A Mom From The Burbs

Cleaning Out and Updating

2012-01-26T21:34:00.000-05:00

Guest post by Jewel Cole

I decided to go visit my grandmother since it's been two months since my grandfather passed away. I knew she was lonely and she was so overwhelmed with all the things that needed to be done around the house that had gone without getting done in her time of grieving. I thought I'd take a long weekend, stay with her, and spend some time with her while crossing some things off her to-do list. I'm glad I did. We had a great weekend. We were so productive that we were even able to add some new things to her list and finish those things as well. Closets clean, garage cleaned out and reorganized, new curtains hung, security system upgraded and the list goes on. I even had a chance to look at her cable, phone and internet providers and get her updated on those as well. While searching for a new internet provider, I came across http://www.satelliteinternetbroadband.com/hughesnet/. We decided that was a better fit for her now and that's when we decided to check her phone and cable packages too. My grandfather set those up several years ago and there were definitely better deals that my grandmother was missing out on. I'm glad I got to help my grandmother and she seemed a little more at ease to have so much done.

What 2011 Brought to A Mom From The Burbs

2011-12-30T20:41:00.000-05:00

2011 had us working with some pretty awesome companies and also found us some new followers. I can't wait to see what 2012 brings for A Mom From The Burbs. It's been really fun holding giveaways for my readers and trying new products.

Because of the sheer amount of requests, I only brought my readers the products I thought they would be interested in. Some of the products were a big hit and some were flops. I think I'll have to research the products even closer before deciding if I want to take them on or not.

My hope for 2012 is that A Mom From The Burbs can continue gaining strength in the blog world.

I won't be accepting any new review requests until January 9th, 2012! It's kind of hard to think when the kids are home from school.

Happy New Year!

Retail Frustrations

2011-12-28T21:10:00.000-05:00

I am so sick of how the whole Retail System works when it comes to when they put stuff out. I went online today to see if I could find any deals on Christmas items for next year. I was shocked to find that most stores have swimsuits already out!

It's still December! Why would I be thinking about summer right now? I mean, I LOVE the summer time but for pete's sake, let us get over the holiday hump before putting out summer items.

How many of you still need to purchase boots and other winter items? I know I still need to purchase boots but I probably won't be able to find them. Stores have become all about money and not about what the customer wants.

It's crazy to think that before the kids will be out of school for the summer, the stores will have back-to-school items already on the shelves. They don't even put the item lists out until a week before school starts so by the time we will be ready to purchase those items, there won't be any left. It's really frustrating.

What are your thoughts? Please leave me a comment below!

Ironing Boards and Crafting

2011-12-26T14:03:00.000-05:00

Image via http://www.jandofabrics.com

Do any of you use your ironing boards for crafting? I personally don't own an ironing board but was thinking of getting one. I've heard of people using them to cut fabric or even do jewelry making on because of the amount of space they offer.

We use to have one when I was a kid and can remember making shirts with iron on transfers. It was fun making shirts with different images. I also remember that if you didn't wash the shirt inside out the image would start falling off.

If you have an ironing board and use it for crafting, what types of crafts do you use it for? Leave a comment below!!

Movies

2011-12-24T09:47:00.000-05:00

Guest post written by Derick Burks

One of my favorite things about Direct TV Lexingtonis that we can watch new releases any time that we want without ever leaving the house. With little children it is really tough to get out of the house to go to see a movie. We have a seven month old and a two year old, and we have not been to the movies since our second one was born. We used to go to the movies all of the time, but with little children that has become virtually impossible. Instead, we rent movies through our program provider. It is a bit more expensive that getting a movie from Redbox, but it is way more convenient. The closest Redbox or Blockbuster is about 10 minutes from our house, so we would rather stay in than have to drive out to rent a movie. Plus, since we never get to go to the movies, we are always interested in the new releases. It is comical how our lifestyle has changed since we have had kids. I am so thankful for our two healthy children, but we certainly have had to do life differently since they came along.

We Have A Winner! ($50 Gift Card Giveaway Winner)

2011-12-20T09:20:00.000-05:00

Congratulations Jill M #110! You are the winner of the $50 Gift Card Giveaway.

Thank you to everyone who entered! Have a VERY Merry Christmas!!

Blue Pay is a great solution for nonprofit credit card processing

Diary in the Attic by Cindy L Freeman (Book Review)

2011-12-20T09:00:00.001-05:00

Diary in the Attic by Cindy L Freeman is about the death of Corrine Melton. She wasn't very well known by her co-workers but they soon find out some interesting things about her past soon after her passing.

The co-workers work to untangle the mystery surrounding Corrine's death as well as the death of her mother. Detectives believe Corrine murdered her mother but the co-workers don't believe it. While Corrine was not the nicest of co-workers they couldn't imagine she could be involved in the death of her mother.

Before Corrine's passing, she calls for Margaret, one of her co-workers, on her deathbed. Margaret believes Corrine thinks that she is her mother and is confused. It's only after Corrine's death that Margaret realizes Corrine did not think she was her mother after all.

Margaret works with a handsome detective to clear Corrine's name and to figure out what really happened to Corrine's mother.

What Did I Think of the Book?
There were points in the book that had me hooked and wanting more but then there were parts that I was just bored stiff. This book is your typical romance/mystery. The book isn't very long, only 99 pages but it gets it's point across.

Would I Recommend it to My Readers?
I would recommend this book to any readers who love stories of love and mystery. To purchase the book visit Dorrance Publishing's online store.

I give this book two out of five stars!!!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Diary in the Attic by Cindy L Freeman as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

Swarovski Crystal Beads for Crafters

2011-12-19T18:08:00.001-05:00

I've been dabbling into jewelry making the past six months and have found an awesome site that has tons of different Swarovski Crystal beads. Usually the prices can vary depending on the website or store you go but this site seems to be reasonable.

If you are interested in seeing what the prices are or what kinds of beads they have, feel free to click on the highlighted link above. My favorite is the Swarovski Crystal 5754 12mm Butterfly Beads Crystal AB (2 Beads). I think the butterfly would look awesome on a necklace or bracelet.

The website also has some pretty nice pendants that you could use for necklaces or you could even use them for window decorations or ornaments. If I had the time I would make some ornaments for Christmas gifts but with only a week left I don't see that happening. Now that I know about this website I can stock up for next Christmas!

Are you done with Christmas Shopping?

2011-12-17T23:18:00.000-05:00

One more week and Christmas will be here! I'm finally done, well, I still need to get some things for the stockings and then I'll be done. I know Big A and Little A will be super happy with the things they will get this year.

I found quite a few deals this year. I think there were a lot more deals than last year. Most of the items were between 30% and 50% off. One item was originally $130 and I got it for $50.

Now to get the stuff wrapped and put into their hiding spot until Christmas morning.

Houses for Rent

2011-12-16T09:00:00.002-05:00

With the housing market the way it is, it's amazing to see how many people are offering their houses for rent. I think it's a great way to earn an income if you are able to find a cheaper house to live in and are able to pay the taxes on two houses.

If you are a young couple just starting out, renting a house is a great way to test the waters of home ownership. Sure the money you pay doesn't go into home ownership but it gives you a taste into what it's like to own a home and take care of a house. Renting a house also gives you a lot more privacy than renting an apartment.

If you do decide to rent a house, make sure you have renters insurance. That is also true if you rent an apartment. Sometimes people overlook this because they view it as a waste of money but you have to think about the what ifs. What if there is a fire and you don't have renters insurance? You will lose all your belongings and have no option to get any money from the lost items.

Protect yourself and your belongings and get the renters insurance. Renting can be stressful but you don't need to make it more stressful by not getting that insurance. Good luck with the house search!!

$50 Gift Card Giveaway (Ends 12/20/11)

2011-12-13T00:01:00.005-05:00

I am so happy to be bringing this contest to my readers just before the holidays. With all the shopping and gift giving, I'm sure you can use some extra jingle in your pockets! Thanks to the folks over at bluepay.com, A Mom From The Burbs can give you that jingle.

Blue Pay is a great solution for nonprofit credit card processing. The following is some information on what Blue Pay is and how it can help your nonprofit organization:

BluePay specializes in debit and credit card processing, and makes it easy for non-profits to accept electronic payments while maintaining the security, flexibility and customer service we extend to small business and merchants. With today’s donors managing their shopping, bill payment and banking online, extending the payment flexibility of your non-profit organization is critical. BluePay’s non-profit solution allows organizations to create simple, PCI compliant donation Web forms, so their donor base can contribute to a cause by simply entering their information online and setting up a convenient donation schedule. No mailing invoices or waiting for paper checks and payments.

Now for the GIVEAWAY!

We are giving away a $50 gift card to one lucky reader. The winner will receive an email voucher to redeem at icardgiftcard.com for a gift card of your choice.

This giveaway will only last for one week. You MUST complete the mandatory entry on the Rafflecopter entry form or your entry will NOT count. Sorry but this is only open to USA residents 18 and older per the sponsors request.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Oral-B Stages and Oral-B Crest Pro-Health For Me Party

2011-12-12T14:38:00.000-05:00

We had the opportunity to try Oral-B Stages and Oral-B Crest Pro-Health For Me products recently. Our party kit contained:

Oral-B Stage III Brushes
Pro-Health FOR ME Brushes
Oral-B Stages Flossers
Pro-Health FOR ME Paste
Pro-Health FOR ME Floss Picks
Pro-Health FOR ME Rinse
Cars II Gummy Vitamins
Disney’s Cars II Movie DVD
Recipe & Activity Ideas
Cars II Playdate Invites
Balloons
Popcorn/boxes for guests
Guest Gift Bags

My kids helped me put together gift bags for our guests. They thought it was pretty cool that we had themed invites to send to the people they wanted to invite. We made sure that each guest received samples of all the products in our kits and we even held games and gave some of the samples away as prizes.

After we learned about the different Stages offered by Oral-B and learned about healthy and non healthy foods, we decided to watch the Cars II DVD. Before we put the DVD on, we made popcorn for the kids. They loved getting their own popcorn boxes.

They kids and even the adults enjoyed watching the movie. After the movie, the kids all thought it would be fun to break out the balloons and burn off some of that energy. We held a contest to see who could keep their balloon in the air the longest.

After all the popcorn and food they ate, it was time to put some of those products to the test! First they tried the floss picks and then it was the toothpaste and mouth rinse. All the kids said that they loved the bubble gum flavor and the hint of mint on the floss picks.

We loved hosting this party and look forward to our next product party. It's a great way to meet other parents and get together with friends and family.

Disclosure: We would like to thank the folks over at Oral-B and Crest as well as MomSelect for giving us the opportunity to host this party. We received an Oral-B party kit in exchange for hosting this party. The thoughts and opinions in this post are 100% my own. You may have a different opinion or experience with these products.

When Kids Are Being Quiet You Better Go Find Them

2011-12-07T21:34:00.000-05:00

This is what Little A was doing Sunday night while he was taking his bath. I knew something wasn't right when he came running out of the bathroom without his towel.

You would think a six year old would be able to take a bath without getting into trouble but I guess not. He must have worked fast because I was checking on him ever five minutes. I was in the kitchen which is right across the hall from the bathroom and I didn't even hear him doing it.

I was a bit upset because we have to cut into the wall of the laundry room to get to the pipes. Needless to say, it's still not fixed. My husband said that it will be fine for the moment. There is a pipe inside the faucet and the damage is just cosmetic.

This is what happened Monday morning:

With all the rain we have been having and our roof being in bad condition, it started leaking. It wasn't a big leak but I thought it would be best to throw a tarp on so the roof doesn't get any worse. It seemed to work because the leak stopped.

Fingers crossed that nothing else falls apart or is taken apart.

Kroger's The Truly Awesome Chocolate Chip Cookies Review

2011-12-07T20:49:00.000-05:00

If you are like me, you LOVE homemade chocolate chip cookies. The Truly Awesome Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies from Kroger give you the right amount of chocolate chips and the right amount of crunch. The oversize shape makes these cookies somewhat unique from any other store bought cookies.

Here are some facts about The Truly Awesome Homestyle Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Taste as if mom baked them herself, thanks to real, wholesome ingredients
Warm them up a few seconds in the microwave and they taste like they just came out of the oven
Free of added preservatives and artificial colors
Almost 2x the size of other chocolate chip cookies
Just hit shelves earlier this year
Come eight delicious cookies to a pack
Suggested to retail for $2.79
Exclusively available at Kroger, Fred Meyer and Ralphs stores (Kroger Family of Stores)
Sure to please and delight the entire family

I had the opportunity to try two packages of these cookies. The first package the cookies were almost all broken but that was fine with me. I was able to dunk my cookies in milk better. I found that the oversize shape made it difficult to dunk. Again, that was fine with me because my family doesn't dunk like I do.

I didn't notice any strange after tates. I thought the cookies were delicious and well worth the $2.79 that Kroger will be selling these cookies for. The only thing I would do is increase the amount of cookies. They were so good that they were gone by the end of the day.

No, I didn't eat them all myself. My kids and my husband also tackled the box.

Here are some more products from Kroger's Truly Awesome Line:

Kroger's The Truly Awesome Low Fat Yogurt Tubes
Kroger's The Truly Awesome Low Fat Yogurt Cups
Kroger's The Truly Awesome Macaroni & Cheese
Kroger's The Truly Awesome Frozen Broccoli & 4 Cheese
And many more options on the way!

If you haven't checked out Kroger's Truly Awesome Line yet, you are gonna want to.

Kroger's Quality Guarantee:
We promise products your family will love every time. If you are not delighted, let us know. We will make it right with a replacement or refund at your store.

Disclosure: #imabzzagent and I received product samples to try out. These are my honest opinions of the product. You may have a different opinion or experience.

$50 Gift Card Giveaway Coming Soon!

2011-12-05T22:11:00.000-05:00

Before this week is over, you will have the chance to win a gift card in the amount of $50!! Just think of how handy that could be this holiday season. You will only have one week to enter so make sure you come back at the end of this week to enter for your chance to win!

In the meantime, I will be working on more product reviews for you. Happy shopping and Happy Winning!!

Best Buy Coupons

2011-12-04T12:24:00.001-05:00

I am always searching for deals or coupons during the holiday season. I never just buy from the first website. It's important to shop around because one store might have what you are looking for for x amount but the third or fourth store you search might have it for $20 cheaper.

My husband is big on buying things at Best Buy. Since I know this, I started doing searches for best buy coupons. I was able to find a few coupons he can use on a website called drop down deals. They have a nice selection of coupons when he is ready to make a purchase.

I think this website has a bigger selection than most of the coupon sites I have visited in the past few days. I don't think you will have a problem finding the perfect Best Buy coupon. Now I need to find coupons for the other websites I will be visiting this holiday season.

Bringrr - Missing Phone Alarm and Car Charger {Product Review}

2011-12-02T10:20:00.000-05:00

The holiday's are quickly approaching and I want to make your shopping experience a little better by bringing you products I think you or someone on your Christmas list might enjoy. Today, I'm bringing you a product for those tech savvy people on your list.

The product is called Bringrr. So what is Bringrr and how does it work? Bringrr is two in one product used to help you never forget your cell phone again and it's also a car charger.

Bringrr plugs into your car's power port and turns on when you start your car. Using Bluetooth technology it quickly searches for your phone. If it's not in the car, Bringrr glows red and beeps to let you know you've left your phone behind. When paired correctly, Bringrr glows blue.

It's very easy to setup!
1. Plug Bringrr into your car's power port (cigarette lighter)
2. Put your phone into pairing mode
3. Press and hold Bringrr's pairing button for three second.

Bringrr adapts to many USB devices.
Your Bringrr will come with two cables: Mini-A (Mini USB) and Micro-B (Micro USB). Bringrr powers any device that charges from a USB port, including most smart phones and many cameras, GPS, and MP3 players. Works with devices by Apple, HTC, Motorola, RIM, Samsung, and most others. Supplies 500mA.

I was able to try out Bringrr and was impressed. I was happy to find two different types of USB cables because my phone has a mini-A and my GPS has a Micro-B. This way I can have one charger for both devices and I don't have to worry about grabbing several different cords when I leave the house.

When I first setup my phone with Bringrr, my phone was getting an error but I read the directions again and you just dismiss the error message. As long as Bringrr is glowing blue, then you know your phone and the device are properly paired.

Bringrr is small enough to fit in my purse or coat pocket and can be easily stored in a glove box. If you have a cup holder in your console, don't worry, it will fit in that too!

The bings that Bringrr sounds off isn't that loud but it is loud enough to get your attention when your phone is not with you. I forgot my phone in the house one day and Bringrr let me know by sounding off and glowing red. Once I hooked my phone up to Bringrr, the light blinked, sounded a beep and started glowing blue to let me know my phone was found.

This device retails for $34.95 on Bringrr.com.

Disclosure: I received a free sample of Bringrr to review. No monies were given or received by me. There was no promise of a positive review and all thoughts of this product are 100% my own. You may have a different experience or opinion of this product.

Xmas Surprise Blown!!

2011-12-01T20:26:00.000-05:00

I am so upset today. I received a shipment today that contained a surprise present for my kids for Christmas. Unfortunately, the place I bought it from, Newegg.com, just shipped it in the original packaging and didn't bother putting it in a box. My kids saw it sitting on the front porch when we got home and were all excited.

I had to lie and tell them it was for their cousins. Then I had to listen to them crying for an hour because they want the surprise.

I contacted their customer service to complain but I still haven't heard back from them over this mess. With the holidays coming you would think they would put their shipments into boxes instead of just sending it in the original packaging for everyone to see.

I will NOT be buying anything else from them in the future because of this mess.

Cyber Monday

2011-11-28T14:08:00.000-05:00

I'll be getting back into the swing of things starting tomorrow. I've been busy shopping! I've gotten some pretty good deals today.

Let me know if you have done any cyber shopping today and what deals have you found? Leave me a comment below and happy shopping!!!

The Slice Safety Cutter - Great for Couponers!! {Review}

2011-11-23T19:58:00.000-05:00

I found a great stocking stuffer for all those scrapbooking, coupon clipping, recipe collecting people on your shopping list. It's small enough and light enough to fit in your pocket or purse.

The Slice™ Safety Cutter - Great for Couponers is the most versatile tool you'll ever own. Features a finger-friendly microscopic ceramic blade that's quick, easy and a safe substitute for scissors. Perfect for scrap-booking, clipping recipes, coupons and news articles, removing shrink-wrap, opening CDs, DVDs, and plastic packaging, and more. Includes a built-in magnet and key-ring hole.

- Ceramic blade lasts longer than steel
- Stays sharp and never rusts
- Built-in magnet and key-ring hole
- Finger-Friendly™ Design
- For left- and right-handers

It has a ceramic blade at the tip of the cutter and the first thing I did was run my finger across it to see if it truly would not cut my finger. I was surprised and happy when it didn't! That means I don't have to worry about my boys cutting their fingers.

I wasn't aware of this awesome tidbit before I was asked to review this product but when you purchase this product, a portion of your purchase price is donated to help fund Autism research. This is very close to home and makes me smile.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Seer by Martha Harris (Book Review)

2011-11-23T19:29:00.000-05:00

The Seer by Martha Harris is about a psychiatrist named Bobbi Wheeler and her psychic abilities to help her patients. She doesn't know it but her gift will help her meet the man of her dreams as well as put her life in danger.

The man she meets is a charming, funny, sexy man who, she soon finds out, is well known in the community. He is rich shipping tycoon, Lance Wolfe, and soon he wins her heart. But the love he feels for her might not be enough to help him overcome his wife's tragic death. Will they end up together?

What Did I Think of the Book?
It was obvious the sexual tension between Lance and Bobbi. You wanted them to get together and wanted their love to grow. You felt Lance's struggle to get over his wife's death and allow his heart and body to love again.

When Bobbi started having terrifying nightmares or "visions", my heart pounded as if I was in the story. Finding a book I can get lost in is hard for me because I am a picky reader but this book was well written and kept me hooked the entire way through.

Would I Recommend it to My Readers?
I would recommend this book to any readers who love stories of love and mystery. To purchase the book visit Dorrance Publishing's online store.

I give this book four out of five stars!!!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of The Seer by Martha Harris as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T14:14:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers. You have all made this year of blogging so much fun with all the giveaways I've held and all the new readers I have met.

Within the next few days, I will be posting new product reviews and I'm working on a giveaway! It will be sort of a thank you to all those who have found A Mom From The Burbs and have decided we are a pretty good place to find information on products you might or might not know about.

Enjoy the holiday, don't eat too much and if you watch football, I hope your team wins or at least plays well enough to make the game exciting! As who we will be cheering for, Go DETROIT LIONS!!

Parent Teacher Conferences

2011-11-18T18:12:00.000-05:00

I had to go to parent teacher conferences today and for some reason, I always feel like I am getting in trouble when I go to those things. I didn't have anything to worry about because they are both doing well.

Big A is doing really well. He is on the honor roll again!! His teacher had nothing but nice things to say about him. She said he was sweet, friendly and funny. She said that he is only a year behind in reading, which is AWESOME considering last school year he was only reading at a first grade level and he was in third grade.

He has come a long way and continues to get better. I'm so thankful that I got him the help he needed when I did. I can't imagine how far behind he would be if I did nothing. Autism and/or learning disabilities isn't something I would wish on anyone.

Little A is making slow progress. He is a bit stubborn and when they test him he doesn't want to answer or will pretend he doesn't know the answer and they have to mark it wrong. They said that they are going to continue to work on his confidence and work on letter recognition. His teacher said that he is really quiet in class, which I find hard to believe because at home he NEVER shuts up.

I can only continue working everyday with both of my boys to get them to where they need to be. I can't wait to see how they do next card marking!!

Little A Lost His First Tooth!

2011-11-15T11:27:00.000-05:00

First Tooth Lost Monday 11/14/2011 @ 10:04pm

Last night, Little A lost his first tooth! He was pretty excited as you can see above. He helped me put his tooth in an envelope and place it under his pillow for the tooth fairy.

The first thing he did this morning was check to see if the tooth fairy left him a surprise and sure enough, he got a pack of sugar free gum and $5! He told me that I have to take him to the store so he can spend it, LOL!

The tooth right next to the one he just lost is loose too! It won't be long before the tooth fairy makes another visit to our house.

UGLee Pen Review and Giveaway

2011-11-15T09:00:00.004-05:00

Product Description
The UGLee Pen is a revolutionary ergonomic pen that is designed, created and used by a real physician. This Doctor-inspired grip pen is redefining the way people view pens and writing.

The UGLee Pen is good for everyone who writes (even just a grocery list), and is especially helpful to people who experience pain and discomfort when writing, for example those with arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.,. It's also the best writing utensil for children who are learning to write and are developing fine motor skills, as well as helpful for special-needs children who find holding a pen or pencil properly difficult. And for high-school and college students who have to take copious notes, this pen helps keep hands and fingers from cramping.

My Thoughts:
When I received my UGLee Pen's, the first thing I noticed was that the grip area was much bigger than other pen's I have tried in the past. I also noticed that the grip felt like a fake worm lure one would use for fishing. The grip part of the pen also has little specks of glitter mixed in. Don't worry, the glitter doesn't come off.

The pen's that I received had blue ink in them. However, you can order your pen in black, blue or red ink. They cost $15.00 + $2.95 S&H for a pack of 10 which is a bit more expensive than most pens.

I think these pens would make great gifts for students or office professionals. If you are looking for stocking stuffers, this might be a good choice.

GIVEAWAY TIME:Sponsored by Tomoson.com
One of my readers is going to get a chance to win their very own UGLee Pen! Please make sure to complete the mandatory entry or your other entries will NOT count.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Decision Points by George W. Bush {Book Review}

2011-11-14T10:10:00.001-05:00

I was 24 years old when one of the United States worst events happened. September 11, 2001, rocked our nation and changed our lives forever. I had just arrived at work, my three month old safely in his bed sleeping and my husband in our bed sleeping. I logged into my computer, turned my phone on and was all ready to work when one of our co-workers came running into our work space yelling the, "The Twin Towers was just hit by a plane!" Moments later she yelled, "They said we are under attack!"

Can you imagine the panic that was going on in our little work space? We had no way of knowing what was going on, other than a small radio. I remember all I wanted to do was go home and be with my family but they wouldn't let us go home.

Years have passed and I still remember seeing the news footage of the planes hitting the towers and the coverage of the towers coming down. I had the opportunity to read Decision Points by George W. Bush, our president at the time of that horrible day.

So, what's it about?
The books isn't written in any particular order. It covers the presidents bid for governor, September 11th, Katrina, Iraq and Afghanistan too! One of the things that stood out to me was how involved his father was in helping him make decisions. Another thing that stood out was how many members of his fathers camp were in George W's camp.

It was interesting to see the presidents point-of-view of these events and how he came up with the plans to help the American people. If you love history, then you are going to love Decision Points. It was almost like his father was still the president. He was slow to make some decisions that should have been made much quicker. We all saw that with Katrina.

Although, I don't fully blame him for those events anymore. After reading the book, I know put a lot of that blame on the governor of Louisiana. She wasn't exactly helpful or excepting of help when it came to the president.

My Thoughts of the Book:
History was never a strong subject of mine but it was interesting to see how a president runs a country. There are some things that I felt strongly about until I read this book. I know understand that it wasn't fully his fault for some of the events that took place while he was in office.

He was a president facing a lot of uphill battles within congress and with the American people. I think he could have done some things better. He wasn't a perfect president and he understands that and takes ownership of that in this book.

Would I recommend this book to others?
I would recommend this book to my readers who are history buffs or who are like me and was just curious to see what his thoughts were. It would be a great book to share with younger children so that can learn from it.

Disclosure: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Get Ready to Hit the Slopes

2011-11-12T11:10:00.000-05:00

The weather is getting colder and the snow will soon start to fall. Skiing and snowboarding season are just around the corner. So, are you ready? It's that time to make sure the skiis and snowboards are in tip top shape and the car is ready.

What do you mean the car is ready? Well, you don't only have to check the oil, anti freeze, battery, tires and windshield fluid when it comes to winter, but you also have to make sure you have your snowboard racks installed if you are a snowboarder. You don't want to be installing it when the snow is falling and the ice starts forming on the top of your car.

If you don't have one, this is the perfect time to start looking for one. You can find many sales and you can get it before the first major snow falls. Before you know it, you will be hitting the slopes with all the other skiiers and snowboarders!

Invasion The Chaos Trilogy by Jon S. Lewis {Book Review}

2011-11-11T14:00:00.000-05:00

Invasion The C.h.a.o.s. Trilogy is about a teenage boy named Colt McAlister and his friends Oz and Danielle. One day, Colt gets some terrible news about his parents. They were traveling back home when someone ran into them, killing them.

After the funeral, Colt moved in with is grandpa in Arizona. Pretty soon after, Colt started encountering strange people with glowing red eyes that were trying to kill him and his childhood friend Danielle. Colt didn't understand what was happening.

Oz told him about a top secret agency called Chaos. Chaos is basically like Men in Black, in that they track down and fight aliens from other planets. The people with the red eyes were being mind controlled by aliens that ran a corporation called Trident Industries.

It was up to the three teens to find proof that Trident was behind all the strange goings on in town and for Colt's parents deaths. This journey brings the teens close to death several times. You'll have to read the book to see how they fair.

I thought this book was filled with excitement. I didn't want to put the book down at all. I know this book is geared for juvenile readers but as an adult, I enjoyed it very much.

The book is a mix of who dunnit, science fiction and action, all of which I love in a book. Some of the words are a bit large for juvenile readers. I think that the book could have kept going a bit but understand why the author stopped when they did.

Now to get the second book so I can see what happens next!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

School Lunch Meltdown

2011-11-10T14:13:00.001-05:00

I usually let Big A and Little A buy lunch on Thursday's because it's Domino's pizza day and they LOVE pizza. Well, this morning, I got a call from Little A's teacher saying he was having a meltdown at school because he wanted GoGurt instead of pizza. That would have been fine any other day but today they were not selling GoGurt.

I ended up making him a lunch and going up to the school. He had the biggest smile on his face when he saw me with his lunch bag. I told him to behave and listen to Mrs.C and that I would see him later. I gave him a big hug and a kiss and off he went back to class.

How many of you had to face a situation like this? The night before you tell your child what to do when selecting his/her lunch and then the next day it's like aliens take their brain in the middle of the night and they forget what to do.

He must be ok now, since I haven't heard from the teacher any more today.

Gift Baskets for Mom

2011-11-09T09:00:00.001-05:00

With the holidays and school parties that we all have to prepare for, sometimes we forget the most important person in our lives, our mom. What do we get the person who brought us into this world for her birthday?

It can be an overwhelming shopping experience when trying to find the perfect gift for your mom. You want the gift to be special and not just a last minute thought. Something that represents how you feel about your mom not what someone else feels about her, right? Have you ever thought about birthday gift baskets for mom?

Gift baskets can come in a variety of products and sizes. You can get anything from custom cookies, custom cakes, chocolate candies or even a spa gift basket for your mom! You can find a variety of gift baskets for your moms special day.

Reuseit.com Water Bottle Review

2011-11-08T21:07:00.000-05:00

It's very rare that I get to review a product that is "Made in the USA" so you could imagine my excitement when I had to opportunity to do just that. Not only are Nalgene reusable bottles made in the USA but they are also free from BPA, which is something I am trying to stay away from when it comes to my kids and the containers they take to school for lunch.

I was able to choose a product from the http://www.reuseit.com website and try it out for myself. Since Little A and I are water bottle addicts, I chose to try the Nalgene 24 oz OTG Water Bottle, Tritan in green. I ordered red but got green and that was cool. Little A wasn't too happy about that but he quickly got over it.

The first thing we did was give a go in the washing machine. Even though it was brand new, I wanted to make sure it was clean before using. Surprisingly, the heat from the dishwasher did not melt the bottle. All the other water bottles that I have used in the past have melted or the lid lost it's seal and would leak afterward.

Little A has pretty much taken ownership of the water bottle and has been using it every day at school. It's pretty hot in his classroom and he is so happy that he has a water bottle that he can keep at his desk. So far, it hasn't spilled or leaked.

The only thing that was tricky was flipping the lid open. He had a little trouble at first because you have to flip the top backward and he wanted to pull it straight up. After he got the hang of it he became a pro and has no problems since.

The only problem I have now is that Big A wants one. I guess I know what I'm getting him for one of his Christmas presents. While I'm at it I might get one for "H" too. He works in a hot factory and it would be perfect for him. I love the fact that these bottles are safe, dent proof and affordable.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Just Heeling Around....Our Review of Heelys

2011-11-08T17:09:00.000-05:00

When I was younger, I can remember going to the skating rink with my friends and I can also remember roller blading. It was a great way to exercise and hang with friends all while having fun! These days, the kids are into Heelys.

I had the opportunity to relive my childhood and try out a pair of Heelys. I ordered a size big enough for me but would also fit my ten year old son. Yes, I have tiny feet. We ended up ordering the White on White shoes. When I told him we were getting a pair of Heelys, he gave me a big smile but then said, "But I don't know how to skate." I told him that we would learn together.

When our Heelys arrived, I don't know who was more excited, me or my son. We opened the box and the first thing we noticed was the directions on how to insert the wheels. It's right on the inside of the top of the box. The wheels were attached to the Heelys with a plastic cord and the wheels were in a bag. It was very easy to remove the plug to put the wheels on. Make sure you save the plugs so you can wear your Heelys as shoes when you are not Heeling around.

Next, it was time to try to do some Heeling. I don't know what I was thinking when I put the Heelys on. I thought I would be able to just whiz around the kitchen and living room but that's not what happened. I was able to get the front foot up but for some reason I could NOT get my back toes up to Heel around. I tried for two weeks straight before I gave up and let my son have a go.

He put on the Heelys, took a deep breath, and pushed off for a few seconds. Hey, he made it longer than I did. He still needs some practice but he is getting it. He told me that he is going to practice every day! I'm just hoping he doesn't break a limb in the process.

If you want to learn how to use Heelys, they have some pretty helpful videos that you can watch on General Heelys Skating Info. I watched a couple of the beginner videos before I tried but I still can't get it. Maybe I need some more practice.

I'm thinking that maybe we should have ordered the shoes with the double wheels instead of the single heel wheel to start off with. Maybe it would have been easier to get the hang of Heeling. Either way it's fun!

Another thing I wanted to mention is that Heelys offers a Heelys Safety Playbook that you can read via pdf. It goes over how to stay safe while enjoying your new Heelys! Again, very helpful tips for parents who are thinking of getting a pair for their child. You can never be too safe right?

Everyone knows that the day after Thanksgiving is the unofficial Christmas Shopping kickoff day. With that in mind, Heelys is throwing a Black Friday special!! Between Nov 25-Nov 28, Buy any pair of Heelys, get the second pair for $25. Or buy a Nano, and get a pair of shoes for $25, and get free ground shipping on all orders!

Disclosure: Thank you to Heelys for sending me a pair to review. I received no other compensation for this post. All opinions are 100% my own and are based on my own experience with the product.

Haunted Estate Sale: 2 Angry Spirits {Book Review}

2011-11-05T18:31:00.000-04:00

Haunted Estate Sale: 2 Angry Spirits by Elkossei Ashraf

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Haunted Estate Sale 2 Angry Spirits is about a young physical therapist named Ash. He is new to America and loves his job as a homecare physical therapist until he is assigned to work for an old, rude, grumpy couple.

The old man takes offense to Ash's sense of humor and throws him out of his home. That evening, the couple, who are very ill and very cheap, end up freezing to death inside a small, junky bedroom of their big beautiful house.

The couple's spirits don't realize what has happened to them when they awake to see lots of strangers in their home taking their stuff. They don't realize their stuff is being sold at an estate sale because they died. They vowed to get revenge on everyone who has purchased one of their property. Soon after the estate sale, strange things start happening to the people who made purchases at the sale.

This book, in my opinion, has way too many chapters. There are a total of 36 for a 292 page book. Also, much of the dialogue between characters is very long, very amature and very repetitive.
Ash is suppose to be a joke teller and I can understand the writer wanting that to come across but for every conversation the main character had, he basically told 3-4 jokes and they were NOT funny at all.

Also, the overuse of the phrase "Oh My God" is distracting and it takes away from the storyline. I can't even tell you how many times the phrase is used because I stopped counting after 25.

There are some spelling errors and some other errors in the book but not enough to distract. If I were to rate this book on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest, I would only give this book 1 out of 5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of (Haunted Estate Sale 2 Angry Spirits) as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

View all my reviews

And the Winners Are.....

2011-11-05T18:07:00.000-04:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the My Monster Burrufu Book Giveaway! I'm a little late announcing the winners of this one. Our internet service has been acting up for the past couple of weeks, which we are getting fixed Monday!

Now for the winners...... Congratulations to:

Jason and Melissa

To see the announcement, click here: My Monster Burrufu Book Review and Giveaway ( Winners Announced)

Decorating Your Vacation Home

2011-11-04T09:00:00.003-04:00

Do you have a cabin or a summer cottage that has a rustic feel? Have you ever thought of decorating your vacation getaway in log cabin decor?

Log cabin decor can give you the rustic look you are going for. If you happen to rent out your vacation cottage or cabin, just think of all the compliments your guests will give you. There is something so relaxing and refreshing by bringing the outdoors inside.

Modern furniture could be used but would you really feel like you are on vacation if your vacation home looked like your everyday home? Probably not. You want your vacation home too look different and have a different feel. It doesn't matter if your vacation home is a log cabin or not, you can still find pieces to place in your vacation cottage that represents you and your family.

Disturbing Case of Child Abuse by a Judge

2011-11-03T13:56:00.000-04:00

**Warning, This post is NOT suitable for young children. Please DO NOT watch the video while children are around.**

I was flipping through the television channels last night, since my internet was down and came across a disturbing case of child abuse. The show was Dr. Drew and the abuser is a Judge from Texas and the victim is his 16 year old disabled child.

This Judge should be ashamed of his actions. The reasons for beating her for 7 1/2 minutes are just CRAZY to me. She got beat by her own father for downloading music and computer games? Seriously, and this is ok with him and the people of Texas?

What is wrong with our justice system? How can a child abuser be elected to be a Family Court Judge? How can he be effective in deciding abuse cases when he is or was abusing his own family?

Hilary is 23 today and I give her tons of credit for videotaping this abuse. Her father cannot be charged since the limitations have run out. It makes me wonder what the Judge would do if he were the one being "beaten into submission?"

**Warning - The video is violent in nature and contains foul language. This video is NOT suitable for children** http://youtu.be/aF-ncGqaVVA

2004: Aransas County Court-At-Law Judge William Adams took a belt to his own teenage daughter as punishment for using the internet to acquire music and games that were unavailable for legal purchase at the time. She has had ataxic cerebral palsy from birth that led her to a passion for technology, which was strictly forbidden by her father's backwards views. The judge's wife was emotionally abused herself and was severely manipulated into assisting the beating and should not be blamed for any content in this video. The judge's wife has since left the marriage due to the abuse, which continues to this day, and has sincerely apologized and repented for her part and for allowing such a thing, long before this video was even revealed to exist. Judge William Adams is not fit to be anywhere near the law system if he can't even exercise fit judgement as a parent himself. Do not allow this man to ever be re-elected again. His "judgement" is a giant farce. Signed, Hillary Adams, his daughter.

Magid Comfort Flex Latex Glove Review

2011-11-02T09:00:00.002-04:00

One place in my home that I HATE cleaning is the bathroom. I am the only girl in the house, other than the dogs, and we all know how nasty boys can be when it comes to their aim. I had the opportunity to review some latex cleaning gloves from Magid Glove recently.

Some people have to be careful around latex, I am fortunate enough NOT to have an allergy to latex. Let me tell you, cleaning the bathroom was much nicer. I didn't have to worry about my hands touching anything gross on the back of the toilet or around the bottom of the toilet. Plus, my hands stayed clear of those harsh chemicals used to clean the bathroom.

The inside of the gloves had what smells like baby powder so you really don't smell like a cleaning lady when your cleaning is done. The palms of the gloves had bubble grips to make it easier to hold your cleaning bottles and sponges or brushes.

I have small hands and I thought the gloves would fall off but they fit pretty well and stayed put the entire time I was cleaning. When I was done cleaning, the gloves came off with ease. No sticking to my hands.

Disclosure: I received a package of Magid Comfort Flex Latex Gloves to review for free. All opinions in the above post are 100% my own and are based on my own personal experience with the product. You may have a differing opinion of this product.

Baby Shower Invitations

2011-11-01T09:00:00.002-04:00

Are you or do you know someone who is expecting a baby? It can be very stressful making sure everything is ready for your bundle of joy to arrive. The last thing you want to worry about is the invitations for the baby shower!

One website that can help you with your baby shower invites is invitationbox.com baby invitations. They have some really cute, customizable invitations and the prices aren't that bad either.

Right now you can received 10% off any order or 15% off orders of $150 or more. If you spend more than $100 you also qualify for free shipping. You have to hurry though because these offers are only good until November 30th.

And the Winner is....

2011-10-29T11:37:00.000-04:00

First, I want to thank everyone who entered the CoverYourHair.com Giveaway here on A Mom From The Burbs. Second, I want to apologize for the late announcement of this contest. I have been battling a cold all week. It finally got the best of me last night and I feel asleep before the contest ended.

Now, for the winner of this giveaway: Congratulations goes out to:

Petro - Winner of the CoverYourHair.com Giveaway

We still have some giveaways going so be sure to check those out on the right sidebar.

Autism Stinks

2011-10-28T11:44:00.002-04:00

Some people, who don't know my kids that well, might think they are weird or are being rude when they don't acknowledge or make eye contact with them when they say hi to my kids. It's very hard to explain to people, who don't want to learn, that my kids are not being rude and that they suffer from a disorder called Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Asperger Syndrome is a form of autism. "Big A" has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder with Asperger Syndrome as the standout. He is doing his best to be a "normal" kid. To help him in class, he has some extra help so he can stay on task and is getting extra help for reading.

He was around seven years old when we had him tested and discovered what was going on with him. The psychologist told us that "Big A's" scores came back as positive for a mild case of autism, I was crushed. No parent wants to hear that their child will probably struggle for the rest of their life. I took it pretty hard and I didn't want to break down in front of the guy who just told me my kid was "different".

I went home, started doing research on the disorder and decided that I would NOT treat him any differently. I would do what it took to get him through this and get him the help he needed to live a "normal" life.Or what I thought was a normal life. Little did I know that I would learn so much from a boy who only saw himself as normal.

I worked for two years to get him a para-professional to help keep him on task in class and I also started the process of getting him an IEP. His IEP is so he could get speech, social work and special services (it's called Resource Room. They help him with reading and if he needs help understanding his homework).

He is in fourth grade today (three years after he was diagnosed) and holds an A average. He is smart, caring and helpful. He signed up to be a safety and has made several friends, which he would have NEVER done before getting him some help. He has his days where he just zones out but for the most part, he is a pretty awesome kid.

"Little A" is six and he was diagnosed with ADHD when he was four. He is our spitfire. Very spirited that one is. He really has no filter when it comes to his mouth, which we are working on.

I'm really surprised that he hasn't injured himself yet. He has no fear when it comes to climbing on stuff and jumping off. Me on the other hand, I'm terrified of heights.

So far, "Little A" hasn't been diagnosed with any forms of autism but I know he is suffering from some kind of learning disorder. He is having a really hard time with the who, what, when, where, why questions and he gets frustrated very easily.

His teacher last year said that she classified him as OHI (Other Health Impairment). The term other health impairment (OHI) refers to physical or mental impairments which can affect a child’s performance at school. He gets speech therapy and some Resource Room help but not as much as his brother.

I think it's very important for family, friends, and teachers to be well educated on the different forms of autism. I also think it's very important for anyone who has contact with a child who has a learning problem to learn how to approach the child. If you have a harsh or angry approach, they are going to shut down or have a meltdown. You have to have a calm, soft approach and you have to be EXTREMELY patient with them.

If you don't see the child that often, it's going to be more difficult for the child to open up or to feel comfortable enough to interact with you. It doesn't matter if you are a relative or if you are a caregiver. The child has to feel comfortable and safe. To them, you are a stranger. Try spending more time with the child in a neutral setting and be consistent with the visits. Once every couple of months or once every year is not going to cut it.

Which brings us to schedules. Schedules become a necessity when you have children with autism. Be prepared to deal with breakdowns if you happen to change the schedule. These types of children LOVE their schedules and don't do very well with change. If your schedule does change, try to prepare your child for it. I suggest preparing at least two weeks in advance. It helps them adjust to the changes that are about to happen and the transitions are much smoother.

Autism Speaks is a great organization that offers support and different resources for parents and family members. To learn more about how you can help support a family member who is raising or living with autism, go to autismspeaks.org.

Mr Sniffles is Visiting Our House

2011-10-26T20:16:00.000-04:00

This week started off by getting a visit from Mr Sniffles! He's been ignoring me and hanging with my boys but decided today he would visit with me. Needless to say, I didn't get a great night sleep last night and have been stuffed and sniffling all day.

I'm starting to get a headache from not being able to breathe. Hopefully he doesn't visit very long. I'm glad he didn't bring his buddy's Flu and Cough. I can deal with the Sniffles but not coughing or fevers.

I noticed that there are several kids in Little A's class that have colds. A few have been coughing really bad and I hope that they keep the coughs at their house and don't send them to visit my house. The teacher even told me that she wasn't feeling well.

I'm hoping everyone is better before Halloween! It would be a bummer if they couldn't go trick-or-treating because they aren't feeling well. Maybe we need to give Mr Sniffles his walking papers. I'm sure his family misses him and would like him to come home.

Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Care Products Review and Coupon Giveaway

2011-10-25T11:17:00.000-04:00

When I was a baby, I suffered from Seborrheic dermatitis. I was told that I had it so bad that the doctors never saw a case like mine.

Now that I am an adult, I don't suffer from the symptoms that much but I do tend to get the itching of the scalp when the seasons change. When that happens, I have to buy medicated shampoos to help. I also have to avoid makeup and soaps with perfumes because it can irritate my skin and cause flare-ups.

When I had the opportunity to try out Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser and Moisturizer, I was pretty excited. Even though I was excited, I was nervous because I didn't know how my skin would react to these products. Who wants to walk around with flaky, red skin?

I've been using the products for the past few weeks and haven't had any outbreaks. Actually, my skin feels softer and any acne that was on my skin before using it is completely gone now. I love how the daily moisturizer doesn't feel greasy, like other moisturizers I have used in the past.

The only thing I had to get use to is the smell. It kind of smells like cinnamon or some kind of spice but from my understanding it's because of the cotton extract. It's not too overpowering and actually smells nice once you get use to it.

Want to learn more about the new Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin line and its gentle, natural ingredients? Check out this helpful section of key facts:
The Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin line:
Is naturally gentle and skin-friendly for daily use.
Contains Cotton Extract to soften and help replenish skin's outer layer.
Is Fragrance-Free and Hypo-Allergenic
Is Dermatologist-Tested and Allergy-Tested
Can be found in mass retailers (like Target or Walmart), drug stores, grocery stores, and natural health food stores nationwide.
Is 99% natural.
Sensitive Facial Cleanser:
This soap-free facial cleaner is clinically proven to moisturize sensitive skin while gently cleansing away dirt, oil and makeup without over drying or causing redness or irritation. Also, it:
Contains Quillaja, which is extracted from the bark of the Soapbark tree and provides a natural foaming lather.
Contains Yucca, a desert plant high in saponins, which have traditionally been used in clansing.
Costs $9.99

Sensitive Daily Moisturizer:
This all day, nourishing moisturizer is clinically proven to moisturize sensitive skin without causing redness or irritation. Also, it:
Contains Rice Extract to moisturize.
Contains Aloe to soothe.
Is Non-Comedogenic (it won't clog pores).
Costs $14.99

The sensitive skin care line also as Sensitive Eye cream and Sensitive Night Cream but I was not able to try those products. I have only written about the products that I have tried personally.

I have four coupons for $1.00 off any Burt's Bees Sensitive Skin Care product. These coupons expire December 31,2011 so you have to act fast. To make it fair, I am going to pick the winners via Rafflecopter entries.

Disclosure: I received Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser and Daily Moisturizer to review and keep through the BzzAgent program. The thoughts and opinions in this post are 100% my own. You may have different thoughts and opinions of these products. #imabzzagent

Love the Options

2011-10-24T21:07:00.002-04:00

Guest post written by Rolf Tate

I love that there are so many options here – college is the best! I get to make my own decisions and do my own thing although if my parents had their way I’d still run every major decision by them. They’re really overprotective in part because I’m an only child and also because I chose to go to college about 1000 miles away from home. That was by design, believe me, and RISD is the best school for the art program I was in so it just made sense. I’ve been getting my college pad all glammed out with Direct TV Rhode Island and paint for the walls and stuff and I know my parents are going to flip when they see it. They didn’t get consulted on any of the décor and that’s the kind of thing in the past that I certainly would have talked over with them! I can’t imagine a better place for me to get my education but I’m also glad I’ve got such supportive parents back home.

The Ripple Effect {Book Review}

2011-10-24T10:49:00.001-04:00

The Ripple Effect takes place in a small town in Georgia. Sheriff Harding Williams is informed that there is a suspicious looking car by one of the local teen hangouts, the brook. The sheriff makes his way over to the brook to discover two bloody bodies in the car. After he takes a closer look at the male occupant, he realizes that it is a famous NBA player who was at one time the towns start basketball player. The other victim was a female basketball player for the WNBA.

Sheriff Williams and local reporter Bradley Gifford end up working on the case together after the M.E's report came out and declared the deaths a murder-suicide pact. The two "sleuths" didn't believe the M.E's outcome and went in search for the real killer, if there was a killer.

The book had many slow parts to it and only became interesting in the last five chapters. I found some of the chapters too repetitive. The writer kept drilling into your head the same questions about the crime. I was hoping for some meat to the story but it was your basic melodramatic story line.

Towards the middle of the book, it was so boring that I was fighting myself to stay awake. The print didn't help much. In my opinion, the print was too small. I had to take several breaks because I was straining my eyes too much.

Also, there were an awful lot of misspelled words and missing punctuation marks for a published book. The mistakes made it difficult to read at times. I ended up taking a highlighter out and highlighting the errors.

All in all, I give this book 2 out of 5 stars. It's just ok.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of "The Ripple Effect" as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore.com to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.

And the Winner's Are.......

2011-10-22T00:32:00.000-04:00

First, I want to thank everyone who entered one of the contests here on A Mom From The Burbs. Second, we are working hard at bringing more AWESOME giveaways your way so stay tuned.

Now, for the winners of this round of giveaways: Congratulations goes out to:

ky2here - Winner of the Natural House Giveaway

Jason Nickolay - Winner of the Swype Cold & Flu Shield Giveaway

and

Hoa Lee - Winner of the Betty Crocker Box Tops for Education Giveaway

We still have some giveaways going so be sure to check those out on the right sidebar.

It's A HEXBUG Nano Halloween Party!

2011-10-21T08:00:00.003-04:00

Two different habitats put together

If you have kids, then you know Hexbug's are pretty popular. These robotic toys are now available in Glow in the Dark and we had the opportunity to have a Hexbug Nano Halloween Party to show off these fun bugs.

One of the party goers got to take home a Glow in the Dark Hexbug Habitat for their new bugs. The habitat can be connected to other habitat kits to make one giant track. The kids had fun configuring the habitat for all the bugs.

The party has begun

We couldn't find a light big enough to shine on all the tracks so the pictures aren't that impressive for the glow in the dark tracks. The party started around 2pm and we had the kids place their Hexbugs on the window ledge so that they could see them glowing. I was pretty impressed with how bright the bugs were.

You can barely make out the track glowing

I was able to hand out some of the limited edition Hexbug Halloween Vampire Bugs. They came in a coffin shaped box that the kids LOVED. I would say the only thing I did not like about the Hexbug Glow in the Dark Halloween Vampire Bugs was that the exoskeleton came off the top of the bugs and were easily lost. Plus, my six year old wanted to place them in his mouth. That isn't good for households that have smaller children that are constantly placing things in their mouths. To me, it was a chocking hazard even though the box clearly states that it is for children 3 and up.

The kids enjoyed racing the bugs up and down the tracks. All the kids at the party received a Hexbug Nano gift and a set of batteries so that they could continue the fun at home. This was my first hosting party and I enjoyed it very much. We loved trying out the Hexbug Halloween Bugs and the habitat set.

You can purchase Hexbugs at Radio Shack and various other stores. The bugs range in price from $5-$15 and the habitats range in price from $30-$50. This is something that boys will probably have on their Christmas list this year.

Disclosure: I received a Hexbug Halloween Party Kit in exchange for my post. The thoughts and opinions in this post are 100% my own. You may have a different opinion or experience with this product. Thank you to Hexbug and MomSelect for the opportunity.

Apple Orchard Field Trip

2011-10-20T11:55:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, October 18th, I went with my sons Kindergarten class on an apple orchard field trip. I was lucky enough to only have my son in my group. There were four classes that went and tons of parents so most of the parents only had two kids each.

The kids learned how apples grow on trees and how bees are important in that process. The dads had to get up in front of all the kids and do a little bee dance, which the kids thought was hilarious. The lady made them shake their butts and run around a tree with little bee puppets on their fingers.

After the kids learned about the correct way to take an apple off the tree (twist, twist, pull) then it was time for the wagon ride out to the orchard. The kids got to pick one apple. By the way, there wasn't that many to choose from. We went down three aisles of apple trees before we even found one.

Little A found an apple that he liked and took the apple off the tree the right way. You have to twist, twist and pull. If you just pull the apple off the tree, it damages the branch and no other apple will ever grown on the branch again. I never knew that until we went into the classroom barn at the apple orchard.

Once Little A picked out his apple, it was time to get back on the wagon. It took us back to the barn so we could eat lunch and get our donut and cider! There is NOTHING like a fresh donut and cider. I only saw one spill, which was at our table but at the other end from where we were sitting!

We finished lunch quickly and went out to the little animal area. They only had one cow, two pigs, a couple baby peacocks, chickens and about 10 goats. The goats had mice that were living under their wooden house. The mice would come out, grab some apple and run back under the goat house.

Little A kept wanting me to buy him a pumpkin but I told him I couldn't take it on the bus. Plus, the pumpkins they did have were not very good. Most of them were smashed in from people stepping on them from the other field trips that were there. I told him we would go and get pumpkins this weekend.

We looked at the different flowers and different picture areas. The flowers were really pretty and I told Little A we would have to get some for our house. We walked around looking at all the flowers and pumpkins until we loaded the bus at 12:15.

This was the first field trip of the school year and it was pretty fun. We didn't have any rain and it wasn't that cold out. I'm looking forward to going on another Kindergarten field trip! I know Little A is looking forward to it too.

Groove Kid Nation CD Review

2011-10-20T08:00:00.001-04:00

Product Description: (information taken from Tomoson.com)
Music in Motion continues off of the success of the critically acclaimed first release, The Wheels on the Bus. This time around, Lee and his team of top L.A. musicians recorded an album designed to get children moving to the beat while simultaneously learning about musical concepts and instruments.

Through groovy soul tracks, this mostly original set draws kids into the action with specific instructions on what to do from funny dances, to playing air guitar, to responding to musical cues, to simply nodding their heads to the beat.

An entirely new band of feline characters known as the Kool Katz guide the fun, and the enclosed 10-page booklet features colorful illustrations of each Kool Kat playing their own instrument.

Ten percent of the wholesale price of Music In Motion will be donated to CARE, a leading humanitarian organization fighting poverty.

My Experience:
My kids and I received a copy of the Groove Kids Nation CD to review. This CD of groovy kids songs are a mix of blues and soul. There is a total of 10 songs on the CD and each one is fun and energetic. Inside, you will find a colorful book that shows the listener what the characters look like.

The lead male singer kind of reminds me of the guy on Yo Gabba Gabba on NickJr. I'm not sure if it's him or not but it sure sounds like him. Either way the kids like the CD a lot.

I like the way the songs teach the kids about music and get the kids moving. We were able to have a mini dance party in the family room. We do that from time to time. My six year old seemed to be into the music more than my ten year old, so keep that in mind.

My sister-in-law is a kindergarten teacher and I think when the kids get bored with this CD, I'll give her the CD for her class to listen to. It would make a nice addition to school parties or for free time. The songs are all clean, which means no foul language and no suggestive materials. Just pure, clean music and fun.

I also LOVE the fact that they are using 10% of sales to help fight poverty. If we could all chip in maybe no child or person would go hungry again. Bravo to Groove Kid Nation for making a difference. If you would like to learn more about how you can fight poverty while grooving out, check out www.groovekidnation.com

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Big G cereals and DC Comics have combined powers!

2011-10-19T10:58:00.000-04:00

Hold on to your capes for a breakfast of heroic proportions!

Big G cereals and DC Comics have combined powers in their dedicated efforts to promote reading among children. They have enlisted the help of the Justice League, from Batman to Wonder Woman to Green Lantern, and they are coming right to your breakfast table! Available now, specially marked Big G cereal boxes feature action packed, collectable Justice League comic books.

Want more action adventure? Each comic contains a link to www.BigGCerealHeroes.com for continuations of each story, not to mention a cut-out DC Super Hero mask on the back of the box perfect for helping the Justice League fight crime at breakfast time!

Disclosure: This information was provided by DC Comics and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

Beach Lovers and Metal Detectors

2011-10-19T08:00:00.003-04:00

This is another one of my Christmas shopping posts. I guess this would go out to all the coastal readers who know someone who likes metal detecting on the beach. From my understanding, metal detecting is kind of like your modern day treasure hunter.

Think about it, you go to the beach early in the morning and scan the sand for buried treasure. Hopefully, these beach and treasure lovers are using waterproof metal detectors because we don't want them ruining something so important for them.

I've seen shows on television that talk about people finding rings, watches, coins and necklaces on the beach just from using a metal detector. So, if you are looking for a gift for a beach loving friend, then I would suggest buying them a metal detector. Maybe they will share their treasure with you in return.

Shopping for the Boys

2011-10-18T08:00:00.001-04:00

With Christmas fast approaching, I have been trying to look for stuff for the kids that they will like and stuff that they can wear to school. I know they don't like getting clothes for Christmas but I usually get them a couple outfits anyway.

The thing my kids are really into right now are graphic tees but most of the ones I have seen are either covered in skulls and crossbones or have some weird cartoon on it that is totally inappropriate for school. They need something that is "in" and something that isn't going to get them kicked out of school.

Plus, it's not very easy shopping for boys. Have you noticed that most of the clothes in the stores are for girls? What, boys don't want to get dressed? These stores need to shape up and make things equal as far as clothing goes. I never realized, until I had my boys, how hard it is for moms or for anyone shopping for boys to buy clothes for them.

Finding a Cheap Web Host

2011-10-17T10:47:00.000-04:00

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions in the following post are 100% my own. You may have a different opinion or experience with this product or service.

I've been giving thought into moving my blog to a different blog platform but I still need to find a cheap website host. Since I am still fairly new to the blogging world, I can't and don't want to spend a ton of money on hosting services. I came across a site called WebHostingColumns that lists sites that offer cheap hosting.

I love the idea of having the companies listed on one page so I can compare prices and the services that they offer. I don't have time to search all over the internet for affordable hosting services. Plus, most of the sites I have seen in the past seem a bit shady.

I was able to read reviews on each of the companies I was interested in and have decided that HostGator might be the choice for me. How is or was your experience with them? Would you recommend HostGator to me? If not, why?

I would hate to sign up for a company and find out that I don't get the support I need to transfer my blog. I'm not a very technical person and would need help setting up my site and making sure things work the way they are suppose to work. I can't afford to have my site down for too long.

If you know of a cheap website host, please let me know in the comment section below.

Mixbook Personalized Holiday Cards Review

2011-10-14T10:41:00.000-04:00

It's been almost ten years since I have sent out Christmas cards. I was so excited to get a chance to review personalized holiday cards from Mixbook.com. I will definitely be sending out Christmas cards this year.

Before I used the Mixbook site to create my holiday cards, I had never heard of them. I guess I am so used to hear other names such as Snapfish and Tiny Prints. Some of the other sites I have used are NOT user friendly so I was kind of nervous about using Mixbook. Plus, I'm not really that creative.

a sample of some of the templates

I was able to sign up for a free account and was surprised at all the templates that I had to choose from. You can customize your cards with different text styles, insert your photos and even update the cards with stickers! I found it very easy to use. I was pretty happy that I didn't have to be extremely creative to use or customize my cards.

The hardest part of creating my cards was getting my boys and the dog to cooperate! The kids didn't want to smile and the dog didn't want her picture taken. She kept trying to escape. We were able to keep her in place with a treat but then the kids would not smile. I took me about fifteen minutes to get a decent enough picture to put on our cards.

the cards I received

I received a set of 30 5x7 flat holiday cards, with envelopes, that came in record time. I believe I ordered them on the second of October and I received them on the sixth! Whenever I need to create invitations or holiday cards in the future, I will definitely be using Mixbook.

Stay updated on all that Mixbook has to offer by following on these social networking sites:

Mixbook Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/mixbook

Mixbook Twitter profile: http://www.twitter.com/mixbook

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

What Are Your Thoughts About the Flu Vaccine?

2011-10-13T09:00:00.008-04:00

I personally have never had the flu vaccine. My kids have had the H1N1 vaccine but have never had the annual flu vaccine. I'm worried about over-vaccinating them for illnesses that are considered common.

The people that I know that have had the flu vaccine have all said they have had reactions to the vaccine. Why would I want my kids getting sick from something that is supposed to protect them? It makes no sense to me and I know there are people and doctors that say you can't get sick from the vaccine. I say otherwise.

I feel like the doctors and pharmaceutical companies are pushing the vaccine. To me, they are only worried about making money and NOT protecting people from an illness that is a VIRUS! If they have a vaccine for the flu, why not the common cold which is also a virus?

Think about when we were kids what they told us about viruses. "Just let them run their course." How many times did you hear that from your doctor or parents? "A virus can not be treated." How many times did you hear that from your doctor? Now, all of a sudden they want to tell us that they can treat a virus? I don't buy it.

So, what are your feelings about the flu vaccine? Get one or not?

What in the World is Going On?: 10 Prophetic Clues You Cannot Afford to Ignore by David Jeremiah (Book Review)

2011-10-12T20:25:00.000-04:00

If you are into prophecy and are extremely religious, then this is probably a book you would enjoy. This book takes a look at bible predictions and the end of this world we call home. One of the things covered is the terrorist attacks and the war that followed.

I found the book hard to read but like I said in a previous post, I am not a religious person. There was so much biblical references that it pretty much overwhelmed the book, which was part of the reason it was so hard to read.

One of the reasons I requested this book was because I find prophecy or predictions interesting. I was thinking this book would be more like Nostradamus. Had I know that this book was basically as retelling of the bible, I would not have requested it.

I'll admit that some of the prophecies from the bible and events that have happened are crazy but it could be coincidence. I don't want to live my life based on things that could or could not happen. If we lived like that could you imagine the amount of stress we would all have?

I was only able to make it 1/2 way through the book before it totally lost my attention. I would only suggest this book to those who live by the bible or are religious. If you have no interest in religion, then this would not be the book for you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper Book Review

2011-10-11T10:31:00.000-04:00

I am not a religious person so I was a bit nervous when requesting a copy of Shadows on the Sand by Gayle Roper, a Christian writer. I don't like books that are loaded with bible verses. Some is ok but don't let it take up ALL of the story. I can honestly say this book had the correct balance of bible verses and story.

So, what's it about?
This story takes place in Seaside, New Jersey and if you are a fan of Jersey Shore, yes it's where Jersey Shore takes place. Only this is a book and much better, in my opinion, than Jersey Shore the television show.

Carrie, who runs Carrie's Cafe, ran away from her alcoholic mother when she was just 16 years old. She brought her 10 year old sister, Lindsay, along with her and they settled into a new life in Seaside, New Jersey.

Carrie wanted Greg, an ex cop, to notice her for years but understood that he probably wasn't ready yet. See Greg lost his wife and two kids in a terrible accident and he just wasnt' ready to move on yet. Something happened one day that made Greg take notice and the two soon were smitten with each other.

One day, there was talk of a murder in Seaside. Carrie and Greg soon found themselves trying to figure out who committed the murder, which brought the two closer than ever. Would this be the time for both of them?

You'll just have to read it and find out: 1) If Greg and Carrie end up together and 2) Who committed the murder.

Click here to read the first chapter: Shadows on the Sand - Chapter One

My Thoughts of the Book:
Like I said before, I am not religious but this book was able to have the right balance of story and bible verses and references. The only thing that was kind of distracting was that the book bounced from character to character a lot.

I was able to feel for the characters and wanted to help them figure out who the murderer was. Just when you think you have figured out who committed the crime, there is a twist and you find out you were wrong about who you thought it was. I love mystery and romance novels and this had both.

Would I recommend this book to others?
I would recommend this book to my readers as long as you don't mind bible verses or references. I understood why they were using them. The main character, Carrie, was a religious person and the story is told through her eyes.

Disclosure: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

October Blog Giveaways

2011-10-10T11:16:00.000-04:00

The following is a list of current giveaways for the month of October (one November made it to the list) on A Mom From The Burbs.

Natural House Cleaning Prouduct Giveaway (USA - Ends 10/22)

http://www.amomfromtheburbs.com/2011/09/natural-house-cleaning-products.html

Swype Cold & Flu Shield Giveaway (USA - Ends 10/22)

http://www.amomfromtheburbs.com/2011/09/swype-cold-flu-shield-giveaway.html

Betty Crocker Box Tops for Education Giveaway (USA - Ends 10/22)

http://www.amomfromtheburbs.com/2011/09/betty-crocker-box-tops-for-education.html

CoverYourHair.com Giveaway (World Wide - Ends 10/29)

http://www.amomfromtheburbs.com/2011/09/coveryourhaircom-giveaway.html

My Monster Burrufu Book Giveaway (USA - Ends 11/5)

http://www.amomfromtheburbs.com/2011/10/my-monster-burrufu-book-review-giveaway.html

My Monster Burrufu Book Review & Giveaway

2011-10-10T09:00:00.026-04:00

About the Author and Illustrator: (taken from the book)

Alberto Corral - Author

Alberto Corral (author), a native of the Canary Islands, Spain, lived in many cities around the world before hanging his hat in Los Angeles, California. He currently works as a character animator for DreamWorks Animation.

A man of many talents, Alberto doesn't just write children's books; he is also a filmmaker and screenwriter. His passion is for storytelling in any form. He enjoys life in sunny California with his lovely wife, Carolina, scouting the city for the perfect dessert (he is very close).

Alessandra Sorrentino (illustrator) lives in Turin, Italy. She was raised on pasta and Japanese anime. She now works as an animator, a story artist, and an illustrator for Cartoon Network, Disney, and BBC. She loves cats, cooking, and vintage typewriters.

Meet the Characters:

Olivia - 7 year old girl

Steve - Olivia's dad & writer

Mark - Steve's friend and editor

Tula - Olivia's dog

Burrufu - Monster living in Olivia's attic & her best friend

What's it About?
My Monster Burrufu is about a little 7 year old girl named Olivia and the monster she finds living in a secret attic in their new home. It's a story about love, friendship and liking someone for who they are, not how they look. Burrufu doesn't want anything to do with Olivia at first.

Olivia and her dad Steve, who is a writer, move from the big city to a more quiet country setting. One day, while Steve is fast asleep, Olivia goes down to the kitchen for some cookies. She couldn't sleep and needed a snack. On her way back up to bed, she remembers she forgot to put the milk away and heads back to the kitchen. She flips the light on and is shocked, yet excited to see a big, hairy monster in their new kitchen.

Burrufu was so used to being alone that he ran when he spotted Olivia. She chased him, following crumbs of cookies he had taken, but lost him down one of the many hallways. Where did he go? He just disappeared!

Want to know what happens next? Well, you are just going to have to buy the book or enter my giveaway!!

My Experience:
This book is full of excitement and action. I didn't want to put the book down, which almost NEVER happens to me. I tend to get bored easily. That didn't happen with this book. It kept my attention all the way through.

This book is perfect for those kids who are able to read chapter books but you could also read it to a smaller child. The pictures in the book help bring the story to life and has a hint of anime, thanks to illustrator Alessandra Sorrentino.

I wanted the story to keep going. When I was finished reading the book, I had a big smile on my face. Not because I was happy that the book was finished but because that's how the book made me feel, happy.

I can only hope that there is a follow up to My Monster Burrufu. I want to know what happens next. The author, Alberto Corral, hints to what happens but you are left to figure it out for yourself. I want more!!

If I were to rate My Monster Burrufu on a scale of stars, I would give it 5/5 stars.

Things I Learned:
Friendship comes in any shape and size. The old adage, "Don't judge a book by it's cover" is so true in this wonderfully cute story. You have to like someone for who they are, not the way they look. It's ok to be different. That's what makes you, you!

It's GIVEAWAY Time:
Two lucky A Mom From The Burbs readers will have the chance to win a copy of My Monster Burrufu! This contest will be open to US residents 18+. Please complete all the mandatory entries on the Rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!

Disclosure: I received a copy of My Monster Burrufu as compensation for my review. The thoughts and opinions of the book are 100% my own. You may have a different opinion.

Kindergarten Adventures #2

2011-10-08T10:08:00.000-04:00

This is my second installation of Kindergarten Adventures. To read the first post, click here.

It's been a couple of weeks since my first post about Kindergarten Adventures. I wanted to make sure I had some stuff to write about. Since it's Kindergarten, you pretty much have something to write about all the time.

I finally know all the kids by name. All 22 of them! I'm impressed because I'm HORRIBLE with names. You could tell me your name and five minutes later I would forget it. Then I would keep talking to you, desperately trying to figure your name out, by reciting the A,B,C's in my head, with no luck. Then you would leave the room and I would quickly ask someone what your name was.

So, last time I wrote about getting the kids take home folders ready and waiting for more duties. Well, watch what you ask for because I have a lot more duties, which makes me wonder why I am not getting paid. I still get the folders ready with papers to go home but I also pass out popcorn on Friday's, break up little squabbles, help the plant and fish caregiver for the day water and feed the plant and fish, on Wednesday mornings I help out at all the learning stations and was just informed that I will be teaching the kids the Motor Mom's and Dad's program.

I'll try to explain what Motor Mom's and Dad's is. I say try because I still don't fully understand it. I will be taking two kids at a time to the hallway where I will have some things set up. One of them is a balance beam. The kids will take turns walking on the balance beam. Each child will have to walk back and forth four times while saying their A,B,C's.

Then, the kids will move onto a balance board. The board is curved on the bottom and flat on top. There will be two buckets in front of the board. One will be filled with cotton balls and the other will be empty. The kids will take some tongs and pick up the cotton balls, one by one, and place them into the empty bucket. Once the bucket is full, they will switch the tongs to the other hand and repeat the process.

Once that activity is done, they will stay on the balance board and I will toss bean bags at them. They will catch the bean bags and drop them straight down. We do that four times for each child. While I'm tossing bean bags at them they will either say their A,B,C's, say the letter sounds or read flash cards.

Let's see, after the toss activity, they will take one of those bean bags and place it on their head. They will have to walk down the hallway and back without touching the bean bag. If it falls off their head they have to bend down, pick it up and place it back on their head before continuing to walk. They have to do this four times as they say their A,B,C's or read flash cards.

The final activity will be to stand on either the balance beam or balance board as I swing a ball, that will be connected to the ceiling, in an arch at their eye level. They will have to catch the ball and toss it back the opposite direction. Kind of like playing tether ball without the pole. While they are doing this, they will have to say the letter sounds or A,B,C's.

Apparently, this is suppose to teach them how to be better readers. Like I said, I don't fully understand it but I guess it's suppose to strengthen their eye muscles and coordination, which in turn is suppose to help them with reading.

This is a program that all the Kindergarten classes will be participating in and all the kids will be required to do it. They say we should be able to get through an entire class in a one hour period. I'm not sure that will happen. Do you know how unfocused a Kindergartner's brain is? It's like they are constantly downing sugar. I'm not kidding. I thought it was just my kids but as a volunteer, I clearly see it's not.

Getting them ready to go home at the end of the day is like watching the zoo animals at feeding time. Even though we tell them not to run and to return to their seats after getting their back packs, coats and lunch boxes, they still want to mingle by the coat rack. And they all scream, "Mrs. H, I need help with my back pack or Mrs. H, I need help zipping my coat or Mrs. H, I need help tying my shoe!" Then I have Mrs. C hollering at me to make sure the kids have their lunch boxes and to make sure they are marking their behavior on the back of their take home folders.

It is nice when I come into class at 3pm everyday and all the kids come running, "Mrs. H!" and giving me hugs. They really have come to enjoy having an extra adult in the class to help them. I feel bad because I know when I come in they are still learning but that doesn't matter to them. The teacher has thrown me some looks but I can't help what the kids do. I tell them to sit down that they are still learning and that they can give me a hug at centers time. Centers is basically like free time but they are learning at the same time.

I'll be going with them on an apple orchard field trip in a couple of weeks. It will be the first field trip of the year and I'm hoping it goes well. They are all excited about going! One, I hope the weather is nice when we go and two having all the Kindergarten classes on the field trip is going to be crazy. Can you imagine 80, give or take a few, 4-5 and 6 year old's all in the same place? What was I thinking? It should be fun though. We will get to pick an apple, have donuts and cider and go on a hay ride and they have a petting farm attached. That should make for a good post huh?

Even though the class has been plagued by illness the past couple of weeks. You know your typical colds, fevers and rashes, it's been pretty fun. I like all the kids and enjoy watching Little A grow and learn with his friends. This school year is going to give me lots of good stuff to write about. I can just feel it!

The Dream Job I Sacrificed

2011-10-06T10:08:00.001-04:00

The medical care industry seems like the only industry that always has jobs available. When I was younger, I was attending college to become a Surgical Technologist but ended up not finishing. I still plan on finishing or even looking into Medical Office Manager Jobs once the kids are a bit older.

I've always wanted to work in the medical care industry. I guess it peaked my interest when my sister was younger and she had to have surgery. I can remember how helpful and nice the nursing staff were. I really wanted to have a job where I could help people and nursing just seemed like the perfect fit for me. I guess you could have called it my dream job.

My high school offered a Nurse Assisting program that I took and did very well in. I was able to get certified and even found a job at a nursing home taking care of dementia patients at the age of 17. It was an experience I will never forget. These people depended on me to care for them and in turn they were teaching me how to be what I always wanted to be.

I loved working in that nursing home but had to quit after getting injured on the job. One of my patients was falling and I caught her wrong and ended up hurting my back. I felt that it would be best for the patients if I would step aside from the job that I loved. It made no sense staying when I couldn't do my job safely or properly anymore.

After leaving the nursing home, I ended up applying to the Surgical Technology program at my local college but I only applied because they didn't offer a nursing program at that time. All I knew is that I wanted to help people and I wanted to work in a hospital. I guess I should have did some research on what exactly a Surgical Technologist did before applying.

Don't get me wrong, being a Surgical Technologist is a great job and they help support the surgical team. I just wanted a job that was more hands on with the patients. I look back on it now and realize I was stupid for not finishing. Sure, if I finished the course and became certified, things would be so much easier on us but what else would be different? Things happen for a reason and it just wasn't in my cards at the time to finish school.

As I got older, I got married and had kids so that dream job just didn't seem as important to me. My life became and is about raising my kids. I like spending time with them and helping with homework or making up some game that we can all play. We turn the television off at 8pm and talk about our day, which the kids have come to LOVE. I also get to volunteer in class and get to meet their friends. I can see on their faces how important it is to them.

Will I go back one day? I'm sure I will. Will it be for my dream job? Probably not. I want to show my kids that 1) Education is very important and 2) You are never too old to go back to school.

For now, being a mom is my dream job. Even though I only get pain in hugs and kisses. Well, I guess that would be the best pay in the world!

What career did you want to have when you were younger? Are you in that field of work today? Let me know in the comment section below.

Doctor's Office Nightmare

2011-10-04T11:24:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I took Big A to the doctors for his ADHD follow-up. Our appointment was at 3:45pm so I had to take him and Little A out of school at 3:20pm to get to the appointment on time. If you are one minute late they make you reschedule the appointment and will charge you a fee.

We got to the doctor's office, signed in at 3:35pm and took our seats in the waiting room. Did I mention that I HATE this particular office (it's part of the Oakwood Health Care system) with a passion but because my husband's insurance sucks we have to go to either that office or one that is just too far out of the way?

Anywho, we are sitting one seat over from this 20 something year old woman with a year to a year and a half year old little boy. Right in front of us is a window to the pharmacy and that window is open. No glass, just open so you can see through to the pharmacy and to the customers waiting in line to pick up their prescriptions. This crazy woman sitting next to us starts talking loud and I think nothing of it because I thought she was talking on her cell phone. I'll try to relive the moment for you, mind you I'm sitting with my ten year old and my six year old:

Crazy Woman: "I hear you talking about me."

Woman waiting in pharmacy line: (can't really hear what she is saying)

Crazy Woman: "Why you got to be trashy all up in my business?"

Other Woman: (Again can't hear what she is saying because there is a wall there)

Crazy Woman: "Stay out of my business. I'm talking to you trash!"

Other Woman: (Still can't hear her)

Crazy Woman: (Who are you? Are you her mother? You old! Mind your business!)

Other Woman: "My mother is dead!"

Crazy Woman: "You better shut your mouth before I bust you in your head and break your neck! You just trashy all up in my business talkin' Sh*t. Who is you?"

At this point, the receptionist comes out to the lobby, stands in front of the little window area to block the view of the crazy woman. The crazy woman gets up, walks around to the pharmacy entrance (there was a little hallway that connected the waiting room to the pharmacy)and tries to pick a fight with this other woman. The receptionist tells the crazy woman to come back around and sit down. She told her there are patients here and to stay seated. She pulled the partition down so the crazy woman couldn't yell back and forth with the other woman in the pharmacy line.

After crazy sat down, Little A turns to me and says, "This place is stupid! I want to go home." I told him we couldn't go home because Big A still needed to see the doctor. I felt so uncomfortable and wanted to leave but I knew Big A still needed to be seen.

We finally get called back to a room and I tell them that Big A was there for his ADHD follow-up but that he has a rash I want checked out and a cough. They take his vital signs and we wait some more.

Finally, the doctor comes in and checks his rash over. I tell him he has been taking Bactrim for folliculitis (read the previous post)and broke out in this rash and that his brother had the same reaction on Saturday and had to go to urgent care. He told me to stop giving him Bactrim, which I did and told me to give him some Benadryl. He said that if he got worse to bring him back! What? The kids having an allergic reaction to the medication and you aren't going to give him anything?

Oh, then he has the nerve to say, "You need to be making follow-up appointments with the same doctor." I tell him, "Every time we try to make a follow-up with the same doctor, that doctor isn't here anymore or, like today, the receptionist calls and tries to reschedule our appointment three times because the doctor won't be in the office that day." I tell him it's very difficult to make appointments because I have to take them out of school each time just to wait in the waiting room for an hour. It's not fair to the kids. He basically just looked at me, gave us our prescription for Big A's ADHD medication and sent us on our way.

We go to the front desk to check out and make another appointment for the following month. Don't ask me why? I just did. The lady wanted me to schedule the appointment for, get this, Halloween! I told her, "Lady, I don't want to die that day. My kids would kill me if I took them away from their school parties or had to bring them here on Halloween." She looks at me and says, "Oh, well how about November 2." LOL! I told her that would be fine and we were finally ready to go home. I take a look at the clock and HOLY CRAP it's 5 O'Clock!!! We were in there for almost an hour and a half just for a prescription refill!!?

They never see you at your appointment time. You always have to wait an hour or more and they NEVER see you for more than five minutes! How is this good health care? Did I mention I hate that place with a PASSION? So, what's the longest time you ever spent at a doctors office. Not an emergency room or urgent care but a regular doctors office? Let me know in the comment section below.

Burt's Bees BuzzKit

2011-10-04T10:48:00.000-04:00

I was doing the happy dance yesterday when the mail arrived because I finally got my new BuzzKit! The mail lady actually had to back up her little mail truck because she forgot to put it in my mailbox. What's in it? Burt's Bees Facial Cleaner and Moisturizer! I'm actually looking forward to trying it out.

My kit also included $1.00 off coupons and free samples to hand out to family and friends. The free samples are of the moisturizing cream and the back of the packet has coupons, so I got bonus coupons! This is the second BuzzKit that I have received in the past few weeks. The first one was a Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster RC, which is super fun. Click on the highlighted link to check out the post.

I think after I review the product for myself, I'll hold a contest for the samples and coupons. That way my awesomely fabulous readers can try Burt's Bees for themselves. Look for my review of Burt's Bees in the coming weeks.

Disclosure: #imabzzagent and I received free samples of Burt's Bees to try. My review post will contain my 100% honest opinion of the product. You may have a different experience or opinions of this product.

McCrenshaw's Newest Thoughts: Make Fall Leaves with Broken Crayons and a Hair Dr...

2011-10-03T10:32:00.003-04:00

I thought I would share this blog post with you guys. I really liked the craft and may even try it with my kids when we get a free moment. I know we have tons of crayons that are broken and we never know what to do with them. Thanks to Alicia, the writer over at McCrenshaw.blogspot.com, we have a craft for those unwanted, broken crayons.

The best thing is, you don't just have to use it for fall projects. You could use it for all the holiday's!! Just click the link below or the blog title to be taken to the craft and enjoy.

McCrenshaw's Newest Thoughts: Make Fall Leaves with Broken Crayons and a Hair Dr...: I saw a really cool idea for making autumn leaf sun catchers in a catalog the other day. It had the leaves outlined with colored construct...

Weirder Than Marshmallows eBook Review

2011-10-02T19:04:00.007-04:00

This post will be about an eBook I had the opportunity to read and review. It's called Weirder Than Marshmallows. It's a book of essays and observations by the late Dan Fogg and was compiled and edited by his mom Deborah Carney.

I wanted to review this book because it seemed like something I would be interested in. The description I was given was that it was about things that actually happened. Who doesn't like true stories that could possibly make you laugh?

As I read, I really didn't understand where the humor came in to play. It's does get you to think about things that you see or read every day. More like the stupid things you see or read.

One of the things that made me a bit angry was on page 9 called: Liquid Flame. Towards the end of the chapter it talks about kids being "dumbasses" and that we need to "lock them all in cages until they turn 21." As a mom, I find this excerpt EXTREMELY offensive. To tell people to lock children in cages is not right in any way. There are stupid people that will read this and say, "Well, the book says we should lock them in cages because they are dumbasses."

I pretty much lost all interest in what I was reading at that point but continued on because that's what I was picked to do. Read it and give my honest opinion . After reading a few more chapters, I realized that it really wasn't a book but more of a personal journal of things that happened to the author.

Some of the chapters, which are only a page or two long, do get you to think about stupid things that you may have seen in your everyday life that was weird. Like, did you ever read the back of the shampoo bottle? Who needs instructions on how to use shampoo? Yet there are instructions on how to use it. That's kind of an example of what can you expect to read in this eBook.

While I appreciate what the author was trying to do, I really didn't enjoy the book as much as I probably should have. It's not that it was boring or stupid in anyway, it's just not what I was expecting or my kind of reading interest. I like a funny book but in my opinion, this just wasn't that funny. I'm not saying that you might not think it's funny because you may have a different sense of humor than I do. You would have to read it for yourself and form your own opinion.

As a special limited offer, if you purchase Weirder than Marshmallows for the Kindle and you forward Deborah your receipt to dc@nightfirepublications.com, they will send you a special Scentsy Pumpkin Marshmallow Scent Circle. You can purchase Weirder Than Marshmallows eBook at the link below.

http://www.amazon.com/Weirder-Than-Marshmallows-ebook/dp/B005FMC7YU/

Let them know what you think of Weirder Than Marshmallows by liking and then leaving a comment on their Facebook pages:

http://www.facebook.com/NightFirePublications

http://www.facebook.com/WeirderThanMarshmallows

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster RC Review

2011-10-02T14:58:00.000-04:00

The car we received

My kids and I had the opportunity to try the Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster Remote Control car thanks to BzzAgent. Before the package came, I was pretty sure that my boys would have the car demolished before the end of the first day. I will admit when I am wrong and this is one of those times.

The controls were a bit too complicated for my six year old to figure out but my ten year old LOVES this car. He was able to be as rough as he wanted and the car still works great after two weeks of using it. The thing he likes best is the fact that the car can do some flips.

Another thing he really liked is that the car does a trick called buzzsaw spin. You push a button on the controller and the car spins in circles really fast one way and then changes directions. My understanding is that the cars feature one of three tricks but with practice you can learn all three. So far, he's only mastered the featured buzzsaw spin.

One side of the car is green and the other side is blue so it's basically like getting two cars in one. We did notice that the car tends to get stuck a lot and has to be nudged sometimes. I don't know if this is from running it on the carpet or if the dogs fur got stuck in the wheels. One place we didn't try the car is outside because it's for indoor use only.

You know how sometimes the cars run on the same frequency and you can control one car with two different controllers? Well, the thing I liked about these cars is that there are three different frequencies that the cars can run on. That means if you have three kids that have a Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster RC, you just switch the frequency to 1,2 or 3 and everyone can play with their cars at the same time.

One of the things I didn't like were that it requires five AA batteries for the controller. This can get expensive. A plus is that the car doesn't need batteries. You connect the car, with a retractable cord, to the controller to charge up the car.

A major bummer for me was that it takes about 20-30 minutes to complete the charge. With that charge you only get 15-30 minutes of play time. I didn't like that because they just got into doing tricks and having fun and it was time to charge the car again.

Even though there were some flaws, the main fact is my kids really liked playing with the car. That is a huge bonus in my book. So, would I recommend this car to other moms and dads? I sure would. Like I said, the kids loved it. I can live with buying batteries for the controller and I can even live with the fact that they only get 15-30 minutes of play time out of a single charge. Face it, a kids attention span isn't very long and they tend to get bored after 15-30 minutes anyway.

Now that you know how we enjoyed the car, want to know where you can get one? You can pick up a Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster RC at Walmart, Target, Toys R Us and Kmart for $24.99. I think it would make a great Christmas present for kids 8 and up, even though the box says for 6 and up. The controls just made it too difficult for my six year old to work.

Disclosure: I received a Tonka XT Ricochet Trickster RC for free to review. I was able to do this because #imabzzagent. The opinions of this product are 100% my own. You may have a different opinion of this product.

Rashes, Coughs and Now HIVES

2011-10-01T10:12:00.000-04:00

This week has been the worse as far as illnesses in our home. It started off last Friday when my little one was diagnosed with folliculitis (is inflammation of one or more hair follicles). How he got that is anyone's guess.

Then, my oldest came down with the same thing and both were put on antibiotics. Everything was clearing up nicely when Wednesday rolled around. I thought at that point everyone was getting back to healthy status when my oldest one started coughing really bad.

I can deal with coughing. That's not a big deal since everyone coughs from time to time but he was coughing so bad that his voice got hoarse. Now it was antibiotics and cough medicine.

Well, this morning we wake up and my six year old has HIVES! I don't know if it's from something he ate or the antibiotics he was on. I don't understand how he can have a reaction to an antibiotic 8 days after taking it. Whatever the cause, this is the same reaction he had when he took amoxicillin.

I just want to crawl under the covers and not come out today. I'm afraid of what else is going to happen today? It's cold, windy and I have two sick kids. I hate when back-to-school time brings everyone else's germs to our house.

CoverYourHair.com #Giveaway

2011-09-30T11:16:00.002-04:00

The hat and scarf I received

I had the opportunity to receive and review a hat and scarf from CoverYourHair. Now that the weather is getting cooler, I was pretty happy to receive the items. Plus, the hat is really cute.

The hat that I receive is very roomy yet the elastic on the back holds the hat on tight. So, it can be worn with a pony tail or if you happen to have very thick hair you won't have to worry about the hat fitting. The scarf can be worn for the cold weather or you could drape it over a white shirt as an accessory and it would still look wonderful.

I've been using my hat and scarf for the past two weeks and haven't had any problems with them. Usually, when I wear hats, they mess up my hair or give me hat hair but I wore this hat all day and my hair was fine when I took the hat off for the night.

CoverYourHair doesn't just make hats and scarfs. They also have an awesome collection of hair accessories for women, children and babies. I took a peek at the baby hats and LOVE them. They are knit hats with a large flower on the side of them. I also saw some where you don't have to have the flower attached but I like the ones with the flower.

Another of my favorites is the head accessories for children. They have some really cute hair clips for girls and for babies. I really like the two color ribbon bow barrettes. They would be so cute for picture day or for every day use.

I could brag about CoverYourHair.com all day long but I don't want to just tell you about my experience with their products, I want to to be able to experience some of the products for yourself. What better way than to hold a giveaway!!! CoverYourHair is offering up a a free $25 box of surprise hair accessories. How awesome is that? Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Good Luck!

Disclosure: I receive a free hat and scarf as compensation for this review. The opinions expressed in this post are 100% my own. You may have a different opinion of this company and their products.

SodaStream Soda Maker #imabzzagent

2011-09-30T11:05:00.002-04:00

I would be lying if I said I wasn't addicted to pop or as the southern folks say, "Soda." I drink about a case and a half a week, which isn't good. Top that with buying bottled water and it gets pretty expensive every week.

I was watching the Today show one morning and saw this contraption called the Sodastream Soda Maker and fell in LOVE with it. You can take your average bottle of water and turn it into carbonated water or a soda drink in less than 30 seconds!! Basically this is my dream gadget.

They have over 30 different flavors, including diet and all natural flavors. I'm pretty sure the kids will find a flavor they like and they would also think it's pretty fun mixing their own flavors. Also, can you imagine how much money I would save making my own drinks at home or how many plastic bottles won't be going to the landfills every month?

You can purchase a SodaStream at these locations: bloomingdales, Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Crate & Barrel, JCPenny, Kohl's, le Gourmet Chef, Macy's, Sears, Williams-Sonoma, Bartell Drugs, Bon Ton, Kitchen Collection and Sur la table. They average between $90 and $200 but just think of all the money you will be saving on buying soda/pop and bottled water every month. It's well worth it, in my opinion.

Still not understanding what a Sodastream is? Here is some more info:

SodaStream allows you to prepare great-tasting, fresh, fizzy beverages precisely to your taste - with no bottles, cans, or electricity! With the SodaStream Jet Starter Kit, you've got everything you need to turn tap water into sparkling water in 30 seconds--saving you money while also helping you stay environmentally friendly. The starter kit includes SodaStream Jet soda maker in black/silver, one carbonator (good for making up to 60L of soda), and one BPA-free plastic bottle.

I have to get my hands on one of these things and try it for myself. Not only will I be saving money but I'll also be helping the environment.

Disclosure: #imabzzagent and I have the opportunity to receive this product for free if chosen. Hopefully I will be chosen for the campaign but if I'm not, I'm getting one of these.

Emergency Roadside Assistance

2011-09-29T09:00:00.005-04:00

I've never had to use emergency roadside assistance before so excuse me for asking, but what exactly do they help with? I always so those vans on the side of the road helping people and could never for the life of me, other than changing a tire, wonder what they help with.

How much does a service like that cost? I know if I was stuck on the side of the road I would be calling since I am clueless as to how to fix a flat tire. I do know how to put gas in, fill up the windshield washer fluid, put oil in and antifreeze but that's about it.

Have you ever had to use roadside assistance before? If so, what did they help you with. Leave me a comment below.

Lose the Uniform

2011-09-28T10:50:00.000-04:00

My husband doesn't really have that many clothes. He basically wears his uniforms all the time. Even if we go out to a family event or to dinner he wears his uniforms.

He works in a tool and die factory so there is a lot of grease from the machines that make it onto his clothes. I know it doesn't bother him when he goes out in his uniforms but I would like to have him a little more put together when we go out.

I was thinking that maybe I could buy him some shirts that feel like a uniform but look like a regular shirt. So I went did a Google search and do you know they make carhartt shirts for men that don't look like uniforms? This is perfect! He doesn't know it but I'm going to get him a few shirts. Heck, they even have jeans.

It will be nice to go to dinner with him and not have him in his work clothes.

Moms Got A Case of the Mondays

2011-09-26T18:50:00.000-04:00

Last week, my six year old came down with some weird itchy rash that looked like mosquito bites with a white head. I took him to the doctors on Friday and they said it was folliculitis.

Folliculitis is an infection of the follicles of the hair and is especially common in children on the face, back, legs and scalp. Bacterium like Staphylococcus causes the infection when it gets trapped in the follicle.

Read more: Folliculitis in Children | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5622997_folliculitis-children.html#ixzz1Z6HhiN19

He was given some antibiotics to help clear up the bumps and they also told me to soak him in an Aveeno bath. I asked her if this condition was contagious and was told no. Thank goodness it's not contagious because I don't want it and I'm sure my hubbers and Big A doesn't want it.

To bad we don't always get what we want! I went to pick up Big A from school on Friday and guess what, he's got the same darn thing Little A has. He had to wait until today for the confirmation because by the time school was done for the day, his doctors office was closed for the weekend.

I called the office in the morning, made an appointment for 1:30pm and let him go to school since they told me it wasn't catchy. I was watching my DVR of Jersey Shore and my cell phone rang. I look at the caller ID and it's the kids school.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. H? This is Mrs. S from WW. We have Big A in the office with a strange rash. Can you come pick him up?"

"He has a doctors appointment at 1:30pm today. His brother, Little A, has the same thing. It's called folliculitis and it's not catchy. It's just an inflammation of the hair follicles."

"We are going to need a note from his doctor saying what it is and that it's not catchy before he can come back to school."

"OK. I'm on my way to get him."

"Thank you."

That was basically how my conversation with the office lady went. So, I got my shoes on, turned off Jersey Shore and headed on over to the school. I'm half way there when my phone rings again.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. H, this is Mrs. S again. Mrs. C called and said that Little A is throwing up in class."

"What?"

"She said that he's throwing up so bad that you are going to need a bag when you come get Big A."

"I don't have a bag. I'm already on my way."

"Well, I have a few grocery bags I can give him that you can take with you."

"OK. I'll be there in a few minutes."

Boy does this day keep getting better and better!! So, I finally make it to school, walk into the office and see Big A walking around the office and Little A looking horrible in the office chair. I sign them out and off to the doctors we go.

Once there, Big A was confirmed to have folliculitis and Little A has a stomach virus. Now it was back to Walgreen's to pick up another prescription. This time for Big A.

The pharmacy called are name and we were waiting to be checked out when Little A says, "I'm going to throw up!" I took one look at the pharmacist and we both bolt to the bathroom right around the corner. She unlocks it for us, Little A runs to the toilet and heaves. At least he made it to the toilet!

We finally get home and he hits the couch and passes out. He slept for about an hour, woke up and has just been laying around ever since. He's unusually quiet, which is kind of nice but kind of sad because I know he doesn't feel very good.

I'll have to see how he feels in the morning. He may be getting another day off of school. His brother on the other hand is going!

That's how my Monday went. How about you? Let me know how your Monday went or is going by leaving me a comment below and don't forget to check out my giveaways!! You can find links to them on the right sidebar under Current Product Reviews/Giveaways.

Natural House Cleaning Products #Giveaway & Review

2011-09-26T11:21:00.000-04:00

I have been using three natural household cleaning products from Nature House for the past three weeks. They have very unique names: Flushy, Trashy and Sinky! Each packet contains four water soluble packets. Which is enough for 30 days of treatment for each product.

I have to say that I LOVE, love, love the Flushy product. They are blue packets that you toss in your potty and after about 30 seconds the packet starts to bubble and the blue contents pills into the bowl. You notice the minty sent of the packet right away. It's not overpowering at all.

Once the packet dissolves, take your toilet brush and scrub. It leaves your bowl shiny and clean. I noticed that my potty has stayed clean in between treatments which is AWESOME. Usually I have to clean my potty every few days because of the water stains but not while using Flushy.

Next up was Sinky! Sinky works kind of like Flushy except it's for your sink. I don't have a garbage disposal so I just laid the packet in the drain area, turned the hot water on and watched the bubbling sensation do it's job. This product has a citrus scent, lemon to be exact.

After using Sinky, I didn't notice any odors coming from my drain. Because I don't have a disposal, I usually have nasty food odors coming from the drain but this powerful packet took care of that

Finally, we come to Trashy. By it's name I'm guessing you know what this product is for. When you are ready to change out your garbage bag, just spritz this guy into your can, outdoor or indoor can, and let it dry. Trashy has a minty scent which is nice to the nose. Plus, Trashy has a child safety lock on the spray nozzle!

Natural House probiotic cleaning products brings you a revolutionary, new method of cleaning the most dirty areas of your home. Utilizing non-toxic, probiotic cleaning agents, Natural House products are strong enough for commercial clean-up, yet safe and gentle for all of the members of your Natural House.

Here's a little more info about why our all-natural cleaning products are superior to those currently on the market!
Our products use an eco-friendly cleaning method of probiotics that create a beneficial, odor eating ecosystem to naturally drive out and digest odors at their source.
Natural House's plant-based ingredients are eco-friendly, non-toxic and biodegradable to naturally fight the toughest problems you face in your house.
Our products, Sinky and Flushy even break down and digest fats, oil, grease, and solid waste to ensure your disposal, pipes, drain lines or septic tank run smoothly.
Our cleaners contain good probiotics which continue to scour, clean, consume odors, grime, grease, and germs, and they continue to do so until your next weekly treatment!
We earned the coveted Retailers’ Choice Award” at the 2011 National Hardware Show!
So how exactly does probiotic household cleaners work?
The surfaces in your house are like a garden. If you don’t seed with good plants, weeds will grow. You have the same choice with your household surfaces: sanitize for a moment with harsh chemicals leaving your surface open to recontamination or seed with probiotics to continuously weed out the bad micro-organisms.
Traditional cleaners “clean” a surface for a moment in time; the second the rag is finished wiping the surface, that surface is almost instantly polluted once again with ambient dust, dirt, and micro-organisms.
Natural House probiotics creates mini-ecosystem on a microbial level that produces enzymes which break down odors, dirt, fats, oil, grease, food scraps, waste and toilet paper products on a continuous basis between applications. This creates a natural, clean, balanced environment that is safe for even the most sensitive members of your natural house.
The action is in the foam! When using your Natural House products be sure and let it foam first to release the cleaning agents before going to the next step on the package directions.
The short and skinny of it is this... our natural probiotic cleaners keep on cleaning long after you've stopped!

Please watch this 2 minute video to learn more about how our probiotic cleaners work. For more information, please find us on Facebook and Twitter.

You can purchase Natural House products directly on our website: http://www.naturalhouse.com/products/ -- Or you can purchase Natural House on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_hpc?_encoding=UTF8&node=3760901&field-brandtextbin=Natural%20House

It's GIVEAWAY Time:

Natural House wants to give one reader the opportunity to win a 30 day supply for yourself. The giveaway is open to U.S Residents only. Fill out the Rafflecopter form below and make sure to complete ALL mandatory entries for all other entries to count. Good Luck!

Disclosure: I received a 30 day supply of Flushy, Sinky and Trashy as compensation for this post. These are my 100% honest opinions of these products. You may have a different opinion of these products.

Swype Cold & Flu Shield Giveaway

2011-09-25T14:26:00.000-04:00

Now that the kids are back in school and the weather is starting to cool off, that pesky flu virus is soon to rear it's ugly head. Why not be prepared with an extra layer of protection?

Swype Cold & Field Shield is a revolutionary cold & flu shield product. Invented by a Ph.D/MD to keep his own family healthy!

Swype Cold & Flu Shield is 98% natural and it's ingredients killed over 99.9% of viruses that cause colds and flu in lab tests.*

*These claims have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any illness.

I've never hear of Swype Cold & Flu Shield so I was a bit hesitant when contacted by Swype to try their product. After thinking about it for a few days, I finally decided that I would give it a try. What could it hurt right? After all, I'm always looking for ways to fight those nasty germs.

I received two .27oz tubes of Swype to try, each containing approximately 2 months supply. Four months of protection, Yahoo! The tubes are pretty small so their are pretty easy to carry in a purse, pocket, or in the car.

After you open the tube, squeeze a little bit of the solution onto your finger. According to the instructions, just a small pin size will do 3 times a day. And Swype your finger across the skin under your nose. The liquid dries clear and really has no smell. It kind of feels like water or a clear hand sanitizer.

Now, I'm not sure if it worked or not but for the past three weeks that I've been using it, I haven't been sick. I did however notice that, in the areas I placed the product, my nose has been itching. I do have sensitive skin though and the weather has been kind of nutty. I'm not sure if my itching has anything to do with the product or the weather. Just something to take note of if you have sensitive skin like me.

Benefits of Swype:

Enhances Defense Against Viruses (at the body's most vulnerable spot - the nose)
Safe & Effective
Over 98% Natural
Alcohol and Zinc Free
Invisible Once Applied
Each Tube Contains a 2 Month Supply

It's Giveaway Time!

One A Mom From The Burbs reader will win a tube of Swype Cold & Flu Shield. This contest is open to US residents 18 and older. Sorry no PO Boxes are allowed. Please fill out the Rafflecopter entry form below and make sure to complete ALL mandatory entries for all extra entries to be valid. The winner will have 48hrs to claim their prize. Thank you and Good Luck!

Disclosure: I received two tubes of Swype Cold & Flu shield as compensation for my post. All opinions are of Swype are 100% my own. You may have a different opinion of this product.

Betty Crocker Box Tops for Education #Giveaway #MyBlogSpark

2011-09-25T12:56:00.001-04:00

With two children in Elementary school now and with the schools suffering budget cuts right and left, I've become an avid collector of Box Tops for Education. The schools are able to turn the tabs in and receive money. These colorful little tabs help offset the cost of field trips, books, teacher supplies or whatever the school needs it for.

Betty Crocker understands the importance of education as has made it easy for parents and children to collect Box Tops for Education by placing them on all of their Betty Crocker baking mixes.

This school year, giving back to your school can be as easy as looking for the Red Spoon on your favorite Betty Crocker® dessert mixes, the only brand in the baking aisle with Box Tops. Whether you´re collecting for new computers, library books, or a playground, through the Box Tops for Education® program you can help make a difference. Last year, your contributions earned more than $59 million for America´s schools!

Now, you can find Box Tops for Education on all Betty Crocker baking mixes*, including new Fun da-middlesTM, individual cupcakes with a fun, creamy center.
This back-to-school season, look for double Box Tops on specially marked packages of Betty Crocker baking mixes.

For great baking tips, recipe ideas and information on Betty Crocker products, visit www.BettyCrocker.com. Also find us on: Facebook & Twitter

To learn more about Box Tops for Education and how you can help your local school, check out www.boxtops4education.com. Also find us on Facebook & Twitter

IT'S GIVEAWAY TIME:
To help you get in the spirit of collecting Box Tops for Education for your child's school, Betty Crocker is offering one A Mom From The Burbs reader a chance to win a Betty Crocker Prize Pack! Here's what you will win:

Cupcake iclips
Cupcake bag
Cupcake notepads
Box Tops for Education pencils
Neoprene Lunch Sack

Here's How to Enter:

Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. You MUST complete the mandatory entries for all other entries to be valid.

This contest is valid for residents of the U.S. and age 18 or older. Please no PO Boxes. The winner will be picked via Rafflecopter and the winner will have 48hrs to claim their prize.

Disclosure: The Betty Crocker products, information, and giveaway have been provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark

New Printable Coupons {9-24-11}

2011-09-24T10:34:00.000-04:00

Just in time for the weeked!! Your latest edition of COUPONS!

CouponNetwork Coupons:

75¢ off when you buy TWO FARMER JOHN® Roll Sausages
$5.00 off Philips Norelco 7000 Series Electric Razor
$10.00 off Philips Norelco Speed XL/Nivea for Men Razor
$1.00 off when you buy ONE Purina ONE® brand Dry Cat Food
$2.00 off Veet® Hair Removal products
$1.00 off on Totino's® Crisp Crust Party Pizza® Products
50¢ off on Pillsbury® Rolled Refrigerated Pie Crusts
50¢ off when you buy Betty Crocker® Fruit flavored snacks
75¢ off when you buy Wheaties® or Wheaties Fuel® cereal
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It's Tissue Time - Songs That Will Make You Cry

2011-09-23T21:10:00.000-04:00

WARNING: Grab a tissue because I've compiled a list of 10 songs that make me cry every time I listen to them!

You Can Let Go Now Daddy - Crystal Shawanda
You're Gonna Miss This - Trace Adkins
Then They Do - Trace Adkins
Go Gave Me You - Blake Shelton
I Won't Let Go - Rascal Flatts
Here Comes Goodbye - Rascal Flatts
I'll Wait For You - Joe Nichols
Waiting on a Woman - Brad Paisley
Tomorrow - Chris Young
Anything Like Me - Brad Paisley

I'll be making another list of songs soon. There are many more songs that make me tear up. What songs make you grab that tissue? Leave me a comment with the songs that make you sniffle below.

Family Game Night

2011-09-23T13:43:00.000-04:00

Bananagrams is a great idea for kids just learning how to spell. Plus it's a great way for families to spend some time together. Who needs to watch television all night?

What is Bananagrams? It's kind of like making your own crossword puzzle and scrabble all in one, but without the game board. The person to get rid of all their tiles the fastest wins the game.

I think kids of all ages will be able to play this game. Maybe you could even get candies or some dollar store prizes for the winner of the game. Maybe you could even buy this game and donate it to your child's class.

What fun prize would you be willing to offer for a family game night game? Leave me a comment below!

Disclosure: I am a BUZZAGENT and will hopefully have the opportunity to bring Bananagrams to my readers.

Is it Chickenpox ?

2011-09-22T17:50:00.000-04:00

Little A came home from school yesterday with four red, itchy bumps that looked like mosquito bites. I asked him were he got the bites from and he said that he got bit on the playground. Understandable since it was pretty warm out yesterday and the grass on the playground is a bit high.

I sprayed his belly with some Benadryl spray before he went to bed. When he woke up, he had maybe two more spots. I thought that it was just bug bites since he didn't have any other symptoms, other than itching.

After school today, I took another look at the bumps and now he has a total of 14. They are red and raised and itchy like a mosquito bite but have a white head like a pimple. Could this possibly be Chickenpox? He's had the Chickenpox vaccine though?

I put some Calomine lotion on him when we got home to help with the itching. Looks like we will be making another visit to the doctors office tomorrow. They should just give us our own room!

Kindergarten Adventures #1

2011-09-20T13:42:00.001-04:00

Since I am ever so graciously volunteering an hour of my time in Little A's Kindergarten class every day, I thought I would share some of the stories with you. Yesterday, which is being posted today, is the first installment.

How did I become a Kindergarten parent volunteer? Little A's teacher sent a form home the first day of class asking if parents would be interested in volunteering and I checked yes, thinking someone else would say yes. At the end of the first week of school, she came to me and asked if I could help out on a daily basis.

The following Monday was when I started the volunteer job. I had no idea what I was doing and just stood there like an idiot. Finally she handed me some papers and asked if I could get the kids take home folders ready. So, right now, that's basically what I do.

Mrs. C said that once she gets things a bit more organized in the class, I will be helping the kids with their science kits and math kits as well as getting the take home folders ready, making sure the kids have their back packs and lunch boxes and helping get their coats on. I don't mind because I get to see Little A interact with his friends.

Now, this brings me to yesterday! I almost had a complete freak out, which was kind of embarrassing. I was talking to one of the little boys in Little A's class when something caught the corner of my eye. I turned my head, let out a HUGE gasp and took off running towards the door. What was it? A spider about the size of a half dollar! EEK!

I can't tell you how terrified I am of spiders. I told the teacher because she was looking at me like I was some kind of nut case and she said, "We don't kill spiders in our classroom. I pick them up in my hand and take them outside." WHAT!?! Sorry teach, but I'm NOT picking up any spiders. That can be her job.

I'm hoping I don't see that spider today. I know she didn't get it yesterday and I bet it's just waiting for me to return.

Class Pets

2011-09-19T12:12:00.000-04:00

In June, I allowed my ten year old to buy a fish tank for his birthday. We purchased a 10 gallon tank along with two neon fish, two black mollies, a sucker fish and two snails. A week later, his grandma gave him two white mollies and an orange molly for his birthday.

After he got his birthday fish from his grandma, the tank came down with Ick and we lost a black molly and one of the snails. That was fine because we still had the others and they were now healthy.

Well, in August, those pesky mollies started having babies (so far we've had three sets and one on the way) and now are tank is overflowing with mollies. Last week I asked my six year old's teacher if she would be willing to take a couple fish as a class pet. I was happy when she said yes. I told her not to worry about anything, that I would donate the tank and all that was needed to keep the fish healthy.

When I go in to volunteer today, I'm bringing the tank with the fish. Hopefully the kids will learn the importance of taking care of something. I think it will also be pretty neat for they to watch the fish grow and get their color.

Does your kids class have a class pet? If so, what is it? Share your stories below in the comment section.

Horseback Riding in Style

2011-09-19T11:43:00.000-04:00

Horseback riding is more than just a hobby to some riders, it's a lifestyle. For those of you who are just starting out, you want to make sure you have the right equestrian riding apparel. Something that is comfortable but doesn't break the bank.

There are places that you can go online that will offer discount apparel for you and your horse. One of the places I found even sells blankets so your horse is comfortable in the winter months. The prices range from $40 to $400. It all depends on what you are looking for.

As for the human apparel, all the equipment you need from head to foot. If you are just a casual rider, they have some pretty cute riding jackets and for the professionals they have show coats.

Click on the highlighted link above to check out some of the riding gear.

To read our disclosure policy, click here

Personalized Children's Books

2011-09-18T12:18:00.000-04:00

My kids LOVE books, especially my six year old. I came across I See Me Personalized Children's Books and thought the idea was pretty awesome. He just started Kindergarten this year and I think this could help him learn his alphabets in a fun, unique way!

The following books are a couple of their best sellers! If you are interested in checking them out further click on the link: www.iseeme.com. It will take you to their website.

My Very Own Name Storybook: $29.95

Animals bring letters one by one to spell out your child's name in rhyme.

Order "My Very Own Name", a personalized children's book

My Very Own Name is a beautifully illustrated personalized children's book that helps children to learn to recognize letters and spell their names. In this hardcover, professionally bound book, animals bring letters one by one to create the child's first and last names in rhyme. A jackal brings a J, an ostrich brings an O, and so on. At the end, the animals celebrate because they've created the perfect name.

As an added personal touch, this award-winning book includes the child's birth date, a printed dedication from the sender, and an illustrated encyclopedia of 61 animals. This storybook is made in the USA and written by Maia Haag.

Gender and ages:	Boys and girls ages 0-12
Size:	9" x 11"
Number of pages:	Approximately 30 pages, depending on the length of the name
Awards:	iParenting, Mom's Choice, Creative Child Magazine, Benjamin Franklin Award and HomeSchool.com Award

My Own Very Fairy Tale: $29.95

Fairies bring letters one by one to spell out your child's name in rhyme.

Click Here to start personalizing your gift online!

Personalized children's books make special gifts for girls. This enchanting storybook is a powerful way to show a child how absolutely unique and special she is. My Very Own Fairy Tale is a hardcover, professionally bound book that transports little girls into a magical garden where flower and berry fairies crown her as their fairy princess. Beautifully illustrated fairies bring letters one by one to spell out the child's name, while describing character traits that make the recipient alone the perfect princess. This award-winning storybook makes a keepsake for new baby girls through age 12!

As an added touch, this educational book includes the child's birth date, a printed dedication to the sender, and an illustrated Fairy Patch featuring 62 fairies with interesting facts about their flowers and berries. The book was written by Maia Haag, illustrated by Joyce Patti, and made in the USA.

Gender and ages:	Girls ages 0-12
Size:	9" x 11"
Number of pages:	Approximately 30 pages, depending on the length of the name

Awards:

Mom's Choice, Creative Child Magazine, HomeSchool.com and Family Choice

Zenni Optical: Prescription Eyeglasses at Affordable Prices

2011-09-17T19:26:00.000-04:00

Buying eyeglasses in our household is an important thing. Not only do I wear glasses but my two little nuggets also wear glasses. The only difference is I am nearsighted and they are both farsighted. As you can imagine, it can get pretty expensive when the three of us need new glasses at the same time.

On top of being expensive, I can tell you that when it comes to going to the eye doctor, we all pretty much loathe it. Not because of having to have the puff of air blown in our eyes, which I ALWAYS blink for, but because the selection we are given is horrendous. To top off our misery, we get stuck paying for, and wearing until our next joyous trip to the eye doctor, expensive and ugly specs.

Imagine my surprise when I came across Zenni Optical. They offer fashionable and attractive glasses for a budget conscience person. That's right! I don't have to be stuck wearing ugly specs anymore and I can shop from the comfort of my own home. Bonus!

Who is Zenni Optical?
"Zenni Optical is the #1 online eyeglasses store offering high quality complete prescription eyeglasses from $6.95. We feel prescription eyeglasses are a health item necessity for most wearers, and to that end we take considerable pride in offering very high quality eyeglasses on line at truly unheard of affordable prices."

#462016 for $6.95

One of the features I LOVE about Zenni Optical is that they offer $6.95 prescription eyeglasses. Where else can you go and get fashionable glasses at budget prices? This will save me a lot of money when it comes to buying eyeglasses every year.

So your probably thinking, "For $6.95 I probably won't get all the bells and whistles." Well, get that thought out of your head because all the eyeglasses come with the following:

Free Anti-Scratch Coating

Free 1.50 or Thin & Light 1.57 Index Single Vision Lens

Free Full UV Protection

Free Protective Case

Free Microfiber Cleaning Cloth

I really enjoyed looking around the website and was surprised at how easy it was to navigate. I was able to narrow my search by selecting on the left hand side of the screen my prefrences.

These are my faves #255817 for $9.95

Once I found a pair of glasses I was interested in, I was able to click on the picture to enlarge the photo. On the right side of the site was an area where you could "try on" the glasses before buying. If you liked the frames you could save them to your favorites for later.

If you still aren't convinced about Zenni Optical, you could always head on over to their blog. You can read and see pictures what past and current customers have to say about their expirience. After you get your pair you too can share your Zenni story with others.

I think I know where I'll be getting my next pair of glasses. I already have a pair in mind. Head on over to their site and see what pair you wouldn't mind owning. When you pick out a pair, come back and let me know which one's you would choose.

Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Review, which I was compensated for. The thoughts in this post are 100% mine. You may have a different opinion of this company or product.

To read our disclosure policy, click here

Should I Purchase an iPhone?

2011-09-17T15:41:00.000-04:00

This one is for my Canadian friends! Ever since the iPhone came out, I've been reluctant to purchase one because of the price. There is no way I want to pay $200 for a phone. Plus I have no idea what the difference is between an iphone 3g and an iPhone 4g.

So, I brought up the subject with a blogger friend about purchasing an iPhone and they recommended I check out a site they purchased their phone from. That night I logged onto my computer and, even though it is a Canadian store, I found a couple phones for around $50. I can do $50!

The only issue I have now is that the phones are in Canada so does that mean my service will be in Canada? I guess I have some more research to do before I actually get the nerve to purchase an iPhone huh?

What do you think? Should I even bother getting an iPhone or should I just wait for the next hottest thing to hit the market? Leave me a comment below!