Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Pop on Pals

Spin Master has come out with a new toy line called Pop On Pals. I was sent the Amusement Park Play set to review from Spin Master and Team Mom. My kids were excited about this toy even before I opened the box.
The Pop On Pals Amusement Park has a roller coaster, car, detachable lower piece to the roller coaster, a girl, and three pieces to mix and match her outfits. Changing the pieces is easy, you just press down on the pal and the mix and match rings pop on.
My kids liked pushing the buttons on the roller coaster to make the sounds and the Ferris wheel go around and around. On the amusement park, there is a bowling pin knock down (with sounds), strongman striker (strongman hit), Ferris wheel, and dragon swing boat ride, along with the roller coaster.
Pop On Pals is geared toward ages 2-4 years old, and this is perfect in the age category of my kids. I have three little ones, and they all enjoy it (age 19 months, 3, and 5).
The Pop On Pals are made to switch the outfits and pieces around to make "new" people. So, with the amusement play set the little girl goes from a plain blue outfit, to holding a hammer to play one of the games. She can have her outfit put on to show her hands up in the air while she rides the car down the roller coaster, Ferris wheel or the dragon swing boat ride. Amusement Park Play set comes with three attachable pieces.
My kids really had a great time checking out the Pop On Pals, but I know I would need to get a few more people to add on to this set to prevent some quarrels. One thing I would recommend is offering another Pop On Pals play set to attach to this roller coaster so the roller coaster can keep on.

The Amusement Park Play set for Pop On Pals is retailed at $34.99, and you can find this online or in stores like Target, Amazon, Sears, Toys R Us and more. There are several Pop On Pals packs and play sets to choose from, including: Pop On Pals Pet Pack, Pop On Pals Pal Pack, Pop On Pals Ring Deluxe Ring pack, Pop On Pals 2 n' 1 Vehicle Set, Pop On Pals Pop and Go Airplane, Pop On Pals Pop and Go School Bus and Pop On Pals Amusement Park Playset. For more information visit PopOnPals.com.

I was sent a Pop On Pals Play set to review from Spin Master and Team Mom. I was sent this product and information in exchange for an honest review. I am not compensated for my time or written review. The opinions in this post are of my own and do not reflect on the company.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Breyer's Smooth & Dreamy (review & 4 giveaways!!)

Summer is a great time to enjoy ice cream treats! Our family loves to enjoy ice cream almost everyday, and I was thrilled to try out the new Breyers Smooth & Dreamy bars or sandwiches.
I bought the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cookie sandwiches, and they are very good! I think that the ice cream is very creamy tasting, and the treat is just enough to satisfy the desire for an ice cream treat. I really liked that there is only 160 calories and 4 grams of fat per sandwich, that is less than other ice cream sandwiches and ice cream bars! With the added 1 gram of fiber, Bryers Smooth & Dreamy Ice Cream sandwich is a good treat that I don't feel so guilty about indulging in. The Smooth & Dreamy product line also has other great selections: Chocolate covered strawberry bars, Triple Chocolate chip bars, Vanilla Caramel Chip bars, Vanilla Fudge Brownie sandwiches, and Chocolate Caramel Brownie sandwiches. I am anxious to try out all of the Breyers new Smooth & Dreamy selections! Good thing that these treats can be enjoyed all summer long!
***Enter To Win***
This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States. Contest is open until August 10th, 2010. To enter, go check out the Breyers new Smooth & Dreamy ice cream treats, and comment here about which one looks delicious to you.
**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment about Breyers ice cream products. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

I was sent a coupon to redeem to try the new products from Breyers from participating in a review campaign with Mom Central. I am also sponsored to to host a giveaway for my readers to enter to win. There will be four winners who receive a coupon to purchase a Breyers Smooth & Dreamy treat~ provided from Mom Central. I was sent this coupon in exchange for an honest review and I will be receiving a $20 Amazon gift card. I am not compensated for my time or written review. The opinions in this post are of my own and do not reflect on the company.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Infantino has a great play mat: Jumbo Pinwheel

Are you looking for a great play mat for your new baby, or looking for a great baby gift?
I was sent the Infantino play mat for review, and I was thrilled to see the quality of this play mat! I love the soft textures, bright colors, and fun activities that babies can do while on the mat.
My nephew was very excited about all the bright colors. He really liked sitting in the center looking all around him.
My toddler and preschooler liked the Infantino Jumbo Pinwheel, as well. The soft fabric flower (detachable) plays music, the little rings jingle, the ears on the animals crinkle,....and
the mirror is fun to make faces in. My daughter loved to look at her reflection and make faces at us and her cousin. Do you see her face in the mirror?
Infantino's Jumbo Pinwheel play mat has so many sounds, bright colors and a variety of textures. I think this is a great play mat for babies with what it is designed with. I just love how soft it is, and it is machine washable. My nephew really had a great time checking out this Jumbo Pinwheel, and my kids love to play on it, as well. The play mat is circular and is 47" diameter.
We recommend this play mat if you are looking for one for your baby, and this would make a great baby gift! I like that it is gender-neutral, so either boy or girl can use it.


I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products to as part of my participation. The opinions in this post are of my own, and not of the company or program. I am not compensated for my time or written review.

Monday, July 19, 2010

WNBA: LYNX Game!!

Our family went to a Minnesota Lynx game a month ago, and we had a great time. The MN girl's team was playing against the Tulsa Shock. We were really excited about going to the game, and this was our second game that we have attended. My daughter loves the Lynx mascot!
Caleb is a basketball fan, and he proudly wore his MN Lynx logo shirt. It was quite big on him, but he didn't mind. He was happy to support our team.
The WNBA games are family friendly. We brought our kids, and the youngest was 18 months. He had fun watching the girls play and getting in on all the action.

The MN Lynx girls played a great game, and the score was very close through the game, which made it very exciting. I love that the fans really get into cheering for those ladies. The Lynx gals work so hard, and play with excellence.
WNBA stands for Women's National Basketball Association. These ladies are hard workers, and many of them are moms doing their best at what they do! I admire the hard work and dedication they put into their career. I am sure it is hard to be on the road and being away from their family. Check out this link to see some pictures of mom pro basketball players: click here.
The WNBA games are a great place to enjoy family time together, enjoy a great competitive game, get away from the outdoor heat, have some treats, and cheer on our team! The WNBA games are great entertainment, and the players are great role models. A time out was called, and you can see that the team really works well together.

One of our new favorite players, Seimone Augustus, had scored 27 of the winning points! That is fantastic! It was really fun watching her in action, as well as the other players.

During half time, a few participants from the audience went into these over sized hamster balls to race each other. It was quite entertaining! My kids really enjoyed the half time show. The WNBA does a great job to make their games, and half time show, a treat for the whole family.
I snapped a photo of the kids next to the poster in the hallways. They had a great time at the game, and loved the LYNX logo shirts. The shirts were a little big for the kids, but they wear them as night shirts, and love to show off the Lynx team! GO LYNX!
We won the game at home (Target Center) 78-67. It was a great game, and I was super pumped that the Lynx won the game! It was a very close game, and it was great that the Lynx won the game! The two teams sure had a good fight to keep the high score, and this game was truly a nail biter! I also heard that the MN Lynx had defeated the Shock in Tulsa on the following Saturday night as well, 92-78!
You can go to the WNBA game in a city near you! I have a special code that you can sign up with to get a great deal on your tickets: enter WNBABLOG at ticketmaster.
These deals are too good to miss - some markets are as much as 60% off tickets! If you don't live in a WNBA market, forward the fun to your friends and family who do.

Offers are good through the end of the regular season (August 22).

WNBA teams are Atlanta Dream, Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Indiana Fever, LA Sparks, Minnesota Lynx, NY Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, San Antonio Silver Stars, Seattle Storm, Tulsa Shock, Washington Mystics.


The WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women's health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education. From August 3 - 10th all teams will be hosting in-arena promotions and activities.
Attend a Special Breast Health Awareness game in your are in August:
Atlanta - August 3
Chicago - August 7
Connecticut - August 8
Indiana - August 6
Los Angeles - August 10
Minnesota - July 27
New York - August 6
Phoenix - August 6 & 8
San Antonio - August 13
Seattle - August 4
Tulsa - July 30
Washington DC - August 1


Keep up to date on all the WNBA happenings on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

This review was made possible from One2OneNetwork. They have provided me with tickets to the WNBA game for my family, and t-shirts for review purposes. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Culterelle Probiotics Review & Giveaway (2 winners)

I have a great review opportunity to try out with myself and a few of my kids. Culturelle is a product that is designed to boost the immune and digestive systems. Not all bacteria is bad, and many times our bodies don't have enough of the "good bacteria" in them. The good bacteria contained in Culturelle can improve our daily lives in so many ways.
From the Culturelle website:
Our bodies are filled with bacteria - billions, maybe trillions of them. Some are good. Others are bad. Under normal circumstances, your body maintains a healthy balance of good and bad. Trouble can arise when the bad bacteria take over, compromising digestion and your immune system. You know the feeling: bloating, poor digestion, irregularity, occasional diarrhea. That's when the power of probiotics can help.
For years scientists had studied health benefits of a "good" bacteria called lactobacillus found in foods like yogurt, milk and certain cheeses. Of the strains they were able to isolate and test, they found that most could not consistently survive the strong acids of the stomach and intestinal bile.
Enter Dr. Sherwood L. Gorbach and Barry R. Goldin. These two doctors embraced the challenge and set out to discover the ultimate probiotic power - a strain strong enough, sticky enough, fertile enough to survive the stomach acids and colonize in the intestines successfully.
What they found was Lactobacillus GG. A probiotic unlike any other.
A probiotic supplement like Culturelle can strengthen the immune system and boost your immune response. After all, the intestinal tract is the largest organ in the immune system. Culturelle's probiotic power is just what you need to prevent bad bacteria and other illness-causing substances from being absorbed into the body.

I am very excited to try out Culturelle for me and a few of my kids. I have been searching and researching for something out there that will help my kids get healthy, stay healthy...and avoid all the trips to the doctor's office. I am all about using natural or better ways to improve our health. Culturelle has sent me a box of capsules (for adults~ 30 tablets) and a few boxes of Culturelle for Kids to try with my kids. I will test them out over the next month and write in another post how we feel and if we see some better health and immunities.

I have a fun video to share with you about bacteria with a humor:


Here is the You Tube Channel for Culturelle to check out their other videos.

**Enter to Win!!**
Culturelle is sponsoring a giveaway for two T-Shirts to giveaway to my readers! Lucky You! I think these T-Shirts are fun, and will help spark a great conversation. The shirts say, "I heart Bacteria!"
This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States. Contest is open until July 16th, 2010. To enter, leave a comment about if you have tried alternative health care options (like chiropractic care for ear trouble), and what you have tried. Or, just leave a comment about what you like about the Culturelle website.
For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment about memories from a favorite teacher. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

Lastly, if you use Facebook, you should become a fan of their page - Culturelle facebook.
Twitter follow them at Twitter.com/Culturelle .

Check out the Culturelle website for some great coupons for $1, $2 or $3 off.

I was contacted directly by Culturelle, who asked for my participation in a giveaway for two T-Shirts and to sample/review their products. They have sent me a few boxes to review their probiotics and shared information for me to publish in exchange for an honest review. I am not compensated for my time or written review.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Apple Bottoms are adorable clothes! (Review and GIVEAWAY!!)

I was very excited to have the opportunity to review an outfit for one of my children for the Parigi Group. It was not revealed to me what the outfit would look like, all I knew was that the outfit they picked out for me to review was for my daughter, Madelyn. I think the outfit they sent was absolutely adorable!! The outfit is designed from Apple Bottoms, and it way too cute!
Madelyn was thrilled to put on the outfit, and could hardly wait for me to take it out and take the tags off. Look how cute it is! Stonewashed Jean skort (jean skirt with attached shorts underneath) with a red lace trim, stripped short-sleeve top with stitched design around the neck line, and a short sleeve hoodie to match.
The hoodie is a zip-up (with an apple on the zipper), and it has a stitched apple design across the back side. So Cute!!
This outfit can be worn with the hoodie, or without, and Madelyn loves it!
The quality in this outfit is super! I love the feel of the top, which is like a stretchy spandex feel.
The skirt is top quality and has a fun AB on the back side, for the Apple Bottoms logo. I like that the skirt is made into a skort, because toddlers are very busy, and modesty isn't very easy. Madelyn has a new favorite outfit, and it is from Apple Bottoms. We highly recommend this outfit, and company to you!
Apple Bottoms is inspired from well known rapper, Nelly. Apple Bottoms has embellished denim jackets and jeans, and other great outfits, or separates to choose from.
Parigi focus group:
For nearly a quarter of a century, Parigi Group's stable of brands has played a major role and are some of the main contributors in helping to shape and define the children's fashion apparel market. They represent brands such as PUMA, Apple Bottoms, DKNY, Phat, Baby Phat, Akademiks, and LRG.

**Enter to Win!!**
Parigi Focus is sponsoring a giveaway for an Apple Bottoms outfit, like the one I reviewed, to giveaway to my readers! Lucky You! I know that whomever wins this contest will be thrilled with the outfit and the quality of the design!
This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States. Contest is open until July 25th, 2010. To enter, go check out the Parigi website, and comment here about something you found out about them.
**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and add another friendly comment about memories from a favorite teacher. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

I was sent an outfit from the Parigi Group and Mom Select. I am also sponsored to offer an additional outfit to host a giveaway for my readers to enter to win. I was sent this outfit and information in exchange for an honest review. I am not compensated for my time or written review. The opinions in this post are of my own and do not reflect on the company.