Infantino's Food Line~ Annabel Karmel

I absolutely love the new baby feeding line that Infantino carries! I wish these products were around when my other kids were little babies. It can be a challenge to transition from breast feeding to solid foods, and buying all those jars of baby food can not only get spendy, but I often think that maybe if I knew exactly what my baby was eating, I could make sure that my baby is eating the healthiest foods. I loved seeing the new line of feeding products from Infantino! The Annabel Karmel products are great for making your own baby food, and preparing foods for your baby simplier and easier.

I really like the Stackable pots, because there are a few different sizes and each size is a perfect serving for your little one. I love the colorful containers for easy food on the go, and to put the container in the diaper bag for later feeding. The Stackable pots come in three different sizes, and they stack together for easy storage. These food pots are freezer safe and microwave safe, which make them very usable! I really like that I am able to store my frozen baby food in these stackable pots and bring the food on the go. While my baby's food is thawing, I am traveling, and then when it is time for eating, my baby's food is easily available.
Making my own baby food is a great way to know what my baby is eating. I love that I can make a big portion of food, and then I can fill up the Freeze Tray. Then, when my baby's food is frozen, I can store the food in the Stackable pots, or place into another container. The Freeze tray will hold 9 servings of foods, and I like that each is separated, so I can put many different foods like fruits and vegetables into the Freeze Tray at one time. Each food portion is 1 oz. and is perfect for your baby's appetite. I love that the Freeze tray is dishwasher safe, too!

My older kids love the Fill & Freeze pops, even though they were designed for the babies! :) The Fill & Freeze Pops are perfect for those aching gums when babies are teething, or for a nice cool summer treat. I love the recipes to make your own fruit pop, naturally good without any chemicals or unknown items. You can make Fruit Frozen pops with just fruit and 100% fruit juice! The Fill & Freeze pops are dishwasher and freezer safe, and there are four different colored pops. Each freeze pop has a handle for easy holding~ perfect for little hands.
Infantino carries a great line of baby feeding products! I also love the Fresh Food Mill~ for easy puree and grinding foods for your baby, and the Mash & Serve Bowl for making the fruits and vegetables easier to eat.

My little one loves to eat what I eat, and with the Annabel Karmel feeding line, I can eat my food, and show my baby that he is eating what I am eating~ it is just prepared a little different. Annabel Karmel feeding line has made my food preparations easier, and I am happy knowing what my baby is eating. Plus, my baby likes the flavors of the foods, too!

Infantino has also launched a brand new website this month! Be sure to check it out at infantino.com .

I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products as part of my participation.

Disney Live! Mickey Mouse Magic Show

Disney Live! Mickey Mouse Magic show was a fantastic show!! Our family went and saw the show at the Xcel Energy Center on October 24th, 2010. Our family was very impressed with the show, and we will for sure what to see it again when it comes to our area.
The show started off with an introduction to the magician, Brad, and he was there to perform the tricks along with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald.

The show had dancing girls, and they danced a few times in between the sets.
Mickey and Minnie are so fun to watch, ~what a cute couple!
One of the beginning scenes was of Alice in Wonderland, the Mad Hatter, the Rabbit, and the Queen of Hearts.
During the dancing of the cards, Brad the magician displayed a joker card with Goofy's picture on it.....Bad move! The Queen of Hearts declared, "Off with his head!"
So, Alice had to put Brad into the boxes and spin his head and body around and around. Let's just say he got all twisted up! I am still not sure how that trick was performed!
Mickey and Minnie did a dance of the glowing broomsticks, like in Fantasia. Minnie floated into the air during this magic show, too.
A little boy was brought up onto the stage, and Brad asked for his show. The shoe was melted and deformed, and the trick was that his shoe, nice and new, ended up in a box that was hanging from the ceiling.
One of the fun sets of the show, was when there was a throne with a curtain attached. Mickey, Minnie and Donald shut the curtain, one of them said a magic word, and a princess appeared. Belle, from Beauty and the Beast, was first to appear. Then, after Belle talked and sang, the curtain was shut, and Goofy tried a take at the magic word "Abracadabra," but he mispronounced it...and instead of someone good...Gaston appeared.
The next princess to appear was Snow White. When Goofy tried saying the magic word, with failing, the wicked witch appeared with a poisoned apple to tempt Snow White.
The last princess that appeared was Cinderella, and then the Fairy godmother came to make Cinderella's dream come true.
A pair of pink shoes were received from the audience, and magically transformed into glass slippers....and then a pumpkin-shaped carriage came out onto the stage.
Cinderella, peasant girl, entered the carriage, and with a poof, the door opened and Cinderella Princess came out....gown, hair up in a style and all! What a great trick!
This time, when the curtain on the throne was pulled shut, "Abracadabra," was said and Prince Phillip appeared and danced with his Princess Cinderella.

Donald Duck really wanted a big spot light in the show. He had made way to center stage with a song about himself a few times during the show, hoping it was his turn to shine. I love Donald...he is so cute!
The Aladdin theme was the next part, and out of the magic lamp came none other than Genie Goofy! There was a magic carpet that danced around, and then Princess Jasmine appeared.
Brad the magician magically lifted Jasmine up into the air...slowly, slowly, higher and higher. He took a silver ring and had her body go through the ring. It was very impressive!
Then, one of the most thrilling magic tricks out there (in my opinion) is the trick to cut a person into sections...by mid section, and with dividers at the head and feet. Two girls were the volunteers for this trick, and the guys could each perform the trick. Each girl wore a colorful, sparkling outfit~ one was red, and one was blue. They each laid down on the table inside a sectional box. The magicians went to work placing the dividers on the head and feet. Then, they sliced a divider into the mid-section of each girl.I still do not know how they separate the person (or so it seems)...I think it is mind blowing! The magician even stood in the middle of the two sections.
However, that wasn't the only surprise with this trick...
The guys took the bottom half of each girl (their legs) and switched them to the other girl. So, each girl had the other girl's legs... It was crazy to see each lady stand up, with different color pants. I have no idea how this trick is pulled off, but I can say, "WOW...I am amazed!"
It was amazing!!
The end of the show was a great finale with streamers, and flying paper strips. Each character and person came out with a bow and smiles to go around. We applauded them, and were so happy to have been at this show! We highly recommend the Disney Live! Mickey's Magic Show!!

This review opportunity was provided by Feld Entertainment. I am a Feld Family Activator. I am not compensated for my review or written post. The statements in this review are of my own, and of my opinion. I was provided tickets to attend the show with my family, and given the opportunity to host giveaways for my readers.

Trivial Pursuit Card Game (Review & 3 giveaways!!)

My family loves games, and playing them is such a great family game night. We love the Hasbro games, because not only are they fun...they promote Family Game Nights.

I was recently sent the new card game from Hasbro : Trivial Pursuit Steal game. This card game is rather fun, and is a great game for a quick dose of fun. A lot like the board game, Trivial Pursuit, the T.P. Steal card game has the questions on topics: Geography, Entertainment, History, Art & Literature, Science & Nature and Sports & Leisure.

Trivial Pursuit Steal consists of two decks of cards. One stack of cards is the trivial questions~ 330 new questions, and one stack is the game cards.

Starting off the game, you are dealt 5 cards, and on your turn you will draw a new card. These cards will be a variety of the wedge cards and the action game cards. The wedge cards are designed with the colors of the original Trivial Pursuit. After you draw your new card, you need to decide what color wedge do you want to get. There are 6 color wedges, and in your hand you may have a wild wedge card, to which you can use to get the color you need.

During your turn, someone reads you a question. If you get it right, you get to keep that wedge card. There are a few ways where you can avoid that question and get to "steal the wedge" card....just lay down a Steal Card, and take the wedge from another player! That isn't the best revenge though, with Trivial Pursuit Steal card game, you can lay down a Steal Two cards...and you can take two wedges! However, for the person who you want to steal from, you better watch out, because they can throw down a can of...well,they can block you with a Block card, to stop you from stealing their wedge. :)

To make the game fair, Trivial Pursuit Steal has a "buzz" card that lays on the table~ and does not go into a player's hand. If you grad the buzzer card you can answer a question that another player got wrong, to get their wedge. However, if you get the question wrong too, you lose a wedge.

Either by playing fairly, or by stealing....the first player to get all six colors in wedges, wins.
Check out Trivial Pursuit on Facebook!

Trivial Pursuit Steal Card Game is just $5.24, and can be purchased in local retail stores or online at places like Amazon.com.

***ENTER TO WIN!!!***
This contest is open to bloggers, and non-bloggers of the United States, and will end on October 25th. There will be three winners, and each winner will receive the new Trivial Pursuit Steal Card Game.
To enter, tell me which topic you like to answer questions on...is it history, entertainment, geography? Then, comment on it. For an extra entry, Follow Family Game Night on Twitter and Tweet the following (copy and paste): #Win Trivial Pursuit Steal Card Game @FamilyGameNight at @Sassyfrazz (3 Winners)

**For extra chances you can: blog this contest, add my button to your site, subscribe to my blog, follow Sassyfrazz on twitter and/or become a fan on facebook, and/or visit everyday and comment on another one of my blog posts (leave a comment letting me know what you commented on). Visit Trivial Pursuit on Facebook, "like" them, and comment that you are entering my contest to win @sassyfrazz.blogspot.com. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

I will contact the winner by e-mail and they will have 3 days to claim their prize, and at that time...if no response, I will have the option to pick a new winner.

This review was provided from Hasbro. They have provided me with a Trivial Pursuit Steal card game review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer three card game giveaways for my readers through this review. I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

mOmma feeding products (review)

It is so fun when little ones start feeding themselves, and start moving into the "independent" stages of doing things on their own. It can be a very fun experience for the little baby...growing into a toddler, to learn and explore with the world around them. I really like when I come across great feeding products for my little ones. I look for products that are easy for my child to use, sturdy (because the floor can be a long way down from their tray) and products that are not only safe to use (materials made with) but also easy to clean up.
I got to review the mOmma feeding line, and I think the fun design is both entertaining for kids, and useful! Check out my little guy reviewing the mOmma Non-Spill Cup with straw:
Notice how the cup does NOT spill. I have tried so many sippy cups that claim the "no-spill," or "spill-proof" statement, however, I have found very few that actually hold true to that claim. Well, my child states the claim, and proves, that the mOmma Non-Spill cup with straw does not leak. I love the "roly-poly" shape of the cup, which makes my son laugh. I also like how the straw can be shut, hidden underneath the lid, to keep it from getting dirty, or for easy storage in the diaper bag.~NO Leaks! The lid slides shut completely!
I also love the that whole mOmma feeding products are BPA and phthalate-free...making them very safe to use with my kids. I am a big promoter of using safe products for my kids. I am really happy that the mOmma line is dishwasher safe, too. When products are made safe to wash in the dish washer, I am an even bigger promoter!
Since the cups for the mOmma collection are round-shaped, the mOmma wash is a cleaning brush designed to work specifically with the mOmma line cups. I love the bigger handle on this brush, and the bristles are made very well. I really like that the mOmma line has a brush to fit their cups perfectly, because it is really hard to wash inside of cups, bottles, or any other odd shaped container. The mOmma cups, both the sippy cup and the cup with a straw, are made with two handles, for easy control while drinking. I really like the bottoms of the cups, they have rubber-coated bottoms to help reduce skidding and prevent spills. The mOmma Warm Developmental Meal Set is a great set for a new baby moving into the self-feeding stages. The circular plate is designed to keep the food warm. I like the two sections on the plate, to keep food separate. Included in this set, is a fork and spoon. The fork and spoon have a bulb-shape handle on it, for the little one to be able to grasp onto it easier...better hold. The design of the handle is made to fit even the smallest of hands. This is designed this way so little ones can start to learn how to properly hold an utensil. The utensils' protective cover provides a hygienic case, so it is ready to use when you take it out of your bag.

The mOmma feeding products combine innovation and technology to transform mealtime into an opportunity to play and learn. I think that the shapes and design of the mOmma products are fun and inventive. The colors are bright, green and orange, and my little guy loves his non-spill cup! I recommend this feeding line, and give them two thumbs up!

You can purchase your mOmma feeding line products are select specialty stores and online at mOmma.com, Amazon.com and diapers.com. You can find mOmma on facebook, too: mOmma's facebook.

I was sent a mOmma non-spill cup, mOmma cup with straw, mOmma warm development meal set, and the mOmma wash to review from mOmmaUS.com and Team Mom. I was sent these products 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.

Balloon Time: Review & Giveaway!! (plus a contest)

Do your kids LOVE Balloons?? I know mine does! Every time we go to a birthday party, my kids always ask about the balloons, and if they can have some or play with them! Every time we go to the grocery store they see them and want to get them, too!
Balloon Time has a great product, that not only saves time and money, but it is super fun to do this from home. Make your own helium-filled balloons with your own Balloon Time Kit! I love how easy this kit is to put together, get ready and use! Included in the kit is a tank of helium, bag of balloons and string. Just with opening the box, this kit is ready to use.
The Balloon Time kit is portable, so it is great to bring to parties or your location of celebration. It is a hit with kids of all ages!
Balloons keep kids entertained for quite a long time, at least my kids love them! They love having a string tied on them to have control over where they go. Watching the balloon bob up and down with the tug of the string is quite thrilling.

You can enter your child (age 3 to 11) Balloon Time’s Put A Face On Fun contest, which looks for the most energetic, exuberant child to represent the Balloon Time brand. The child chosen as the next “Face of Fun” will be featured on a Balloon Time package and will receive a Disney Cruise Line® vacation for four (subject to availability). If you think your child has what it takes to win (of course you do!), visit PutAFaceOnFun.com to enter their photo (no professional photographs) no later than November 14 at noon EST. Then, invite your friends, family and readers to vote, as a portion of the final tally is determined by America’s Vote. In addition to America’s vote, each photograph will be judged by an independent panel of judges based on the following criteria: smile, age appropriateness, expression of fun and suitability for appearing on packaging.
Balloons are great way to put a smile on some one's face. I just think it is a great product to bring the balloons to someone, at a reasonable cost.
Sign up for the FREE Balloon Time Celebrations e-Newsletter!

My kids have a blast with the Balloon Time kit. There are different kits and tanks available from Balloon Time:
Balloon Time 30 Latex Balloon Kit
Balloon Time 50 Latex Balloon Kit
Balloon Time A La Carte Large Size Tank
Balloon Time A La Carte Regular Size Tank
Balloon Time Create-A-Face Sticker Kit
Balloon Time Combo Foil and Latex Kit

Balloons are suggested for ages 8 and up, and they are a choking hazard for kids. Use caution with use.
You can purchase the Balloon Time kits at stores like Party City, Kmart, Target and Walmart. Check out the Balloon Time website for a location near you.

***Enter to Win!!***
This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States, and the contest is open until midnight October 31st, 2010. To enter, go to the Balloon Time website, and take a look around. Come back here and comment about what you found out. Winner will receive a coupon to get a free Balloon Time kit, either the 30 latex balloon kit or the 50 latex balloon kit. I will notify winner, and if after 3 days the winner does not respond, I will pick a new winner.

**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 comment on another one of my blog posts (leave a comment letting me know what you commented on). Visit Balloon Time on Facebook, "like" them, and comment that you are entering my contest to win @sassyfrazz.blogspot.com. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Balloon Time. They have provided me with a coupon voucher to get a Balloon Time kit to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a giveaway for my readers through this review (a coupon voucher to get a free 30 or 50 balloon kit). I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

Cooking from A to Zest: DVD review & GIVEAWAY ($59.99 value)

I am not very skilled in the kitchen. I can make meals, follow recipes, and sometimes (but seldom) I can get creative with a dish I make. I wish I could learn how to make amazing meals, desserts, etc. and I always thought it would be fun to take a cooking coarse. I just got a super DVD set to review called: Cooking from A to Zest and it is a great set of DVD's to learn from and get educated! My husband and I are watching these together, and we are learning so much! I love all the helpful hints, suggestions and ideas that Kierstin Buchner, host on the DVD's, share with the viewer.
Product description:
Cooking is more than just following a recipe. It's being able to confidently walk into a kitchen, assess what's there and whip up something delightful and delicious. With that in mind, Cooking From A to Zest is like having your own private in-home instructor teaching you a foundation of techniques and skills. Watch it like a class, learning as you go, or use the main menu to jump directly to the technique or recipe you want. From how to dice an onion like a pro to roasting the perfect chicken to gaining helpful insight from experts at markets and restaurants, host Kierstin Buchner shares tips for both the beginning and more experienced cook. VOLUME 1 - BUILDING YOUR KITCHEN: Cooking starts with kitchen essentials - such as efficient knife skills, selecting your equipment and stocking your kitchen with staple ingredients. VOLUME 2 - STOCKS, SOUPS, & SAUCES: Learn the building blocks of delicious stocks and broths, unveil the secret to cream soups and purees, then finish with with five key Foundation sauces. VOLUME 3 - SALADS, VEGETABLES, POTATOES, PASTA, GRAINS & LEGUMES: Learn to prepare salad dressings with ease, saute, blanch, and grill your way to flavorsome vegetables, and cook the perfect rice and pasta - every time! VOLUME 4 - EGGS, MEAT, POULTRY & FISH: Discover six classic ways to prepare eggs, then move on to a variety of mouth-watering methods for meat and poultry, including brining, braising and stewing.

The first DVD was highly informative. Volume 1: Building your kitchen, went over the essentials that most kitchen shows don't explain. I thought the first DVD was very helpful!
Building your kitchen starts you off with the basic necessities your kitchen needs. It went over the different kinds of knifes, how to sharpen them, and what they are designed to cut. Kierstin described the pots and pans you should have in your kitchen and what the pots and pans purpose is designed for. I thought it was very helpful and useful information. Also included in Volume 1 is the staple ingredients you should stock in your kitchen for basic recipes.

The other three DVD's went over meal planning and proper meal preparations. I did not know that putting oil into my boiling water was not the correct way to boil pasta! So helpful, and great ideas in these DVD's!
I learned a lot about spices and herbs, and how to use them in meals...and which spice/herb went with what type of food. Kierstin shared how to cut and store the herbs, as well.
I am excited to prepare some home made soups and salad dressings, from the helpful ideas of these DVD's. I like how Kierstin goes through the steps individually and is very thorough in her instructions and guidance. I highly recommend these DVD's and I am so thankful that I have these for a reference. I think they would make a great house warming gift, wedding gift, or college graduation/high school graduation gift. Really, I think anyone who enjoys food would benefit from Cooking from A to Zest! (SRP $59.99 plus tax)

***Enter to Win!!***
This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States, and the contest is open until midnight October 31st, 2010. To enter, comment here about what some of your favorite ingredients are, or your favorite recipe. You could also leave a comment about what you have found helpful for working with food, or in the kitchen. Winner will receive the Cooking from A to Zest DVD collection set (4 DVD's). I will notify winner, and if after 3 days the winner does not respond, I will pick a new winner.

**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 something you found helpful for cooking. You can comment on other blog posts of mine for extra credit, too, just let me know in another comment the link to your comment. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Cooking from A to Zest.com. They have provided me with DVD's to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a giveaway for my readers through this review (same DVD set for one winner). I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.

I love Gevalia Coffee, and they have great deals!

Coffee or tea drinker? Try two half pound boxes of Gevalia Kaffe or tea and get a coffeemaker and stainless steel coffee scoop FREE. Delivered to your home for $14.95, with free shipping! All Yours to keep with no further obligation, just for beginning a Gevalia Membership. The coffee and tea is delicious and there are over 50 varieties to choose from. And the coffeemaker is actually pretty good quality.

Choose a black or white coffee maker
Select what flavor of coffee and/or tea you want to try
Enter your shipping information

Pay the $14.95 and you'll receive your coffee maker, coffee/tea, and scoop within a couple weeks.
About a month later, you'll receive 2 more boxes of the coffee/tea you selected. If you wish, you may change the quantities and types of coffee you receive at any time, the frequency of your shipments, or cancel at any time by calling 1-800-GEVALIA (1-800-438-2542). Gevalia is really nice about taking care of your requests. No hassles.

Prices of coffees and teas vary, ranging from $5.95 - $9.95 per package (with some specialty coffees priced higher), plus $5.95 shipping and handling unless otherwise noted.

Otherwise, you can try two half pound boxes of Gevalia Kaffe or tea and get a stainless steel coffeemaker, stainless steel coffee carafe and stainless steel tumbler FREE. $168 value, Delivered to your home for $22.95 + $5.95 shipping! All Yours to keep with no further obligation, just for beginning a Gevalia Membership. The coffee and tea is delicious and there are over 50 varieties to choose from. And the coffeemaker is actually pretty good quality.

Choose a black or white coffee maker
Select what flavor of coffee and/or tea you want to try
Enter your shipping information

Pay the $22.95 + $5.95 shipping and you'll receive your coffee maker, coffee/tea, carafe, and tumbler within a couple weeks.
About a month later, you'll receive 2 more boxes of the coffee/tea you selected. If you wish, you may change the quantities and types of coffee you receive at any time, the frequency of your shipments, or cancel at any time by calling 1-800-GEVALIA (1-800-438-2542). Gevalia is really nice about taking care of your requests. No hassles.

Prices of coffees and teas vary, ranging from $5.95 - $9.95 per package (with some specialty coffees priced higher), plus $5.95 shipping and handling unless otherwise noted.

Keep Allergen's away with Filtrete Air Filters

With 3 people in my home who suffer with seasonal allergies, myself one of them, I try really hard to keep the allergens minimal. I try to keep our house clean, for the most part, with cleaning regularly. I have a special vacuum that traps the dirt and dust into water, verses sucking the dust/dirt into a bag, which would be miserable with our allergies.
I am also going to purchase a Filtrete Air Filter to see if that will help reduce the amount of allergens moving in our home. Really, we can't wait for the first hard freeze for our outside allergies to be gone. However, the inside/winter allergens are going to be with us for the next 6-8 months. So, we will need to make life more enjoyable by installing a Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Filter from 3M.
The Filtrete Elite Allergen Reduction Filter is designed to:
**Capture 94 percent of large airborne particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mite debris and pet dander from the air as it passes through the filter.
**Capture up to 40 times more microscopic particles than ordinary fiberglass filters.
**Helps maintain airflow in heating and cooling systems, which may help prevent stress on the system and reduce the amount of energy needed to warm your home this Fall and Winter.

I am really excited to see how this filter will work in our home, and help my son, husband and myself with our miserable allergies...to keep them away.

Check out the Filtrete Website to check out the Clear Advantages program and sign up receive coupons, tips and seasonal e-newsletters.

Here are some tips from Laura Dellutri for a cleaner, healthier home, that I want to share with you.
Cleaning From Top to Bottom
Tips and Secrets for a Cleaner, Healthier Home
When it comes to the routine of cleaning, homeowners tend to be more concerned with stacks of dirty dishes (66 percent), piles of laundry (58 percent) and dust balls on their carpet (57 percent), according to a survey commissioned by 3M, maker of Filtrete air cleaning filters. But they often forget about other areas of the home – such as bedding, shower doors and even stuffed animals – that can be breeding grounds for bacteria, mildew, dust mites and foul odors.
Healthy Housekeeper Laura Dellutri offers these tips for cleaning your home from top to bottom and making it healthier in the process:
Start at the Top: Ceiling fans, tall mantles and bookshelves, and the tops of door frames tend to subscribe to the “out of sight, out of mind” motto. These areas often harbor dust, so it’s important to wipe them down regularly to help remove dust buildup. Start at the top and work your way down, collecting all of the dust and dirt that falls to the floor while you’re cleaning.

Wipe Down Windows and Walls: Don't clean windows the old fashioned way – newspaper can cause ink residue and paper towels leave lint behind. Your best bet is to use microfiber cleaning cloths and a professional window squeegee to get a streak-free, spotless shine. To prevent streaks on shower doors and walls, apply lemon oil to the door twice a month. This will help repel soap scum and shampoo, while also adding a nice shine.

Think Horizontally: Dust mites are nearly everywhere. In fact, the American Lung Association estimates that roughly four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at least one bed. Reduce dust mites by encasing your mattress and pillows, and wash your bedding in hot water about once a week. Also, since dust mites are microscopic, place strips of duct tape on the mattress case to prevent the dust mites from sneaking through.

Clean the In-between: While cleaning what you can see, don’t forget to clean what you can’t see – the air you breathe. Use a high performance air filter in the home, such as the Filtrete 1” Elite Allergen Reduction filter from 3M, to help capture particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mite debris and pet dander from the air that passes through the filter. Be sure to change your filter at the start of every season, or every three months.

Freeze the Fur: Stuffed animals can harbor dust mites so it’s important to pay special attention to them. Place stuffed animals in a large plastic bag and freeze them for four to five hours. Remove them from the freezer and plastic bag, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove any leftover dust particles.

Finish With Floors: To keep floors in tip-top shape, vacuum and clean them weekly. You can easily make your own floor cleaner by adding a few drops of mild liquid dish detergent to a gallon of water. Hot water can break down floor finishes after time so use water that is barely warm. Finally, don’t forget to clean the floor under large pieces of furniture, which may require you to temporarily move them elsewhere. Corners of rooms and the back of closets often are overlooked, so be sure to clean these areas as well.

Kitchen Clean-Up
Certain areas of the home, especially the kitchen, can breed and harbor germs that not only cause odors but can spread to family members. These low-cost cleaning tasks, when done regularly and properly, can be effective in making the home healthier for your family:

Trashcans: Trashcans should be cleaned monthly using a chlorine bleach and water solution. Simply combine one cup of non-chlorine bleach for every three gallons of water and pour the solution into the trashcan. Swish the solution around in the trashcan, and wait about five minutes for the chlorine to kick in and kill the germs.

Refrigerators: Cleaning the refrigerator monthly will improve the safety and quality of your food. If you are tired of cleaning spills and food particles from your refrigerator, then cover shelves with washable shelf liners. They will catch most of the food spillage, and will make cleanup quicker and easier. Once a month, throw them in the dishwasher for a good cleaning, and then place them back in the refrigerator once they are dry.

Sinks: Since bacteria can accumulate in cracks and crevices, pay extra attention to these areas when disinfecting. Also, stainless steel sinks can be tough to clean and can look spotty due to water spots and lime build up. To keep the sink shiny, use a soft buffing wheel to restore the luster. Then, use a cloth to generously apply mineral oil to the sink. Water will bead up and roll off the sink, keeping it shiny and helping prevent spots.

About Laura Dellutri
Laura Dellutri is today's hero for busy working families. She is a public speaker, radio and television personality, and the author of four books, including her new book, “The Overworked Mom's Stress Free Home keeping.” Laura travels across the country to share her home keeping and lifestyle savvy tips, and you can watch her twice weekly on the nationally syndicated television show The Daily Buzz.

About 3M
A recognized leader in research and development, 3M produces thousands of innovative products for dozens of diverse markets. 3M’s core strength is applying its more than 40 distinct technology platforms – often in combination – to a wide array of customer needs. With $23 billion in sales, 3M employs 75,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com.


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Filtrete and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

"Life As We Know It" movie review

I love the new movie that just came out in theaters this weekend, "Life As We Know It," starring Katherine Heigl, as Holly Berenson, and Josh Duhamel, as Eric Messer. Holly and Eric are mutual friends to a couple, Peter Novak (Haye MacArthur) and Allison Novak (Christina Hendricks). Peter and Allison tried to pair Holly and Messer up, but it was a date gone bad. Peter and Allison got married, and Holly and Messer were attendants. Through being the couple's best friends, they were together a lot, even though they hated each other.
Peter and Allison have an adorable daughter, Sophie, and through the first year of her life, Holly and Messer are with her for so many events. Sadly, and very sadly, Peter and Allison die in a car accident. Unknown to Holly and Messer, Peter and Allison had named Holly and Messer as godparents, which they were to have total care for Sophie.
With taking over custody of Sophie, Messer and Holly are to share the home.
Learning how to parent and care for Sophie, Holly and Messer must learn to set aside their selfishness and learn to work together for Sophie's well being.
Messer is a Network Sports Director and Holly is a caterer. Their careers are right at the point of growth and moving up, so they must weigh what is more important, a high status job, or raising their best friend's daughter?
Messer is a happy bachelor, and he is very content with dating several different women, and Holly is still looking for the right guy. One day, Holly meets the man of her dreams, Sam~ A Doctor. Sam (Josh Lucas : Sweet Home Alabama) and Holly go on their first date, and Messer shows a little insecurity and jealousy. On their date, "Dr. Love" gets a phone call from Messer about Sophie being sick. The Dr. and Holly meet Messer and Sophie at the hospital, and find out Sophie will be Ok. Holly and Messer end up showing interest in each other after that, and life gets a little interesting for them.
Some big decisions come for Messer and he must make a decision that will greatly impact Holly and Sophie. Will his new home life keep him around, or does he choose something different?
With a case worker checking in on Holly and Messer with the guardianship of Sophie, she encourages them to work together, don't get romantically involved with each other ~ to prevent complications, and to put Sophie first. The end of the movie is a great surprise, and I loved how they celebrated Sophie's 2nd Birthday.
I think this movie is a "must-see." It is a romantic comedy, and I will say that I laughed and cried. It was an emotional movie, because I have my own kids, and it made me think about my own kids in the unlikely event of death.
I recommend this movie, and I think that Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel and Josh Lucas were marvelous on the screen. Great chemistry and emotion acting!
**In theaters now***

This movie was a movie review for Mom Central. With this movie review, I will be given an online gift card for my time and review. I was not compensated for this, and this review is of my own opinions and interpretations.

Katherine Heigl played in The Ugly Truth and 27 Dresses.
Josh Duhamel played in the Transformer films.

Rock ‘N Learn! : Phonics DVD's 1 &2 (Review & giveaway)

I am home schooling my Kindergartner and my Pre-school aged children this year. It can be a challenge home schooling when 3 of the kids are ages 5 and under. I was very thankful to review for Rock 'N Learn! I really like the DVD's that they sent me. Teaching phonics, sounds of letters, spelling, etc. can be a challenge ~ and a big job! Rock 'N Learn has put together great DVD's that teaches these concepts so great! I was very impressed with these videos.

Rock 'N Learn starts off with teaching the vowels: a,e,i, o, u and sometimes y. Learning the vowels, consonants, and other parts of speech are taught in the Rock 'N Learn DVD's by fun, and catchy worded songs. My kids had a great time dancing and singing along to the songs. (All the while they are learning). The video also has sounding out words, and with this, the video shows the letter, the word, the mouth movements, and a picture. I really like how Rock 'N Learn put this together. Kids get a visual of the letter, picture and word (for the visual learner)
and they can watch how the mouth forms the word, which can help kids work on their pronunciation. Some kids really learn well by watching the mouth move with the words/sounds/letters. Check out this video clip of my kids watching the Rock N' Learn video:


I know that these videos will be very helpful with teaching phonics, and introducing reading to my kids. I think these videos are very educational and very helpful. I recommend these videos!
Rock 'N Learn Phonics (volume 1) has short sounds, consonants, blends & diagraphs, word families, silent e, and read-along stories. The DVD is approximately 70 minutes long. You can also visit free-phonics-worksheets.com for printable resources to go with the phonics programs from Rock N' Learn, as well.
Rock 'N Learn Phonics (volume 2) has long vowels, vowel combinations, syllables, ending sounds, silent consonants, and read-along stories.

The Rock 'N Learn videos are so great for a resource to teach your kids the basics to letters, sounds, and reading readiness. The DVD's have catchy songs and my kids love them.

Check out Rock 'N Learn's Facebook page.

***ENTER TO WIN***
This contest is open to bloggers and non-bloggers of the United States & Canada, and the contest is open until midnight October 23rd, 2010. To enter, go to the Rock 'n Learn website and check out what they have to offer. Comment here about what you found out and sounded interesting 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 something you found helpful for teaching phonics/reading to your kids. Lots of chances to win! Don't forget to put the extra comments for the "extra" work. Good luck!**

This review was provided from Rock 'N Learn. They have provided me with 2 Phonics DVD's to review and information to share with my readers. I am sponsored to offer a giveaway for my readers through this review (same 2 DVD's for one winner). I was given the product for my personal opinion and option to share with my readers. I was not compensated for my time or written review.