P.F. Chang's Offers Delicious New Kids Menu!

(Our family at P.F. Chang's!)

I've always thought of P.F. Chang's as more of a "grown up" eating place. After all, it's where hubby and I used to eat out for a romantic dinner. So when we recently had the chance to try the new kids menus, I was at a loss! Would my picky eaters like it?

Here are the highlights from the new menu:

• Kids Chicken - a bunch of crispy friend chicken fingers with tasty dipping sauces (These went over VERY well with all of us!)
• Kids Lo Mein - very garlicky.. these were delicious noodles with a bit of chicken mixed in. (We also found ourselves getting every little noodle off the plates!)
• Kids Chicken Fried Rice - what you would expect with a high-quality fried rice, minus the veggies (My youngest found this to be his favorite.)
• Baby Buddha's Feast - Stir-fried or steamed fresh veggies.. and nothing else. (Surprisingly a tasty vegetarian option or a wonderful side dish.)

The items, which start as low as a few bucks, are a great way to introduce the little diners to some tasty asian cuisine. I thought that the portions were right-sized for a kid under age 8, but my 11-year-old needed a few plates to fill up. Also, if your kid wants chicken AND rice, you'll need to order both plates (each kids plate has only one item.) Because we have 4 in our family, we ordered one of each, and shared an authentic family-style dining event. So much fun!

If you are considering burgers and fries for your next family night out, I encourage you to think fresher and bolder with the kids menu options at P.F. Chang's. The wait staff was super-friendly to my kids, and they made us feel very welcome. (Which is good.. because I'm sure we left our share of fried rice on the floor.)


See the entire menu of offerings at P.F. Chang's website!

*We received a dining experience for this review.

Why We Use Time4Learning.com

I'm a very busy homeschooling Mom. In addition to helping my husband on our small farm, we are moving into a new home. I also work 35 hours a week as a blogger, freelance writer, and a marketing manager. This means that (sadly), I haven't been able to develop a curriculum that is both easy for me to manage, and my kids to complete.

I was excited to try Time4Learning.com, because we have used computer-based curriculum in the past and loved them! I was already very pleased with the 100% online aspect of this course. Why? With a working mom and 4 kids in school, we never know what computer we will be at (we also have a couple of laptops and a computer next door at Grandma's house.) This curriculum helped us stop making excuses for not getting our work done (like someone using the PC we wanted) and helped the kids do their courses ANYWHERE, ANYTIME! I also liked that I wasn't bogging down my computer with lots of programs. We have had problems in the past with finding enough storage space for all the kids' courses and my software for work.



What was the program like? Very awesome. While each interactive, multi-media course is different, there were some very common pros to each subject:

• Courses can be accessed from a main launchpad. Kids can do as many or as few courses as the parent dictates, without penalty for skipping a day (or two) as needed. Kids can do assignments over if you choose.
• Parents can preview any lesson from the kids menu or their course listing. From there, parents can also print worksheets and answer keys for lessons for additional coursework.
• If a child is struggling in a subject (or likewise finding it too easy), they can access the grades above or below their grade to compensate. There is no additional charge to do this work instead.
• Progress reports are easy to generate and print for any time frame and for any combination of subjects.
  

Were there any negatives? A few.. but they were minor in comparison to their benefits:

• This curriculum is not a "Christian" curriculum. Based off of the Compass Learning system, it teaches courses in a similar fashion to public school (this includes an overview of carbon dating, evolution, etc.) However, I would not let this discourage parents with opposing views to use the programming. There is a very helpful parent forum included with membership, with a separate discussion thread for Christian parents. In this forum, they discuss any lessons that may conflict with beliefs, and share the course codes with each other. (Parents can use this info to decide whether to teach them from the perspective of giving their child a balanced approach towards worldview teachings OR skip them altogether.)

The Time4Learning curriculum is a pay-as-you go monthly fee based system. It currently costs around $20 per month for the first child, and an additional $15 for each additional child. We figure that for my 5th and 1st graders, it is costing us $36 a month or so. Is it worth it? Absolutely.. with engaging videos, games, and a relate-able teaching style that has my kids EXCITED to do school each day, it guarantees that my kids will be taught -- even if I'm having a bad day. In combination with other subjects (music, classic literature, penmanship, and Bible), it is a welcome solution to my busy home. (And it is rather affordable compared to buying an entire homeschool curriculum every year.) For the 2009 - 2010 school year, we are happy customers of Time4Learning!

To learn more about Time4Learning.com, visit their website. (Check out their trial offer if you want to try before you buy!)

*We received a trial subscription and gift for trying this program, although we are now just regular purchasers of the program.

Win Food Goodies from General Mills!

Those of you who have been following the blogging events put on by General Mills know that they have been very, very good to us bloggers. I really didn't need much schmoozing, however, as I've been a big fan of many of their products for years. My faves? Reese's Puffs Cereal, Nut Clusters, and Fiber One Yogurt.

We wanted to share our latest sampling of goodies from GM with a giveaway that's all for you! What's included?

• Built Gourmet Getaway French Bull Insulated Lunch Tote -shown above (ARV $25)
• Coupon good for one box of several General Mills Cereals (ARV up to $4.33)
• Coupon good for any Progresso Soup or broth (ARV up to $3.01)
• Coupon good for any Pillsbury Refrigerated Shape Cookies (ARV up to $3.01)
  
• Nature's Valley branded backpack from Eco-Choice (ARV $9)

Wanna win? It's easy! Just comment in this post with your favorite General Mills product. (To be inspired, visit their brand list. You have until October 1st at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in. One entry per person, please!

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 Little Debbie Muffins and 100 Calorie Snacks

What does smart eating and a whole bunch of yummy baked goods have in common? At first glance, maybe nothing, but I’ve always been a firm believer in enjoying life and living in moderation… so, if I want to eat a snack cake, I will. I just make sure that it’s a reasonable portion.

Little Debbie has made snacking a bit more delicious and smart, with their new 100 Calorie Snacks. In flavors like Lemon, Cookies and Crème, Chocolate, and Yellow, you can pick a cake for every mood, and be OK with only consuming 100 calories. These snacks are little – much smaller than what I thought they would be. However, they are very, very sweet! I couldn’t eat all the frosting on my lemon cake.

Little Debbie also offers some wonderful muffins for those who want to do a bit more splurging. I adored these moist and fresh-tasting, shelf-ready muffins. The lemon and cranberry orange were an indulgent treat with tea or coffee, and I could see them as a nice addition to an afternoon party. Note that these muffins are not 100 calories, but that’s probably why they were so amazing :)

You can see what Little Debbie has been up to at their website www.littledebbie.com or by following them on Twitter via Twitter.com/LittleDebbie.

*Sample was provided for this review.

Clark's Children's Shoes Recalled Due to Choking Hazard

Keep an eye out for this tiny shoes with the rubber grippies on the bottom. These can detach, causing a choking hazard. More info is available at the CPSC website.

Review of Baby’s First Word Stories on DVD

We’ve all heard the argument on whether young kids need to watch TV. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes welcome the calm entertainment that comes from letting my toddlers have a bit of TV time, and when I can provide them with educational programming, it gives me even more confidence that it won’t hurt them.

My youngest son really has had a hard time talking. He tries, but is not especially motivated to learn new words, as his older brothers choose to “translate” for him. When we recently tried the Baby’s First Word Stories DVD from So Smart! Productions, it turned out to be a big step forward in his speech development. Here’s what we loved about it:

The DVD series, designed for kids age 1-3, features characters Edward, Iggy, Dee Dee, and Larry – animal friends that speak and act like kids in situations that little ones find themselves in every day. (A story about a bath, for instance, showed a character getting dirty, then having to play in bubbles to get clean.) Sentences are simple but clear, and spoken by adults (which is important to me, since I don’t want my kids learning baby talk.) Words are also repeated, so within a few minutes of watching, my son was clearly saying things like “bubbles” and “house.” It was fun to watch him engaged in the video and feeling good about his verbal accomplishments.

I’m excited to see the future developments from the series. With a total of six 30-minute videos in the series, it will provide parents with unique tools for relaxing and learning. To see more about what the company who developed this has to offer, visit sosmart.com

*Screener was provided for this review. This review contains an affiliate link.

Print Much?

Wow! I can't tell you the amount of paper and ink we go through here at the Knerl house. With 4 kiddos homeschooling, a mom who works from home, and an eager husband who like to print out pictures of everything, it seems that I can't add any more printing to my budget. So what will we do when it comes time to print out greeting cards, my own version of school photos, and my super-fabulous media kits? I'm thinking we'll outsource it -- after all, I seem to have to do everything myself around here!

With printing options for every job, PsPrint just might take all the hassle out of printing -- plus, I imagine my poor little inket printer will appreciate the break. (I know that my cartridge budget will.) With another option for high-quality printing, without having to drive 60 miles to my nearest Kinko's, I'm liking this idea....

Greeting cards, stationary, school reports, client invoices, and the list goes on and on. My printing needs are many. (And I'm thinking that printing our own personalized reward stickers for jobs well done during our classes might make a neat motivational tool.) What do your printing needs look like these days? Would you consider a company like PsPrint?

Welcome to the Jungle: Click to Support This Blog

I am so please to announce that we have recently partnered with JuiceBox Jungle to help support our blog and bring exciting new content opportunities to our readers.

To see what's up at the Jungle, just click on the sidebar widget located at the upper left-hand corner of every page (the one with the JuiceBox Jungle colors and logo). You can participate in conversations about "feathering your hair" or learn what other parents think about playpens (come on.. we've ALL used them.)

Each click takes just a second, and helps support this blog! Thank you, loyal readers :)

Review of Annie Chun’s Rice Express Fresh Steamed Rice

I’m not especially fond of rice. I know that it’s good for me, and I do like it in some dishes, but mostly – I hate to cook it. If taking 20 minutes for a dish of rice has you bummed, consider a product like Annie Chun’s Rice Express. A fresh take on an old tradition, Annie gives two bold options for diners with the Black Pearl Rice and the Multi Grain Rice.

Cooking rice can’t get much easier (or quicker.) Just follow the directions to get amazingly delicious rice flavor from your microwave in one minute. My kids were a bit freaked by the black rice, but with a high amino acid and vitamin/mineral content (iron, potassium, magnesium), I couldn’t let them not try it. They ended up thinking it was pretty good! The Multi Grain Rice was a bit more like what I usually fix, and it contained a mixture of yummy rice varieties that gave it a nutty and rich flavor. With sprouted brown rice, black pearl rice, millet, and Indian millet combined, it has lots of complex B vitamins.

(Rice right out of my microwave!)

(Annie's rice with my special peanut butter chicken recipe)

One note about this product: Be sure to cook it right when you’re ready to eat it. We let one of the rice bowls sit for too long before eating it, and it got sticky and wouldn’t break up well. With a few teaspoons of water mixed in, however, we were back in the game. (Just something to think about.)

Annie Chun’s products include these and other Rice Express varieties, as well as All Natural Sauces, Noodles, Noodles & Sauce, Noodle Bowls, Soup Bowls, Sushi Wraps, and Noodle Express. Check it out at your local grocer or at Annie's official store website!

*Sample was received for this review.

Family Game Night Rocks!

We haven't taken our whole family to a movie in quite a while. Why? Well, beyond the obvious hassle of getting everyone out the door and sitting through an entire full-length feature, it's very, very expensive? Here's how I break down the cost:

4 Kids' tickets - $20
2 Adult tickets - $16
3 of the Small popcorn, pop, and snack (kids pack) which we share - $12
Gas to get there and back - $5
Time, sanity, and patience - buckets full


OR... we can do a fun Family Game Night! My daughter, husband, and I have been playing board games for awhile, and one of our faves has been Scrabble. The younger kids love Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders (we even have a special Dora version that they like.)

How do we set it up? It's EASY! We just pick a game, pick a movie, and pick a snack! Our total cost, is never anywhere near the $50+ price tag for an evening at the movies -- AND the movie and game are ours to keep forever!
We have teamed up with Walmart to offer you your very own Family Game Night! We will be giving one lucky winner a $40 gift card to make their family game night extra special. (That's more than enough for a game, movie, and snacks!) To see some of the special pricing Walmart is offering, check out their Family Game Night page, or see this list below:

• $8 board games- Candyland,Chutes and Ladders, Yahtzee
• $10 board games- Jenga, Monopoly,Trouble
• $15 board games-Life, Operation and Twister
• $18-Bop It, Monopoly Championship, Pictureka, Sorry Sliders

Walmart also has some awesome Disney DVD's for $10! They include College Road Trip, Dinosaur, Enchanted, Escape to Witch Mountain, Hercules, High School Musical, High School Musical 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (and the other Pirate movies), plus many, many more!
We recently had out own Family Game Night, courtesy of Walmart. Our theme was Rock and Roll, and we got a Camp Rock DVD for $10, Twister for $15, and an assortment of popcorn and toppings! It was super-affordable, and fun! (We love adding extras into the popcorn, including M&M's, peanuts, dried fruit, and sunflower seeds!)

Wanna Win? We are giving one lucky reader their own Family Game Night, in the form of a $40 Walmart Gift Card! Just comment below on your choice of movie, game, and snack for your own game night. (You'll get to choose whatever you want to buy with your gift card if you win.) You have until September 23rd at 11:59pm CST to get your entries in. Please leave a way for us to reach you if you win! (One entry per person, please.)

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!

*Walmart provided me with a game, video, and snacks as part of this promotion.

Prizes for Traveling Parents at BabySafeTravel.com!

Have you checked out the blog at Baby Safe travel? In addition to sharing tips for using products like the new baby travel bed , they also allow parents to submit photos for prizes! These babies are cute :)

Ultimate Makeup Giveaway!

Have you tried e.l.f. cosmetics? This super-smashing brand of makeup for your eyes, lips, and face is not just fabulous to wear -- it's also super affordable! How affordable? Most of their stuff starts at just a buck!

Some products I love include: Brightening Eye Color, Blushing/Bronzing/Blending Brush, and their nail polish (which has no Toulene, Formaldehyde, or DBP!) And yes, each of these items is just $1.

We are giving 2 lucky winners a Large Makeup Collection from e.l.f, priced at $40 from their website:

Here's what you can win: Large Makeup Collection

It Includes: -84 eyeshadow shades -36 lip gloss shades -6 blush shades -4 concealers -4 shimmer cream shades -4 bronzer shades -1 face brush -1 lip brush -1 duo eyeshadow applicator

Wanna win? We have two of these kits to give away to lucky readers. To enter to win, you just comment on this post, letting us know if you've tried e.l.f. products, and if you have -- what you think about them! You have until September 24th at 11:59pm CST to get your entries in. Please leave a way for us to reach you if you win! (You can enter every day from now until the end of the promotion. For each entry after the first entry, you may just comment with "Today's entry" to be counted.)

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!

*e.l.f. is a sponsor at the CollectiveBias Brands & Bloggers Speed Dating event at BlogWorld Expo -- this post is uncompensated, but product for the post (&/or contest) was provided to the blogger at no cost. All views and opinions with regard to the product or company itself are the blogger's and were not influenced nor reviewed by the company prior to posting.

Feeling Safe?

Baby-proofing is big business, so it's important to know that what you buy will last (and keep your kiddos out of trouble.) With hundreds of products to choose from, KidSafe offers the largest online selection of quality baby proofing products and child safety tips.

You can quickly child-proof your home or office with product from companies like Safety 1st, KidCo, Evenflo, Mommy's Helper and more. Check out their selection of Baby Gates, Child Safety Locks, Corner Cushions, Outlet Covers, TV Guards, and Window Guards.

Looking for information on how to keep protecting your kids outside the home? They've got you covered with important information on safety issues at their KidSafe Blog. (Social Media savvy Moms can event get KidSafe updates on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube!)

Stay Safe!

'Tis the Season to Start Thinking About Those Cards....

Last year was the FIRST year I managed to get out any holiday cards for my family. The sad thing is, however, that we didn't mail them until way after New Year's.. making it look like an afterthought, instead of a carefully planned activity. This year, I'm determined to appear a bit more put together by ordering my cards now (or at least in a few weeks.)

When do you start thinking about holiday cards? What is the best time to mail them out? Do you do it before or after Christmas? Do you even mail out cards?

If you're like me, you'll need to start budgeting for those cards NOW. After all, postage stamps have gotten quite expensive!

Read for the Record and Win!

While there are days I barely get to my dishes, struggle with getting all my blogging done, and don't get all the kids' school work done, there is one way I measure success as a parent -- can they read? With homeschool becoming increasingly challenging, it's hard to know what they are learning. Reading, however, is a skill that I'm confident -- if learned -- can get them the knowledge they need in any other area.

Walmart has recently teamed up with Jumpstart to help people Read for the Record. What's that? It's an awesome initiative to get everyone reading the same book on the same day -- to set a new record! Here are the details:

October 8th is the day. The Very Hungry Caterpillar is the book.

Just pledge to participate (or donate). Then pick up a copy at your local Walmart (only $8) and prepare to help set an amazing record! All net proceeds from the sale of this particular book will go to Jumpstart to help keep kids reading and literacy strong in our communities.

Wanna Win? We are giving away one copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar just in time for you to get in on the challenge! To enter, just comment on this post with your favorite childhood reading memory. Feel free to visit either Walmart's site or the Jumpstart site for some inspiration :) You have until September 20th at 5pm CST to get your entries in. Please leave a way for us to reach you if you win!

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!

You can also join the Twitter party September 24th from 8-10 pm CST to be entered to win a copy! Every 100th tweet with the #jumpstart hash tag will win!

Review of Bugsby Reading System from VTech

I'm kind of a collector of "reading systems" -- I'll admit. I love the thought of getting kids involved with a toy that also slyly teaches them to read. While I've really enjoyed some of the more popular systems over the years, some of them get to be more complicated than they should... which makes them inappropriate for the age group that I really want reading early (my preschoolers!)

The Bugsby Reading System from VTech is one that I can't say enough good things about. Simple to use, it's a large bug-shaped pen (like a gloworm) that you insert a cartridge into (just slide it into his back.) In seconds, your child can be using the Bugsby to read, sing, play games, and just learn about the pages of each Bugsby-compatible book. Here are the top 3 things that make me want to cheer for this system:

1. There is a cartridge for each book BUT unlike other systems (that usually end up with lost cartridges within days), these books have a little slot on the inside cover that the cartridge snaps into. Even my 2-year-old can put the cartridge in a "safe place" when he's done with the book. (We've had this system for over 2 weeks, and no lost cartridges yet!)

2. The books are for various ages, but they make it easy to figure out who it's designed for. The Wonder Pets book is for ages 3-5, and it held the attention of both my 2.5 and 4 year old boys. The older books (up to age 7) kept my age 6 guy entertained. My boys loved to watch over each other's shoulders to see what the other one was doing.

3. The books themselves have regular paper pages, but the binding and covers are SUPER strong hardbacks. As long as you can trust your little one to not rip out the pages, you can rest assured that these will probably last a long time. Unlike some other systems with spiral-bound soft-cover books, these are looking really nice (even after suffering through hours of really aggressive pen-pressing.)

This is a reading system that I pull out every two days or so, and the boys get excited still. Perfect for complimenting a homeschool reading program, or for long car trips, the Bugsby system is a wonderful product! (And did I mention that there is a headphone jack? Bless you, VTech.)

Check out all the Bugsby excitement at www.vtechkids.com/bugsby/ (You can find out how to win great prizes, too!)

*Sample was received for this review.

Eating Right Kids Has the Right Idea...

My kids are homeschooled, so we don't "pack" lunches very often. They do get a kick out of single-serving sized foods, however. Who doesn't? On days when we run all over, like to snack in the park, or I just forget to cook anything worthwhile, we enjoy foods that other parents would pack into a lunchbox.

We recently got the opportunity to try a new line of Looney Toons inspired eats from Safeway, called Eating Right Kids. Here's the skinny on what my kids loved about the stuff (and why I may consider it in the future.)

• The pasta cups were not very salty, sugary, or (in my opinion) flavorful. This, for some reason, was exactly what my kids loved about them. Whole wheat, cheesy raviolis in a mild tomato sauce were easily microwaved for a quick snack. There was a surprising amount of pasta in each cup!
• The granola bars were lightly dipped in chocolate, but had a strong fruit flavor that went over really well with my sugar-bug. (My youngest son is geared for sweets, and these were nutritionally sound, while tasting like a dessert.)
• The juice was.. well, like any other apple juice. In a convenient single serving container, all 3 kids fought over it, drank it up, and barely noticed the characters on the packaging :)

This line of foods is impressive in many ways. The ingredients were an improvement over many of the items in the convenience food category at the store, and my kids really liked the cute Looney Toons packaging. I can see this being a great addition to school lunches!

*This post was part of a Team Mom blog tour. Complimentary samples of the products were received. More info can be found at www.safeway.com

MSN Homeroom for Parents Who Care

You know what I love BEST about homeschooling? Collaborating with other parents on ideas to help our children learn and grow. Well, you don't have to be a homeschooler to get involved and coach your kid along in life and in their education. With great resources like MSN's Homeroom, you can use the power of parenting to inspire, encourage, and advocate for your child every day!

MSN's Homeroom is brought to us by Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats (one of my favorite breakfast cereals.) In addition to hosting some amazing videos by other parents, there are articles and tips that I have found to be extremely useful, including:

5 Ways to Improve Your Child's Handriting (we really need this!)

Make your Own Cursive Bag (this is really clever!)

Keep a Travel Journal

Fun quizzes and a community of smart moms make this website a go-to place of encouragement, ideas, and fun. For all the great stuff available (for free), visit http://momshomeroom.msn.com/

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Disney on Ice: Let's Do it Again!

Last year, my family was fortunate enough to win a four-pack of tickets to Disney on Ice from our local radio station. I took my kiddos (age 10, 5, 3, and 1 at the time). They sat, completely mesmorized, for the entire show. While a few of the parts were a bit spooky, it was totally appropriate for familes of all ages and stages.

This year, Disney on Ice is back, with a new story, new characters, and new fun! With several shows to choose from (Princess Classics, Finding Nemo, and Celebrations -- to name a few), there is most likely a show near your town that fits the interest of your kids perfectly! (Last year's show featured the Incredibles, which just happens to be my boys' fave movie.)

The Disney on Ice website has all the info you need for tickets, show times, locations, and important information for the venue where the show will be held. You'll create some magical memories at this event!

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

Let the Show Begin!

We had the BEST time at last year's Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus show. I took my kids, my sister's family, my hubby, and my parents. It was a family affair, and one that the kids weren't soon to forget.

This year, Ringling Bros. is at it again, and new to me is the addition of the Zing Zang Zoom show! This is an exciting edition to the usual fun business of lions, tigers, elephants, trapeze artists, clowns, lights, camera, and action! In fact, I might be spending our circus dollars on this particular show this year.

Ringling Bros. and Mom Central want you to be able to savor the savings. By visiting Ringling.com and entering the coupon code MCC , you can save 20% on your purchase of show tickets! The discount is available in the following markets only -

Kansas City, MO - Sept. 10-14, 2008
Grand Rapids, MI - Sept. 18-21, 2008
Denver, CO - Oct. 2-13, 2008
Boston, MA - Oct. 8-13, 2008
Cleveland, OH - Oct. 24 - Nov. 2 2008
Chicago, IL - Nov. 6 - 30, 2008
St. Louis, MO - Nov. 6-9, 2008
Auburn Hills, MI - Nov. 12 - 16, 2008
Highland Heights, KY - Feb 27 - Mar. 1, 2009
Cincinnati, OH - Mar. 4 - 8, 2008

Taking a family of 6 to this event will cost the same as a night at the movies, but I'm sure my kids will leave with much more to remember the night by. I can't wait to go again :)

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

Review of CoverGirl LashBlast Luxe Mascara

I’ve always been a fan of CoverGirl’s mascara (it was the first product I tried on my eyes at age 14.) As an adult, I like to show off a bit every now and then, but I DON’T want to look like I’m clubbing when I hit the local grocery, either. The new offering by CoverGirl – LashBlast Luxe – does everything I want a mascara to do: It offers the bold look of lash thickening and extension without looking trampy. It gives me smudge-proof coverage that washes off easily in soapy water. It even adds a bit of shimmer to my lashes!

This product is great for days when I want to look nice for my husband at home (I just skip the liner.) It’s also perfect for fancy evenings where I want to be more dramatic. With a slight glimmer, and four amazing colors to choose from (my favorite is the Cabernet), this is one mascara I can’t goof up.

For more info on the color choices, application tips, and CoverGirl news and updates, see the official website at www.covergirl.com. This product is available at retail stores for around $8.

*Sample was received for this review.

Review of Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets

Looking for one more shortcut in the laundry room? How about a sheet that does is all (washes, stain treats, and softens)? With Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets, you can drop in one sheet into your traditional or high-efficieny laundry load, and let the product do the rest.

We were recently sent a sample of the laundry sheets (complete with little dispenser) to give it a try. Since our dryer was on the fritz, and we were using the outdoor line for so long, we almost didn’t know if we would get to this review. With our dryer repaired, however, we were so excited to try it, and it really made our routine EASY! My daughter, son, or husband can take any of my presorted loads, drop in the sheet, and not ever worry about adding additional product for regular wash loads (I still like to use a pretreater for tough stains.) The whole load gets transferred to the dryer (sheet and all), where the sheet works like a traditional dryer sheet at that point, eliminating static and keeping clothes soft.

This product is available for between $5.99 and $7.49 for the starter kit (with 20 sheets) and refills (with 24 sheets) at your local grocery and retail stores. Visit www.purex.com for more information.

Wanna help? Use your UPC codes from this product to help others! Visit PurexChangesLives.com to learn about their partnership with Kiva!

*Sample was received for this review.

Review of Sid the Science Kid DVDs: "Change Happens” and “The Bug Club

We love Sid the Science Kid! As a homeschooling Mom, I'm always busy, so it pleases me VERY much when I can combine some quick entertainment and real learning. (We've reviewed Sid before. Read here for more details.)

The newest bunch of DVD's from the Sid family include "Change Happens" and "The Bug Club." While I had no problem getting my 3 boys (ages 6, 4, and 2) involved in the bug one -- they love anything with wings, legs, or scales -- I was also happy to see how well they took to the "Change Happens" video! In addition to learning basic science principles from their friend Sid, they got a chance to sing, dance, and laugh. What better way to absorb some scientific principles?

Episodes include:

Change Happens DVD: Change Happens, My Mushy Banana, My Shrinking Shoes, My Ice Pops, The Perfect Pancake


The Bug Club DVD: The Bug Club, Hello Doggie, Home Tweet Home, The Dirt on Dirt, Don't Forget the Leaves

(Note: Only specially-marked packages contain the following bonus.) Perhaps the coolest thing about these DVDs, however, is the BONUS Front Row Fun disc they come with. Yes, you heard me --- BONUS! I love free stuff, so seeing that the specially-marked DVDs each included a sampling of some of my kids other favorite shows (including Dive Olly Dive, Hopla, Hermie and Friends, and Word World), really made my day. The full-length episodes are valued at $14.99 on their own!

If you love Sid, you'll really enjoy watching these videos with your kids :) Distributed by NCircle Entertainment, they are available in stores and at Amazon.com for around $10 - $15.

Learn more about Sid (plus get some free activities) at PBSKids.org

*Sample was received for this review.