Sarah's Dandelions Reviews

VeggieTales: Pistachio...

2010-02-25T13:16:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: Comments closed. We have a WINNER! (see the bottom of this post to see if you won)

Would you like to win a copy of the newest VeggieTales DVD??

My boys have been quoting lines from the movie since they saw it... like

"look. it's a flying cricket and a boy made out of wood. that's enough time in the sun dear." {and it's not really a cricket... it's a caterpillar named cricket}

Pistachio - the little boy that woodn't - is an hilariously adorable VeggieTales movie about listening to your parents.

My boys were ROARING with laughter as they watched about Pistachio and all the trouble he gets into because he didn't listen to his father... I love shows that are the perfect mix of a valuable lesson and humour - and Veggie Tales does it again!!

Win a copy by leaving a comment. A winner will be picked Saturday, February 27th.

****************************

I entered all of your names into a list randomizer on RANDOM.ORG and the winner issss......

List Randomizer

There were 8 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

Deborah
BrentandSarah
felictouschick
Jennifer
Lexy
Angie
Patty
Maureen

Timestamp: 2010-03-01 15:53:54 UTC

Deborah! ps. happy birthday Danielle!

Congrats Deb - email me your address and I'll get that in the mail to you ASAP!

Kwikset Winner...

2009-08-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of you who entered the giveaway... I truly wish you could ALL win - that'd be awesome! You guys came up with some really great things about the lock that I hadn't thought of... Like, keeping kids IN. Ha! That didn't even cross my mind, weird huh? But, Elijah has never let himself out EVER and the other kids are old enough to unlock the door - code, bolt or not. When Elijah wants to go out with his brothers he seriously stands at the door and shouts "GUYS! LET ME OUT GUYS!" or "OPEN DA DOOR BOYS!"

Anyway! I have a winner!! And her name is ANGIE!! Congratulations Angie! Email me your address, and the door handle type/ finish you would like and I will forward your email to the fine folks at Kwikset, they will get your new door handle and smart code in the mail to you.

For those of you that didn't win - they ARE available at your local home improvement store and retail for around $120.00. I think it would be a good investment.

List Randomizer

There were 12 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

Angie
Tony
Maureen
Deborah
Heather
Salena
Jodie
Sarah
Abby
Cheryl
Meg
Maureen - twitter

Timestamp: 2009-08-11 03:17:46 UTC

Got Diaper Rash?

2009-08-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

Please DON'T forget to enter to WIN a new Kwikset handle set/deadbolt from the smart series!

When Keziah starts cutting a tooth she gets a diaper rash. A BAD diaper rash... this time it was SO bad... so, so, so bad. I normally use Burts Bee's diaper rash cream or Aveeno diaper rash cream and usually they work really well. This time it got so bad even those didn't work. I was desperately trying to figure out WHAT I could do for her when I thought of vaseline... vaseline is the only thing that works on my kids super dry skin. I was about to grab the vaseline when I remembered I had a tube of Lansinoh lanolin "for breastfeeding mothers" It was the only thing that worked when I was nursing Elijah - way back when - and I had dry, cracked, bleeding nipples. PERFECT! I put some on Keziah's diaper rash. She stopped screaming in pain and now 4 days later the diaper rash is gone! It really, really works! AND! It's all natural.

I use the Lansinoh brand a lot and thought I would pass some coupon codes on that I came across... These are good at diapers.com (remember, if you have NEVER ordered from diapers.com before to enter ' sarahsdand ' {if sarahsdand doesn't work try sarahsdandelions} to get $10.00 off your order.)

LansinohExBags - $1.00 off any Lansinoh milk storage bags

LansinohExCloths - $0.50 off any Lansinoh Clean & Condition Cloths

LansinohExDiaperrash - $1.00 off Lansinoh Diaper Rash Ointment

LansinohExLanolin - $1.00 off Lansinoh HPA Lanolin

LansinohExLatch - $1.00 off Lansinoh LatchAssit

LansinohExPads - $1.00 off any Lansinoh nursing pads (Regular or Ultra Soft)

I bought all my Lansinoh products with my husbands very own money, they have never given me any... I'm just telling you about this because I really love the product!

Lockin' Up... A GIVEAWAY!

2009-08-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

When we bought our house almost 6 years ago, while I was in labor with our third born, but that's another story, we finished signing the papers and waited for our keys to be handed to us... This was our very first house purchase and I couldn't wait to hold the keys of my first house in my hands... Only, there were no keys? It was then explained to me that this was normal for small, midwest towns... you don't NEED to lock your doors, dontchaknow.

It reminds me of when we first moved here, I was in shock that people would leave their cars running, with the keys in the ignition while shopping during the winter months... don't they know someone could drive their car away?? Ohh how I wanted to do that too... I hate having to get into a freezing cold vehicle and waiting 20 minutes for it to warm up. But I just couldn't bring myself to do it - I'd be the one to have my van drive off. And then I learned of AutoStart, and my husband who loves me installed it... now I can start my car while I'm shopping.

But what about my house? It's the same thing... I know people around here may or may not lock up at night... it's a safe town... but we have always locked up. Better safe than sorry. We installed a new front door with a new door knob and dead bolt after we moved in, but our back door has been an issue we've been meaning to get to... We have always settled for locking the garage up and leaving the back door unlocked so I wouldn't have to juggle keys and kids and stuff when coming in the house... not the best scenario, I admit. Which is why I am SO EXCITED! to tell you about the Kwikset SmartSeries... I am ESPECIALLY excited about the SmartCode! The awesome people at Kwikset sent me this one, and we love it, oh how we love it... once you have it installed (which was easy) you pick a code and that's it! I love being able to lock up when we leave AND to not have to fumble around with keys when I get home (plus, the keypad is lit for at night)... And one of our favorite features is that when the door is locked the little light on the inside blinks red, so when we're heading to bed we just have to glance at the door to know if it's locked or not... LOVE THAT! Another feature that came in handy while we were on our road trip was that you can assign a temporary code... we were able to give a code to our neighbor so he could bring our mail in. Once we got back we took that code off. NICE!

I could go on and on about the features, I really could. But, there is just so many!

You Can WIN one!!

Here's how...

Go check out the Kwikset website, then come back here and tell me a feature you like and which one you would choose (including finish) if you win.

For an added entry tweet about this giveaway... make sure you add @sarahsdandelion to your tweet so I see it.

on Monday August 10th I will randomly draw a name.

Extra Info:

Ten things to know about home security.

I'm not telling you about this because I'm being paid too... REALLY. They sent me one and asked me to write honestly about it... this is my HONEST opinion about it!

Make Math Fun...

2009-02-16T22:19:00.000-08:00

As a new home-schooling mom, I am always on the lookout for fun ways to teach the boys. So, when The Parent Bloggers asked me if I would review The DreamBox Learning System I couldn't wait!

DreamBox Learning is a fun math program that is individualized to each child that plays it. Each of the boys got their own account that they can log into and play math games customized for them. I love how it's fun for them to use it, yet it is challenging math. Malachi (first grade) loves how it's the same math we are learning in school... I love how it is reinforcing those skills he is learning. Josiah (preschool) has learned a lot from playing... just the other day he started rattling off 2 + 2 = 4, 5 + 3 = 8 , 6 + 4 = 10..... How great is that??

So. If you are looking for a fun math program for your kids, check it out!!

This review was made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network.

Got Christmas Ideas?

2008-12-02T06:11:00.000-08:00

If you've seen the advertisements, or been in a store recently you have surely noticed that the cost of toys is dramatically higher this year... I guess the toy manufactures decided since we were in a recession, possibly even a depression it was a good time to RAISE the price of toys? Seriously, have you all seen this $200 toy? I have kids... and I know that would be fun for, oh, maybe 60 seconds.

Thankfully, there are a few toy manufacturers that have not put outrageous price tags on some really fun toys... One of those is Hot Wheels! My boys LOVE hot wheels! I love that I can pick up hot wheels cars for under a dollar for stocking stuffers! My boys were given the HOT WHEELS Trick Tracks Triple Stunt Starter Set and the Mattel Hot W heels Power Loop Stunt Zone to review. It was like Christmas here. These tracks are like the ultimate Hot Wheels toy. AND! They are both in the $20.00 range, which seems very reasonable. The tracks are very durable, which is nice, because in the past it has taken the boys all of a few hours to break tracks. The cars are able to do "really awesome tricks!" These toys not only provide fun, but imaginary play too. I have listened to endless stories about these cars and their racers that the boys made up. It really is fun!

So... if you have boys, and your boys like Hot Wheels... I would HIGHLY recommend these!

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers

Holiday Shopping...

2008-11-25T08:54:00.000-08:00

If you have read this blog for an extended amount of time you know that I. HATE. SHOPPING. As we have added several children to our family I have grown to hate shopping even more. It might have something to do with needing to, oh I don't know SHOWER and get dressed. I just don't have time for such silly things. We do a once a month grocery shopping trip so I don't have to go to the grocery store (aka get dressed) as often, and THAT has made my life much happier!

But we have now entered the Holiday Shopping season. Thankfully, I LOVE online shopping!! LOVE IT! Which is why I have partnered with Box Tops For Education. All you have to do is go to their website first, and click on your favorite stores from there. When you do that the stores will give a percentage of the proceeds from your purchase to the school of your choice - and we all know the schools need the extra money! It's so easy, there is no reason not to do it! Barnes and Noble sent me a gift card to try it out - (THANK YOU Barnes and Noble... I got a TON of my Christmas shopping done! WOO!) Did you all know that Barnes and Noble has the same feature Amazon has where you can get a discount on items by purchasing from one of their "trusted Sellers"? It's true! I am excited to report I was able to help our local private school (6% of what I spent) and get some AMAZING deals by shopping ONLINE! So... stay home this holiday shopping season in your pajamas sipping coffee while you shop!

My Baby A to Z

2008-11-06T06:18:00.000-08:00

"I want to watch, because I like to learn about shapes!" - Josiah, 4

My Baby A to Z has very interactive puppets that teach in a super fun way... when I am doing school with the big kids, Josiah will often ask if he can watch [My Baby A to Z] so " I can learn too!"
The 'come explore shapes with me' DVD introduces basic shapes, has really cute music (Elijah dances every time he watches), adorable puppets, animation and real life video from around the world.

The DVD is available here: www.MyBabyAtoZ.com. and on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Baby-Z-Explore-Shapes/dp/B001EO5JQQ/)

But! Before you run off and buy it...

I have one to giveaway!!!! Please leave a comment, with your email address so I can find you if you win (if you do not want your email address published, please email it to me after you leave your comment - sarahsdandelions@msn.com)

WAIT! There's MORE! Not only do I have one to giveaway, the Parent Bloggers have TWENTY! to giveaway!! So, run on over there and get your name in the pot!
http://blog.parentbloggers.com/2008/10/16/my-baby-a-to-z-campaign-launch/

After all that, if you still didn't get a copy, you can use this code - V5K7736Q - to get 20% off at the My Baby A to Z website.

Remember, Christmas is just around the corner!! I'll have lots of reviews coming up with other great Christmas gift ideas!!

Thanks to The Parent Bloggers for making this review possible!

Announcement, Announcement, Announcement...

2008-10-22T05:58:00.000-07:00

I have a confession... I've never sent out Birth Announcements before.

I know! Four beautiful boys, and not a single announcement.

I have another confession... I've always thought Birth Announcements look kinda cheap. So, when the Parent Bloggers asked me to review not just any Birth Announcement, but MAGNETIC Birth Announcements, I was excited to actually send out announcements (how many times can I say announcements in one post?) but wondered what magnetic announcements would look like... would they look cheap?

The answer... NO! I LOVE these!

I love how they will last longer on our friends and family's refrigerators because it IS a magnet. (muhahaha... can't get rid of my cute kids faces on your frig!)

Seriously though, they REALLY are classy and high quality! This is a picture I took of the ones we ordered, the picture does not do the announcement justice at all, but it will have to do...

I LOVE the branches with the bird. When I first went to the Magnet Street website to order, I clicked on Boy Announcements, and then I remembered that we had a GIRL! And I got to pick an announcement with PINK! Once I picked a design I liked, which was hard... I liked SO many! I asked if they would add the "proud big brothers" line under the "proud parents". They were happy to customize it however I wanted. So, not only a great product, but great customer service as well... and that goes a long way!

ps. they also do wedding invitations on linen, they sent me some samples - AMAZING! Almost makes me want to get married again! :)

Thankyou Parent Bloggers & Magnet Street for making this review possible!!

200

2008-10-01T17:56:00.000-07:00

Is the approximate number of diapers this sweet baby girl has used the past three weeks. 200! This innocent looking baby girl poops A LOT! You know what that makes me? An expert on newborn diapers! Which is good because the awesome people at Pampers Swaddlers sent me two packs of their newest diapers, the Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive to review. The difference between these and the plain Swaddlers is this nifty yellow line on the outside of the diaper that turns blue when it gets wet. It makes checking to see if baby needs a diaper change so easy and convenient!!

I love pampers, always have, and these diapers are no exception!!

Friday Notes...

2008-09-05T04:16:00.000-07:00

1. Homeschool felt a little calmer yesterday... probably because I wasn't here for a couple hours. My very good friend came over to watch the boys during my OB appointment... My very good friend who has much experience teaching. The boys were eating up her knowledge. It was very cute. Elijah came down with a fever, so the rest of the afternoon I didn't push school a ton... but somehow the boys still accomplished everything on their daily schedule. Amazing.

2. My OB appointment was disappointing, but not surprising. I am still dilated to a 3cm. I have NEVER in all my pregnancies dilated past a 3 on my own. Even after my water broke when I was pregnant with Isaiah, I still didn't dilate past a 3. However, I am still having frequent contractions. It's frustrating to be in all this pain and see no progress. The baby is still measuring 2 weeks small. (measured in at 35 weeks yesterday) My doctor doesn't seem worried, because baby is growing... just small. A day later, I'm wishing I would have at least asked about doing an ultra sound just to be sure all is well... but I didn't, so I trust that God is protecting baby and there is nothing wrong.

3. Did you notice the Box Tops for Education link over on the right side? I am a huge fan of Box Tops, and wanted to spread the word! Even though I am homeschooling this year I still want to support the school my kids used to go to. I think it's important to help our local schools out. All you have to do is go to the Box Tops for Education Website to register and pick which school you would like to support. Now, not only can you clip the tops off boxes, you can shop through the marketplace. There are several stores that will donate a percentage of the money you spent to the school you choose. So, go check it out! It's such a great way to be a positive part of your community.

Have a wonderful Weekend!!

Got Yogurt?

2008-08-22T03:23:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, you are always on the look out for HEALTHY snacks for the kiddos. My kids are ALWAYS hungry! It's important to me to have healthy options that they can get themselves.

That's why I LOVE Yoplait Yogurt. Not only do my kids love it... it's easy for them to get themselves AND it's good for them! It's not only packed with vitamin D, vitamin A and Omega 3-DHA, it also has 25% LESS sugar than other yogurts.

I am a long time fan of Yoplait, so I am VERY excited to pass along a $1.50 off coupon (just click and print) And some fun prizes...

Here's how it will work:

1. EVERYONE: Leave a comment to be entered to win a Yoplait cooler pack and a coupon for free Yoplait Yogurt.

2. IF you have or are going to have children under the age of 3 this year, leave a seperate comment indicating how old your child is to win BRAIN QUEST! for ages 2-3. Elijah got his own Brain Quest pack to try out, and he LOVES it. He brings me the set of cards and asks to go over them. It is so fun to see his vocabulary blossom!

Have fun, I'll randomly choose two winners on Monday. (if you do not have a blog to link back to, please email me at sarahsdandelions at msn dot com with your first and last name, so that if you win, I know who you are! Thanks!!)

This review was made possible by the always awesome Parent Bloggers!!

Giveaway...

2008-08-14T04:34:00.000-07:00

I have two DVD's up for grabs! The first one is: Handy Manny: Manny's Pet Roundup.

The pets of Sheetrock Hills are on the loose – and it’s up to Manny and the gang to save the day! Manny’s pet Roundup features adventures and excitement from Manny and his gang of talking tools, including a never before-seen episode with an “a-mazing” game!

The thing I really like about Handy Manny is how Manny and the tools occasionally spout out Spanish phrases but don't always follow with an English translation. This may seem to defeat the purpose of including such terms, but in doing so, they allow children more of an opportunity to interpret based on context clues.

The second DVD I have for you is: Little Einsteins - Flight of the Instrument Fairies Little Einsteins star in four adventure-filled stories including a special never-before-seen episode – a must-see for Little Einsteins everywhere. With a little music, singing and dancing YOU can help the gang on their quests – so come along on their latest mission of discovery.

I like the Little Einsteins... I really do. I love how they introduce classical music in a fun way, they travel the world and show actual pictures of different countries - however, WHY do they have to add something like fairies??? (in this case, other things in other DVD's) I have to admit that was a bit annoying, I think it takes away from what the kids could learn watching. That's my 2 cents. ;)

Oh... and Disney... if you're listening - As a family that is extremely careful about what we let our children watch I HATE, hate, hate all the previews that Disney puts on their DVD's. I wish they could at least make the previews an option to watch, not automatically bombard my kids with it.

That being said, these really are great shows - and I would love to give two of you your own copy! Just leave a comment, if you prefer one over the other please specify which, otherwise just say either. I'll choose a winner at random Monday morning.

This giveaway is made possible by Special Ops Media.

Back to School in Comfort...

2008-07-31T03:23:00.000-07:00

A little while back The Parent Bloggers asked me if I would be interested in receiving some boxers, briefs and socks for the boys to review. Would I??? I couldn't respond fast enough. You see, here's the thing... socks don't last long around here, the boys are very hard on them - how? I have no idea, but somehow all their socks end up with holes. And underwear? It's an issue. My little Malachi is VERY picky about how his clothes feel and fit. If it doesn't feel just the way HE thinks it should feel let me tell you, YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT IT. No amount of "honey, those pants are so tight they are cutting off your circulation, pretty sure they are not going to fall off" helps.

So, here's the scoop... Hanes has improved the quality and are now offering a Comfort Fit Promise, which means, if you are not 100% satisfied, or your kid says it's not comfy enough you get your money back! Can't beat that!!

The underwear and socks arrived, and I explained to the boys that I wanted them to try them out and tell me if they were comfortable etc.

Let's start with the briefs...
Malachi was reviewer of briefs... good luck Hanes, I'm rooting for you.

Boys No Ride Up Brief
Comfort Fit Promise: No Ride Up leg bands offer him all-day comfort
Premium ultra-soft,100% cotton feels soothingly soft and cool
Stretchy waistband fits gently...no binding or chafing
Durable double-stitched seams help assure lasting wear

Malachi LOVES these! He even yelled out while running around doing karate kicks that they are "THE BEST UNDERWEAR EVER!!" The only thing I have ever heard him say about underwear before this, was how the didn't fit right. So, A+ to Hanes!!

I compared them to his other briefs (some of which are Hanes) and these are softer and of better quality. Also, not to leave those of you with girls out, they have the no-wedgie comfort fit promise for girls briefs too.

Onto the Boxers:

Boys No Gap Fly Boxers
Comfort Fit Promise: Fly front will not gap to give him comfortable confidence
Cotton-covered waistband stretches with him and won't bind, chafe or leave marks
Roomy generous cut allows freedom at every turn so he doesn't have to slow down
TAGLESS® design means there's no itchy label

Isaiah got the boxers, and while he is not as picky as his younger brother, he will still let us know if they don't feel right. He also loved these, said they were very comfortable. My favorite part is that the fly will not gap. Hello! GENIUS! It's true too... Isaiah danced around and there was no peep show! Hanes, A+ on the Boxers as well!!

And now the Socks...

Shaped To Fit Ankle Socks for Girls & Boys
Comfort Fit Promise: Ribbed elasticized tops stay up comfortably all day and feel new all school year long
Plush premium yarns cushion their every step.
Reinforced heel and toe assures a better (non-bulky) fit
Crew style for boys, Ankle style for girls

I asked for, and received, socks in Isaiah's size because he is the one who wears through his socks the fastest. However, when they came Malachi and Josiah HAD to try them out too. So I had all three boys running around and sliding in these socks. I could see a huge difference in these when compared to our other socks (which are Hanes) these are thicker and seem more durable. Before I could stop them the boys were outside running around in the brand new socks, with no shoes on. At first I was going to stop them, but then I thought, you know what... this will tell me how durable these socks really are.

VERY durable. After being washed, they are good as new. The only problem was when my Mother in law showed up and found the kids running around outside in socks....

her: "those look new, you boys are going to ruin them"

me: "yup they are new... haha." As my eyes pleaded with anyone who would look at me to NOT TELL GRANDMA WE ARE REVIEWING THEM... because Grandma doesn't need to go looking for mommy's blog, ok?

Anyway... where was I? Oh, Yes... You WINNING....

On August 22nd, be sure to visit The Parent Bloggers for a blog blast where you can win some Hanes for your own kids. Plus, be on the lookout for specially-marked packages of Hanes: you could earn a free pair!

WIN! The NEW Veggietales DVD: Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry’s Big River Rescue

2008-07-25T05:17:00.000-07:00

If you were to come to my house and look at the kids DVD collection you would see three different series... The Hermie and Friends Series (by Max Lucado. If you haven't seen these you must! They are AWESOME for kids!!), The Auto B Good Series (Kids LOVE these too!), and of course our favorite VEGGIE TALES! There isn't a single Veggie Tales DVD we don't have... of course Tim and I started collecting them since I was pregnant with Isaiah. I love being able to put on a movie for the kids where I don't have to sit there with my finger on the fast forward button. Not only can I trust these series, my kids actually are learning very valuable lessons mixed in with fun and excitement.

Especially with this new Veggie Tales! Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry’s Big River Rescue is an adventurous story based on James 4:17 - Sometimes not helping someone can be just as bad as actually hurting them. (click on the link to watch the trailer)

Tomato Sawyer and Huckleberry Larry –
two friends homesteading along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. Tom and Huck look forward to owning their own land, building a home and opening Huck’s Jerkyland and Tom’s Tax Preparation. But everything changes when they meet a mysterious stranger who is on the run and trying to find his mama. Will Huck and Tom risk losing all they’ve worked for in order to help someone they hardly know? Find out in this exciting river rescue that reminds kids of the importance of helping others.

You know it's a good movie when mom and dad are laughing along with the kids! (and we were!)

Now... you don't think I would tell you about this without having one to giveaway do you? All you have to do is leave a comment and you will be entered into a drawing to win. Comments will be closed Monday morning when I will use the random generator to pick a winner.

Made possible by Big Idea Productions.

And the Winner is.....

2008-06-09T03:42:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of you that took the time to check out My Fruit Roll Ups and leave a comment! I'm always excited to have something to give away... but a little sad I only have one - I want you all to win!

Without further ado...

The parent Bloggers suggested I use a program called Random.org - you list all your commenter's and they randomly mix it up. If you wrote about it on your own blog I put your name in twice.

And the winner is.... HEATHER! from CountryMandM!! Congratulations Heather! And your idea to hand out fruit roll ups instead of cigars when your baby is born - LOVE IT!

RANDOM.ORG

List Randomizer

There were 11 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

Timestamp: 2008-06-09 01:46:45 UTC

Thanks EVERYONE!!

I Love Comments!

2008-06-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

First and foremost if you haven't left a comment on my last post for a chance to win FREE FOOD! Please do!! Because... FREE FOOD!

Perhaps you have never left a comment? I just want you to know I LOVE COMMENTS!! They make my day! If you have never left one I'll walk you through it... scroll to the bottom of the post, click where it says "lavish me with attention" (it's a joke - just because you leave a comment, doesn't mean you are lavishing me with attention - it means I LOVE COMMENTS!) ahem. A new page will appear write what you would like in said page then you choose if you would like to post as anonymous (which is fine!) or you can click on name/url and enter your name... You do not need a url to have a name - just leave it blank. Then hit publish it will come to me and I will publish it! Easy Breezy Beautiful!!

Now that we have that taken care of...

We are in day 9 of summer vacation and it has rained 7 of those days ( I think) We have played board games, played loud music and danced, watched to much TV, played play dough and moon sand and legos and who knows what, colored, read.... WE NEED TO GO OUTSIDE NOW! It's almost as bad as winter. By the time Tim got home from work yesterday the kids and I were all climbing the walls. So, we went out in a thunderstorm. Tim took us out to dinner and then we went and let Isaiah pick out his new bike. I guess four days cooped up in the house before taking our kids out in public is the way to go... they were so cute and funny. Josiah talked about how the restaurant we ate at was the BEST FOOD EVER! (he typically hates restaurant food) And at the stores he was exclaiming "look at THIS! THIS! is AMAZING!" about everything he saw. An outsider would think it was the first time our child has been in a store.

Isaiah has been earning points still - a system we started in March. We realized a few weeks in that Isaiah needed something bigger than a bowl of ice cream to work towards. He was earning points so quickly the ice cream just didn't cut it. We knew he would be needing a new bike this summer, he got his last bike when he turned 6 - so that bike is now Malachi's size. We told Isaiah in April that if he got 150 points for 30 days he would earn a new bike. It took him 65 days but he did it! (he did earn points everyday... but not always 150) He was so proud of himself as he picked out his new bike - it wasn't easy to earn, but he did it!

I am now 24 - 25 weeks pregnant... despite all the sickness and headaches it really has gone by fast. I just pray the last 12- 13 weeks go by just as fast!! Baby is moving all the time now but is still much more gentle than any of the boys were.

Tim and I have a 'meeting' this weekend to discuss some issues regarding our children's safety with some people who have compromised their safety in some very serious ways. Please pray for us. I am so nervous. Despite my feisty-ness this is a really hard situation to confront. We need to stand in the wisdom God has given us and not back down when protecting our children. So pray for us!! Someday I hope to be able to share more... but right now I just don't feel like it is the time. Right now I still can't breathe when I think about what happened.

Have a wonderful weekend... leave comments - win free food!! And pray for SUN!

MY Fruit Roll Ups!!

2008-06-05T05:55:00.000-07:00

*Give Away Alert! Give Away Alert! Give Away Alert!*

If you have grade school kids, I'm sure you know all about the fruit roll up. But do you know all about the PERSONALIZED fruit roll up??

I went to www.myfruitrollups.com to find an easy to use website (so easy in fact that ANY of my kids would be able to design their own) I decided to put all their names on my design and Josiah, who was helping me, picked a football graphic to put on it as well. About a week later we had a box of 30 individually wrapped fruit roll ups at our door.

Isaiah and Malachi had NO idea what they would find in the box, so I let them open it and unwrap their first fruit roll up... "HOW DID YOU DO THIS???" "AWESOME!" were some of the comments as they hesitated to eat something so cool. Now of course I can't get them to STOP eating something so cool.

The Bottom Line: We had so much fun designing these and it was super fun to get them, however it ain't cheap. The cost is $30.00 and you get a box of 30. I think it would be worth it for a birthday party, or special occasion - but not something I would drop 30 bucks on otherwise.

However, here is the GOOD news!! You can get your own FREE box!!!! All you have to do is go to www.myfruitrollups.com, pick a design, and leave me a comment telling me which design(s) you would choose if you won. I will close comments Sunday night (6/8) and pick a winner at random. Monday morning I will announce the winner.

BUT WAIT!! There's more!! You can earn EXTRA entries for mentioning this giveaway on your blog and adding this blog!! Just mention in your comment that you’ve done these things (or plan to do them) and I’ll credit you the extra entries.

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network.

Boys like Bugs...

2008-05-26T06:07:00.000-07:00

So, no. It was no surprise when the boys all LOVED The Venus Fly Trap. "It catches bugs?? AWESOME!" We live in a very buggy climate... however, with the LOOONNNGGG winter, it's taken some time for the bugs to come out and play. But when they finally did - we were ready with our Venus Fly Trap!!

This is from the Discovery Store and comes completely assembled - all we had to do was add the batteries, bate it and wait. When it caught a bug there was much rejoicing from the boys... mommy may have 'eeked' and ran the other way. Malachi decided he was going to draw pictures of the bugs we caught, because "I'm a scientist who catches and studies bugs!"

Boys like bugs!

The Discovery Store has all sorts of fun "bug toys" that I think boys and girls will love... have a budding entomologist in your house? Head on over to the discovery store and check it out!!

This review made possible by: The Parent Bloggers Network

Beware of cute Target cups...

2008-04-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

If you see these adorable cups during your next trip to Target, and your four year old exclaims, "oh mommy, may I PLEASE have a tea cup?" And you think it's so cute to hear your four year old little boy say tea cup so you buy one... DON'T DO IT!!! These cups DO NOT OPEN. It took me 30 minutes to pry it open so I could put "tea" in it... and now I can't even pry it open again. Meanwhile, my cute little four year old is very upset that he can't have more "tea" in his tea cup.

The adorableness of this cup is not worth the pain in my hands and arms from trying over and over to get it open.

You've been warned!

It's March 17th... The MIDDLE of March... St. Patricks Day...

2008-03-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

And wouldn't you know it... It's snowing. Not just a little, it's REALLY snowing.

Here is the view from my front door...

What's the view from your front door?

I may be bummed about my lack of spring, but I do have something that may bring some cheer to this dreary day...

My Friends Tigger and Pooh: Friendly Tails ... An adorable movie about being friends! Go HERE to watch a clip.

The only thing I didn't like about this DVD was the PREVIEWS! OH MY WORD! This is for preschoolers... WHY? Disney? are there previews for Pirates of the Caribbean on it???? As with ANY of the Disney DVD's we have I always fast forward through the gazillion previews. Which, frankly is a pain.

But, other than that little detail, it's such a cute movie and you really should leave a comment to WIN A FREE COPY!!!
Just leave me a comment about telling me what the view from your front door is, is there grass? Do you see grass? Maybe even a flower or two???

(Tomorrow sometime Josiah and I will draw randomly.)

WOOHOO!! A Giveaway!!

2008-02-18T08:59:00.000-08:00

I think I finished our taxes. I hope I did it right. Fingers crossed...

So. In honor of my finishing our taxes, and Presidents Day!! (Woohoo NO SCHOOL!!) (Also, possibly the narcotics I'm currently high on) I have a little giveaway for you!!

Tomorrow two great DVD's will be available in stores... (but I have one copy each to give away TODAY!!)

The Little Einsteins Race for Space

I'm sure you have all seen Little Einsteins... but if you haven't it's a fun and educational cartoon for kids. In this particular episode the Little Einsteins zoom to outer space on their most thrilling voyage ever! Then, they race around the globe against the world's greatest flying machines. We had fun exploring the ancient city of Machu Picchu, whooshing past stars and planets, and searching for hidden treasure in Hawaii.

and

Handy Manny Fixing It Right.

My boys LOVE Handy Manny. TALKING TOOLS!!! This is a fun DVD about overcoming fears, doing things for others, and solving the mystery of "where do socks go?" When they fix a clothes dryer.

My kids love these DVD's, and I'm sure your kids will too! So, go on... leave a comment, tell me why you read my blog and which DVD you would like!! That's it!

I will randomly pick two winners first thing tomorrow morning!! (and will mail it ASAP!!)

Cold Weather Logistics...

2008-01-25T06:52:00.000-08:00

It has been so cold here that I can't remember the last time the boys got to go outside and play. Has it been 2 weeks? 3 weeks? It's been a long time. I usually will let them go out if it's sunny and 0 degrees or warmer, and if it's overcast and windy it has to be 10 degrees or warmer. We've had some beautiful sunny days the last few weeks, but the temperatures stayed very close to the -20's.

Seriously. I live in Antarctica.

Unless you live somewhere that gets this cold, you don't really think about the normal day to day things that are effected...

Like driving....

They salt the roads here, salt rusts cars. So, I try to get a car wash whenever I get gas. However, the car washes don't work unless it's 0 degrees or warmer. It's been about four weeks since I've had a car wash, and I can't even see my van anymore.

Thankfully, there is a great product on shelves made by Prestone. They sent us a couple products actually... a windshield de-icer that Tim grabbed and took to his car since he has to park his car outside at work all day long. He said it works really fast and he wants to get more. I park in the garage, so I got the Prestone washer fluid booster I love it. It cleans my windshield without freezing... So while the rest of my van is covered in salt and residue and who knows what, my windshields are clean with a nice sparkle.

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network

Happy 2008 to you... Don't forget to Gargle...

2008-01-02T06:46:00.000-08:00

Simply Gargle that is.

So, here's the scoop... Simply Gargle is a pre-mixed, pre-measured blend of salt water, herbs and vitamins. And I have a confession... it's simply disgusting. In a good way, of course. I could not gargle this salt water concoction without gagging. I begged others to "just try it... do it, do it!!" I got the hubs to give a whirl, once. I got my sister to gargle it, once. The comment from both of them... "Disgusting!" Although, my sisters scratchy throat DID feel better.

Also? They come in convenient little travel size doses, you are supposed to be able to twist it open and gargle on the go... well. Maybe it's just me... but, I could not for the life of me twist these things open. I'm just sayin'.

In conclusion... If you can handle gargling salt water, this is a great item to have on hand. It's a natural way to ward off illness. And natural is good.

They have several kinds: Sore Throat and Cough, Cold & Flu, Night Time Formula and, Allergy and Hay Fever.

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers

The Talking Microscope...

2007-12-19T06:53:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to post a review on the 17th.

Oops.

The parent bloggers even emailed me TWICE to remind me.

The product is

the Spark ™ Talking Microscope

and it's so much fun! Actually, I would recommend several of the toys from the Discovery channel store. Isaiah thinks like a mechanic, he likes to know how things work, how to put things together... the Discovery channel store has so many items for kids his age! The talking microscope was right up Malachi's ally. He learned all about the different bugs that came with the microscope on slides. You pop the slide on the microscope, and it tells you several different facts. Very Very cool. Also, it's durable. It's not one of those microscopes you have to hide from the younger siblings.

I love this microscope... and so do all four of my boys!

Parent Bloggers... I am SO SORRY I forgot.

No other can compare...

2007-12-10T06:24:00.000-08:00

If I had to pick one product that made having babies a little bit easier it would with out a doubt be Pampers swaddlers and Pampers cruisers. They are the one brand I can always depend on. These diapers have passed the rigorous test over the past 9 years of diapering my baby boys. When other diapers leak... the cruisers never have. When other diapers cause a rash, I go running back to the cruisers (and also the pampers sensitive wipes!! They help restore the natural pH balance!!)
I have gushed and made no secrets of my love for the cruisers/swaddlers here on this blog, so I was beyond thrilled when Pampers sent me a pack of cruisers and sensitive wipes. I didn't need that pack of diapers to tell you you how much I love these diapers... but I am thankful they sent them!

If you haven't yet... Try them! Really!

OR! Looking for a great gift for a new mom, or almost due mom? Pampers! Trust me... it's the best gift!

AirDrives... Listen Smarter

2007-12-06T07:10:00.000-08:00

I will have a couple posts this month with items I've had the pleasure of reviewing. Especially great for Christmas gift ideas....

Today I'm going to tell you about this awesome, new product called AirDrives...

Using proprietary InAir Technology, AirDrives interactive stereo earphones were created with speakers that lay on the outside of the ear, which helps to deliver rich, natural sound and makes them more comfortable than conventional ear buds and earphones. In addition, audiologist testing indicates that AirDrives passes the House Ear Institute and OSHA (Occupational and Safety Health Administration) standards for all-day listening based on sound pressure levels detected at the inner ear. This added element of hearing protection, combined with AirDrives’ performance-driven magnesium design for lightweight, directional sound control, makes the earphones a safe and durable option no matter what your activity.
The AirDrives are designed for the active lifestyle and incorporate a volume ramp and magnesium transducer housings. The transducers are housed in durable, performance driven magnesium. The sleek molded ear grips form to fit your ears. Make them tight for intense sports or loose for comfort. AirDrives are made to support sweat from exercise, while safely having full awarness of your surroundings.

Parents will also appreciate the inherent safety of AirDrives. The open architecture leaves the auditory canal unplugged, thus protecting ears from potentially damaging decibel levels typically associated with conventional ear buds. AirDrives for Kids have the same adjustability and sound as the original minus the magnesium and volume ramp to make this innovative technology affordable for pre-teens and teens alike.

AirDrives are compatible with iPod, MP3 Players, computers and portable DVD systems, and will be available at major retailers beginning October 2007. The suggested retail price is $99.99 for AirDrives, and $69.99 for AirDrives for Kids.

We LOVE these!! The boys have an electric drum set, which they use headphones with. I immediately had them start using the AirDrives, and noticed a HUGE difference! They can actually hear me if I come into the room while they are playing and talk to them... They can hear me AND the drums.
Also, with all the problems Malachi has had with his ear, I especially love that these are safe and approved by audiologists. We all know kids love to listen to loud music, now they can do it safely!

Jump Start World...

2007-11-25T17:05:00.000-08:00

The boys were lucky enough to receive a copy of Jump Start World, a computer learning game, to review. I can't pull them away from it... They LOVE it. It's become one of those "things" that I use... you know like... "clean your rooms if you want to play Jump Start!!!" And it works!! They run to accomplish their task so they can play more.

What's nice about Jump Start, is that it's FUN... like, really, really fun! Isaiah's character has a puppy now. His name is Bandit. Isaiah's taught him all sorts of tricks and Malachi's character has a cabin that he decorated with art work. But to get those things there are games that build math, reading and critical thinking skills. The boys work to earn "gems" and with those gems they are able to buy things at the store, and open up new places to explore.

I like that it's challenging. Isaiah (age 9) has breezed through the games, but he isn't bored at all. Malachi (age 5) has to spend more time on the games, but he doesn't get frustrated because of all the fun things he is earning.

Out of ALL the things I've reviewed this is my absolute favorite. I would absolutely buy this (and I plan on buying the other levels I don't have).

So... Good News!! The Jump Start website offers a free trial that you can download and the game is $19.95 and is for K, 1st and 2nd grade.

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network!!

Picky Eaters?

2007-10-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

If you have picky eaters and it's a struggle to get vegetables in them.... this book is for you!

Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld

This fun cookbook is full of kid friendly recipes that have hidden veggies in them.... what's not to love?

I am all about getting veggies into my kids by any means necessary. I buy fettuccine noodles with spinach in them, the kids actually request "green noodles" for their pasta. But, would my kids ask for spinach? Not on your life.

So,I love the concept of this cookbook. However, for just about every recipe, you have to puree the veggies. At first, I was really turned off by that. I didn't really feel like I have time to puree anything. But,it really isn't that hard. And if it means the pancakes with pured sweet potatoes are full of vitamin a and c... well, it's worth the few extra minutes.

I think this is a great cookbook, and would be a great addition to anyones kitchen!!

Buy it here:

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers

LUVS Bear Hug Stretch

2007-10-10T06:49:00.000-07:00

I was given the opportunity to review the newest diapers on shelves... LUVS Bear Hug Stretch. I know I've mentioned more than once my diaper woes, especially with any brand other than the pampers cruisers/swaddlers. (and no, pampers does not pay me to say that...darn it!) However, that never stops me from giving other brands, especially other much less expensive brands, a fair chance at keeping my baby's bottom... um... diapered.

So, here's the thing... While the Luvs Bear Hug Stretch are half the price of the Pampers Cruisers, I went through them in half the time, because of leakage problems. Every single diaper in the entire pack leaked. It was frustrating because, that means more laundry and more diaper changes. And also? Elijah developed a rash, a bad rash that took forever to get rid of.

What's funny is that I know several moms who LOVE LUVS! Especially moms of girls. I had one mom tell me that LUVS is the only diaper that does not leak on her daughter.

Very Interesting.

I think it's worth giving these diapers a chance, you never know, and at $7.97 to $8.97 for a 40-count bag of Luvs, I think it's worth a shot!!

So, tell me... What brand diaper do you use? What has been your experience with diapers?

Español del amor de los cabritos...

2007-09-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

I was given an opportunity to review a DVD series called "Kids Love Spanish". It's a set created by two moms (sisters) that includes 7 DVDs covering basic words, alphabet & numbers, family, food, colors & shapes, animals and basic phrases.

My take on it... You can tell it was two moms who made these. It looks like they filmed right in their homes. So... Cheesy? Yes.

However. They are very repetitive and the kids really did pick up a lot of Spanish. The kids also didn't mind that they were cheesy.

For me, I could tolerate them if I didn't watch (Just listened). And I learned some Spanish as well.

So the verdict...

I think they are great for teaching Spanish, they feature several kids saying the same word over and over, so you get an opportunity to hear the same word (like "agua") in different accents.

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network.

Personalized Books for Children...

2007-08-21T06:45:00.000-07:00

When I was given the opportunity to review a personalized children's book, I was very excited! You may have noticed... my boys have (not as much anymore) unusual names. Not the kind of names we come across in our story books.

I went to the printakid website to personalize a book for the boys.... the only trouble I had was trying to figure out which boy to personalize it for. I found a book called "Laughing All the Way to School" and since were trying to get Josiah ready for preschool, I choose that one. I was able to add Isaiah and Malachi's names as the names of friends.

I can't even say how much we love this book.... it's funny and well written. It had all my boys laughing hysterically! Josiah noticed immediately that it was him in the story, and thought that was amazing! Isaiah and Malachi are always asking to read it to him, and love that they make an appearance.

If your looking for personalized books for children, I would highly recommend printakid.

A variety of books for ages 3 - 10.

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network.

Little Einsteins...

2007-08-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

Hitting stores tomorrow is the newest Little Einstein movie... Rocket's Firebird Rescue. We received a copy a week ago to review, and we love it!!

Is there anything better than educational shows that the kids love to watch? Little Einsteins is a 'crowd pleaser' in this house every time!!

The kids favorite part was the "Magic Mission Mode" Which made the movie more interactive. They were able to play along and answer questions using the remote.

Click HERE for fun activities and a preview of the movie.

I also have a movie for YOU to WIN...

Disney Princess Enchanted Tales: Follow Your Dreams - Out on DVD 9/4

(click on the picture for more info on the movie)

All you have to do is leave a comment.

(You don't have to have kids to comment.)

Got Spit Up?

2007-08-15T12:29:00.000-07:00

The 'spit up rag' has come along way, gone are the days of using an old cloth diaper....

I was given the opportunity to review another spit up 'rag' called the Handy Burpee. You may remember my review of the Burp Catcher... if not, you can refresh your memory here.

Back when I reviewed the burp catcher... I had a newborn I was (sort of) able to try it out on. Unfortunately, for the reviews sake, not my own sake, Elijah isn't really at an age where I was able to make could use of the Handy Burpee. BUT! I can still tell those of you with little itty babies about it...

First of all it is SO SOFT!! I love the flannel material. I do use it often to wipe Elijah's sensitive face.

They have a step by step picture guide and video about the Handy Burpee HERE. I love how you can use it WHILE feeding your baby. It really is practical!!

This best sums it up from the web site:

So how does it work? Our baby burp cloth protects your hand and baby from wearing spit-up after nursing session or bottle:

Slide your hand into the protective pocket leaving your thumb out.

Cradle baby's face with covered hand.

Lean baby forward, gently patting and rubbing to help baby burp.

Now, when baby spits up, it will run onto the Handy Burpee^TM keeping your hand and baby free from spit-up.

The other great feature is the designs. Very cute! And it comes packaged so adorable!! These make wonderful gifts for new moms!!

PS. These are handmade by a mom... the quality, cute kind of thing you might find on, oh, I don't know... ETSY? Which remindes me... WHY! Did no one tell me about ETSY???? WHY! Am I just NOW finding out about it???

The 24 - Hour Pharmacist...

2007-07-18T06:43:00.000-07:00

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK.

A couple reasons why....

1. I love the way it's written. Author Suzy Cohen puts together TONS of medical advice in story form. Seriously... you could sit down and read this book cover to cover. It is so easy and FUN! to read.

2. The INFO! wow.

Have a migraine? Skip the Excedrin, try some magnesium. Malachi has allergies... he has been taking singular. The singular has been causing bad dreams and restlessness. I looked up allergies in The 24 - Hour Pharmacist, and wadya know... it says allergy meds cause bad dreams and restlessness, and to try lemon balm. Thank you 24 Hour Pharmacist, I will!

It covers everything!! BUY.THIS.BOOK. You neeeeeedddddd it!!!

Or, better yet... WIN.THIS.BOOK. Go here and leave a comment to be entered in to win a $50 gift card, and a copy of this book!!

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network.

Noah's Pals

2007-07-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Noah's Pals!!!

Not only did the kids go wild when they saw these animal pairs arrive in our mail box, but my oldest, the history buff LOVED all the information that came with each animal. Go ahead... click on the picture of Garth & Grace Giraffe... Fun, right?

These are hand painted, and tell you what the scale is. They are amazingly accurate. They are for children 5 and older, because there are sharp and small pieces... but my three year old has no problem playing with them.

If you are looking for toys that will encourage creativity, these are for you!! In a day in age where kids sit in front of the T.V or the computer WAY. TOO. MUCH.

These are fun for the kids because of all the information that comes with them. LOVE!!!

Buy Noah's Pals at a reduced price on Amazon!!!

This Review made possible by the Parent Bloggers

And one more thing....

2007-07-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

We just started week two of swim lessons. Josiah started out week one in the preschool level. (He's 3) And by the end of the week was ready for level 1. Malachi is hanging in there at level 2, he's doing great!! And Isaiah... my little fish. He's already at level 4... diving and being challenged on his stroke techniques.

Today was craaaazy... Malachi woke up very sick. So, obviously he could not do swim lessons today. But Isaiah and Josiah "REALLY. WANT. TO. GO. Pleassssseeeeeeeeee" In theory I could make it work. See... Josiah's class is first, followed by Isaiah's class, Malachi goes last. So, my thought was to leave the boys in the van... RUN Josiah in, RUN back to the van to be sure no one had stole my children, or called CPS. In theory I would do the same thing when it was Isaiah's turn. Because. Y'all. I'm INSANE.

In Reality....

Poor Malachi had his head in the throw up bowl from the second we pulled out of the driveway. I made several pit stops to empty the bowl, and hand it back to him. In Reality... it stunk. I turned up the AC. Cold Air makes icky smells better. The kids were "FREEZING" I may or may not have swore at myself in my head... because GENIUS. PLAN. FALLING. APART.

We got to the swimming facility, and I ran Josiah in... leaving Isaiah with specific instructions like - "hold the cell phone. if anyone even looks at the van call 911." I ran Josiah to his class, and blurted out to his teacher "IhavesickkidsinthevansoIcan'tstayandchatbye." To which she responded by talking my ear off.

GENIUS. PLAN. FALLINNNGGGGG. APPARRRTTTTT.

When I got back to the van, I was relieved to find my children alive and well. When it was Isaiah's turn, I just took the kids in with me, I didn't want to contaminate the place with Malachi's illness... but, chatty teacher STRESSED.ME.OUT.

------------------------------

And now a few words on the last few reviews I did...

1. I have a cold. I got it the day after I posted my review of Nozin. Nuff said.

2. I mentioned in my review of Kaboom that I was unable to use the "NeverScrub" toilet system. So... Kaboom sent me a brand new, new and improved, NeverScrub system!! It smells like I just cleaned the toilet every time I flush. I'll be reviewing the Kaboom again in a few weeks. But So far. AWESOME! MUST HAVE!!!!

Nozin...

2007-07-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

This time the Parent Bloggers asked me to stick something up my nose....

The things I do.

But hey... if it'll keep me from getting sick, I'd be willing to do pretty much anything.

Nozin is a nasal sanitizer that comes in q-tip form. There is liquid in the stick part of the q-tip. All you do is bend it, watch the q-tip swab get moist and rub it in your nose.

I was surprised by the smell... it is an orange smell, very pleasant. Except for the minor detail that it smells JUST like the orange oil I use to clean my wood furniture/floors.

Floor cleaner in my nose... fun.

Did I get sick while using Nozin? Nope. I don't think I was exposed to anything... but, that's the point... we go out and are in contact with who knows what. We will be traveling the end of the month, and I will be Nozin it up, because better safe than sorry!

Too bad they don't make something like Nozin for allergies. In one of the homes I staged, they had a cat... I am very allergic to cats. I sneezed I don't know how many times. I wonder if Nozin kills the germs coming OUT of my nose too? I'd feel much better about sneezing all over the place if that were true.

One more thing worth mentioning... I did get a ZIT in m y nose while using Nozin... and it HURT!!

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network

Garage Sale America

2007-06-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

An amazing book by Bruce Littlefield. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It's one of those colorfully illustrated books you leave on your coffee table.

I'm not much of a garage sale-r . Unloading four kids... trying to keep them within eye site... digging through someone else's junk in hopes of a find a treasure... ya. Not my thing.

I'm a one stop shop kind of girl.

But, I have to say.... this book made me want to be a garage sale junkie. Who knows.... you might just find me at the next big garage sale.

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network.

Vaccinated...

2007-06-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

Vaccinated

One Man's Quest to Defeat the World's Deadliest Diseases

By Paul A. Offit, M.D.

"The problem with vaccines... When they work, absolutely nothing happens. Nothing. Parents go on with their lives, not once thinking that their child was saved from meningitis caused by Hib or from liver cancer caused by hepatitis B or from fatal pneumonia caused by pneumococcus or from paralysis caused by polio. We live in a state of blissful denial. But somebody was getting those diseases. Before the Hib vaccine in the early 1990's, every year about TEN THOUSAND children were stricken with meningitis, leaving many blind, deaf, and retarded. Today, fewer than fifty children every year suffer this disease."

- From Vaccinated

Vaccinated is an easy to read history of vaccines. Specifically about Maurice Hilleman, the man responsible for saving some eight million lives worldwide every year with the vaccines he created.

I love information. I love learning new things. Vaccinated is full of information about all the vaccines we immunize our children with. Something I really didn't think twice about when Isaiah was born. It was a non issue. They told me it was best... and so I had him immunized.

Same with Malachi... no big deal.

And then we moved to the Midwest. Suddenly I was confronted with many mothers who firmly believed against immunizations. It is a major controversy. I couldn't wait to read and review this book, so I could be better educated. I have had two more babies since moving to the Midwest... and I have done some research, and still decided that vaccines are the better choice. Reading this book gave me the information I needed to have a conversation with those who question our decision to have our kids vaccinated.

I can still VIVIDLY remember having a fun little "mommy lunch" at my house... I made sandwiches and homemade soup and invited about 10 mommy's over. It started out fine... conversation flowed.... and then conversation took an unexpected turn... vaccines. There were a few mothers that did not believe in vaccinating, and a few who did... the rest of us sat there quietly. I could not believe the heated argument that ensued.

One of the main reasons, I think, mothers don't vaccinate is the association the MMR vaccine has with autism. Which is covered in this book.

Dr. Andrew Wakefield, a charming British doctor, signed a contract with Richard Barr, a personal injury lawyer. Together they made unfounded statements claiming MMR causes autism. Never mind the fact, he was never able to prove this. Never mind the fact that if everyone decided that MMR was unsafe, we would have an epidemic of...

Mumps: (Mumps can lead to inflammation and swelling of the brain and other organs, Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) Symptoms appear in the first week after the parotid glands begin to swell and may include: high fever, stiff neck, headache, nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, convulsions, and other signs of brain involvement.)

Measles: (Complications of measles can include: ear infections, convulsions due to the fever (febrile convulsions), pneumonia, conjunctivitis and occasionally more serious eye problems. The heart and nervous system may also be affected. Measles can be fatal or lead to continuing disability, so prevention is much the best option, as no cure yet exists.

Measles is very rare in the United States. Due to widespread immunizations, the number of U.S. measles cases has steadily declined in the last 50 years. There were thousands of cases of the measles in 1950, but in 2002 there were just 44. Most of the time, the cases occur in settings where there are lots of kids, some of whom haven't gotten vaccinated or whose immunity has diminished since they got the vaccine.

The most important thing you can do to protect your child from measles is to have him or her vaccinated according to the schedule prescribed by your child's doctor.)

and Rubella: (When rubella occurs in a pregnant woman, it may cause congenital rubella syndrome, with potentially devastating consequences for the developing fetus. Children who are infected with rubella before birth are at risk for growth retardation; mental retardation; malformations of the heart and eyes; deafness; and liver, spleen, and bone marrow problems.

Infants who have congenital rubella syndrome can shed the virus in urine and fluid from the nose and throat for a year or more and may pass the virus to people who have not been immunized.

Before a vaccine against rubella became available in 1969, rubella epidemics occurred every 6 to 9 years. Kids ages 5 to 9 were primarily affected, and many cases of congenital rubella occurred as well. Now, due to immunization of children, there are much fewer cases of rubella and congenital rubella.

Most rubella infections today appear in young, non-immunized adults rather than children. In fact, experts estimate that 10% of young adults are currently susceptible to rubella, which could pose a danger to any children they might have someday.)

ACTUAL studies prove that there is no link between autism and the MMR vaccine. Even Dr. Andrew Wakefield himself, writes that there is no proof.

Autism typically shows up between a child's 1st and 2nd birthday... The MMR vaccine is typically given 12 - 15 months of age.

An example from the book about the power of an anecdote:

A mother of a 4 month old brought her baby into the office for shots. The baby was sitting on the mother's lap while I was drawing one of the vaccines into a syringe. I looked over and the baby had started to seize. There was a history of seizures in the family, and the child went on to become epileptic. But imagine what the mother would have thought if I had given the vaccine just five minutes earlier. She would have been convinced that the vaccine had caused her daughter's epilepsy. And all of the statistical data in the world showing her that it didn't wouldn't have convinced her otherwise."

As Americans... we take for granted how blessed we are to have access to these vaccines that save our lives. And those that don't vaccinate... take for granted the fact that if the rest of us followed in suit, we would all be dying of the diseases that killed thousands before us.

Before you decided to not vaccinate... I encourage you to read this book.

Before I read this book, I thought vaccinating was a good idea. After reading it, I KNOW it's a good idea.

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network

Kaboom...

2007-06-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

The Parent Bloggers asked if I was interested in reviewing some cleaning products awhile back... I, of course, said I would.

Because... I would do pretty much anything for free cleaning products.

Now... I have to admit, I was biased before the products even arrived... because anyone willing to send me free cleaning products deserves a raving review... am I right?

Or is it a sad day for stay home moms when we get excited over FREE. CLEANING. PRODUCTS. WOOHOO!!!!!

So... this is what I got...

Kaboom NeverScrub! Continuous Toilet Cleaning System

The idea is that you hook it up in the tank of the toilet, and it keeps your toilet nice and clean. I have no doubt this would actually have worked, had I been able to hook it up. We just got a new tank not long ago, and the inside workings were not compatible with the Kaboom system. Hopefully, Kaboom can modify the product a bit to make it compatible with all tank systems... because it's a great idea!!

Kaboom® Shower, Tub & Tile Cleaner!

Kaboom says:

Use Kaboom Shower, Tub & Tile Cleaner

On mineral deposits, soap scum, rust, iron or hard water stains, scale and lime...
To clean copper, brass, brass plating, steel fixtures, toilets, tubs, sinks, floors and walls...
As a healthier alternative to ammonia-based or acidic solutions.

Things I battle on the tile in my bathroom... mineral deposits, soap scum, rust, iron, hard water stains... to name a few. To say I was anticipating great things from this product is an understatement. Did it deliver? Sorta. It wasn't bad. It works just fine with a LOT of elbow grease. Was it the miracle product I've been waiting for? The one where I spray it on, walk away... return an hour later to find my tub and tile shining beautifully. Sadly... no. I'm still waiting.

But, I have to applaud Kaboom for putting their products directly into the hands of mommy bloggers.... that says something about them.

So... Thank You Kaboom. And, Thank You Parent Bloggers. A clean bathroom, is a happy bathroom.

EHarmony Marriage

2007-06-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

So... we were asked to review the EHarmony Marriage program. Founded by Dr. and Dr. Les and Leslie Parrott. It's basically online marriage counseling.

I say "we" because this was one of those reviews my husband had to take part in. I say "had" because I made him do it. He actually enjoyed it... the torturing me by not letting me see his survey. The program starts out by having both the husband and wife fill out a separate survey answering tons of questions about your marriage, personality and etc. Then... based on your answers, it lists the different marriage components with little faces that are either smiling or frowning, or something in between under our names... for example...

VALUES

Respecting each other's beliefs and spirituality .

The other components they cover are...

Dreams
Communication
Sex
Commitment
Wellness
Trust
Home
Family
Companionship

It also gave us exercises to work on together covering topics like finances and conflict management. We got online videos and activities and access to the advice corner.

This was one of those reviews I went into half heartedly... but ended up really liking the product, and being glad for the opportunity to try it out. I highly recommend EHarmony Marriage for those of you with a thriving, strong marriage and for those of you that would welcome some advice. It's worth your time! (And it does take a lot of time)

For more information and more reviews go HERE.

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network

Get A Hobby!

2007-05-31T05:08:00.000-07:00

Is your daily grind taking the joy out of life? Don't get glum - get a hobby!

If your anything like me... the word "hobby" doesn't make me think of things I would be interested in. If I were asked what my hobbies are... I'd be stumped... "ahhh, ummm, ehhh....????"
However, when this book arrived to review, I found out I actually do have hobbies. And that hobbies are good for you... Dr. Miguel Figueroa reveals that practicing a hobby boosts your all around mental and physical health.

This book has 101 hobbies listed. Each hobby is laid out on two pages, with an easy to read guide on what you'll need...an overview... a project...and how to get started.
I found many hobbies listed that I already do... like blogging. How sweet it is to know, I can now tell my husband that blogging will boost my mental and physical(?) health. There were other things too like photography, candle making and drying flowers.
The icing on the cake, was my boys, flipping through the book finding things there interested in.... lego building, model aircraft, balloon twisting, robot building... to name a few. (they also thought dumpster diving looked like fun, but I'm hoping they forget that one)

Looking for activities to keep the family occupied this summer? This book is a GREAT resource. I also think it would make a great gift! Buy it HERE!!

What better way to start pursuing a new hobby than with your own copy of the book and a $100 gift card to Michael’s Arts and Crafts. All you have to do is leave a comment HERE to be entered to win!!!

This review made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network

Go Potty Go!

2007-05-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

Yup. Still trying to potty train Josiah... who's THREE now. He's a stubborn little bugger.

So. Thank You Parent Bloggers Network for asking me to review Go Potty Go... an adorable video about two pandas named Paige and Parker who are learning to use the potty with their animal friends... they sing songs and dance their way through all the pertinent topics such as where to go potty, how to go potty, wiping, pulling up your pants and washing your hands when your done going potty.

The big question... is Josiah potty trained YET? Um. Well. Sorta. He does try now... that's something. It's more than he would do before "Go Potty Go!" entered our lives. I will keep encouraging him to use the toilet, and we will keep watching the dvd.

The songs are very catchy... everyone has been singing them, from Josiah to daddy. I only have one complaint... one of the songs. The lyrics go something like... "diapers are for babies, and thats ok. but I want to be a big kid, do things the big kid way" My boys immediately started calling Josiah a baby... Ugh. BOYS!

All in all a great tool for introducing or reinforcing potty training.

OOPS!!! I FORGOT TO MENTION... Go HERE and leave a comment to get your OWN copy of 'Go Potty Go!'

ps. be sure to read about our adventure to the e.r. yesterday.

The Dangerous Book For Boys...

2007-05-03T04:39:00.000-07:00

The honest truth is that I was put off a little by the title of this book. But not for the same reasons as some of the other reviewers... I have four wild boys people. Why would I buy a book that says "dangerous" on the cover?

To my pleasant surprise this is not a "dangerous" book at all... it's ADVENTUROUS! And adventurous my boys are... so this book is perfect!

I've read a couple reviews on this book where they mentioned they don't like that it says "boys" because girls would like this book too... as a mother of all boys, I am glad it specifies boys. I think that is one of the reasons my boys as well as the neighbor boys liked the book. It makes them feel special... like "I need to know these things"

Some of the topics covered in the book are...

The Greatest Paper Airplane in the World
The Five Knots Every Boy Should Know
Slingshots
Fossils
Building a Treehouse
Making a Bow and Arrow
Fishing
Timers and Tripwires
Baseball's "Most Valuable Players"
Famous Battles-Including Lexington and Concord, The Alamo, and Gettysburg
Spies-Codes and Ciphers
Making a Go-Cart
Navajo Code Talkers' Dictionary
Girls
Cloud Formations
Navigation
The Declaration of Independence
Skimming Stones
Making a Periscope
The Ten Commandments
Juggling
Sampling Shakespeare
Latin Phrases Every Boy Should Know

Seriously! That is just SOME of the chapters!! I have to highlight one chapter... GIRLS. The book has 8 pieces of advice for boys concerning girls... I have to share a few of them. For those of you with boys - you will appreciate these nuggets of advice:

Be careful with humor. It is very common for boys to try to impress girls with a string of jokes, each one more desperate than the last. One joke, perhaps, and then a long silence while she talks about herself....

Avoid being vulgar. Excitable bouts of windbreaking will not endear you to a girl, just to pick one example.

If you see a girl in need of help - unable to lift something, for example - do not taunt her. Approach the object and greet her with a cheerful smile, while surreptitiously testing the weight of the object. If you find you can lift it, go ahead. If you can't, try sitting on it and engaging her in conversation.

I LOVE it!! A book FULL of activities and information... A MUST BUY!!!!

My boys with one of the neighbor boys reading 'The Dangerous Book for Boys'

ENTER to WIN a two man tent by leaving a comment HERE - tell them Sarah's Dandelions sent you!!

Buy the book HERE

Getting Ready For Kindergarten...

2007-04-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

In four short months my little Malachi will be going to kindergarten. KINDERGARTEN.
Malachi in Kindergarten. I chuckle at the thought. Not because he isn't doing wonderful
in preschool... it's just that he's ACTIVE. And TALKATIVE. And did I mention ACTIVE?
Going to school EVERY. SINGLE. DAY seems like a lot for an active boy.

Malachi is very advanced spiritually, creatively and actively, and he keeps up
with his fellow preschoolers academically, but barely.

For one he is ambidextrous (uses both hands to write) mostly he uses
his left hand though…(I think it’s possible he tries to use his right hand
at school because it’s hard to use scissors and etc. made for the right
hand in your left hand)

I recently read a study on left handed males that said they are more
creative than right-handed people. There is a definite correlation between
left-handedness and creativity/intelligence.  Left-handers' brains are
structured differently in a way that widens their range of abilities, and
the genes that determine left-handedness also
govern development of the language centers of the brain.

Yup... that's Malachi... creative and talkative.

A few months ago the Parent Bloggers Network asked if I would be
interested in reviewing the    “Let’s Get Ready For Kindergarten”  book…
to which I responded... YES!


It came in the mail and I immediately handed it to Malachi… who
immediately devoured it cover to cover.  To say he loves this book
would be a major understatement.

BEFORE we got the book… Malachi had trouble counting, did not know his
address or phone number, had trouble with the alphabet…

But NOW… after about a month with the book, he can count to 100… he can
name all the numbers mixed up, he knows his alphabet, he knows his
phone number, and almost has his address down.  SERIOUSLY.

He LOVES the book SO much, he carries it with him EVERYWHERE…
he even took it to school to show his preschool teacher and all his friends.

I am amazed.  Truly.

The book is not only an amazing teaching tool, it is durable… trust me…
this book has been through it all… and you can use a dry erase marker
on it…nice for tracing letters and numbers.  

Also, my three year old loves this book as well… and has been learning
right beside Malachi.  It’s brightly illustrated, it’s interactive, and all while
featuring the core curriculum of kindergarten.

TWO THUMBS UP!!!!


There is also another book called “Let’s Get Ready For First Grade”  
You can WIN BOTH books by leaving a comment  HERE.



ps.  sorry about the funky looking sentences... blogger...ugh.

Review of Huggies Overnights...

2007-03-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

First of all let me confess my undying affection and loyalty to Pampers Cruisers. I love thee Pampers Cruisers... you have been here for me through the years, never leaking, never causing rashes... why you continue to make other kinds of pampers diapers is beyond me... please just stop making the other types of diapers, stick with the Cruisers and the Swaddlers and gosh darn it reduce the price!!! M'Kay??

Whew. I didn't realize I had all that pent up.

So... the Huggies Overnights....

I have never, never, never been a fan of Huggies. When Malachi was a baby someone gave us Huggies as a gift... they leaked and caused a rash so bad I had to get a special medication to get rid of it. That was my last experience with the blasted diapers over 4 and half years ago.

Fast forward to now.

When The Parent Bloggers asked if I had a child in diapers that leaked at night... I had to admit I do. NOT because Josiah is wearing Cruisers... we took him out of the Cruisers when we decided to start potty training. We have been putting him in cheap diapers or pull ups at night. And he has been waking up soaked every morning. We got the Huggies and started using them that night. To be perfectly honest I really thought they would cause a rash. But, to my surprise they didn't. They not only hold more fluid than a lake, they didn't cause a rash either. Obviously Huggies has improved in the 4.5 years I have spent avoiding them.

I would HIGHLY recommend the Huggies Overnights IF they are cheaper than the Cruisers. I went to the store to get check out the price and get more... unfortunately they do not carry them at any store in my neck of the woods yet. So after looking at them on Amazon it looks like they are the same price as the Cruisers. And honestly, you can't go wrong with either one.

So... Bottom line... The Huggies Overnights fit great, don't leak AT ALL and do not cause a rash. As a mother, I look for the BEST diaper, as well as the BEST price. In this case, because I feel the Overnights are as good as the Cruisers... I would buy the cheaper of the two.

This review was made possible by The Parent Bloggers Network.

The Burpcatcher...

2007-02-22T20:39:00.000-08:00

What mommy? You want me to spit up in the pocket?

Today is my first product review for the parent bloggers network.
Now Y’all know I’ll do anything for a freebie, especially share my
opinion…so the parent bloggers are a perfect fit for me!! They review all sorts
of products so pop over there and check it out!

When I first heard I was getting a burpcatcher I was trying to picture what
a burpcatcher would be… It came in a pack of two made out of a soft flannel…
What makes it a burpcatcher…as opposed to a burp cloth? I’m so glad you asked…
it has a pocket! Yup!! A handy pocket that hangs open for spit up to fall into.
AND it’s comparable in price to other burp cloth’s… you can get a pack of two flannel
burpcatchers for $9.99 or one fleece burpcatcher for $9.99.

Now, I can not confirm the pocket actually catches anything…
Elijah doesn’t burp and spit up at the same time – so, if he does
spit up – I’m unprepared for it.  And the few times I was able to put
the burpcatcher  to use the spit up never made it to the pocket.
It has been great for wiping spit up off his face
though because it is SO soft!!

For those of you with babies with projectile spit up, or
babies that have some force behind the spit up –
this product is for YOU!!  The pocket will
catch the spit up.   (you know, so I hear)

Since I had projectile spit up as a baby I decided to e-mail my mom the
link and ask her what she thought of it…

Cute!! But, it wouldn’t have worked…. You shot it too far.
You could throw up from one side of the couch to the other.
This would be for the polite babies that would keep it in small spurts!

- Mom

So… there you have it – for polite babies who spit up with more force than
Elijah but not impolite babies like I was who hurled spit up across the room.