Pure Romance by Lori {Sweetest Day Giveaway}

With Sweetest Day right around the corner (Saturday October 16th), now is the time to start thinking about gifts to give and your wish list for what you would like to receive.  I have to admit that my husband tends to forget Sweetest Day (until its too late…hmm maybe that’s his MO) but I never do and I always try to make sure that I take the time to make the day special for us both. 

I’ve known about Pure Romance for a while now, but it wasn’t until one of my Facebook friends (and old classmates) became a consultant that I really took notice.  For those of you not familiar with Pure Romance let me give you a little background on the company.

From the PureRomance.com website:

Pure Romance is an in-home party company that sells a premier line of relationship aids, including lubricants, heighteners, and bedroom accessories. Pure Romance products are not available in stores; they may be purchased online or through our network of more than 40,000 independent sales consultants throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Pure Romance started in the basement of Patti Brisbin’s Cincinnati, Ohio home (another reason I love this company) and has grown exponentially over the past 17 years!

Now I want you to meet my friend Lori (aka the only Pure Romance consultant you ever need to order from again).  Lori is an Ohio wife and mom who also works as a consultant for Pure Romance…more about Lori below!

“Hello!!! My name is Lori & I am a Pure Romance Consultant. If you have not heard of Pure Romance, it is an in-home company that sells relationship enhancers. We create a fun & relaxed environment where women can explore all of the things their mother would never talk about. Pure Romance carries a sophisticated line of educational books, sensual lotions, exciting bedroom accessories, & much more! Pure Romance Parties are classy & professional, and ordering is always private, whether you are at a Party or from my Website.”

So whether you are looking for the perfect gift for Sweetest Day for your sweetie or you’re just looking to put the spice back in your love life Pure Romance definitely has what you need and Lori is definitely your go to girl!  You can check Lori out on her Facebook Fan Page:  Pure Romance by Lori, where you can find out about great new products, specials, maybe even win some FREE Pure Romance products, or you can just message Lori with your order!

And since Lori is such a sweetheart she has offered an awesome giveaway for one for lucky Misadventures in Baby Raising reader…details below!  Lori is offering one lucky MIBR reader a couple of her favorite products from Pure Romance to help make Sweetest Day (and every day…er night) one you’ll never forget! 
Giveaway includes:   Bull’s Eye  (Bull’s Eye is has two individually controlled, seven-speed vibrating bullets that give you the perfect excuse to save the horse and ride your cowboy. Slide the flexible silicone c-ring to the base of the penis and hop on (longer than eight seconds, please)!  as well as Just Like Me (Just Like Me is the lubricant that feels just like you! Perfectly imitate natural lubrication with this pH balanced, water based lubricant. The consistency is smooth and easy to control, and the formula is gentle enough for your most sensitive spots. Just Like Me is available in mild Original and Strawberry, which adds a sensual scent and flavor.)  Now how’s that for a Sweetest Day surprise?!!

Win it:  Mandatory Entry!

1.  To be entered into this giveaway please leave a comment telling me why you want to win these awesome products from Pure Romance…this is mandatory and must be completed before any additional entries are allowed!

Extra Entries

As always leave separate comments for each additional entry.  And I’m doing this one a little differently so make sure you read this!  

2.  “Like” Pure Romance by Lori on Facebook:  For doing this you will receive 3 extra entries into the giveaway.  If you choose the "Like” Lori’s Fan Page then you may do any or all of the extra entry options below including unlimited Tweets and FB Shares!  I also encourage you to leave a comment on Pure Romance by Lori’s Fan Page Wall saying something like, “Allison (MIBR) sent me over!”

Additional Extra Entries

2 Extra Entries

Follow MIBR via GFC

Follow MIBR via Email

Follow MIBR via RSS Feed

Follow MIBR via Networked Blogs

3 Extra Entries

Follow MIBR on Twitter

“Like” MIBR on Facebook

5 Extra Entries

Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post as well as Pure Romance by Lori

Unlimited Entries:  You can Tweet and Share this giveaway on FB as often as you would like!

Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (copy and paste tweet below into your status)

“Make this Sweetest Day the sweetest yet…Win some goodies from Pure Romance by Lori at MIBR http://tiny.cc/46ez9 !

Share this giveaway on Facebook!

This is going to be a quickie giveaway…giveaway ends on Thursday October 7, 2010 at 11:59 PM ET.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced via email and winner’s post.  Winner will have 24 hours to get back to me with their information and claim their prize.  Failure to contact me within that time will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner via Live giveaway immediately after.

***I was not compensated in any way for this post***

Are Schools Safe?

We’ve all heard the horror stories about what goes on in schools, schools where we send our children expecting them to be safe, those stories have kept me (and I’m sure many other parents) up at night wondering and worrying.  While I consider the school my children attend relatively safe compared to some, I do notice more and more incidents of violence and troubling behavior and I am not alone! 
Yesterday my 8 year old daughter came home from school, I asked her how her day was as usual and then she begins to tell me about an incident that happened on the playground, by the time her story was over I was fuming mad and on the phone with the principal.  My daughter was playing on the jungle gym at school during recess yesterday, she was following her friends across the bridge when one of the boys (not one of her friends) on the bridge looked at her and said, “No girls only boys!” and then proceeded to kick her in the stomach knocking her backwards.  Not being one to be victimized Savanna proceeded across the bridge only to be slapped in the face and on the arm by the same boy.  The boy then went on to smack, kick, and slap several other children for no reason.  Savanna did go tell one of the teachers on the playground, but the only thing the teacher did was tell the boy to stop…really?  Let me get this straight, several children in your care were just attacked by some little bully and instead of doing the right thing and taking him directly to the principals office you told him to stop and went back to your conversation…wow I am at a loss for words!  Thankfully the principal at my daughter’s school was quick to get on the issue.  I know that things like this happen all of the time, but my point is how safe are our children when they are at school and it is situations like this that make parents really wonder.  Or situations like the one below which is even more disturbing!
Last week I was on Facebook when I noticed a status update from my husbands ex-wife about my step-son, as I read it I could not believe what I was reading.  My step-son (who is 12) was approached by a 13 year old who handed him marijuana.  Apparently the boy went on to brag to his friends that he smokes pot at home WITH his parents.  Thankfully my step-son had the good sense to tell his mom and  the situation was handled by the school, but it scared me to death!  I could not even imagine my children being faced with that kind of situation. 
Both of the situations I mentioned above inspired a long talk with my girls about drugs, bullies, and the importance of talking to your parents and not being afraid to tell an adult when you are faced with a situation that you are unsure of.  I hope that if nothing else this post will inspire you to talk to your kids about the very real dangers that are ever present around them.  I know that we cannot protect our children all of the time, but if we can supply them with the knowledge they need to handle these kinds of situations properly then we are doing our jobs correctly. 

Wordless Wednesday: Tattooed Bad Boys!

The two men in my life…love these guys so much!  They both also share a love of tattoos lol!    Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Thomas’ Bagel Thins…Make Breakfast Good and Good For You!

Mornings around here are pretty hectic, and with all of the commotion going on around them I always worry that my oldest girls won’t get a chance to grab breakfast before heading off to catch the bus.  Even more, I worry that their choices when left to their own devices will include fatty, sugary options that are not very good choices for breakfast.  

I’ve been a fan of Thomas’ English muffins and bagels for while now, but was recently introduced to Thomas’ Bagel Thins and was instantly happy that I had been.  Thomas’ Bagel Thins are “baking breakfast better” and making it so yummy.  Thomas’ introduced the first trim bagel option with their Bagel Thins, every bit as good as the original (and in my opinion slightly better) and only 110 calories!  Bagel Thins are available in three varieties Plan, 100% Whole Wheat, and Everything (my favorite) they are the perfect size, are high in fiber, and low in fat.  Since breakfast is not my um strong suit, scrambled eggs anyone, I am so glad that Thomas’ has several great recipes on their site to make my job easier while making me look like the breakfast making champ I am not.  I have a few recipes to share with you (some of our favorites) but you can check out the rest on Thomas’ Bagel Thins website! 

The Classic Egg with Canadian Bacon

Yield:  1 sandwich—Prep time:  5 minutes—Cook Time:  2 minutes

Ingredients

1 Thomas’ Plain Bagel Thins bagel

1 large egg

1 slice Canadian bacon (I use 2 slices of turkey bacon as a substitute)

1 slice reduced fat American cheese

Directions

1.  Beat egg in small bowl.

2.  Coat a microwave-safe bowl with non-stick spray.

3.  Add egg to prepared dish and microwave for 1 minute at 60% power.  (Actual cooking times may vary slightly due to appliance wattage.)

4.  Wrap Canadian bacon in paper towel and microwave for 1 minute at 50% power.  (Or if using turkey bacon prepare according to package directions)

5.  Toast Thomas’ Bagel Thins bagel.

6.  Layer bacon, egg, and cheese on bagel…enjoy!

Ham with Pineapple Cream Cheese

Yield:  1 sandwich—Prep Time:  5 minutes—Cook Time:  0 minutes

Ingredients

1 Thomas’ 100% Whole Wheat Bagel Thins bagel

2 tablespoons reduced fat cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons pineapple in juice, drained and chopped

1 slice ham

Directions

1.  Combine cream cheese and pineapple in small bowl.  I take a shortcut on this step by using pineapple cream cheese.

2.  Toast Thomas’ Bagel Thins bagel.

3.  Spread cream cheese over bagel and top with ham.

Thomas’ sent our family a very nice gift basket full of Thomas’ Bagel Thins, as well as a few other amazing goodies, for our review.  It didn’t take long before we had a chance to “review” the Bagel Thins as they were the first thing my girls ask for the next morning for breakfast.  Both of the girls asked for a plain Thomas’ Bagel Thins bagel slathered in yummy PB&J for breakfast and in an instant the bagels were hot and ready for them to “review”.  At first there wasn’t much talking, not to worry though in our house silence is the sign of a great meal, but as soon as the girls had finished they both informed me that this would be their new breakfast favorite!  Taking note of their approval I decided to try and decide for myself, I chose Thomas’ Everything Bagel Thins bagel to sample and decided that I would play it safe with cream cheese.  I have to admit I was very pleased, the bagel was so yummy that it was hard for me not to have seconds.  Thomas’ Bagel Thins have become a normal part of our breakfast routine around here everyone,  even the babies, really enjoys them and everyone has his or her favorite topping.   I love that my family enjoys Thomas’ Bagel Thins, but I really like that they are good and good for you!

You can find Thomas’ Bagel Thins in your favorite supermarket or mass retailer (Target and Walmart) nationwide!  Don’t forget to check out the Thomas’ Bagel Thins website for more information and recipes! 

Winners!

I have winners to announce and y’all know how much I love making winners out of you!  We have a couple of winners to announce, but first up is the Proactiv Giveaway winner!

Winning number is:

And the lucky winner is: 

September 24, 2010 4:13 AM 153

AmyLynn

I'd love to win this for myself...I am still suffering from acne in my late 20s.

Congrats AmyLynn!

Next up we have the winner of the Dean’s Dip week 2 giveaway!

Winning number is:  

And our lucky commenter is:

September 25, 2010 11:17 PM 19

Shel

Follow MIBR on Twitter @auntiethesis

Congrats Shel!  You both have 48 hours to contact me and claim your prize!

Dean Cain Stars in The Way Home on GMC Premieres Friday Oct. 1!

Attention ladies!!!  I have a treat for you today!  I have been a huge fan of Dean Cain since days playing everyone’s favorite superhero Super Man!  If you too are a Dean Cain fan you’ll want to check this out! 
Dean Cain starts in the true story of a Georgia family in The Way Home premiering this Friday October 1 at 8 pm ET on GMC.  More details and a clip below! 

We have all been distracted by work, errands, time pressures and the number of commitments we are trying to keep up with in a day, even when supervising a child. What happened to a family in a small town outside of Atlanta, GA can happen to anyone.  What happens when a community rallies around a distraught family to search for their missing two year-old boy, Joe Simpkins, changes lives.  In the GMC World Premiere movie The Way Home, Dean Cain stars as Randy Simpkins, a husband and father torn between the demands of his job and commitment to his family. His faith is tested in a battle against guilt, fear and the devastating grief that comes when faced with the potential loss of a child. Lori Beth Edgeman (Get Low) plays Christal Simpkins, the mother of little Joe and wife of Randy, who is struggling to bring her family back together. Sonny Shroyer (The Dukes of Hazard) plays Ed Walker, a member of the community who reveals how he felt compelled to join the search when he finds out the boy’s name was Joe, the namesake of the brother that Ed lost many years before.  Tom Nowicki (The Blind Side) plays Sheriff Tony Reeves.  Brett Rice (Remember the Titans) plays Fire Chief Gary Thomas. The movie was shot at the exact location in Carrollton, GA, where the actual events occurred. 



“The Way Home delivers the kind of inspirational family entertainment that viewers expect from GMC,” said Brad Siegel, vice chairman, GMC.  “The movie represents our commitment to bringing compelling and meaningful entertainment to our original and world premiere programming line-up,” he continued.

The Way Home comes to GMC from Red Five Entertainment and is written and directed by Lance Dreesen.  Clint Hutchison and Lance Dreesen produce.  Randy Simpkins serves as executive producer. The family drama earned the Dove “Family Approved” seal and won the Pearl Award at the 2010 International Family Film Festival. The Way Home comes to DVD on Tuesday, October 26 (Lionsgate). 
You can also catch encore presentations on Saturday October 2 at 8 pm ET as well as Sunday October 3 at 1 pm ET. 

Nickelodeon Premieres 2 New Hour-Long Specials!

My children love Nick Jr. and two of their favorite shows are Ni Hao Kai-Lan and Go Diego Go!  If you have a kiddos that loves Kai-Lan and Diego then I have a treat for you, I mean them.  Nickelodeon is premiering 2 new hour-long specials of Ni Hao Kai-Lan and Go Diego Go!  Check out the details below and be sure to tune in!

Diego is back for another high stakes animal rescue mission and he’s bringing along an elite team of rescuers in the new hour-long Go, Diego, Go! special, “Diego’s International Rescue League,” premiering Friday, Sept. 24, at 10:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. Actress Lucy Liu (Charlie’s Angels, Kill Bill Vol. 1) guests stars as the Bear Queen in the new hour-long Ni Hao, Kai-lan special, “Princess Kai-lan,” premiering Friday, Oct. 8, at 1:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.  Both specials will be simulcast on Nick Mobile.

In “Diego’s International Rescue League,” Diego has assembled an elite team of rescuers who try to earn their World Rescuers’ patch.  There’s Juma -- an African desert expert; Shanti – an Indian forest expert; Burgin – an expert diver and surfer from Borneo and Yang who can climb up the tallest mountains of China.  The team is assembled on Rescue Island -- a special island with natural habitats from around the world.  They must race against the clock in their Rescue Flyer to identify and return five eggs to their correct habitats before the time runs out.

 

In “Princess Kai-lan,” Kai-lan, Rintoo, Tolee and Hoho get a visit from their superhero friend, the Monkey King, who really needs their help.  There’s trouble in a magical kingdom because the foxes and bears who live there won’t talk to each other.  It’s up to Kai-lan and her friends to get the Fox King and the Bear Queen (Lucy Liu) together so they can encourage all of the foxes and bears to become friends.  They will have to use their special powers to leap over bamboo forests, travel past a moat of giant bubbles and find their way through the majestic palaces to help unite the kingdom. 

 

Remember to tune in tomorrow (10:00 a.m. (ET/PT)) for the premiere of  the Go Diego Go! special  Diego’s International Rescue League  and then on Friday, Oct. 8, at 1:00 p.m. for the premiere of Princess Kai-Lan!

National Car Seat Safety Week & Tips from Safety 1st!

I don’t know about you, but I am always concerned when I buy a new car seat if it’s right for my child's height and weight, if I am installing it correctly, and if my child is strapped in correctly (call it OCD if you want).  This week is National Car Seat Safety Week and thanks to Safety 1st and Kimberlee Mitchell (a National Child Safety expert and Child Passenger Safety Technician, I have some great tips for all you moms and dads out there to make sure your child’s car sear is safe enough for your most precious cargo!

  Keep it conservative & consider safety before style.

Tip #1: CHOOSING A NEWBORN/INFANT CARRIER: (Your child’s first car seat.)
1.   Choose an INFANT CAR SEAT with the highest weight, height and age maximum for rear- facing. SOME GO UP TO 35 lbs, which is ideal!
a.    Your child is 75% safer in a crash when he is rear-facing so consequently; you will want to keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible.
2.    Make sure it FITS YOUR CHILD per manufacturer’s specifications.
3.    Make sure it FITS IN YOUR CAR’S BACK SEAT.
a.    READ the child restraint manual and the vehicle owner’s manual for with proper installation and for the best location for the seat.
4.    Make sure you can INSTALL IT CORRECTLY in the SAFEST LOCATION in car EVERY TIME.
a.    Make an appointment with a CPST to check your work and to learn proper installation techniques.

Tip#2: CONVERTIBLE CAR SEATS: (Once they have outgrown the infant car seat.)
1.    Choose a CONVERTIBLE car seat with the highest weight, height and age maximum for rear- facing.
a.    Your child is 75% safer in a crash when he is rear-facing so consequently; you will want to keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible.
b.    When your child reaches the maximum height or weight for rear-facing, turn the car seat forward -facing.
2.   Make sure it FITS YOUR CHILD per manufacturer’s specifications.
3.    Make sure it FITS IN YOUR CAR’S BACK SEAT.
a.    READ the child restraint manual and the vehicle owner’s manual for with proper installation and for the best location for the seat.
4.   Make sure you can INSTALL IT CORRECTLY in the SAFEST LOCATION in car EVERY TIME.
a.    Make an appointment with a CPST to learn proper installation technique.

Tip #3 CHOOSING A BOOSTER SEAT: CHILDREN 8 YEARS OLD & UNDER or 4 feet 9 inches and under:
1.    Choose a high back belt-positioning booster with that highest weight, height and age maximum.
2.    Make sure it FITS YOUR CHILD per manufacturer’s specifications.
3.    Make sure it FITS IN YOUR CAR’S BACK SEAT.
a.    READ the child restraint manual and the vehicle owner’s manual for with proper installation and for the best location for the seat.
4.   Make sure you can INSTALL IT CORRECTLY in the SAFEST LOCATION in car EVERY TIME.
a.    Make an appointment with a CPST to learn proper installation technique.

TRY IT BEFORE YOUR BUY IT:
Keep in mind that most retailers will allow you to take the child restraint out of the box to see if it fits your child.  Also ask if they will allow you to bring the child restraint to your car to make sure it’s a proper fit.  You’d be surprised how many seats don’t fit!  TRY IT BEFORE YOUR BUY IT and you will save yourself some frustration and wasted time.

CALL THE PROS TO CHECK YOUR WORK:
Then have the pros check your work as there any many variable people miss all the time.  We hear “I would have never thought about that!” and “I never considered the location of the car seats in my car being a safety hazard to my other children.”  Click here to find a Certified Child Passenger Safety Tech in your area!  God Speed and safe travels!

Tips used by permission of Safety 1st and can be found along with some great child safety information at Safety 1st blog!

Piggy Paint: Project Earth Tween Polish Line Review{+Giveaway}

My girls have a very interesting mixture of personalities and tastes, but there is one area where all three of them agree…make-up and nail polish.  Try as I might (and I do try) I cannot seem to keep any of them out of my make-up and nail polish.  I really don’t mind that they wear my make-up, I used to sneak into my moms make-up case and wear hers, but I really do not like the idea of them using my nail polish with all of the harsh odors and chemicals.  It took me years (literally) before I painted my oldest daughter’s nails and I am still very leery about letting any of the girls use nail polish, thankfully I found a company that puts those worries to rest!

A while back I did a review for Piggy Paint and ended up finding a product and company that I adore.  I love that there are companies out there who are committed to providing their customers with quality products that parents can feel good about letting their kids use.  Knowing that I can buy my girls nail polish without worrying about harsh chemicals ending up in their mouths gives this mom peace of mind.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with Piggy Paint I want to take a minute to bring you up to speed on this awesome company.

From the Piggy Paint Website:

My name is Melanie Hurley, founder of Piggy Paint™. I am a stay-at-home mom with two very fancy little girls, ages 4 and 6, who love to have their fingernails painted. I’ve always hated the thought of my kiddos putting their hands in their mouths after I painted their nails with traditional kid polishes. Not only did the ingestion of the chemicals worry me, but the smell nearly left me light-headed after painting two sets of fingernails and toenails.

One day while we were painting nails over a foam plate, my daughter dropped a glob of her solvent-based polish onto the plate. Shortly after, the paint began to bubble and “ate” through the plate. I looked in dismay at the hole in the plate and decided to test all of her other “kid” polishes on the foam. Within minutes, ALL of the solvent-based polishes began to bubble and eventually left big holes in the plate (Click to see plate). From that day on, I decided that any flammable substance that could eat through foam was unacceptable for my children’s fingernails, which would inevitably end up in their mouths.

My quest was on, and Piggy Paint™ was born. As you may have guessed, our polish is NOT flammable and sits beautifully on the unaffected foam. We hope you enjoy this water-based polish that is specially formulated of natural ingredients. Finally, a kid-friendly polish without the accompanying drawbacks of traditional polishes. It is free of formaldehyde, toluene, phthalates, biphenyl A, ethyl acetate and acetone... and made in the USA!

Piggy Paint is known for their eco-friendly alternative to traditional nail polish and now they are introducing their new tween line of nail polish called “Project Earth”.  The Project Earth line includes polishes that are sure to make any tween excited about painting their nails, the line features wild neon colors and a very cool Glow-in-the-Dark polish called “Radioactive”!  We were sent two polishes from Piggy Paint’s Project Earth line to review.  Both of my oldest daughter’s love painting their nails and they were more than happy to help mom out with this review.  We received Project Earth’s LOL and Radioactive to try out.  My girls where very excited to try the glow-in-the-dark polish, they also loved the vibrant pink color of the LOL polish, it fit perfectly with the style they are both into at the moment.  Both of my girls decided to do a couple coats of LOL and then finish with a top coat of Radioactive…they loved the results!

What my girls had to say about Project Earth!

Tween 1:  “I love the color of LOL, it' matches most of my clothes and is really fun and kind of funky!”

Tween 2:  “I like the glow-in-the-dark color, it will be fun for Trick or Treat!”

I would definitely say that this review was a success, both girls loved the polish and I loved that it was safe for them to use, I even used it on Lil Diva!

Speaking of being safe, I wanted to mention that Piggy Paint has received the Excellence Award from safebaby.com as well as their seal of approval as an Approved Vendor of Mom Approved-Child Tested Products!

Now I have a few treats for you:  Piggy Paint is offering all of my Misadventurous readers 10% off of their order at Piggy Paint (including sale items!) just use the Code RAISE10L at checkout.  (Code expires December 15, 2010)  And remember, spend $35 at PiggyPaint.com and receive FREE Domestic shipping!

Giveaway Alert!  Piggy Paint is giving one MIBR reader a $15 Gift Code to PiggyPaint.com! 

Win it:  Mandatory Entry!

Please visit Piggy Paint and have a look around, come back and leave a comment on this post telling me which of the Project Earth colors you think your tween would like!  This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are allowed!

Extra Entries!

Please leave separate comments for each extra entry! 

2 Extra Entries

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Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (3x a day per length of giveaway):  
I just entered the Piggy Paint giveaway at MIBR http://tinyurl.com/269735m @Allie_23”
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Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post

This giveaway ends on October 6 , 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim their prize; failure to do so will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner.

Wordless Wednesday: Cowboy Spiderman and Lil Diva!

I bought a new camera last week (a Canon Power Shot that I ADORE) so I can finally participate in WW again…yay!  This is the first picture I took with the new camera and I love it!  Lil Diva and Lil Man aka Cowboy Spiderman!  Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Barbie A Fashion Fairytale Review

My girls love Barbie, they always have, and to be honest I’ve always been a sucker for Barbie and her cute outfits and impressive resume!  I’m fairly certain that my girls have all of the Barbie movies as well, they can watch them over and over again and never seem to get tired of them.  Luckily my girls are in for a treat because is back in an all new adventure: “Barbie a Fashion Fairy Tale”. 

Barbie’s A Fashion Fairytale is a modern day fairytale that will excite every little girl’s love of fashion, friends, and fun!  In “A Fashion Fairytale” Barbie and her dog Sequin head off to Paris (such a lovely setting no?) to help her Aunt Millie’s struggling fashion house.  Barbie together with three Flairies who poses sparkle-magic powers come to the rescue and devise a plan to help Aunt Millie!  After inspiring a amazing, but shy fashion designer named Alice, Barbie puts together a fabulous runway show and helps save her aunt’s business! 

Barbie’s A Fashion Fairytale also features tons of Bonus Features including:

*  Outtakes

*  I can be…A Fashion Designer

*  “Life is a Fairytale” Music Video

*  The Ultimate Barbie Party

*  Trailer Gallery and so much more!

All three of my daughters sat down with me to watch A Fashion Fairytale.  From start to finish my two youngest girlies stayed glued to the television waiting for Barbie’s next move.  As with every Barbie movie, A Fashion Fairytale comes complete with a girl powerful message:  “magic can happen if you believe in yourself”.  I love that my girls can enjoy watching Barbie’s movies and learn the power and importance of helping others and believing in yourself!

If you’re looking for a great DVD chock full of girl power then I would definitely recommend that you check out Barbie’s A Fashion Fairytale!  You can also check out Barbie.com for lots of fun games and activities to go along with the movie!

Spin & Go Touchless Mop & Wringer System + GIVEAWAY!

Motherhood is a thankless job; we cook, we clean, we change dirty diapers, and we mop…it’s that last chore that this mommy dislikes most.  With hardwood floors throughout most of my house sweeping and mopping daily (sometimes several times a day) is a chore that is both dreaded and necessary.

I have had major back problems since I had my son three years ago, most days my back hurts from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed, and bending over to wring out a mop only makes that pain worse.  Last year I bought a steam mop thinking that it would alleviate some of the bending, but in reality the steam mop is harder on my back than a regular mop, so after about a month of using it a couple of times a day I retired it to the hall closet where it has stayed since.  After retiring the steam mop I reluctantly went back to the good old fashioned mop and that is what I have been using daily ever since…until I discovered the Spin & Go Touchless  Mop and Wringer System!

Given my less than great experience with my steam mop (which was an expensive, very popular brand by the way) I was a little hesitant about trying the Spin & Go.  I had seen the infomercials on TV and wondered how well it worked, so when I had the chance to review it I thought sure, why not.  Before I get into what I thought of the Spin & Go I want to tell you a little more about the product and how it works.




It really is as easy as that!  Attach the mop head to the handle, get wet, spin excess water out, and you’re mopping in seconds.  Some of the fabulous features of the Spin & Go Touchless Mop & Wringer include:

*  Its microfiber mop head.  With 1,720,000 microfibers the mop head picks up dirt that standard cotton mops cannot!
*  The microfiber mop head is super absorbent; cleans up spills easily and effectively!
*  The Spin & Go mop head rotates 360 degrees and attaches to change mop heads easily!
*  .The Spin & Go mop is extremely light and easy to manage.
*  Microfiber mop head can do a number of different jobs:  wet, dry mop, and dusts.

I was very excited to try the Spin & Go, as a matter of fact, I used the mop within an hour of the FedEx driver dropping it off…yes it is a tad bit weird that I was that excited to mop my floors.  The first thing I noticed was how easily the microfiber mop head attached and detached from the mop handle and how light the mop was even when wet.  As soon as I wet the mop head and placed it into the wringer basket to remove the excess water I was sold on the Spin & Go, not having to bend over and wring out a dirty mop head was a foreign concept to me, but it was a concept that I was more than happy to explore!  One of the issues I was concerned about before trying the Spin & Go was the wringer basket not getting rid of enough of the excess water, but the mop head came out wet enough  to thoroughly mop, but not enough to cause a mess.    As I mopped my living room floor I noticed how much quicker the job became when I wasn’t constantly stopping and bending over, what used to take a good 10 minutes was done and almost dry in about 5 minutes!  You can check out a video of the Spin & Go in action below!

What I love about the Spin & Go:  Everything!  Seriously this mop and wringer system has made mopping a chore that I don’t mind doing.  It has made the job easier, quicker, and much less painful than the traditional mop I had been using.  I would definitely recommend this mop to everyone who hates mopping as much as I used to!

What I didn’t like about the Spin & Go:  Honestly the only thing I could even come up with was cleaning the mop head.  While it does say you can machine wash the mop head when needed I would be hesitant to place the mop head in my washing machine simply because of the hard plastic base that the microfiber is attached to.

Buy it!

You can purchase the Spin & Go online for $49.99…make sure to pick up a few extra mop heads too!  

Boy do I have a treat for all of you!  One MIBR reader is going to win a Spin & Go Touchless Mop & Wringer system!  

Win it:  Mandatory Entry!

To enter this giveaway please leave a comment on this post telling me why you NEED to win the Spin & Go!  This is mandatory and must be completed before any extra entries are allowed!

Extra Entries!

Please leave separate comments for each extra entry!

1 Extra Entry Each

Enter any of the other giveaways on MIBR

2 Extra Entries

Follow MIBR via Email
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Grab my button
Enter any of the other giveaways on MIBR

3 Extra Entries
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Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (may be tweeted up to 3x a day per length of giveaway)
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"Like" Spin & Go on Facebook
 
5 Extra Entries
Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post

This giveaway ends on October 1, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim their prize; failure to do so will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner.

You Can Never Have Too Many Winners!

So let’s get right into it—I have 2 winners to announce today!
First up the winner of the Leverage giveaway!
Winning number is:

Winning commenter: 
September 7, 2010 6:55 PM 4

Shooting Stars Mag

i would love to win this for my sister. she loves this show!
lauren51990 at aol dot com
Next giveaway we’re drawing for is the Dean’s Dip Week 1 Giveaway!
Winning number is:

Winning commenter:
September 13, 2010 1:30 PM 51

Valancia

I Follow MIBR via Networked Blogs
id valancia arrelya #1
Congrats to both winners!  You each have 48 hours to contact me and claim your prize!

Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest {+ Giveaway}

I love photography; and while I love taking pictures of my kids as a way of preserving memories, I am always amazed at the works of art that some people can create with the click of the camera.  Some of my favorite photographs have been those printed in National Geographic magazine. 
In May 2010, Energizer and National Geographic teamed up for their 3rd annual Energizer Ultimate Photo Contest.  Thanks to word of mouth and social media, this contest featured 14,275 entries – over 2,000 more than last years!
National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson has narrowed those 14,275 entries to just 12 finalists and now it’s time to vote! The winner gets a National Geographic Expeditions trip for two to Greece and a feature in an upcoming issue of National Geographic magazine.
There's no question about one thing: To get the best shot, you need the best equipment. That's where Energizer comes in. Energizer® Ultimate Lithium AA and AAA batteries are the world's longest lasting batteries in high-tech devices. They last up to eight times longer than Energizer® MAX® in digital cameras (results vary by camera)-which means you can take your mind off your batteries and focus on capturing that winning photo.
So take a second and vote for your favorites… I did! 

And just because I love all of you so very much I have another great giveaway for you from Energizer!  Check this out one of you lucky ladies or gentlemen is going to win:
*  E2 Lithium LED Flashlight w/ 1AA
65 Lumens - Advanced Circuitry- for variable brightness control - Waterproof - Includes 1 AA e2 Lithium battery - Bulb: Lifetime Cree XRE LED - Runtime: 2. 5 hrs. At max brightness - Size: 4. 33 inch x 1. 12 inch - Weight: 2. 93 oz (with battery) - Machined, aircraft-grade aluminum alloy casing - Push button tail switch - Heavy duty metal clip - Engineered elastomer grip
*  2 pck. of Energizer_® Ultimate Lithium Batteries
For the countless electronic gadgets that you can’t live without, get the latest lithium battery technology that’s proven to be the world’s longest lasting AA and AAA batteries in high-tech devices.
Other things you should know:

• Last up to 8x longer in digital cameras (versus Energizer_® MAX^®.  results vary by camera.)
• Weigh 1/3 less than standard alkaline batteries
• Perform in extreme temperatures from -40°F to 140°F
• 15 year storage life
• Leak resistant construction

*  Canon Deluxe 200 Tripod

• Maximum height of 59.3 inches
• Ideal for medium-sized 35mm cameras, with up to a 75-300mm telephoto zoom lens attached
• 3-way panhead with quick release
• Built-in bubble level to even shots
• Flip locks for quick stability

Win it:  Mandatory Entry!

To enter this giveaway please visit the National Geographic website and vote for your favorite photo(s), then come back to this post and tell me which photo(s) was your favorite!  This is mandatory and must be completed before any additional entries are allowed! 

Extra Entries!

Please leave separate comments for each extra entry!  Please make sure that you include your email address if it is not visible in your profile!!!

2 Extra Entries

Follow MIBR via Email
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Grab my button
Enter any of the other giveaways on MIBR

3 Extra Entries
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Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (may be tweeted up to 3x a day per length of giveaway)
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5 Extra Entries
Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post (short blurbs are fine)
Comment on any of the following posts
http://misadventuresinbabyraising.blogspot.com/2010/09/30-days-of-truth.html
http://misadventuresinbabyraising.blogspot.com/2010/09/tips-for-fighting-common-cold-with.html
http://misadventuresinbabyraising.blogspot.com/2010/09/this-dad-puts-dead-in-dead-beat.html
This giveaway ends on September 28, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim their prize; failure to do so will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner.

Taco Pizza: Our Pizza Night Specialty!

Pizza is a staple at our house; it is requested for every single meal by my three year old and at least once a week by the rest of the family.  Now I have nothing against pizza, but making the same old pepperoni, cheese, and green pepper pizza every week does get old.  Last week I decided to switch things up a bit and combine 2 of my favorite foods—tacos and pizza—and the result was DE.LIC.IOUS! 

Taco Pizza

Ingredients

2 Boboli Pizza Crusts
1 medium jar of mild salsa
1/2 pound ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 envelope taco seasoning
2 tomatoes, diced
1/2 of a head of lettuce, shredded
1 8 oz. bag Shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
Pre-heat oven to 450.  Brown ground beef in a medium sauté pan with diced onion.  Drain any grease from the ground beef and add taco seasoning according to package directions and set aside.  Place pizza crusts   on lightly greased baking sheets.  Top teach pizza crust with half of the jar of salsa, spread until even.  Cover salsa with seasoned ground beef and place in the oven for 8-10 minutes.  When pizza comes out of the oven allow to cool slightly.  Add shredded lettuce, tomato, and cheddar cheese to pizza crust.  Slice and enjoy!
This is by far my family’s all time favorite pizza…they ask for it time and again!  And hey sure it’s pizza and a taco all rolled into one, but don’t knock it till you try it because this is YUMMO!

Dean’s Dip Recipe Bowl Week 2 + Giveaway!

Hey y’all!  I hope you all had a chance to check out Week One of the Dean’s Dip Recipe Bowl playoffs; if not, no worries, you still have time to enter this weeks giveaway.  And remember that the winner from week 1 and the winner from week 2 will go head to head in a Dean’s Dip Recipe Bowl showdown with the winner claiming the Dean’s Dip Party Pack full of goodies from Dean’s Dip as well as some awesome tools to help make your football party the best ever!

If you read my last Dean’s Dip post then you know that Dean’s recently introduced their new Pretzel Dips…Cheddar Cheese and Honey Mustard!  I don’t know about you, but having some warm, melty, yummy cheddar cheese or tangy honey mustard to dip my pretzels in makes this mommy very happy.  Of course, my kiddos love Dean’s Pretzel Dips too and hubby, well he never turns down good dip! 

I’ve used Dean’s Dips for a while now; I love the variety and value and my family just loves they way it tastes.  But sometimes you want something extra special, right?  Well if that’s the case then check out Dean’s website where you can find entertaining ideas, dip tips, recipes and more!  I spent some time slobbering over, I mean looking over the recipes on the Dean’s website and found so many that I am definitely going to try…my favorite though would have to be the Dean’s Italian Chicken Bake—can you say yummo!
Now for the fun part…I have another awesome Dean’s Dip giveaway coming your way.  Before you enter make sure you read the following closely!

Please read the following carefully!

Don’t forget we are going to be running a series of 3 giveaways (1 each week for the next 3 weeks) associated with Dean’s new Pretzel Dips.  The first giveaway will be for A Dean’s Dip Party Tray and FREE Dean’s Dip coupons, and 1 winner will be chosen.  The second giveaway will be for FREE Dean’s Dip coupons, chip clip, and reusable bag and 1 winner will be chosen.  Here is where it get’s a little tricky!  For the 3rd giveaway the winner’s from week 1 and week 2 will go head to head in the Dean’s Dip Recipe Bowl and each come up with their favorite recipe using Dean’s Dip.  Then my blog readers, the winner’s friends, family, Twitter followers, Facebook friends (whom ever they can convince to vote for them) will vote for which recipe they like the best.  The entrant with the most votes will win the Ultimate Dean’s Dip Prize Pack!  So put your chef hats on and start thinking of recipes!

This week’s Dean’s Dip prize will be FREE Dean’s Dip Coupons, Chip Clip, and reusable Reisenthel Mini Maxi Carryall!

Win it:  Mandatory Entry!

To enter this giveaway please go over to the Dean’s Dip website and have a look at all of the fabulous recipes then leave a comment on this post telling me which recipe you would love to try!  Easy peasy, but this is mandatory and must be completed before any additional entries are allowed!

Extra Entries!

Please leave separate comments for each additional entry.  Please include your email address if it is not visible in your profile or on your blog!

2 Extra Entries

Follow MIBR via Email

Follow MIBR via Google Friend Connect

Follow MIBR via RSS Feed

Follow MIBR on Networked Blogs

Grab my button

Enter any of the other giveaways on MIBR

3 Extra Entries

Follow MIBR on Twitter

Follow Dean’s Dip on Twitter

Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (may be tweeted up to 3x a day per length of giveaway)

“I just entered the Dean’s Dip giveaway on MIBR http://tinyurl.com/3a4u8qt @Allie_23”

“Like” MIBR on Facebook

“Like” Dean’s Dip on Facebook

5 Extra Entries

Blog about this giveaway with a link to this post (short blurbs are fine)

Comment on any of the following posts

http://misadventuresinbabyraising.blogspot.com/2010/09/30-days-of-truth.html

http://misadventuresinbabyraising.blogspot.com/2010/09/tips-for-fighting-common-cold-with.html

http://misadventuresinbabyraising.blogspot.com/2010/09/this-dad-puts-dead-in-dead-beat.html

This giveaway ends on Monday September 27, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim their prize; failure to do so will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner.

Tips For Fighting the Common Cold: With Children’s Advil!

The time of year for sniffles and sneezes is quickly approaching.  It seems like every single year when my kids go back to school the viruses and colds start almost immediately.  What’s worse is that once my older girls go to school and carry the virus and cold germs home the little ones get it and before I know it what was one runny nose and fever has turned into 4 runny noses with fevers and that is not good!  Needless to say, in the winter Children’s Advil and acetaminophen are a common fixture in our home.
I’ve been a hard core user of Children’s Advil for a while now; my children get constant ear infections in the winter and Children’s Advil has been a godsend on so many occasions.  Between easing aches and pains and controlling fever, Children’s Advil seems to get the job done and get it done fast and that is why I chose it 9 times out of 10 for fever and pain. 
I know that as a parent I often have questions concerning colds and flu; I recently had the chance to interview Dr. Greg Alexander (see bio below) and get the answers to some of those questions.  You can check out a portion of my interview with Dr. Alexander below. 

Dr. Gregg Alexander is a practicing pediatrician at Madison Pediatrics in London, Ohio. He is very involved in local healthcare and community affairs, active at both a state and national level in the advancement of healthcare information technology, and most recently, he became the CMO for Health Nuts Media which uses animations, games, and apps to help children understand health issues on their level. Happily married, he’s the proud father of two sons.

Q1.  What would you say is the number one cause of the common cold?
Dr. Alexander:  Other children! (OK, technically, the #1 cause of the common cold is the rhinovirus, but you know who often delivers that virus to your child: another child!) Children usually get colds from other children; young children are particularly susceptible to colds because their immune systems are “naïve” meaning they haven’t yet developed much immunity to common infections because they haven’t had much exposure. Less exposure means less practice and less capacity to fight off new threats. In fact, studies have shown that otherwise healthy children can catch up to 12 common viruses per year especially in the fall and winter when they are back in school.
Q2.  What is the best way to treat a cold?  flu?  stomach virus?
Dr. Alexander:  There is no cure for the cold or flu virus, but there are some simple things that parents can do to help treat their child’s cold or flu. It seems basic, but lots of rest, fluids, and good nutrition go a long way in helping to support the immune system as it fights infection.
To ease congestion, I recommend adding a cool midst humidifier to your child's room or spend a few minutes in a steamy bathroom to get stuck mucus moving. At bedtime, try elevating his or her head by adding an extra pillow (or placing the mattress at a slight incline for babies and younger children) to encourage nasal drainage and a more restful night's sleep. (Note: infants should never use pillows.)
For breastfeeding or bottle-feeding infants, you can prevent congestion from interfering with feeding by holding your child as upright as possible at feeding time—and if you are nursing, keep breastfeeding! Breast milk naturally contains antibodies to help your baby fight infection.
For toddlers and preschoolers, a warm bowl of chicken soup can be soothing and studies show that there is in fact a medicinal value in the remedy.
Q.3 I am often confused about Tylenol and Advil and which treats what symptoms better.  Which medicine works best for:  fever?, aches and pains?  pain associated with immunizations?, teething?
Dr. Alexander:  In general, both medications are used for pain and fever reduction. Children’s Advil^®, which contains the active ingredient ibuprofen, is indicated for reducing fever and helping with the minor aches and pains due to colds, the flu, sore throat, headache, or toothache. It is also a little bit more effective as far as I’m concerned because it has a faster onset of action and it also lasts longer. Ibuprofen lasts 6 to 8 hours and acetaminophen (i.e., Children’s Tylenol^®) lasts approximately 4 hours.
If you have other issues beyond those, or if fever lasts longer than a couple of days, you should consult with your pediatrician.
Q4.  My older children often catch colds and different types of viruses from other children at school; they almost always bring the viruses home and infect my younger children.  What is your best advice for keeping my older children from spreading the viruses to the younger children?
Dr. Alexander:  Probably the most important thing you can do to help prevent your children from catching and spreading germs is to teach them to wash their hands, well and often. Hand sanitizers help, too, if soap and water aren’t available. Drinking plenty of fluids (avoiding caffeine) to maintain good hydration, getting sufficient sleep, eating a balanced diet with lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and maintaining regular physical activity/exercise all work to bolster the immune system and its ability to defend against infections.
Q5.  One of the things that worry me most in my children is fevers.  At what temperature do you administer medicine? 
Dr. Alexander:  There is no set rule or number when it comes to treating your child’s fever with medication; however, if your child is uncomfortable or downright miserable, you may want to give them medicine such as Children’s Advil^® to help reduce their fever and give them some relief. Children’s Advil^® has been proven to reduce fever faster and lasts longer, up to 8 hours.
Q6.  What are the early symptoms of the common cold?  the flu?  stomach virus?
Dr. Alexander:  The symptoms for the common cold and the flu are often very similar which can make it difficult to tell them apart. Usually, they may include congestion, a stuffy or runny nose, headache, and a sore throat. However, with the flu, symptoms may be a bit more severe and may also include a fever, more of the whole body aches and pains, and perhaps an upset stomach. With the flu, you will generally look and feel sicker and symptoms usually come on faster and last longer than with just a cold.
Q7.  What is your #1 tip for fighting the cold and flu?
Dr. Alexander:  Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids! This will help the immune system fight off the virus and get them well sooner. For more information, I would recommend parents visit www.ChildrensAdvilSolutions.com where they can find some simple tips on how to help prevent and treat children’s colds and flu during the back-to-school and fall season. I was impressed at the simple, helpful collection of tips there that can really help parents know what to do to help their kids “battle the bugs.”
I have to admit that getting the answers to those questions made me feel like I am ready to tackle this winter head on as an informed, armed (with Children’s Advil), bug battling machine! 
And a little bonus for you…check out the Children’s Advil website for more information about fighting the common cold and other wintertime ailments and while you’re there make sure you pick up your $1.00 OFF coupon for Children’s Advil!

A Ton of Winners!

Wow, I’m am behind on announcing the winner’s of a few giveaways—I apologize, school has been kicking my butt this week with exams and assignments.  Alight let’s get to the good stuff!
First giveaway is the Paper Mate giveaway we have 2 winners!
First winning number is:

Winning commenter is: 
August 27, 2010 5:35 AM 30
Sharon Harmon
Purple Gel Pens are the best!
Clownscrytoo@gmail.com
and
Winning
number number 2 is:

and the winning commenter is:
September 5, 2010 12:50 AM 122

TiffsPixieDust

Follow via Facebook Networked Blogs ....Tiffypoot @ (aol.com) 2

Congrats to both Paper Mate Winners!

Next giveaway up is the High Sierra Giveaway!

Winning number is:

Winning commenter is:
September 9, 2010 1:17 AM 209

Louis

Google Friends Connect - following your blog publicly as Louis

Congrats Louis!

Next giveaway up is the Pentel Gieaway with 3 Winners!

Winning commenter is:
September 8, 2010 2:32 PM 20

Agnstc Mel

I love the ergotwist pens!
giveawaymommy at yahoo.com
Winning number #2 is:

Winning commenter is:
September 9, 2010 6:24 PM 89

Melody

I like Slicci Gel Pens
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
and winning number #3 is:

Winning commenter is:
September 8, 2010 7:20 PM 28

Amanda

I follow on GFC #2
winnieayala at yahoo dot com

Congrats to all 3 Winners!

Next giveaway up for grabs is the EyeBuyDirect.com giveaway! 

Winning number is:

Winning commenter is:
September 10, 2010 5:24 PM 182

Ardy22

liked you fb no.2
rich hicks
ardy22 at earthlink dot net

Congrats to the winner!

And finally our last giveaway announcement is for the My Boys prize pack! 
Wining number is:  

Winning commenter is: 
September 8, 2010 9:02 PM 74

Terra H.

email subscriber #2
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Congrats to the lucky winner!

Again I want to say congrats to all of the winners and apologize that it took me so long to get these posted!  Thanks to everyone who entered!  And don’t forget to check out the rest of my giveaways…you can access them on the sidebar!  And as always each of the winner’s has 48 hours to claim their prizes!