The Blog

Bump Ahead: Tiny Love Gymini Super Deluxe Lights & Music Activity Mat

Welcome to our Bump Ahead: An Outnumbered Baby Shower Event! We are celebrating the new lives growing inside of two of our own writers, Anne and Shay; as well as the four {yes, you read that correctly} boys growing inside of my sister in law! From May 1st through July 1st, we will be sharing some of our top baby gear picks and great Baby Shower Gift ideas with you! Be sure to check back often for our latest finds and a chance at some awesome prizes!

~This feature was made possible by Tiny Love~

“The Gymini Super Deluxe Lights & Music activity mat is Tiny Love’s best-selling Gymini mat and offers baby an engaging and feature-rich developmental environment. Fun accessories dangle on the flexible overhead arches, encouraging baby to uncover a wealth of sounds, colors and textures. A dual-position baby-activated kick-and-play response pad offer additional surprises and the borders can be closed for a cozy and comfort play space.”

Babies love interactive play and playtime is very important for their developmental health. That’s why I was really excited to include the Gymini Super Deluxe Lights & Music Activity Mat in our Bump Ahead Baby Shower Event.

The Gymini Super Deluxe Lights & Music Activity Mat has all of the bells and whistles. It features a soft play mat for baby to lay on, animals and toys hanging from plastic rings above and soft little flowers on the mat for baby to grab. It also has a mirror, which we all know babies love! They seem to get such a kick out of seeing and touching themselves in a mirror, like they’ve found a new friend!

The lights and sounds make playtime even more enjoyable for baby! The Gymini Super Deluxe Lights & Music Activity Mat would make a great baby shower gift or even just a fun toy to surprise baby with!

Buy It!

You can buy the Tiny Love Super Deluxe Lights and Music Gymini Activity Gym for $43 at Amazon.com, 28% off the ARP.

I received a sample product for this review. All opinions are my own and/or my family’s, take it or leave it. Click here to view my whole disclosure policy.

Recipe Rehab Cookbook Review Plus Creamy Butternut Squash Shells and Cheese Recipe

Blog· Recipes· Review

~This review was made possible by Harper Publishing~

I am one of those people that just can not come up with a recipe on my own. So the librarian in me uses cookbooks to find the perfect recipes for my family. I find it extremely challenging to not only find a recipe that all of us will like but one that is good for us too. So that is where the latest cookbook I get to review comes in. I am sharing with you a companion cookbook to the popular TV show airing on ABC, Recipe Rehab by Everyday Health, JoAnn Cianciulli, and Maureen Namkoong, M.S., R.D. Tasty recipes changed up to make them a healthier option.

Just
as two celebrity chefs face off on the show to transform high-calorie,
family favorites into healthy and delicious meals, you can now take the
Recipe Rehab challenge in your own kitchen, with 80 recipes from your favorite chefs, including:

Healthy Starts like Stuffed French Toast with ?No-tella?, Southwestern Breakfast Frittata, and Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Apps and Snacks such as Bacon-Wrapped Figs, Spinach Dip, and Stuffed Mushrooms
Carb Makeovers such as Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, Vegetarian Spaghetti & Meatballs, and Mexican Lasagna
?No-Junk? Foods like Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, Nachos Supreme, and Big Island Burgers
?Un-Fried? Favorites like Chicken Drumsticks and Biscuits, Fish & Chips, and General Tso’s Chicken
Indulgent Desserts like Peach Cobbler, Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting, and Chocolate Cupcakes

Simplified
for the busy home cook and sure to please the whole family, these
rehabbed recipes, plus tips from TV chefs like Spike Mendelsohn, Candice
Kumai, and Aida Mollenkamp, will help
you serve up guilt-free favorites to your family’s table throughout the
week ? all in one hour or less. View a

sample excerpt from the cookbook, or find out more details on the show.

I chose the Creamy Butternut Squash Shells and Cheese recipe to try first:

Here is the recipe:

Squash Puree:

Nonstick cooking spray
1 (2-pound) butternut squash, peeled, halved, seeded, cubed (about 4 cups)
2 cups sweetened plain almond milk
2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
6 garlic cloves, smashed
2 springs fresh thyme
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 (1-pound) box mini-shells

Topping:

3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parkley
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
3/4 cup finely shredded Gruyere or Swiss Cheese

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat 8 (6-ounce) ramekins with nonstick spray.
Place a large pot over medium heat. Add the squash, almond milk, broth, garlic, thyme, and salt. Simmer until the squash is fork tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs from the squash mixture. Transfer the squash, including the liquid, to a food processor or blender. Puree until the mixture is velvety smooth.
Meanwhile, cook the shells in boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water. Put the shells in mixing bowl and pour in the squash puree. Mix to combine, Spoon the pasta mixture into the prepared ramekins; you should have about 6 cups. Set the ramekins on a baking pan.
To prepare the topping: In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread crumbs, parsley, salt, garlic and red pepper flakes, if using. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the crumb topping evenly over each ramekin. Cover the tops of the ramekins with aluminum foil, tucking it under the edges of the baking pan. Bake until golden and bubbling, about 20 minutes.
Remove the foil from the baking pan. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top of each ramekin and bake for an additional 5 minutes uncovered.

They came out looking a lot like the picture which for us doesn’t always happen.

The only thing I did not like about this cookbook is the fact that not every recipe has a picture. I am a visual kind of woman and I want to see that it looks tasty before I try and cook it for myself. There was plenty of open spaces on recipe pages that would have been perfect for a nice food pic.

Overall I thought it was a good cookbook for what it is, taking dishes that you already know and love and changing them up to make them healthier while still tasty. I liked the dinner we made and I ate my whole portion right up. I love the idea behind changing up our family favorites and serving them up with a little recipe rehab.

Connect:

You can connect with Recipe Rehab on Facebook and/or @reciperehab on Twitter!

Buy It!

You can purchase The Recipe Rehab cookbook for $21.99 and is currently available on Amazon for $15.98.

Find other retailers to purchase through on the Harper Collins link.

I received a sample product for this review. All opinions are my own and/or my family’s, take it or leave it. Click here to view my whole disclosure policy.

Discover Barbara’s Puffins Cereal Review & Sweepstakes

Blog· Review

~This review brought to you by Barbara’s!~

In 1971, when Barbara started our company, the Bay Area was buzzing with young people full of a desire to express their love for all people. The world was changing daily as they created their own paths and sought to turn others onto new directions.

Barbara, then 17, found her calling in real food and opened a small natural bakery in Northern California. She had a simple plan?make wholesome food taste incredibly delicious. Inspired by good health, family, and the kitchen table as the cornerstones of the good life, she used whole grains and oats just as nature intended?free from anything artificial. Barbara selected her ingredients carefully to allow vital vitamins and minerals to do their best to impart their healthy benefits.

The bakery exceeded her wildest dreams and grew from a storefront start-up to a thriving wholesale business. Since those first loaves more than 40 years ago, our product offerings have grown to include cereals, snack bars, cookies, crackers, and cheese puffs.

Cereal can be kind of a big deal when you have kids in the house, regardless of age. In my home, we have a whole shelf dedicated to cereal, which I always aim to keep fully stocked. My little guy is a “grab a handful, I’m on the go” type of cereal eater, so I need a cereal that’s not only healthy, but is portable without being too messy.

I recently discovered Barbara’s Puffins Cereal and it’s the answer I’ve been looking for. The wheat-free, lightly sweetened puffs of corn, multigrain, and honey flavored rice cereal is not just great by the handful, but is healthy and delicious!

We were able to try out three of the amazing flavors, Original, Honey Rice, and Peanut Butter.

Original can boast the following facts:

5 grams of sugar per serving
5 grams of fiber per serving
2 grams of protein per serving
1 gram of fat per serving
Wheat Free
Vegetarian
Low Fat
Cholesterol Free

It has a great crunchy texture and just happened to be Sonshine’s favorite, see:

My favorite was the Honey Rice. The crunchy, sweet pillows had a wonderfully delicate taste and;

6 grams of sugar per serving
5 grams of fiber per serving
Kosher
Whole Grains
Wheat Free
Low Fat
Cholesterol Free
Vegetarian

My husband’s favorite flavor was the Peanut Butter. It has a smooth flavor and a satisfying crunch. Like the other flavors, the Peanut Butter is:

6 grams of sugar per serving
2 grams of fiber
3 grams of protein
Kosher
Low Fat
Low Sugar

I love how we each ended up having a favorite flavor. Now I won’t have to share my box and it’ll last just little longer! What’s even better is the adorable little Puffin that adorns the cereal boxes! The name came about when a long-time employee was on an Alaskan trip and fell in love with the playful creatures! I think the cereal kind of looks like their namesake too, all big and puffy swimming in a bowl of milk!

And now through June 30th, Barbra’s is hosting their own sweepstakes!

You can enter via the Barbara’s website, Facebook app, or buy scanning a QR code, so nobody is left out of entering this sweepstakes! By answering a serious of five questions (try an internet search if you don’t want to just guess) you could win a prize instantly! What awesome prizes are they giving away?

Barbara’s Beanie Plush (these are too cute, we got one!)
Puffin DVD
Puffin’s PJs
Tote Bag
3 Foot Tall Stuffed Puffin
Adopt-a-Puffin (Barbara’s will adopt a puffin on your behalf for one year. You’ll get to name the Puffin and get a certificate as well!)

You’ll also be entered for the Grand Prize. A trip around Maine to get up close and personal with real Puffins! It’s valued around $5000!

Barbara’s Puffins Cereal is the new favorite in our home. I’ll no longer look at the cute boxes and wonder while in the grocery store, that cute Puffin box will be in my shopping cart!

Connect
You can connect with Barbara’s on their website, Facebook, and Twitter

Buy It
You can purchase Barbara’s at your local grocery store or online starting at $4.99

I received products, free of charge, to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own and/or families. Take it or leave it. Click here to view the whole disclosure policy.

Waxelene~New squeeze tube now available!

Blog· Review

~This review was made possible by Waxlene~

About Waxelene Waxelene is the eco-friendly alternative to petroleum jelly. It has the same protective, waterproofing, moisturizing and soothing properties that doctors love, but contains no petroleum or hydrogenated oils. Waxelene’s ingredients include natural beeswax and oils like vitamin E and organic rosemary which soak in and nurture skin cells. Waxelene’s patent-pending aeration process gives it a silky smooth texture that won?t clog pores. Committed to the environment and healthy living, the makers of Waxelene endeavor to become more sustainable every day. From using natural and organic ingredients, to packaging in recyclable jars and tubes, to implementing energy-efficient practices, Waxelene is striving to do its part to prepare for a petroleum-free future.

When it comes to anything eco-friendly and great for the environment, I’m all for it!

When I was offered to review Waxelene’s new squeeze tube petroleum jelly, I was pretty excited! Not only because how safe it is, but I am a lotion of any type “junkie”! You will find baby lotions, oils, jellies, creams, you name it, I probably got it!

The very first thing I do when I pick out a lotion is flip it over and make sure it is paraben free, so when I saw that this was as well, I was even more excited!

So how did Waxelene stand to the test?

Before I get to that I want to tell you what I used it on. My little girls backside. She is 2 1/2 and potty trained, but she still wears a pull-up at night. She is considered a “heavy wetter.” So sometimes she tends to have bumps on her backside. So I decided to try the Waxelene since it’s a jelly.

I must say it has helped out tremendously! It’s been a few weeks now, and her back side is now smooth, and bump free! The petroleum was a protective barrier that she needed!

There are hundreds of uses for Waxelene, this is just one that was needed in my house hold at the time of receiving it.

BENEFITS:

Waxelene contains NO petroleum!

Revolutionary patent-pending aeration process creates a smooth and silky consistency without having to use hydrogenated oils (trans-fats), petroleum or other chemicals

Made of only Beeswax and the finest quality natural plant-based oils

All natural, eco-friendly, biodegradable, no GMOs

Recommended by professional make-up artists, pediatricians, athletes etc.

No parabens or other artificial ingredients

Won’t clog pores – doesn’t cause breakouts

Stays on for hours

Contains organic ingredients

Water/sweat resistant – Lasting protection and moisturization

Not Greasy or sticky

Great for sensitive skin

Goes on clear
Produced with 100% renewable wind energy.

No animal testing

So, are you sold? I know I am! I have very sensitive skin, so I am looking forward to having this on hand this summer. I can use it on my face without clogging my pores.

What would you use Waxelene on?

Connect: You can connect with Waxelene on Facebook, and/or @waxelene on Twitter!

Buy It! You can buy the Tube of Waxelene for only $4.99.

I received a sample product for this review. All opinions are my own and/or my family’s, take it or leave it. Click here to view my whole disclosure policy

Treat. Review and Free Card for All!

Blog· Review

~ This review and Free Card was brought to you by Treat. ~

If you haven’t been been to Treat. online, you don’t know what you are missing. I absolutely love it! Treat. is where you can go to make, send and put some real love and personality back into greeting cards. You get to customize, personalize and make your very own one-of-kind card for every special occasion or just to simply say hello!

“Treat is an online destination where customers can create one-of-a-kind personalized greeting cards in minutes from an iPhone or PC. Treat cards offer a more personal and meaningful alternative to store-bought greeting cards, giving users the power to make any card unique with their own sentiments and photos, and with the Treat Card Club, the more cards you send, the more you will save. Treat also features gift cards, as well as a reminder service that notifies users of important card-sending occasions.”

I made the best Father’s Day cards with my kids. Each of my three kids created their own special card for their Dad and Grandpa. We had a blast. We selected the card, added photo(s), customized the message so it was personal and added their special signature! I’m not done bragging about Treat. You have your choice of having the card sent directly to you or mailed to the recipient. Seriously, sending one-of-a-kind cards has never been so easy.

After my kids had all the fun of creating their Father’s Day cards, I got to go play around too. I made my own Father’s Day card for Dad and husband. I loved that you can narrow the selection down. For example, under Father’s Day, I narrowed the search down to Husband. There were a ton of selections too (Step-Father, Grandfather, New Father, Like-A-Father, Brother, Son).

Here are the cards my kids picked and customized:

Inside: Our amazing ability to annoy Mom!

Inside: and it takes awhile before you get going!

Inside: Seriously, don’t tell her, I said the same thing to her on Mother’s Day!

Inside the cards, my kids put a special photo of them with my husband. At Treat., not only can you customize the message, but you can customize the inside layout. Each card has different options that allow you to add more than one photo, no photos, or write as much as you like.

I had so much fun creating cards at Treat. that I went back and made my step-mom a belated Mother’s Day card. I had foot surgery the Tuesday before Mother’s Day and was still on crutches and rest. Needless to say, I had not gotten out to buy a card (I did call!). I found a beautiful card and was even able to customize it to add….”Belated” to the front of the card. When I say you can customize your own card….you can really customize it. I wish I had known about Treat. while I was on bed rest, I could have made all sorts of cards for Mother’s Day. My sisters (and sisters-in-law), and Aunts would have been so surprised!

Any occasion you can think of to send a card, think no further than Treat. It takes just a few minutes to create your own special one-of-a-kind card, and is sent directly to you or the recipient. I don’t know about you, but I LOVE getting cards in the mail. I would much rather receive that special personalized touch than an email any day.

Wow, I just found the iTunes app. You can even create cards immediately on your iPhone, iPad and iPod! How cool is that? The app is called Treat Cards!

Connect: You can connect with Treat. many different ways:

Facebook

Twitter

Google+

Blog

Buy It: You can purchase each card individually at Treat. for $3.49 or join the Card Club (18 cards for $1.99 each; 12 cards for $2.24 each; 6 cards for $2.49).

Giveaway: Treat. is kicking off their 1 Million Treat Card campaign with a Father’s Day giveaway to celebrate all the amazing dads in our lives. How would you like to make your own personalized card from Treat. for free?

Guess what? Everyone of you gets a free card. Can you believe it? Hurry offer expires June 17th. See details below and happy card making! Thanks Treat.!

Campaign URL: www.treat.com/1million’skesa=FREETREAT4

Friendly Code: FREETREAT4

Code Details: Enjoy 1 free card. New customers only. Offer Expires: June 17^th at 11:59pm PST.

Fine Print: Offer expires 6/17/2013 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for one (1) free greeting card using the code XXXXX at checkout. Postage may apply. Customer must be a first-time Treat customer. Offer is valid for one-time redemption per billing address. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers, discounts, promotions or credits. Offer is not applicable to previously placed orders. Offer is only valid onwww.treat.com and does not apply to purchases made from the Treat Cards for iPhone app. Offer is not applicable to Treat Card Club, gifts, or third party or partner websites.

I received products, free of charge, to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own and/or families. Take it or leave it. Click here to view the whole disclosure policy.

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