PBN- Sylvania PalPODzzz Nightlights

ThePalPODzzz™ Portable Nightlight Ladybug ($19.99)is a functional LED nightlights The soft ambient light glows all night without the need for batteries and the flashlight (the ladybug) is removable which is wonderful for little kids nighttime games, reading, or if there is a power failure. This portable nightlight also has 3 Functions in 1:

LED Emergency Back Up Light during power outages

Rechargeable LED Flashlight

LED Nightlight

The PalPODzzz comes in two non-gender specific designs - rocket ship and lady bug. My three year-old daughter took an immediate liking to the ladybug. It not only looks ridiculously adorable sitting on her nightstand but she loves to snuggle it in bed each night. We had put your standard white hooded nightlight in her room before and she asked us to remove it. We have given her glowing nightlights for kids as well. After a few days she wanted it banished. Not so with the Sylvania PalPODzzz nightlight!

This little ladybug travels all over the house too. Recently she wanted to bring a deck chair up from the basement onto our unseasonably warm deck. She told my husband, "Wait! It's dark in the basement. I'll just get my ladybug and find my chair. You stay here. I can do myself!" With those words she was off and did indeed use her PalPODzzz ladybug to help her find her deck chair. It is as if that little ladybug has made her fearless. It is not just a nightlight but a great little flashlight too. It fits perfectly in a child's hand and the 'on' switch for the flashlight won't be hard for small hands to turn on. During the day she lets her ladybug sleep on it's little leaf or "pod" but at night it snuggles in under her covers right along with her stuffed rabbit and pink security blanket. She has even used it to find her way to our room in the middle of the night. I can attest that the head on that bug lights up quite bright!

I like that this is considered a green product, doesn't use a lot of energy and it is not expensive. It makes a great gift for a wide range of children too. It has brought a lot of peace of mind to our little girl who seems to think that her ladybug is also a new friend and protector. That is worth way more than $19.99 to me!

For more great reviews on the Sylvania PalPODzzz nightlights and other great products please visit the Parent Blogger Network here.

PBN- MilkBank Storage System

Breast is best they always say, but did you know that oxygen depletes the nutrients in your breast milk and can change the flavor too? I didn't until MilkBank Storage System arrived at my door.

BPA, PVC and phtalate free MilkBank Storage system is different from the traditional methods of storing and freezing your breast milk. Instead of using a bag or the supplied breast pump bottles MilkBank has a vacuum that sucks out the oxygen and keeps breast milk fresher longer. I tested out the whole storage system thanks to PBN. It includes-

1-vacuum pump

3- storage caps

1- 2.5 oz storage/feeding bottle,

2 - 5 oz storage/feeding bottles,

1 - outer insulated bottle with Stage 1 nipple

It is super easy to use the vacuum pump, only about three to five pumps is needed and then you are ready to store or freeze the milk. What I loved the most about this system was the outer insulated bottle. By placing warm water in it I could keep the milk warm during a feeding and my baby loved that. She sometimes snacks and eating a full bottle can take a bit of time. The outer insulated bottle kept the milk warm. I also love the fully vented feeding bottles that can be used for storage too. I always use ventilated bottles to keep down colic and ear aches and having these in addition to my others was very helpful. The bottles are also leak-proof (ahem Dr. Brown's) and not all bottles can claim that.

My only issue with the MilkBank Storage System is that it is a lot of pieces. That's great if you have one kid and one kid only but when there are others buzzing around you don't have time to mess around with a bunch of pieces. It's just grab, go and feed time! I found that I liked the MilkBank Storage system a lot but used it less often because of all the components. However, the idea of fresher milk got me and after a bit I got used to the system and used it more and more.

MilkBank is available at Babies R Us and you can locate a store online here. For more great reviews on this product and others visit PBN now.

PBN- Positive Spin Books for Kids

If you have been looking for a way to positively explain holidays to your kids then you have struck the motherload with Positive Spin Press books written by Lisa Sferlazza Johnson and illustrated by Tucker Johnson. Each of the their three books, 'All Hallows Eve, The Story of the Halloween Fairy', 'Winter's Eve Love and Lights' and 'Christmas Eve The Joy of Giving' teach children about doing things for others while revealing the origins of each special day and all accompanied by bright and imaginative illustrations. The fact that the author and illustrator live in Rhode Island held no sway with me I swear! Though I do love that they come from my home state.

I first read 'All Hallows Eve The Story of the Halloween Fairy' ($15.95) to my daughter right around the big day and found the explanation of how trick or treating began to be a positive, fun-filled story. Eve, a fairy from All Hallows has a birthday and only wants candy for her special day. Except all she can make is toys. No matter how hard Eve tries she can only produce toy candy. Her friends decide to go door to door in All Hallows and ask neighbors for candy as presents to Eve. One fairy, who has no candy, creates a special trick to show Eve. This book is a lot of fun and one I enjoy reading to my child and she loves just as much. It's full of beautiful fall-colored illustrations and possesses only happy and not scary elements on this typically creepy, crawly day.

Christmas Eve The Joy of Giving ($15.95) is another great book by this duo. I particularly loved how the main message isn't about giving or even what you give but how no matter how small your gift is it can bring joy and aid to someone. It teaches children how important it is to focus on the giving rather than the getting during the whole year and not just when Santa (or parents)might be watching.

Winter's Eve Love and Lights, my favorite book in the trio, has Eve learning about all the different ways we celebrate holidays during the month of December. Suffering from a case of the winter blues Eve learns the joys and customs of many holidays like Kwanza, Chinese New Year and Diwali just to name a few, from her friends who have gone to visit family in other parts of the world. She discovers that there is light in each holiday that can warm your heart and sustain you through the winter. It's quite a charming way to introduce and explain other customs and traditions to your child. You might just learn a thing or two as well.

I can't wait to read these books to my kids around each of their designated special day as well as throughout the year. They don't just explain holidays but teach the value of being kind to others, the benefit of having friends and how to work with your community. All incredibly valuable lessons to learn at any age. My eldest child, who is almost three, just loves these books! In fact, while I was writing this review she was a bit upset that I might be keeping the books for myself. I think the set makes a great gift for any kid but each book stands alone as a good gift too. They are definitely worth looking into further.

For more reviews on this series and other great products (and possible gifts!) visit PBN.

PBN- The Savvy Quiz and Leapfrog Tag

Skeptics like me look at quizzes such as the Savvy Source Quiz (the widget to your right) and think, "Hmph! I bet that takes a long time and produces a bunch of results not relatable to my child." Or "I bet it is just a jumble of products I have no interest in buying." Well, sometimes skeptics are proved wrong. Such is the case with the Savvy Source Quiz. Go ahead, get started on that quiz to the right if you have a preschool (2+) age child. I'll wait.


The quiz is essentially this, "The Savvy Quiz consists of a series of questions in each of several categories (language development, science, music, math, and many more), with personalized results - recommended activities and games/toys for your child - based on their current developmental stage as assessed by the quiz."


While the Progress Portrait takes some time to go through it really is worth it. I am amazed at what I learned about my daughters abilities. Who knew that her lining things up is a normal stage and not just inherited anal-retentiveness. Not only did I learn about how she is advanced in some areas, spot on in others and a bit lagging as well, I came away from the quiz quite pleased with the wealth of information I was given for free by the Source and all the products, books and printouts. I could purchase the products right there or get for others for free to encourage all these areas within her. The quiz is easy to use, very intuitive and provides so much information that it can be a bit overwhelming but is a great source of guidance and fun. I go back to it often to find new ways to stimulate her and update her development. The best part? The Saavy quiz changes with each new developmental stride!


You'll also notice that the whole thing is sponsored by Leapfrog and its product TAG (try a demo here!). The TAG is a reading system that uses the 'TAG', which is more like an electronic pen to read books aloud to your child. I'm leery of this type of toy too because I remember all to well the electronic voices from toys like this when I was growing up. The TAG though is quite different. Both my husband and I were quite taken with how animated the narrator sounds and all the various character voices. While my two year-old is too young for the TAG (ages 4 yrs and up) she got a kick out of learning to use the TAG to hear a story and what the various pictures in the book had to say. I loved how if you put the Tag by a word it only states that word allowing your child to learn to read at their own pace. The only drawback I found was that the on/off button, which is at the top of the TAG pen, is quite sensitive to touch and was frequently turned off by accident. That being said, the Leapfrog TAG (free shipping!) is still one great product. Its touch reading system is easy to use and kept my childs attention much longer than I thought it would. She got the hang of using it quickly on a basic level so I am sure any 4-8 would love it.


PBN has lots of great reviewers talking about both the Savvy quiz and Leapfrog TAG this week so you really should visit them to hear all the different perspectives. If you have children ages two and up you have nothing to lose but so much to gain taking this free quiz. I learned so much about my child and her development and found it to be very personalized. I have since gone an purchased a few products (all in various price ranges), downloaded and printed the free activities such as coloring and number games and learned about a wealth of other activities I can do in the car, at home and all over the place with my daughter. The Savvy quiz has been more helpful than any book or other program I've ever used. I recommend it highly.

30% OFF Tag Book,Leapster2 or Didj game COUPON CODE: SU8BHPR

PBN- Fruit Roll Ups- Designed by You!

Fruit Roll Ups sent out a request asking review bloggers if we would like to try out their latest venture. Design your own fruit roll ups, 'My Fruit Roll Ups' to be exact. Mm... I remember those lunch and snack time treats. I loved them as a kid, particularly the grape and strawberry flavors. Design my own though, what a fun concept!


I sat down with my daughter one afternoon and despite being only two she has quite definite opinions on things. She loved the funny noises the little fruit roll up creatures made as they set out to design her snack. She quickly picked a ladybug picture and the words, "Gimme 5!" Yeah, doesn't make much sense but she thought it was fantastic. I was surprised at how easy it was to go through the program. We chose our designs quickly and did not have to wait for things to load or process. That was a relief. Toddlers, as most of us know, do not wait for anyone!

What is so great about this product is that it works well for events like birthdays, graduations, you name it. You or your child can design whatever you want including personalizing the roll ups. There is a quick demo to see how it all works and the product arrived quickly. An entire carton of product. My daughters eyes were like saucers when she saw all the snacks inside. If you want to know how they tasted just look at the photos below. It pretty much sums up the whole experience. Design your own Fruit Roll Ups have become the new toddler crack in our house.
















This review is brought to you by PBN. For opinions on the Fruit Roll Ups and other great reviews visit the Parent Bloggers Network now.

GIVEAWAY- To enter to win your own box of self-designed fruit roll ups, just comment on this post and let me know which design you would choose if you won. Don't forget to leave your email information so I can contact you!
This contest if valid for US Residents only.

CONGRATULATIONS TO TANYETTA!

PBN- Maiden America- No-Slip Barrettes

Oh the whispies. I had them as a child. That almost baldhead with the slipperiest hair you can possibly imagine. Barrettes did not stay put and my morning 'do' was the bane of both my mother’s and my existence. Now, my daughter has a case of the whispies. The only barrettes that even come close to staying put were some cheap metal ones from the grocery store. Cute they are not. Serviceable is all we had until now. PBN offered me the chance to review Maiden America barrettes and I jumped on it.

Known for their non-slip barrettes (patent-pending), their non-toxic glue and other safe/good business practices Maiden America is a mom-owned and operated company that not only cares about its customers but also the quality of their product. While we are so used to the tiny metal no-frills barrettes around here we quickly acclimated ourselves to the ribbons, bows and flowers of these adorable barrettes. A particular favorite were the Daisyburst and Ladybug versions. My daughter asked to wear, “lay-deee bug” almost every day for the past few weeks. These barrettes really do work too. They do not slip no matter what amount of hair I place in them and they do not pull or weigh down in a painful way. I have used them to place over a ponytail for a more polished look as well as in traditional barrette format. My daughter enjoys wearing them and she looks super cute too!


These barrettes come in a variety of styles from dressed-up with Swarovski crystals to more nature-oriented pieces. They make an excellent gift for any little girl and would work well for weddings and parties. I have absolutely no complaints about this product. The barrettes are made well, they work, they arrived quickly and the price is competitive to what you find in stores around my area. When one of my choices was not available I was contacted by email within minutes of placing my order and promptly asked how I wanted to handle the situation instead of simply being told it was on backorder or no longer available. I could not be happier with my whole Maiden America experience.

PBN- Mama Rock Rules!

Do you want an easy to read, laugh aloud, totally effective and chocked full of common sense parenting book? Then look no further than Mama Rock’s Rules- Ten Lessons for Raising a Household of Successful Children, by Rose Rock with Valerie Graham. Rose Rock, mother to comedian Chris Rock, has raised ten kids in addition to 17 foster children. She has specialized in preschool and special education and hosts a weekly radio program, The Mom Show, out of South Carolina. This woman has the chops! Her approach is candid,she never gets preachy and she knows from years of experience how to deal with all types of children and situations.

One of the things I liked best about this book is how Rose points out that parents need to be a united front. Even when they do not agree on how to handle a situation, they need to show the children that they are united and not divided. As I read this book, I found myself continuously reading portions of it aloud to my husband. We would nod in agreement over topics like 'be a parent and not a friend' to your children and about how children needing structure. This book is strong and has many examples and anecdotes from Rock’s own life with her children that make it easy to see how her rules work and can be applied in a multitude of situations. I felt at ease and never talked down to as I read this book, which I appreciate. While some parenting “advice” books seek to help they only make a parent feel that they are doing everything wrong and are dooming their children.

My favorite part of this book is right in the beginning when Rose details out how to be clear in expressing what you expect from your child in every situation. While this may sound like it would not work, it has always proved effective within my house and I am continuously amazed at the results. Rock is a big believer in common sense parenting without the corporal punishment aspect. She tackles big issues and uneasy subjects that all parents will have to deal with and does so with humor, honesty and finesse.

Reading this book helped reinforce how I parent and made me feel that I am on the right track after all. The advice in this book works and just by touching up a bit on my parenting skills, I feel that my child knows more about what is expected of her on a daily basis. I am not giving away a copy because I need to keep it for myself. It makes an excellent addition to my reference library and will be dog-eared in no time! More great reviews on this book and others are available at the Parent Blogger Network.

PBN- Were You Raised by Wolves? Clues to the Mysteries of Adulthood

Like natural progression Christie Mellor’s latest book (author Three Martini Playdate. It is a must read for us retro ‘rents), Were you Raised by Wolves, starts out geared towards a younger just out of college audience and settles comfortably into tips for full-fledged adults. Tips, that even I, the annoying etiquette queen can use. The numerous baking soda tips? I was tempted to post it on my fridge. I went on for days about this section alone. I am that much of a dork.

Wolves is all about being a well-rounded person. It is about knowing how to make a bed properly (I am right! Victory is mine!), learning how to dress properly for work and beyond, having the skills to clean your bathroom correctly, how to cook an egg, save some coin and so much more. While this book might seem perfect for anyone who has just left the nest it is a wonderful refresher for those of us who left a long time ago but may need a bit of a push in the manners and making your world your home. The chapter on not being an embarrassment is something I want to tack to many people’s heads. I was filled with glee and laughing aloud when I read the bit about cell phone manners. The illustrations are helpful and each chapter is loaded with information yet somehow does not get away from itself. My favorite section was ‘Your World of Finance’. Who can’t use some advice on living frugal these days? Mellor points out that whether you are rich or poor there are certain ways to treat people and codes to live by in order to not just be a functioning member of society but a contributing members as well. In true Mellor fashion, this book is smart, hysterical and truly embraces its subject matter.

To anyone who wants to smack the person next to them at the gym for talking incessantly on their cell phone, who wants to learn to tie a bow-tie, poach chicken, set up a proper bar, be a good houseguest or host for that matter, this book is for you. The tips inside will help instill good will, charm and the art of being useful into your everyday life. It is witty, fun and yes, even a bit thought provoking. It makes an excellent gift for those graduating, living in their first apartment and anyone who feels they may be lacking in some of the basic knowledge departments. If anything, this book will have you laughing aloud throughout it and yelling, “Amen!”

For more reviews on this book and other great products for you and your family visit PBN.

Discover Your Child's Strengths and Your Own

My high school guidance counselor told me I would be lucky, LUCKY, if I got into community college.

I failed math three times in high school and twice in college. It was like a foreign language to me that I had no interest in speaking.

A math tutor once told me, “If your parents hadn’t paid me so much, you would not have passed the course.”

When I got into to some swanky colleges, my father called that guidance counselor back to gloat. I graduated from a top university and from one of the most difficult departments in the US for my major. Did I mention I was one of the only women? I kicked some boy historian butt!

This is the educational system at work with me. Through the years, I have been told, “NO,” many times over. I was not your typical cookie cutter set of students. I did not perform well on tests. The SATs were a nightmare. I was unreachable and not eligible for this or for that. I was not good enough or smart enough for whatever goal I tried to attain. I persevered and reached those goals anyway.

Could it be that instead of looking at our strengths and encouraging students like me the school system has become a breeding ground for elevating the weakness in a child? In my case I believe that yes, this is true. When I heard PBN was reviewing Jenifer Fox’s new book, ‘Your Child’s Strengths’ I had to obtain a copy. It was like a siren song calling to me, just not in that perilous doomsday way. While I was not a rock star student, I was not a bad one either. I just coasted along, bored and unreachable. If by chance, a teacher managed to catch my attention they had me for good. I would do anything to ace tests, please that teacher and excel to the highest points that I could.

I remember one particular high school art teacher, Mr. Farrell, who allowed a stray dog that was wandering the school parking lot into the classroom for inspiration. We hugged and petted the dog. We painted him (non-toxic paint of course), let him roll in the paint and then photographed and bathed him. Not only was it fun but that breaking of the school rules spoke to me. From then on, not only was that class a favorite of mine, I also felt more inspired than ever before. Mr. Farrell’s no holds barred teaching style gave me the boost I needed and optimism to trust other teachers too who in turn nurtured talents I did not know I possessed. That confidence made me feel that it was perfectly OK, most days, that I was not excelling in every subject but getting by on average grades, which quite frankly is not really getting by, but doing just fine. Did my high school guidance counselor zero in on these points? Did anyone besides my parents? No. Continuously, it was pointed out that I was bad at math and science and therefore hopeless with no future. It was focused on so much and so often that I became convinced I must not be smart at all in fact. I must be quite dumb indeed.

Reading, Jenifer Fox’s book, Your Child Strengths, I thought would open my eyes to how my own child learns and think. Not only did the book do just that but it also validated and taught me about how I learn as well. Reading about Foxes high school experience mirrored my own and many times throughout the book, I found myself marveling at how often our lives paralleled each other in this regard. I learned that I am a visual learner, an explorer, linguistic, a truth-teller and appreciator. What does all this mumbo-jumbo mean? Fox points out that strengths do not come from something that we are good at but from the activities that energize us. When you do something, you excel at and makes you feel good, here in lays your strength. Children do not need to excel at everything and expecting them to do that is asking them to constantly grasp and reach out for goals that are not always attainable or the best route for the child. My parents always told me to “do what you love. It is the only way to find true happiness.” I took their advice, majored in history in college and was happy as a clam. When I graduated, I sought out job after job that I thought was expected of me and continuously felt depleted. It was not until I had the courage to focus on my strengths that I broke free from that unhappy work life and began working on my writing, which brings me true joy.

‘Your Child’s Strengths’ helped me to discover parts of me that I already knew but needed to polish up a bit and get a better grasp on. There is a lot, I mean, A LOT of information in this book. It can be a bit intimidating at first when you see the activities and Appendix. Yet, it is entirely worth it. Through Foxes book, I have a better understanding of how I learn and work. Armed with this knowledge I can be a better parent. I can teach my daughter to find her own talents and strengths. She does not have to be another victim of cookie cutter style of teaching. She can use this information with our assistance and carve her own path, which to me is the best way. I truly cannot express how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to read and learn from this book. It changes the way I view my daughter’s daily activities and how I interact with her. 'Your Child's Strengths' is a welcome change of pace. It made me feel good without the gooey factor, which is worth its weight in gold to me.

For more reviews about this book and other products visit PBN. To purchase Your Childs Strengths visit here.

Relish the Idea of Meals Made Easy

I am a planner by nature. Each week I sit down, plan the week’s meals (dinner only, please I am only half-crazy) and put together a grocery list accordingly. I was curious to see how the meals I choose, which I admit can get old, would compare to what Relish’s system has to offer. I have tried other menu planning services before and have always been disappointed with the recipes and the services ideas on what constitutes a healthy meal for a family. Healthy for me does not involve a can of condensed soup. I can happily admit that Relish surprised me in quite a few ways.

First, the ease in using this site is superb. I log on and can quickly view a variety of meals that Relish is offering that week. Each week the menu selection changes and I can easily point and click my way to creating a plan. I can also go back to previous weeks and choose meals from there as well. Relish offers a slew of ideas and labels the meals as quick, kid-friendly, or vegan, slow cooker and more. It was a breeze and in less than five minutes, I had the weeks menu figured out. The program easily tabulates your chosen meals together to form your grocery list and the cooking instructions in a pdf form. I simply printed it off and took it with me to the store.

Relish compiles a list of ingredients from your meal selections. They are listed in order of how they positioned in the grocery store making your shopping trip quick and organized. Produce, dairy, canned goods, and meats is all separated out in the same format that I put them in when I make my own list. The Relish system really nailed it when they created this part of the program. My anal-retentive heart sighed with love as I breezed through the aisles at my local market. I loved how easy it was to figure out what ingredients went with what meals too. Each meal is labeled with a letter such as ‘A’ and all the ingredients needed for that recipe have an ‘A’ marked by it on the shopping list. If you decide you do not want that meal, you simply take out all the corresponding lettered ingredients.

Another feature I liked was that if I had to buy a bunch of fresh herbs Relish makes sure I would use them up that week instead of only needing a snippet or two and then having it rot in my refrigerator from lack of use. My refrigerator does not need any more green slime also known as cilantro. The Relish system is not wasteful and will have you using all the items that you buy repeatedly. This will saves money and pantry space.

Now to answer the question that has been on the tip of your tongue, “So, how is the food?” The recipes are very simple. There did not seem to be any missing steps or a slew of them to follow. When you are cooking for a family, are short on time or have a toddler messing around in the kitchen with you, this is the most important step. Even the slow cooker recipes, which often take a ton of prep time, were done in a flash. Each meal I made turned out extremely well. My finicky spouse was pleased even with the baby back ribs, which I never thought I could get him to enjoy. He fashions himself a connoisseur of those types of dishes and he had thirds that night. The vegetarian dish of Black Bean Burritos was also a big hit as was the Easy Chicken Kiev. Each dish tasted fresh and healthy. They even passed the toddler taste test which typically is only reserved for such tasty treats as Mac ‘n’ cheese and other forms of gooey pasta or baked cheese mixed with melted cheese.

The only changes I would make with the Relish system would be a way to add my own recipes. If I could least look at more past menus beyond the time of my sign up date I would like the service even more. When it came to my second week of menu planning, I could only find three I wanted to try. I wish I could look at an archive of meals to round out the week and have more of a choice.

My testing of the Relish menu planning system went so well the first week I could not wait to log on and create the next week’s meals! I saved all my recipes from the first week, downloaded some of the many recipes for appetizers, hors d’oeuvres and desserts that Relish frequently features and keep going back to the site for more. My whole family has really enjoyed the Relish program and we will continue to use it in the future. I've already had other friends sign up!

Now, excuse me while I go and make my cornbread to go with the chicken and rice gumbo that has been simmering all day.

This review is brought to you by Parent Bloggers Network. Visit them today for more great reviews and products.

A Steeped Review- Dr. Ukra's Tea Diet

I do not “do” diets. I am one of those annoying people who believe in eating less and exercising more in order to achieve the results in weight loss that you want. Until a few years ago, I was a tea drinker. Then I had a kid. While the tea to coffee ratio is still about 8:2 in my kitchen cabinets, I now own two different coffee makers and a French press. The coffee moves, man, it moves. It does not sit and hang out the way the tea bags do. I have heard rumors though that coffee aids and abets fat cells in your body so I decided to try Dr. Ukra’s ‘Ultimate Tea Diet’ when PBN presented it to me and give tea a second chance.

First, I glanced through the book taking note that what I possess in my house for tea was fine unless I wanted to get adventurous. The premise is quite simple. Eliminate junk food. When you crave a snack or a food that is your weakness craving, have some tea instead. Dr. Ukra, who runs the Tea Garden, offers up a breif history of teas, the different varieties and a quick test to see which types of teas you might favor. It was very educational and a bit fun, I must admit. I learned that steeping tea bags for a bit and then dumping out the first round of liquid gets rid of the caffeine and I was able to function on a more rational level after that.

I decided to give myself three weeks with this tea regime and see what happened. The first few days I kept forgetting to go to the tea instead of the Ritter Sport Butter Biscuit. I kept the book handy and kept reading passages of it to keep it in the forefront of my mind. Soon I found I was consuming only one cup of coffee a day (taking away one cup as Dr. Ukra suggests) and drinking about four to five cups of tea during my daily routine. I filled my water bottle with strawberry kiwi tea to drink throughout the day and felt cleansed. Tea is a natural diuretic and I noticed after about three days of this I had no bloat left in my body. I lost a pound too. I kept this up for another week and noticed that my stomach was still flat and my pants fit better. While I did not seem to lose any more weight, I noticed I was snacking a lot less and consuming less food in general. I was literally too full of tea for anything else!

Now in my third week, I cannot say I have lost more weight. I have not. However, I am not bloated and I do seem to have more energy. I look and feel as if I've lost five pounds though. I have reacquainted myself with the tea in my home and weaned myself off the coffee IV drip I was toting around the house. I can only see that as a good thing. I think if I had spent more time creating some of the meals from “dr.tea’s” menus, it would have helped me lose more weight. I am keeping this book handy for the future when I can get my family on board and I have the time to devote to constructing such meals. In the meantime, I say try this book. It is sensible and not about deprivation. It has a lot of valuable information and you will certainly learn a lot about types of tea, making it and its benefits. Tea is in fact, quite good for you and I am happy that I tried this book.


I am giving away a copy of ‘The Ultimate Tea Diet’ by Mark “dr. tea” Ukra to one lucky reader. First person who emails me at veamason at gmail dot com will get it!

Happy New Year!

It's a new year and I've decided that there will be some new additions to Mummy's Product Reviews this year. In addition to the regularly featured PBN reviews, Friday Fun Finds and the weekly product reviews, I'll be conducting compare and contrasts of products. Mummy will debunk myths regarding even more products, hopefully incorporate an abundance of giveaways (ahem! companies! Readers like free stuff!!) into the reviews and add more coupons.

I'll even post about books, movies, and current trends (watermelon!) throughout the year so check back often for exciting new ideas and more!

If you have questions regarding certain products or how I conduct reviews please feel free to contact me and I will see what I can do. I'm here to help you find the very best of what is new, fresh, hot and well... what works and won't waste your money.

If you are a company that would like your product reviewed keep in mind that I veer towards green items, women and children's accessories, gift ideas, housewares and decor. I am open-minded but I like to actually review the product and not just post about it sight unseen. Giveaways to the readers work wonders on me as do posting ads on this site. So give me a call, email, or write!


It's a brand new year and there are loads of great products to be reviewed! I look forward to working with you, hearing from you and learning with you!

Happy 2008!

Mummy

PBN- The Daring Book for Girls

First, let me say that I was incredibly excited to view this book, The Daring Book for Girls, by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz. When I received it the turquoise cover reminded me of a book from the early part of the last century, but the glitter on the front cover makes it modern and appealing to girls today. The illustrations are beautiful and easy to follow. This is one quality book. When I opened it to take a look inside I realized that this tome surpasses even my best hopes for it. It is a veritable treasure trove of fun and useful information.

Being a shy only child I never asked questions about a lot of basic kid stuff. Half the time I didn’t even know which questions I wanted to ask and that was part of the problem. Upon reading ‘Daring’ I realized that many of my questions were now being answered right here in this book. Who are the players on the basketball team and what is their purpose? Got it! How do you play Foursquare? I never knew but I can teach it now! I was amazed at the plethora of information that I now possess as an adult. I can then pass it on to my daughter and her friends. Some of it was a nice review for me too. I reviewed my leaf types, got to relive all the chants and songs of jump rope (which I had forgotten) and the best way to build a campfire. All things I was taught as a young kid but haven’t revisited in quite some time.

It is not just the classic games and songs that I love about this book. It is so much more. The brief pieces on women in history appeal to me and will be great to share with my child as she grows. The women who are profiled are not the everyday trotted out women in history either. Buchanan and Peskowitz really dug in and provided a broad range of women like Freya Stark, Artemisia and more. ‘Daring’ is big and it covers a lot of ground. From writing the proper thank you note to powering a clock via lemon it has it all. I learned to tie knots and refreshed myself on how to change a tire. I can now teach the kids on the block how to do a back walk over again as well. I almost feel that ‘Daring’ should be a text book given to girls when they reach school age. They can carry it with them and share it with their friends absorbing the information and growing wiser and stronger because of it. Let’s face it. There is a lot to teach a child today and many times we forget some of the best parts from our own childhood. ‘Daring’ is a great reminder/refresher course for parents.

‘The Daring Book for Girls’ (for ages 8-18) is like an encyclopedia or a manual on finding yourself as a girl no matter what your age. If you are artistic, athletic, outdoorsy or bookish there is something that will speak to you in this book. Its wide range of topics will lure you in and teach you lessons in history, etiquette, forestry and art that you didn’t even know you needed but will soon realize you shouldn’t be without. Trying to figure out a way to explain stocks and shares? Read this book! Want to teach your daughter some self-defense and other life-saving skills? Buy this book! It is invaluable. I cannot wait to share it with my daughter as she grows. In the meantime I will be recommending it to the Mom’s of the young girls I know. There is truly something for everyone inside Daring’s pretty turquoise binding.

Act now in time for the holidays too! The Daring Book for Young Girls is for sale at Amazon for only $14.97! For more reviews on this book and other great items please visit PBN.

Beauty Confidential

Product Junkie alert! If you want to know how to really de-frizz your hair or how to properly apply self tanner then you need this book! If you are dying to know what concealer will hide those late in life zits then you simply must go out and buy Nadine Haobsh’s book,Beauty Confidential. This spill-all book is a delight with its casual and friendly tone and loads of beauty industry secrets. If you are a make-up lover or a product whore then you can’t miss taking a peek at the details inside. As a teen I always wondered why my make up didn’t look just like the magazine’s cover model when I would go out and buy all the same stuff. Now that Nadine has come clean with the facts I now know this another magazine advertising trick. You have to read the book to find out what they really do because I’m not spilling anymore secrets.

What I loved most about this book was the compiled lists of products in each chapter with price ranges and shopping information. It is like a reference guide to all the best stuff. I learned that I’m pretty beauty savvy myself having tried almost everything in this book short of the section on cosmetic surgery. That section my dear’s was a real eye-opener. No pun intended. I enjoyed the glimpses into Nadine’s life and her beauty blunders as much as I loved hearing insider secrets. Who didn’t have Claire Dane’s hair color in the early 90s? I know I did! The chapter devoted solely to giving me the best blow out actually worked and the folk remedies were great too. It is a very relatable book and easy to use guide as well. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a slave to the everything beauty world and especially a novice to all things beauty related.

The casual writing style in Beauty Confidential is great- most of the time. However, chapter after chapter of it started to make feel as if I was stuck inside some sorority girl cocktail party that would never end. I wanted the book to get a little more serious now and then. Don’t get me wrong the step by step how-to’s are great! I learned many new things I just sometimes wished for less bloggy talk. It is Nadine’s personal experiences that are thrown in that helped get me through those rough spots and really that chattiness is the only flaw. It is precisely her personal stories and approach that really does make the book a ‘no preaching’ tell all.

As a personal note, I tried the low ponytail, something I’m loathe to usually wear. It screams Marcia Brady to me, but it actually garnered compliments thanks to the side part and looks a bit less gym friendly than the one I normally sport. The chapter on classic beauty products, made me feel justified. I have touted this same information for years and now I have back-up in book form! I’ve since given many of the classics as gifts to friends. This book is a lot of fun to read or just browse through and would be a great idea for someone just getting into the beauty world and trying to find their way. It was a nice refresher for an old whore (ahem product whore) like me too. For more reviews on this book and other products please visit the fun folks over at the Parent Bloggers Network.

P.S. There’s an even a lazy girl guide for those of you who are laughing at the sheer fact that a book has a have a whole chapter on hair color. It’s great for women on the go and busy moms too.

PBN-Printakid's 'In Giddyland'

I love personalized things. It must come from being a child in the 80s and having my name on all those wooden handled purses and such. If it can be monogrammed or personalized chances are I’m having it done. The Printakid books are no different. The chance to have a personalized book for my child is a great idea to me.

I chose the ‘In Giddyland’ story for my daughter which has her going through a winter wonderland adventure after a tumble on her sled. There are sketchy ice statues, a smart little penguin guide and some seriously deluded snow people that she meets along the way. What I liked best about this book is that it goes beyond the personalization of just adding her name in for the main character. Printakid asks for eye color, hair color and texture as well as skin tone, parent’s names and the names of up to three of her friends. This book manages to cram all this information in while creating a lasting memory for my daughter regarding her childhood. It’s done well too. While we may move away she will always know who her first set of friends were because this book immortalized them throughout its pages. It’s a clever and cute idea that will continually bring a smile to her face in the coming years.

So you now know that I like the premise of Printakid, but what about the actual illustrations, story lines and look and feel of the book? The illustrations are simple and colorful. I immediately thought it looked computer generated upon first reading the book but the pages are sturdy it a lot of thought goes into the ideas behind the books. I like more traditional illustrations and not such digitally done ones but my daughter does not care she just loves the story and that she is the star of the book. The books are a good size and hard cover which is always a plus and the story lines are wildly imaginative. I was hard-pressed to find one that I could settle on as they all seemed like great out of the ordinary tales for kids. I’m not one for the tales of Grimm but I’m not into cutsey duck and bunny tales either, so this book with its lovely personalization jumped out and grabbed me with its characters and plots. My daughter has grown to love it as well. The older she gets the more excited she is each time she hears her name read to her and that of her friends and family. For that alone I read her the story of ‘In Giddyland’ by Printakid over and over again.

I looked around the website after receiving our book and found some new titles like a ‘Fantastic Birthday’ and I think that would make an excellent gift for a niece, nephew or grandchild if not your own child. I find the pricing more than reasonable too and the option to add a personalized calendar, CD, gift wrap or a gift wrap kid makes Printakid worth a visit. The service was quick and attentive and the book has stood up to some beatings. I will keep them in mind for the pre-school and young school age children I know and plan on giving them as gifts. For more reviews on this Printakid book and other personalized books for children please visit PBN.

PBN- Sequoia Survival Car Kit

I drive a Pathfinder. It has a lovely and compact first aid kit tucked discreetly away in the back section of the truck. I am a Mom too. That means there are not just cup holders and a trash receptacle in the vehicle but lots of wipes, napkins, fun activities, a cell phone and charger, plus snacks stowed in my truck at any given time. Do I really need an actual car survival kit? I already have a spare tire and I do know where it is located.

The Sequoia Survival Company says yes I do need one just for my car. My husband a former Marine and now a Security Specialist brings lots of emergency type stuff home with from various conferences so I figured I had probably seen it all even when it comes to this solidly packed eight pound bag of stuff.

First, I noticed the eight packets of water, which were sandwiched neatly along the edges of the bag. This is a great and often forgotten addition to emergency kits. After living in the desert however my car is never without it. The rope and work gloves included are also a good idea. How many times have you needed to tie something down or had lug nuts that were incredibly tight? You never know when you might need them or need that protection. The light sticks, hand warmers, MRE for two, and water and wind proof matches are all necessary in a survival kit. What I found interesting is that there was a pen included. Why not a pencil? A pen can dry up and run out of ink. A pencil could be sharpened with the neat little Gerber tool provided. The notebook inside is handy but I think it should consist of waterproof paper myself.

The Nexcare first aid kit is just like the one my mother packed for me when I went off to college. In fact, it is the exact same one. I’m happy to have a new one for the car now. If I didn’t already I own one I would find the combination flashlight/radio/cell phone charger to be the coolest thing I’ve ever seen, but living in the household that I do, it is par for the course. One thing my husband noted as missing is tampons. Did you know that tampons are great for starting fires and for use in first aid care? Marines take them out in the field with them all the time. I didn’t either until I met my husband. Now I always have one on me for reasons other being simply being female.

Everything included in the Sequoia vehicle kit are things you would actually use or need from the ultra tiny Gerber tool to the toilet paper and rain ponchos. I really didn’t find it lacking unless I wanted to be nit- picky. The price of $99 is steep to me and I think you could probably buy a lot the items included for less than that and stow them in your car. However, if you have someone in your life who is prone to accidents, you want to keep safe, or just have peace of mind this would make an incredibly interesting gift. All the kits from Sequoia meet and exceed Red Cross and FEMA guidelines too which is I think where the deck of playing cards comes in.

This review is brought to you by PBN. For more insight and reviews on the Sequoia Survival kit please visit PBN.

PBN- Deceptively Delicious

Psst…. Hey kid! You want some chocolate pudding?

How about some pink pancakes or an ice cream sandwich?

It’s good huh kid? Eat up! Load up kid! Chow down!

Psst… Hey kid! You want to know something? Those tasty treats are loaded with good things like beet puree and cauliflower and spinach!

Bwwwaahhhaaahhaa!!!!



That is how you might feel when you first start using Jessica Seinfeld’s new cookbook, Deceptively Delicious. This cookbook is great! The food is healthy and things you would actually serve your family. The secret or the deception is adding pureed fruits or vegetables to each recipe enhancing the nutritional value of each dish. I tried a few of the recipes out on my family and with the exception of one dish they all came back with rave reviews. Eating tacos with pureed carrots made me feel healthier than our normal version because who really feels healthy after eating tacos? The mozzarella sticks with cauliflower tasted exactly the same and no one could tell the difference. I even made beef stew with broccoli puree which I thought would give it a slightly skewed taste but it only made it better. My daughter has no idea that the brownies she is eating as an after nap snack have carrots and spinach in them. All she knows is that Mom is willing to give her brownies. I will keep making this recipe for her even though they won’t fool anyone who has ever had a regular brownie in their lifetime. The texture of them is off as is the flavor. It is not that they taste like the carrots or spinach. They don’t. They just don’t taste like a brownie and I make mine from scratch so I’m not talking chemicals here.

I liked the look and feel of Jessica’s book too. It harkens back to the days of the 1950s cookbooks with its spiral bound spine and illustrations. While the recipes may seem daunting at first they really aren’t. Planning in advance is necessary but it always is when you want to provide healthy meals for your family. The directions are easy to follow and I found that pureeing my veggies and fruits in one day is not that difficult even with a temperamental blender such as mine. Simply steam the veggies and puree. Store them in the fridge or freezer in ½ cup servings and when it’s time to cook or bake you are ready to go!

I felt so much better about the food we were eating because my kid and spouse alike are sometimes finicky vegetable eaters. I try to incorporate our five daily servings plus but sometimes it is hard and this just makes it incredibly easy without a lot of thought. I know that as my child gets older this cookbook will come in real handy especially with sweet treats. The additional nutritional information given by nutritionist Joy Bauer is helps keep you on track too. The extra tips on how to make store-bought food and snacks healthier made me feel a whole lot better about what to do when I actually do buy these items. This cookbook will be used frequently in my house for all sorts of occasions not just on my kids. My husband loves the idea that he is getting added vegetables and so do I. I simply love this cookbook!

This gift makes an excellent addition to any family's kitchen and would be a great gift for any Mom. You can buy it here for only $14.97. For more reviews on this book visit the Parent Blogger Network and hear what others are saying.



http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com/site/index.php

Ryka- MC2 Walking Shoes

I am a walker. There is no doubt about it. I have completed numerous walk-a-thons as well as having three Avon Walk’s under my belt (that’s 39.3 miles) and A LOT of shoes. I’ve become a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to sneakers. I know what works for me and what does not. I’m also pretty brand loyal. When it’s time for a new set of kicks I simply queue up to my local running shoe store and purchase a pair just like the last. I threw caution to the wind when I signed on to review Ryka’s new MC2 Walk shoe. They are good shoes after all as they have sponsored the Avon Walk every year and they are designed for woman.

When I first opened the box I screamed. And not in a good way. The sheer whiteness of the shoe made me cringe. How was I going to wear these in public? They looked like something the retired women who haunt my gym wear or worse something my mother would buy. The only other color to drown out the white glare is beige. A beige dot or two and I am not a beige girl. I have HUGE feet too. I like a bit of subtle color and gray to camouflage my feet. So it was with a heavy heart that I slipped my feet into these new walking shoes. I felt like a world class dork as I built up my pace on my first outing.



The fit on the MC2’s is surprisingly nice though. They are ultra cushy without being too soft. I really loved the way the MC2’s hugged my heels and ankles adding extra stability and support. The middle of the shoe is quite narrow for a sneaker that has so much “motion control” which is great for those of us who have to buy such large togs. I’ve clocked in quite a few hours of walking with these new shoes and no matter the terrain, be it street or gym, they have held up quite well. There is a spring in my step (thanks Nitracel!) and the sizing is accurate. The price of $79.99 can’t be beat either as I normally shell out about $110 even with a walker’s discount. Still I have been made fun of for wearing such “old lady” shoes and people have actually gasped at them in horror which doesn’t make me want to buy them again. If these shoes were really made for women they would have a bit more style and color added in to balance the durability, pronation prevention and quality of this shoe. Then again, maybe look and style just doesn’t matter to some folks.


The MC2 Walking Shoe by Ryka can be purchased at various locations or online here. For more reviews on this shoe and other Ryka shoes visit PBN and read what other bloggers are saying. Visit RYKA they are giving away 50 shoes a day through October! You can enter (for more free shoes) and every time someone you recommend signs up, you get another entry!

The Little Black Book of Style by Nina Garcia

I love clothes and fashion. J’adore Chanel and all things sparkly and Manolo. An afternoon reading Elle is one well spent in my mind. Except that these days? I’m struggling and you would not know that I own some vintage Mizrahi unless I slapped you with it and that is after I have excavated it from the depths of my ravaged closet. After the birth of my daughter, a new body, and now working from home I have been feeling a bit lost fashion-wise. My closet tells me so too. It’s disorganized and my days are spent in shorts and uninspired tank tops. Not a drop of tribal beads, turquoise or a daring shoe can be found. Then like manna from heaven PBN sent me this book. Nina Garcia’s (yes, the one of Project Runway and Elle fame)Little Black Book of Style.

The Little Black Book is not about buying more stuff. It is not trying to sell you on any one designer or style. It is about fashion freedom and following your instincts. Reading it reaffirmed what I already knew about my sense of self and style. It inspired me to clean out my closet and figure out what I need and don’t need, including that pair of Hush Puppies. What a cathartic afternoon that was! Who knew I owned two pink pashminas, one still in its box, and so many formal gowns. And do I really need to be holding on to those two identical ill-fitting suits that have dust on the shoulders? The answer is NO!

Garcia’s tome reinvigorated me to own my look and trust my instincts. For example, I love turtlenecks and I look good them. They suit me. I love wearing black too and you know what? There isn’t one thing wrong with that. Trusting my instincts and wearing these items always gives me confidence. This book reminded me that what I learned from my mother and grandmothers was right. I need to keep that knowledge at the forefront of my mind when I dress and when I shop. Otherwise I end up with items like a fuchsia baby doll dress that was clearly an impulse buy.

The Little Black book holds all the fashion basics in an easy to follow way. The checklist is exactly what I have always known and had fallen away from. The bits of history on designers and the decades of fashion are pure fun! The thick glossy pages chocked full of beautiful illustrations by Ruben Toledo propel you to keep reading. It is a quick read and entirely enjoyable. I felt as if my thirst was finally quenched when I finished it. It is consistently full of sensible information while not bogging the reader down.

The Little Black Book of Style is not about being model thin or always following the most current trends. It is about truly discovering what you love and works for you. Own that! Free yourself! Have fun with the whole fashion thing and always remember to rock that signature look of yours hard! Stand up straight, shoulders back and smile! C’est magnifique!


This review is brought to you by the wonderful people at PBN where lots more reviews can be found and Harper Collins.

PBN- The Bilingual Edge

Growing up in a Mixed Language Family was fun and special. It should have made it easier to become fluent in French, but it didn’t. While curious and full of questions as a young child my family wasn’t as receptive. It was English only. My parents suffered through a state mandate of English only growing up and were reluctant to have their child go through what they did. So I learned French in High School. And it was very bad. When it came time, I no longer cared and in fact, rebelled against it. Add on the fact that I didn’t want to mispronounce one word in front of my family I just gave up all together and plodded through five years of French painfully. Reading the ‘Bilingual Edge’, by Kendall King, Ph.D. and Alison Mackey, Ph.D., opened my eyes to what happened to my language skills and how to fix it so that the process will be easier for my daughter.



I found the ‘Bilingual Edge’ incredibly comprehensive. Every question I had about teaching my child another language was answered. “Is she too young?” She’s eighteen months. “Will she be confused?” No. “What language do we choose?” An easy to follow guide and questionnaire has us choosing, why French of course! There are so many avenues and ways in which to teach another language that I did not know about or consider. The book clearly lays them out in a logical, well thought way. I love the fact that I can refer to the detailed reference section and really find what works best for our family. The more I read the more engrossed I became. I am now more aware of how my daughter interacts and communicates with us and others, as well as how receptive her personality is to learning a new language.
Before reading ‘The Bilingual Edge’ I knew I wanted my daughter to learn another language, or five, but I had no idea where to begin. I found myself incredibly confused, frustrated and futile. I even put off reading this book for fear that it would throw me off more. I’m so glad I did read it because it has not only clarified my questions but started in-depth discussions with my family and husband about which language we are choosing, why and how we will now go about it. It’s like the weight, from my extreme parenting, has been taken away. I’m a planner and my inner organizational freak now has a plan for her present age, her future development with French, and reasoning behind it. The book gave me a lot to chew on and think about in terms of my own feelings about learning another language and re-emphasized how important it is to me to pass on this part of our family’s heritage and use it every day. It is something special once again and now no longer something I’m afraid to use. Just like the book says, children have an easier time making mistakes while learning to talk; I will re-learn French along with my daughter and not be afraid of messing up.

I would strongly recommend this book (found on Amazon) to anyone who is seriously thinking about having their child learn another language. The knowledge I have gained from this book is invaluable to me and my daughter’s future.

* This review has been brought to you by PBN. Check out their site for more information and other reviews on The Bilingual Edge and other great products.