Another Super Yummy Review Roundup!

Sometimes, we just get too many yummy goodies to review in a short amount of time.  Rather than put aside those that we don't have space for, we throw them together into a "mini roundup" to let you know how much we enjoyed them.  If it's on our list -- consider it a great product that your family will enjoy!

Jarritos

We've been drinking this stuff for years!  Whenever we go to an authentic Mexian eatery, we order a bottle of Jarritos for washing down our spicy meal.  We have always been partial to the orange flavor, but with our recent review opportunity, we had a chance to try so many more flavors!

We were having a birthday party for my son around the same time we tried the newer flavors.  This was such a treat for the kids, as usually, we have soda in 2-liter bottles and they drink them from glasses.  Having their own refreshing (and sweet) drink from their own bottle was fun for them, and we repurposed the bottles for fun craft projects when we were done!  (Your local recycling center will also take these -- and some pay a glass bottle bonus!)

Try out all the luscious flavors for a real sweet experience.  My favorite is Toronja (grapefruit)!

Why we love it:  When's the last time you drank your soda from a glass bottle?

Kraft Homestyle Macaroni and Cheese Dinner

Mmm...  Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food, and we were stoked to try some of the new flavors of Kraft's Homestyle Mac and Cheese Dinners!  These feed more people than the small box dinners, and the cheese is soooo creamy!  We really enjoyed all the flavors, but our fave was the Old World Italian with Parmesan & Romano Cheese Sauce.  If you like your mac and cheese to taste homemade, this is as close to the real thing as you can get (with less time.)  We loved the crumb topping, too!

Why we love it:  It tastes like I put a lot of work into this!


*We received samples of all of these products (as well as many others).  These made the cut to be reported on.  All opinions are my own.

Olivia Makes Play Fun for Girls AND Boys

We received a shipment of Olivia toys this past month, and at first I was a bit concerned.  My boys aren't exactly sit-down-and-play with "figures" type kids.  They build.  They tear apart.  They build again.  And that's about all they do.

The playset we received from the Olivia line of toys, however, was unique, in that while it was a "house" with furniture and little accessories for kids to stage household play, it also flipped inside out to become a pirate ship!  That's where things got cool.

My kids are pirate freaks.  They love them.  They pretend to be them.  Now that Olivia could be made into a pirate.... things were really picking up with the Olivia play time.  While familiar with the Olivia books, my kids weren't die-hard fans or anything.  But they loved this play set.

My youngest (almost 4), would sit in the hallway and carefully stage the pirate ship for the perfect play experience.  (He works in the hallway because this is the one place in our house that is generally clean and uncluttered from other kids' toys.)  At night, it was difficult to get him to go to bed.  He just wanted to keep messing with that pirate ship!

We also received a lovely plush Olivia doll that will make our youngest son (a baby now) happy someday.  My older kids don't really look at plush these days.  It is a high-quality toy, and I love that it's not too big (it's only 8" tall!)  We received the cow version (shown below), but it also comes in three other styles: Artist, Opera Singer, and Outfits...  This toy is all about imagination!

For more information on these Olivia toys from Spin Master, see the spinmaster.com website!

**This post made possible by Spin Master, through Team Mom, who provided me with a sample to facilitate this review. Opinions stated are, solely, my own and not compensated or wavered in any other way.

Review of "Snow Day: A Novel" By Billy Coffey

I really don't have much time to read these days.  Between the trade reading I do (personal finance magazines), reading for the kids schoolwork (Little House on the Prairie, etc), and the headlines of the online papers, I'm pretty much zapped for additional reading time.  That means that when I do read a book, it can take me a month or more to finish!

The last book I read was a charming read by Billy Coffey entitled Snow Day: A Novel.  Perfect for getting into the holiday spirit, this book follows a simple father as he faces being laid off from his factory job and tries to see the joys in life -- despite his own hardships.  This is a good "pick up and put down" book.  You can have it next to your bed for evening reads, in the car for when you're waiting to pick up kids, or in the diaper bag for when you're just hanging out anywhere!  Each chapter leads the main character through the story --- slowly -- while teaching a mini-lesson.  All of the insights in this book are presented sweetly, in a way that all parents can relate to (not just fathers) and they bring all good things back to He who created them -- God!

I really like the perspective in this book. It is encouraging, while at the same time exposing the fears that all parents have about who they are and how they can keep their families together.  If you want a non-preachy, but inspiring Christian point of view in your next read, I suggest this book!

You can read more about Mr. Coffey and his book at the official website.  Available from book sellers and Amazon.com now!  (Also on Kindle)

*Advanced copy was received to review. Opinions are mine.

Additional Drop Side Crib Recalls

There have been quite a few more crib recalls, including some by Ethan Allen, Angel Line, and Victory Land.  See the details at the links provided.

Stay Safe!!

Dollar Tree Recalls Children's Halloween Lanterns

These pumpkin, ghost, and skull lanterns were recalled due to the bulb inside getting too hot.  Please see the CPSC website to get full details on this recall.

Stay Safe!!

Meijer Infant Shoes Recalled

There have been complaints of the toggles from these infant shoes pulling off and causing a choking hazard.  Parents can remove the toggles and throw them away or return the shoes for a refund.  More info found at the CPSC website.

Stay Safe!!

Our DIY Halloween Candy Corn Trees

I gave my husband a hard time when he told me that he would be making candy corn trees with the kids this year.  He is the King of gingerbread houses, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.  When he picked out some pictures from the Woman's Day magazine that featured them, then began gathering supplies, I knew the kids were in for a treat!  Here is how he assembled these beauties.. and with candy corn still in stock at your local Walmart, it's not too late to make a few with your kids, too!

1.  Use an empty toilet paper roll insert for the base of the tree.  Glue it onto a base made out of cardboard or construction paper, and then paint or color them for flair.
2.  Make a fringe ring around the base of the tree with construction paper.  You can see here that it will extend the TP roll to make it taller, and it adds more area for the kids to glue candy!
3.  Now you get into the real fun!  Glue all kinds of candy pumpkins and candy corns to the base and the holder.  Get extra snazzy with some glitter glue!
4.  Find a small branch in the yard for the tree.  Stick it into the holder, and use extra candies to hold the tree snugly into the base.
5.  Glue a few candy corns to the branches of the tree with hot glue.  (We also had a strange berry tree on hand for a little variety.  The kids call it the "poison berry tree.")

These turned out really well.  We used glue guns for the best results, but you'll want to help the little ones with this part.

I also made a funky spider picture using Glitter Glue, a Marshallow painted with a black Sharpie marker, and some ribbon cuttings for legs.  It's geeky!

What kind of fun Halloween goodies can your family put together?  Do you use pantry items, too?

* Disclosure: I am one of the Walmart Moms. Follow me and my fellow Walmart Moms (Wholesome Mommy, Mommy Brain Reports, Frugal Upstate, A Cowboy’s Wife, Chic Shopper Chick, Consumer Queen, Sophistishe, Green Your Decor, Domestic Diva, and Being Frugal) as we try to have the best Halloween for less at Walmart. Walmart has provided me with compensation and gift card in return for this post. My participation in this program is voluntary and as always opinions are my own.

Join Us Live for a Beauty Routine Makeover (GIVEAWAY)

Hey ladies!  Are you feeling a bit dull as you head into the winter months?  You may want to get a jump-start on those beauty issues with some help from the experts!  Today, from 12:30 am - 2pm EST, you can watch this post for a live video chat with Prevention experts!  You can also be eligible to win prizes from Walmart just for participating! (Or for the original site, visit them at Prevention's page!)

Live Chat Software

Wanna Win?  We have one amazing Prevention prize pack to give away to a lucky winner just for commenting below! You can enter any time during the event (12:30 - 2:00 EST) and we'll pick one to receive the prize, courtesy of Walmart and Prevention!

See you soon!

Teething Tablets and Candy Recalls

Although we have been happy using Hyland's Teething Tables for years, these have been voluntarily recalled.  Please see the details at the official FDA website or Hyland's site.

MegaPops recalls some of their candy.  See the details from the FDA site.

Stay Safe!!

Review of Kidz Bop Dance Party for the Wii

I used to think that if my family only had a Wii gaming system, I would spend so many more hours a week playing with them.  We would play all the time, right?  After owning one for a year, however, there have been times that the thing has either sat collecting dust, or the kids played some annoying game for hours that just didn't hold my interest.  Last week, however, we received a copy of Kidz Bop Dance Party to review.  This game was a game-changer!

First, even if you don't particularly like Kidz Bop CD's (I find them to be a bit difficult to tolerate, at times), this game seems to have picked the best songs to include in the dance-related action.  In addition to tunes like "Evacuate the Dance Floor" and "Party in the USA", there are older tunes like "Hey Ya" and some silly songs like "Ice Cream and Guacamole."  To make things fun for me, they've added "Thriller" with dance moves that mimic Michael Jackson's original video!

To play, you only need to move the Wii wand in the motion indicated on the screen.  The moves get more complicated the more difficult the song, and it's definitely more fun (and more calorie-burning) to move your entire body while playing.  For families with kids of all ages, you can play in non-competitive modes or even as a team of 2.  If the kids want to go head-to-head, you can do that also.  While we skipped much of the "dress up" function of the game to speed things up (my kids could literally spend DAYS picking out accessories for their Wii people), you can find silly outfits and even customize your stage for a truly personal dance experience.

My kids have played this game nonstop since we got it.  Our 12 year old plays with the 3 year old, and I love to challenge the winner.  Here is a video of my preschooler trying it out on day one (notice that it's dark and there are balloons.. we were trying out a "club" atmosphere.)  Please excuse his underwear-only attire....



As you can see, it's easy for any skill level to play.  This fun game is available at Amazon and other retailers for around $40.

Frugal Baby Pumpkin Halloween Outfit and Other Tips!

Halloween is almost upon us, and if you're like my family... you are putting EVERYTHING off until the last minute.  We understand what it's like to have to throw together costume ideas, treats, decor, and more -- especially on a budget, so in corporation with the Walmart Moms program, we'd love to share how we've done things with less.

Our costumes are perhaps the most mind-numbing expense each year.  Even with our oldest NOT celebrating (she's too old, I guess), that still leaves 4 costumes.  There are a few ways to get around the cost of new costumes every year, and these are my favorite:

• DIY when you can.  The first year our son went Trick-or-treat, we couldn't find any baby costumes that fit well.  They were also $40 or more!  Since we had limited funds, but wanted cute pictures, we made him a pumpkin outfit from a child's orange t-shirt (usually $3-4 dollars), some green leggings that he already had (black sweats would work, too), and black duct tape.  This is how it turned out:

To put it together, just stuff the shirt with washcloths or mismatched socks from the laundry pile and tuck it into the waist of the pants (or you can secure the bottom of the "pumpkin" with a kid's belt.) Then, cut out the pumpkin face from the tape and stick it directly on the t-shirt.  For a cute pumpkin "topper", we cut out a stem from construction paper, glued it to another construction paper "disk", and then hot glued this onto a little girl's barrette before putting it into my son's hair (shhh.... don't tell him.)
Time spent:  Less than 20 minutes.  Cost:  Less than $10 dollars.

• Ain't too proud to beg.  Seriously.  Times are tough.  If you have a cousin or sister or friend with older kids who have outfits from last year just laying around, ask if you can borrow them.  Last year's Spider-Man looks a lot like this year's Spider-Man.  Your child doesn't have to know -- if you are worried about it.
• Buy for the future. Some costumes are just junk.  Others are built to last.  If you are going to pull the trigger on a commercial costume, why not spend a bit more to have something that will become a plaything after the season is over?  We bought really nice plush outfits for our kids when they were toddlers, and they still use them 3 years later in their dress-up box.  It's fun to get geared up as an alligator of frontiersman on a rainy fall afternoon!
• Purchase just ONE accessory.  It's easy to make most costumes with just paint and stuff you have lying around the house.  Kid really miss the excitement of strolling down the aisles of their local store, however, and picking out their costumes.  Why not compromise by giving kids the chance to buy ONE item from the costume aisle that they can incorporate into a homemade idea?  This gives them the best of both worlds: budget-friendly and peer-approved.

(If Baby Marcus could pick one accessory this year, would he choose this one?)

What about you?  Whether you celebrate or not, do you have some frugal costume solutions for busy, cash-strapped families?  We have really learned to adapt over the years, and still like to keep our options flexible and fun!

* Disclosure: I am one of the Walmart Moms. Follow me and my fellow Walmart Moms (Wholesome Mommy, Mommy Brain Reports, Frugal Upstate, A Cowboy’s Wife, Chic Shopper Chick, Consumer Queen, Sophistishe, Green Your Decor,Domestic Diva, and Being Frugal) as we try to have the best Halloween for less at Walmart. Walmart has provided me with compensation and gift card in return for this post. My participation in this program is voluntary and as always opinions are my own.

Review of Parent's Choice Diapers

I've had to diaper 5 children, and while I'm not exactly brand loyal, I do have my favorites.  Generally, I look for diapers that don't look and feel soaked after they get just a little wet, but I also don't want one that holds 2 cups or more without me knowing they need changed.

Parents' Choice is a brand in diaper I had NOT tried before this review. I have used other store brand diapers, and all of them have left me wishing I had paid more (or used a coupon) for brand name.  Things I generally don't like about store brand include: they aren't as soft, they leak, or they don't fit snugly.  Parent's Choice surprised me, in that they were competitive with brand name in these areas.

Here is a picture of my little guy in the diapers from Parent's Choice.

I haven't had a leak yet, and unlike Luvs, they don't feel squishy or bunch up when they are wet.  They are very soft on the surface, but don't pill (get fuzzy) like some brand name newborn diapers that I like.  Overall, I think they fit snugly, and I can actually get a little more wear time from the size than some other brands, because they fit higher on the belly.

They aren't much to look at (these were pink and yellow -- not exactly boy colors), but when you are co-sleeping with your infant, leak protection is the number one priority, and they certainly meet my high standards.

As one of the lowest-priced diapers on the market, they will be my go-to diaper when I can't find a cheaper sale on brand name.  I will definitely add these to my "loyalty" list! You can find them for sale at Walmart.com or your local Walmart store.

*I received diapers to try for this review from Walmart.  Opinions are my own.

The Big AZO Giveaway!

Hey, Ladies!  Have you heard of AZO?  You might be aware that they offer health solutions for all kinds of women's personal health concerns, but did you know that many of their products make it easy to treat conditions anywhere you may go?  AZO's innovative offerings make it easy to stay prepared.   Don’t be caught traveling without access to relief!

To help introduce you to  the convenience of AZO's products, we're hosting a fun giveaway!  The Winner will receive an AZO emergency kit in a Vera Bradley toiletry bag; total retail value of $75!  The kit includes:

· The full line of AZO Products – STANDARD Maximum Strength, CRANBERRY, TEST STRIPS, YEAST, ITCH RELIEF Maximum Strength (analgesic wipes and topical analgesic cream)

· Vera Bradley Large Cosmetic Bag – a 10" x 6¼" x 3¼" stylish plastic-lined toiletry bag in soft, brightly patterned, quilted cotton (note: the patterns provided will be randomly selected from the current collection and not from patterns being discontinued or retired… you can view here: http://www.verabradley.com/product/Category/Accessories/Large-Cosmetic/154771.uts)

Wanna Win?  To be entered for this fun prize, simply visit the AZO Products website and let us know what product they make is new to you!  You have until October 30th at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in, and you CAN ENTER EVERY DAY! (Just comment as directed for the first entry, and then enter with "today's entry" for each entry after that.) Giveaway is open to U.S. and Cananda ages 18+ only, and be sure to give us a way to contact you if you win! (Don't forget to enter all of our giveaways while you're here!)

EARN AN EXTRA ENTRY: "Like" AZO on Facebook and let us know in the comments.


*I received an identical prize for my time in promoting this giveaway.

Do You Have a Fave First Gadget? (Giveaway!)

Hey guys (and gals)... you no doubt have fond memories of your first gadgety goodness (like an Atari or a uber-large cell phone, maybe?)  In a recent article I wrote on My Life Scoop, I interviewed some pretty cool peeps about what they remember drooling over from an early age.  Their answers are surprising and fun!

 (Photo via mr bill)

Do you have a fave "first" gadget that you'd  like to share?  If so, go on over and let the world know!  You may just have the same fond memory as Gary Vee, NYTimes Bestselling Romance Author Susan Mallery, Amy from Mom Advice, or Penelope Trunk!

Wanna Win?  We have a goodie bag to give away to one reader who helps share the Gadget Love by retweeting the article (it includes $20 of Sharpie markers, Starbucks VIA, and some great free product coupons!)  To be entered to win this prize, just visit the original post, and use the Retweet button to share with your friends! Make sure you comment below ON THIS POST to let us know that you entered! It's that easy!

You have until Tuesday, October 26th at 11:59 pm CST to share the love.  After that, we'll randomly pick a lucky Tweeter to get the gear! One entry per person, please!!!

Good luck, and keep loving your tech! 

Our Super Yummy Review Roundup

Sometimes, we just get too many yummy goodies to review in a short amount of time.  Rather than put aside those that we don't have space for, we throw them together into a "mini roundup" to let you know how much we enjoyed them.  If it's on our list -- consider it a great product that your family will enjoy!

Lean Cuisine Market Creations Entrees

I absolutely loved these dishes.  The sauces were indulgent and made me feel like I as eating something rich and calorie-laden (instead of your typical "I'm still hungry" diet dish.)  Even with a spin in the microwave, these tasted fresh, and the veggies were crispy.  My fave?  The Garlic Chicken.  The seasoning was right on, and anything with a perfectly-steamed asparagus has my vote.

Why we love it:  It doesn't taste like 270 calories.  Really.


Red Gold Canned Tomatoes
 
One of the reasons I adore living on a farm is that we have so much space to plant a garden.  Unfortunately, our garden was a flop this year... and we harvested almost no tomatoes!  We had the chance to try the almost-fresh goodness of Red Gold Canned Tomatoes, however, and they are a pretty good substitute for home grown (and way better than the bland, lifeless ones from the produce section of the grocer.)  We used a can of the petite diced ones in our homemade Chicken Parmesan.  Our kiddos ate it up!

Why we love it:  Fresh tomatoes.... in December?

Simply Heinz

How can less be more?  When it involves a product like Simply Heinz.  To be honest, this ketchup tasted just like the Heinz we've been using for years.  With a basic list of ingredients: tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, salt and spices -- you can know that you're giving your family just ketchup!  We aren't against HFCS, but it's great to be able to recommend a tasty condiment that is.

Why we love it: Tastes like Heinz... without the corn syrup!  

*We received samples of all of these products (as well as many others).  These made the cut to be reported on.  All opinions are my own.

Graco Recalls Quattro™ and MetroLite™ Strollers Due to Risk of Entrapment and Strangulation

Please see the official press release at the CPSC website to see how to obtain the free repair kit for these strollers.  Four deaths have been reported.

Stay Safe!!

Review of Aeromax Kid's Costumes

We did this review a while ago, but with the upcoming Halloween season almost upon us, we thought now would be a good time to tell you all about it!

As you can see from this picture of my 5-year-old in his new Aeromax Junior Secret Agent outfit, these are not your ordinary drugstore get ups.  This particular outfit was complete with a trench coat (made of some very strong material, buttons, and pockets), a felt-covered hat (that was equally tough), a cardboard briefcase, handcufs, some "spy" glasses, and an assortment of mustaches.  Well, of course, my kids were fighting over the mustaches, but they really had a great time taking turns in the costume and going on "missions."  The glasses actually allow you to see people and things behind you, and the "Small" jacket fit my 3 and 5 year old really well.

This is a costume that gets pulled out of the costume box just as often as our other favorites, so I feel like it has good value for the price.  There are lots of other costume choices on the Aeromax website, and a variety of sizes, as well!  If you don't grab one for Halloween, you might find them to be a great distraction for some fun indoor play on a rainy day this fall!

* A sample costume was received to help us with this review. Opinions are my own.

Munchkin Bath Toy Recall

This motorized submarine, which has already caused injuries, can suck up a child's skin.  Please see how to return this product for a refund at the CPSC website.

Child's Flashlight and Baby Overall Recalls

Dollar Tree Recalls these kids flashlights (in Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Iron Man styles) due to fire and burn hazards.  See the full details at the official CPSC website.

These baby Carhartt's have been recalled due to a choking hazard.  Get the details at the CPSC site.

Review of Eureka Airspeed Upright Bagless Vacuum

(Sorry! Our giveaway is over.  The vacuum is on sale for a limited time, however... just $99!)

First, let me start off by saying that I didn't expect to like this vacuum.  Although I'm a huge Eureka fan (I own a bagged commercial lightweight upright that I love), I have had horrible experiences with bagless vacs.  They all either lose suction after a short time or I just find them disgusting (what's fun about dumping your dust into the trash and having to touch all those filters?)

The Eureka Airspeed Upright Bagless Vacuum, however, had me floored.  I took a few weeks to review, because I was expecting its performance to degrade over time.  After weeks of daily use, however, it has not let me down.

Here's the scoop on this vac.  It has a very short suction tube, which makes it an easy trip from the floor to the collection cup. Stuff doesn't get clogged in the tube like other vacuums (and I hate having to stick wire hangers in my tubes!)  The hose for accessories is not used at all when pushing the vacuum along the floor.  Instead a collection of short tubes maximize airflow and suction and keep dirt from having to go through a windy-turny maze.  I used it on all kinds of debris (legos, chewed up crayons, tiny pieces of foam, stickers, and of course, good ol' farm dust).  Everything ended up in the collection cup, which is rather large and held several rooms' worth of junk easily.  Dumping the collection cup was awesome, as I didn't have to touch dirt at all!  I popped it out, pushed a button for the bottom of the cup to open up and let the junk out, then popped it back in.  With my other vacuums, the seal that hold the collection cup in place has worn out quickly, leaving it susceptible to suction loss.  Not with this vacuum!  The collection cup itself is kind of handy for viewing what you vacuumed up, too.  I have used it as an object lesson to show the kids the consequence of leaving stuff lying around (Look at how many G.I. Joe grenades mommy sucked up into the vacuum!)

There are several other standard features (that actually work) on this vacuum, including carpet height adjustment and suction adjustment.  I found it super easy to use, and the fact that I haven't kicked or sworn at the thing in the time I've had it is a testament to its quality.  I simply hate bagless vacs, but this one has convinced me that bagless actually CAN work.

You've probably seen the commercials:  AirSpeed is available only at Walmart.com and at Walmart stores. It's a modest $119.96 to buy (a fraction of other high-quality bagless vacs).  You can read more about Eureka at their website http://www.eureka.com/.

Wanna win?  We have a super-awesome AirSpeed for one lucky winner.  To be entered to win, just tell us what we might find in your collection cup at the end of a vacuuming session (legos, food, bugs?)  You have until October 29th at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in, and you CAN ENTER EVERY DAY! (Just comment as directed for the first entry, and then enter with "today's entry" for each entry after that.) Giveaway is open to U.S. ages 18+ only, and be sure to give us a way to contact you if you win! (Don't forget to enter all of our giveaways while you're here!)


*I received an AirSpeed vacuum to test for this review.  No other compensation was given to me, and I'd love the vacuum even if I bought it myself.