Making a Baby Basket ... and Finding the Right Baby Wash

I have been working for sometime now to put together a Baby Basket  together for a gift. This person is very picky what they use, so what their baby is going to use must be perfect. I pretty much had gotten down to getting the basket filled and looking great. I was really impressed with what I had found and picked out. Then it hit me ... I had not put any Bath Products in. A day of shopping in a big box store told me that I was not going to find what I needed there ... Organic and Natural.

So, a long extensive search on Amazon brought me to Era-Organics. One of the things that first jumped out about this product for me was ... it is made right here in the USA and it is certified USDA Certified Organic. A lot of products will try and pass themselves of as Organic, but few can truly back it up. With Era you know exactly what you are getting because all their ingredients are written right there on their bottle. And other big bonus with me ... is it is cruelty free.

Because this basket is going to my niece I decided I would take out just  little to test it. After all, I needed to make sure it is safe right?! I love how there is no odor. With babies you just don't need perfumes .. .they smell good on their own. The wash is a wonderful right thickness that does not require much to give you  great mount of bubbles in your water or  nice lathering on your wash cloth. I was truly amazed after trying it just how much softer my skin felt. The ochmomile tea, coconut oil, hemp oil, raw honey and the sea salts made my skin feel soft and refreshed.

I can truly say I would buy this product and use it for myself and for my child. It is  great product for all ages ... not just babies.

I give this product a FIVE STAR RATING!!!

I received this item complimentary for testing and providing my unbiased opinion; which I have given to assist other buyers in making informed buying decisions. I received no other compensation. I am disclosing this in agreement with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I am no way affiliated with this company.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019EHRJJY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Whip It ... Whisk It ... A REVIEW ITEM

I love to cook... bake ... and experiment. I love to be in the kitchen most days. I am not sure if that comes from being in the kitchen growing up or being in the Restaurant Business most of my life. I guess one lead to the other. I use t say all the time if I am stressed I either dye my hair, drink wine or bake up a storm in the kitchen. As long as you aren't doing all three at the same time all are good stress relievers ... at least for me.

I also really like Kitchen Gadgets. I wish we had a huge kitchen and a lot of money. Oh, the toys I would have. I mean seriously have you seen some of the cool new things you can have in your kitchen these days? A refrigerator with a built in camera so if you are at the store and don;t know if you have something! I am not really sure I would use this to often, but it is super cool.

Today though, I am reviewing a pretty basic item. The good old whisk. I bet more then half of people today have never even used one. Yes, I have a hand mixer and a Kitchen Aid. There are times though when a good old fashion whisk can not be beat (lol ... get it?)

I was so excited when ONME asked me to review this three piece  Stainless Steel Kitchen Whisk set. In this set you will get three different sized whisks ... 8 in 10 in and 12 in. I love that these whisks are strong enough to do the job, but the handles are light and have a good feel about them. So many, I have bought are heavy and once you have been whipping, beating whisking for awhile your hand gets tired. Since they are Stainless Steel they are guaranteed not to rust. They are dishwasher safe ... I do not have a dishwasher myself so I have not tested this method though. The different sizes allow you to do many things from beating a egg to whipping up a incredible batch of Banana Bread (recipe coming). I also like that they have a hook on the end of them for hanging ... this makes it easy to keep them close at hand and readily available.

I do highly suggest this STAINLESS STEEL BALLOON WHISK set. I know I am loving mine and these would make for a great House Warming Gift.

 RATING: FIVE STARS

You can purchase your own set here:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CHB9QQI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Stay tuned for a awesome Banana Bread recipe ... with a twist!

COZYPHONES ... A REVIEW

This is a typical day in our house ... plugged-in and zoned out!

What you did not see prior is me trying t get Miss Penny to put on a set of head phones or some ear buds so I did not have to ear her game going. Mommy wanted some peace and Miss Penny wanted some game time. However she did not feel like having something on her head on this particular day.

When a child has Processing, Sensory Disorders and ADHD all at the same time it can be a real battle to get them to want to have things on their heads, bodies, etc. If you are not familiar with this condition or do not have it is just not easy to describe. Miss Penny has tried to describe it for me and says it is like it is not her own body and if things touch her at times everything hurts at times. It really has to be awful.

When I saw these headsets by COZYPHONES my immediate ration was they were cute! However, Rachele the Momma behind these headsets knows they are so much more then that. They give kids they ability to wear headsets in comfort and not fight with something bulky and cumbersome on their head. It is something designed just for them. They are fun and soft with a ultra thin speaker built inside. They are compatible with  all your favorite devices like Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Samsung Galaxy, Blackberry, Nokia, LG, HTC, Google Nexus, Lenovo, Asus, Sony, Dell, Toshiba, HP, MP3, MP4 and other audio devices. The sound is incredible and your kids will thoroughly enjoy being able to be connected in comfort!

 COZYPHONES get a FIVE STAR RATING FROM US:

Rachele was kind enough to send us a pair to test out and we THANK her very much for this ... she did not ask us to write a review in return for this, but we want other parents and grandparents to know about these so they can order some for their children that might suffer from things like Miss Penny! Even if you do not have any issues like this ... they are super cool and fashionable and I highly suggest them!

You can order them at the following two places:

http://www.cozyphones.com/products/ids-headphones-super-comfortable-and-soft-fleece-headbands-

perfect-for-travel-and-home-from-cozyphones-green-froggy?variant=9428071557

https://www.facebook.com/CozyPhone/

Military Chronograph Stopwatch ... A Review

My husband loves watches more then some woman love shoes! The major problem with this is he has caviar taste in watches and we have Bologna budget ... lol!

When I ran across this watch by Binger I knew I wanted to gt it for him. I was so hoping it would look was good when it came as it did in the pictures. It really does look like a expensive from the Amazon review.

When it arrived I must say I was blown away! i am not usually that surprised when I get a item, but this item really took me by surprise. And I must apologize because I have taken literally fifty pictures and I can not get one good picture ... so I am really sorry. I hope my review will justify the greatness of this watch.

Let's start with the fact it is a Military Chronograph Stopwatch with large Luminous Numerals. The face is trimmed in silver and is a nice large size.  It is glass scratch resistant and water proof. My husband has not tested this factor as it is not the type watch he would swim or shower in, but there is a guarantee on this. There are three Sub-Dials ... A Minute ... A Second ... and a Date Display. All are very easy to set and run very accurately. The band is a rich alligator and made to be worn and you can tell it is going to hold up.

The watch itself comes in a very nice Jewelers Box and comes wrapped on a pillow setting. It is a perfect gift giving box. Fathers Day is coming up and this would be a perfect Fathers Day gift.

I know my husband did not know how much this watch cost and thought it was a high end watch ... so do yourself a favor and don't tell them!

I would highly recommend this watch to any watch collector!

RATING: Five Stars

This can be found at :

 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DU1XUCK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00&pldnSite=1

A Cool New Children's Author ... Two New Children's Books For Your Shelf

(Penny and her Grammy)

I grew up in a family of readers ... my husband grew up in a family of readers. We though for sure we would raise a daughter that we would love to read. However, reading in our house with her is going down that different path. Penny is eight, but reads on a Kindergarten level. With Neurofibromatosis there are so may struggles in life, but some of the biggest come in the early years with school. Reading is worse then having teeth pulled for our daughter. She enjoys being read to and Audio Books, but you say it is time to read to her and you would like I wanted to pull teeth out of her mouth.

It is really hard to find books as well that she will sit through . I know what type of books she should be reading at her age however sadly we are not there at this time. What is really great though is when you find a book that your daughter loves and connects with. I recently came across the first book by, Dominic Lodato by accident.

MUSTARD MAYHEM is on of those books that you find yourself reading without your child just because it is that darn cute!  It also just so happens that are family loves condiments and mustard is one of my little girls favorites. This book is only available in hard cover right now, but the hard copy is so worth it. The pictures are so bright and cheerful. The characters just seem to jump off the pages at you. Personally, I want to hug the little brother. Anyway, I do not want to give the whole story away, but it is a about a older brother that loves his hot dogs. Of coarse her has to have them with mustard on them, but when he goes to get he mustard it is gone. What follows is big brother going around asking his whole family if they have seen his mustard. No one has ... but right after little brother walks into the scene and that is where the fun begins! 

I love this book as it is just so cute ... maybe part of it is because I was the little sister

Night after night of this book I knew I had to get Mr. Lodato's second book. Now, while we are NOT having another baby in this house ...  my daughter has had to get use to me babysitting two younger ones. I say babysitting, but it is no longer that these two have captured me and my husband's heart and them along with their parent's are a part of our family. However, she has been use to being the one and only in this family so she has never had to relate to a sibling or things that go along with having a sibiling. But still the same I wanted the book ...

I THINK MY LITTLE BROTHER IS AN ALIEN is about a big brother that is pretty sure the little brother his parents brought home from the hospital has to be a Alien. Again, the pictures are brilliant and so colorful. The book is so funny and I am sure a lot of children can relate to having a little "alien" brought home from the hospital.

These books are so super cute ... don't miss out on this great author! Dominic Lodato is truly a fantastic writer and I hope he is busy writing some more books!

You can find both of these books on Amazon and two of his other books here:

http://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Dominic+Lodato&search-alias=books&field-author=Dominic+Lodato&sort=relevancerank

RATING: Five Stars



I received this product on a promotional discount for my honest review and they are 100% my own opinions. I received no compensation for this review and I am not required to give a positive review. I am also not associated with the seller in any way.



 

CHALKTASTIC MARKERS ... A REVIEW and a DISAPOINTING CUSOMER SERVICE REPLY!

This is the definition I could find on the word POROUS:

Simple Definition of porous

• : having small holes that allow air or liquid to pass through
• : easy to pass or get through

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

I was pretty sure I knew what it meant, but I thought I better double check after I wrote I review of a AMAZON product and got a not so nice follow up COMMENT from a Company in response to the RATING I left.

When you leave REVIEWS of products regardless of rather you leave them as a REVIEWER or as a CUSTOMER if you leave a less then perfect review you are always subject to the backlash from a company I guess. However, as a former Internet Business person myself and a Restaurant Owner myself I guess I myself would handle situations differently. It saddened me greatly to read the Customer Response to my Review Follow Up. I had to think before I decided to do a Blog Post on this ...

I was given the opportunity to REVIEW a product called: Fantastic ChalkTastic White Chalk Markers.Here is what they advertise as being able to be used on:

• VIBRANT WHITE COLOR - ChalkTastic Bright White Liquid chalk markers use a high-quality, super-concentrated liquid chalk that provides bright, vibrant colors each and every time. These eye-catching color give you the ultimate in creative expression! Great for Menu Boards, Bistro Boards, Black Dry Erase board, LED Board, Window markers, Car Windows, Kids art, School work, Marking dates on food Containers
• AMAZING VERSATILITY GREAT ERASABLE MARKERS FOR KIDS - ChalkTastic White chalk Pens are Non Toxic and Odorless and will out last ANY other White Chalk Pens with there huge capacity. The White Glass marker Pens allow you to turn any ordinary NON-POROUS surface - including chalk labels, mirrors, storefront windows, Black Dry Erase board, metal and more - into your very own canvas!

I DID read this part VERY closely ... 

The White Glass marker Pens allow you to turn any ordinary NON-POROUS surface - including chalk labels, mirrors, storefront windows, Black Dry Erase board, metal and more - into your very own canvas!

I am a home school parent and we have a hug NON-POROUS Chalk Board in our home school room. We also have several NON-POROUS mini chalk boards we use. We have been using them for four years now with various chalks and other brands of chalk markers and never had any issues.  As always though I test products like this on my mini boards first. It is just a given as well as directed by companies usually. 

I did this with the CHALKTASTIC MARKERS and I am so glad I did as it was a complete FAILURE! The chalk paint did not come off. I tired to wipe it of with water and it did not come off. I even tried to let it soak with a wet paper towel on it for while and it did not come off. 

The CHALKTASTIC MARKERS are nice markers. They write well... they flow nice. The write on windows nice and they do come off of windows and mirrors nice. But as far as coming off of CHALK BOARDS that are POROUS ... at least mine that I know are in fact porous they failed. 

RATING: 2 STARS ... I gave them this because on some  surfaces it did work.

I appreciate being allowed to review this product and I do not want another product sent out or to be compensated in any other way. However PRO GRADE as a company I do feel there is a better way to follow up.

Pro Grade Products says:

Hi, we are very sorry to hear that you have experienced some problems with your chalkboard. The chalk markers, just like all other chalk markers are designed to be used on any non porous surface and we have tried to make this as clear as possible on both the product listing and product packaging but also understand that this can sometimes get missed. Unfortunately with chalkboards some are porous and some are non porous which is why we always advise on testing on a small area first.

We pride ourselves on providing both great products and excellent customer service and respond promptly to any emails or messages received. We have double checked all email messages and have not received any messages from yourself so we can only assume that for some reason your email didn't reach us. 

Really this is Good Customer Service?

*Pictures will be added ... having some camera issues:<

MyTinyHeroes Super Hero Costumes... A Review

Super Hero's do not have to come in any special size ... at least not in our house!!! When you walk in our house you never know what you may find. You know what? I am more then ok with that! When I was growing up I don't ever remember  our house being a mess ... or really that loud ... BORING!

It for sure was not ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXA6CLTDekw

In our house there is pretty much always a mess .. .and it is always quite loud!

Anyway back to the CUTEST Little Super Hero's ...

 

These costumes are made by a fairly new company called MyTinySuperHeroes. Boy, have they done it right. They currently have seventeen costumes to choose from. 

The costumes are well sewn and made from high quality fabric. I can sew ... somewhat so I have bought my fair share of fabric. The silk on these capes is unbelievable. It is  soft, shiny and silky. I don't see it fraying easily as so many silks that are used on costumes do when kids snag them. The felt is high quality felt that the pieces are made to. They are not attached by glue, but carefully sewn on with great detail. 

Each costume comes with a reversible cape that can be worn on the side to match the costume with the emblem. Or it can be worn on a plain colored matching solid colored side. The cape is made with kids safety in mind. It has a Velcro closure, but a very wide neck. I can not even get it wrapped around my neck.

There is of coarse a Super Hero Belt that has the emblem of the chosen Super Hero. A Super Hero needs Power Cuffs right? They are adorable and Velcro on with again the emblem of the chosen Super Hero. The mask is my favorite part! It fits with a elastic strap, but kid friendly and totally safe. There is so much detail in the masks!

Shh .. .don't tell Grandma, but these costumes are way better then what she can whip up. Better then what this Momma can whip up to!

You simply can not beat the price of $21.99.

These are great for playing dress-up, Halloween or even if you are doing a theatrical play perhaps.

RATING: FIVE STARS


You can find MyTinySuperHero Costumes here :

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=w_bl_sl_s_ap_web_7141123011?ie=UTF8&node=7141123011&field-brandtextbin=MyTinyHeroes

These rather scary looking Darth Vader is eight years old and still loves dress up and as you can see  fits her just perfect! In fact ... shhhh I have tried on all the costumes too and I can wear them!

EPIC PETS REVITA JOINT TREATS ... A REVIEW

We have two aging dogs in our house. One is a Black Lab, Lucy (ten years old) that is just over ninety pounds and one is a Schnauzer Terrier Mix, Ginger (nine years old) that is just over fifteen pounds. Both are slowing down with age and both are showing signs of hip and joint problems.

 I have had them into our Vet and looked into medications, but they are very costly. And while I love them dearly it is just not in our budget.

I had started looking into other holistic and herbal alternatives and we take a lot of these ourselves. I ran across EpicPets RevitaJoint Treats and did some research on them ... I am big on research ... it is a home school parent thing I think. I checked with our Vet and she could find nothing in them that was not safe for them.

I was super excited to start trying them. I decided that we would try them out on Lucy, first (aka the Guinea Pig and will eat and try anything). I can easily see why she wanted to gobble these up ... they have a great bacon smell! They are soft and shaped like a heart.

For a dog her size she gest two treat a day two times a day. She has been on them now for a little over two weeks and I have notice a significant change already in her movement. She use to have a hard time in the mornings getting up and moving around. She is now able to get up and move with our younger two dogs. Her coat is also looking much better.

RevitaJoints are filled with Glucosamine. Chondroitin, MSM, Flax Seed Meal, and Omega 3's. All of this are great for your dog's joints and swellings that occur due to aging.

Each bag comes with 65 threats. For our dog this is a 16 day supply. At $23.97 this may sound expensive, but it is not when you look at the cost of shots that the vet would charge or prescriptions! And these are better then steroids and other chemicals you would be putting into your dogs body. Four our smaller dog that we will be starting on next month we will get a 32 day supply for $23.97!

I HIGHLY suggest this for all dog owners with aging canines!!!

I received this product on a promotional discount for my honest review and they are 100% my own opinions. I received no additional compensation for this review and I am not required to give a positive review. I am also not associated with the seller in any way.

RATING: FIVE STARS

If you would like to order these they can be found at:

RevitaJoint Glucosamine for Dogs - Maximum Strength Hip and Joint Supplement Treats for Small, Medium and Large Dogs

Rachael Ray ... A Review

Rachael Ray ... who doesn't know that name? If you haven't at least hear it in some way you probably don't watch the Food Network at all or are not a Foodie! I have watched the Food Network I think since it has been on and been a Foodie since I was three. Seriously, ask my mom if you know her ... she caught my dad feeding my oysters and tamales when I was just three years old. And I have been cleaning brains and started making brain sandwiches right about at the age with my Grandma. I've owned my own Pizza restaurant ... worked in every area of the restaurant there is and in almost every kind of restaurant. There is not much I will not taste at least once... unless it contains ... pickles, dill or cucumbers and that is because I am allergic to those things.

I am turning my eight year old into a Foodie slowly and she keeps telling me she wants to be a Chef when she grows up. Let's up I can discourage that as I know the restaurant business all to well. She loves in the mean time to watch all the Kids Cooking Contest shows and Rachael Ray's is one of them!

I have to say though right now I am a little disappointed in R.R. I have been eye balling some of her Cooking ware and it is pretty darn price, but oh so pretty. Well, the other day Amazon had a FLASH SALE on a Au-Gratin Ware piece and I thought cool ... I am gonna try it ... that is pretty and will make a decorative piece as well!

First rule of thumb when ordering from Amazon: Read the SIZES carefully! if in doubt ... take out your ruler! Second rule of thumb when ordering from Amazon: Read Reviews! Duh ... especially when you are a Reviewer!!!!

I did neither of these because it was a FLASH SALE and I got in a hurry ... Luckily the sale was for $7.99 if I had paid $15.80 ... or $20.00 for this dish it would have gone back!

To me an Au-Gratin dish is a dish for more then one person. Not a single serve dish. Really ... who serves someone a Au-Gratin order of potatoes in a single dish? Oh ... maybe Rachael! Sorry ... RR I am not ditching on you, but I don't have the time or money for this kind of thing!

Oh well, I guess this was my fault for not reading better. I now I have a cut little Au-Gratin single dish for someone.

RATING: One Star

I DID NOT purchase this in return for a fair and honest review ... this was purchased as a FLASH SALE ITEM that is available to everyone and does not require any type of review or feedback of any type. I do a Review in order to help others to purchase quality items!
 
If you are looking for a SINGLE SERVE AU-GRATIN DISH you can find it here:

http://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Ray-Cucina-Stoneware-12-Ounce/dp/B00J4NLMP6?ie=UTF8&keywords=Rachael%20Ray%20Cucina%20Stoneware%2012-Ounce%20Oval%20Au%20Gratin%2C%20Agave%20Blue&qid=1461516356&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1


These are the epic FAIL pictures ... it does not hold 12 ounces of LIQUID and in SOLIDS ... you really have to pack it down!!!!

Here is 12 ounces of water  measure out .... as you can see if you tried to do anything with this you would have a mess. Not that you would use plain water in this bowl, but perhaps soup? Twelve ounces of soup is still not going to go in here!

 

Itchy Scratchy Dog ... Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil ... A Revview

Let me introduce you to Lucy our Black Lab/mix of something who is eleven years old and has had severe allergies for eight of those years. We have tried everything to help this poor itchy... scratchy dog. Nothing works. We have even thought of sending her to a Dog Naturalist, but we would have to sale off our child and they kind of frown on that kind of thing. I had heard that Fish Oil tablets would possibly help her, but getting her to swallow them would be a task I really was not sure I was up for every day... not to mention the side effects that the smell would cause.  However, I knew we had to do something her skin allergies, were getting worse she was constantly itching, licking and biting herself to the point where she would draw blood and cause bald spots. She would get "hot spots" so bad that she would not want to go outside because she feared the grass and the outdoors in general.

I did a lot of research on liquid Salmon Oil and found out there were numerous proven benefits on the effects that Salmon Oil had on dogs with severe allergies. I did not want to keep giving my dog steroids as I know the harmful effects they play on their body. 

After much research I found ALASKAN WILD SALMON OIL by EXTEND PET HEALTH on Amazon to be the highest rated by Vets the most economical. I love my pets as part of the family and we always make sure to research what we give them. We want their food and supplements to be as safe and  natural as what we put into our bodies. Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil provides levels of Omega-3 and 6 essential fatty acids not commonly found in pet foods. This 100%  pure oil is made only from wild, non-farmed Alaskan salmon. It supports healthy skin and glossy coat it will also help support skin and coat health for more shine and less dry skin and shedding. You can also give this to your cats! And as family that has four dogs and two cats this is great to know!

It has now been two weeks since Lucy has been on ALASKAN WILD SALMON OIL and we are starting to notice a difference. it is not a fast change you are going to see in a dog that is this bad, but we are seeing results!!!! We have been putting 3 pumps of it on her food 2x/day. There is just a slight odor to it, but Lucy does not seem to notice the smell or the added taste. 

It is early Spring her now and allergy season is just starting to really show itself. I am excited to see what our results will be when we get into the hot mid-west Summers!

I will continue to up date you with Lucy's progress.

If you ever have any questions on using this that you may want to know before then ... feel free to message me or leave me a comment at anytime!

You can find ALASKAN WILD SALMON OIL by EXTEND PET HEALTH here:

http://www.amazon.com/Extend-Alaskan-Salmon-Natural-Liquid/dp/B01DE5J1SY?ie=UTF8&keywords=Extend%20-%20Alaskan%20Wild%20Salmon%20Oil%20for%20Dogs%20and%20Cats%20-%20100%25%20Pure%20Natural%20Food%20Grade%20Liquid%20-%20EPA%20and%20DHA%20Fatty%20Acids&qid=1461448180&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

RATING: FIVE STARS

 I received this product on a promotional discount for my honest review and they are 100% my own opinions. I received no compensation for this review and I am not required to give a positive review. I am also not associated with the seller in any way.

Just the beginning...

A mother’s heart is never too full, which means neither is her plate. I’ve got many things going on. I am a full time Mom to two amazing kiddos, ages 3 and 4. I work full time as an X-ray technologist. I am the only person in my family who knows how to do dishes, laundry, and cleaning apparently ;).  

Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband very much, but he doesn’t seem to notice the pile of dishes in the sink or the growing pile of laundry in the hamper. He certainly doesn’t have a problem using the toilet if it needs cleaned….mainly because he can stand. It’s so unfair that guys can pee standing up but us ladies cannot.

So I’ve got all of that going on. Not a big deal. Most mothers can handle more excitement than that, right? Well, I also have an auto-immune disease. I have type 1 diabetes. I constantly have to watch what I eat and make sure my blood sugars are in a certain range before driving the kids anywhere, before going to work, and before going to bed. Most nights I have to stay awake a half hour or longer than I want to just to make sure my blood sugar won’t go too low. I know my husband and kids would greatly appreciate it if I wake up in the morning, and I know I’m not ready to give up on anything yet. Another thing with Diabetes, is the general feeling of not having a lot of energy, or constantly feeling drained from my blood sugars rising and falling throughout the day.

On top of being a full-time mom, full-time employee, wife, housekeeper, and diabetic, I of course am always trying to improve my body image and healthy habits. I try to make sure there are healthy snacks in the house for myself and my family, which takes planning, where price is concerned especially, but also planning is required in regards to the length of time the food is edible. Processed foods have a much longer shelf life than fresh fruits and vegetables. I also worry that my kids aren’t learning healthy habits. As I mentioned before, due to my diabetes, I tend to run low on energy. However, I want my kids to grow up and be active, which means, I have to lead them that way. If I want them to run around and burn some energy, I have to chase them, or convince my husband to chase them around.

Like I said, my plate isn’t full yet. I know everything will work out the way it is supposed to. I don’t ever want to regret not spending enough time with my kids, so we try to make each day special. I am working a full-time job, but I have enough flexibility to do fun things with them a few times a week. At the center of my heart, I have my love for God, my love for my husband, and my love for my kids. Everything else just falls in to place wherever it can. 

Mice are Not Nice ... A product Review To Help You Rid Those Not Nice Mice!

 See this cat? He looks ferocious right? HA! Bandit is anything, but ferocious. Bandit is 15 (yes FIFTEEN) pounds of loving. This guy loves everyone and anyone and anything! Even our birds! And if you come to our house and ignore him and he wants petted ... he will get you to pet him because he will smack you till you do. This is Bandit's favorite thing to do ... lounging! He thinks this is his Throne!

So, a couple of weekends ago we were doing my favorite thing (not really) cleaning the garage when I was sweeping and moving around boxes I noticed a lot of little black droppings. GROSS! And nesting material! Hmmm ... Not good at all. I HATE mice! The are dirty, nasty little creatures. You would have to ask my eight yer old about the time we had one get in our house and I whacked it with her play vacuum cleaner and killed it. She was three and still remembers it and the "Mommy broke her vacuum!" Yes this really is a true story I could not make this one up! Anyway, back to the garage. I know almost all garages probably have mice, but that does not mean I have to like it I wanted to kill those little varmints. I remembered when I was looking for something else on Amazon someone recommending a MICE DEFENSE so I went searching and found it!

http://www.amazon.com/Defense-Repellent-Deterent-Spray-Natural-For/dp/B01BLNEJZQ?ie=UTF8&keywords=Mice%20Defense%2032oz%20Repellent%20Deterent%20Spray.%20All%20Natural-For%20All%20Types%20of%20Mice&qid=1460902998&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

is a all Natural Mouse Defense Spray. Meaning it is safe to use around people, small children, and pets. The one Con to using this spray is it does have VERY strong odor, but if you can get past the odor or you are hopefully just using it in a outdoor open area you will not be overwhelmed by it. The key ingredients in this product is Peppermint Oil, Rosemary Oil, Vinegar and White Pepper all of which mice do not like. These are all things that professional exterminators are known to use too.

We drenched the main area where we saw the droppings and the opening to the garage where we figured they were coming in. We made sure the are was all cleaned firs so we knew if there were new mice running threw this area.

It has now been three weeks since we have sprayed, Exterminators Choice, Mice Defense and I am happy to say we have seen little to none tell tell signs of new friends!
 
  I received this product on a promotional discount for my honest review and they are 100% my own opinions. I received no compensation for this review and I am not required to give a positive review. I am also not associated with the seller in any way.

                                        This is the only mouse this Big Boy is gonna get!

A INDY CUPCAKE REVIEW ...

I love cupcakes! I am not much of a cake person, but there is just something about cupcakes. Yes, a know that cupcakes and  cakes are basically the same thing, but there is just something that is different about a sweet little cupcake!

One of my Bucket List items for this Summer is to to around to as many cupcake places as I can. I started early and went on Wednesday to check off my first one. I choose one close to home that I had passed by a million times and just somehow never stopped.

It has no real signage and I think that is one real reason a lot of people probably miss it. I was not even sure of the name till I took a business card home with me. The place is sorts of a hodge podge of things inside. You walk in and to the left is a huge children's play area. I am thinking the owner's must have kids which is no biggie to me since I have a child myself just a observation. Down the center is a Yogurt set of sorts. They advertise that the sell Yogurt and Sandwiches. I saw as I walked in on the door Chalked Marked on the Door something about Chicken Salad Sandwiches, but I did not really pay much attention to it since I was there for the cupcakes. I was there right at lunch time and I did notice there was only one other "customer" there and she appeared to be more of a friend.

 On the right side was the cupcake display. Nothing special really just your average cupcake or donut displace I would say. There were nine varieties to choose from ( Carrot Cake, Red Velvet, Tiramisu, Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Chip, Lemon, Peanut Butter Bomb, and Dad's Favorite). Then there were your  two different sizes one is a smaller size then your average cupcake size  and then there was your larger size cupcake. I was baby sitting this day two wee ones so the little ones got the smaller ones ... no way was I going to get into trouble with another momma! The stuck with the basic ... Chocolate Chip of coarse mine choice the bigger one and the Peanut Butter Bomb! Me ... of coarse the Tiramisu and if your gonna eat the calories might as well go all out I went for the big one! I got my husband the Red Velvet one ... this was a hard choice as he loves chocolate so I almost got him Dad's favorite, but it seemed like a little over kill chocolate cake, chocolate filling, chocolate icing, and chocolate candy on top. Then there was the Carrot Cake that sounded good too, but i went with the first thought and the big one of coarse!

We took them all to goo so we good all share them at home and compare what we had gotten ... half the fun is sharing right? Well, we will see how the two little ones feel about that... mine know sharing cupcakes is expected.

                                             So ... here are our goodies 

First up ... the Red Velvet. Now, not only is Red Velvet one of my husbands favorites, but I have to say it is in my top five favorites too. We cut into it and the first impression was the icing seemed "dry". It did not seem creamy and soft. The taste ... I let hubby go first and the look on his face said it all. Disappointment! His first comment was again "Dry" Then "There is just ... no taste." I had to agree with him on this one there was not that true Red Velvet taste and no softness that a cupcake should have. I hate to say it, but it tasted more like a box cake. And the icing was rather "gritty".

Next up ... the Tiramisu. I have never made Tiramisu cupcakes, but I do make a mean Tiramisu. I have been to Italy and I learned there how to make a really great one. I am really critical when I do try other people's Tiramisu. Cutting into this one was better... it was soft and the knife went through it easily. opening it up you could see a could coffee soaking through the middle. I went first on the taste this time as I am the expert on this one! It was soft and had a good coffee taste ... not overly sweet, but still really missing that WOW factor. And the icing was the same as the Red Velvet. Personally I would have liked to have seen a change up.

Next up was the Peanut Butter Bomb ... some how we did not take pictures of the insides of the last two cupcakes. I think we were busy feeding little mouths by then. The Peanut Butter Bomb was rich in Peanut Butter taste the way a peanut butter cupcake should be. It has some kind of peanut butter treat on the bottom. I want to say it was a peanut butter cup maybe, but I am not real sure? Again though we go back to the cupcake being dry. Even my eight year old with out hearing us say anything said it was "kinda dried out" and not "squishy". The icing seemed the same just with peanut butter added to it and some Reese's Pieces on top and a Mini-Reese's.

Lastly, where the Chocolate Chip Cup Cake's. These were plain white cupcakes with chocolate chips inside of them. Most of the chocolate chips had sunk to the bottom and it was more like a white cupcake with a chocolate chip bottom. The icing was again the same and there was a mini Chocolate Chip cookie in the top. I snuck a little bite of the kids and again .. I just can't say there was anything that wowed me about this cupcake. I could taste no vanilla or richness ... and no real sweetness creaminess.

This was a hard review to write as I have had my own restaurant business and I know how bad reviews hurt. They SUCK!!! However, jut like my Amazon and product reviews ... I don't feel like it is ok to led you down the wrong road either.

Kraycsi's Cakes is open 24 hours a Day (next to Rookies Bar) their https://www.facebook.com/KraycsiCakes/?fref=ts says maybe I got their that day before they put out new items, but it was afternoon when I got there. It really tasted more like the cupcakes had been made a prior day and stored in the freezer maybe and brought out and decorated. I have tried this before and I know this is not a good taste. Maybe, I should give them another try, but at $18.00 I am just not digging that right now!

My Rating: Cupcake Fail

Kraycsi Cakes
8336 West 10th Street, Suite D
Indianapolis, IN 46234

A Bag For Inside Your Bag? ... A Review

Ok ... have I confused you? Have I made you think I have been drinking one to many Best Damn Root Beer's (nope but have had a mighty fine glass of wine ... review on that this weekend)?

Haven't you ever gone somewhere and you weren't expecting to buy something and you did and you could have really used something to tote it home in? Or been on a trip and on the return trip home used a extra care on bag for all those souvenirs? Well, if you have keep reading I have the perfect bag for you!

It's the RovEasy Light Weight Backpack by Rov. It is one fantastic little bag that is a great find and my newest find I am a bag person as I think I've said before and I like to be prepared when I go places. I tend to be somewhat of a Pack Rat at times too (hey you never know when your can need that Pug's Rule Ruler). The Rov Bag is more then a Backpack it is a light weight bag that folds up into a convenient little square pouch and forms a case of its own and can be tucked away into your purse or another bag you are carrying (or your suitcase). Yo can fold this bag up into this tiny little pack, throw it into your other bag and it takes up little to no room and adds no weight.

When your ready to use your bag it snaps open and you just simply shack it out. There are 3 compartments, so you can keep everything organized easily. The front outside one appears to be small, but is actually very deep it is great for things you want to keep close at hand. The large main compartment is the one where you keep your main items. There is plenty of room here for so many things. I can get a complete change of clothes in here if I roll them just right. There is also another smaller pocket inside the inner area. There are also two outside side pockets that are great for carrying water bottles.

This bag is a light weight vinyl material. It wipes of clean so if it gets messy there are no worries about wiping it down and getting it cleaned. It is a light weight bag though and I do stress this ... I have read some peoples reviews on Amazon and I have scratched my head... did they not read the Seller's description that this is a lightweight bag?! So with that I say again ... this is a LIGHTWEIGHT material bag. Yes, you can stuff it full and get a lot in it, but no this bag is not made to laptops, school books, etc. 

I do highly recommend this bag if you are wanting a bag to take with you to the park, the zoo, on a trip as a extra bag ... those type of outings. You will not be disappointed! 

I must disclose that I did purchase this bag at a significant discounted price in return for a fair and hones review. However, all reviews are always tested and written as if I paid full price and 100% my own opinion!

You can find the Rov Bag here: 

http://smile.amazon.com/RovEasy-Lightweight-Backpack-Packable-Ultralight/dp/B019MGXGAI/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 

MY RATING: Five Stars

A M&M's TASTE TEST ... CAUSE SOMEONE HAD TO DO IT FOR YOU!

 Anyone who truly knows me ... knows that I am not a big fan of sweets. Of, so I do have a donut addiction, but that's bread right? Anyway, in November I gave up soda and carbonated drinks. Then in December I tried, but failed at giving up Equal. Now as April rolls around I am trying once again to give up Equal. But coffee does not taste the same with sugar in it.
YUCK! I have done great with the soda ... not had one since November. And the only carbonated beverage I have had was in the hospital when I had to drink that nasty stuff they make you drink to go ... let's leave it at that.
But since giving up Equal I have developed this horrible sweet tooth! I think I better go back to the Equal.

So .. have you seen the ads or these in the store yet? I think M&M's is trying to compete with Oreo's in coming out with flavors!

Friday, Penny and I were shopping and the kid spied them.Penny:  "Look Mom the new M&M's" Me: No, we don't need those they are probably gross!" Penny: "But Mom you need to review them then so people know and don't waste their money." The kid's right ... in the cart they go.

We like to do blind taste tests and of coarse I just had to twist her arm to help.

Honey Nut ... Both of us agreed it was good and could easily tell what it was. There was a slight hint of extra sweetness.  For me though it was lagging a little in the honey department. The kid thought it was really good.

I give it: A Sideways Thumbs-Up

Coffee Nut ... It was ok, but again it could have been a little stronger.If you did the melt in your mouth test there was not much flavor when you were half way through it. I would have liked it to taste more like a chocolate covered coffee bean. The kid ... liked, but not loving it.


I give it:  A Sideways Thumbs-Up

 Chili Nut ... Now this one ... you have to wait for it and for sure do the melt in your mouth test. Wait for it .. wait for it ... there it is that subtle hot spice and then that slight Tabasco taste. Not to over powering, but for sure a kick! For me, this one is the winner!!! I liked the heat with the chocolate and nut taste. The need to keep this one around, but I am not counting on it ... every time I like something new that comes out it disappears. The kid liked it too!



I give it: Two Thumbs up


Don't forget if you pick a package or two to VOTE for your favorite. And let us know too what one is your favorite!!!


https://www.facebook.com/mms/?fref=nf

VOTE HERE and VOTE OFTEN!

CALENDAR and CHALKBOARD MARKERS ... A REVIEW

By know a lot of you know we home school and we love to review great products that will help you be organized and save money! This REUSABLE VINYL CHALKBOARD comes with it's own set of bright CHALK MARKERS. It is very affordable and what is even better? You can reuse the calendar over and over again and you can move it over and over again to where you want it to be!

I love to have a calendar up to help my ADHD daughter know what is coming up and for me to be on top of things coming up. However, I don't like to have to scratch and mark through things if something needs to change on our calendar. With this vinyl cling calendar you don't have to worry about that. You can write your plans out on it and change it as needed by just wiping it off! You also do not have to worry about damaging walls when hanging it. It is a vinyl cling so it can be removed and placed in another are very easily. It has big block date areas so you have plenty of room to write all those tasks that must get done. It comes with five, bright fluorescent Chalk Markers that are erasable on  whiteboards, mirrors, glass, car windows, metal, vinyl and any other smooth surface.Ink will not bleed through on these surfaces! The Markers are very easy to use and directions for usage or included. I have been using them on our glass windows to dry pictures and write Sight Words. I have had no problem with removing the ink and my daughter loves that she can do her school work on other things then paper! Score one for Mom!

I would highly recommend this to home schoolers, but also to anyone that likes to have a more ready calendar to stay organized! If for some reason you buy this item and are not satisfied there is a 30 Day ...
no question asked Guarantee. But I am sure you won't be needed to use this!!!

My Rating: FIVE STARS 

Here is where you will can order from:

http://www.amazon.com/Chalk-Marker-Calendar-Combo-Set/dp/B017RXMJ9C 

VASTAR WATER PROOF POUCH ... A REVIEW

With summer coming lots of water activities will be also coming our way. We never like to be with out our phone since we have a special needs child and never know when one of those ‘unexpected’ things can happen. I also need to carry my diabetic supplies with me. When like to do water activities and this makes keeping things dry difficult. I was really glad when Vastar asked if I would like to review their WATER PROOF POUCH CASE with CARRYING STRAP.

When I received it I was really surprised I did not expect it to be as big as it is. It is going to hold all of the things I need to carry with no problem. The case is made of a heavy weight PVC material. It is light blue, but see through. It has a adjustable waist strap that will fit a small waist starting at 33 inches and go all the way up to a larger waist of 45 inches. There are three zip lock sealers to keep the back sealed shut and a fold over Velcro piece for a added measurement.

I tested the waterproofs of this bag with a non-working phone in my sink. I wanted to see if the phone would truly stay dry. I left the phone in the sink for over three hours. At the end of three hours the phone and the inside of the bag was dry! There was not even any moisture inside. I must sat I was really impressed.
I now look forward to water activities and knowing that things will say dry that are suppose to, but I am free to get wet!!!

I must disclose that I did receive a discount in return for a fair and honest review of this product. That being said I value honest reviews myself and no discounts sway my opinion. This reviews is 100% my honest opinion.

MY RATING: FIVE STARS


http://www.amazon.com/Vastar-Waterproof-Pouch-Waist-Strap/dp/B01AT230FA?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref_=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_0

"No Mommy I Did Not ..."

Have you ever heard those words, but you knew the answer already?

This morning as I am in the bathroom, Penny comes into the bathroom to ask me a question. I did not even wait for her question as I had a much more important one...

ME: "Why are your lips blue?" Of coarse, I already knew the answer, but I wanted to her the explanation.

PENNY:  "I don't know."

ME: "If you don't know who should I ask? Is there something you would like to tell me?"

PENNY: "Can we go out to breakfast?"

ME: "That's a question not a statement."

PENNY: "I want to go out to breakfast!"

ME: "We need to figure out first what is wrong with your lips."

PENNY: "Oh..."

ME: "And what is on your sleeve and shirt."

PENNY: "I think it was from a couple of days ago when I got a stain on it."

I am trying to know keep a straight face and not to laugh.

ME: "Do you think maybe you liked the icing of the cupcakes?"

PENNY: "No there was some on the cartoon and I liked it off so it would not get all over."

ME:: "If I go into the kitchen and look and there is icing off a cupcake ..."

Silence. I've given her the chance to come clean so fire is now shooting out of my head!

ME: "PENNY!!!" As I am in the kitchen and the cupcake box lid is not on right and two little finger prints are smeared through  the top of the cupcakes.

PENNY: "Yes, Mommy?"

By know I just know I am not going to get a straight answer so I give up.

ME: "Just for future reference ... next time wipe the evidence off your face and not on your clothes. And put the lid back on the container and don't leave fingerprints."

I guess as least I know she won't be a criminal ... at lest if it involves a Criminal Icing Thief:".

"BEST DAMN ROOT BEER" ... A REVIEW

Ok ... I am not a beer specialist or whatever it is they call themselves, but let me tell you right up front this is the BEST DAMN ROOT BEER! I usually drink whatever light beer me or my husband pick up. I am for sure not a fan of dark beer ... I prefer blonde's usually.

Evidently, this beer use to come in cans (maybe it still does), but we picked it up in bottles. It was $9.00 for a 6-pack at Wal-Mart. Normally, I would not pay that for a 6-pk, but I had heard so much hype on this beer I had to try it myself. I had walked by the display a ton of times.

Best Damn Root Beer,is made  from Best Damn Brewing Co., based in St. Louis, which also makes Best Damn Apple Ale (which just doesn't sound good). The company's site says its a  5.5. percent alcohol rate. The beer is dark, but it's root beer so ... go figure! It gives of the smell of root beer too with a very rich vanilla taste. I would not classify it as a heavy beer ... another thing I don't like in beer. It is very smooth and taste much like a regular root beer. Luckily, I don't like soda so I am not going to chug these down one after the other.

If you like trying new and different beers ... I do highly suggest giving this one a try. Just make sure you don't leave it laying around where your kids could mistake it for a root beer!

This review is my own opinion ... I did not receive and compensation of anytime to do this review.

GARDEN TOOLS ... A REVIEW

I love Spring and Summer! I am so not a winter person. My nickname is WannaBBeachGirl .. if I could live in flips flops, shorts and tank tops I would be in heaven. But no I live in Indiana and we have a weather that changes more then stop lights do.

This year I plan on getting my yard in shape ... last year due to health issues last year I couldn't and it has suffered horribly! I was so excited to be able to review these GARDEN TOOLS from URBAN GRANGE LIVING. First off ... their Customer Service is excellent. This is something you don't get anymore... if you send them a e mail you will get a response. Now ... Mother nature just get your hormones in gear so I can plant somethings!

I took advantage of my "babysitting day" and put the kids to work. Now don't go reporting me ... the kids loved doing this.  First off ... these are heavy duty tools. They are not your cheap tools that may get you through the season. I love the grip on them! They are soft and comfortable with a cushion like handle. First off ... there is the Garden Trowel that is perfect for starting your garden area. My husband will tel you I can break at least two a year. These I will beat him on I won't ... they are heavy duty towels, but yet light in your hand. I had no problem digging up the hard dirt that was literally like cement. Even the three little 'squirts" helping me could dig up the dirt. The next was the weeder. My Little Man Helper was in charge of this ... we mixed the old dirt and some new dirt into our planting area. It was excellent at pulling some of the weeds up that we had missed. It is for sure one of the best tools I have used! Next we need to dig the holes for the seeds. I had two great helpers with me on this task and both could get right into the dirt. We had so much fun using the tools. After using them we got them all rinsed off and put them back into our Garden Bag. I knew from the description that they were not going to rust. That is something I usually always have problems with. I really love my new set of Garden tools for their durability and comfort in using. I know that may sound weird, but I have arthritis and these were so easy on my hands.  So now ... I have no excuse for getting my yard in shape. STAY TUNED!

I would highly recommend these GARDEN TOOLS to anyone that is going to be out in there yard this year!

MY RATING: Five Stars

YOU CAN FIND THESE GARDEN TOOLS HERE:

http://smile.amazon.com/Premium-Garden-Tools-Set-Cultivator/dp/B00Z88Y1V8?ie=UTF8&keywords=Premium%20Garden%20Tools%20Set%20-%203%20Piece%20Durable%20Gardening%20Hand%20Tool%20Set%20%28Weeder%2C%20Trowel%20%26%20Cultivator%29%20-%20Ergonomic%20%26%20Rust%20Resistant%20-%20High%20Quality%20Gift%20For%20Women%20%26%20Garden%20Lovers.&qid=1459337343&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

I must disclose that I did receive these at a discounted price in return for a fair and honest opinion. I depend on honest reviews to and I review all produts as 100% my opinion.