Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Yoplait Splitz Review and Giveaway

Instead of a sundae try Yoplait Splitz! Yoplait Splitz is a new yogurt from Yoplait that tastes like a sundae, but is 100% yogurt that has no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial flavors or sweeteners and is 90 calories. This yogurt is also a good source of calcium and vitamin D. Available in three yummy flavor combos including Strawberry Sundae, Strawberry Banana Split, and Rainbow Sherbet.

My family tried the Rainbow Sherbet because it sounded the best to me. It came in a 4 pack and is split into two dreamy flavors in one cup: orange sherbet and raspberry sherbet! I love frozen sherbet and when you freeze these yogurts in the freezer they taste just like it. I liked the orange sherbet that was the top layer the most and unfortunately it was the least of the two flavors in the cup. Also, I thought that if they really want to call it "Rainbow" sherbet then they should have added lime, lemon, or another sherbet flavor also. I really liked it otherwise though. I love them frozen the best and my kids enjoyed them as well!!

We had fun using our picnic blanket and Activo Picnic Time insulated tote in Red Clay color with caramel interior and stitching that came with the coupon. The insulated tote is made of 600D polyester fabric that has a water-resistant coating that repels condensation with a waterproof PVC liner and double-cinch cord closure. It is 11" X 6" base (that is a textured non-skid PVC) and 14" height so it carries quite a bit. It has padded carry handles and an adjustable, detachable shoulder strap. The padded shoulder straps cushion with non-slip PVC underside. There are a lot of pockets and the hardware is metal. You can use this tote at the beach, sporting events, picnics, or long trips in the car. I love how the blanket rolls up in a nice tote-able package and the insulated tote has lots of pockets and is great to keep stuff like Yoplait yogurts cold. As you can see we had a very healthy picnic in our backyard with the yogurts and some other foods. We had a great time until the mosquitoes started to come out.

WIN IT:
Amanda at MyBlogSpark has has generously offered a Yoplait Splitz Picnic Prize Pack (includes: coupon* for free Yoplait Splitz, an insulated carry tote, and a roll up fleece picnic blanket) to one of my readers to win.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the Yoplait Splitz website and tell me by commenting on this post which flavor of Yoplait Splitz you would most like to try.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by feedburner or by email and let me know which way. (2 extra entries each)

2. Fan/Like me on facebook and write something on my wall. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and Yoplait Splitz in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

7. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra entries)

8. Comment on one of my regular (not giveaway) posts. (1 extra entry per post you comment on)

9. Follow me on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

10. Tweet this: @finamoon: @YoplaitYogurt WIN Yoplait Splitz Picnic Prize Pack #giveaway #myblogspark http://bit.ly/brDScE
(Daily Extras are Available)

11. Fan/Like Yoplait on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

12. Follow Yoplait on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed, blogged about this, listed it, commented on another post, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday September 24, 2010 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to U.S. Only!! *This coupon offer for a free pack of Yoplait Splitz is not valid in some states, including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, Nevada, North Dakota and Tennessee.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Yoplait Splitz, the prize pack, information and the prize package for giveaway were all provided free by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

The Berenstain Bears and the Gift of Courage by Jan & Mike Berenstain FIRST Wild Card Tour Book Review

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:


The Berenstain Bears and the Gift of Courage

Zonderkidz (April 9, 2010)

***Special thanks to Krista Ocier of Zondervan for sending me a review copy.***


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:



Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain Bear books in 1962. Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents work together to write about and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. Mike is married to Andrea, and they have three children. They live in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks a lot like Bear Country.


Visit the authors' website.


Product Details:

List Price: $3.99
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz (April 9, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310712564
ISBN-13: 978-0310712565

PRESS THE BROWSE BUTTON TO VIEW THE FIRST CHAPTER:


Monday, August 30, 2010

Eucerin Everyday Protection Lotion Review

I received a 4 fl oz bottle of the Eucerin Everyday Protection Lotion for face with a SPF of 30 and a 13.5 fl oz bottle of the Eucerin Everyday Protection Lotion for body with a SPF of 15 for free from Eucerin to try out and review.

It is so important to take care of your skin. The need for skincare products that nourish and protect our skin so that our skin stays youthful looking and healthy is ever growing with the impact of UV radiation from the sun's rays. Recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation, Eucerin Everyday Protection Lotion is a wonderful product that helps protect the skin from this harmful exposure. It's ingredients of micro-fine zinc oxide and titanium dioxide provide blockage against UV causing skin damage. They are enriched with Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, to help protect from free radicals damaging the skin cells. It is fragrance-free, oil-free, non-irritating and won't clog pores.

I love these products! I only wish that the SPF were higher on both. I applied the face lotion on my face and was very happy with the feel. I did the same with the body lotion and applied it to exposed skin except for my face. Both were a little oily, but overall they went on smooth and felt good on my skin. As soon as I applied the lotions my skin felt very moisturized and it is proven to relieve dry skin for 24 hours. My skin felt healthier with these products on and I felt better knowing that my skin was being protected. My son, Jaedan, has such sensitive skin that I wanted to try these out on him also. He didn't have any break outs or skin irritations with these products.

The more sunburns as a child the higher the risk of getting skin cancer. That is why I feel it is so important to protect my kids from the damaging effects of the sun! You should apply sunscreens with at least 15 SPF and encourage your child to wear hats with brims and coverage. Some hats I have seen are also made out of UV protectant material which is a plus. Sunglasses that provide protection from UV radiation are also recommended, even for the very young child. Although many children may want to play outdoors wearing little clothing in the hot summer time, we as parents should encourage our children to keep as much skin area covered by clothing as possible. These guidelines are not only great for our kids, but we need to also take them into account for ourselves so that our skin can stay healthy and youthful.

Click HERE for Skin Cancer prevention tips

BUY IT!:
Go HERE to find out where to find these products to buy.

Fan/Like Eucerin on Facebook and get more information on skin health! You can also get a free complimentary product by taking the Skin FIRST pledge on their Facebook page through the Skin FIRST tab. For each pledge submitted, Eucerin will be making a donation to Healthy Women.org

Follow Eucerin on Twitter and join them for Eucerin's first Tweet Chat on Twitter! On Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 2:00pm EST tweet your skincare or Eucerin product questions to Eucerin Brand Expert Andrew Videira. Follow hashtag #skinFirst #chat Two lucky fans will receive a Eucerin Prize Pack for participating!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Eucerin for sending me a free 4 fl oz bottle of the Eucerin Everyday Protection Lotion for face with a SPF of 30 and a 13.5 fl oz bottle of the Eucerin Everyday Protection Lotion for body with a SPF of 15 for free and information about the products. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Wubbzy, Indestructibles, Tropical Traditions, Okee Dokee Brothers, Seventh Generation and Download N Go Giveaway Winners


The winner of the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Escape From Dino Island DVD is #22 justicecw! She said she thinks the Wubbzy goes to school looks cute!

Don't forget to enter my other Wubbzy DVD Giveaway... Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD - Wubbzy Goes To School that ends 09-24-10!!

The winner of the 3 Indestructibles books is #50 justicecw! She said these look really nice! She would love to have Humpty Dumpty, Hey Diddle Diddle and Hickory Dickory Dock because they are classics!

The winner of the Quart of Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil is #40 justicecw! She said she is a big peanut butter fan so she would love to try their organic peanut butter!

The winner of The Okee Dokee Brothers - Take It Outside CD is #17 justicecw! She said she learned they have a calendar of their upcoming shows on the website!

Wowee!!! justicecw, you are the luckiest giveaway entrant on my blog today!! Thanks for all the tweets, etc.! (Honestly I am not picking favorites!! I use the True Random Number Generator to choose all of my winners!)

The winner of the Seventh Generation "Back-to-School" Kit Prize Pack is #40 Jennifer T.! She said she'd love to try their Natural Dishwashing Liquid.

The winner of the Download N Go Summer Sensations unit study in PDF version is #2 nightowl! She said she likes the Autumn Treasures also.

Congrats again to all the winners! I will contact each winner by email. If you did not have your email posted please post it here so I can email you! Thanks to all those who participated and don't forget to enter in my contests/giveaways that are going on now! I will also be adding more posts and giveaways soon so stay tuned!

*All winners are chosen by my True Random Number Generator.

FairHaven Health Tea-for-Two Pregnancy Tea Review and Giveaway

I love tea and herbal tea has been a favorite of mine since I was little. Tea drinking relaxes me and puts me in a better mood for the day. I recently went searching for some herbal tea that is safe to drink during pregnancy since some herbs are not safe for pregnancy. I came across a tea made by FairHaven Health called Tea-for-Two. I was sent some free to review from their company.

This tea supports a healthy pregnancy and helps prepare your body for labor and childbirth. It is great for keeping you hydrated and provides relief for morning sickness. This comforting tea is organic, all-natural, wildcrafted and caffeine-free. It is safe for both mother and baby. Great for use during the entire pregnancy and for postpartum recovery.

I love the delicious tangy flavor and enjoy it both hot and with ice. It is also wonderful frozen into ice pops or icy cubes added to other drinks or just to suck on. This also will help fend off severe nausea and prevent dehydration. It is recommended to drink 2-3 cups per day for optimal results.

Ingredients:
Strawberry leaf – nourishes and tones the uterus and provides key vitamins, minerals, and alkaloids that promote a healthful pregnancy.
Alfalfa – high in nutritive vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin K. which is critical to a healthy pregnancy.
Dandelion leaf - helps to eliminate excess water from the system to ease fluid retention; provides; excellent source of potassium, calcium and iron.
Oatstraw – calms the nervous system to alleviate stress and tension.
Ginger root – assuages nausea and eases morning sickness symptoms.
Lemon verbena – provides refreshing, zesty flavor.

This tea is a loose-leaf tea that comes in a airtight, light-proof bag to guarantee greatest amount of freshness, flavor, and nutritional support. This ensures freshness for up to two years! Contains no glues or staples commonly used in teabags, just add 1 teaspoon to a cup of boiling water directly or by using a tea ball or infuser. Cover and steep for 5 minutes straining leaves before drinking.

BUY IT:
Save up to 10% on multiple bags!
1 bag (4 ounces - generally a 1-month supply) = $14.95, 2 = $28.95, 3 = $39.95

FairHaven Health also offers a number of other products for fertility, pregnancy and nursing.

WIN IT:
Sarah from Fair Haven Health has generously offered a bag of Tea-for-Two pregnancy tea for one of my readers to win.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the FairHaven Health website and tell me what other product(s) you would love to try and why.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by feedburner or by email and let me know which way. (2 extra entries each)

2. Fan/Like me on facebook and write that you are entering this giveaway on my wall. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and FairHaven Health in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra entries)

7. Follow me on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

8. Tweet this: @finamoon: @fertilaidamy WIN FairHaven Health Tea-for-Two Pregnancy Tea #giveaway http://bit.ly/c3Jh3j
(Daily Extras are Available)

9. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

10. Comment on any of my other posts or enter my other giveaways and let me know which post you commented on. (1 extra entry per post you comment on)

11. Fan/Like FairHaven Health's FertilAid on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

12. Follow FairHaven Health's FertilAid on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed by email, blogged about this, listed it, commented on another post, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday September 24, 2010 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open Worldwide!!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to FairHaven Health for sending me a free 4oz bag of Tea-for-Two tea to try out and review. This giveaway is also provided free from FairHaven Health. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Be Nice Prenatal Vitamin Drink Mix Review

I have been trying to keep healthy and hydrated during my pregnancy. I don't really like water all by itself...probably because my tap water at home isn't really the best tasting. That is why I wrote a post about naturally flavoring water. I saw a prenatal drink mix called Be Nice on another blog and wanted to try it for myself so I contacted the company and asked if I could review it. They sent me a box of 10 single serving size packets of each of their flavors for free to try and review. They make a Lemonade flavor and a Berrylicious flavor that is a blend of blueberry and strawberry.

I personally like the Lemonade flavor better than the Berrylicious one. They are actually a bit too sweet still for me so I end up adding more water or less powder. The flavors; however, may not appeal to all women. I love how compact and easy to take with you the individual packets are. Just add one packet to 16 fluid ounces of water and blend, shake or stir! Great also frozen into a Popsicle or icy cube for adding to other drinks.

Be Nice is a prenatal drink mix that keeps you hydrated while providing essential vitamins for moms-to-be and their growing fetuses, including folic acid to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects, and calcium and iron, which can easily become depleted during pregnancy. Along with those vitamins it also has vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin E, zinc, selenium and B-complex vitamins. These drink mixes also have DHA, docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that is naturally found in breast milk and fish (because of the algae they eat). It is crucial to the optimal development of the brain (At around 30-weeks gestation is the peak of brain development), eyes and nervous system in infancy and childhood. Be Nice uses Life'sDHA, which is plant-based (made from algae) and free from mercury, ocean-borne contaminants and hexane. Be Nice also contains no artificial flavorings, sweeteners or preservatives and it is sweetened with Stevia, an all-natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the stevia plant. These help quench thirst and are good to use before, during and after pregnancy.

Also, as a side note, their box is made from recycled materials and is printed with 100% wind energy.

Follow them on Twitter. Fan/Like them on Facebook.

BUY IT:
One box of 10 packets is on sale for $8.99 (reg. $13.99). For a case of 5 boxes (50 packets) it is $37.99 (reg. $41.99).

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Be Nice for sending me a free a box of 10 single serving size packets of each of their flavors, Lemonade and Berrylicious, for free to try and review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Foodie Friday Meatloaf Topped with Bacon and BBQ Sauce


Meatloaf Topped with Bacon and BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:
2 cups freshly made bread crumbs
1 medium onion, diced
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 pounds ground beef (lean)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoned Pepper
3/4 cup milk
BBQ sauce of choice
4 strips bacon, uncooked

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a loaf pan. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix. Pat into the loaf pan and cover top with layer of BBQ sauce and strips bacon. Bake for 45 minutes.


Old Navy Denim Deal

This weekend save big on all super styles of Old Navy adult jeans. Get 25% off looks for him including Loose and 25% off for you on cuts including Rockstar, Diva, Dreamer and Flirt. Don’t miss your chance to add a few more of your favorites to your closet. But remember, this fabulous 25% off adult denim deal is good only this Thursday to Sunday, 8/26-8/29. Get the savings HERE!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: M80 contacted me on behalf of their client Old Navy to give me information to post about this deal. I did not receive any compensation for posting this information.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

CSN Stores $65 Giveaway

I just decided what to get with my $60 Gift Code at CSN Stores and bought the Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 10 Piece Cookware Set with Glass Lids because I needed more pots and pans! It is currently being shipped to me and when it arrives I am going to try them out and review them on my blog.

In the meantime, I am going to host a $65 Giveaway here for CSN Stores! For those of you who have forgotten who CSN Stores is...they have over 200+ websites/stores where you can shop for anything and everything from home decor and housewares, shoes, bags, luggage, pet supplies, home improvement, toys, furniture (including a dining table), and more!

WIN IT:
Jamie from CSN Stores has generously offered $65 as a Gift Code that is good at their store online for one of my readers to win.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the CSN Stores website and tell me what item(s) you would love to get if you won.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by feedburner or by email and let me know which way. (2 extra entries each)

2. Fan/Like me on facebook and leave a comment on my wall. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and CSN Stores in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra entries)

7. Follow me on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

8. Tweet this: @finamoon: @csnstores WIN $65 for CSN Stores #giveaway http://bit.ly/9UF3VY
(Daily Extras are Available)

9. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

10. Comment on any of my other posts or enter my other giveaways and let me know which post you commented on. (1 extra entry per post you comment on)

11. Fan/Like CSN Stores on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

12. Follow CSN Stores on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed by email, blogged about this, listed it, commented on another post, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday September 17, 2010 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada only!!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to CSN Stores for providing this giveaway free. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for hosting this giveaway.

Ten Tips for Planning a Unique Baby Shower

Even though this baby will be my 5th child I have been thinking about having a baby shower. Who doesn't love getting gifts and having parties?? I want to throw a great party before the birth of my baby if I can pull it off. So, I have tried to do my homework on what exactly makes a great baby shower and I have come up with 10 tips. So, here they are:

1. Who, What, Where, When?: These simple questions should be answered before anything else happens in the planning process. Everything else will fall into place once the who, what, where, and when is decided. A great idea is to make a time line of what is going to happen in sequence at the party so you have a idea of the order of things.

2. Budget it out: You don't want to overspend on things. Make a budget of what you are willing to spend on everything and stick to it.

3. Pick a Theme: It is the theme of the party that makes the party special and all your own. This creates the layout and background for the decorations, food, games, party favors, cards, etc. Just don't overdo it!

4. Invitations: Go to these great online places to find cute baby shower invitations: Tiny Prints Baby Shower Invitations and Pear Tree Greetings Baby Shower Invitations. Also, if your feeling crafty you can make your own. Create a guest list of who you are wanting to invite. Are you going to invite just women or is your party going to include men too?

5. Party Decorations: Party Decorations come in all shapes and sizes. We have balloons, streamers, Diaper Cakes, table toppers, center pieces, etc. The list goes on. Also, don't forget the disposable plates, cups, and utensils...these can be decorations or decorated too.

6. Party Food: You can either plan on making the food yourself or have it catered. You don't have to serve a large meal...instead have a lot of different types of finger foods. Or another fun alternative plan is having a potluck or a "BabyQ", LOL!

7. Games and Festivities: Games help bring the guests and guest of honor together to mingle and possibly learn a few new things about each other. From guessing: the gender, size of the momma's tummy, how many safety pins in a jar, etc. to playing baby bingo, diapering dolly races, trivia, or charades. There are a lot of baby and momma-to-be themed games out there on the web. Make a list of your favorites and how they are played.

8. Party Swag Bags: Give your guests a little something they can remember your party by! Party favors are great, but most of the time get overlooked or under appreciated because of quality and under-use. Pick something or more than one something that you know all of your guests would love and use often...like a kitchen gadget or maybe a homemade magnet with a picture of your pregnant self and them to take home and place on their fridge. Don't forget that crafts the guests can take home can be fun at the party too!

9. Wrap It Up: Know how you are going to end the party and to politely tell the guests that it is time to wrap up the party and go home before you start. Know who is going to help with cleanup and how you are going to get the guest of honor and gifts home if the party was elsewhere. Also, find out where the extra leftover food is going to go.

10. Thank You Cards: When the party is done and over thank you cards are such a nice thought. While opening the gifts from your party have someone write down what you get and who it is from so you will know who to thank for what and who the gifts were from. Whether they gave a gift or not we want everyone that attended to know that we are grateful for them coming too so don't forget to send thank you cards to those people too. Tiny Prints and Pear Tree Greetings are great places to find very cute Thank You Cards online. Also, if your feeling crafty you can make your own.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Tiny Prints blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 Tiny Prints Gift Code plus 25 FREE Tiny Prints Greeting cards (valued at $149.75). For more information on how you can participate, CLICK HERE.

Baby Shower InvitationsTiny Prints on Facebook

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

IntelliGender and IntelliCeuticals Review and Giveaway

With this new pregnancy I haven't really had much luck with finding out the baby's gender. The first ultrasound was with the ultrasound tech and she couldn't determine because the baby was being shy. My OBGYN read the second and third ultrasound and even though he told me that he isn't as good at interpreting the pictures as the ultrasound tech is, both times he said he was fairly certain he didn't see any boy parts.

I have been hearing about this new Gender Prediction Test (GPT) called IntelliGender on other blogs that I read. I guess curiosity got the better of me because I asked if I could review it and received an IntelliGender GPT along with some of IntelliGender's new IntelliCeuticals Elasti-Oil to test and review for free.

IntelliGender’s Gender Prediction Test (GPT) is a simple-to-use urine test that uses first morning urine and a proprietary mix of chemicals which reacts with a combination of hormones that, as early as 10 weeks into your pregnancy (8 weeks post- conception), provides immediate gender results in the privacy and comfort of the home. In minutes, the IntelliGender GPT indicates your gender result based upon an easy to read color match. Green indicates boy and yellowish-orange indicates girl!

I did some homework before doing the test myself to see what other responses were about the test and apparently stumbled on a bit of a find. My GPT's directions said to read the test at the 5 minute mark, at 8 minutes the test is over and further color change is irrelevant. The box it came with also says Clear Results In Just Minutes! The older tests used to say on the box, "Get Clear Results In 10 Minutes!" and the people that blogged about them waited a full 10 minutes for the results. So, I wonder what if anything has changed about the product other than the directions and packaging. I also have been told by others that it is just a fancy PH test, but IntelliGender denies this on their website. My husband didn't think that my hormones would influence whether my baby is a boy or girl and the unborn baby won't produce any sex hormones until puberty. I guess I am just as skeptical about the results I got. Before the test I read through the instructions completely and followed them accurately to the best of my knowledge. At the 5 minute mark I read the IntelliGender test and it was greenish, so possibly a BOY? Although, at 10 minutes I re-read the test again and it was yellowish, so possibly a GIRL? So...As for the gender of my baby I guess only time will tell, LOL!

I also got the chance to test out IntelliGender's new IntelliCeuticals Elasti-Oil. I am glad to have had the chance to test this product and liked the results far better than the GPT. IntelliGender's new IntelliCeuticals Elasti-Oil is wonderful for stretch marks! I love the smell of the warmed aromatic oils when I gently massage it on my belly. The ingredients are heavenly! It has Mandarin essential oil from the outer peel of the mandarin fruit, Neroli essential oil from the blossom of the bitter orange tree, Patchouli essential oil from the bushy herb of the mint family, Rose Geranium essential oil from the rose geranium herb, Rosehip essential oil from the fruit of the rose plant, and Vitamin E oil. When used as recommended (2.5-5ml single dose), one bottle of 60 ml Elasti-Oil will provide 12-24 applications. My skin feels great after using this oil and my belly doesn't feel like it is being stretched completely out of shape anymore.

BUY IT:
You can get the IntelliGender GPT on the IntelliGender website for $34.95 or pick it up at these retailers. Get the IntelliCeuticals Elasti-oil for $36.95 HERE.

WIN IT:
Valerie from IntelliGender has generously offered a IntelliGender GPT Prize Pack (has one GPT and a gender neutral receiving blanket) for one of my readers to win. So, if you are as curious as I was to try to find out gender...go ahead and try to win!

Mandatory:
1. Go to the IntelliGender website and tell me what IntelliCeuticals you would love to try AND what you think the gender of my baby is going to be (Do Both or Be Disqualified).

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by feedburner or by email and let me know which way. (2 extra entries each)

2. Fan/Like me on facebook and write that you are entering this giveaway on my wall. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and IntelliGender in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra entries)

7. Follow me on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

8. Tweet this: @finamoon: @intelligender WIN An IntelliGender Gender Prediction Test Prize Pack #giveaway http://bit.ly/9bOV1l
(Daily Extras are Available)

9. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

10. Comment on any of my other posts or enter my other giveaways and let me know which post you commented on. (1 extra entry per post you comment on)

11. Fan IntelliGender on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

12. Follow IntelliGender on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed by email, blogged about this, listed it, commented on another post, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday September 24, 2010 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to U.S. only!!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to IntelliGender for sending me a free IntelliGender GPT along with some of IntelliGender's new IntelliCeuticals Elasti-Oil to test and review. This giveaway is also provided free from IntelliGender. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Wordless Wednesday Playing Cards With Brother

If you are participating in Wordless Wednesdays, click on the Mister Linky image, enter your name and URL in the form, and press Enter.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

My 5 Favorite Family Time Ideas

I love to spend time with my family and this summer has been great for getting together. I would love to share my 5 favorite family time ideas with you:

1. We love the outdoors and love to camp, hike, search for cool rocks (my boys are avid rock collectors), and go explore or visit new destinations. We also love to go to the park, playground and have a picnic. This is a picture of my kids at Arch Cape Beach in Seaside, Oregon in a arched cave we found.

2. We love to watch movies as a family. We sit around the computer monitor and watch because we don't own a TV.

3. We love to have a game night/day as a family. My favorite board/card games are Apples to Apples, Druthers, and Wildcraft.

4. We try to have have Family Home Evening together as a family. Since I am of the LDS/Mormon religion my family tries to hold a special time set aside each week that brings our family together and strengthens our love for each other. This helps us draw closer to our Heavenly Father and encourages us to live righteously. We sing hymns, go to events/outings, read scriptures, and pray together.

5. We love to do arts and crafts, cooking, and reading together. Since I homeschool I try to incorporate these activities into our learning.

Get some more family time inspiration from LEGO here!

Like/Fan LEGO on Facebook. Go to LEGO Games Challenge website and you can enter to win the LEGO Games Sweepstakes for a chance to be one of 4 families chosen to go to LEGOLAND California and compete in the LEGO Games Challenge.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and LEGO blogging program, making me eligible to get a prize pack. The first 30 qualified participants will get a LEGO prize pack that includes 2 games for your next family game night! In addition, 10 random winners will get a grand prize of a complete set of LEGO games! For more information on how you can participate, click HERE.

LEGO Games ChallengeFamily Time Activities

The Berenstain Bears and A Job Well Done by Jan & Mike Berenstain FIRST Wild Card Tour Book Review

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!


Today's Wild Card authors are:


and the book:


The Berenstain Bears and A Job Well Done

Zonderkidz (April 9, 2010)

***Special thanks to Krista Ocier of Zondervan for sending me a review copy.***


ABOUT THE AUTHORS:



Stan and Jan Berenstain introduced the first Berenstain Bear books in 1962. Mike Berenstain grew up watching his parents work together to write about and draw these lovable bears. Eventually he started drawing and writing about them too. Mike is married to Andrea, and they have three children. They live in Pennsylvania, in an area that looks a lot like Bear Country.


Visit the authors' website.

Product Details:

List Price: $3.99
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Zonderkidz (April 9, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310712548
ISBN-13: 978-0310712541

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:



Monday, August 23, 2010

Meet the Divas, Twitter Edition $20 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

I am a member of a fabulous group of women bloggers called the Double Duty Divas. Their motto is "Double Duty Divas Do It All" and it really is true! The Double Duty Divas website does blog review campaigns, advertising campaigns, multi-blog holiday gift guides, Twitter parties, and fun activities to promote our blogs!

Interested in becoming a Diva? Fill out the application!

WIN IT:
Since my blog is one of the participating blogs in the Meet the Divas, Twitter Edition Giveaway, Double Duty Divas is going to pick one lucky winner from all the blogs participating to receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card just by following the participating Divas (including me) on Twitter.

Mandatory:
1. With just one click follow all the participating Double Duty Divas on Twitter. Please leave your Twitter name and the name of one of the Divas that you are now following in a comment on this post.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by feedburner or by email and let me know which way. (2 extra entries each)

2. Fan/Like me on facebook and write that you are entering this giveaway on my wall. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and Double Duty Divas in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra entries)

7. Tweet this: @finamoon: @DoubleDutyDivas WIN: A $20 Amazon Gift Card #giveaway http://bit.ly/dszOWQ
(Daily Extras are Available)

8. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

9. Comment on any of my other posts or enter my other giveaways and let me know which post you commented on. (1 extra entry per post you comment on)

10. Fan/Like Double Duty Divas on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

11. Follow Double Duty Divas on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed by email, blogged about this, listed it, commented on another post, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Thursday September 2, 2010 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). On September 3rd one winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email out of all the entries pooled from all the blogs participating in the Meet the Divas, Twitter Edition Giveaway. This Giveaway is open to U.S. only!!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Rubbermaid Clean Little Secrets House Party and Reveal Spray Mop Review

I have tried a lot of different kinds of mops in my life and I have to say one of my absolute favorites is my new mop from Rubbermaid!

Mops I Dislike and Why
My mother used to have a sponge mop when I was growing up. Even though it had a mechanism that squeezed out the excess water that thing screamed "growies"! It was disgusting and smelled gross! I made a promise to myself that I was never going to buy that kind of mop for my home.

I used to have a Swiffer WetJet that I got with the Swiffer WetJet Starter Kit. I was very excited to get it, but thoroughly disappointed when I finally got to try it out. It consumed: pads that you couldn't re-use, bottles of pre-made cleaning solution that you also had to dispose of after the solution was gone and batteries to even get the spray to come out the front of it! It was certainly a big expense keeping it around and using it because of all the things that you had to repurchase for it and it made a ton of waste! I eventually just gave the thing to my local Goodwill because I didn't want to have to deal with it anymore.

My New Reveal Spray Mop From Rubbermaid
I recently received the new Reveal Spray Mop from Rubbermaid because I signed up and was accepted to host a "Rubbermaid Clean Little Secrets" House Party! Each microfiber pad is reusable and can be washed up to 100 times! I can fill the refillable bottles with my own recipe of cleaning solution and there are no batteries required because it works with gravity and a convenient hand operated spray trigger to get the cleaning solution to the spray nozzle on the front. This mop did an awesome job of cleaning my kitchen and bathroom floors! The spray nozzle is a bit high on it, so when I spray the solution out I tip the handle forward a bit and that seems to help. It can clean wood, laminate, tile and vinyl floors! I am glad it is so versatile because when we do our kitchen remodel the floor will be wood not vinyl and we have vinyl in one bathroom and tile in the other...so I am glad to not have to purchase multiple mops/cleaners to clean my floors. The microfiber pads are great too because they clean the floors so much better than paper ones! We had a great party and love our new mop! I think the guests were impressed too and now want one of their own.

Here is what I received in the FREE party pack:

For the host (that's me!):
• (1) Reveal™ Spray Mop (includes microfiber pad and refillable bottle)
• (2) Extra Reveal microfiber pads
• (1) Extra Reveal refillable bottle
• (2) Rubbermaid microfiber cleaning cloths
• (1) Pair of cleaning gloves
• (1) Demonstration DVD of Reveal cleaning secrets

For the party and guests:
• eMusic cards
• Goody® hair ties
• Recipe cards for solutions mixes
• Paper Mate® pens
• Coupons for $3 off any Reveal product (available at The Home Depot, Target, and select Walmart locations)

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to House Party ™ for providing me with this opportunity to host a Rubbermaid Clean Little Secrets House Party™. I received the above samples and coupons free to hand out to hand out to guests and test and review myself. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. House Party connects people through parties. You too can use the helpful tools to plan your party, create invites, join sponsored events, share pictures and video, and explore thousands of parties being held in homes around the country.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Wubbzy Goes To School Review and Giveaway

My kids and I have had the great opportunity to review many titles from Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and so when we were asked to watch and review their Wubbzy Goes To School DVD we didn't pass it up. We received a screener copy for free from from Grand Communications, Inc.

In the first episode, Who Needs School?, I can relate to Wubbzy as he is nervous about experiencing new things and people in his first day at school. Some things are just stressful, but most turn out to be great experiences and a lot of fun! I loved how this DVD teaches kids good things like: Don't be afraid of trying new things, learn by doing, practice makes perfect, keep trying, don't give up, try your best, everybody is good at something, it is good to make new friends, try to get to know new people, it takes time to make friends when you are new, friendships take some time to grow and your friends are always there when you need them. These are all great messages!

Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Wubbzy Goes To School DVD story plot: Everybody's favorite cute and yellow, bendy-tailed friend has second thoughts about going to school, Widget decides she wants to be a ballerina and everybody tries to learn magic tricks from Moo Moo The Magician. You can join the fun, as Wubbzy and his pals meet new kids and discover new experiences! Sing and laugh along while learning life lessons!

Includes These Episodes:
Who Needs School?, Gotta Dance, Magic Tricks, Wubbzy The Star, New Kid On The Block and You Gotta Have Art.

Bonus Features: (These were not included on my screener copy)
"Meet Wubbzy’s Schoolmates” photo gallery, coloring and activity sheets and more.

Take a look at a sneak peak:


BUY IT:
You can get the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Wubbzy Goes To School DVD through Amazon.com at $11.99.

WIN IT:
Laura from Grand Communications, Inc. has generously offered another Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Wubbzy Goes To School DVD for one of my readers to win.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! website and tell me who you would love to win this for.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by feedburner or by email and let me know which way. (2 extra entries each)

2. Become my fan/like on facebook and write that you are entering this giveaway on my wall. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra entries)

7. Follow me on Twitter. (1 extra entry)
8. Tweet this: @finamoon: @WWWubbzy WIN: Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Wubbzy Goes To School DVD #giveaway http://bit.ly/c197Sl
(Daily Extras are Available)

9. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

10. Comment on any of my other posts or enter my other giveaways and let me know which post you commented on. (1 extra entry per post you comment on)

11. Fan Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

12. Follow Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed by email, blogged about this, listed it, commented on another post, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday September 24, 2010 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to U.S. only!!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Grand Communications, Inc. for letting me know about this product and for sending me a free Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! Wubbzy Goes To School DVD screener copy to watch and review. This giveaway is also provided free from Grand Communications, Inc.. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Foodie Friday Yellow Squash and Zucchini Casserole


Yellow Squash and Zucchini Casserole

Ingredients:
2 yellow squash, sliced into thin rounds
2 zucchini, sliced into thin rounds
2 carrots, sliced into thin rounds
1 medium onion, peeled and diced
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup sour cream
garlic salt to taste (I used my Tastefully Simple Garlic Garlic seasoning blend)
1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
3 slices toast; buttered, garlic salt sprinkled on them, and ripped into bite size pieces

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Sauté sliced yellow squash, zucchini, carrots, and onions in some vegetable oil or butter over medium heat until onions are see through.

Place sliced yellow squash, zucchini, carrots, and onions into large bowl and fold in cream of mushroom soup and sour cream. Sprinkle garlic salt to taste and also fold into mixture.

Butter a casserole dish with lid large enough to hold everything. Place mixture into casserole dish and top with Parmesan cheese and toast. Bake with lid on at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes taking lid off for last 5 minutes.

Join the Divas for a Twitter Party, Red Carpet Style‏

I am so happy to be one of the Divas of Double Duty Divas and bring you all this news... August 29th is Emmy Night and the Double Duty Divas will be attending a Paper Mate Twitter Party and talking about style and swag! There will be over 25 prize packs including makeup bags and tote-bags filled with notepads and Paper Mate pens, #PaperMateParty on twitter will be the place to be Emmy night on NBC. RSVP for a chance to win special prizes; while not necessary, they'll reserve giveaways for RSVPs only.

"Share The Love": When you collect Paper Mate UPC codes you could win $15,000 of PaperMate products for your school or donate pens to Kids in Need Foundation, so be sure to "like" them on Facebook whether or not you're able to join us for the Red Carpet Twitter Party. And feel free to pass this message along...all are welcome!

When: Sunday, August 29th, 7-9 pm EST

Where: Twitter Hashtag #PaperMateParty

Hostesses: @DoubleDutyDivas, @coolbabykid and @BridgetteLA

Required to Win: In order to be eligible for Twitter Party Red Carpet swag, be sure to "like" Paper Mate on Facebook.

RSVP: While not required, they'll be giving away special RSVP only prizes.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: By posting this information on my blog I am entering to be chosen at random to receive a $20 Amazon gift card!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Pear Tree Greetings August Coupon Code - Oh Baby!

Pear Tree Greetings Pearista
It's official, I am now a Pear Tree Greetings Pearista! I wanted to share with you the sweet savings you'll have this month before August is over.

This coupon code comes with great timing for me and I know for some of you as well! As you know I am pregnant and expecting a new baby in October! This special coupon code is for anything and everything BABY. That means Birth Announcements, Baby Shower Invites, Baptism Invites, Baby Thank You cards, and more!

15% off any BABY related purchase, no minimum purchase required! Use Code PEARAUG10 and Shop Pear Tree Greetings' Baby Collection

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Wordless Wednesday Teela's Big Girl Bed

If you are participating in Wordless Wednesdays, click on the Mister Linky image, enter your name and URL in the form, and press Enter.

Download N Go Summer Sensations Review and Giveaway

Many of you know that I homeschool my kids by having read my blog. I use what is known as the eclectic way of homeschooling, meaning I combine all sorts of different kinds of homeschooling together to make a curriculum that suits my children and I. The Unit Studies Method is one way I have done some of my curriculum. With the unit study method, we choose one topic and tie it into the different subjects somehow. We try to tie as many of the subjects in as possible for the study.

We love the Download N Go unit studies by Amanda Bennett because they are really fun and we learn a lot. We first learned about them on The Old Schoolhouse Magazine website. They focus specifically on content for K - 4th grade students. Each Download N Go unit study is a week long and has five daily lessons with book list suggestions, hyperlinks to go to online and learn and lapbook elements for each day. Lapbooks are a mini-book that you put together yourself covering key details that you've studied. They are a fun way to enhance the learning experience and give your child some hands on. All they need is a little bit of ingenuity and creativity. A few inexpensive items are needed for the lapbook: a simple file folder, a glue stick, safety scissors, a piece of ribbon, a stapler, and crayons or markers. The Download N Go unit study is complete and they are ready to use as soon as they are downloaded!

I received the Download N Go Summer Sensations unit study free to review and try out. It goes into depth about how seasons change, what summer is all about, how
shadows work, why trees are important in the summertime, and the history of ice cream. This unit study has full color pages that my kids can fill out. We loved the nature walks the best. My kids love getting outside and observing nature especially when they find treasures along the way and can document what they have found. We had a lot of fun with this unit study!

BUY IT:
Download N Go unit studies are fun for homeschooling and during the summer for a fun learning activity. They are very affordable at $7.95 each and there are many titles available to purchase! Just go HERE for purchasing options.

WIN IT:
I have been given the opportunity to also give one of my readers the Download N Go Summer Sensations unit study in PDF version to win and then download for their own use.

Mandatory:
1. Go to the Download N Go website and tell me what other Download N Go unit study you would be interested in trying.

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by feedburner or by email and let me know which way. (2 extra entries each)

2. Become my fan/like on facebook AND write that you are entering this giveaway on my wall. (1 extra entry)

3. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and provide me with the link. Make sure you have the link to this post and Download N Go in your blog entry or it won't count. (2 extra entries)

4. Grab My Button (see sidebar to the left) AND/OR Put My Blog URL in Your Blogroll - Leave Your Link. (1 extra entry)

5. Technorati my blog and let me know your link. (1 extra entry)

6. List this giveaway on any giveaway listing website or blog and tell me where you listed it. (2 extra entries)

7. Follow me on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

8. Tweet this: @finamoon WIN A Download N Go Summer Sensations Unit Study PDF #giveaway http://bit.ly/cqhI8q
(Daily Extras are Available)

9. Fave me on Momfaves. (2 extra entries)

10. Comment on any of my other posts or enter my other giveaways and let me know which post you commented on. (1 extra entry per post you comment on)

11. Fan/Like Download N Go on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

12. Fan/Like Amanda Bennett on Facebook. (1 extra entry)

13. Follow Amanda Bennett on Twitter. (1 extra entry)

Make sure you leave me your email in all posts so that I can contact you. If you subscribed, blogged about this, listed it, or faved me on Momfaves leave 2 entries saying you did. This contest ends on Friday August 27, 2010 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to anyone 18 years or older with a email address only!!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Amy Lathrop of Litfuse Publicity Group for sending me a free Download N Go Summer Sensations PDF to download, use and review. This giveaway is also provided free from Amy Lathrop of Litfuse Publicity Group. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.