I found a new product at the grocery store that we all love. No, this is not a compensated review. I’m sharing what I found because I know how hard it is to balance what we want nutritionally for our kids with their want for the junk foods they see everywhere. Juicy Juice has sparkling juices now. I searched that nutrition label high and low for added sugar and dyes. I’ve been fooled by those claims before. I couldn’t find any (I bought orange). Now, I still consider this product a treat not only because of the price, but also because it’s juice. Juice is liquid calories none of us need on a regular basis. BUT, my boys drank the sparkling orange Juicy Juice and thought they hit the jackpot because mom was allowing them to have orange soda. This is something that is generally banned from our house due to the red dye used to make it (my oldest can’t have red dye). The juice isn’t overly carbonated, so for kids who like the fizzyness of soda, but not to much like my kids will like this as well.

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Do you cook with applesauce? Did you know you can substitute butter with applesauce in recipes? Apple juice for white sugar? I’ve heard of the applesauce for butter, but not the juice for sugar. Tree Top offers healthy recipes for your whole family – even the family pet.

I was sent some Tree Top products for my family to try. The 3 Blend Apple Juice was good. It was refreshing to look at the ingredients, and only see listed: apple juice. There was no added water, sugar, other juices, just apple juice. The mango peach Trim drink says on its packaging that it has 50% less calories and sugars than 100% mango peach juice. That it helps promote a healthy metabolism. That it helps curb your appetite. I have a very sensitive palate. To me, it tasted like diet water. I’d like my juice to taste more like juice than water.  The applesauce was good, but the kids just weren’t open to switching brands. They are truly creatures of habit. They knew it didn’t taste like their usual applesauce, and therefore, they didn’t want to eat it. I tasted it, and the Tree Top applesauce was good. It wasn’t tart like some of the commercially made applesauces are.

Tree Top is also hosting the America’s Secret Ingredient contest. Enter your recipes and win a trip to New York City.*

*See site for official rules and details.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Tree Top and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

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First up is Greg, of Telling Dad. He is once again taking on public humiliation all in the name of a good cause. Greg will be vlogging himself doing Hip Hop Abs workouts if we can get him to the $1,000 mark. $1,500 will provide some extra surprises. If you missed his Flirty Girl Fitness challenge last year, go check it out and then donate to the new fundraiser (I’m not responsible if you pee your pants laughing or spit whatever you may be drinking on your computer monitor as you laugh along with Greg). All proceeds go to the Sweet Dreams Fund. Domestic violence is something I lived through as a child, so I’m always happy to support Greg in his newest endeavor with the Sweet Dreams Fund.

We also have a fellow blogger, Walmart Mom, and as I know her, member of Collective Bias, Melissa Garcia. You may know her as Consumer Queen. She and her family were affected by the recent OKC flooding. Most of their belongings and home were flooded with water and red mud. If you’d like to read about it in her words, visit her blog. She tells of a neighbor being rescued from their front yard, and everyone just pulling together to do what they could at the time. If you’d like to make a donation, please click the widget.

If you’ve made it this far, I also have a couple of completed endeavors to tell you about. The Brandy’s Battle auction is done, sponsors have been e-mailed with the winning bidder’s information who have paid. We don’t have a grand total yet, but we will as soon as everyone has paid. If you’d like to keep up with Brandy’s story, follow the Brandy’s Battle blog or join the group on Facebook. There will be a contest soon to guess the weight of Spike the tumor. The prize has yet to be determined, but Brandy had mentioned possibly a header or graphics designed by her.

Lora over at Fever participated in the Babies campaign. As a whole, her readership came together, and we got her the grand prize! A year’s worth of diapers will be distributed among families of Philly who need them most through Lora’s job.

These stories of people, strangers, coming together in a time of need for a greater good warm my heart. I see so many people who only care about themselves, that it’s just so overwhelming to see that so many people still care about community. Please don’t stop. Every little bit matters.

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Are you traveling this summer? Before having two kids, we used to travel back to my in laws’ every Labor Day weekend for the Italian Festival held there each year. One year, my husband and I got a room at the Residence Inn while our oldest son stayed with his grandparents. We had never stayed in one before, but loved the idea of having a small kitchen in our room where we could cook. We definitely put it on our list for long vacations. As it turned out, we have never gotten to go on a family vacation. We are however looking at trying to get away this summer or next. The Residence Inn is at the top of my list for places to stay. With one picky eater and another child who has GI issues and needs a special diet as a result, it will be much easier if I can cook most of our meals instead of trying to eat out the whole time.

I also like that in the room we stayed in way back when, there was a door that separated the TV and kitchen area form the bedroom and bathroom. That means if we could put our 3 year old to sleep and the rest of us can still stay up and watch TV or play games. Going to bed at 7:30pm isn’t fun for the rest of us, and neither is keeping up our 3 year old. It’s why we avoid traditional hotels.I think it says a lot that the hotel made such an impression on us as a young couple about 7 years ago that we still remember it’s a nice place for families.

It’s been awhile since we stayed at a Residence Inn, but they were nice then. Now, they’ve renovated. They also offer lower rates the longer you stay. I looked up my local Residence Inn for the Carlisle/Harrisburg area. Based on the pictures they offer on the site, the suites have definitely been updated since we last stayed in a Residence Inn. There also appears to be a little more room than the one where we stayed. Our local Residence Inn also offers a pool, sport court with tennis and basketball, and a fitness center. For your convenience, they offer a printable hotel fact sheet. This way you can see what the hotel offers by location.

Every family has to choose the plan that’s right for them on vacation. Until I find another hotel where I can cook our meals when we want, I’ll personally be sticking with the Residence Inn.

*I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Residence Inn by Marriott and received a chance to win a weekend stay at a Residence Inn to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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This is why I’ve been absent from my own blog this week. I’ve wanted to help out a friend. We are live with the Brandy’s Battle Auction. This will help Brandy of Not So Average Mama help pay for her medical bills surrounding the removal of Spike, her basketball sized tumor. To read about Brandy’s journey, visit her blog. Keep checking back as more products are being released in batches so the site doesn’t crash. Just add your bid to the auction box and it’ll bid for you up to that maximum amount. If the auction plug-in isn’t working, just leave a comment with your bid. Auction ends Sunday (tomorrow) at 11:59 PST.

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Teachers can be such an integral part of a child’s life and never know it. I know I had a few during my K-12 career that may never know how much they helped me – especially during some turbulent grade 9-12 years. Teachers don’t always know what a child’s home life is like. I went to a school where a lot of the kids came from middle to upper middle class homes. We were considered the “rich and snobby” school district. Appearances aren’t everything. I was expected to be perfect at home. B’s on my report card were unacceptable to my mother. At school, the kindness of those teachers who showed me that they believed in what I could do meant so much. I didn’t have to be perfect, but they did expect me to not slack. I didn’t mind the hard work. It felt good to accomplish goals. It was even better to have someone to help me along the way who didn’t tell me how worthless I was the whole time. Honestly, if I hadn’t wanted to please my teachers, I wouldn’t have done well in school at all because I certainly didn’t care what my mother thought of me at that point in my life since nothing I ever did was good enough for her.

For my son, he may not know it, but he’s already had a teacher who has been a great asset to him. His 3rd grade teacher this year. She is the ONLY teacher he’s had so far that saw his behavior issues as more than him just being a “problem child.” She even asked me about Asperger’s at our fall parent/teacher conference. It was so refreshing to have someone who was seeing what we were seeing at home. She has truly been instrumental in his diagnosis and IEP process this year.

Bing has an education site where parents can get some tips on how to actively participate in their child’s education. Even if you’re unable to physically volunteer in your child’s classroom, there are other things you can do. I think the most important thing parents can do is read the papers your child brings home and ask your child about their day. Even if you only get one word answers to your questions, the kids care that you ask and are interested. I forgot to ask one day, and my son asked me why. We just happened to be busy and I was focused elsewhere. I said “You hardly answer me anyway.” He said, “But I like that you ask.” Now I make it a point to try and ask as soon as he comes home.

If there’s a teacher who has touched your life, tell Bing, and they will give you $5 to give to a classroom project of your choice via DonorsChoose.org. DonorsChoose is a great way for teachers to try and bridge the gap in educational funding that exists today. Teachers submit their projects they need funds for, and donors can surf and choose which projects they’d like to fund. I was given a $100 DonorsChoose giving code to try DonorsChoose out for myself. I chose to split the code between two projects, and honestly, it was hard to not give more, but I wanted each project to get a good sum towards their goal. Both projects I chose because of my oldest son. They are projects that will help kids who fidget, or learn just a little differently than other students. This is my child. He constantly fidgets, and needs something to chew on or something to do with his hands at times so he can concentrate. He is also a very visual and hands on learner. I hope both of these teachers, and all of them on DonorsChoose, get their projects fully funded. I hope you will take a few minutes out of your day to visit the Bing education site and submit your own teacher story to donate your $5.

*I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Bing and a $100 DonoseChoose.org giving code to facilitate my review. Mom Central also sent me a thank-you gift certificate.

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I live in a house full of picky eaters. We ALL have some food issues to varying degrees. Mostly it’s texture related. Rice falls into this category. All the different grains of rice have different tastes and textures. Brown rice and other rices that have whole grains are not at the top of my kids’ list to eat. If we’re being totally honest, my husband and I aren’t really fans of brown or wild rice either.

Enter Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice. I can make all our favorite recipes using white rice, and we all get extra fiber from the whole grains. We all win with this one. I made chicken and chorizo with Spanish rice for us to try out the Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice, and it tasted just like it does in the restaurants. I also want to note I made the rice using my multi-cooker, and it cooked perfectly. With no taste difference than regular white rice, this is a product we will be adding to our pantry on a regular basis.

If you’re interested in the recipes, for the chicken and chorizo, I cut the chorizo out of its casing and browned it in a skillet. Then I cooked some boneless, skinless chicken breasts seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin in some safflower oil for about 15 minutes on medium to medium high heat. Serve meats with tortillas and cheese sauce.

For the cheese sauce:

2T butter
2T flour
1 can chicken broth
1-8oz block Monterrey jack cheese
1/2 pint heavy cream
chili peppers to your taste – I used 1 Serrano finely chopped

1. Melt butter over medium heat.
2. Mix in flour to make a roux.
3. Add chicken broth gradually to blend in roux and thicken.
4. Bring chicken stock up to a boil, and boil until thickened.
5. Grate cheese.
6. Chop pepper(s).
7. Reduce heat and add peppers and cream.
8. Gradually melt in cheese.

Spanish Rice

2T olive oil
1 onion chopped
1 garlic clove
1 package Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice
1 1/3 cups chicken stock
1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste
1 pinch oregano
1 teaspoon salt

I set my multi-cooker to quick cook, put in the oil, and toasted the rice. Then I added the onion and garlic and cooked the onion until translucent (about 4 minutes). Then I mixed in the rest of the ingredients, closed the lid, and set it to quick cook again.

For the stovetop:
1. Brown rice in oil.
2. Add onions and garlic and cook until onions are translucent – about 4 minutes.
3. mix in other ingredients and follow the directions on the Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice box.

*I wrote  this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Uncle Ben’s and received samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate

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Are you looking for some activities to do with your kids? Solutions for your home? Event Ideas? You can find them all on the Out of Office site by FedEx. I saw directions to make a kite, baby shower ideas, wedding ideas, Valentines, and so much more!

We got a kit to make the bookmarks. Since we had enough supplies to make four bookmarks, I let each of my boys make two. They each made one yellow and one blue. Aaron was content to use the supplies we were provided. Zach wanted to make Star Wars bookmarks of course. Luckily I had some Star Wars stickers on hand for him. These are the boys making their bookmarks:

Both of them were too impatient to wait to go get their bookmarks laminated. They both wanted a hole punched and the ribbon put on right away. If your kids are more patient than mine, you can stop by your local FedEx Office or other similar store and get your bookmarks laminated for a few dollars.

*I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of FedEx Office and received the items necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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All of us in my household suffer from allergies to varying degrees. My husband’s allergies are fairly mild, but the boys and I all have fairly severe allergies and asthma. I’ve always preferred to use Filtrete filters in our furnace. When I can’t find the size I need in the Filtrete brand, I have to use a lesser brand and change the filters monthly to keep indoor allergies at bay.

When my oldest son and I went through the allergy testing and were first diagnosed with allergies, we got some pamphlets with products and cleaning tips to help us find some relief at home. Many of them had tips similar to these offered by Laura Dellutri, author of The Overworked Mom’s Stress Free Homekeeping:

Cleaning From Top to Bottom
Tips and Secrets for a Cleaner, Healthier Home

When it comes to the routine of cleaning, homeowners tend to be more concerned with stacks of dirty dishes (66 percent), piles of laundry (58 percent) and dust balls on their carpet (57 percent), according to a survey commissioned by 3M, maker of Filtrete air cleaning filters. But they often forget about other areas of the home – such as bedding, shower doors and even stuffed animals – that can be breeding grounds for bacteria, mildew, dust mites and foul odors.

Healthy Housekeeper Laura Dellutri offers these tips for cleaning your home from top to bottom and making it healthier in the process:

Start at the Top: Ceiling fans, tall mantles and bookshelves, and the tops of door frames tend to subscribe to the “out of sight, out of mind” motto. These areas often harbor dust, so it’s important to wipe them down regularly to help remove dust buildup. Start at the top and work your way down, collecting all of the dust and dirt that falls to the floor while you’re cleaning.

Wipe Down Windows and Walls: Don’t clean windows the old fashioned way – newspaper can cause ink residue and paper towels leave lint behind. Your best bet is to use microfiber cleaning cloths and a professional window squeegee to get a streak-free, spotless shine. To prevent streaks on shower doors and walls, apply lemon oil to the door twice a month. This will help repel soap scum and shampoo, while also adding a nice shine.

Think Horizontally: Dust mites are nearly everywhere. In fact, the American Lung Association estimates that roughly four out of five homes in the United States have detectable levels of dust mite allergen in at least one bed. Reduce dust mites by encasing your mattress and pillows, and wash your bedding in hot water about once a week. Also, since dust mites are microscopic, place strips of duct tape on the mattress case to prevent the dust mites from sneaking through.

Clean the In-between: While cleaning what you can see, don’t forget to clean what you can’t see – the air you breathe. Use a high performance air filter in the home, such as the Filtrete 1” Ultimate Allergen Reduction filter from 3M, to help capture particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mite debris and pet dander from the air that passes through the filter. Be sure to change your filter at the start of every season, or every three months.

Freeze the Fur: Stuffed animals can harbor dust mites so it’s important to pay special attention to them. Place stuffed animals in a large plastic bag and freeze them for four to five hours. Remove them from the freezer and plastic bag, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove any leftover dust particles.

Finish With Floors: To keep floors in tip-top shape, vacuum and clean them weekly. You can easily make your own floor cleaner by adding a few drops of mild liquid dish detergent to a gallon of water. Hot water can break down floor finishes after time so use water that is barely warm. Finally, don’t forget to clean the floor under large pieces of furniture, which may require you to temporarily move them elsewhere. Corners of rooms and the back of closets often are overlooked, so be sure to clean these areas as well.

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Kitchen Clean-Up

Certain areas of the home, especially the kitchen, can breed and harbor germs that not only cause odors but can spread to family members. These low-cost cleaning tasks, when done regularly and properly, can be effective in making the home healthier for your family:

Trashcans: Trashcans should be cleaned monthly using a chlorine bleach and water solution. Simply combine one cup of non-chlorine bleach for every three gallons of water and pour the solution into the trashcan. Swish the solution around in the trashcan, and wait about five minutes for the chlorine to kick in and kill the germs.

Refrigerators: Cleaning the refrigerator monthly will improve the safety and quality of your food. If you are tired of cleaning spills and food particles from your refrigerator, then cover shelves with washable shelf liners. They will catch most of the food spillage, and will make cleanup quicker and easier. Once a month, throw them in the dishwasher for a good cleaning, and then place them back in the refrigerator once they are dry.

Sinks: Since bacteria can accumulate in cracks and crevices, pay extra attention to these areas when disinfecting. Also, stainless steel sinks can be tough to clean and can look spotty due to water spots and lime build up. To keep the sink shiny, use a soft buffing wheel to restore the luster. Then, use a cloth to generously apply mineral oil to the sink. Water will bead up and roll off the sink, keeping it shiny and helping prevent spots.

*I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Filtrete and received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate

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I know I for one never seem to have enough room in the freezer for ice cream. My older son prefers to eat vanilla cones. My husband likes his chocolate marshmallow. I prefer the snacks like Drumsticks, ice cream sandwiches, and the like. There just isn’t room for it all. If you have this same problem, enter these freezer giveaways to win a GE 13.7 CU FT Frostfree Upright Freezer.

What’s That Smell
Three Kids and Us
Mommy Goggles

And yes, yes, for those Nestle boycotters, I know this is sponsored by Nestle. You know what? I don’t care. They make some awesomely tasty ice cream. If I boycotted EVERY company that pissed me off, I’d be naked and living in a cardboard box with no food.

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