I've Joined the Sharpie Squad!

This Mom loves only ONE kind of permanent marker -- The Sharpie. I'm very excited to be part of the exclusive group of Sharpie fans -- The Sharpie Squad. You can read all about the new initiative here on the Sharpie Uncapped Blog. I am in fabulous company, including SavvyMommy's Victoria Pericon, Lauri Harrison of MomToBeDepot.com, Jeffrey Fulvimari, Jon E. Nemitz of superfineart.com, Mark Rivard, and LunchBagArt.com's Derek Benson.

We are already getting started creating some amazing things with our new assortment of Sharpies, so stay tuned. We'll have video, photos, promotional opportunities and more -- I can't wait to tell you all about it!

For the full scoop on everything Sharpie, visit the Sharpie Uncapped website.

*I am an online brand advocate for Sharpie. I maintain a relationship where I receive product to review in exchange for sharing new Sharpie happenings with my blog community. If you have questions regarding Sharpie or the Sharpie Squad, please email me.

Win $100 from Parent's Choice Formula!

Whether you breastfeed, supplement, or go entirely 100% formula with your baby, many families are feeling the pinch of the economy. Before you consider cutting corners with Baby's nutrition, read the following information from Parent's Choice formula (and then see you how can enter to win $100 worth!)

There is good news for families with small babies who are looking for big savings without compromising nutrition.

Experts agree that mother’s milk is best and the least expensive option for infant feeding. If parents choose to supplement breastfeeding with infant formula or to formula-feed exclusively, they can turn to Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Kroger, Walgreens, and other retailers for store brands that offer the same safe, high quality, affordable infant nutrition.

Although all U.S. infant formulas must adhere to the same stringent FDA guidelines, they are not priced the same, as many leading store-brand formulas cost up to 50% less than national brands. In fact, parents can save up to $600 a year ($1200 for twins) by choosing a retailer’s store brand infant formula.

“A new parent today is met with a dizzying array of marketing messages when it comes to doing what is best for their babies,” said Dr. Barbara Levine , Associate Professor of Nutrition in Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University. “Nowhere is this truer than in the area of infant formulas. Thanks to strict government regulation, the fact is that there is very little, if any, differentiation in the nutritional values touted by the various national brands on the market, and in this economy, doctors are advising parents to switch their babies to a store brand formula so they can save money.”

FDA, in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition, establishes strict guidelines concerning the ingredients and their levels in infant formula; all U.S. manufacturers must conform to these rules. In addition, all infant formulas must demonstrate growth, development, and mineral absorption equal to mother’s milk before they may be sold in the United States .

In light of a recent press report of a parent diluting baby formula with water in this difficult economy, Dr. Levine urges parents to read and strictly follow the directions on the labels of their formulas of choice.

In addition to switching to store brand formulas, parents can save money on infant feeding by:

• Contacting their local service and religious organizations – state WIC agencies, local food banks, and churches may be able to offer additional assistance.
• Look for coupons on the Internet and save money on items such as baby formula and diapers.

“It is critical that parents refrain from diluting baby formula with extra water during these tough economic times,” added Dr. Levine. “If parents choose to feed babies infant formula, they must remember it is an infant’s sole source of nutrition.”

That's great news, right? You can save even MORE with these cool tools from Parent's Choice:

• A Savings Calculator designed to "Show You the Money!"
• FREE Baby Formula samples
• A Formula Finder to help you locate the store nearest you
• A Facebook app that lets you gift your friends a sample of the formula

You can read all about Parent's Choice products at ParentsChoiceFoods.com and ParentsChoiceFormula.com

Wanna Win? We have an amazing opportunity to give ONE Lille Punkin' Reader $100 from Parent's Choice Formula (awarded in the form of a Walmart Gift Card)! That's perfect for this economy, huh? Just leave your best money-saving baby tip here in the comments to be entered to win -OR- visit the Parent's Choice website and let us know your favorite product. You can enter every day (each subsequent entry after the first unique entry can just be a comment saying "Today's Entry"), and you have until July 15th, 2009 at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in!

Giveaways are subject to complete site rules. (Be sure to give us a way to reach you if you win, and remember that we will never use your email or contact info for anything other than to send your prize.) Good luck, and be sure to check out all of our other giveways!

Feeling Crafty?

I'm hopelessly untalented when it comes to arts and crafts. If I can't follow along in a book, I'm not about to even try new projects. I was pretty proud of myself, however, when I started throwing caution to the wind and letting my kids do a lot of crafty "free play" at our dining room table this past month. Part homeschool curriculum, part just plain fun, I found 4 of the projects to be a big hit at our house!

They include:

• Robots
• Bubble Wrap Mosaic
• Newspaper Fireworks
• and one other fun idea!
  

Want to see our projects? Read the full instructions with photos at my recent Parenting Squad article: 4 Really Cool Green (and Red and Blue) Art Projects for Kids!

ShopWiki for Everything!

If internet searches for the best prices on stuff for your kiddos has you frustrated, you're not alone! It seems like a lot of work to try different search engines, run comparisons on several sites, and make sure that the best-priced items are in stock and ready to ship.

Maybe ShopWiki would work better for you! I gave this little "engine that could" a try, when looking for some toddler clothes for my boys, and it was pretty impressive. In addition to offering several brands, styles, and price ranges for all kinds of items, they have a handy buying guide to help with sizing. These boys' cargo pants, for example, range in price from $3 to $100.

How does ShopWiki work? It's just like any other Wiki. Click the links to narrow down to the type of products you want to buy. They have thousands of choices in great categories, like children's books and nursery furniture. Unlike other shopping sites, they offer products from all retailers, NOT just those that they earn affiliate income from. More choices... more chances to save!

Mom Moments - It Must Be the Age

(Future World Champ Dancer or Stunt Bike Professional?)

We are watching "So You Think You Can Dance", and I am laughing as my 4-year old is waltzing (yes, you heard me) across the floor. I am flooded with memories of my older son trying to cha-cha just a year earlier to the same show. So convinced were we at the time that Micah was going to be the next Benji (think world-class swing champ).

He danced at every opportunity he had. My husband groaned that he may grow up to be (gasp) a dancer. I tried talking him down from the ceiling long enough to explain that there were several really healthy dance classes for boys being offered in the next town, and that many boys I knew that took dance turned out very masculine and married beautiful wives. I brought up the football players that took ballet, the rehabilitation of injured Olympic hockey players through dance, and the fact that we could skip the modern dance portion and just teach him hip-hop if necessary.

Just about 2 months after winning that argument, my son changed. He put away his sister's tap shoes and drug out the toy guns. He was making pow noises, smacking things with sticks, and telling me stories about men killing monsters. (And through all of this, I promise you, our TV habits did not change!) Every show now needed a "bad guy" and a "good guy." Veggie Tales and Barney soon took 2nd place to Batman and The League of Superheroes.

My sweet little boy...... is still my sweet little boy. But he now no longer even glances at the TV when "So You Think...." comes on. He may get up and clap once in a while, but this is more to show me that he is just as performance-oriented as his little brother (remember, the waltzing one?).

So for about 3 more months, I can enjoy dancing with Matthias. He will probably let me hold his hands and do fancy twirls on the living room floor. He will grin and take bows when he is done. I will look at him and see all the world in his future. And one day not too long from now, he will stop dancing.

Or maybe he won't.

But if he does, my 2-year-old son is ready in the wings.

We're getting into Organic Gardening!

My family has decided to NOT use chemicals on our garden this year. I'm happy with our decision, and while there has been a bit of a learning curve, there are so many more resources available to help us in our journey than there used to be. One product that I am curious to learn more about it this organic pest control from SaferBrand.

Our favorite garden treat is without a doubt -- tomatoes! They are delicious right out of the garden (especially when a bit warm from the sun), and I love that my son is just as big of a fan as I am! I used to stress out when he would sneak into the garden and eat them directly from the vine (without washing)! Now that we are going organic, however, I know that while the tomato would be best if it was washed, no harm will come of my little guy for being overly anxious to take a big bite.

Wanting to learn a bit more about solutions for the organic garden you've always wanted for your family? Check out this YouTube video, featuring SaferBrand, that originally aired Designing Spaces TV. (Cool!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU6umEU5nmM

Review of Robert's Dairy Products

First of all, let me say that even before I was sent a few coupons to redeem for free Robert's Dairy products as part of my review, I was a HUGE fan of Roberts. You see, it is a local company, and it is the only brand-name milk offered at many of my local stores. I have always found it to be of high-quality, and I know what I'm getting when I buy it.

I'm not going to lie to you and say that I don't also buy generic milk.... But here is the kicker: Robert's almost ALWAYS has a coupon in the Sunday paper for 50 cents off a gallon of milk, and this actually makes it CHEAPER than my generic milk options.

I think their products are fab, fresh, and so useful for many quick recipes that I prepare! I love the cottage cheese with canned pineapple chunks for a healthy breakfast, and I dig the low-fat sour cream on all of my quesodillas, fajitas, and burritos. Then there is the milk.... we go through a LOT of milk at my house :)

So there's really no reason for me not to buy Robert's dairy products. It's high-quality, affordable, and it supports local business in the midwest. (Roberts also refuses to use milk from cows treated with artificial growth hormones.) I feel pretty good about making that decision.

You can learn more about Robert's Dairy at www.robertsdairy.com

I participated in this review as part of the MomSelect program.

Electrolux Virtual Lemonade Stand Helps Out in the Heat!

It's hot out! Is there anything better than a cold glass of lemonade on an excruciatingly icky and humid day? I know that there's one place to go when I'm dying of thirst and the heat has gotten the best of me.. nope, not the local ice cream parlor. This frugal gal heads to her fridge!

Electrolux has embraced what makes hot days more bearable by teaming up with Kelly Ripa to create the Virtual Lemonade Stand campaign. It is designed to drive awareness and raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Want to get in on the action? You can!

Just visit electroluxappliances.com and start your very own virtual lemon-squeezing, money-making machine (or lemonade stand, as we used to call it.) You can even pick exotic and yummy flavors for your wares (like Rosemary Watermelon.. delish!)

Every time someone opens a stand, $1 will be donated to the cause, and for even more summer time goodwill, you can send glasses to friends and family to further the fund-raising.

But we didn't forget about you, either... when you open your stand and log in each day, you will get an entry to win a French Door fridge from Electrolux! (oooohhhh.... ahhhhhh.)

Drink up. Give to a great cause. Stay cool!

This post was part of a campaign by Mom Central.

Mom Moments - The Eclectic Desktop

Once in a while we all need to take a moment and clean off our PC's desktop. You can do this dreaded task once a month, or you can choose my method: do it when you can no longer see the wallpaper of your kids at your last holiday celebration.

Whichever method you choose, take note --- you will find some odd things. Whether you choose to send these unique items into the recycle bin, an assigned folder, or keep it right where it is -- this is a choice only you can make.

Perhaps you will be surprised to see some odd things hanging on your desktop. I found the following items most recently:

Powerpoint Presentation of "Modern Pirates: How to Quietly Plunder a Nation." (hmmmm)

Car parts list for a Pontiac Bonneville (we don't own one.)

Popular ukulele chords

Homemade wind turbine instructions

An instruction sheet for care of your intact infant son (too much information)

20 top fiber-rich foods for better digestion


And I could go on and on about the bizarre things that my family takes an interest in and decides to save for later. Looking back on our many hobbies and information searches, I think we are addicted to learning. I just hope we pass that trait onto our children!

What do YOU have lurking on your desktop?

Free Music from Christian Artists Tal & Acacia

I just discovered a refreshing, fun, and inspiring duo that delivers catchy and rich tunes for all ages. They are called Tal & Acaia, and you can preview their upcoming album for FREE! Just visit http://www.talandacacia.com/freemusic to listen to or download 3 tunes from the album (to be released July 14, 2009). My fave is ClearView, a positive, bouncy and infectious groove that kids, adults, and everyone in-between will find themselves moving to.

Stay tuned... we will have more news from Tal & Acacia coming soon!

Nestle TOLL HOUSE Cookie Dough Recall!

Please see the following recall from the FDA (full text at their website):

"Nestlé USA’s Baking Division is initiating a voluntary recall of Nestlé® TOLL HOUSE® refrigerated cookie dough products. Nestlé is taking this action out of an abundance of caution after being notified that the Food and Drug Administration, together with the Centers for Disease Control, are conducting an investigation into reported E. coli 0157:H7 illnesses that may be related to consumption of raw cookie dough.

A number of consumers reporting illness reported consuming raw Nestlé TOLL HOUSE refrigerated cookie dough. While the E. coli strain implicated in this investigation has not been detected in our product, the health and safety of our consumers is paramount so we are initiating this voluntary recall. We have been and will continue to cooperate fully with the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control in this investigation. Providing safe, high quality products to our consumers is our number one priority.

No other Nestlé TOLL HOUSE products are impacted, including already baked TOLL HOUSE cookies purchased outside the home, all varieties of Nestlé TOLL HOUSE morsels, chocolate baking bars, or cocoa, and Dreyer’s and Edy’s ice cream products with Nestlé TOLL HOUSE cookie dough ingredients.

We want to strongly advise consumers that raw cookie dough should not be eaten. This message also appears prominently on our packaging. Nestlé TOLL HOUSE cookies made from refrigerated dough are safe to consume when baked as directed on the package. Consumers who have purchased these products should not consume them. Instead, we are asking that consumers return these products to their local grocer for a full refund.

We invite consumers with questions to contact Nestlé Consumer Services at 1-800-559-5025 and visit our web site at www.verybestbaking.com."

Review of Ziploc Evolve Storage Bags

Who uses way too many storage bags in the course of a day? We sure do! We use them for food, toys, little things (like marbles), and for transporting baby wipes and messy medicines. Needless to say, I get a bit guilty-feeling with all the bags we use. Imagine my excitement when I found out that Ziploc had a new line of bags made with 25% less plastic than their typical bags and manufactured with wind power!

We received a complimentary bag of the Evolve sandwich bags to try, and at first, I was a bit disappointed. They were very, very thin. Almost too thin. I wasn't sure they would hold up against being mashed into a lunch bag and hauled off with my kids to their picnic. I put the PB&J in, held my breath, and waited to see how they did.

Surprisingly, these bags did the job. They are much lighter and flimsier than other sandwich bags, but they didn't have any problems sealing or holding together. I'm glad that they worked out for us!

Ziploc Evolve offers more than sandwich bags. They also make storage bags with the new plastic, as well! For more information on the line, see their website at www.ziploc.com (and click on the graphic for the Evolve bags.)

It's Not Too Late to Get Dad Something Special!

I'm a Last-Minute-Linsey... no doubt about it. So are you surprised to hear that I have yet to get my handsome hubby his well-deserved Father's Day gift? I plan on shopping this weekend, and finding him something he really needs (maybe a new pair of jeans, socks, and a Huskers ball cap!)

The first place I'll be looking is (you guessed it) my fave shopping outlet -- Marshalls! The last time I was there, I saw the most perfect New Balance sneaks in my husband's favorite color. And I'll possibly hit up TJ Maxx, too! For details on my last shopping trip, read my previous post. (And don't forget to check back to see what I end up buying my loving spouse.)

You still have time, too! Many stores are loaded with fabulous gift ideas, including:

Grilling sets, sauces, and accessories


MP3 accessories and gadgets


Outdoor furniture

Happy Father's Day! Dad deserves the best.

Review of The Fairly Odd Parents Season 1 and 2 on DVD!

They were released on June 2nd of this year, but we just had the amazing opportunity to indulge my kids in over 35 hilarious episodes of one of our favorite cartoons -- The Fairly Odd Parents! Their seasons 1 and 2 DVD's are available, and this means that my cable-deprived, Nickelodeon-loving children are in heaven.

We ripped into our DVD's the day we got them, and it was a marathon of some of my personal favorite episodes ( Christmas Every Day, Deja Vu, and Scary Godparents.) These DVD's gave us hours of family viewing -- my husband likes them, too -- and was a nice break from our daily activities and summer school lessons.

With a total of 5 discs between the two seasons, you'll have more than one afternoon of entertainment covered (and all for less than the price of taking your whole family to the movies.) These sets are available exclusively at Amazon.com (my favorite online retailer!)

You can learn more about these DVD's (as well as the other titles, including Rugrats, Danny Phantom, Making Fiends, H20, South of Nowhere, and Zoey 101) at Amazon.com.

Wanna win? We have one DVD title of the Fairly Odd Parents to offer a lucky reader! Just comment here on this post with your favorite Nickelodeon show. You have until July 3rd at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in. (BONUS ENTRY: Blog this giveaway and leave a comment below with your link for 5 extra entries!)

Giveaways are subject to complete site rules. (Be sure to give us a way to reach you if you win, and remember that we will never use your email or contact info for anything other than to send your prize.) Good luck, and be sure to check out all of our other giveaways!

Body Boards Recalled Due to Lead Paint Hazard

These kid's swimming "body boards" have been sold at Walmart and various outdoor speciality shops for around $4. Please see the full recall for details.

Do iPhones Help Moms Live Better?

As one of the Walmart 11Moms, I've been given great opportunities to try new things and share them with my readers at the places I blog. Earlier this year, some of us went shopping for an iPhone at our local Walmart stores, in hopes of learning about the shopping process and whether the phone could help Moms to live better -- or quite possibly even save money. In full disclosure, the phone was provided by Walmart, and so was a portion of the service plan. Here are my findings for you to read. (I was just as surprised as you might be!)

1. Shopping for phones at Walmart can be just as frustrating an experience as buying them from any other cell retailer. I was there a long, long time waiting for my phone to be activated (1.5 hours, to be exact.) The associates couldn't have done a better job, I might add -- it was the way the system was set up that made it such a laborious process. The staff was friendly, helpful, and sincerely apologetic that it took so long to set up a new account, buy the phone, and activate it. (My kids, on the other hand, cried for snacks and melted down on the floor during the event.)

2. An iPhone can be used for so much more than calls and email. Having never had a "smart phone" before, I was skeptical that a then $300 phone and a $80 a month phone bill were ever going to be worth it -- especially for someone as frugal as myself. (I didn't even own a cell at the time.) Since I am also a freelance writer, marketing consultant, and a homeschooler, and a wife, there is an application (a free one) for most every organizational or home task I do. I have saved so much money using comparison shopping and money-management tools (see my article at Tom's Guide for details). I have also found some clever ways to parent more effectively (my article at PC Magazine tells more.) Oh, and can you see from my articles how I've been able to sell more articles? LOL

Would I have gotten an iPhone without it being part of a free test-drive program? At the time -- probably not. I didn't have it in my budget for a phone, and it wasn't something I figured I'd use. Now... with the price of a phone way down, and the return so high, I will plan on using it for much longer than the 11Moms program will support. It's helped me become a better Mom!

To see if an iPhone is available at your Walmart, you'll need to go to the walmart.com website and find the store nearest you. (I had to call around to find the exact phone I wanted, however. You never know if they'll be in stock in a smaller store.)

Necklace and Sweatshirt Recalls!

The above necklaces, made by D&D Distributor/Wholesale are being recalled due to a choking hazard.. please see the CPSC website for details.

There is also another sweatshirt recall, this time for Macy's. It affects both boy and girl styles.

Review of Beech-Nut Homestyle Foods

My kids are a bit past the baby food stage, but that doesn't mean we're out of the loop for what's good for growing babies! We recently tested the new Beech-Nut Homestyle Foods line, and when I say "tested"... I really mean "tested." Check out these pics of my 5 and 4-year-old sons chowing down on the new flavors!


(My 10 year old also loved them.. but didn't want me taking pictures of her enjoying "baby food.")

The yummy new flavors include:

• Pears and Blueberries
• Apples, Cherries & Plums
• Cinnamon Raisin & Pears (my personal fave)
• Peaches, Apples, and Bananas

These all-natural foods are have added vitamins and minerals and are thicker than many baby foods, making them perfect for the 8-month and older infant. The 6 oz. glass jars contain just enough food for a sitting (and maybe even a snack later!) The new foods are created based on the new Beech-Nut Advancing Nutrition platform -- a strict outline of nutritional guidelines exclusive to Beech-Nut labeled foods!

When you think about how simple and perfect fresh fruit is... there's no need to change them for growing babies. An all-natural source of vitamin C and providing 5-7 grams of fiber per serving, Beech-Nut Homestyle has taken the pure, natural flavor and texture of fruits and put them together in an easy-to-eat and convenient package for parents. Eat up!

Read more about this new line at Beechnut.com

Wanna win? We are giving 2 lucky Lille Punkin' readers an opportunity to sample the new line absolutely free! Winners will get a Beechnut tote and all the flavors mentioned in our review. To be entered to win, just comment on this post with which flavor your baby is most likely to enjoy. You have until June 30th, 2009 at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in! (BONUS ENTRY: Blog this giveaway and leave a comment below with your link for 5 extra entries!)

Giveaways are subject to complete site rules. (Be sure to give us a way to reach you if you win, and remember that we will never use your email or contact info for anything other than to send your prize.) Good luck, and be sure to check out all of our other giveaways!

Review of Stanley Portable Power Gifts for Dad!

Yesterday we shared our positive experiences with the Stanley SquidBrite and Spotlights available just in time for Father's Day! Today, we get down to the nitty gritty with some of the most innovative and affordable power gifts on the market. Here's what we loved about the line of smart gadgets you can take anywhere (and why I'll be keeping most of them in the van for ME to use!)

The 100 Watt Power Converter is simple to use -- really, you will not need the included instructions. Just plug this baby into your car's power outlet (i.e., the cigarette lighter) and you're instantly up and running with juice for your cell phone, laptop, iPod, GPS, and video games. What's very cool about this gizmo? It's silent... which means you can charge in peace for less than the cost of an expensive specialized charger for each of your electronic devices.
For true on-the-go power, hubby will surely adore the 100 Watt Tailgate Power Converter, similar to the Power Converter, it offers a source of power wherever you go. Just plug it into the towing outlet of your pickup truck or SUV, and you've got instant tailgate success! (Can you imagine powering your coolers, TV, and more!) I can see myself using my electric air compressor to blow up our camping mattresses this year....
This last one is more for Mom (me) than Dad. Not that I don't want him to have it... but I like feeling safe while out on the road with the kiddos. The 300 Amp Instant Battery Charger can keep drivers from getting stranded when the unthinkable happens (like when I foolishly leave my car's lights on AGAIN!). Just clamp on the cables (it will alert you if you have them placed wrong) and start up your engines! The clever light lets you see even in the dark, and portable power plug-ins let you get power when you need it, too! It's the ultimate emergency toolkit!

So what will you get Dad this year? I'm not one to be easily influenced, but I'm completely game for the kind of gear that Stanley introduced me to this year. For even more gear reviews, see yesterday's post. Or check out the entire line at http://baccusglobal.com/Products.html!

Another Hooded Sweatshirt Recall

Parents, if you haven't figured out by now how dangerous the drawstrings on hoodie sweatshirts can be, please see this Speedy recall. Even used clothing is subject to guidelines, so be on the lookout!

Win Every Day from Mom Central's Father's Day Gift Guide

Father's Day is soon upon us, and in addition to being able to win great prizes here at Lille Punkin', we've teamed up with Mom Central to give you daily prizes any Dad will appreciate! They're offering steak stuff, camping gear, music, and more! Just check out their Father's Day Gift Guide and Giveaway every day. (They have new stuff each morning, and registration is simple and free!)

Even if you don't win, their picks for Dad are sure to inspire. They have stuff that won't break the bank, and to be honest -- I might even fight my husband over some of it! (I'm loving that 10-person tent....) If you have no idea what to give the special Dad in your life, or you just want to score some of the sweetest swag around, give Mom Central a look. They won't disappoint!

We Review Stanley Lighting Gifts for Dad!

The name "Stanley" is a common one for Dad's Day Gifts. Did you know that they do a whole lot more than just hand tools and power tools? We checked out the hottest gifts for Dad this week, and here were our favorites!


What Dad couldn't use a bright, high-quality spotlight? Living on the farm, it's something we have to have (whether to scare critters away, or work on something late at night.) My husband loves his Ultra Bright 5 Watt LED Spotlight. This hand held light is small in size, but generates huge amounts of super-bright white light! I had to keep it away from my kids (who thought it was a standard flashlight...) as the light was blinding! It's great for stashing in the glove compartment or the flashlight drawer, and it runs up to 10 hours on the lowest brightness -- which is still more than adequate for most spotlight jobs. It's Energy-Star certified, can be recharged with ease, and doesn't require you to ever buy batteries! I also loved that the rubber grips made it easy to hold on to in the dark. This is the cutest spotlight on the market (but don't tell my tough husband that!)


If lights are truly your thing, then you'll get a kick out of the SquidBrite Worklight! This clever little light looks like an octopus (or squid... LOL), and it can bend and shape to rest on any work surface. This gives Dad the perfect view of what he's working on, whether it's under, over, or inside a very tight space! We loved how much light was given off by the little SquidBrite, and it even had magnets on the back to attach it to metal surfaces, too!

We have one last fabulous lighting gift to tell you about. Remember the power of that little spotlight? We've got even more power for Dad with the Stanley HID Spotlight! This "Father of all Spotlights" has all the power you need for a full, bright bream at an incredible distance! (Be careful with this thing!) Some of the cooler features include: 12 Volt rechargeable battery and a 35 Watt high intensity discharge bulb. We love the 2-way dimmer for extended runtime (up to 35 minutes of contant light at full power!) The charger is included -- and there's a nifty lanyard to keep it close when navigating the darkness.

Light it up this Father's Day with some of the brightest tools on the market, and be sure to come back tomorrow for even more Stanley product reviews!

Check out these Stanley gadgets at http://baccusglobal.com/Products.html!

Mom Moments - Don't Bite!

Someone is always getting bit at my house. Whether they are biting each other or getting bit by something else.. bites are a fact of life. Here is the biting scenario:

Bug bites - Most bugs bite. Some leave welts and itchy reactions in my youngest two boys and myself. Some just are irritating. Did you know that stink bugs can leave awful red blisters in some children? My baby just experienced the pain of a stink bug bite. Be sure to check for bugs in the yard this time of year and turn over anything that contains standing water. Mosquitoes are breeding like crazy!

Kid bites - Whether their biting phase is only a month, or lasts for several years.. kids can bite each other. Matthias has even tried to bite ME once or twice... Usually it never breaks the skin, and ice can be applied to reduce any bruising. "No bite!" can be heard several times a day when the youngest kids don't get naps. They all eventually grow out of it.

Danger bites - When kids are really young and don't understand the concepts of electrical shock, hot burners, cactus plants, etc... we refer to any possible painful consequences as "bites." A little one inching towards the outlet with a pinky finger is quickly stopped with a firm, "Ouch! Bites!" They understand that they might get "bitten" and back away before their curious hands can get in trouble.

Other odd and funny biting things - Some things that my oldest son has discovered that bites is a clothespin (he puts one on each finger and pretends to be the evil witch on Chronicles of Narnia), black olives (he does the same thing and becomes some weird Superhero), and the new kitten. All of these "bites" are funny, as they don't really hurt. Just don't put the clothespin on the end of your tongue! That is not so comical, as he has just recently discovered!

What are your worst bite stories? Do they involve your kids?