Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Review of How to Train Your Dragon the Video Game


We haven't played the Wii at our house in awhile. Partly, this is because it's been so nice outside -- my kids don't want to come in! We do allow a little bit of screen time in the evenings, however, and this has been the perfect opportunity to try out the newly released How to Train Your Dragon for the Wii. Put together by Activision, it's rated E10+, but I personally found it to be suitable for the kids in our family as young as 5.

Here's the skinny on this fun family game:

You get a dragon to train, feed, and care for. After learning the tricks behind your dragons special skills (yes, they have crazy abilities that help them in challenges) you can go up against other dragons in tournaments. This game reminded me a bit of Pokemon in that you are responsible for your own creature and that you "fight" other creatures to be a champion. I don't especially like Pokemon, however, and I loved this game!

The ability to save different games onto the one Wii system makes it so that all 4 of my game-playing kids can save their progress with their dragons. They can learn what their dragons like to eat (chicken, sheep, carrots, some flowers, and "warthogs -- or something like that.") Winning against other dragons (which wasn't at all as violent as I expected), grants you more dragons, coins to buy things, and new adventures.

My 11-year-old finally has something she can do with her 6-year-old brother that isn't babyish or embarrassing. My 5-year-old can hang out with his older brother and do something together. I love how this game has been a way for my kids to connect with one another!

A couple of things to note about this game. The "fighting" is very mild -- a couple of tail swishes, some fire-breathing, but not blood or gore. Also, you can compete against other players, but we only have one nunchuck at our house (you need a Wii remote and a nunchuck per person to play.) There is an arcade mode with extra games and features, but we've been so engaged with the regular play that we haven't had to go there yet. All in all, this is a super-entertaining game with nothing that I could find objectionable for our family!

Activision is currently hosting a sweepstakes on its website, giving entrants a chance to win a Nintendo DS or Wii game system, plus a copy of the new game. You can learn more by visiting the game website at www.HowToTrainYourDragonGame.com. Hurry! Promotion ends April 7th!

This game is available for Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, and PS3 from your choice of retailer or Amazon.com (aff)!

*Review copy was received for this review.



Monday, March 29, 2010

Review of Organic B.R.A.T. Wellness Drinks


We received samples of this product quite awhile back, and to be honest, I was hoping that we wouldn't have the chance to review it in the way it was intended. (If you're not familiar, the BRAT diet is usually used when you have a stomach bug or diarrhea -- something I was not wanting to go through with the kids.) After heading back from a business trip, however, I was met with 3 kids who hadn't stopped vomiting for a few days. They had the flu!

We broke out the samples of Organic B.R.A.T in an attempt to give my kids the drinks they were demanding (my youngest wanted milk), without further upsetting their tummies. With just a few hours in the fridge for better flavor, we were dispensing the drinks like they were going out of style. My boys loved it!

The drink is made from organic brown rice milk, bananas, and apple purees -- which is awesome, because the BRAT diet has traditionally stood for for Bananas Rice Applesauce and Toast (or Tummy Soothers, in the case of this product)! The drink was easy on my kids' stomachs, and I didn't have to worry about them not getting enough to drink (dehydration can easily be a problem when they have the flu.)

My kids went on to like the drinks even after they were healthy. My youngest, especially, loves the stuff in his sippy cup. It comes in a few flavors: Original, Chocolate Honey, Vanilla, and Cinnamon Toast! The flavored drinks went over the best, but all were devoured by my kids within days. (Note: You'll want to drink any opened containers within a week after opening to maintain freshness. You can store them in a pantry until they are opened, however.)

Even if you aren't sick, this is a good product for anyone who can't drink milk, is needing a healthy gluten-free alternative to dairy, or just wants a break from morning sickness!

The people behind this product recently donated 300 cases of this product to kids in Haiti! To learn more about their efforts, products, or the story behind this neat drink, visit their website at www.bratdiet.org

*Samples were received for this review.


Saturday, March 27, 2010

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Soundtrack

We loved the movie, but would the soundtrack be just a fun for my kids? You bet!

When the soundtrack arrived at our house, the kids couldn't wait to listen to it! With songs like "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" and "Put Your Records On" -- all sung by the Chipmunks and the Chippettes, I knew that my kids probably already knew many of the words.

We were in the kitchen when we started the CD, and right away, they all started dancing around! Even my 11-year-old (who is a bit too "cool" to dance with a couple of preschoolers) moved and sang to the music. It was super fun for them, and a great way to get the wiggles out on an afternoon when it was too windy to go out and play.

Their favorite songs were "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and "So What" -- which they were already familiar with from TV, radio, and the Kidz Bop CD's we had listened to in our home. Surprisingly, the kids claimed that they liked listening to the Chipmunks singing more than the kids on the Kidz Bop album. My son's only complaint to the whole album was that a few humans did special appearances on the album. "Why can't they just let the Chipmunks do all the singing?"

You can purchase the soundtrack from popular retailers like Amazon and the Apple iTunes Store!


*I received a copy of the CD from #WBWord to facilitate my review.


Friday, March 26, 2010

Evenflo Recalls Top-of-Stair Plus Wood Gates Due to Fall Hazard

Picture of Recalled Wood Gate

Please check to see if you have this in your home! For more info on the recall, see the official CPSC website!

Stay Safe!


Review of Surf Sweets Natural Candy


Candy! Who doesn't love it? At our house, it really is a treat -- something we don't get often. Some of our favorites, however, are sour gummies and gummy worms.

When Surf Sweets Natural Candy sent us a few packages to try out, my kids had NO problem giving them a taste. In fact, I had a hard time sharing -- they were super chewy, flavorful, and fruity!

Here is what we sampled:

Gummy Worms
- These were your typical gummy worms. They had a firm texture, but weren't too chewy and didn't get stuck in my kids' teeth.

Gummy Swirls - OH MY GOODNESS! These were awesome (and I admit that I left very few to share with the kids.) Small, circles of fruity flavor covered in little sugar crystals, these were my favorite.

Sour Worms - These are great for kids who like Sour Patch Kids and similar products. They aren't too tart, but they have a nice, sweet after flavor!

In addition to being yummy, they contain the following features, which parents may appreciate:

  • 100% Vitamin C per serving
  • NO synthetic flavors and artificial colors
  • NO trans fats
  • NO GMOs
  • NO corn syrup
  • NO gluten
There a few other varieties of candy offered by Surf Sweets, and they come in single-serving or bigger sizes. (It wouldn't matter -- I'd likely eat the entire bag, no matter the size!) These would make a great Easter basket addition this year!

For more information, see the official Surf Sweets website.

*Sample was received for this review.

Win Prizes from Yoplait Light!


Any yogurt eaters out there? We always have at least a dozen flavors in our fridge at any one time, and yogurt is fast becoming one of my favorite treats! With two new flavors hitting stores, there are even more ways to stock up my fridge with 100 fat-free calories.

The new flavors are Red Velvet Cake (yum) and Blueberrie Pie (great for berry lovers!)

I like sneaking in these yogurts as a way to get some of the calcium I'm supposed to be getting, but don't. Did you know that they contain 20% of your recommended daily value of calcium and Vitamin D?

I definitely adored the Red Velvet Cake the best (it has a slight cream cheese flavor that resembles the frosting), and while I'm sure the Blueberrie Pie is good, too -- I'm not a big berry fan. (I know.. weird, huh?)

We want to help you celebrate making better choices with your snacks by offering one lucky reader a Yoplait Light prize pack! It contains a V.I.P coupon for a free cup of Light yogurt, an insulated gourmet lunch tote (mine was cute with polka dots), a food journal, and a cool utensil set that folds up like a pocket knife!

Wanna Win? To be entered to win, just comment on this post with your favorite yogurt flavor! You have until April 2nd at 11:59 am 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. Open to persons 18+ U.S. only, please. (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!

*Yoplait provided me with the product coupon, information, & prize pack through MyBlogSpark. This coupon offer for a free cup of Yoplait Light yogurt is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee.



Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Join the Bisquick Pancake Nation!


We eat pancakes at least 3 times a week at our house. Surprisingly, it's almost never for breakfast (they are kind of our go-to dinner or supper when I'm too tired to make anything else.) Our favorite pancake mix for years has been Bisquick, as it tends to make consistently fluffy pancakes, AND even my 11-year-old daughter can use the instructions on the box to add milk and a few farm fresh eggs (plus a hint of vanilla) for the most marvelous pancakes!

Bisquick has launched Pancake Nation as a way to not only make a difference with the meals you make at home, but to make a difference in your community! By joining the group, you can learn about how to have a successful pancake fundraiser, AND you can even apply for a $250 grant to help your qualified non-profit get started (see site for qualification details)! Other neat tools featured on the website include a calculator to help you know how much you'll need in supplies for your fundraiser and a finder to see what pancake fundraisers are taking place near you.

We are offering one lucky Lille Punkin' reader a prize pack to help create pancake memories at home! It features Bisquick and goodies to help you make some mean flapjacks! (Prizes may vary, my pack contained a cast-iron pancake skillet, flipper, and mixing bowl.)

Wanna Win? Just leave a comment on this post with what nonprofit you'd like to hold a pancake fundraiser for in your community (or which one you'd like to attend.) You have until April 1st at 11:59 am 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. Open to persons 18+ U.S. only, please. (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!

*Bisquick provided me with the product, information, & prize pack through MyBlogSpark.



Infantino SlingRider Baby Slings Recalled

Picture of Recalled SlingRider

If you have an Infantino SlingRider Baby Sling, contact Infantino immediately for a replacement product. 3 deaths have been reported while using these slings. Additional info can be found on the CPSC website or Infantino.com


Stay Safe!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Review of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel on DVD

I don't know a parent in the world who has kids that HAVEN'T been exposed to the commercials advertising the new Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel movie -- especially the clips of the Chipettes singing their version of "Put a Ring on It." Long before we received a copy of this movie to review, I was promising my kids we would see it, one way or another. Here's what we thought:

First of all, it's PG. This means that while some of the rowdier humor is mild -- it's there. If you're looking for a version of the Chipmunks that you remember as a child (the original version), this isn't it. That being said, it's not exactly a bad thing. The Chipmunks enroll in school, face some of the same trials and tribulations as today's kids, and learn a little about chipmunk love along the way. (Basically, the sanitized version of the original Chipmunks series might not resonate as well with kids ages 7 and up -- you know, the ones who actually have to deal with stuff in life?) Younger kids may find some of the humor goes over their head, and that's not without purpose.

All kidding aside, this had a sweet story line, super animation, and of course, a bangin' soundtrack (more on the soundtrack in a later review.) We enjoyed the extras that came with the movie, and I think that overall, my kids found that the movie lived up to their very high expectations. I'd also like to add that we are a very musical family -- this movie tied right into something that is very near and dear to our hearts!

If you want to hang out with kids in a way that they will enjoy as much as you, this movie makes a great Family Movie Night feature. The giggles from my kids were so worth any sassy chipmunk humor, and I think that they took away the real lesson from the movie -- that families can come together when things get tough (no matter if those families have tails and squeaky voices, or not.)

You can pre-order this film from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment via Amazon (aff) or your choice of retailer -- but it won't be out until March 30th!

Wanna Win? We have 3 copies of this film to give away. To be entered, just comment on this post with your favorite Chipmunk! You have until March 30th at 11:59 am 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. Open to persons 18+ U.S. only, please. (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!

*Screener of the movie was received for this review.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Join Me for a Huggies Twitter Shower - Win Prizes!


I was thrilled to learn that I will be the guest of honor at the next Huggies online Baby Shower! With my little guy due towards the end of June (but probably coming a few weeks early due to some minor issues), we are stocking up on diapers and necessities well in advance of his birth.

Huggies is already sharing some details about the shower, taking place on Twitter next Tuesday, March 23rd from 7-8 pm CST. The hashtag #huggiesmom will take you into the conversation, where you can chat with myself - @Lknerl, our gracious host @ResourcefulMom - and of course, @HuggiesMom!

What can you win? The Twitter party will be full of fun games and conversation, but by being an active participant, you can win one of many prizes, including coupons for FREE boxes of Huggies diapers, $10 Walmart gift cards, Infantino Explore & Store Elephant Gyms, and Infantino Front 2 Back Riders. It will be a blast!

We are also giving away prizes here on Lille Punkin before the shower to help get the excitement growing! We are giving away 10 coupons for a FREE box of Huggies diapers, as well as one each of the Infantino Front 2 Back Rider and Explore & Store Elephant Gym.











Wanna Win? To enter for our stash of prizes, do one of the following:

  • Comment on this post with your favorite baby shower game or activity!
  • Tweet the following: Join us for a Huggies Baby Shower with @LKnerl March 23rd from 7-8pm CST to win free diapers! http://bit.ly/ahSjko #huggiesmom
  • Post a quick note on Facebook with the message: You're invited to a Huggies Baby Shower for Linsey Knerl on March 23rd from 7-8pm CST. You can win free diapers! http://bit.ly/ahSjko
Be sure to comment on this post letting me know of all your methods of entry, and you can enter every day! You have until March 23 at 5pm CST to get your entries in. We'll pick winners after the Baby Shower. You can win from us before the shower AND from the folks at Huggies during the shower!

Giveaways are subject to complete site rules. Open to persons 18+ U.S. only, please. (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!

Follow all the news and sign my guest book at HuggiesForNewborn.com. Hope to see you there!!

Review of Chili's Restaurant Menu Items


We don't eat out too often as a family, but when we do -- we really go all out! As a recent treat for our birthday boy (just turned 5), we headed out to Chili's to try some of their new menu items. We've been there several times before, so I thought I pretty much already knew what we would be ordering.

Thanks to a new promotion that allowed the adults (and my oldest child) to pick an app and a main course for just $9.99, we had a chance to try some really yummy stuff! While my husband picked the ribs, as usual, I tried the Steakhouse sandwich -- which was a delicious flatbread sandwich wrapped around smoky steak and mushrooms. It was also topped with an arugula lettuce that was surprisingly very fresh! I felt really full and glad that I didn't pick something less healthy.


The kids went wild sampling each other's kid's meals. Because the prices on all the kids items are the same, they could choose anything that they wanted, and we put a little of each item on their plates. They had mac and cheese, fresh veggies, and chicken fingers. It was really filling!

My daughter enjoyed her Southwestern eggrolls (they were piping hot and had to wait to cool a bit), along with her shrimp meal. I still couldn't believe she got the appetizer AND the meal for less than $10.

Here are a couple of photos of my family enjoying our meal. We all ate for less than $50! Also, the staff was very accommodating to all our spills and napkin usage.



Thank you to Chili's for helping make a birthday meal very fresh, tasty, and super-special. I can't emphasize how impressed we were with the ingredients in our meals. (My only complaint is how full we all were. We were looking forward to complimentary dessert for my son -- but his stomach hurt from eating so much. We left before it could be ordered!)

*A gift certificate was received to help facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Win 3 Free Products from Tonic Shop Hair Care!

We haven't tried these out yet, but they look awesome! Tonic Hair Care Products has released a trio of summer goods designed to help you survive the harsh weather and wear that comes with the season, and you can win all three!

Featured in this special giveaway are:

  • Threesome - a 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and stimulating
    body wash. Detangles, protects and leaves your hair
    and skin sinfully clean.
  • Luster - Leave-in conditioning mist and luxurious body
    moisturizer made with aloe vera, grapeseed oil and
    wheat protein, for added volume and protection.
  • The Chronic - Daily shampoo and conditioner regimen specifically
    formulated for normal and color treated hair.
The total value for this prize is $40!

Wanna Win? Just visit the Tonic website and let us know which product you are most excited to try out! You have until March 29th at 11:59 am 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. Open to persons 18+ U.S. only, please. (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!


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Review of Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey on DVD


My 3 boys seem more like adorable little monkeys than children on many days. It could be because they love to jump, run, and goof off -- or it could be because my exposure to monkeys has been severely limited.

Specifically, we've been watching a lot of Curious George at our house. Whether it's the lovable TV series that airs most mornings, or the newest full-length movie Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey (available in stores March 3rd), I can't get enough of how much this little monkey seems like a real child!

My kids don't get tired of the antics, either. Maybe because the man in the yellow hat sometimes loses his patience (just like Mom and Dad), or maybe because George seems to want to do the right thing -- even when he gets in the most trouble. The music is charming, the lessons realistic, and the laughter contagious. We really enjoyed this most recent installment of the George franchise!

This movie follows well-meaning George as he tries to reunite an elephant with his home -- resulting in some problems that kids can identify with. Starring the voices of Tim Curry, Matt Lauer, Jamie Kennedy, and Jerry Lewis, it's something that won't bore parents, and it's not as hyperactive as some of the kids' movies on the market. (Meaning, you can watch it before bedtime or nap and not have the kids zipping around like crazy for hours afterward.) Calming, joyful, and simple -- we loved this film. (The soundtrack is equally stunning!)

You can find this movie out now in stores you already shop (or Amazon - aff) for around $15 - 20. Or get a preview via this movie trailer!

Wanna Win? We have one copy of the this classic film to give to a lucky reader. To be entered, just comment on this post with why you think you might want to catch this flick! You have until March 30th at 11:59 am 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. Open to persons 18+ U.S. only, please. (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!

*I received a review copy from Universal Home Entertainment, and all opinions expressed are my own.



Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Tropicana Juicy Rewards is Here!

If you drink O.J. as much as we do, you may not think that there needs to be a reward for doing what you enjoy. After all, orange juice is healthy and a good way to get good stuff into your diet that tastes great. Now there's another reason to drink the sweet stuff, and it comes in the form of the new Tropicana Juicy Rewards!

By heading over the new rewards site and entering codes from specially-marked cartons of Tropicana OJ, you can earn points good for discounts and special offers that are perfect for busy families! The site is designed for a quick and easy registration, and you can even search for rewards that are specific to your geographic area.

While I haven't redeemed any of my points yet (I'm debating between using using 3 points for $10 off the new EASports Active game and free shipping OR 5 points for an ongoing 20% off admission to the WWII Library and Museum), I am totally excited to spend them on things my whole family can enjoy!

Check back often to hear about my experiences, or if you you'd like to see what other Moms have to say about the program, check out Tropicana on Facebook and Twitter!

*I wrote this review while participating in the Tropicana Juicy Insiders Ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf of Tropicana. I received 12 free Juicy Rewards points and a $50 Visa gift card to use in redemption of the points and to facilitate my review.


American Greetings PhotoWorks Studio Book Tour



I've made many photo books from major online photo services in the last few years. For one, they are a quick way to put together something very polished -- with no craft skill or patience, whatsoever. Secondly, I can create several copies of a neat design to give to everyone on my gift list. No one gets left out during the holidays!

I was able to try out creating an online Studio Book from American Greetings PhotoWorks website just recently, and my experience was rather pleasant! I was to make a Baby version, which came in two styles, and its super-spiffy interface made it easy. Anyone could do it.

As you can see below, it works on any computer to quickly upload photos you have on your PC or Mac to include in your book creation! It didn't require anything more than a quick application installation, and my computer ran quickly through the entire process.



When I was done uploading everything, I could tweak the design to include multiple photos on a page, special captions and customized sayings, and font changes. Even for someone as unskilled as I am -- this looked beautiful when I was done!

I can't wait to give the book as a gift for Mother's Day this year. My family will be so surprised!!

If you're interested in learning more about the Studio Books, you can get all the info at PhotoWorks.com. The price is currently $39.95 for 20 pages (you can use over 20 photos), plus 99 cents for each additional page. It takes less than a half hour to complete a project, provided you know exactly where the photos you want to use are stored on your computer. (You can save your work at anytime, if you get distracted.)

- Note: The photo at the top of this post is not our actual book. That would ruin the surprise!

*I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of American Greetings PhotoWorks and received a free photo book to facilitate my review.


Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Review of My BabyZoo Gus NightLight and SleepTrainer

My boys are ages 6, 5, and 3 – just right to all squeeze into one bottom half of a bunk bed! Since we’ve started to get them to stay in their bed, it’s been a bit of a challenge. They have each other to keep company, but they still get a little scared of the dark. Since we’ve had a chance to review the Turtle Gus Nightlight, things have gotten a bit easier. While they didn’t solve everything (we still have to leave a hall or closet light on for most of the night), the boys feel more secure with their turtles because they have some control over the lights themselves.


Each turtle comes with an on and off switch, plus there are two levels of brightness. In addition to those features, each light has 3 timed settings that let you choose how long the light stays on (10, 20, or 30 minutes.) We’ve used these nightly for over a month, and the batteries have not had to be changed yet. (One note: when we first got them, we had a bit of trouble with one turtle, as its batteries weren’t quite meeting the connector’s correctly. We had to make sure they were positioned just right before putting the cover on, but after that – no problems, whatsoever!)


As you can see, our guys don’t cuddle their turtles (they are plastic, so they aren’t exactly “cuddly” anyway.) They did come up with the brilliant idea of tucking the turtles “fins” under the slats of the top bunk so that the turtles line the “ceiling” of their bed. Too cute!


These turtles come highly recommended by my kids. You can see why :)


If you think these are a neat idea, you have to check out the monkey clock Sleep Trainer in the product line. Equally as charming, it has eyes that open to the time parents set, letting kids know the right time to get out of bed. Cool jungle noises gently wake kids, and times are featured in both traditional “hands” style and a digital military time. It’s a fun way to learn, AND it has let me sleep in a little later. (The boys have to stay in their beds with our puppy until the monkey’s eyes open.)


Both items are available from My BabyZoo for $19.95 and $34.99, respectively.



*Sample was received for this review!



Additional Drawstring Recalls


Picture of Recalled Jacket

Check out the ever-expanding list of hooded and drawstring clothing for kids that are recalled. This batch includes the following brands: Brand Evolution, Regaliti, and Byer California.

Stay Safe!


Monday, March 8, 2010

More Recalls!

There are several recalls you need to be aware of:

Picture of Recalled Fork and Spoon Sets

Children's Fork and Spoon Sets recalled due to choking hazard.

Hooded children's clothing recalls (strangulation hazards from the strings) include: Ten West and LELE & Company.

Picture of Recalled Children’s Bangles

Children's Bangle Bracelets from Chandrigarh contain dangerous lead levels.

Do you have Roman Shades in your home? They may have been recalled! (See all the recalls here.)

Stay Safe!


Review of LEGO: The Adventures of Clutch Powers on DVD

3 boys in the house = a lot of LEGOS... everywhere. I step on them in the shower, lay on them in my bed, and pretty much spend a good portion of my day picking them up from every floor in the house. I don't complain, however, because I love LEGOS. They help my boys be creative with their play, and there's not much they would rather do on cold days in the house.

Universal Home Entertainment recently released the first LEGO full-length feature film for kids, The Adventures of Clutch Powers, and my skeptical Mom mind wondered if it would have any entertainment value. I couldn't have been more (pleasantly) surprised. I knew right away that this film had a lot of excitement -- (my boys kept saying "Mom! Listen to the music! It's like a grown-up movie, but it's OK for kids!") They loved the action sequences, the dialogue, and the Indiana-Jones type screenplay. It was the type of animated fun that can keep little boys engaged, but at the same time didn't drive me bonkers.

The best part of the film was that it continued off screen. The boys kept building things that they saw in the movie with their LEGOS, and even with some of their off-brand building sets. They liked to draw pictures about the movie, and I could tell that it really sparked their imaginations. If this is the first of many movies to come, I'm really happy to see what's next!

You can catch the trailer for this film at YouTube and find it at your favorite online video retailer!

Wanna Win? We have 1 copy of this film to give away. To be entered, just comment on this post with why you think you might want to catch this flick! You have until March 20th at 11:59 am 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. Open to persons 18+ U.S. only, please. (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!


*I received a review copy from Universal Home Entertainment, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Review of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice


As an expecting mother, I've found myself craving juice far more often than usual. I also miss my occasional glass of red wine.


Recently, however, I found a neat product that's been on the market for awhile, that not only provides me with some of the most nutritious benefits of juice, while also helping me not miss wine, at all! It's POM Wonderful, a 100% pomegranate juice product available at most grocer's in the refrigerator section. Since I'm a HUGE pomegranate fruit fan, but find it impossible to find most months of the year, I've really enjoyed sipping this all-natural juice with breakfast OR with a little club soda as a healthy wine substitute.


There are no additives or preservatives in this juice. You pay for 100% juice – and you get it. Also, all the pomegranates used to make the juice are grown in the U.S.


High in antioxidants, I've become hooked on POM Wonderful! We now drink it regularly at our home.


For more information on POM Wonderful's product line, see their site at www.pomwonderful.com


*Sample was received for this review...

Friday, March 5, 2010

Review of Junior Varsity Naturals Kids Natural Deodorant

Preteens come with their own set of problems, and one of them is a need to use deodorant! While it's not something we, as parents, want to admit, it's necessary to find something they can use that's safe, effective, and makes them feel good about using it.

Introducing JV Naturals Kids Deodorant, a yummy-scented, safe alternative to adult deodorants on the market today. With no Aluminum Chorohydrate, parabens, propylene Glycol, or harsh perfumes, you can feel good about having your kids use it every day! (Parents may like it, as well.)


My tween daughter has been using the cherry scent for a few months, and her reaction has been positive. Not only has it been effective against body odor and excessive sweating, but it leaves no icky residue or white marks that adult deodorants can leave behind. This is a great product for kids of all ages.

You can read more about the entire line of products by JV Naturals at their website www.jvnaturals.com


*Sample was received for this review....

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