Tiny Tillia by Avon (Review)

I love Avon!

 

I’ve been a huge fan of Avon since way back in my 20’s when I started selling it myself.  Wow saying way back in my 20’s makes me sound really old.  Anyway, as I was saying before I interrupted myself I do enjoy Avon. 

 

I recently had the chance to try some fabulous products from the Tiny Tillia line (Tiny Tillia is a recent addition to the Avon family) and I can’t wait to share my thoughts of them with all of you!

 

About Tiny Tillia:

 

The New Arrival: A mother’s love, captured in a unique, imaginative collection of playthings, clothing, bedding and more for mom and her baby girl or boy to enjoy together.

 

The Story: When founder Tiffany Lerman’s children were small, she wanted only the best for her little ones — like any mom would. After searching high and low for everyday items to enrich her babies’ lives she found that nothing was pure, cute or fun enough to fit the bill. Tiny Tillia (named after Tiffany’s nickname “ TT”, created by her young nieces and nephews when they couldn’t pronounce “Tiffany”) is the product of Tiffany’s quest to provide the best for her babies. Transporting families to a warm, whimsical world of wonder, Tiny Tillia adds fanciful fun to mom and baby’s daily routine with toys, bath and clothing products for baby as well as beauty must-haves and accessories for mom.

Now the Avon Products, Inc. family is proud to expand and grow Tiffany’s original vision, bringing the magical collection to moms and their little ones everywhere.

 

Tiny Tillia is my third “baby”! It warms my heart to think about how I started with a few small bath and body products and now the brand is expanding into new categories such as clothing, bedding and toys that will offer parents fresh, affordable and quality choices for their babies and small children.” - Tiffany Lerman, Founder and Mompreneur.

The Tiny Tillia line features a host of products for mom and baby in the following categories:  Baby Bath Time, Mom Pampering, Baby Play Time, Best Dressed Baby, and Nursery Necessities.  As I mentioned above I recently had the chance to try some of the Tiny Tillia products, I chose the Tiny Tillia 3-piece gift set from the Baby Bath Time collection and the Mommy Tillia 3-piece gift set from the Mom Pampering Collection. 

 

About the Tiny Tillia 3-piece gift set:

 

Take the guesswork out of baby care with the Tiny Tillia 3-Piece Gift Set. The gift set includes a Citrus Sorbet Shampoo & Body Wash (8 fl. oz.), Berry Sorbet Calming Moisturizing Lotion (8 fl. oz.)and Diaper Rash Cream (3.4 fl. oz.), so all of baby's needs are covered from day one. A $19 value!

Dermatologist-tested!
Hypoallergenic!
Suitable for sensitive skin!

All for only $15!

 

My Thoughts on the Tiny Tillia 3-piece gift set! 

 

My youngest daughter has extremely sensitive skin that is prone to rashes and breakouts over the slightest change in her bathing routine, so naturally I was a little apprehensive about using these products on her.  After reading that the products were dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, and suitable to sensitive skin I decided to give them a shot and I was very impressed (and relieved) that there were no rashes, no irritation, just soft, gorgeous skin!  My favorite of the three products is without a doubt the Citrus Sorbet Shampoo & Body Wash!  I love the Citrus Sorbet for a few reasons, but mostly because it smells amazing and it’s a shampoo and body wash in one which is always nice!  I also really like the Berry Sorbet Calming Lotion, it didn’t bother Lil Diva’s sensitive skin at all and she smelled so good afterward too!

 

About the Mommy Tillia 3-piece gift set:

Talk about a yummy mummy! Treat and pamper Mom with the Mommy Tillia 3-Piece Gift Set. Includes the energizing and soft citrus-scented Body Wash (8 fl. oz.), the emollient Body Lotion (8 fl. oz.) and Hand Cream (3.4 oz. net wt.). A wonderful gift for a wonderful mom! A $20 value for only $18!

 

My Thoughts of the Mommy Tillia 3-piece Gift Set!

I am super picky when it comes to body wash and lotions, I love for the washes and lotions that I use to work great and smell even better so I am always hesitant when I try something new!  Given my apprehension I was so happy when I tried the Mommy Tillia set and really liked it.  The Mommy Tillia body wash has such a light citrus scent that it’s not too overpowering and it still smells great long after your shower in through.  My favorite of the three products though is the Mommy Tillia Body Lotion, it smells heavenly, feels amazing on, and it leaves my skin silky smooth. 

 

If you’re looking for an awesome gift for mom or baby I definitely suggest Tiny Tillia, they have a wide selection of products and gift items that are perfect for baby showers, mommy pampering gifts, and just about any other occasion you can imagine!

 

You can check out Tiny Tillia’s founder, Tiffany Lerman on Facebook!

 

Tiny Tillia is available exclusively through Avon Representatives. To locate an Avon Representative

call 1-800-FOR-AVON or visit www.tinytilia.com.

 

*I received the products above to facilitate my review—all opinions are 100% my own.*

College: Not For the Faint of Heart!

Well, it’s week 2 of fall semester for me and I am already officially exhausted!  Between my family, my blog, and school I barely have time to sleep, not that my children would allow that to happen anyway.  I started out this semester with 4 classes, but after the disaster that was last semester I decided not to make my GPA suffer anymore and I dropped my algebra class, believe there was no love loss, I detest math. 

In case you don’t already know I am currently a junior at Northern Kentucky University, though I swear it feels like I’ve been in school forever, and I’m what one would call a “non-traditional student” meaning that I take my classes online.  I have been an online student for most of my college career, and it definitely has it advantages, but it can also be rather annoying.  One of the best things about being an online student is that I can be home with my children while still attending school, unfortunately that’s also one of the worst things about being an online student.  Of course, there’s also Blackboard, the online course delivery system, that is a major thorn in my side.



I’ve been using Blackboard to access my courses online for a few years now and every single year there seem to be a whole new host of problems; from not being able to use the FireFox browser to access BB (the one and only browser that seems to work without major hiccups is IE, does anyone even use that anymore?) to not being able send big files it’s just one mess after another.  It may not sound like a huge deal that I can’t transfer large files without a headache, but when you have an assignment that consists of Word documents, images, flow charts, and various other attachments that you can’t send all at once due to size restrictions, it is the worst!

Aside from having issues with browsers and large file transfer, I am trying to stay positive this semester, I mean, the semester only really started I’m sure it can get a lot worse—maybe I shouldn’t have said that out loud.  Alright I’m off to knock on some wood and find my lucky rabbits foot, I’ll keep you updated as this semester progresses. 

Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

I’ve been craving fudge, peanut butter fudge to be exact, since last week when I saw a fellow blogger mention making some.  Now, there were a couple of things I could do about this craving: 

1.  Shut the part of my brain off that’s responsible for such awful things…um not likely at all.
or
2.  Give in, find a recipe, and EAT IT ALL!

So I did the logical thing and called my mom and she produced in a major way! 

I have to admit before even starting this that I am not much of a cook and my experience with making candy is limited to chocolate covered pretzels, hey, it counts because it’s chocolate so I needed a recipe that even I couldn’t mess up and this one is that and then some!  I don’t really know where this recipe came from I just know that my mom has been making it (and I have been stuffing my face with it) for years.  It’s super simple (5 ingredients) and so good you’ll want to double the recipe!   By the way, even though these peanut butter fudge squares are definitely an indulgence, you can still enjoy them while dieting! Check out Sensa to learn how you can lose weight while eating your favorite foods



Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

Ingredients

2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 /3 cup peanut butter
1 7oz. container marshmallow cream
1 tsp vanilla

Directions

Bring sugar and milk to a boil and boil for 3 minutes.  I always let mine boil just a tab bit longer, because well, that’s what my mom always did and hers was always amazing so it’s that whole, “if it ain’t broke don’t try to fix it” thing.



Once the mixture has boiled for 3 minutes (or if you want to be like me, and I know that you do, 3 and a half minutes) add peanut butter, marshmallow cream, and vanilla.  Mix well.



After peanut butter mixture has been thoroughly mixed pour into a buttered (the recipe didn’t call for this step, but I figured it was probably a smart idea) 8x8 pan and chill.




Allow fudge to chill completely and viola you have the most amazing peanut butter fudge goodness EVER! 

Coppin’s Gifts Davinci Beads (+Giveaway)

 

When I became a mom I gave up a lot; my crazy, wild, party days, my freedom, and my love of jewelry.  As soon as my first child was born it became nearly impossible to wear any type of jewelry without having it ripped out or pulled off, so except for my rings and earrings every once in a while I stopped wearing jewelry.  Now that my youngest child is old enough to know better than to pull off my necklace or chew on my bracelet I’ve started wearing them more and I couldn’t be happier about it. 

 

Recently I had a chance to review some amazing jewelry from CoppinsGifts.com and I can’t wait to tell you all about them!

 

About Coppin’s Gifts:

 

Coppin's Hallmark began in 1993 with one store in Logan, Utah. An online pioneer, Coppin's established its first online website in 1996.

Coppin's Hallmark has become one of the largest volume independent gift retailers in Utah and across the west (and online across the entire continental US). Coppin's has won awards, and top dealership status with many top gift brands including Precious Moments, Boyd's Bears, Willow Tree, Ty, Webkinz and more.

Coppin's Hallmark strives for 100% satisfaction and offers service guarantees on shipping, quality, and satisfaction on all of your purchases, so you can be assured that you will be happy and that your order will be fulfilled quickly and accurately, and if there is a rare mistake, we will make it right, quickly and fairly.

Over the years, Coppin's has added six other locations in Brigham City, Harrisville, Layton, Murray, and American Fork, Utah and Chubbuck, Idaho, and has been an online retailer through its own website, shared vendor sites and conducted online commerce through the Amazon and Ebay platforms. We will continue to bring extra features to Coppin's Hallmark Online over the next few months, so come back regularly.

Our goal is simple-To bring you the top gift ideas at industry leading low prices while providing fast and accurate delivery, every order.

As I already mentioned I recently had the chance to work with CoppinsGifts.com on a review,  for my review I was able to choose a bracelet adorned with the ultra trendy Davinci beads (Coppin’s version of the popular Pandora beads, but much less expensive…Coppin’s version go for $6.99 each) but  I decided that I wanted something a little more personal and went for charms for to represent each of my children.  So I chose:

 

* The Davinci Beads Music Note Dangle to represent my oldest daughter’s love of all things musical and to represent her amazing voice.

*  For my middle daughter Savanna I chose the Davinci Beads Tennis Shoe to represent her amazing gift of athleticism.

*For Lil Man I chose the Davinci beds cowboy boot dangle to represent the love of cowboy boots that he has always had.

* The  Davinci beads Sparkle Purse dangle to represent my Lil Diva and her love of all things sparkle and girly.

 

It may sound a little strange, but when I wear the bracelet I feel like I have a little piece of each one of my kids with me and that’s such a comforting feeling.  I also love being asked about the bracelet (and I receive a lot of compliments on it) and then explaining the story behind each charm. 

 

Of course, Coppin’s Gifts has so much more than jewelry, they also have some of my favorite figurines (Willow Tree), Plush toys (including Webkinz and My Pillow Pets) and so many other great gift ideas for every member of the family!  If you’re in need of a very special gift I definitely recommend Coppin’s Gifts—you won’t be disappointed!

 

Now I have a very special surprise for y’all!  One very lucky MIBR reader is going to win 3 beads (of the winner’s choice) and a toggle bracelet to place them on!  How awesome is that of Coppin’s Gifts?

 

What You Can Win!

 

One lucky MIBR reader is going to win 3 beads (of the winner’s choice) and a toggle bracelet to place them on!

 

How To Enter!

 

To enter this giveaway please visit CoppinsGifts.com and have a look at their Davinci beads, then come back and leave a comment on this post telling me which beads you like best. 

 

(You MUST follow MIBR on GFC to enter this giveaway!!!!)

 

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#WIN a Davinci Beads bracelet from @CoppinsHallmark at MIBR |  @Allie_23|   Enter Now: http://tinyurl.com/3zju59v

Share this giveaway with your Friends and/or Fans on Facebook by linking to this post on your wall.   (You can share 2 times per day with your friends/fans on Facebook)

 

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This giveaway ends on Monday September 14, 2011 at 1:59 PM EST.  One (1) winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post shortly after the giveaway has ended.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim his/her prize, failure to respond to winner’s email in a timely manner will result in winner forfeiting his/her prize and me choosing a new winner.  Giveaway open to US residents only please!

 

*I received the product above to facilitate my review…all opinions are 100% my own."

Gossip Girl Season 4 on DVD: Bonus Content!

Alright Gossip Girl fans it’s time for more juicy content from everyone’s favorite drama queens!  As you may know I’ve been working with WBWord on a campaign for Gossip Girl Season 4 on DVD and well, this is the last week—I know, I’m as bummed as you are.  Not to worry though, you can get all of the drama, make-ups, break-ups, fashion and tons more bonus content when you pick up Gossip Girl Season 4 on DVD!

 

And since we’re talking about bonus content, I thought I’d give you a sneak peak at some of the awesome bonus features on the Gossip Girl Season 4 DVD set. 

 

The complete fourth season of Gossip Girl not only has 22 episodes filled with love, betrayal, friendship and scandal, but also never-before-seen features such as unaired scenes and gag reels!

 

I have to say, I really enjoyed season 4 of Gossip Girl, it’s so hard for me to choose a favorite character because I honestly love them all, but if I had to choose I would probably say that Blair is my favorite!  To be honest, I love Leighton Meister so that helps a little in choosing my favorite character, but aside from the actress I love that Blair, though seemingly shallow and snobbish also works extremely hard to get what she wants and always looks out for those she cares about.  I can’t wait to see one of my favorite actresses work it on the bonus content The Art of Making An Episode!

 

So you want to know all about the bonus content do you?  Well you’re in luck because I’ve got to scoop on some of the awesome bonus features!  Some of the never-before-seen-additional enhanced features include:  Bisoux a Paris (an inside look at Serene and Blair's summer in the City of Lights), The Art of Making an Episode (an in-depth look at how Gossip Girl stories build from page to screen) and unaired scenes!

 

Don’t forget, you can relive all of the drama, fashion, and gossip from Season 4 with Gossip Girl Season 4 on DVD:  http://bit.ly/r4GTe8!"

*I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Gossip Girl Season Four on DVD.*

Kix: Still Kid-Tested, Mom-Approved (+Giveaway)

I’ve mentioned before how much my whole family loves cereal and while they would eat cereal for breakfast, lunch, dinner they often choose cereal’s that are too sugary sweet for my liking.  That’s why one of my top picks for cereal for my kids is and always has been Kix!

 

Kix was actually one of the very first finger foods that all of my children ate; between the sweet (but not too sweet) taste and the fact that it’s made with whole grain corn and loaded with Iron Kix seems like a natural choice to me!  I love that my children love eating it and I feel good that I’m giving them a cereal that’s packed with lots of stuff that’s good for them—it’s a win-win!

 

Kix Cereal is proud to say they are still kid-tested, mother-approved^®. This go-to favorite is made with whole grain corn and is an excellent source of iron. It also is a good source of calcium, fiber, and Vitamins C and D, providing your family a wholesome breakfast with nutrients they need to grow.

 

With slightly sweetened and fun-to-eat, crunchy corn balls, Kix cereal eliminates the need for silly airplane noises to land the first bite. Low in sugar and with no artificial color, flavors or preservatives, Kix cereal brings the same great taste kids have loved for more than 70 years to the table.

Visit Kix online for background history, nutritional content, and special offers. We hope you’ll join in on the conversation and tell us why Kix cereal is “approved” in your household!  You can visit the Kix website for more information about Kix how great of a choice Kix is for your household!

 

We recently received all kinds of Kix goodness (6 boxes of Kix goodness to be exact) at our house thanks to General Mills through MyBlogSpark and one very lucky winner is going to receive a prize pack of the same!

 

What You Can Win!

 

One lucky MIBR reader is going to win a prize pack containing 6 boxes of Kix cereal!

 

How You Can Win!

 

To enter this giveaway please leave a comment on this post telling me why Kix is “approved” in your household. 

 

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#WIN a Kix prize pack from #MyBlogSpark at MIBR @Allie_23| Enter Now: http://tinyurl.com/3q97knb

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This giveaway ends on Monday September 13, 2011 at 1:59 PM EST.  One (1) winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post shortly after the giveaway has ended.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim his/her prize, failure to respond to winner’s email in a timely manner will result in winner forfeiting his/her prize and me choosing a new winner.  Giveaway open to US residents only please!

 

"Disclosure: Kix cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark."

Hayneedle Winner Announcement!

Someone is about to win an awesome Bush Wheaton Corner Desk (ARV $199.98) from Hayneedle!  Are you ready to see who our lucky winner is?  I know I am!

 

 

Winning number is:

 

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

75	

Timestamp: 2011-08-30 06:24:17 UTC

 

And our very lucky winner is (drumroll please):

 

August 12, 2011 8:06 PM 75

mummytotwoboys

Network blog follower as D Schmidt

Comment 1 of 3


mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com

 

A big congrats to our lucky winner, you are going to LOVE this desk, and a big thanks to everyone who entered!  Stay tuned to MIBR for more great reviews and giveaways!

Wholesale Halloween Costumes (Review)

It’s starting to get cooler at night and that can only mean one thing—fall is right around the corner! 

 

 

I can’t tell you how excited I am about cooler weather, changing leaves, and my favorite holiday, Halloween!  I adored Halloween as a kid, but I enjoy it even more know that I can see my own children have so much fun enjoying all of the fall festivities.  Their favorite fall activity is Halloween and nothing says Halloween more than a cool new costume!  Of course, it doesn’t have to be Halloween for your kiddo to have fun dressing up in costumes!

 

Costumes are an every day thing at our house, my two youngest children love dressing up and they have a pretty big collection of mostly boys Halloween costumes, with a couple of girls costumes thrown in for good measure.  I recently had the chance to work with one of my favorite places to get great costumes at even better prices—Wholesale Halloween Costumes! 

 

Wholesale Halloween Costumes is the only website that sells Halloween costumes at wholesale prices with no membership or fees required.  You’ll find a huge selection of costumes for kids and every other member of the family, even the family pet!  They even offer same day Flat Rate shipping for $5.90 Standard and $6.90 Expedited  no matter how big your order is—that totally saves a bundle when you have lots of little ones to buy Halloween costumes. 

 

Since Lil Man’s birthday was earlier this month and since he has a major obsession with comic book hero’s he decided that he wanted an Iron Man birthday party and since his party was Iron Man themed I decided that Iron Man’s  War Machine Costume For Boys would be the perfect choice for our review.  I can’t tell you how excited Lil Man was to receive his costume, he ran to the door every day for a week whenever he would hear the UPS Truck and when it finally came he was over the moon excited!  As soon as the costume arrived Lil Man couldn’t wait to tear it from the package and try it on and when he did his smile was priceless!  Aside from the mask, which he left on for about half a minute, Lil Man has wore his costume flying round the house pretending to be Iron Man almost daily.  (I have photos of Lil Man wearing his costume, but my camera is having issues at the moment, so I will definitely update this post once I figure out what’s going on with the camera).

 

 

Do you have a little Iron Man fan?  Are you looking for the perfect costume for Halloween or just looking for another dress up costume to add to your child’s collection?  Then you should definitely check out Wholesale Halloween Costumes and get quality costumes for prices that can’t be beat!

 

Buy it!

 

You can purchase the War Machine Iron Man costume online at wholesalehalloweencostumes.com for $24.50!

 

*I received the product above to facilitate my review, all opinions are 100% my own!*

Ohio and Beyond: The Ohio Tobacco Festival

There are many things that make where I live unique and interesting:  the fact that George Clooney  chose to premiere his movie Leatherheads in 2008 less than a mile from my house, or perhaps it’s the backdrop of the Ohio River in nearly all of my childhood memories, or maybe it’s things like the Ohio Tobacco Festival held in tiny Ripley, OH that make this place so special to all of us who have the honor of calling it home!  It’s not often that I share too much information about where I live, um hello—can you say stalkers, but every once in a while I can’t help but give you guys a peak of where I’m from! 

 

Every year at the end of August tens of thousands of people converge on the tiny town of Ripley, Ohio to celebrate all things tobacco!  Now, I know that the name is probably very off-putting, but I assure you to the people in this little town, who years ago made their living growing tobacco, it’s a rite of passage.  The highlights of the OTF include an opening day parade that halts traffic in both directions for nearly an hour every year, bed races (one of the most popular events), street vendors, tons of amazing festival food, a carnival section with games and rides for the kids, and just a chance to spend one of the last weekends of summer with family and friends! 

 

This past weekend my husband and I took our two youngest children to the OTF and we had a blast (as always) and though a lot has changed since my husband and I were younger it’s hard not to escape back to childhood (if only for a moment) as the smell of Funnel Cakes fill the air!

 

If you want a good laugh make sure you check out the video below that an old classmate of mine and my husbands made about the OTF…you WILL laugh!    I thought I’d share a few photos with you all…enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tractor parking…only in Ohio!

 

 

Lil Man riding an airplane ride…I was terrified the entire time my kiddos were on this ride…it looked older than me!

 

 

I don’t think Lil Diva had a clue how scary this ride was for Mommy.

 

 

The Camel booth where you could go in learn about tobacco and get cigarettes for $1 a pack…I cannot believe the line was so short considering cigarettes are $5 a pack here!

 

 

The amazing view—makes you wanna visit huh?

 

I promised I share something funny with y’all!  A guy that I went to school with made this video about the Ohio Tobacco Festival and it cracks me up every single time I watch it…enjoy!

 

 

My Hubby: Hitting the Books and Making Me Crazy!

I know that I’ve been talking a lot about back-to-school lately and I promise to stop soon, but I had to share this with all of you.

 

I mentioned a few weeks ago that my husband was starting college this fall, after years of swearing that it was too much for him he finally gave in and decided that it was something that he just had to go ahead and do.  I must admit, I am extremely proud of him, he works hard all day, comes home, goes to class and comes home and keeps his nose in the books until he goes to bed—he is definitely dedicated!  With that said, he is also driving me insane!

 

 

Now for you to fully appreciate how crazy this man is making me I feel compelled to tell you that on top of running Misadventures, taking care of 4 kiddos, and my house I am also a full-time student carrying a full-load this semester…not easy stuff ladies and gents!  I told my husband when he enrolled in college that I would help him as much as I could—if only I had kept my big mouth shut!

 

I’m not saying that Jamie takes advantage of the fact that I’m a Junior and have already had the classes that he is talking, but he does make sure to ask me to double check every single answer to every single question in every single class.  Yesterday he was working on something for one of his writing classes when he yelled for me to come over, no problem I wasn’t that busy, I was only cooking dinner and giving my youngest kiddos a bath—at the same time!  Anyway I walk over to his computer and he starts telling me about this file that he’s trying to open, knowing that he knows full well how to open a file I start to yell at him when I realize that the file is a PDF that he needs to convert to a Word file—alright no big deal.  I begin telling Jamie that he needs to find a PDF converter so that he can convert the file and he looks at me and asks, “Well how much is that?  I don’t want to have to buy one.”  I calmly explain to him that all he has to do is search PDF Conversion on the internet and he can find one fairly cheap or even free.  I notice that he still looks confused so I begin explaining the process for him at this point he decides that he would rather have me do the work for him so he makes up some lame excuse about having to take the garbage out and leaves the room.  An hour later Jamie returns to the room where I am still at the computer looking over the assignments that he had completed earlier and he looks at me and says, “Babe I think I did the wrong assignment earlier, that PDF thing was supposed to be turned in yesterday.”  Seriously babe? 

 

This semester seriously cannot be over with quick enough!

Pardon Our Mess!

Hey y’all!  Just wanted to write a quick post letting you know that you may notice a few changes around here for the next day or so…don’t worry we’re just tidying up after Summer Break and getting things ready for Fall!

 

 

So don’t mind our dust, have a look around, leave a comment—whatever you feel like doing until we get things settled back down!  See y’all soon!

My Daughter Ran Her First 5K and Won a Gold Medal!

It’s quite possible that I’m the proudest momma on the plane right now—why you ask?  Well, my 9 year old daughter Savanna ran her very first 5K this morning with 50 other people (men, women and children) and came in 8th overall (overall people, that’s insane), 1st in her age group and FIRST in the female runner category (THAT MEANS SHE BEAT EVERY SINGLE FEMALE IN THE RACE)!!!! 

 

I cannot even begin to explain how proud I am of my daughter right now!  I always knew she had a gift for running and I never doubted her for a second, but to beat every single female runner in the race that’s just beyond impressive!!!!!  She even had Ohio Congresswoman Jean Schmidt come up to her afterward, shake her hand and tell her that she was going to remember Savanna’s face because one of these days she was going to be on TV in the Olympics!!!  I’d be a total liar if I said I didn’t cry, because I did—my daughter is amazing and she makes me more proud each and every day…I love you Baby…CONGRATS!

 

Y’all should remember this face—cause one day she’s going win a Gold Medal in the Olympics and you can say you knew her way back when!

 

 

Gold Medal for 1st Place Overall Female Runner!!!

 

 

The Big Bang Theory Season 4 on DVD

I’m a stickler for a good laugh and while I don’t watch many sitcoms I do happen to enjoy The Big Bang Theory (thanks to my mom for telling me how hilarious it is). That’s why I’m psyched to be working with Warner Bros. WBWord on a month long campaign for TBBT!  Like all previous WB campaigns I’m given a theme or prompt each week to talk about, and this week’s theme deals with dating and in particular dating those with “beautiful minds”.

 

Theme:

 

A lot of people go after hip and popular, but these days geek is chic. Tell us about any experiences you have had dating someone who is a bit socially awkward. Do you think people with "beautiful minds" are underrated in the dating scene? What do you like about the characters on 'The Big Bang Theory' and how they interact with each other? How would you help their "game?"

 

In my 32 years I’ve dated a few guys, some were jocks, some were what I like to call “Billy Bad Asses”, some were Workaholics and a couple were even what one would consider socially awkward.  Far be it for me to judge anyone based solely on their personality, but with that said the guys that I’ve dated who were more into computer games and Star Trek than they were into hanging out with friends and doing what most people would consider fun were just not for me.  Now, I’m not dogging on geeks, truth be told I have the biggest crush ever on Jim Parsons character Sheldon Cooper on TBBT, I’m just saying that my experience dating guys who were a little geeky was just not the best.  As much as I don’t have the desire to ever date a socially awkward guy again, you know because I’m married the THE Billy Bad Ass lol)  I do think that they are definitely underrated in the dating scene for a couple of reasons.  1.)  9 times out of 10 guys who are a little socially awkward are also a little shy and unsure when it comes to the opposite sex, that means that they are almost always polite, well-mannered, and willing, ready, and able to pay for dinner and a movie.  2.)  Socially awkward guys typically tend to let the woman lead in the relationship and we all know how much us ladies like to be in charge. 

 

One of the biggest reasons that I like The Big Bang Theory is because of the characters; I have been a fan of Kaley Cuoco since her days as John Ritter’s daughter on “8 Simple Rules” I think that her character brings a different perspective to the show and her interaction with her cast mates make the show even more awesome!  I also adore Jim Parson’s character Sheldon Cooper, it is alright to have a major crush on a sitcom character if you’re married—right?  Seriously though, Sheldon makes me laugh and he’s so cute how could you not like him?!?!  And while I love all of the character’s on TBBT my favorite is hands down, Johnny Galecki’s character Leonard Hofstadter.  You guys totally remember Johnny from Roseanne—right?

 

How would I help the characters on TBBT with their “game”?  Let’s see, first and foremost I would let the guys know that confidence goes a long way with a girl, if a girl thinks that you’re confident it’s a huge turn-on.  I would also let the guys know that while geek may be chic right now, full-on nerd is not a good look, so relax with the nerdy talk and big words and they’d be surprised how much further they get with the opposite sex!

 

 

Alright y’all as always I want to know what you think—have you ever dated a socially awkward guy or girl, what was it like?  What do you love about The Big Bang Theory?  Who is your favorite character?

 

Do you love TBBT?  Do you know someone who does?  Well make sure you check out The Big Bang Theory Season 4 on DVD available here:  http://bit.ly/oLtFCY!

 

“I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote The Big Bang Theory Season 4 on DVD."

Back-to-School With EO (Natural Hand Sanitizing Products)

It’s the final day of our Back-to-School blowout and I hope y’all had as much fun as I did, I also hope that you found a ton of great new products to add to your back-t0-school shopping list! 

 

With 4 children running around our house it’s kind of hard to keep nasty germs at bay, every year when back-to-school time hits I become as OCD obsessed as Howie Mandel and spray, wipe, and disinfect EVERYTHING.  Of course, all of that is for nothing if my children go to school without the proper products to help keep them germ free.  While I normally opt for alcohol based sanitizing products I recently discovered  EO and it completely changed the way I think about traditional hand sanitizing products!

 

If you’ve never heard of EO then you are definitely in for a treat!

 

About EO (from the EO website):

 

Mission Statement

We are an impassioned team working collectively to make responsible, sustainable and authentic personal care products.

 

 

Core Values

• We acknowledge the interdependence of all things.
• We lead by example without perfection.
• We put people and the planet before profits.
• We believe that transparency creates trust; we are committed to transparency throughout.
• We engage with each other and our world in a kind, candid and respectful way.
• We choose to serve our world by way of mindful actions, everyday.

Brand Promise

We provide natural personal products that perform and enhance your beauty and well being.

 

 

We had a chance recently to try out a few of the hand sanitizing products from EO!  Prior to using the EO products that I reviewed I had never really used natural hand sanitizing products so I didn’t really know what to expect, but I have to say, I was more than pleasantly surprised!  We received the 2 oz. Hand Sanitizer Spray, a package of the Hand Sanitizer Wipes in Lavender and Liquid Hand Soap in Peppermint and Tea Tree. 

 

Though there are many reasons for loving the EO family of products my number 1 reason is that their products are natural and therefore better for my family than their traditional chemical filled counterparts.  I take comfort in knowing that I can provide my children with the same effectiveness that I’m used to in hand sanitizing products without all of the alcohol and chemicals—that means a lot for me as a mom.  Another reason that attributed to my love for EO’s products was the smells, while I’m used to hand sanitizer products smelling overwhelmingly like alcohol, these smelled like lavender and it is SO much more appealing than the hand sanitizers that I’m used to.  My children also noticed the new smell and commented that now they didn’t have to smell yucky when using the sanitizers—I’m pretty sure that means that they approve!  I have to say, it would be pretty hard for me to go back to using traditional hand sanitizing products again when EO has products that do the job without harming my family—I love that!

 

Of course, EO doesn’t only sell hand sanitizers, they have a full-line of products for every member of the family.  From bath and body products to perfume and even pet products, EO has something for everyone!  Make sure you check out EO for all of your back-to-school germ fighting needs!

 

 

Buy it!

 

You can purchase the EO products that I reviewed (and SO many more) at the EO website!  And right now (through August 31) all foaming soaps and hand sanitizing sprays are 20% off!

 

 

And check this out—all web orders over $35 receive free ground shipping! 

 

*I received the items above to facilitate my review, all opinions are 100% my own!*

School Competition: Win $65,000 for a Green School Makeover

Since we’re still talking all about Back-to-School I wanted to share something with all of you!  It’s a chance to nominate your child’s school and possibly help them win a $65,000 Green Makeover!  You can check out all of the details below!

 

 

THE CONTEST:

 

Every child deserves a learning environment that’s safe, healthy, free of harmful toxins and optimal for learning. Unfortunately, many schools across the country are subjecting children to unhealthy classrooms with poor lighting and inefficient energy usage, which costs most schools more money than they spend on books and computers. Global Green USA is working to change this by helping to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn in a healthier, greener school. Pureology is pleased to present Global Green USA’s Green School Makeover Competition. You can help a school in your area by nominating it for a Green School Makeover – read on to learn more, and find out how.

• From March 1 – September 30, 2011, enter your school for a chance to win a "green school" makeover. 
• There will be one grand prize winner and four schools will each receive $2,500 towards their green school renovations.

 

Find out how to nominate a school at Pureology:  http://pureology.com/greenschools/entermyschool

 

One grand prize winner will get $65,000 to renovate their school – plus an additional $65,000 worth of technical assistance. Four runner-up schools will get $2,500 to use towards green school renovations.

 

This is a great opportunity for schools struggling with budget shortfalls—it can help them build a healthier learning environment for their students while also saving money on energy use for years to come—and I bet some of your readers would want to nominate their kids’ school (DEADLINE Sept 30, 2011).

 

The makeover can help:

- Provide More Money for Student Resources

· operating costs for energy and water can be reduced by as much as 40% - money can be reinvested in text books or computers

- Improve Student Performance

· Studies show test scores can improve as much as 25% when kids are in a healthy learning environment

- Protect Kids’ Health

·  Good ventilation and the use of green building materials improves student and teacher health – this means fewer sick days and better attendance

 

So what are you waiting for?  Head over to Pureology and nominate a school today!

Supernatural Season 6 on DVD/Blu-Ray

I am so excited to be working on another awesome campaign from WBWord and I’m even more excited that it’s for Supernatural Season 6 on DVD/Blu-Ray!  You might remember me working on the campaign for Supernatural Season 5 on DVD/Blu-Ray from a couple of months back—and now we’re onto season 6 which means more Supernatural happenings, more bad guys and more of the Winchester brothers (I know that’s your favorite part too).

 

Alright so the way this works is each week during the campaign I’m given a prompt and I let y’all know what I think—and as always I want to know your answers to the prompt as well so don’t be afraid to leave a comment!

 

This weeks prompt:

 

The brothers Winchester face a short separation from the end of Season 5 and the beginning of Season 6. Dean lives with a woman and is raising a child, and Sam is still hunting. The two brothers re-unite again and immediately get down to their old demon fighting tricks. What's the longest separation you've had with your sibling or best friend? What was the first thing you did when you were re-united?

The longest separation that I’ve had from my sister (the only sibling I actually see on a semi-regular basis) was probably a month when we weren’t speaking a while back.  Though we have never been super close, we have always tried to stay in touch as much as possible to catch up with each other or get our kiddos together for a play date.  Needless to say it was hard not to do those things when we weren’t speaking so I was relived and excited when we decided to patch things up and spend more time together.  The first thing we did when we were reunited—the same thing we always do when we get together, complain about how much our mother butts into our lives—just telling the truth!

 

Your turn to answer the question!  What's the longest separation you've had with your sibling or best friend? What was the first thing you did when you were re-united?

 

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of Supernatural Season 6 on DVD/Blu-Ray and catch up on all of the best of Season 6:  https://bitly.com/r2CsjG

 

“I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Supernatural Season 6 on DVD/Blu-Ray."

Finding the Right Life Insurance Plan

As I get older I realize the importance of securing not only my future, but my children’s as well, that would include making sure that they never have to be burdened with worrying about money if something where to happen to me. 

 

 

A while back I decided to research online life insurance quotes, since my husband currently has life insurance through his company I wanted to see how plausible it was for me to purchase a life insurance plan for myself.  At first I was a little more than overwhelmed by all of the plans and prices, I mean I had no idea what the difference between whole life plans and term life policies were.  Thankfully there are a plethora of resources available online to help walk you through the process and make choosing the plan that’s right for you as easy as possible.  With just a few clicks on my mouse I had a better understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of each type of plan was and was closer to figuring out what was right for me.  There’s all kinds of information online to help you, Insurance Information Exchange is a good start.

 

While I haven’t taken the plunge and purchased a policy—yet—I do feel better knowing that I can find a life insurance policy that’s right for me and that I can afford online in the comfort of my own home.  I may never be alright with my babies growing up and I may never come to terms with me growing old, but I do take comfort in knowing that I can do what I can now to help make things easier for my children in the future and that’s a good feeling.

Add Some Stripes to Your Back-to-School List (Zebra Pen Giveaway)

If there is one must-have item on my personal back-to-school list it is a few good pens!  Seriously there is nothing like starting the school year off right with a fresh notebook and an amazing new pen (or 10).  And if you’ve been hanging around here for long enough then you already know all about my obsession with pens—I love them—and one of my favorite brands is Zebra Pen!

 

 

If you don’t know what Zebra Pen is, then you should just put yourself in the corner, seriously though, they are only the coolest kids in the school yard when it comes to writing utensils!

 

About Zebra Pen (from the Zebra Pen website):

 

Our Mission
We are committed, intelligent and team-oriented employees who create loyal users.  We challenge ourselves to be better.  We listen to our customers. We deliver quality and innovation.  We Create Users.

Values
Our team and family oriented culture is based on our Core Values consisting of Honesty, Innovation, Quality, Professionalism and Respect.

We Earn Our Stripes
At Zebra, employees are our biggest asset.  We depend on their skills, intelligence and experience that they bring.  Personal growth is the key to success for both Zebra Pen and its employees.

We believe that learning and development helps employees see beyond their potential and make the most of their talents.  At Zebra you will own your position, grow and become an expert.  Your position will encompass full responsibility and latitude with support for your success.

We Are All Leaders
Just as we have grown our business for over 100 years, our future will continue to be shaped by the needs of our clients as well as the ideas and creativity of our people.

Zebra Pen also has a commitment to social responsibility supporting organizations who share their philosophy of fostering diversity.  Zebra Pen also help fund several charitable organizations including City of Hope, Kids in Need, The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (NBCF), The American Heart Association and The United Way of Central New Jersey (Adopt A Family). 

 

We received a few products from Zebra Pen to review for our Back-t0-School feature: Z-Grip Animals, Erase Away, and Sarasa SE.  First off I have to say that I do love Zebra Pen outside of my blog, meaning if they didn’t send me samples, chances are pretty good that I would end up talking about them anyway—cause they’re just that cool!  That said, I can’t wait to tell you more about these writing instruments!

 

Z-Grip Animals

*  Medium .7mm point size

*  Fashion forward animal print design

*  All black ink

*  Form-fitting rubber grip for comfort

*  Designer metal pocket clip

 

My thoughts on the Z-Grip Animals—can I actually use the word love in relation to a writing utensil?  Because I so totally LOVE these pens!  From the funky and fun animal prints to the super comfortable grip this pen has quickly become one of my favorites! 

 

Erase Away

*  Technically advanced erasable ink in a retractable design

*  Sleek designed barrel with textured rubber grip

*  Erase and rewrite without damage to the document

 

My thoughts on the Erase Away—honestly, I was very pleasantly surprised by this pen.  Erasable pens are not new by any means, but erasable pens that work—that might just be a first!  I usually steer clear of erasable pens simply because in my experience they don’t work, they end up smudging and smearing the paper and looking awful, but the Erase Away pen works so well that it may have forever changed my opinion on the erasable pen…this is one you have to try!

 

Sarasa SE

*  Superior, smooth gel ink formulation for a scratch-free flow

*  Stylish, sleek barrel body with easy ink visibility

*  Strong silver engraved metal clip for easy storage

*  Textured grip ensures control and full writing comfort

 

My thoughts on the Sarasa SE—at first I wasn’t in love with these pens, it took me a while to get used to the thin tip, but once I got going I very quickly became attached.  The gel provides flawless lines and ease of use is what this pen is all about—love it!

 

All of the Zebra Pen products above (and TONS more) are available online and wherever writing utensils are sold. 

 

 

Now I have good news for 1 very lucky MIBR reader—someone is going to win all three of the products listed above—I know you’re doing the happy dance right about now!

 

What You Can Win!

 

One MIBR reader will win 1 package of Z-Grip Animals pens, 1 package of Erase Away pens, and 1 package of Sarasa SE pens.

 

How You Can Win!

 

To enter this giveaway please head over to the Zebra Pen website and have a look around, come back and leave a comment on this post telling me which other writing utensils from Zebra Pen you would like to try.

 

Extra Entries

 

Please leave separate comments for each additional entry!

Follow MIBR via GFC (2 extra entries)
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Like” Misadventures in Baby Raising on Facebook (3 extra entries)

“Like” Zebra Pen on Facebook (3 extra entries)

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Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter…Make sure you leave the URL to your Tweet in your comments!  (2 tweets per day = 2 extra entries per day)

#WIN a Zebra Pen prize pack for #back-to-school from @ZebraPen| #giveaway @Allie_23|  Enter Now: http://tinyurl.com/3b8puf7

Share this giveaway with your Friends and/or Fans on Facebook by linking to this post on your wall.   (You can share 2 times per day with your friends/fans on Facebook)

 

Submit this giveaway to a giveaway site or linky…please leave a link to the giveaway posting in your comment.  (5 extra entries per giveaway site or linky)

 

Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post.  (5 extra entries)

 

This giveaway ends on September 8, 2011 at 1:59 PM EST.  One (1) winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post shortly after the giveaway has ended.  Winner will have 48 hours to claim his/her prize, failure to respond to winner’s email in a timely manner will result in winner forfeiting his/her prize and me choosing a new winner.  Giveaway open to US residents only please!

 

*I received the item above from to facilitate my review, all opinions are 100% my own!*

Gossip Girl The Complete 4th Season on DVD (Vacation Baby)!

Hey Gossip Girl fans—ready to jet off to Paris ala Blair and Serena?  Alright so maybe jetting off anywhere is a little rich for most people’s blood (I know it’s way too rich for mine) but how much fun would it be to actually be able to globetrot and live in up like Blair and Serena did in Paris in Season 4 of Gossip Girl? 

 

 

We might not all be able to head off to a foreign country when we feel the urge like Serena and Blair can, but we can conjure up our idea of a dream vacay…no?  You guessed it, this week we’re talking all about dream vacations, inspired by Serena and Blair’s trip to Paris in Season 4’s  Belles de Jour episode and I thought it would be fun to share with all of you what my dream vacation would be!

 

My dream vacation destination is Italy, not one particular place in Italy, the entire country; Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Milan and everywhere in between!  I’ve wanted to travel to Italy for as long as I can remember, I’m not much on international traveling, but for Italy I’d definitely make an exception!  Along with visiting all of the historical sites, the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, St. Francis di Assisi, the Duomo of Milan, and of course the Coliseum I would just spend my days taking photos and wondering the old cobblestone streets that weave around the old cities like a serpents mound.  Of course, one couldn’t go to Italy without partaking in the cuisine, and I can imagine that if I ever made it to Italy I would probably end up leaving several pounds heavier, from the fresh seafood to the classic Italian fare that Italy is known for, I couldn’t imagine any better food in the world.  And who could visit Italy without doing a little shopping?  I can almost feel the weight on my arms from all of the shopping bags from Versace, Armani, and Prada looking as fabulous and Blair and Serena did on their trip to Paris!  Yes, I can honestly say that is my dream vacation—perfezione! 

 

It’s your turn!  Where’s your dream vacation destination?  Where would you go and what would you do when you got there?  And in the spirit of Gossip Girl, let’s just pretend that money is not a factor!

 

“Too busy for a summer vacation? Join Serena and Blair in Paris with Season 4 of Gossip Girl http://bit.ly/r4GTe8!"

 

“I have been hired by Warner Bros. WBWord division to promote Gossip Girl Season Four on DVD."

Caution: Student Driver Ahead!

If you read my blog regularly then you probably know that my BIL (brother-in-law) Travis has lived with my husband and I since early March.  Now I love Travis, I really do, but his driving is another story, it’s bad, worse than bad actually—it’s terrible! 

 

When my husband and I purchased our new car last month I immediately said that there was no way in the world that I was going to let Travis drive the car, of course, that was easier said than done as he is without a car at the moment and it’s either let him drive my car or I take him everywhere—um no thank you!  I decided that if he was going to drive my car he was going to get driving lessons…from me.  Now, I’m not the best driver, though I have had no major accidents or tickets in the 15+ years I’ve been driving (man that makes me sound OLD) but I am a much better driver than he is so I figured he could at least learn a thing or two from me.  So, a couple of weeks ago I decided to take him out and do a little driving—in retrospect I really wish I hadn’t.

 

 

While Travis isn’t a reckless driver by any stretch of the imagination he isn’t what I’d call a very careful driver either.  Within five minutes of turning on the vehicle Travis had cut an old lady off at an intersection, “forgot” to come to a complete stop at a four-way and completely ignored at least three road signs—I should have known it was a bad idea when he worried about what CD was in the CD player before he checked his mirrors.  Not wanting to chance having anything to my vehicle I decided that we should go to the biggest parking lot around and practice there, that was almost as big a mistake as the open road was.  At first Trav was doing great; yielding when he was supposed to, going the correct way down the parking aisles and paying attention (for the most part) to the parking signs, but that was short lived as within 5 seconds of me thinking to myself how awesome he was doing he nearly took out a mother, her child  and her shopping cart.  Needless to say that concluded his lesson.

 

Fast forward a couple of weeks and Travis has been driving my new car; I decided that he was never going to learn how to be a good driver if he didn’t get to drive so I reluctantly gave in and handed over my keys.  So far, so good—no accidents, no tickets and no women and/or children have been harmed, all in all I’d say that’s a pretty decent start!

Guest Post: 11 Intelligent Ways to Save on Textbooks Without the Bookstore!

Since we’re talking all about Back-to-School this week I thought I’d share with all of you some great resources to snag textbooks on the cheap!  As a college student I know how expensive textbooks can be that’s why I’ve switched to renting, you save a ton of money and don’t have to worry about not being able to sell the books back at the end of the semester…the list below offers a ton of great tips to help you get the most for your money this fall!

 

Textbook prices tend to rise at four times the rate of inflation for an average of $900 per year. It doesn't take a college education to figure out there are alternatives to traditional outlets, but incoming freshmen don't always know the ropes. Here are 11 ways to save this fall -- none of which include shopping at the college bookstore.

 

1. Wait Until After You've Seen the Syllabus
Professors must submit their textbook lists far in advance of the next semester, which means they may never require you even open the book. Talk with your professor in the first few days to determine whether it's worth shelling out cash for something that may become a paperweight.

 

2. Rent
Chegg.com, the Netflix of textbooks, started a trend several years ago by allowing students to rent their books. You'll pay roughly half the purchase price and shipping is often free. Other similar dealers include BookRenter.com and CampusBookRentals.com.

 

3. Watch Daily Deals
The aforementioned Chegg announced in late May they'd begin offering daily deals targeted at college students. Scheduled to start in July, the program will begin with offerings from HP, Capital One, MTV, Microsoft and Dr. Pepper. Also keep an eye out for offers tailored to students by location -- possibly even your local bookstore.

 

4. Buy Used Textbooks
Used textbook companies have proliferated and even traditional booksellers now both buy and sell used textbooks. The selection has greatly increased and the prices are far superior to exorbitant college bookstores. Check out Half.com, Textbooks.com and eCampus.com.

 

5. Download
Few classes require students read every page of a textbook, so why not download the necessary portion from such websites as CourseSmart.com and Open Courseware from MIT? Project Gutenberg also has scanned in hundreds of free-domain books for use on e-readers.

 

6. Don't Purchase the Whole Package

Federal regulations no longer allow publishers to combine textbooks with add-ons, such as CD-ROMs and workbooks. Check with your professor or teaching assistant before you buy the whole bundle.

 

7. Buy Online
If you want to physically own a new book, buying online often means free shipping and reduced prices. Grab a coupon code from CouponSherpa.com and shop online at new textbook sellers like Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com and AbeBooks.com.

 

8. International Or Older Versions
Non-traditional editions are usually significantly cheaper. There may be some slight changes, but many of these tend to be cosmetic or minor and won't greatly impact use.

 

9. Share
If you carpool, you know the advantage of splitting the cost of high-ticket expenses. Sharing is easier if you're in the same study group and/or see each other frequently.

 

10. Swap
Some schools now hold swap meets, where students can trade their old textbooks for the ones they'll need next year.

 

11. Compare Prices
You wouldn't buy a Porsche without shopping around, so do the same with textbooks. Websites such as CampusBooks.com, BigWords.com and AllBookstores.com make the process much easier.

 

 

Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc.. She is available for in-studio, satelite or skype interviews. As a nationally recognized media source, Andrea has been featured on NBC Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ShopSmart Magazine, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. To view recent interviews or for more savings tips visit AndreaWoroch.com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.