Apr 062013
 

As a busy mom, a good portion of my time is spent ensuring that my family is happy and healthy.  Being the primary chef and chief lunch maker in our home, I can make sure that we all eat healthy and of course, in addition to my workout routine, I try hard to keep the kids active as well.  I figure that if we’re all healthy, that’s going to help keep us all happy, right?

Although I generally practice healthy eating habits, sometimes my digestive system goes a little wacky. I’ve been hearing all sorts of buzz recently surrounding probiotics, but I wasn’t exactly sure what probiotics were.  Here’s a little bit about them:

Probiotics are not drugs or vitamins. Rather, they are live microorganisms, usually bacteria, which may benefit human health. Probiotics are referred to as friendly or good bacteria. The human body, and particularly the lower gastrointestinal tract, contains a complex and diverse community of bacteria. Although we sometimes think of bacteria as germs, many actually help the body work properly. More than one hundred years ago, a Nobel laureate named Elie Metchnikoff first suggested that consuming these good bacteria, or “probiotics,” could have substantial health benefits.

provella

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Mar 302013
 

As I sit down to write this, there’s a nasty cold spreading its way through our home.  It started with my eight year old, who still has a lingering cough, and now my five year old and husband have it.  It’s hard to make sure everyone in the house is washing their hands and doing their part to stop spreading the germs (like not coughing right in my face), but I try to remind them as much as possible.

To help keep families everywhere healthy, LYSOL is introducing a new concept concept call “Healthing“. Spring cleaning is more than just cleaning out your closets, etc.  LYSOL thinks the focus should be about adopting a healthier lifestyle for your family to make things cleaner for your family. It’s not just about having a clean home, but a healthy home!

lysol-healthing

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Mar 302013
 

Let’s face it, we’re all busy.  Actually, busy is probably putting it mildly for many of us.  I know that’s true in my case.  There are days when I am so busy running around that when I do finally get a second to take a breath, it dawns on me that I’m starving.  As much as I’d love to prepare a nice snack for myself, most days I just don’t have the time or energy to do so.  But guess what?  Dole wants moms to know they have the perfect snack, treat, or dessert just for them. The New DOLE Fruit Crisps.

DOLE Fruit Crisps makes giving in to your cravings more fun with less guilt. Whether you’re looking for a late-morning snack, afternoon break or an evening indulgence, DOLE Fruit Crisps is the must-have treat.

I recently had the opportunity to share DOLE Fruit Crisps with several of my friends.  I received an amazing DOLE Fruit Crisps party pack that included a  variety of Fruit Crisps, several bottles of Essie nail polish for the moms, a gift card for additional party supplies, and the ingredients to make some Peach Mocktails.

dole-fruit-crisps

I had a scheduled playdate at my home last weekend, so I decided to bring these out for the moms and kids who were at my house that day.  My kids LOVE fruit, so I knew they’d like these – and frankly, I must prefer to serve healthy snacks to not just my own kids, but all the kids who come over to play with my boys.

DOLE Fruit Crisps are available in three delicious flavors:

  • Apple Cinnamon
  • Apple Pear
  • Peach

DOLE Fruit Crisps features the delicious combination of all-natural fruit and a crunchy oat topping  for a perfectly pleasing taste and texture experience. They can be eaten at room temperature ( like I served them at my party), or warmed up in the microwave (for about a minute).   I love that added crunch, and the other moms at my party did, too!

Everyone at the party had different opinions about which flavor was their favorite.  Mine was a toss up between the Apple Cinnamon and Apple Pear, but both of my boys agreed that the Apple Cinnamon was their favorite.  I love that they are only 160 calories, so not only are they quick and easy, they are a simple way to squeeze some fruit into my day!

DOLE Fruit Crisps are available in the canned fruit aisle of grocery stores nationwide. The suggested retail price is $2.19 (prices may vary depending on geographic location and retail outlet) for a 2-pack of DOLE Fruit Crisps.

Learn more about DOLE Fruit Crisps online and connect with DOLE on Facebook.

I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Dole. I received product samples to facilitate my party and review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Mar 152013
 

You know that feeling – aches, fever, sore throat, stuffy nose, cough – yeah, we’ve all been there. Sure, I wash and sanitize my hands numerous times a day, drink plenty of water, eat right and get as much sleep as a mom can, but eventually it’s going to happen – you’re gonna get sick.  But as a busy mom, I don’t get to take sick days.  The chores & errands still need to be done and the kids need to be taken care of, whether I am sick or not.  So as soon as I feel cold symptoms coming on, I head right for the Vicks DayQuil and/or NyQuil.  It’s a brand that I’ve used for many, many years & more importantly, it’s a brand I trust.

NyQuil and DayQuil are #1 pharmacist recommended brands for adult cough/cold/flu relief.  Vicks DayQuil is non-drowsy and there to help you power through your day, while Vicks NyQuil is there to help ensure you sleep peacefully through the night.

vicks-dayquil-nyquil

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Dec 102011
 

 

I love shopping at jcpenney, especially around Christmas time.  I don’t know how they do it, but they seem to have something for everyone – even those “hard to buy for people”.  This year,  jcpenney wants to make your shopping experience even more fun!  Secret Santa Tags!  So now if you want to surpise a friend or loved one with a gift this Christmas, jcpenney has an easy and really fun way to do that!

You must have a smart phone and the ability to download a QR reader app in order to participate in all the fun.  

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Nov 052011
 

Have I mentioned how much I love my Whirlpool Duet Washer and Dryer?

For the past couple of months, I’ve been telling you all about how much money I’ve saved because of their efficiency, their sleek look and many,many amazing features and options.  There are so many special features, in fact, that I honestly haven’t even used all of them yet – and I’ve had my Duet for three months now.

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Oct 092011
 

As the mom of two young boys, we have our fair share of spills and messes around the house.  With five people living in the house, it’s bound to happen, right?  Because of it, my poor carpets take a beating.  The entire first floor of my home is hard wood, which helps cut down on the damage left behind from those spills and messes.  Even though the kids aren’t allowed to eat upstairs and they are supposed to take their dirty shoes off downstairs, some times things slip through the cracks and carpeting gets stained.  Lucky for me, thanks to my friends at Mom Central, I was given the opportunity to test out some BISSELL’s Stomp ‘N Go® stain lifting pads on those stains.

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Oct 012011
 

I’m a busy mom – we all are, right?  For me, a big part of being a mom means not taking care of myself.  I definitley don’t eat right and sometimes I find myself munching on things that aren’t so good for me.  I’ve always found it difficult to find a snack that’s portable, nutritious and delicious, but recently, thanks to my friends at Mom Central, I found out about new Activia Selects.   For some reason, I had never been someone that thought of yogurt as a quick snack item – until now that is and was pretty excited to give Activia Selects a try.

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Sep 062011
 

I strongly believe in keeping  kids active, so when I heard that Dannon and their Danimals products are running a Rally for Recess contest, with five schools winning a brand new, $20,000 playground makeover and Ultimate Recess Day, I was really excited about it.   I have such vivid memories of playing with my friends during recess when I was younger and I love that my second grader is now making those same memories. Daily physical activity is important for all children and by the middle of the day,  I think a break is not only needed, but deserved.   And aside from that, just being able to socialize with friends, is something that’s important for them.

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