Eat Smart Precision Elite Food Thermometer

*Disclaimer - I received the item mentioned below, free of charge, for review purposes.  In no way did this alter my review.  All of my opinions expressed in this review are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

I don't know about you, but I'm one of those people who worry about bacteria, especially when I am cooking meat.  The only way you can truly know that your food is cooked to the correct temperature is by using a food thermometer. By using a food thermometer you can determine that your food is done, which eliminates any harmful bacteria that may be present.  Contrary to what you may believe, not just meat needs to cook to a safe minimum temperature including egg dishes and casseroles to even microwaved dishes. 

I am one of those people who will overcook their food just to make sure my dishes are fully cooked.  I was recently in the market for a food thermometer, when the kind people over at EatSmart asked me to review their Precision Elite Food Thermometer. It couldn't have come at a better time!  I received the EatSmart food thermometer and began using it that same night for dinner.  A made a tater tot casserole and used the EatSmart thermometer to measure the temperature. I was surprised by how fast and accurate the reading was.  In literally only a few seconds, it registered the temperature.  

The EatSmart Elite Food Thermometer:

• Provides a rapid response in 3 seconds or less
• Has an increased temperature range from -40 degrees to 572 degrees
• 1.5 FDA recommended step down tip
• Requires 2 AAA Batteries, Included
• Offers a Hold feature to "Freeze" temperature even when removing from food

The Elite Food Thermometer includes a nylon storage case for easy storage.  The case is actually anti-microbial which inhibats the growth of bacterial odor and mold. You can rest assure that the EatSmart Elite Food Thermometer includes a 2 year warantee so you can trust your purchase.

BUY IT:  You can purchase the EatSmart Precision Elite Food Thermometer on Amazon.com for $39.95.

LEARN MORE: To learn more, be sure to visit EatSmart online at http://www.eatsmartproducts.com/.

Americas Best Barbecue Cookbook

*Disclaimer - I received the cookbook mentioned below, free of charge, for review purposes. In no way did this alter my review.  All of my opinions expressed in this post are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

Before we know it Summer will be here. What does summer mean to you? To me, it means lots of great opportunities to gather with friends and family to attend barbecues.  We usually barbecue the usual hotdogs, hamburgers, and chicken, but this year we will be trying out some yummy new items, thanks to all the wonderful recipes found inside the AMERICA'S BEST BARBECUE recipe book.  

Fire up your grill and get ready to make BBQ like never before with America's Best Barbecue recipe book!  The introduction of the book features lots of helpful tips,  so you can grill like a pro.  If your in need of recipes for your next back yard grill out, then look no further because this recipe book has you covered!  You can't go wrong with this book because everything is organized, and easy to read. Not to mention, each recipe includes a full size photo, so you can see exactly what the dish looks like.  

Inside the recipe book, you will find recipes for just about any type of meat, poultry you can think of.  You will also find an assortment of Rubs, Sauces, and more to make your barbecue complete.  And did I mention the book even includes desserts, appetizers, and salads.  I' m talking Gran Pappy's Smoked Apple Cheesecake, Jalepeno Poppers, Tomato Basil Salad, and so much more!  Speaking of so much more, I can't wait to make the Mission Steak Wraps!

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Arthur Aguirre is the author of this fantastic cookbook.  Not only does he love to eat his food, he enjoys writing about it too.  To read his blog, please visit www.majorleaguegrilling.com. He is the pit master in the Major League Grillers.  His sucessful team has won almost twenty awards in the first two years of BBQ competitions, including Grand Champion at the Soybean Festival in Mexico. 

BUY IT: You can purchase the America's Best Barbecue book for $25.00. 

 LEARN MORE: To learn more, be sure to visit www.skyhorsepublishing.com. 

Made With Love Ceramic Imprints

*Disclaimer - I received the item mentioned below, free of charge, for review purposes. In no way did this alter my review.  All of my opinions expressed in this post are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

Ever wish you could keep your little one's small for as long as possible?  While that may not be possible, it is possible to capture their tiny little toes, feet, hands, and fingers, thanks to Made With Love.  Their ceramic imprints are made with love, creating special foot prints and hand prints that will last a lifetime.  Children grow up so fast, so preserve your memories while you can.  That's exactly what I recently did thanks to Made With Love!

Shopping on Made With Love is extra special because they allow you to customize your child's special keepsake.  Not only is it fun, but it is easy too! Check out the steps we took to order our special Single Handprint Plaque.

1. Provide them with your child's name and age. (You may select a custom phrase or current year for an additional fee).
2. Shape - Select between 7 fun shapes including a heart, circle, and star, just to name a few!
3. Handprint Color - There are 20 different colors you may select from.
4. Font - Choose between skinny or kids.
5. Font Color - Select from 19 exciting colors.
6. Ribbon - Variety includes various polka-dots, gingham, stripes, solids, plaids, and more!
7. You will then be given an option to select dots, hearts, or stars to be placed all over the plaque.
8. For an additional $10 you may select edging.
9. For an additional $5 you may select to add design options. 
10. Last, but not least you will be given an option to give them your special requests or instructions.

After you order your plaque, you will then await a special box to arrive.  Inside the box you will find special molding clay, a ziplock bag to return it in and a cardboard piece that has a label attached. Make sure not to accidentely throw away the return label, paper, or the box  because you will be using them to return the molded clay back to the company.  Because I did not have a rolling pin I used a soda can to roll the clay out.  My daughter is 20 months, so in order to get the best handprint possible, I had my mom help me out.  After we rolled the clay out as smooth as possible and placed it on the cardboard, my mom perfectly placed her fingers on the clay while I pushed them down.

Afterward, we immediately placed the handprint on the cardboard into the ziplock bag making sure to fold the bag underneath the cardboard, so that the clay did not incur any fold lines.  I placed it inside the box and attached the pre printed label on the outside of the box.  Next thing you now, my daughters beautiful keepsake arrived.  Although my daughter may grow, I have captured her tiny little handprint forever.  The plaque is proudly displayed on our wall for all to see. 

Made With Love is an awesome company.  They make house calls to area hospitals as much as they possibly can to brighten the days of families dealing with catostrophic childhood illnesses. Right now, Made With Love is opening nominations for a monthly "Child Warrior" program.  Each month a special family that has been nominated is selected and the company sends them one of their delightful keepsakes for the family to adore forever. 

Visit Made With Love Ceramic Imprints today and begin creating a special plaque or ornament that will hold a place in your heart for a life time. 

LEARN MORE: To learn more, be sure to visit them online at www.madewithloveimprints.com.

The Boodle Box

*Disclaimer - I received a one month subscription to Boodle Box, free of charge, for review purposes.  In no way did this alter my review.  All of my opinions expressed in this post are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

Get ready to unwrap boodles of fun with The Boodle Box!!!

This month I received an exciting box from The Boodle Box filled with everything my daughter and I need to get you pedi ready this summer!  

Our Boodle Box was overflowing with boodles of goodies including:

• Cosmetic Bag and Brush Holder (Retails for $12)
• Flip Flop Lip Gloss (Retails for $3.50)
• Flip Flop Bling Strips (Retails for $3.99)
• Flip Flop Notepad & Stickie Set (Retails for $1)
• Ruby Wing "Crowd Surf" Color-Changing Nail Polish (Retails for $10)
• Flip Flop 4 Piece Manicure Kit (Retails for $8)
• Katy Perry Meow Solid Perfume Locket (Retails for $35)

Everything arrived in a brightly decorated box and everything inside was packaged in pretty bright pink tissue paper.  It definitely screamed girly from the first time I laid eyes on it.  I loved all the bright colors and all of the fun flip-flop themed items.  My overall favorite was the Katy Perry Meown Solid Perfume Locket, which I believe would make a perfect gift for any young girl. 

Thanks to The Boodle Box my daughter and I are now pedi ready and can't wait to show off our piggies!

LEARN MORE: To learn more, be sure to visit The Boodle Box online at www.theboodlebox.com, connect with them on Facebook and on Twitter @theboodlebox. 

#NerdBlock

Introducing to you the first geek tested nerd approved monthly subscription box - Nerd Block!  

Nerd Block offers subscription boxes for geeks and gamers, comic fans, and movie enthusiasts.  Each Nerd Block is filled with toys and collectibles from your favorite brands including Star Wars, Marvel, and Adventure Time, just to name a few!  

When ordering a Nerd Block you have four options:

1. Nerd Block Classic - Comic Con in a box + a shirt!
2. Nerd Block Jr. Boys - Nerd gear for children aged 6-11
3. Nerd Block Jr. Girls - Nerd gear for girls aged 6-11
4. Horror Block - The Pop Horror box for those who enjoy zombies and scary movies!

When asked if I wanted to review a Nerd Block Jr. Girls or Boys, I decided to order one for my boys since I have three boys, but I was so tempted to order a Nerd Block Jr, Girls box because little girls toys are always so much fun, plus I knew my daughter would have loved to receive some surprise toys.  Never the less, I chose to review the Nerd Block Jr Boys with all three of my boys. This was going to mean compromise, sharing, and taking turns.

Here's comes the fun part...the contents of the Nerd Block Jr. Boys! Check out everything we received, below.


*Pokemon 5 Card Set
*Star Wars Trading Card Game Pack
*Star Wars Plush Toy
*DC Universe Mystery Mini Toy in a box
*Tech Deck Longboard Toy
*Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Water Grow Turtle

Luckily, there was just enough items for them to each take two turns choosing toys.  My youngest chose the Pokemon Card Set and Plush Toy, while my middle son chose the Water Grow Turtle and Mystery Toy, and my oldest son chose the Tech Deck toy and Star Wars Trading Game Cards. I helped my son with the Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Water Grow Turtle and it was so much fun to see it slowly grow larger and larger.  Plus, I secretly enjoyed it because the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was one of my favorite cartoons growing up.  Which also got me thinking, sometimes little girls might even enjoy the boys box too, depending upon what their interests are. 

Because of the selection of small items, I believe the Nerd Block subscription boxes would make great gifts, excellent prizes, or a special reward for a special child in your life.  

BUY IT: Nerd Blocks range from $13.99 to $19.99 a month, plus shipping.  

LEARN MORE: To learn more, be sure to visit them online at nerdblock.com, and be sure to check them out on Facebook and Twitter. 

Nenuco Me & My Little Sister

*Disclaimer - I received the items mentioned below, free of charge, for review purposes.  In no way did this alter my review.  All of my opinions expressed in this post are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

When children learn they will soon have a new sibling in the family, they sometimes have mixed emotions. Introducing them to a Nenuco Me and My Little Sister will  help introduce them to the joys of having a sibling. Children will have fun nurturing their baby doll as they practice feeding, holding, bathing, dressing, and taking care of the baby doll.  This sweet set is sure to prove the bond that sibling share for a lifetime!

Famosa is the brand bethind this darling doll set.  As you may know, Famosa is a European toy company well known for their high quality dolls.  The Nenuco line was launched over 35 years ago, and has become the number one doll brand in Spain.  

Nenuco Me & My Little Sister  features two adorable little dolls, that both offer different features.We decided to name the youngest doll "Lilly' and the older sibling "Lillah".  Lilly is 14" tall while Lillah is 16 inches tall.  The little sister sports a pretty floral romper while the big sister wears a matching dress, complete with visor.  They both have piercing blue eyes and are absolutely adorable.  

My daughter has spent many hours playing with the dolls as she lets her imagination run wild.  She pretends to feed them and even lays them down in her bed and of course, she tucks them in too.  It's so cute to see her pretending she has a little sister. Know when she goes somewhere she is sure to bring her Lilly and Lillah too!

If you are expecting a sibling for your child or recently had a baby, you should definitely considering purchasing Nenuco and Her Little Sister doll set to introduce them to what it feels like to have a sibling.


BUY IT: You can purchase Nenuco and Her Little Sister Doll Set for $26.99. 

LEARN MORE: To learn more, be sure to visit Nenuco online and on Facebook. 

AIRFORCE BLOWGUNS

*Disclaimer - I received the item mentioned below, free of charge, for review purposes.  In no way did this alter my review.  All of my opinions expressed in this post are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

Blow away the competition with AirForce BlowGuns!

You will never meet a foam dart gun more effective or simple as the AirForce BlowGuns!  At first glance, it may look a lot like a typical dart gun, but it is far much more than just that.  

The AirForce BlowGun Includes a pair of high quality safety glasses and ten darts.  You may want to purchase an additional set of 50 foam darts for $9.95.  

To use the AirForce BlowGun:

• Make sure to put your safety glasses on
• Hold the AirForce gun safely against your shoulder
• Place the dart in the end of the barrel
• Suck dart gently into gun
• Aim and blow back out

Since I have three sons, the AirForce BlowGun was a huge hit with all my kiddos.  We were surprised by how far they were able to shoot the darts, which added to all the fun.  They actually shoot up to an amazing 100 feet! The target was actually fully functional and came in very handy.  Overall, we were very pleased with the AirForce BlowGun and would fully recommend it to anyone who is into play dart guns, including adults!

BUY IT: You can purchase the AirForce BlowGun for $24.95 each.

LEARN MORE: To learn more, be sure to visit them online at http://www.airforceblowguns.com/

Minute Maid Juice Bars

*Disclaimer - I received the items mentioned below, free of charge, for review purposes.  In no way did this alter my opinion of their products.  All of my opinions expressed in this post are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

This Summer your children will enjoy Minute Maid Juice Bars, and you will enjoy the fact that they are made with 100% real fruit juice!  What better way to cool down than with some delicious Minute Maid Juice Bars, which are available in three yummy flavors: Grape, Cherry, and Orange.  They make a great addition to summer parties, pool parties, celebrations, BBQ's, and every day treats.  

Minute Maid Juice Bars:

• Offers a full day supply of Vitamin C
• No high fructose corn syrup
• Only 60 calories
• Are naturally flavored

Minute Maid Juice Bars come in a box of  twelve and each box includes three of each flavor. My  kids love the fact that they are packaged in a unique style, so that they can push them up as they eat them.  What's better than refreshing treats that are fun to eat too!  

LEARN MORE: To learn more, be sure to visit http://jjsnack.com/minutemaid/home1.aspx,  and follow them on Twitter. 

Influenster Spring Box

*Disclaimer - I received the items mentioned below, free of charge, as a member of Influenster.  In no way did this alter my review.  All of my opinions expressed in this post are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

If you haven't signed up for Influenster then you don't know what your missing out on!  Influenster provides influensters with fun and exciting products, so you can share your experiences with friends, family, neighbors, and anyone else in your network.  Every Influester VoxBox has a different theme, so you never know exactly what you will receive, but it is always a fun surprise.  I have been an Influenster for quite a while now, so any time I am selected to review a VoxBox, it is always exciting.  

I was recently selected to review a Spring VoxBox!  Here's what it included:

• Kiss Everlasting French Nails - Perfect for a summer date night
• SoftLips 5 in 1 Cube - Ideal for caring for chapped lips
• Nivea Skin Firming Lotion - Don't be afraid to show off those sexy hydrated legs!
• RIMEL Mascara - Gives your lashes the length you desire
• Car Freshener - Add a touch of Apple pie to your car!
• Playtex Sport Tampons - When your moving about the Playtex Sport Tampons will move with you!

I used everything in my Spring VoxBox and I have to say my favorite is the RIMEL Mascara.  The mascara helped lengthen my lashes and make them pop.  I apply a bit of the Nivea Skin Firming Lotion right before I put my shorts on, and I am left with healthy moisturized looking legs.  I keep the SoftLips 5 in 1 Cube in my purse and any time my lips feel a little dry, I apply a bit.  The Kiss Everlasting French Nails seemed to pop off easily, so I applied a bit of my self adhesive glue and it worked wonders.  

LEARN MORE: To learn more, be sure to visit Influenster online. 

O'Cedar ProMist Spray Mop

*Disclaimer - I received the item mentioned below, free of charge, for review purposes.  In no way did this alter my review.  All of my opinions expressed in this post are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

Take one look at my floor and you would never know that I have three dirty little boys and a toddler too.  That's because my new ProMist Spray Mop continually helps keep my floor clean with as much as a spray and a swipe of the mop.  

The ProMist Spray Mop is extremely easy to use and effective too.  You simply use no more that two teaspoons of your preferred cleaning solution (I use ). Just make sure not to use bleach or wax based products and it is important not to store any unused fluid in the bottle in between uses. After filling the container with cleaning product and water, screw the cap back on and place it in the correct position until you hear a "pop" sound.  You may then use the spray to spray problem areas, using more or less depending upon how much the area requires.  

Check out the shiny area I had already mopped using the ProMist Spray Mop.  The other dirty areas turned out just as shiny and clean!!

After use empty the container and air dry it out.  You may either hand wash or machine wash the pad up to 100 times in warm water. I simply hand wash it and then let it dry by laying it flat.  Attaching it back on is as easy as attaching it to the velcro straps.  The ProMist Spray Mop comes in very handy any time you have a dirty spot, spill, sticky area, and just about any and everything else.   

BUY IT: You can purchase the ProMist Spray Mop on Amazon.com. 

LEARN MORE: To learn more, visit this link to read more about the ProMist Microfiber Spray Mop. 

CedarLane Natural Foods Tamales

*Disclaimer - I received the items mentioned below, free of charge, for review purposes.  In no way did this effect my review.  All of my opinions expressed in this post are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

If you are looking for a healthy lunch or dinner option, then look no further than CederLane Natural Foods. Their new line of tamales are not only gluten-free, but also all-natural!  You can find them in the frozen section at select supermarkets.  

CedarLane Tamales are available in four delicious flavors:

1. Sweet Corn
2. Spinach and Feta Cheese
3. Chile & Cheese
4. Roasted Vegetable

I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to try all four exciting flavors.  I actually feel good feeding them to my family because they are high in fiber,  provide a good source of protein, and are gluten-free.  We prepared them in the microwave and within no time at all we had delicious tamales.  Our family favorite was the Chile & Cheese.  What flavor do you think you would like the best?

LEARN MORE: To learn more, be sure to visit CedarLane Natural Foods online and connect with them on Facebook.  

Watanut

*Disclaimer - I received the items mentioned below, free of charge, for review purposes. In no way did this alter my review.  All of my opinions expressed in this post are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

If you are nuts about nuts, then you need Watanut in your life!

Next time you are in the mood for a snack, think Watanut. Nuts provide nutritional value, energy, and act as an appetite suppressant,  making them a number one choice for snacking.  And nobody know nuts better than Watanut! They offer a variety of snacks including nuts, dried fruit, and seeds, all in a convenient box.  Choose a flavor theme, choose your favorite flavors, or let Watanut surprise you, and soon you will be going nuts over Watanut!

 When selecting flavors you can select four flavors of your choice, or you also have the option to allow Watanut to surprise you with a as many favors as you choose (up to 4).  For this review, I selected the Banana Split flavor and the Pina Colada and then left the other two choices up to Watanut.  I must say they definitely came through for us because we enjoyed all four of the flavors!  I shared with our entire family and even our mailman, and we all seemed to have different opinions as to which one tasted best.  Check out all four of the flavors we received, below.

Banana Split -  Mini Marshmallows, Banana Chips, Roasted Pecans, Blanched Almonds, Honey Roasted Almonds, Dried Cherries, and Dried Strawberries.
Pina Colada - Rum Candied Cashews, Dried Mango, Dried Pineapples, Blanched Almonds, and Coconut. 
Wild Bill's Buffalo Mix - Buttermilk Ranch Pretzel Bits, Unsalted Peanuts,  Buffalo Peanuts, and Sunflower Seeds. 
Hit The Trails - Cranberries, Raw Walnuts, Raw Almonds, Raw Pumpkin Kernels, and Pistachios.  

The nuts arrived in a box and each flavor was perfectly sealed in plastic containers. Both the Pina Colada and the Banana Split mix was perfect for a sweet tooth craving,  while the Wild Bill's Buffalo Mix and Hit The Trails mix fulfilled my salty cravings. We watched a movie while munching on them, as we tried all four of the flavors. I would definitely recommend ordering from Watanut if you are a nut lover!  

BUY IT: You can purchase a Watanut box for $25 + $7.95 for shipping, per box. 

LEARN MORE:  To learn more be sure to visit them online at watanut.com, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. 

Our 6th Wedding Anniversary + Camping @ShastaLake + Camping Items List

This year for our wedding anniversary we decided to celebrate by doing something special with our kiddos.  Being that our four kids had never been on a camping trip, we decided to go camping @ShastaLake.  It had been quite a while since me and the hubby went camping so we had to purchase many items to make our camping trip a success.  If you plan on taking a camping trip soon, and you are wondering what to take, you may want to take a peek at the list of items below that I have compiled for you from our camping must-have list. 

Items to take camping:

• Tent
• Ice Chest
• Canopy
• Tarp
• Sleeping Bags and Pillows
• Inflatable Mattress
• Table Cover
• Citronella Candles
• Bug Repellent
• First Aid Kit
• Battery Operated Fan
• Sunscreen
• Camping Chairs + Small Folding Chairs for the Kids
•  Washcloths
• Fire Wood (you can usually buy it at the camp site)
• Bottled Water
• Toothbrush,Toothpaste, Toiletries, 
• Aluminum Foil
• Seasoning for Cooking
• Portable Grill and Charcoals
• Spatula
• Long Two Prong Forks (for roasting marshmallows)
• Clothing for during the day and also at night. It tends to cool way down at night.
•  Can Opener
• And Camping Food

We rented a rental vehicle and headed for ShastaLake, which happened to be about 2 1/2 hours out of town.  When we finally arrived, we were quite pleased to find the campground was almost empty, which meant we had our choice of almost any camping spot we wanted.  We selected the perfect spot, which was very close to the bathroom, and with four kids, we definitely needed it to be close the the bathrooms. Speaking of which the bathrooms had flushable toilets and a sink to clean up at, so I was glad about that, because I hate using dreaded portapotties. I did however, find a frog in the toilet!  

Our camp ground was very private, as we could not see any other campers in site.  This is probably due to the fact that there was only three other campers in the entire campgrounds!  Never the less, we definitely benefited from the lack of campers. Our camping spot  was very spacious and included a picnic table, bear proof food storage, cold drinking water, and a bear proof trash can.  The lake was gorgeous, but we soon found out how troubling it would be to try to get down the lake.  I would certainly say it is made for boats more than anything.  We attempted three times to get to the lake, and never made it to the lake.  It was in the hundreds so no swimming, meant one hot mama!  Good thing I brought my portable fan because that paired with my cool washcloth is what kept me and the kids from overheating.  

At night time it cooled down cool enough to have to put pants and long sleeves on.  Nights were fun for the kids because They enjoyed roasting marshmallows over the fire.  I'm not going to lie, I was a bit afraid of wild animals while I was there, but snuggling up with my hub did the trick!  

All of the nature around us made a perfect back drop for pictures!

Overall the camp ground was very nice; however, there was train tracks near by so any time a train went by it was very loud.  Other than that, and the fact that the lake is not easily accessible it was a good camping site.  Would I go again...probably not, but we all enjoyed our camping trip, and the boys will have memories from it.

Our wedding anniversary was actually last month, so happy late anniversary to us!!!  

MixedChicks

*Disclaimer - I received the items mentioned below, free of charge, for review purposes.  In no way did this alter my review.  All of my opinions expressed in this post are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

Something I don't talk about enough on my blog is the fact that we are a multi-racial family. I am Caucasian, while my husband is half  Hispanic and half African American, making our kids White, Mexican, and African American. We have four children together and all four children have very different hair types, ranging from straight to wavy to loose curls to ringlets. It's funny how genes sometimes work!  I honestly love the fact that all of my kids looks are so unique! And I also love the fact that Mixed Chicks products are so unique because they work on any and all hair types including weaves! 

I never imagined how hard it would be to find products that would work effectively on my children's hair.  Products for straight hair were not feasible, while products for African American's hair wasn't working either. For many years now, I have struggled to find something that would work in their hair, and I recently found the perfect products thanks to MixedChicks!  

Mixed Chicks offers a selection of curl defining hair products for races of all kinds, and hair combinations of all types.  No matter if you are Caucasian or African American, Mixed, or Asian.  No matter if your hair is curly, wavy, or straight, Mixed Chicks has you covered!  Which is great because typically I cannot use the same hair products as the rest of my family, but lucky for me Mixed Chicks can be used by any and everyone.

I reached out to Mixed Chicks because I was very interested in trying their products.  They were very friendly and agreed to let me review some of their items.  Now, they weren't specific as to what they would send me, so when I opened up the box to find a lovely assortment of their products, I was quite surprised, not to mention super excited to try them out on my entire family, including myself.  
We received a Mixed Chicks Quad Kit which included four items:

• Mixed Chicks Kids Shampoo
• Mixed Chicks Kids Conditioner
• Mixed Chicks Kids Leave In Conditioner
• Mixed Chicks Kids Tangle Tamer

Mixed Chicks also provided us with a Quad Pack Kit containing:

• Mixed Chicks Shampoo
• Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner
• Mixed Chicks Leave-In Conditioner
• Mixed Chicks Hair Silk

Our oldest son has straight hair, so we keep it short and it is very easy to manage. Our four and five year old both have long hair, so their hair is much harder to maintain.  There's our four year old son who has wavy hair and our five year old son who has ringlets. Then you have our daughter who has soft curls. Together, the Mixed Chicks products worked together to help moisturize, control frizz, and define curls on all of my children's hair.  

We found that the Mixed Chicks Hair Silk worked well on all of our hair, including my husbands who keeps his hair extremely short.  It gave him a nice looking gloss, while it tamed my daughters and my two youngest sons frizzy hair, and even made my straight hair much smoother. Before this photo was taken my daughters hair was one big frizzy ball. As you can see, the Hair Silk improved my daughters hair by reducing fly away hairs, giving it an overall beautiful gloss look, and helping prevent splits, to provide her with healthier looking hair. We used the Mixed Chicks Shampoo and Conditioner, before applying the Hair Silk to it. The results were amazing, as seen in this picture.  

LEARN MORE: To learn more be sure to visit them online at www.mixedchicks.net, and follow them on Facebook and on Twitter @MixedChicks.

DOWNY Wrinkle Releaser Plus - Never use an iron again!

*Disclaimer - I received the items mentioned below, free of charge, for review purposes.  In no way did this alter my review.  All of my opinions expressed in this post are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

Some people hate doing laundry, others dread washing dishes, you know what my pet peeve is?  Mine just might make your list of dreaded chores too. That's because my most disliked chore is ironing clothes!  And, when I say I dislike it, I mean I hate it!  I would honestly resort to paying the $1.50 dryer fee rather than actually having to iron my clothes.  With that in mind, imagine how excited I was when I was asked to review Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus!!!

Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus is a:

• Odor Eliminator
• Fabric Refresher
• Static Remover
• Iron Aid

I was told I would receive some samples, so when the Downy box arrived, I was excited to find several various size bottles of Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus staring at me! Now, rewind to the weekend prior to receiving the samples. It was the weekend, and it was a very hot day, so I had picked out just the perfect dress.  Only problem is, the dress was super wrinkly and there was no way I would be able to wear it out of the house.  We do not have an iron because in past years my son came close to burning himself on an iron, so ever since then we haven't had one in our household. I did not have enough time to throw it in the dryer, so I was forced to wear something else, even though I had my heart set on wearing that dress.  Well, that's the first thing that came to mind when I received the box of Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus, so I decided the dress would be the first thing I would try it on.

I honestly was a bit skeptical at first. "How could a spray take the place of an actual iron", I thought.  But all of my questions were answered when I put the Wrinkle Releaser Plus spray to use on my dress!  It was not only easy to use, but extremely effective too. Believe me, it was as easy as 1-2-3!

1. Spray - Spray fabric with a sweeping motion until a bit damp.
2. Tug & Smooth - Lay the garment flat and then smooth it out, making sure to tug at both sides.
3. Hang - Hang it to dry 

I was amazed by the fact it worked so well.  In literally no time flat, my dress was free of wrinkles, and it smelled good too.  I was so in awe with this product that I had to give my sister a bottle to try out too.  She typically wakes up early in the mornings to iron her scrubs, but she now sleeps in longer thanks to Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus! 

How does it work you may be wondering!  Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus works by effectively coating fabric fibers with silicone that allows them to relax and slide apart as opposed to being frozen in a crease.   

 DOWNY Wrinkle Releaser Plus is available in various size bottles, so you can purchase the bottle that is perfect for you. The larger sizes are perfect for household use, while the smaller bottles are ideal for traveling.  The new reinvented trigger spray delivers a finer mist for more coverage and a faster drying time.  

If your a busy mama, then you can definitely save yourself much needed time using Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus! 

BUY IT: You can purchase Downy Wrinkle Releaser Plus at Walmart, Target, Wallgreens, Kroger and many other grocery, drug, and mass retailers.  It retails for $1.99 - $6.99 depending upon the size. 

Huggies #MovingMoments

I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central for Huggies. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

From the time you carry your baby in your womb, you begin to imagine what it will be like when they reach their milestones.  With my first three children,  I was so anxious for them to meet their milestones.  From the first time they turn over, to their very first step, these precious moments can be very exciting for parents. With my fourth child, I knew that she would be the last baby I had, so I wanted to hold on to time, to cherish every day, hour, minute,  and second of her time being an infant. No matter how much I wanted to freeze time it soon became apparent, time was moving along, just as my daughter was too! She went from being a little tiny baby cradled in my arms to an independent little toddler who is always on the move.  And with all that moving she does, we rely on Huggies Little Movers to move with her every step of the way! 

                            Huggies Little Movers Diapers:

• Made using new Double Grip Strips.  These soft durable Velcro strips on the sides and front diaper panel provide an all around comfort that lasts during those memorable moments. 
• Feature a SnugFit waistband to provide a stretchy fit and have an enhanced soft pad  
• Has a unique countoured shape which stays in place as your baby moves and plays
• Are available in exciting graphics and designs

   
We recently went on a camping trip, which meant we had to pack a diaper bag, and what did we pack inside? Huggies Little Movers diapers, of course!  It was in the hundreds at Mount Shasta, so the diapers were her main outfit.  She walked, crawled, ran, and jumped in them comfortably as the diapers moved with her.  Thanks to the fact Huggies Little Movers features a LEAK LOCK system, the diapers kept her dry, even when we didn't have a chance to change her right away.  

My daughter loved the fun characters featured on the diapers. On the front you will find an image of both Minnie and Mickey, and as you can tell by the photo below, the back features Mickey.

Rely on Huggies Little Movers to keep your little mover comfortable every step of the way!

BUY IT: You can purchase Huggies Little Movers at Target stores nationwide. 

LEARN MORE: To learn more, be sure to visit them online. 

Safety 1st Car Seat Giveaway

*Disclaimer - I am receiving the item mentioned below, free of charge in exchange for a review and hosting a giveaway. This giveaway prize is being provided by Dorel Juvenile Group. In no way did this effect my opinions expressed in this post.*

With Father's Day racing it's way to June 19th (this Sunday), you may not be able to provide your  race car enthusiast with a Nascar trip,  but you can purchase a car seat for your child that uses the same technology that protects high performance drivers!

 Dorel Juvenile Group (maker of Safety 1st)  is well known for being a leader in safety innovation including the patented technology used in making car seats.  The GCellHX combined with Safety 1st Air Protect Technology, delivers full body safety protection, in the event of a crash.  Check out the two new Safety 1st car seats that feature GCell HX, so dads favorite little racer can ride with the same technology as a race car driver.

• The Safety 1st onBoard Air 35 Air + infant car seat allows your child to ride rear facing from 4-25 pounds.  It is equipped with a 5-point harness, adjustable stay in the car base and Carry Curve  Handle with an ergonomic design. 
• The Safety 1st Advance SE 65 Air+ convertible car seat ensures your child is safe from 5-65 pounds.  Better yet, it meets the new requirements for the new 65 Pound LATCH rule. 

In addition to car seats, Safety 1st also offers a variety of products for babies and children including step stools, potties, car seat bases, and child safety products, all of which are made and manufactured in the USA. To learn more about the company check out the brands recent feature on AOL'S THIS BUILT AMERICA.

WIN IT: Thanks to Dorel Juvenile Group (makers of Safety 1st) One of my very lucky readers is going to receive a Safety 1st Advamce SE 65 Air + Convertible Car Seat!!! This is a $180 value!!!

Our San Francisco Trip

Our trip to San Francisco was absolutely amazing. Even the drive there, was beautiful because we drove along the coast line. I don't have any images of the Golden Gate Bridge because we took the Bay Bridge instead.  We stayed in Redwood City, which is located right between San Francisco and San Jose.  

El Pescado Beach - Beautiful crashing waves splash onto pretty sand.  If your looking for seashells, take a scenic walk on the beach, which will lead you to lots of rocks.  Once you reach the rocks, you will reach a ton of seashells! 

A "Crabby", as my little Jr. says. We came across it

 while strolling across the beach. And yes, we helped the little guy back to the water. :)

Sofitel Hotel - We stayed at the Sofitel Hotel located in Redwood City.  This is by far the best hotel I have ever stayed in. Well I guess, I should mention it is a luxury hotel!  The inside of the hotel was so fancy, as was the restaurant, food, and to be honest, everything about it down to the beauty items in the bathrooms!  The restaurant, bakery, bar, and lounge area were all very convenient.  I must mention the beds were like laying on a cloud. I seriously took an hour nap just because the bed was so comfy. 

 Pier Market Seafood Restaurant - If you visit San Fransisco then visiting the pier is a must!  We ate at Pier 39 and although I didn't take a picture, their Clam Chowder served in fresh Sour Dough bread bowls is out of this world delicious. By the way, after you eat by the water, you can take a stroll along the pier while you gaze at lots of sea lions splashing in the water. 

Lombard Street in San Francisco - Famous street in San Fran known for it's tight hairpin turns. We snapped this photo at night while driving back to the hotel. 

If you are thinking about planning a trip to San Fransisco you may want to visit www.sanfrancisco.travel for lots of resources for your next visit.  

Survive Monthly Giveaway

*Disclaimer - Survive Monthly is sponsoring this giveaway, and is also providing me with a Survive Monthly Box.  In no way did this alter my opinions expressed in this post.  All of my opinions are one-hundred percent honest and true.*

With all the monthly subscription boxes available, it's hard to keep track.  But I have an exciting new and unique monthly subscription box to share with you today. Survive Monthly is a subscription box service like never before! Each month subscribers will receive a different themed box essential to surviving.  Instead of buying everything all at once you will enjoy getting pre-made boxes filled full of everything you will need for both survival and every day use.

Just exactly what may be in my Survive Monthly box you may be wondering.  Well, today I am letting you in on a couple of sneak peeks!  The very first Survival Monthly box is going to contain core products needed for survival including: Water, Shelter, First-Aid, Heat and Food.  A few of the products that you might find in the first box include a high quality hand crank flashlight/radio with USB port for charging cellphones and devices,  an Aquamira personal water filter system,  paracord survival bracelet, and fire starter.  

I can totally thing of lots of times when the Survive Monthly Box would come in handy including:

• Camping
• Hiking
• Hunting
• Disasters
• Road Trips
• And every day use!

I could totally see the box of items coming in very handy during our next camping trip.  It will definitely give me a piece of mind if not anything! Anything that makes me feel a bit safer during our trip eases my mind and helps me relax more.  Unlike many other subscription boxes, I have to admit, it seems like a must-have! I mean, who knows, it might just save someones life in an emergency situation. 

Now for the exciting news!  Survive Monthly is generously offering one of my extremely lucky readers a 3 month subscription for FREE!  To enter simply sign up for their email and then if you would like you can also complete additional entries for even more chances at winning the 3 month subscription!

WIN IT: Winner will receive a 3 month subscription to Survive Monthly. That's over a $100 value!!!

BUY IT: Each box contains 7-10 products and costs $39.99 per month.  Their very first boxes will begin shipping in July!

LEARN MORE: To learn more be sure to visit them online at survivemonthly.com, and follow them on Facebook .Twitter @

#BetOnYourBaby & Luvs Giveaway

*Disclaimer - The giveaway prize is being sponsored, free of charge. In no way did this effect this post. All of my opinions expressed in this article is one-hundred percent honest and true.*

You bet your diapers, You Bet On Your Baby is back for a second season!  

On May 31, 2014 the second season of You Bet On Your Baby premiered on ABC.  If you missed it, then you sure missed out on a lot of fun and excitement, but no worries because you can catch You Bet On Your Baby every Saturday at 8/7 Central.  

You Bet On Your Baby features five families with toddlers between the ages of two to three and a half years old. The families must guess their babies next move in the dome to win money towards their college fund.  

How well do you think you know your baby?  Do you think you could Bet On Your Baby?  My little girl can be pretty unpredictable at times, but for the most part I think I know her very well. For instance,  if the phone rang, she would definitely pick it up. 



You may recognize the host, as she played in the TV show - Reba. I just adore Melissa Peterson. 



Check this little silly guy out! One of the things I like best about the show is seeing all these little fun personalities. It's so cute to see the babies reactions. 



Now, it's time for you to join in on all the fun!  Today, we are giving away not one, not two, but THREE coupons good for Luvs Jumbo Packs of Diapers!!! 

WIN IT: One lucky winner will receive (3) Coupons for Luvs Jumbo Diaper Packs!
Please Remember When Entering The Giveaway:
Each household is only eligible to win One (1) Pack of Three Luv's Coupons via blog reviews and giveaways. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.