Evenflo Smart Steps for Better Eating!

My little guy still uses a "sippy cup" -- yes, I know that he probably should ditch it, but let's face it, it's a small concession to make for a kid who's not quite 3 and is already proficient at using the potty. To celebrate what appears to be my baby growing up, we were happy to try out the new line of products from Evenflo Smart Steps. The products are designed to help transition infants to a more grown-up eating style, but while being safe and comfortable to use.

The insulated cup (shown above) came to us in the pink/purple color. Even though my son got teased by his brothers, he LOVED this cup. The best part was an insulated cover that helped keep his milk cold while he drank it, and was easily removed for washing. (It also kept from spilling, while allowing him to drink easily from the cup.) We also got to try some Snack Stackers, which were little plastic bowls with locking lids, perfect for stashing cereal or crackers in the car or diaper bag. (And I loved how nicely they washed up!)

The premise behind Smart Steps isn't just to make the accessories easy to use and keep clean. They are all designed to teach parents and kids how to eat well by learning healthy eating habits. Through bright, fun colors and a variety of "stages", Evenflo believes that portion control is something even the smallest diners can master!

To see the entire line of gear, check out the Evenflo website (and take the interactive quiz to find out your parental eating style). You can also download a valuable coupon on your next purchase of Evenflo Smart Steps gear, or read more about the line at MomCentral!

*I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Evenflo 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.

Listerine Oral Care Challenge

Wow! I can't believe how many kids oral care products there are on the market today. One of our favorites, Listerine Agent Cool Blue, is a flouride-free brushing "helper" that we've been using in our house for years. (It leaves some blue stuff in your sink every time kids use it, but it's nothing that can't be cleaned up with a wet wipe.)

Since our participation in the Listerine Oral Care Challenge this month, however, we have learned about even more ways to keep kids excited and diligent about taking good care of their teeth. Even when I get a bit lazy about doing the whole routine: brush, floss, rinse -- my kids are super persistent that "Mom, I need to do all these things for my teeth. We only have to do them for the ones we want to keep!"

My kids are right, of course, and so I've been introducing myself to some handy tools to helping us out during our 2-week challenge to take extra good care of our teeth (and right before Halloween, too!) I really like the Reach flossers and the Listerine Total Care (which makes me feel like less of a yuck-mouth in the morning.)

Our family went through the 2-week Oral Care challenge with flying colors. To be honest, we didn't even need the cute calendar and rewards stickers that came in our challenge kit. (Wasn't spitting bright blue stuff into the sink reward enough?)

I think my family is on the right track to a lifetime of good oral health!

Want to learn more about doing your own family challenge? Visit www.listerine.com or www.listerinekids.com to hear about ways to take care of your kids' teeth in fun ways that they'll love!

*I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Listerine and Reach and received Listerine and Reach products for the Oral Care Challenge and a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Review of Rothschild Jackets for Kids

"Don't forget your jacket!"

It's the anthem of mothers everywhere, as kids head out into chillier weather, and once again we are faced with seeing if last year's jackets and coats fit. If you are like me (and your kids have grown a gazillion inches over the past few months), you'll be looking to buy a high-quality, comfortable, and cute jacket that kids will be proud to wear to school and activities.

We had the chance to try on a new Rothschild jacket at our house (my 7-year-old son did, actually.) What did he think? Well, I think the pictures of him proudly displaying it speak for themselves:

You can see the exact jacket we tried on here (it's reversible, which was super-exciting for my little guy!) It's just one of many sizes and styles available for the winter season, and we found it to be super-cozy and totally washable (a big plus at our house!)


To see all of Rothschild's cozy cold-weather offerings, hit up their website at www.rothschildkids.com


Wanna Save? We have an exclusive coupon code for parents who want to save money on a Rothschild jacket for their kids. Just use code 35LP to save 35% off your purchase from now until 12/31/09. That's awesome savings!

Wanna Win? We will also be giving away one jacket to a lucky reader. To be entered to win, just comment on this post with your favorite jacket from the Rothschild website (Please note, that due to availability, we will be giving the winner their choice of size and gender preference -- but can't guarantee a specific style.) You will have until November 12th at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in, and you can enter every day! (Just comment as directed for your first entry, and for each entry after that, type "Today's Entry!")

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!

*Sample was received for this review.

Why Cable When You Can Fancast?

We admittedly don't have cable at our house. Why? Well, in addition to the cost (which I can't justify right now), I really don't like having all those shows on all the time. (My kids don't need any more motivation to sit around and do nothing!)

That's why Fancast has been a favorite online stop for my family for about a year now. With over 10,000 hours of online video programming, 60,000 videos available, and 13,000 full-length shows, I know that there is something I will want to watch daily -- for FREE! Another killer aspect of the website is that it is an aggregate for over 100 other content sites (even Hulu.com!) so I can find all my top online shows in one place. They even have some exclusive stuff, like interviews, blogs, trailers, and extras you won't find anywhere else.

Not convinced? You really have to try it yourself. Just think about how much TIME you'll save when using Fancast. I wait until I'm all done blogging, the dishes are done, and the kids are in bed. Then I sneak a big bowl of ice cream or some nachos with cheese and sit in my living room with my laptop and my HDTV. I can watch any show online with limited commerical interruption (each little sponsored blip is much shorter than a typical TV commercial block.) I can save time by decreasing my ad intake and there are no more interruptions from the little guys! It's everything I want in FREE TV.

Some of my favorite shows on Fancast right now include: The Office, The Middle, and Sanctuary! (I also watch a half a dozen cable shows in a non-committal manner.. but don't pay cable prices.)

Anyway, I have to go. (It's Fancast time tonight!)

Review of Blurt! The Uproarious Word Race Game

Finally, a game that challenges the mind, but is oh-so-simple to learn and play. Blurt! is that game, and it's so easy to master, that we opened it up late last night and played a quick game before we went to bed!

My husband, 11-year-old daughter, and I were able to read the instructions and begin in minutes. The pieces are nicely organized and contained within the packaging, and there were enough for the whole family to play. (And don't worry about younger players playing against older players, there are legal ways to level the playing field!) Suitable for ages 7 and up, it is fast and fun play for 3-12 players!

Each question in Blurt! seems almost too easy, but after you play for a while (literally shouting out the correct answer before anyone else), you get a little goofy, and find it even harder to think of the most obvious answers! This is where the real fun begins!

This awesome, vocabulary-building game is perfect for evenings with friends, or a nice break from your homeschool curriculum. Even if you don't homeschool, I'd recommend it for kids who need to get away from screen time and pick up a bit of fun language practice. (Believe me.. this does NOT seem like work at all!)

(In our jammies, playing Blurt!)

Because Blurt! packs up so nicely, it's great to keep in the car for trips to family get-togethers or vacations. (I can just see this on the dining room table at the next Thanksgiving dinner.) It's one of the games that there is no learning curve to start playing -- so everyone will feel welcome. (But yet it's challenging enough for the brainiacs to enjoy.)

To get a little taste of the fun we had playing Blurt! check out this quick 1-minute trailer! http://www.theplaymakers.com/Playthings/Blurt_builds.html

The game, with a suggested retail value of $29.95 is available via Educational Insights.

Wanna win? We're giving one lucky reader their very own Blurt! game (ARV $29.95). To be entered to win, just visit the quick movie trailer and tell us what the blue logo at the end of the movie says. Internet connection too slow to play it? Just visit Educational Insights and tell us one other fun product you may enjoy.

You have until November 12th 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!

*Sample was received for this review.

It's Here! Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Diamond Edition Combo Pack

Wow! Has it been around that long? I loved Snow White as a kid, and now my own kids are enjoying it! Even though my youngest two were a bit freaked out by how scary the witch was in the movie (I had forgotten about her), they laughed a lot watching the dwarfs and seeing the ultimate happy ending.

What's the big deal about the Diamond Edition of the DVD? Well, you get two discs with the movie (one Blu-Ray and one regular DVD.) For those who aren't familiar with how wonderful Blu-Ray can be, here are a few fun facts:

• Up to 6x better quality than DVD
• 7.1 Surround Sound
• Immersive activity with games and special features
• Kid proof-more scratch resistant (hallelujah!)
• Plays both Blu-ray and DVD discs
• Blu-ray also plays on Sony Playstation 3 players

I think the frugalist in me likes paying a bit more for something that could last through my kid's destructive years!

Like many DVD's, there are some awesome bonus features that were almost more exciting for my kids than the movie itself. Their favorites? The Jewel Jumble Game, Mirror on the Wall (which princess are you most like?), and "Heigh-Ho" Karaoke sing along!

This special edition has been available for a while now, but it may not be forever! If you need a neat stocking stuffer for a Disney newbie in your house, I'd consider this classic tale.

*Sample was received by One2One Network for this post.

Gettin' Our Lab On!

Our kids LOVE science! We live on a farm, so just hanging out and looking at a bug or two is the highlight of our day, and we seem to learn so much more from the natural world around us than from our homeschool textbooks.

Team Mom recently helped to inspire our science lesson with some new science kits from Elmers: Mythbusters Weird World of Water Kit and Magnificent Manicure Kit.First, my boys get a kick out of Mythbusters. They've never watched it (we don't have cable), but they are totally aware of what it is from commercials, and newspaper ads, and listening to their cousins talk about it. When we opened the box with the Mythbusters kit, the boys went WILD! (Crazy. Insane.) They saw that it was all about building a water rocket, and it was the first thing on our list to tackle. Other fun lessons in this kit include: power of whirlpools, liquid rainbows, and more!

My daughter isn't the most girly girl, but she is curious. And when she had an opportunity to use the Magnificent Manicure Kit to create some fun spa products AND learn fun facts about her fingernails, I knew that this was a match made in heaven. (She loves to tinker.. and this definitely was a tinkering kind of kit.) Lessons are mostly hygiene, anatomy, and health related.

We only have one downside to these other wonderful sets -- if you have more than one kid (like we do) you might want to pick up a couple kits. The supplies are usually good for one try at each experiment, and if everyone wants a turn at mixing, you'll need to have a few sets.

You don't have to homeschool to enjoy science kits at home. (Just look at me -- I was public schooled and the year that all my cousins got baby dolls, I got a 200-piece chemistry kit. I used that thing daily until all my test tubes broke.) If you have kids that love to learn, but might need a little creative staging, check out these kits from Elmers.

Visit Elmers at their website (www.elmers.com) to learn more.

*Thank you to Team Mom for providing us with a sample for our review.

Got Colic?

I've been pretty lucky with all my kids. Out of the four babies I've raised, colic was only really an issue with one (my first), and I was so young and inexperienced at the time that I wasn't really even sure that it was indeed colic.

Since most moms are already dealing with fatigue, stress, emotions, and the demands of a new baby, colic can be the one thing that can put you over the top. Have you dealt with colic?

The symptoms of colic can include crying forever (no matter what you do for the baby), symptoms occurring around the same time every day/night, and a tummy that sticks out or feels hard. So what kind of colic treatment really works?

Some moms swear by gripe water, a homeopathic solution that deals with the causes of colic (and it is often used to help acid reflux in newborns.) The special product can be purchased without a doctor's prescription and contains all-natural ingredients.

Would you try gripe water for babies? Let us know your thoughts on the topic!

Review of Alphabotz Superphonic Decoder Cards

Flashcards are an integral part of our homeschool curriculum (and long, boring car rides.) To keep things fresh, we often get different sets frequently to learn math, colors, and numbers. But the most important skill we tend to learn with flashcards is phonics! That's why when we were offered a chance to try out Alphabotz SuperPhonic Decoder Cards, I flipped! Here are some of the perks to using these cards over traditional cards that just show a letter or picture:

• 46 cards in total, and all are printed on really heavy card stock (they store nicely in a sturdy cardboard container with a slide out drawer)
• Each card features a different letter or sound and a corresponding robot character (D is for Digger). They also have a different object with the same letter sound on their head, and some fun facts that highlight the same letter sound for repetitive (but fun) learning.
• These cards were just named to Dr. Toy's 100 Best Children's Products of 2009!

What did my kids think of the cards? Well, my 11-year-old was able to "coach" them through the stack, emphasizing the personal characteristics that reinforced the phonics principles and brought the robots to life:

In short, even my 2-year-old was repeating the sounds and naming the pictures out loud. Just like traditional flashcards (but with more of a "collectible" appeal), these will be used often at our house!

Learn more about the cards at www.alphabotz.com!

Wanna save? If you buy though this Amazon link, and use code KSBLOGS1 you can save 20% off the purchase price of the cards, now through December 31st!

Wanna win? Just comment on this post with your favorite letter (yep, it's that easy!) For an extra entry, join the Alphabotz Facebook group! You have until November 2nd at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in! (Two total entries 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!

*Sample was received for this review.

We Still Love Automoblox!

Picking toys is not easy (especially when all 3 boys seem to fight over whatever I get them), but there is a toy website called ebeanstalk, dedicated to selecting good, safe baby toys. BUT they need help from moms like me to help pick the toys. The toy they *sent is called Automoblox Mini from Manhattan Toy, who makes great developmental toys Here is the deal on this toy…

Some of you may have remember Waaayyyy back when, my kids reviewed a car from Automoblox! Well, we still love it, and even more fun are the new mini cars. They are smaller than the original, which means that for about the same price, all my boys can play with their own car! We got to try out a pickup truck, sports care, and sedan... and interchanging the parts is just part of the allure.

Things we love about the Automoblox cars are the way that they inspire free play, they are completely customizable, and they go back together easily (which means my 3 year old can figure it out without my help.) Yes, you may end up looking for the little wheels under the couch cushions, but for the money -- these cars are well worth any "search and find" game you may be playing later.

If open-ended play is at the top of your priority list, you'll definitely need to check these out!

*Sample was provided for this review.

Clorox Gives You a Chance to Clean up and Win!

When we moved into our new home, the first thing I noticed was the beautiful cabinets in the kitchen. The second thing I noticed was the disgusting toilet. Since the house had been sitting empty for almost 2 years, it was anything but fresh. It had a certain odor that was.. well.. yuck.

With a chance to give the Clorox ToiletWand, I tackled the stained and odorific toilet bowl. How did it go? Well, first, it took the surface stains right off, and left behind a terrific smell! The best part was that I didn't have to touch anything icky, or put a used toilet brush back into my closet. I just pushed the button on the wand, and the disposable scrubbie went right into the trash! With no separate cleaner to buy (it's inside the scrubbie), it's economical, too!

Are you interested in trying it? You can now print up to 2 coupons by using this link (coupon is for $5 off) http://bricks.coupons.com/bstart.asp?o=59370&c=CT&p=4JmzOp5L.

Feel free to visit Clorox.com to read more about the wand and their other products, too!

Wanna win? We have two ways for you to score some prizes:

Just comment on this post with your favorite Clorox product from the Clorox site, and you could win one of 3 Clorox ToiletWand Kits. You have until October 27th at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in. (One entry per person, please.)

Or, check out the Twitter party Oct 23rd from 10-11pm EST (More details to follow.) Prizes for the Twitter Party include: 3 Clorox Toilet Wand Kits and (1) $100 Visa GC for a Bathroom Makeover.

We're off to BlogWorld Expo!

It's been quiet around here... sorry! We're getting ready to hit the road bright and early in the A.M. (4am to be exact) to make our flight to beautiful Las Vegas! We'll be attending 3 days of Blogging Conference goodness, and can't wait to tell you how it goes!

If you're curious as to updates, please follow us on Twitter: @LKnerl

We'll be back with more reviews, giveaways, and news soon!

TJ Maxx Treats Bloggers

Yep, I love my TJ Maxx! (And it's not just because they held a recent blogger event, where I was able to go to L.A. and shop at the new Glendale store.) I've been a fan of the retailer for quite some time, because it totally fits my quest for getting more stuff for much less money!

When we arrived to the Glendale TJ Maxx early in the morning at the end of August, it was my first time being back in L.A. since I used to go there for a sales job (back in a past life.) The store was new, shiny, and well... L.A. (My Nebraska stores don't have the runway display that was so prominently featured in this store.)


If you can forgive my blurry iPhone pics, you can kind of tell how glam everything is, but fortunately, it was all rather budget-friendly, as well! We were told about the finer points of how TJ Maxx gets its designer label clothes for an off-label price (no flawed or damaged goods here.) They actually use negotiating skills to take some stuff of the hands of those who are not able to sell an entire line, and thankfully, TJ Maxx doesn't even begin to charge what department stores do!

I was so thrilled to see some of the newest items from TJ Maxx held side-by-side with their identical "department store" twins. There really was no difference -- other than the price. It was also fun to hear style tips from expert Alison Deyette (who helped me with some difficult shoe decisions.)


So what did I get with my $50 gift card? I ran straight to a little Calvin Klein number (gray boy-suit styled jumper dress). It was $49.. and totally my type.

A big thank you to TJ Maxx and Victoria, who put together this cozy, informal, and super fun event!

*My trip to L.A. and all accommodations were provided by TJ Maxx.

Today's Freebies (October 9th)!

We have just a few neat freebies before we hit the weekend. Check them out!

• Sign up now to make the most out of the Fall Season with Samples & Savings on Name Brand Products
• Fill out the form for a sample of Dromeo Pain Relief products
• Free sample Goodnights sleep pants.
  
• First 100 to fill out the survey at 12pm ET each day qualify for a Green Mountain Coffee sample
• Free 1-year subscription to Target Marketing Magazine. (US)
• Free sample Emergen-C Cherry vitamin drink sample.
  
• Various Free Samples.
• Free sample Zyrtec.
• Free sample Nutri-Dog Chews.
  

Have a great weekend!

FTC Ruling and Lille Punkin' Reviews

With all the hub-bub surrounding recent FTC guidelines concerning bloggers and disclosure, we thought it would be a great time to review our policies on advertising and reviews with you......

The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. Product reviews, however, will always be titled "Review of..." and are never compensated for (although product sample may have been received to review, and this will be noted at the bottom of the post.) You can trust our reviews!!

Even though we receive some compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely our own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

Review of Jacquard Hoop Painting Fun Bag

We love, love, love art projects at my house. The best kind of projects, in my opinion, are the ones that come packaged in a kit with everything you need to make the project. We recently did a few projects with the Hoop-Painting Fun Bag from Jacquard with my daughter, and we had a blast!

First, this kit is suitable for any child over age 3. The paints are water-based and everything is non-toxic and CPSIA-compliant, so there is little to fear. I wasn't in the mood to stand over my impatient 6-year-old, however, so I did the project with my 11-year-old.

Here she is wetting the silk hoop with water to prep it for the paint:


Then she applied the paint directly onto the hoop:


Then we stuck various materials on the wet paint (feathers worked well) and sprinkled it all lightly with the included salt.

After setting it in the sun to dry (which took awhile because it was cloudy), we had a very cool looking display!

Here is her favorite project of the three that we did (just paint and salt -- very easy.)


The very cool kit can make various different projects, and comes with 3 silk hoops, 2 brushes, salt, 3 colors of paint, and special metallic resist paint. Available for just $13.99, you can can learn about it at www.jacquardproducts.com

Wanna win? We have one fun bag to give away to a lucky winner! Just visit the Jacquard website and let us know what other product looks cool! We'll randomly pick a comment to win. You have until October 19th 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!


*Sample was received for this review.

Review of Clorox Greenworks Laundry Products

Yippee! One of my favorite natural cleaners has come out with a laundry alternative -- both detergent and stain remover. What did I love about these products? Well..

• The smell. It was a bit strong, BUT I love scented products. It was a fresh scent (not sweet or sickening), and it really helped give my duds a nice outdoorsy touch.
• The cleaning. Right on par with other products I've tried, I used the Stain Treater to pre-treat (worked wonders on a magic market incident) and the Laundry Detergent liquid was perfect when used at the first line of the measuring cup. (I have a HE washing machine.)

If you've been waiting for Greenworks to come out with a laundry solution, you'll be a very happy camper. The small bottles fit nicely in the pedastals of my front-loading washer and dryer, and I didn't feel like I was sacrificing quality or effectiveness for a more eco-friendly option.

Wanna Win? We have a prize pack of Greenworks Laundry Products for one lucky winner! You'll receive the detergent, stain remover, and a neat little laundry bag! Just comment on this post with whether you've tried Greenworks before, and what you thought! You have until October 15th 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!


*Product sample was provided for this review.

Review of B Kids Bars by Balance

My kids love bars. In fact, my middle son will always say "bars" when asked what he wants for breakfast. Since most bars for adults are a little too much for little kids, I was pleased to find out that Balance had come out with ones specifically for my little guys!

Available exclusively at Target, these bars* come in yummy flavors like chocolate chip. Since my boys are huge chocolate fans, this was not a hard sell at my house. With just enough sweetness to keep picky eaters happy, these bars are perfect for the younger children in your household (my daughter, who is 11, didn't find them to be a very filling snack.) At a little more than 1 oz per bar, they will keep smaller kids quiet until dinner (and you won't feel guilty about it at all.)

These sell for about $3.99 for a six pack at Target stores nationwide.

*Product sample was received for this review.

MySavings.com for One-Stop Savings

If you're online and not looking around for savings opportunities and freebie offers, you're missing out! You could scour the internet for all the bargains and samples OR you could bookmark a few great stops to check daily. A top spot for Moms on a budget? MySavings.com!

• With a sortable list of online free samples, printable grocery coupons, and online promo codes, it's easy to find what you're looking for.
• Try a sample BEFORE you buy! Companies love sending out freebies to help you decide if their product is right for you (and consumers enjoy getting a little special something in their mailbox.)

If collecting every Sunday paper to be sure you have the best discount coupons isn't your thing, maybe an online solution is right for you. (I personally cannot deal with piles of coupons I'll get to "someday.")

Budget-conscious Moms are already aware that it IS possible to get something for nothing. Whether it be a tiny tube of toothpaste you can try before you buy or a 50cent coupon on a product you purchase already, every little bit helps! Visit MySavings.com for more information on this new and exciting website. (Twitter fans have to check out their Twitter stream via @MySavingscom.)

*This is a Paid advertisement