Thursday August 22nd, 2019...Morning Thoughts

Our economical Chevrolet Impala with Coastal Playground Whale license plates.

Things I’m thinking this morning in no special order....

We exchanged our 2017 Chrysler Pacifica van in for a 2018 Chevrolet Impala recently. We hated the Pacifica. It had so many issues even though it was brand new when we bought it. It was the single most worst purchase ever. We were glad to get rid of it even though it could hold our whole family. Our Impala drives like a dream. It is a wonderful car 🚗 and it was still under warranty when we traded it in. We got a few minor things fixed on it, like: the temperature gauge wasn't reading right. Now it is perfect. It saves us gas money and is eco-friendly because it uses less gas as well. Besides helping the environment with our purchase of a more economical vehicle we are also helping support Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute with our purchase of our new license plate. The “Coastal Playground” license plate features a mother gray whale 🐋 and its calf swimming somewhere off the Oregon coast. The plate also has a lighthouse and rolling waves in the distance. Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute will receive $35 of the $40 surcharge on each plate, which will help the school fund research and education projects.

My hair is starting to go grey. I knew this would happen eventually. I don't know if I want to just let it go grey naturally or cover it up and be a red head :) I have always wanted to try henna hair color. Is is more natural than the chemical hair dye and better for your hair. Maybe I will take the plunge.

I want to start growing sprouts 🌱 again. I used to grow different kinds, mostly: mung beans, alfalfa, and broccoli, and lentils. We have a Kitchen Crop 4-tray Seed Sprouter. I loved adding nutritious sprouts to soups, salads, sandwiches, stir-fry, bread, omelets, and more.

BubbleBum Booster Seat: New Stars & Stripes Design Review!

I received this product free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

The BubbleBum is a portable, lightweight, inflatable booster seat for children ages 4-11 (40-100 pounds). So easy to set up, it easily inflates by mouth within 20 seconds and deflates so that you may fold it easily into a backpack, suitcase, or purse. Weighing less than 1 pound it is lightweight and manageable. It also comes with a convenient tote bag to carry it around with and shoulder belt positioning clip so that your child's seat belt doesn't chafe or be too high. It is perfect for ‘3 across’ tight fits because it is only 13” wide. This makes it the perfect car seat booster for vacations, rental cars, taxis, plane flights, car pools, play dates, and care givers.

Award-winning BubbleBum meets and exceeds all European and U.S. safety regulations and is rated the 'Best Bet' Booster by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) 6 years in a row. The material used to make the BubbleBum is similar to that of a lifebelt making it durable and extra safe. The air bladder is made from memory foam which adds structural integrity and comfort.

Includes: Bubble Bum booster seat, shoulder belt positioning clip, instructions/registration card, 1 free mobile games app, & bag.

Features:

• For children ages 4 - 11, 40 - 100 pounds
• Inflatable - easily inflates by mouth within 20 seconds
• Deflatable, foldable and portable - great for travel, vacations, rental cars, taxis, plane flights, car pools, play dates, and care givers
• Easily fit three car seats across the back seat with BubbleBum because it's 13" Wide
• Lightweight - weighs less than 1 pound
• Meets and exceeds all European and U.S. safety regulations
• Rated a "Best Bet" Booster by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), Winner of many awards including the National Parenting Center of Approval
• When deflated, it easily fits in a purse or backpack
• Fun designs

Installation: inflate through valve, attach shoulder belt positioning clip and place behind shoulder of child, place belt through both red side clips, & buckle child in.

Our Thoughts:
We love the BubbleBum! It is easy to install and super convenient to take on trips. We plan on bringing it when we all go to Ohio in the fall as a family. We love how easy it is to grab and go and it is super affordable! For the safety and peace of mind of always having a car seat for my younger children, the BubbleBum is the perfect solution!

Zari siting in our van on the BubbleBum Booster Seat. Notice the shoulder belt positioning clip.

The Stars & Stripes design is so patriotic and a great way to show off your love of the United States of America. This design is especially wonderful for showing some Red, White, and Blue during Memorial Day, the 4th of July, or Veterans Day! BubbleBum also comes in Pink Chevron, Black, Union Jack, and Irish Shamrock.

BUY IT


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free to facilitate this 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.

3DLIGHTFX 3D Deco Light: Perfect For Holiday Gift Giving!

My kids and I love to decorate their rooms different ways! Lighting is a great way to give the room better ambience. Not only that, but if the lighting is fun and versatile it is even better.

3DLIGHTFX 3D Deco Lights are the perfect gift this holiday season. They have a full range of comic book, super hero, Disney Princess, sports and car lights that look as though they are popping right out of the wall! They are battery operated and cool to the touch so you can place them any where in the room! Your kids will loves having these in their rooms and they're also the perfect editions to a den, family room, man's cave or office! Find all of these amazing products  at Target and Target.com!

Pinkie Pie 3DLIGHTFX 3D Deco Light

I have a feeling that a My Little Pony 3DLIGHTFX 3D Deco Light is going to be coming to my home! 3DLIGHTFX has three MLP Friendship Is Magic nightlights: Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle. These will look so cool in my kids' room!

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about the 3DLIGHTFX 3D Deco Light Offer I am getting a FREE 3D Deco Light from 3DLightFX. Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this promotion information. 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 promo.

Wordless Wednesday Model T

We see this Model T strolling up and down Rainier Oregon occasionally. My husband and I got a picture with it at the local park.

Wordless Wednesday Delbin's 1954 Ford Customline Fixer Upper

We purchased this 1954 Ford Customline for our son Delbin. He is 14 now, so he has two years to fix it up with his father before he gets his license to drive it.

Mattel Barbie Madison and Hot Wheels Review and Giveaway

Remember my blog post about the Mattel Save the Bunny promotion? Well they sent me a Barbie Madison doll and a Hot Wheels multi-pack for free to review and also the opportunity to giveaway a similar set for free. I love Barbie and Hot Wheels so I am so happy for the chance.

I fondly remember collecting and playing with Barbies as a child. My very first Barbie was Crystal Barbie because she had my name, but I never had a Barbie as cute as this. The Barbie Madison doll is so adorable. She is from the Chelsea & Friends Amusement Park-themed assortment and you can collect her other friends for more play. She has her hair up in pigtails, but you can style it how you like. The one I received is holding a large purple swirled lollipop and has a painted face like a kitty cat. She is wearing a souvenir plastic kitty cat eared headband and plastic shoes and a cloth top and matching capris that you can take off and on. She looks as though she has been to the fair or carnival. This doll is small and has little parts so the recommended age is 3 +. My little girls loved the doll and Zari was saying meow, meow for her. Teela's Birthday is April 15th so this was an early birthday gift for her.

I also collected Hot Wheels as a child. I had a yellow plastic toolbox with multi-teired compartments that I stored them in. The Hot Wheels multi-pack I received is a 2011 HW Tunerz set. It is a 5-pack that includes the: Super Gnat (Grey), 24/Seven (Yellow), Asphalt Assault (Blue), Mitsubishi Eclipse (Red), 2008 Lancer Evolution (Teal). This is a great set. My son Jaedan collects Hot Wheels and has the Hot Wheels 100 car case that has the wheels and pull up handle to store them in. He loves to play with his Hot Wheels track and make the cars do neat tricks down it. These are also recommended for ages 3+. My son's favorite car out of this set is the yellow 24/Seven one. Jaedan's Birthday is coming up on May 15th so this was an early birthday gift for him.

WIN IT
Prize: Barbie Madison doll and Hot Wheels multi-pack.

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: I received product for free to facilitate my review and the opportunity to give another away to my readers. 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.

Tonka XT Ricochet Tricksters R/C Review

Because I am a BzzAgent I received free products to try out and review for their Tonka XT Ricochet Tricksters BzzCampaign. I thought it a perfect gift for my oldest son's birthday. Even though Delbin would be getting it late he was very excited. As soon as it came he had to try it out. It was so fun to watch the remote control car do its tricks. Delbin got the hang of it and was having fun launching it off ramps and making it spin and flip. He loved it and I think it is the perfect gift for any boy 6+!

The car my son got was the one with the Rampage Flip as the signature trick. It has two different sides that when flipped it looks like a different vehicle. The car itself is rechargeable (has a rechargeable battery included) and plugs into the controller that takes 5 double A batteries that weren't included. The infra red controller charges the car about 20-30 minute charge provides 15-30 minutes of run time.  It can also be controlled on 3 different channels. It is intended for indoor use for ages 6 and up.

The Tonka XT Ricochet Tricksters come in 3 styles: Rampage Flip, Zig-Zag Jolt and Buzzsaw Spin. These R/C cars have an approx. retail of $24.99. You can save $5 with an online coupon here. You can purchase them online at Hasbro or Amazon.com or find them at Walmart, Target, Toys “R” Us and Kmart.

Here is my video of my son playing with his car:



DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am a member of BzzAgent I received word of a BzzCampaign for the Tonka XT Ricochet Tricksters products. All information about the products I received from the media kit, the products and the Tonka XT Ricochet Tricksters website. 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 Delbin's Pinewood Derby

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

Motor Oil Matters Review and Giveaway

In the United States the average age of cars and light trucks on the roads today has reached a record high of 9.4 years, making it more important than ever for consumers to take proper care of their vehicles. With the new Motor Oil Matters web site (created by industry-leading brands Pennzoil, Quaker State and Shell Rotella); you can easily locate key information that will help prolong your engine’s life and improve overall efficiency, as well as help answer any questions you may have about motor oil. In addition, the site offers a fun, educational game for you to play called “M.O.M. Knows Best” where you can put your motor mind to the test with an interactive quiz.

Did you know?

* According to a study by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, nearly 9 out of 10 female motorists are involved in their household's vehicle maintenance and repair

* According to a national survey that polled 522 women, 46 percent incorrectly assumed simply switching from conventional engine oil to synthetic oil enables the number of miles between oil changes to be safely extended*

* Using a quality motor oil in the right grade can help maximize fuel economy, and help save money by preventing costly engine damage

* Off-brand, no-name or discount oils that do not meet industry standards or the vehicle manufacturer’s requirements could cost consumers in the long run by potentially damaging the vehicle’s engine or possibly voiding the manufacturer’s warrant

* Jiffy Lube Survey Conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, 2006

Please click HERE to locate your nearest Jiffy Lube store.

MY THOUGHTS:
My husband took the van in for an oil change at Jiffy Lube with a $35 gift card I received for free from Shell Lubricants and MotorOilMatters.org through MyBlogSpark. We received exceptional service and they provided my husband with comfort and entertainment while he was waiting for the service to be done. They were quick and courteous.

WIN IT:
Laurie at MyBlogSpark has given me the opportunity to choose one lucky reader to win one complimentary $35 Jiffy Lube gift card.

Mandatory:
1. Go to Motor Oil Matters website and answer ONE of the following questions: What did you find most interesting on the Motor Oil Matters site? What motor oil misconception did you have that was put to rest through the site’s info? What did you score on the M.O.M. Knows Best game?

Additional entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog by email and let me know. (2 extra entries)

2. Become my fan on facebook. (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 Motor Oil Matters website 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)

7. Add me on twitter and retweet this: @finamoon: @MotorOilMatters WIN: $35 Jiffy Lube Gift Card http://bit.ly/8sWJx0
(Daily Extras are Available)

8. Follow Motor Oil Matters 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 January 8, 2010 at midnight (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). This Giveaway is open to U.S. Only!!

DISCLAIMER: By participating in this Spark, Shell Lubricants and MotorOilMatters.org provided me with a free $35 gift card and information through MyBlogSpark to cover most of the cost, if not all, of a conventional oil change at most Jiffy Lube locations. All information about the campaign I received from MyBlogSpark, the Motor Oil Matters website, and the experience itself. 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.

Child Passenger Safety LATCH Campaign‏

Here is some important child passenger safety information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ad Council...

I would like you to know that there are wonderful resources available for free to help you make safe choices about car seats and to help you use your car seats properly for maximum safety.


- Twitter: An actual safety expert mans the @ChildSeatSafety account on Twitter, and they will continue to answer any questions that parents have about child passenger safety. This is such a unique resource from a government agency!

- Facebook: NHTSA has a Facebook page at http://facebook.com/childpassengersafety where parents can learn about everything from LATCH to locating inspection offices.

- Websites: The Ad Council and the NHTSA have created a site with all the resources parents need to keep their smallest passengers safe: http://childcarsafety.adcouncil.org
Find your local inspection station, watch instructional videos, and even take a fun quiz!

Child Passenger Safety: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps

Inspection Station Locator: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm

Recall Information from NHTSA:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/subscriptions/index.cfm

Child Seat Registration:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.gov/recalls/register/childseat

DISCLAIMER: Momfluence graciously gave me the information for this campaign. Amy Lupold Bair, founder of Momfluence, is acting on behalf of NHTSA's child passenger safety efforts and so am I by posting this information.

Eight Years Old

Delbin, my oldest son turned 8 years old on September 5th, 2008. On September 28th, 2008 he was baptized and confirmed a member of our church the same date that my youngest daughter, Teela, was blessed. We are so very proud of him!

One of the things Delbin gets to do now that he is 8 is attend Boyscouts. He was so excited to get to be a Cubscout! In Boyscouts he has already made and raced a boat in the Raingutter Regatta, but out of everyone in our family only he was able to attend the race. He also just had his very first Boyscout Pinewood Derby on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009 and this time our whole family got to go to see the festivities.

Even though he didn't win the medal for first, second, or third he did get a certificate that said, "Most colorful curvy car."

Delbin had fun and didn't care that he didn't win any of the big prizes. He just wanted to race his car! His pack had a very antique looking track. It was made of wood and bracketed together. It also had to be adjusted often especially if the cars jumped the track because of the notched places in the track sticking up too much and needing to be physically pushed down. They also decided that this time because of this they would only race two-three cars at a time...rather than all six and that some lanes would not be used at all.

Brian, my husband, said that when he was in Boyscouts they had a deluxe track with laser reader, time count down, and everything. They did things by the book back then and everything was done on a grand scale. It sounds to me like the Down & Derby movie I saw :) Brian also mentioned that we needed to build a new track for next year. Yes! Put that on our long list of to dos...along with building our own six-masted sailing vessel to live on and do dolphin communication and owning a horse or mini pony!