Wordless Wednesday Teela's Pet Caterpillar

Teela & her pet caterpillar. It is making a cocoon!

Wordless Wednesday Praying Mantis

Stinger Mosquito Repellent Lantern Review

I received the Stinger All Natural Mosquito Repellent Lantern free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

My family really dislikes getting eaten by mosquitoes! Our Oregon weather seems to breed them by the thousands and our farm is by a tributary that flows into the Columbia River a ways off from us. The mosquitoes love coming out in the evening time when the heat has died down and it is a little cooler out. That is when I also love to entertain guests outdoors as well.

The new Stinger All Natural Mosquito Repellent Lantern is a device that repels mosquitoes up a to 15' X 15' area (225 sq. ft.) for up to 12 continuous hours per pad. An ultra-quiet fan diffuses repellent into the air using plant-based, all-natural active ingredients. No heat needed to disperse the scent and it is smokeless.

Quick Facts

• Outdoor use: great for deck/patio, BBQ, camping, backyard/pool
• Repels mosquitoes using a fan-dispersed repellent pad 
• All natural and DEET Free
• Safe around children & pets 
• Blue, LED lighting for night 
• Uses 4 AA batteries (included) 
• Repellent refills come in 6 packages per PDQ tray MSRP $12.99 
• Available at Amazon.com and StingerProducts.com

Stinger Mosquito Repellent Lantern is attractive and functional.

The lantern is easy to operate. After putting in the batteries you place the repellent pad into a drawer located in the side of the lantern. Then you switch on the 3-way power switch that is located to the right of the pad drawer. It has 3 modes. If you switch the toggle to the left the repellent and lantern will operate. If you switch it to the right the lantern will only be on. The middle position is for turning it off. I wish it also had a switch to have it in just repellent mode with no light, but it doesn't. Also if the light bulb inside burns out, there is no way of getting in to replace it. However, it is better than a citronella candle because it won't have to be relit every time a wind blows and there is no hot wax to contend with.

The repellent pads use a powerful plant-based, all-natural active ingredients of essential oils that have been proven to ward off mosquitoes. The active ingredients include: Geraniol (55%), Peppermint Oil (2.5%), Rosemary Oil (2.5%), and Lemongrass Oil (2.5%). Cellulose (37.5%) makes up the last ingredient. The no spill method of installing the pads is not at all messy. Make sure you wash your hands after handling because these essential oils are concentrated and can cause skin irritation. These oils have a very pleasant smell.

Stinger Mosquito Repellent Lantern faint blue glow.

The aesthetically pleasing design is perfect for when you want to entertain outdoors. It has an elegant, decorative vine and leaf pattern that silhouettes against the blue LED light of the lantern. It reminds me of a fairy light (something out of Tinker Bell). Lantern is made of durable plastic so it won't break as easily as glass lanterns. You can also place it on a flat surface or hang it wherever protection is needed. It is small, but effective. The soothing blue illumination is a dimly lit accent lighting that isn't really for seeing by or reading with. The very faint glow is always on when the lantern is on and working.

BUY IT


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Stinger for sending me this product for free to 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. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Orkin #BedBugFeud Giveaway & Blog App

I have the opportunity to give away a CleanRest Pillow Encasement below free for posting this information. All information and giveaway prizes are provided by Orkin and PartnersHub.

Orkin is back with #BedBugFeud - test your bed bug knowledge and see if you are keeping a clean bed in 2015!

Play the Bed Bug Feud and beat the clock to make the leaderboard!

At Orkin, we use the latest technology and unparalleled training to develop an effective treatment that's right for your needs. To learn more about our pest control based in science or to schedule an inspection, visit orkin.com or call 1-800-800-ORKIN.

Orkin on Facebook: facebook.com/OrkinPestControl
Ask The Orkin Man® on Twitter: twitter.com/AskTheOrkinMan
Orkin YouTube channel: youtube.com/user/OrkinVideo




Blog App:

• Test your Bed Bug knowledge and get on the leaderboard!
• Share your bed bug horror stories and what you’ve done so that the bed bugs won’t bite.
• Tweet using the #OrkinMan or #BedBugFeud hashtags on Twitter.
• Share the game on Facebook!

WIN IT
Prize: a CleanRest Pillow Encasement (retail value $20.00)

Giveaway open to the U.S. Each household is only eligible to win 1 ONE CleanRest Pillow Encasement via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about The Orkin #BedBugFeud App I am getting a Orkin CleanRest Pillow Encasement free for my readers as a giveaway and one to keep for myself. Thanks to PartnersHub for providing me this promotion information and free product. 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 posting this blog app and giveaway.

Orkin Fact or Fake Back-to-School Scientific Prize Pack Giveaway and Blog App

I have the opportunity to give away a Orkin Scientific Back-to-School PRIZE PACK below free for posting this information. All information and giveaway prizes are provided by Orkin and PartnersHub.

"Daddy longlegs are poisonous."
"Mosquitoes prefer adults over children."
"Ants can survive underwater."

You've heard the myths about bugs before. Do you know what’s fact and what's fake?

Take Orkin's Scientific Fact or Scientific Fake™ Quiz to test your knowledge, and be sure to watch every clip for the scoop on these infamous bug myths.

Orkin uses the latest technology and unparalleled training to develop a treatment that's right for your home and your needs. To learn more about pest control that's based in science or to schedule an inspection, visit orkin.com or call (844) 503-8251.

@AskTheOrkinMan
Facebook
YouTube
Website



Blog App:

• You’ve heard the myths about bugs before, now it’s time to debunk them. Take the Scientific Fact or Scientific Fake Quiz to test your knowledge!
• Watch every episode of Scientific Fact or Scientific Fake and find out the answers to these age-old bug myths.
• Tweet using the #OrkinMan hashtag on Twitter.
• Pin the Scientific Fact or Scientific Fake PDF on your Pinterest.
• Share on Facebook!

WIN IT
Prize:  The Orkin Scientific Back-to-School PRIZE PACK includes:
- Clip-on Fisheye Lens (iPhone, Galaxy, Android compatible)
- Orkin On-the-Go Drink Tumbler
- Orkin Drawstring Bag
- Orkin “Field Notes” Notebook w/ Pen

Giveaway open to the U.S. Each household is only eligible to win 1 ONE Orkin Scientific Back-to-School PRIZE PACK via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about The Orkin Fact or Fake App I am getting a Orkin Scientific Back-to-School PRIZE PACK free for my readers as a giveaway and one to keep for myself. Thanks to PartnersHub for providing me this promotion information and free product. 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 posting this blog app and giveaway.

Orkin Bug Wisdom Backyard Explorers Kit Giveaway and Blog App

Summer is here and Orkin some amazing “Bug Wisdom” to soak in and a “Backyard Explorers Kit” to keep the kids busy at home!

When life hands you dung, just roll with it.

At Orkin, we never stop learning. Our new “Bug Wisdom” video series is a reminder that some of life’s biggest lessons come from small places. Bugs are smart, curious creatures – we humans can learn a lot from their ways.

Take the quiz to discover your “Spirit Bug,” and check out all the GIFs to soak in every nugget of wisdom that these bugs have to offer!

The Orkin Man always knows what to look for when he shows up at your home. If you want to get exploration down to a science, be sure and enter to win Orkin’s Backyard Explorers Kit!

@AskTheOrkinMan
Facebook
YouTube
Website



Blog App:

• Take the “What’s YOUR Spirit Bug?” Quiz and find out which smart, curious creature you are most like!
• Click through all the GIFs and soak in every nugget of wisdom that these bugs have to offer! 
• Tweet using the #BugWisdom hashtag to share your “Spirit Bug” and bug wisdom.
• Share on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

WIN IT
Prize: Orkin Backyard Explorers Kit
Includes:
- The Orkin 9-Page Activity Bug Book
- Orkin Bugview Bug Catching Tool and Magnifier
- Red/Black Summer Wayfarer Sunglasses

Giveaway open to the U.S. Each household is only eligible to win 1 ONE Orkin Backyard Explorers Kit via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about The Orkin Bug Wisdom App I am getting a Orkin Backyard Explorers Kit free for my readers as a giveaway and one to keep for myself. Thanks to PartnersHub for providing me this promotion information and free product. 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 posting this blog app and giveaway.

Orkin Bed Bug Home Prevention Prize Pack Giveaway & Blog App

I have the opportunity to give away a Orkin Bed Bug Home Prevention Prize Pack below free for posting this information. All information and giveaway prizes are provided by Yellow Pages and PartnersHub.

Bed bugs have come back strong over the last decade, keeping more and more people from sleeping tight. Now is the time to take control with a smart action plan - before the bed bugs bite.

Bed bugs reproduce quickly, so it’s critical to detect and treat an infestation early. Take the “Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite” QUIZ and download the “5 Must-Know Facts” PDF for a few tips on how to spot a budding bed bug problem.



And if you suspect an infestation, be sure to contact your Orkin professional who will inspect your home thoroughly and design a treatment that’s right for you.

Visit Orkin.com or call 877-412-6806 for a free estimate.



Blog App:

• Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite QUIZ: Bed Bugs have come back strong over the last decade, keeping more and more people from sleeping tight. Take the quiz to find out if YOU let the bed bugs bite!
• Get Social With It!: Tweet using the #OrkinBedBugs hashtag.

WIN IT
Prize: The Orkin Bed Bug Home Prevention Prize Pack (2 mattress Safe Pillowsafe protectors ($30.00 Value)

Giveaway open to the U.S.A.  Each household is only eligible to win Orkin Bed Bug Home Prevention Prize Pack (2 mattress Safe Pillowsafe protectors) via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about the Orkin Bed Bug Blog App I am getting a Orkin Bed Bug Home Prevention Prize Pack free for my readers as a giveaway. Thanks to PartnersHub and Yellow Pages for providing me this promotion information and free product. 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 posting this blog app and giveaway.

Orkin Home Education Kit & Flashlight Giveaway & Blog App

The Orkin Home Education Kit includes:
• 2 Orkin Factoids 11x17 Posters
     - Poster #1 - The Pollinators
     - Poster #2 - The Recyclers
• 1 Orkin bug-finding flashlight
• 20 Rubber Toy Creepy Crawly Bugs

Be your own Orkin man! Use the flashlight and fun posters to learn about how every creature plays a part in our ecosystem.

About Orkin
Is your home at risk? The best way to protect your home is education. How much do you know about household pests? They don’t have a place in your home, but pests do have a place in the world. From science and forensics to art and culture, pests play an important role.

Take the Pest Test Quiz to find out how well you know about our tiny neighbors!

Orkin are EXPERTS in bug science and developing customized solutions for keeping your home pest-free!  

PEST CONTROL DOWN TO A SCIENCE.



Blog App:

• The Pest Test! QUIZ - See if you know your bug science by taking this quiz and testing your pest knowledge!
• Bizarre Bug Facts! PDF - Get the facts on these creepy crawly critters from the experts at Orkin!
• View the Orkin Man in Action! GIFs - Watch these exciting Orkin Man GIFs that prove he’s part scientist, part superhero! 

WIN IT
Prize: Orkin Home Education Kit & Flashlight.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about the Orkin Blog App I am getting a Orkin Home Education Kit & Flashlight free for my readers as a giveaway. Thanks to PartnersHub and Orkin for providing me this promotion information and free product. 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 posting this blog app and giveaway.

Combat Ant Killing Bait Strips Review

I received Combat Ant Killing Bait Strips for free to facilitate this review.

The new Combat Ant Killing Bait Strips and Combat Roach Killing Bait Strips have the same killing power found in Combat Gels and is now available in a new discreet design. These thin bait strips have an adhesive backing that makes it easy to hide out of sight and reach of children and pets.

I found these easy to apply although the gel was a bit runny at first so you might want to let them set right side up open before applying sideways or upside-down. Once the gel dries a bit it leaves no mess. The unique gel bait formula contains food and water that ants and roaches seek. This is combined with Fipronil, a fast acting insecticide that begins killing within hours once the insect has come into contact with it.

Unlike spray insecticides that just kill the bugs you see, Combat Killing Bait Strips are designed to kill the nest and the colony that you might not reach. This attacks the source of the pest problem. Just place the ant bait where you've seen ants or roaches.

I liked how discreet these are. They can be hidden from pets and children. We have been having a lot of sugar ant problems in our home. I dislike ants coming into my home and getting into my food. The Combat Ant Killing Bait Strips came to me in a pack of 5 strips and so I broke one apart and pulled the adhesive backing off to stick it to the back of the toilet in my bathroom because I saw some crawling around on the walls. I set it beside where I thought they might be coming from and left it overnight. In the morning my son said he saw a few dead on the floor. We swept them up and haven't seen any more since. I found these to be very effective in getting rid of ants.

Combat $1000 Sweepstakes
During the months of April and June, Combat is hosting an online sweepstakes. You can learn more about their products and enter to win one of 3 $250 Visa gift cards or one $1000 grand prize Visa gift card!! Click here to fill out an entry to win... http://insiders.purex.com/win1000?id=1254

BUY IT
These are available in 5 count Ant and 10 count Roach varieties and can be found at major retailers including Walmart, Home Depot, Target, Family Dollar, Dollar General and Publix. Call ahead to check on product availability.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Purex® and Combat® for sending me product for free and promotion information to facilitate my review. By posting I will be entered to win prizes and by posting about the Combat $1000 Sweepstakes I will be entered to win one of 5 $25 Amazon gift cards for driving traffic using my unique URL! 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 posting this review.

HEXBUG Nano Review

I first heard about the HEXBUG Nano through MomSelect. I dislike most creepy crawlies, but these are really neat! The HEXBUG Nano is a robotic toy that acts like a bug. They vibrate to move on rubbery legs and use a single AG13/LR44 battery. They can flip themselves over and back again. They come in 3 sets (Newton Motion, Newton Orbit and Newton Gravity) that each come in 5 collectible colors. You can also purchase Habitat Sets that the HEXBUG Nano's can travel on. Each set comes with 2 extremely rare HEXBUG Nano mutations that all the kids will be envious of. On the Battle Bridge Habitat Set you can also battle two bugs together in the arena until one falls off. You can collect them all and play games online with a code that comes with the bugs.

We received the HEXBUG Nano Party Pack which included: 30 HEXBUG Nano test tubes (enough for my children and all of our guests to keep 3 of their own), 1 HEXBUG Nano Habitat Set in retail package (contains two extremely rare Nano mutations, four easy connect curved pieces, three easy connect straight pieces, and three easy connect hexagon pieces), 1 HEXBUG Nano Bridge Battle Habitat Set in retail package (comes with 29 easy connect pieces and two rare HEXBUG Nanos), 1 Spiral Ramp (5 orange track pieces that snap together to form a spiral), 1 extra Battle Bridge piece, 30 Standoffs, 20 Straight Bridges, 30 Curved Bridges and 12 Hex Cells!

We really enjoy watching these go through their mazes. The Habitat Sets are simple to set up which is a big plus. My boys love setting them up in all different kinds of configurations. They can use their imaginations to create new and distinct variations of the mazes so the bugs can go through totally different ways. Although for $8 a bug it gets a bit expensive and you do go through the batteries fast. I think the concept for the bugs took a lot of engineering to produce them and this is possibly why they cost so much.

We also made some of the recipes they suggested we make for the party. All were a hit especially the Caterpillar Kabobs which were gone in a matter of minutes. Here are some of them in case you want to try them out too:

Scary Spider (Veggies and Dip)
Ingredients:
One round loaf Pumpernickel bread
Veggies for dipping: celery sticks, carrot sticks, cucumber slices, green/red pepper slices, broccoli, etc.

Directions:
Hollow out a pumpernickel loaf and fill it with veggie dip of your choice or "Grasshopper Dip". Create "legs" using 8 large celery sticks stuck into each side of the bread. Using 2 toothpicks attach half a green pepper as a head. Place 2 cherry tomatoes on the top of the toothpicks for eyes. Surround with the rest of the veggies for dipping.

Grasshopper Dip
Ingredients:
2 ripe avocados
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 ripe tomato
garlic salt
onion salt
ground black pepper

Directions:
Slice each of the avocados in half lengthwise and remove the pits. Scoop the inside of the avocados into a small bowl. Add lemon juice and blend. Sprinkle garlic salt, onion salt and black pepper to taste. Carefully mix in one chopped tomato. Serve immediately.

Snail Shells (roll up pinwheel sandwiches), Beetle Juice (green juice made up of lemonade, ginger-ale, ice and green food coloring...we put gummy bugs in it), Caterpillar Kabobs (melon balls threaded on skewers...toothpicks and blue berries make the antennae), Ants on a Log and Worms and Dirt dessert.

We played some fun games that were included with the party too and when the party was over we sent the guests home with their HEXBUG Nano and my kids had fun a little while longer to play with the sets.

Here you can watch them in action:


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to MomSelect and BSM Media and Innovation First Labs, Inc. for giving me information about the HEXBUG Nano and for providing me a Party Pack for free to test 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.