Knudsen Family.  They carry the USDA "Organic" label, have 40% less calories than regular apple juice and have no added sugar.  We received samples of the Fruit Punch and the Apple.  (Also available in Mixed Berry and Banana).  At snack time, I asked the girls if they wanted a new juice box with their apple and they both jumped at the chance.  Miss M picked apple juice while Miss K chose the fruit punch flavor.  When they were distracted by their apples (and my camera), I stole a sip of each and was surprised that it tasted like regular juice considering that they are 50% organic juice and 50% water to reduce the sugar.  Both girls finished off their snacks and told me they really liked it.
 
But the true selling point was the following day when it came time to pack Miss M's lunch.  When I said "Are you having milk today or do you want the new juice?" she responded "The new juice." 
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Apparently Sensible Sippers are better than a girl's best friend.

See if they are available in your area then print a coupon and pick these up on your next trip to the store. 

Thanks to R.W. Knudsen for this healthy product and to Family Review Network for the opportunity to review it.

Giveaway Teaser, Popularity Contest and a Winner
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 4:00 PM
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All I can say is "Wow.  I'm so excited!"  This is my biggest list of entrants to date and I just cannot believe it.  The first time I broke 100 comments in any of my posts.  It's very exciting and I'm pleased to announce that there are more reviews and giveaways to come!  If you haven't already done so, be sure to stop by and enter my giveaway for a Poingo Reading System 2-Book Set.  Also, I'll be starting a few other giveaways, including a Holiday Cleaning Gift Pack worth $100 from Weiman Products and Libman!  Stay tuned for reviews of products from these two companies!

Just like all of you, I love winning stuff.  I'm entered in the Classy Mommy Popularity Contest for a chance to win a Wii!!!  I am very far behind and desperately need your votes... pretty please! Just click on the link and my name should be first on the list. Nicole (SAHM Ramblings).

Since you're waiting for me to announce the winners of the Spa "Basket of Indulgence" compliments of Chex Mix Bars and MyBlogSpark...

Several people had bonus entries which brought the grand total of entries to 127.  The three winners are...

#30 - risanjax
#7 - Marisa
#64 - Mary512 (bonus entry)
#55 Millie (bonus entry)
#106 Pam

Winners are required to provide their emails but I am allowing 72 hours for each winner to get in contact with me before moving on to the alternate.  If you are one of the top three winners and you did not receive an email, please get in touch with me if you want to claim your prize!

11/21/2008 - Edited to announce new winners.  Two previously winners didn't claim their prize... let's hope they respond!

When Mom Doesn't Want to Read it AGAIN (Giveaway)
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 6:44 PM
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When I was a kid, I was in 4-H.  Throughout my 4-H years, I recited that pledge so many times that it became ingrained into my subconscious.  To this day, I can still spit it out without missing a single beat.  There are a lot of things in our lives that we hear so much that our brains can process them in their original form.  Singing 867-5309, hearing the little old lady's voice squeaking "Where's the beef?" or even some educational tidbit that one of our teachers pushed at us every single class... I had an economics professor in college who insisted we know who the chairman of the Federal Reserve was so it was a daily question and showed up on every quiz or test.

When I became a mom, that process took an entirely different turn.  My brain found itself cluttered with children's songs and stories ad infinitum.  It's fun to be able to sing along with the kids, but when you read the same book for the thousandth time, you just want to scream.  "Sorry, honey. I'm not sure where that book went.  Are you sure you put it back on the shelf last night?"  Knowing good and well that I've accidentally misplaced it in a really good hiding spot.  Don't shake your head at me... you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Thankfully, I had the opportunity to try out Poingo, a new product from Publications International, LTD.  Our last excursion into this type of reader gadget was with the LittleTouch LeapPad that I thought we would use more than we really did.  It was hard enough to keep track of the booklet, but worrying about the cartridge and the booklet was a pain.  (Which would explain why it was the last time we purchased something like this.)  Anyway, the girls are older and needing things that encourage independent play and the Poingo fits this to a T.  Their motto is "Fun right out of the box" and it's very accurate.  When the package arrived, Miss K was on hand to check it out. 
I literally opened it up and sat down on the couch with her to show her how it worked.  From the very first time I turned it on, she impatiently awaited her turn repeatedly stating "I can do it, Mom." and "I can do it myself."  So I handed it over to her and the rest is history.  At least it was until Miss M showed up and wanted to try it too.  Then it became a battle of "My turn!" comments.

Oh, I haven't told you what it does.  It's a book and a pen.  NOT CONNECTED to each other.  There are a variety of books, including Cars and Finding Nemo that come with the box set.  Other titles sold independently are Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and soon to be released High School Musical and Hannah Montana.  The pen already has several programs in it's memory so once you purchase a new book, you can just open it and go.  For newer stuff, there's a download feature, doing away with the concerns of keeping track of related cartridges.  The pen uses a mini-scanner to "read" microscopic symbols on the pages of the Poingo-enabled books.  Touch the box containing the story and it recites the story.  Touch the underlined words and it gives a definition of them.  Tap the pictures of the page and be surprised by music, trivia related to what was just recited, general trivia related to items or characters in the story and even interactive games. 

To be completely balanced, I need to explain that this IS NOT a word recognition program.  It tells the story out loud, but isn't actually reading the specific words on the page.  You can't click on a word and it tell you what it is - unless it's underlined.  So for beginning reader, Miss M, she kept resetting it while following along.  Whenever the pen would near an underlined word or a sound box, it would start over at the beginning of that story box.  She finally got the hang of it and now manages to follow along without bumping those.  And she really enjoys the interactive question/answer sections.

Poingo can be purchased for around $34.99 and is currently being sold at Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Toys R’ Us, Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Clubs.   Individual books are available for $9.99 each.  But if you really, really want to try it out... here's your chance to win one!
The Prize
One Poingo Reading System-2-book Set (approx value $34.99).
Rules:
Participants -
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond.  If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the second random selection.  Seriously, I hate having to move on to the runner-up and since I haven't gotten the PrizeyWinners thing to work, please make sure that you provide an email somehow.
Sometime on November 25th, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all comments left. Although I would love to say that I'll be using PRIZEYWinners, I can't be sure since I haven't been able to figure out how to do it yet!  (Honestly, I'm about to throw in the towel.)
How to enter:
For the first entry -
(2) Come back here and mention which Poingo book your child would love OR what other Publications International product would make a great Christmas present for someone on your list.
For additional entries -
(a) Earn three additional entries by adding my button to your sidebar. Come back here and leave a comment stating that you did so. 
(b) Link to one of Publications International's websites Discover Poingo, Publications International, or Books for the Holidays. Come back here and leave an additional comment stating that you did so.
(c) Earn three additional entries if you publish a post regarding this contest and link back to it. Come back here and leave a comment providing the link to your post.
(d) Leave an extra comment if you subscribe to my feed.
(e) Follow me using the Blogger feature at the top of the next column.  Of course, don't forget to leave a comment.

I want to thank Publications International for a wonderful product that pushes the envelope in children's edutainment.  Moms (and dads) everywhere will be thanking you for providing a product that allows kids to read these stories by themselves!

Be sure to stay tuned - I have some great giveaways still to come!

A Turtle Walked into a Bar (Giveaway)
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on Monday, November 10, 2008 at 8:41 PM
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I haven't figured out why my mornings are so chaotic, but I think it has something to do with having a kindergartner that doesn't move very fast in the mornings.  After getting her off to school, I grab a quick yogurt or piece of fruit before hitting the gym, but my favorite thing is to just steal one of the kids' granola bars.  I can take a bite and set it down then come back to it or I can just carry it with me and snack on the go. 

Thanks to a blog tour by MyBlogSpark, I had the opportunity to try the new Chex Mix Bars.  I received a gift pack that included the Turtle flavor, but it also comes in Chocolate Chunk.  Since I haven't met turtle flavored anything that I haven't loved, it wasn't much of a stretch for me to really enjoy these.  They're sweet and gooey and taste more like a snack food than a whole grain product.  The Turtle Chex Mix Bars are caramel-covered Corn Chex, Wheat Chex pieces, chocolate, peanuts and pretzels.  Need I say more?  Fine, I will... Each bar has 130 calories and 4g of dietary fiber.  (Click the picture to view the nutritional facts for yourself.) 
If you think this is your kind of product, you can sign up for Betty Crocker's newsletter and receive a free sample in the mail! If you already know that you like them, grab a 35 count box at Amazon!  Either way, leave a comment to win them!  Here's the scoop on the giveaway...

The Prize(s)
"Basket of Indulgence" from Chex Mix Bars.  Gift basket includes: a box of tasty Turtle Chex Mix Bars to sample, chocolate candles, caramel lotion and spa essentials like a loofah, hand massager, nail brush and spa towel.  Three Winners!
Rules:
Participants -
...must provide a United States shipping address
...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile. Winner has 72 hours from posting/notification to respond.  If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the second random selection.  Seriously, I hate having to move on to the runner-up and since I haven't gotten the PrizeyWinners thing to work, please make sure that you provide an email somehow.

Sometime on November 18th, a winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all comments left. Although I would love to say that I'll be using PRIZEYWinners, I can't be sure since I haven't been able to figure out how to do it yet!  (Honestly, I'm about to throw in the towel.)
How to enter:
For the first entry -
Leave a comment with your favorite way to enjoy Chex products.  Yes, it's that easy to enter. But if you're looking for new recipes, feel free to swing by the Chex site for some ideas.
For additional entries -
(a) Earn three additional entries by adding my button to your sidebar. Come back here and leave a comment stating that you did so. 
(b) Earn three additional entries if you publish a post regarding this contest and link back to it. Come back here and leave a comment providing the link to your post.

Thanks to MyBlogSpark for providing the prizes for this giveaway!  And just so I don't leave you hanging about the title of this post... A turtle walked into a bar and said "I'm here to mix with the Chex."  Get it? Turtle, Chex (chicks), Mix, Bar.  It works, right?  Yeah, there's a reason I don't write comedy bits.  Go leave a comment for the drawing, no bad jokes required to enter.

A Package inspired by Van Gogh
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 8:54 PM
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Over the years, I've seen some interesting product packaging... but this one takes the cake.  I opened the box and this is what I found.

No, this isn't a gift from some deranged stalker.  They are Coosh headphones. It's from the marketing geniuses over at BuzzParadise.  Don't worry, they remembered to include the second earpiece inside the box.

I typically exercise at the gym four days per week.  Five when I'm not being lazy.  On at least two of those days, I need my .mp3 player or I'm just not very happy.  I've tried out several different headsets, ear buds and earphones to see what works best for me.  While I currently use an in-ear bud, I figured the Coosh earbuds were worth a try.  They wrap around your ear to stay securely in place while you're moving about.  The Coosh earbuds only come in one size, and they happened to be just a smidge too big for me so they didn't stay in place like I would have liked.  But the outer ring was incredibly comfortable and will be on the top of my wish list when they expand their sizes to include one that fits my ear better.

But since I thought it was a great product, I figured I might as well find a friend to test them out.  Lo and behold, my friend Janet had a falling out with her current earphones just the day before.  By falling out, I mean falling apart.  They broke.  She had been using them for years and wasn't looking forward to going through the process of finding a current style that worked for her.  I offered her my Coosh headphones to try.  Good thing, too, because she was hitting the air in just a few days for a cross-country flight. 

CooshV2_gifWell, Janet came back with some great news... she loved the Coosh headphones.  She said they are "extremely comfortable, so soft around ears" and "easy to use."   "I accidentally pulled one out of it's tubing and it was easy to put back together."  She also liked how they work stating that the "sound is great."   Unlike some units that wrap around the ear, these are very flexible and lightweight. While exercising, she said she didn't have a problem with them staying put, something she can't say about other styles that she has tried.  Janet did have one negative thing to say but it was really a minor issue - "The L and R are so tiny I really have to look for them...could be I need glasses though." 

As a bonus, each pair comes with a solid storage case to keep them from getting damaged while in your gym bag, purse or pocket.  These truly are comfortable and worth trying out if you need headphones that stay in place. 

Coosh headphones are around $20 at Amazon but can also be purchased direct from the Coosh website. 


Once you get past the toothpaste shrapnel, it's great
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 5:33 PM
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I love getting stuff to review because it opens my eyes to new companies and products. As part of a blog tour through Family Review Network, I received an Oral-B Vitality Toothbrush.  To be completely honest, I didn't realize I was going to be receiving one but I'm certainly not going to complain.  My parents both use Oral-B electric toothbrushes and love them. 

I currently use a high-end sonic toothbrush and thought that I would find myself comparing it to what I've been using.  I didn't feel I could give a fair review to one that is a fraction of the cost: at under $20, the Oral-B Vitality is a great deal for an electric toothbrush!  Instead, I asked my friend, Janet, who is still living in the dark ages and using a manual toothbrush to try it out. 

Well, I believe it was a good choice because Janet was able to provide some awesome feedback.  Since this is her first time using an electric toothbrush, she had to overcome some typical user errors first.  As she recounted her first use, I just laughed.  She said that the brush head is small and that she couldn't fit much toothpaste onto it... realizing that she uses more than she really needs when she uses her manual toothbrush.  But the comical part came when she turned it on.  Before putting it in her mouth.  If you are like me, those of you who have an electric toothbrush are probably envisioning the first time you made the same mistake - toothpaste shrapnel all over the mirror, the faucet and sink.  We've all been there, Janet.

As for the actual use, Janet had a lot of great things to say about the Oral-B Vitality toothbrush.  Once you get the hang of it, it's very "easy to use".  The shape and design allows it to fit nicely in your hand yet providing ease of disassembly for cleaning.  There are "lots of options for head choice" and the "motion is just right."  Many people don't realize that two minutes is the recommended amount of time to brush your teeth.  Well, the Oral-B Vitality saves you the trouble of figuring out how long to brush with it's built-in timer!  Finally, Janet said the fact it is "rechargeable is a wonderful feature...charge lasts about 20 minutes which is about 5 days worth of use."  People who travel short periods of time can pop it in their suitcase without worrying about packing the charger.

The only thing Janet didn't particularly like was having to keep it near an outlet for recharging as opposed to being able to throw it into a drawer or cupboard.  She also felt that it was a little hard on her teeth and gums but thought that may have been because she was pressing too hard or not brushing correctly.  She followed that up by saying "The more I use it the easier this is becoming."  She finished her evaluation by saying "Overall I like it, but it takes getting used to when you're used to hand brushing." 
PhotobucketI'll agree with Janet on that - switching to an electric toothbrush does take some getting used to.  It's financially a bit more at the beginning, but pays off when your dentist comments on how little build-up there is as a result of brushing with an electric toothbrush.   An Oral-B toothbrush is a great gift for anyone on your Christmas list (just make sure you tell them it isn't any kind of a hint about their current hygiene habits!)

On a side note:  If you're a fan of The Biggest Loser, check out Jillian Michaels, an Oral-B spokesperson, at Oral-B Power to the People.

Thanks to Family Review Network and Oral-B for this review opportunity!

Did the Borg Get Barbie?
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on Friday, November 7, 2008 at 10:29 PM
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The school had their local book sale recently during parent/teacher conferences and each of our girls were allowed to pick a book. Miss K, who is all things Barbie, headed straight for the selection of Barbie books. I giggled when she grabbed the book "Barbie and the Diamond Castle" because I had just received the movie from Mom Central to review. Yes, I let her get it but I made sure we read the book before watching the movie because I knew the movie would expand on the short story in the book.

A day or so later, I pulled out the movie and showed it to them. Miss K immediately yelled "Mom! That's Connective!"
Me (baffled): Connective? "Honey, you mean connected?"
Miss K: "No. Connective! You know... connective."
Me (still baffled): "Collective?" Yes, I am a Star Trek fan and yes, I thought of the Borg.
Miss K (now frustrated): "Noooh Mooomm. Connective."
As I recall, DH had about the same conversation with her at another point in time.

When it finally came time to watch the movie, the girls were very excited. They created a movie theater bench out of their plastic chairs, complete with pillow for cushioning. Then sat mesmerized as they watched the movie. When the song "Connected" came on, Miss K yelled "See Mom! Connective!" Oohhh. 4 year old translation issues on my part.
The next day, while the kids were watching one of their shows, I heard the commercial come on advertising the release of the DVD - a snip-it of "Connected" plays during it. I realized that Miss K had been seeing the commercial and related the song to the picture of the DVD shown. That explained why she didn't have the same reaction when she purchased the book. Ah, the power of commercial advertising. I can't blame her though, it is a catchy tune.

As for the movie itself - The two main characters are best friends and go on an adventure to help find the Diamond Castle that has been hidden to keep it out of the hands of the evil villain. Sometimes kids shows have a very subtle message or no message at all, but "Barbie and the Diamond Castle" was a great story with depth and great characters - both good and evil. The book gave a good outline but the movie really brought it all together.

"Barbie and the Diamond Castle" is a fun movie with a full line of supporting toys, including the themed Barbies, Diamond Castle Playset, Glimmer the "Flying" Horse, Sparkle Pets, Little Learner Laptop and even party supplies. The DVD would make a great Christmas gift for any Barbie or princess fan on your list and the related toys would help carry the movie into their regular imaginary play. Santa won't run out of ideas when working on that list.

My girls loved watching it and we all enjoyed listening to fun music throughout. I want to say thanks to Mom Central for this very sweet movie and the opportunity to share it with my kids!

Winner - I Spy Game and Scratch Beginnings Book
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 9:58 PM
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As much as I love winning blog giveaways on other sites, I also enjoy giving stuff away on mine.  Special thanks to KidStuff and Briarpatch for providing the "I Spy Private Eye" game.  Also thanks to Adam Shepard for the autographed copy of his book "Scratch Beginnings." 

"I Spy Private Eye" Game from Briarpatch
Congratulations to Kristie for her winning bonus entry!  The runner-up was actually Kristie also, so if I don't hear back from her in the next day, I'll redraw.


Congratulations to Baba for her winning entry!  If I don't hear from Baba in the next day, we'll move on to the runner-up, Raquel. 
(Edited 11/7/08 @ 2:30 pm.  Sorry, Baba, but emails to you at the address provided kept bouncing back and there wasn't an email in your profile.)
Edited 11/10/08 @ 8:26 pm.  New winner was drawn.  Congrats to AmandaSue!



I have some great new giveaways coming up so please stop back!

My Cup Overflowith. With Chocolate.
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on at 9:12 PM
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I remember when I was growing up, Halloween was a special day where we would drive from neighbor to neighbor and get candy.  Yes, I said drive.  We lived on an acreage and the houses weren't close enough to walk to - especially considering that it was usually snowing.  We would get some candy, but since we didn't have many neighbors, it was enough to last us just a few really chocolate-filled days.



Well this Halloween, DH took both girls out trick-or-treating.  They returned to the house after a little while when Miss K got tired of walking.  Miss M emptied her bucket and we set out for trip number two in the other direction.  Miss K helped DH dole out candy to the kids coming to our house while Miss M decided that running was the best way to get from door to door on this second trip... all the while me asking "Are you ready to head back to the house yet?"  When we finished off the night, we had half a tote bag of candy between the girls two buckets.



My cup runneth over with plenty of chocolate.  But you know what, it isn't as satisfying as it used to be.  Why?  Because my taste buds have been introduced to higher quality chocolate.  Thanks to a blog tour from Mom Central, I received samples of Ghiradelli's new Luxe Milk candy bars, made with rich and creamy milk chocolate and all-natural ingredients.  I'll be honest, I haven't met a Ghiradelli chocolate that I didn't like... they've all be wonderful. I even bake cookies with Ghiradelli Baking Chips.  These were no disappointment either.  Five delicious Luxe Milk flavors to choose from:  Almond, Hazelnut (with real nuts and not just flavoring!), Milk, Crisp and Duet.  I tried each of them and have to say that I loved all the flavors, Hazelnut most.  They are a little pricier than the candy you find on the checkout aisle, but they taste so much better.



So stop raiding the pumpkins that your kids filled on their neighborhood trick-or-treat trip.  Next time you are at WalMart, Target, Borders, Walgreens or any of the other merchants carrying Ghiradelli chocolates, just pick up a treat of your own, a Ghiradelli Luxe Milk bar.  Your taste buds will thank you and you don't even have to wear a costume.  Just don't plan on sharing it with the kids.


Thanks to Ghiradelli for this delicious product and to Mom Central for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour.

We Like to Move it Move it
POSTED BY Nicole Brady on at 7:05 PM
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The new Madagascar movie is opening up this weekend and I'm sure we'll be heading to it. The girls have been counting down since we saw a preview for it in the theater several months ago.

In conjunction with the launch, McDonald's has "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" Happy Meals and related toys. Starting November 7th and continuing through November 19th, HappyMeal.com will have online and offline examples of activities to "One Minute to Move it" including a video from Olympian Shawn Johnson. There will also be codes available on healthy alternatives such as apples instead of fries, in their Happy Meal.

I asked my kids what their favorite way to spend their energy exercising and Miss M said "Running."  Miss K claims that dancing is her favorite.  They love spending their minutes doing a lot of physical activities, but those are their top choices.  Mine - I love hitting the gym at least four times a week!

Thanks to Mom Salon for helping spread the word on this great healthy learning experience for kids!