Letter B = Boys and Bowling

We headed to the Orange Country Arboretum with the 2nd grade class and the boys were having a great time on this swing. Handsome never got on but I think it was because there was so much to do and there were tons of kids. If it were empty, he would have done it.

Goddess and her Daisy troop headed to the bowling alley for a little R&R after getting all their petals. It was a blast and the girls had a great time.

“Are We Really Treating Unborn Babies For Obesity?”

Obesity is Now a Problem for Unborn Babies

Obesity isn’t just an American problem; in Britain, doctors have begun administering the diabetes drug metformin to the unborn babies of morbidly obese mothers-to-be to reduce the fetuses’ weight.

The reason: dangerously overweight pregnant women create excessive amounts of insulin, which results in “sumo babies” weighing 11 pounds or more. These extra-large newborns have twice the chance of becoming obese adults, and their numbers have risen by 50 percent in the past four years. Obese pregnant women are at a higher risk of dying while pregnant, and their babies are more likely to be stillborn.

“I don’t know how many more signs we need in Western society before we really get serious about our health,” says Gordon Filepas, author of Lean And Healthy To 100 (www.adviceformychildren.com), a guide for achieving optimal health based on studying cultures where long lives are the norm.

“Are we really treating unborn babies for obesity?”

In his research, Filepas found many common practices and characteristics in especially healthy cultures. They include:

• Calories: It’s not necessary to count calories; people in healthy cultures don’t! Once you give your body what it needs, you’ll naturally consume fewer calories. This puts significantly less stress on the digestive system and reduces the potential of ingesting toxins.

• Heavy on nutrients: Human beings evolved as hunters and gatherers who took every opportunity for caloric intake. In the process, a wide spectrum of nutrients became the norm, and that is what bodies still crave today.

• Focus on whole and unprocessed foods, fats, and oils: Examples include fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans and grains. Meat, which is usually the main dish in Western culture, is often treated as a side dish in the cultures Filepas studied.

• Limited toxins: This includes few, if any, pollutants from processed food, water and other beverages, medicine and air.

• A sense of purpose: Individuals from these cultures feel like they are making a difference beyond earning money, and tend to work long days, six days a week.

• Innate exercise: Virtually no additional form of exercise is needed beyond their daily activity.

• Alcohol: Every culture has alcohol. Healthy populations drink regularly, but in moderation. And, they take a greater sense of responsibility for their health.

• Traditional cooking methods: This means low-tech methods, absent of microwaves.
Finding a lifestyle that naturally promotes excellent health became an obsession for Filepas after the deaths of his father and brother in a three-month time span. He wanted to ensure he and his wife and three sons would be together for years to come.

“I tell my friends, family and anyone who will listen: Whatever you hear about health in America, do the exact opposite and you’ll be much healthier than the average American,” he says. “Americans are bombarded with confusion and misinformation about health; it’s a life-or-death situation.”

About Gordon Filepas

Gordon Filepas spent 20 years researching Lean And HealthyTo 100, interviewing physicians, attending seminars, and reading medical journals and other health-related literature. He is the founder of TGM Partners, a consulting and investment firm. Filepas says he was motivated to learn more about the requirements for optimal health following the deaths of his father and brother within three months of each other. He hopes to ensure the good health of his family, including his wife of 25 years and three sons.

New Monsuno Episode Tonight

Tonight, May 29^th at 8:30p.m. ET, tune in for a brand new episode of “Monsuno.” Don’t miss all the action as Chase, Bren, and Jinja continue on their journey with the premiere of two additional new episodes on Wednesday, May 30^th and Thursday May 31^st at 8:30p.m. ET! You won’t want to miss all the action as Chase, Bren, and Jinja continue to fight off their enemies in unknown territory.

To learn more visit http://Nicktoons.nick.com/shows/monsuno

About “Monsuno
Millions of years ago, “Monsuno,” a living DNA, hitched a ride to Earth in a concentrated asteroid pocket. When it landed on Earth, the impact drove the dinosaurs into extinction. The “Monsuno” DNA lay dormant until a scientist named Jeredy Suno activated it, sending a rippling wave of movement back into action. By doing so, Jeredy may have reignited the end of the world but he also created its salvation, the “Monsuno” monsters. Now, it’s up to his son Chase to learn the secrets of “Monsuno” and help save the world from impending destruction.

I Suck At Girls by Sh*t My Dad Says Author Justin Halpern

Book Description:
I Suck at Girls is a laugh-out-loud funny and deeply touching collection of personal stories about relationships with the opposite sex, from a first kiss to getting engaged and all the awkward moments in between. With Sh*t My Dad Says, Halpern brought his brand of talented comedic writing to the world. Now, with this equally hilarious and provocative memoir, he establishes himself as one of popular writing’s great humorists among the likes of David Sedaris, Sarah Vowell, and David Rakoff. Fans of biting, honor-infused memoirs such as Me Talk Pretty One Day and Assassination Vacation will find Halpern’s I Suck at Girls an unforgettable journey into the best and worst moments of one man’s adventures in romance.

The 411 by Maria:

Let me start with this....one of my favorite book reviews of the year so far. WOW! I literally cannot stop rereading it to myself and anyone who will listen. Tonight I am going to down and highlight my favorite "dad" quotes. Pee your pants funny.

Hysterical read! I am not sure how "dad's" (Sam's) wife can be so normal. She must have literally needed Depends to live with this character. Humor is so attractive to me which means I find Sam super sexy!

Some of my favorites:

Justin draws a picture in class of a girl he is "sweet on". The girl gets upset, Justin's parents are called in and handed the picture Justin drew. It is of a girl, the girl wearing a shirt with her name on it. Above her head is a yellow dog who is showering brown clumps from his butt on her head. She has a thought bubble that reads, "I like it." Now, I know what you are saying. What does this mean? Why did Justin think this would make her like him back? Why the thought bubble or whatever else is going through  your mind. Nope, not Justin's dad...he wants to know:

Why is the dog above her head? That doesn't even make sense. How'd he get above her head? You have to draw a hill or something under the dog. A dog can't just float in up in the atmosphere and take a shit on someone's head. I mean, I know you are six or seven or whatever, but that's pretty basic physics right there.

And...that is just page 17 of the book...wait..it gets better.

Feel like laughing, get this book. Great father's day, and grand father's day gift idea too!

If you are around check out Justin's event calendar and if he happens to be where you are, head over and tell him Maria from Maria's Space loves his book, his dad and his sense of humor.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy to faciliate this review.

The Impatient Woman's Guide to Getting Pregnant

OK..you all know I am NOT looking to get pregnant but being pregnant was an amazing experience for me and I love sharing stories with my friends about my pregnancy, births and parenting. Anytime I can read something about pregnancy and the amazing wonders of it, I am in. I still watch all those real birth stories on TV. Love how amazing the body is. Sometimes getting knocked up, pregnant, bun on the oven, or whatever you want to call it isn't quick and easy which is why this book is so great. There are so many books about getting pregnant, how to, and whatnot but not a whole lot out there for those who have been trying without luck. Is it the luck of the draw (pun intended)?

 The 411 by Maria:

I loved this book. It is a great resource for everything you need to know or even some things you had no idea you wanted to know. 

Jean takes all the medical, technical information and spoons feds the reader so that we can understand how much of the pregnancy myths are true and false. Can we really get the boy or girl we want? Does position matter? The more sex the better? Umm....all questions that Jean Twenge will answer in this book!

My Kids Love Kidz Bop

Handsome and Goddess love music. Teach and I love that they love music and adore hearing them sing songs from the backseat of the car or on the deck in the summer. I remember being a kid and wanting everyone to hear me sing. It is so cute to hear them sing together and I know that it is short lived and they will eventually get self conscious so we listen without discussing. We love Kidz Bop for the kids. It is the songs they love sung by kids. The albums are composed of "kid-friendly" versions of the latest songs on Top 40 radio.

Some of the songs are some that they never heard. We really filter out a lot of stuff. They are extremely sheltered and I appreciate that I can let them experience the songs in a very kid friendly way.  The only one they complained about was Taylor Swift's You Belong with Me. They love Taylor and I found it hysterical how they didn't like it. They probably felt the same way I felt when I heard Adel's Set Fire to The Rain sung by Kidz Bop.

If your kids love music check out the latest!

KIDZ BOP 22 includes 16 chart-topping hits including:

1. Stronger
2. Call Me Maybe
3. Starships
4. Domino
5. Payphone
6. Wild Ones
7. Glad You Came
8.   Drive By
9.   Part Of Me
10.   What Makes You Beautiful
11.   Dance Again
12.   Boyfriend
13.   Feel So Close
14.   Somebody That I Used To Know
15.   Tonight Is The Night
16.   Set Fire To The Rain

Disclaimer: We received a box of Kidz Bop merchandise for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Enjoy Summer With The Garfield Show! On DVD Today

Synopsis:
It’s one adventure after another as Garfield and his pals look for a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, try to save their favorite pizza place and morph into superheroes! Then hold on and get ready for one wild ride as they visit Cheese World, a cheese-lover’s theme park! But will Jon rain on the summer fun when he enrolls Garfield in an extreme education program to become a “normal” cat? Not if Garfield can help it!

The 411 by Goddess:

Well, I gave this to Goddess to review because she is our resident Garfield fan and has a nice little collection of Garfield DVDs courtesy of Vivendi Entertainment. 

"I LOVE Garfield and Odie he is sooooo cute.  What I love more than anything is the colors! They are so bright." 

Perfect Pizza - "I love pizza too. Garfield likes pizza even though it wasn't good. He ate it anyway because he eats everything. Garfield was picky for the first time because he likes real pizza made with love!"

Lucky Charm- "Garfield and Odie see a rainbow. I love rainbows. Odie wants to get to the end of the rainbow and finds the pot of gold but a leprechaun wants it back so he promises to give them good luck. Garfield's good luck doesn't seem like good luck when all his family moves in with him.  He is funny painting one of his friends black so that a black cat could walk in front of him to lose some bad luck."

Extreme Housebreaking - "I've seen this one before. It is funny because John thinks he can train Garfield to be a good cat. I feel bad when Garfield is put in a cage to be like Kittykins, he looks so sad.  Kittykins is really Garfield's friend George and when Garfield finds out he decides to show everyone how the training program doesn't work."

Mailman Blues - "Garfield is mean to mailman. They never want to bring the mail to his house.  Bothering mailmen is one of Garfield's favorite things. HA...it was funny when the Mailman went up in the air. My brother was laughing hard. We thought we were going to pee our pants. My favorite part was the little chihuahuas."

It's a Cheese World - "I love this one. The mice are so cute. They all talk funny and have funny voices. They want Garfield to take them to Cheese Land.  Kittykiins (George) is back and works at the park to keep all cats out.  He can't keep Garfield out."  Cheese Land gets eaten by the mice."

Super Me - "Garfield and his friend watch a super hero show about Ultra Powerful Guy.  Garfield won't share his snacks with his little cute friend. His cute friend is able to get pizza because he is so super cute. Garfield decides to be a super hero. It is funny that people just carry food in their cars to give the super cute cat. I can't remember super cute cat's name."

Disclaimer: We received a complimentary copy of the DVD to facilitate this review.

Vitamins For The Whole Family

Vitamins are something most of us take while pregnant, we give them to our kids in their first few years and eventually it all drops off even though we know how important they are.

I am thrilled to tell you about BrainStrong a vitamin I have been taking for the past week.

First off let me tell you what BrainStrong is and why you need it:

BrainStrong is an entirely new category of supplement. It’s a full line of brain health products that recognizes the brain has different needs at every stage of life. That’s why BrainStrong provides four natural, essential daily supplements with optimized DHA nourishment for pregnant women, toddlers, kids and adults. And all BrainStrong products are powered by life'sDHA™. After all, no matter what your age, you want to live up to your potential

If you are pregnant, you have been hearing your fair share of DHA information. What is DHA?  DHA is an omega-3 with proven brain, eye and heart health benefits for all stages of life - from pregnant and nursing women to infants, children and adults [source]. Obviously our need for DHA never stops no matter what stage of life we are.

But even if we are aware of the importance of DHA to a child’s brain development, there exists a question of how best to get it. The fatty fish that are the most common source of DHA can contain mercury and PCB’s, which have been shown to have a negative effect on a child’s health and development, and most nuts and seeds contain ALA, which doesn't convert to DHA efficiently. These two concerns contribute to the fact that the majority of U.S. women fail to get enough DHA during their pregnancies. The National Institutes of Health and International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids recommend a daily intake of 300mg of DHA for women who are pregnant or lactating, and an article from the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School says that only 19% of pregnant women get even 200mg of DHA a day.

Fortunately, there is BrainStrong™ Prenatal, a complete prenatal multivitamin that has 350mg of DHA. It is powered by algae-sourced life’sDHA™, which means it doesn’t contain the harmful chemicals and toxins found in many fish. BrainStrong Prenatal also has the highest level of folic acid and DHA available without prescription, making it the perfect way to give your little bump a big boost and help take extra measures to protect your baby's health.

I know...I  know...it is a lot of medical, biological stuff but it is important.

Let's sum it up like this: We need DHA for our brains development. We don't get enough of it from the foods we eat so we should all grab some BrainStrong. 

I have the adult versions now it is time to invest in the kids vitamins.

Find the vitamins at these stores , CVS, Target, or you can order online. 

The Adult Vitamins retail for $29.99 for 90 tablets and I just priced the prenatals which are only $19.99 for 30 DHA Gels and 30 Multivitamins. Not bad prices at all.

Playing Catch Up - Easter Egg Hunts

We were invited to an Easter Egg Hunt this year. Mina is Finnish and really knows how to do a party. She is big on gatherings and has a huge heart who enjoys being a hostess.

Thankfully this was the perfect day for this hunt because the kids and I were in town for the Police Departments annual Easter Egg Hunt but had to leave just as it was starting.

Picture this....

We wait 40 minutes for it to start. The kids are finally at the start line with their baskets and friends waiting for the go ahead when I start getting severe stomach pains. After my situation with my digestive system last year, I start getting nervous. It came on suddenly and not at a slow progression either. I am in severe, pain and unsure if I can maintain consciousness. It hurts to even touch my stomach (like the last time). I am worried about passing out and start getting very hot. I am on the other side of the egg littered field with my camera poised on the children all waiting to run.

The kids are smiling, I start walking across the field and try to keep my breath even. I can't do it to them. Maybe I can wait it out. I walk back to the side of the field and feel like I am going to pass out. It is too noisy. I am too hot and my stomach is causing me debilitating pain. Will I pass out here in front of all these people? Will I throw up in front of all these people? Will I end up in an ambulance? All thoughts are spinning and I am barely able to stand.

I walk to the kids and swallow my heart. "Please come with me you guys. Mommy is really sick and we have to go. I am so, so sorry." Handsome takes my hand and says OK and Goddess starts to cry. My heart breaks and my stomach hurts. "I know honey, I am really sorry. I don't even know if I can make it to the car. Please don't cry. Please Honey! I wouldn't do this if I didn't have to".  We start walking to the car and I have to stop for a moment. The pain is terrible. I turn to Handsome and ask if he knows what to do if something happens. He says yes, he will call Daddy on the cell and get help.

Goddess is crying in the backseat and I am unsure if I can pull away. I just want to get the car out of the parking lot away from all my fellow townspeople. I don't want to get sick in front of all these people and kids.

We drive very slowly out of the parking lot with Goddess crying quietly and my severe pain.

I pull over two times and finally stay. I beg her to please stop and again tell her how sorry I am. Feeling ill I open the door and throw up something the size of a quarter. It is nothing but I am suddenly better and back to normal.

We sit for two more minutes while I gather my thoughts.  We drive home with Goddess still crying. My heart breaks for her. I can only imagine what that felt like for her. She is dressed up, Easter basket in hand at the front of the line. The eggs are right there and she has to leave. My poor baby. I couldn't wait to get home so I could hug her.

We pull into the driveway and Handsome gets out. He is fine. I ask Goddess to climb into the front seat with me. She does and I hold her. She cries and I play with her hair apologizing more. (I always over apologize). Teach comes out and takes her from me through the open car window. She cries on his shoulder as I explain it to him. He doesn't understand crying and tells her it is OK because we have another hunt to go to.

She is crying on the couch when I get inside. We hug and I ask her to what she wants to do until the next hunt. We play board games and laugh. She is OK. I knew she would be but it still hurt.

What was it? Who knows. It has only happened one time before (3 months ago). Going back to the Gastro DX next month (1st appointment I could get).

We finally make it to the second Easter Egg Hunt.

The kids have a blast. They ate, grabbed eggs, ate, watched Minna play piano while her daughter sang, jumped on a trampoline and played ball. They had a great time and my guilt eventually went away.

Ahhh...being a parent is hard and I know I am hard on myself but I can't help it. I want them to be happy.

Color Carnival - Link Up Your Color Pictures

2nd Wedding Gig

I received a phone call from someone looking for a photographer. A friend who is passed them onto me. Turns out I know the woman who was getting married which made this really special.

Here are some shots from the shoot.

The bride and her daughter are so alike. I love this shot of her daughter catching me while mom looks just so happy.

They were all looking at the beautiful lake when I called the bride. I love this shot too.

They asked for pictures of their nieces also. I love how everyone is doing their own thing except the bride and groom who are unified here.

You can see how much her daughter is in awe of her mom here. She obviously thinks she looks like a princess.

I was in love with these faces. They are soooo cute.

 

16 years was a long time to wait to get that ring but she has it now!

Aurora World Introduces Crinkle Friends

 
The 411 by Maria:

I remember when Goddess and Handsome were babies. Their favorite toys were always the ones that made noise. Anything that could elicit a sound from a baby makes them happy. They get the "wait, I did that!' face and who could resist a colorful crinkly, rattly, squeaky toy? Even though my kids are obviously not babies, they loved the Alligator that we received to review and while there are plenty of babies in our family, they are fighting the "it's for the babies" speech I sometimes have to give. They "love" him and "he is our favorite" has been making it hard for me to stick to my guns. But, together they will decide which lucky baby in the family gets it. 

What We Love:

The colors. The brightness makes you take notice. It is the first thing other kids have spotted in the house over the last week.

The sounds: They are subtle and quiet, just like parents and babies like it.

It is soooo soft: Who wants to give their precious baby a scruffy, stubbly, toy that can irritate their soft skin? They can lie their cheeks all over this guy and believe me, he is so soft, you will want to too!

Let's Hear it For Almigal Stems Conversations About Differences In 2nd Grade Class

PICTURE BOOK CENTERS ON GIRL WITH HEARING LOSS, ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST COMMON BIRTH DEFECTS

According to the March of Dimes, about 12,000 babies with hearing loss are born in the U.S. each year, making it one of the most common birth defects. Kids can also lose their hearing due to childhood illnesses. Wendy Kupfer's new picture book, Let's Hear It For Almigal (Handfinger Press, April), is the story of a happy little girl who feels unlucky because she can't hear everything she wants to hear. Endearing, lighthearted and informative, the book can be enjoyed by children with and without hearing loss. It comes just in time for Better Hearing and Speech Month in May.

As the mother of a child born with "severe to profound" hearing loss, Kupfer was inspired to write Let's Hear It for Almigal when she became frustrated with the lack of characters wearing hearing aids or cochlear implants in children's books. "I was working with the University of Miami Cochlear Implant Center, visiting with families with deaf or hard-of-hearing babies and toddlers," she says. "I felt so strongly about the need for these children to see hearing aids and implants in the media, both to boost their self-esteem and to educate their friends."

In the book, Almigal feels lucky most of the time. She has lots of friends, and each one is different. But she's unhappy when she can't hear a baby's giggle, or robins chirping, or the music in ballet class.  Worst of all, she can't hear Mommy and Daddy say "I love you" when they tuck her into bed. Young readers will identify with Almigal and her friends, who are portrayed in lively, colorful art by award-winning illustrator Tammie Lyon. And they'll rejoice with her when a solution is found for her problem.

Several of the incidents in the book are based on Kupfer's real-life experiences. Her daughter Ali (like Almigal) never wanted to miss anything. She hated to remove her hearing aids at bedtime and, like Almigal, kept them in a special heart-shaped box. Ali really did jump into a swimming pool once without removing her hearing aids, and Kupfer really did "save the day" with a hairdryer.

- more -

By showing Ali's life as a confident little girl, the book provides a terrific resource for teachers, parents, and caregivers, and an entertaining, fun starting point for conversations about people with disabilities.

"Parents need to have expectations for their children, even those with special needs," says Kupfer. "There are lots of bumps along the way, as with all children. But with lots of love and support from family and close friends, you can get through it."

Children's book author and mother Wendy Kupfer, a former financial services executive, has worked closely with Thomas Balkany, MD, Chair of the University of Miami (FL) Department of Otolaryngology, and one of the leading cochlear implant surgeons in the country. She lives in South Florida. 

Tammie Lyon has illustrated children's books, posters, magazines, CD's, games, greeting cards and clothing. Her books have won the Retailers Choice Award and been chosen as Bank Street College of Education's Best Books of the Year. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

                        ###

Let's Hear It For Almigal

Written by Wendy Kupfer

Illustrated by Tammie Lyon

Published by Handfinger Press

April

Ages 3-7

32 pages

$16.99 hardcover
Purchase

The 411 by Maria:


A little over a week ago I headed over to the school to celebrate Handsome's birthday with his class. The teacher requested that I bring in a book to read to the class. Never one to miss an opportunity to read, I grabbed Let's Hear It For Almigal. I had never read it as it had just come in the day prior so it was a new story for me too.


The kids grabbed their place on the rug and I started reading. You could hear a pin drop as the students, teacher and aids listened to the story of Almigal.  Almigal is different which is beautiful. Who wants to be like everyone else anyway? Almigal cannot hear. She discusses all the things she wants to hear like a robin singing and the music for dance but what she wants most is to hear her parents tell her that they love her. I almost lost it reading that line to the kids in class. As a big, softie I could barely hold it together thinking how I would feel knowing that Handsome or Goddess couldn't hear my love yous or me theirs.

What I loved more than anything about the book is how open the children were with their own stories afterwards. They talked about needing glasses, a crutch, braces, and even another talked about her own cochlear implant. The teachers asked to borrow the book to show the inclusion and special ed teacher as well as the school guidance counselor because of the positive message about differences, acceptance, acknowledgment, encouragement and finally who doesn't love a happy ending.

You cannot help but fall in love with Almigal.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book to facilitate this review, no compensation was received.

We Took The Crasin Challenge - See Our Results PLUS A GIVEAWAY

Goddess, Handsome and I took the challenge. Handsome took it today because I wanted to get the review up and 2 out of 3 of us like the Craisins by Ocean Spray better. A positive that came out of this challenge is that Handsome now likes raisins. He didn't know what I was going to give him so he had no chance to say no. He ate the first one which was a Crasin followed by the raisin. He like #2 better. He doesn't like anything sweet so I am so happy he tried it and likes it. He has had two handfuls today.

As for the Crasins we need to buy another bag because Goddess took them as snack all week.

OK...here is what I know:

Craisins come in 4 varieties: Original, Blueberry, Cherry & Pomegranate (we want to try them all).

Retail Price: $2.67 (6 ounce)
$4.34 (12 ounce - Original variety only)
You probably already know that Craisins® Dried Cranberries taste good and add a tart and tangy twist to any recipe, but did you know that they’re good for you to? Craisins® Dried Cranberries pack a lot of powerful nutrition into one little berry.

DID YOU KNOW? Craisins® Dried Cranberries have double the antioxidants and the same amount of sugar as the leading brand of raisins, plus unique cranberry health benefits.

A 1/3 cup of Ocean Spray® Craisins® Dried Cranberries provides the same urinary tract health benefits as one serving of cranberry juice cocktail. Craisins® Dried Cranberries are fat-free, cholesterol-free and have no artificial flavors, preservatives or trans-fat and are a good source of fiber to help curb your hunger longer than many snacks.

Here is our Blind Taste Test Results 

 

NEED SOME INSPIRATION?

Adding a dash of dried fruit during meals or snack time is a great way to get an extra serving of fruit any time. In fact, 1/4 cup Ocean Spray® Craisins® Dried Cranberries equals one serving of fruit or ½ cup of fresh fruit. So the next time you reach for raisins, grab Craisins® Dried Cranberries instead – they can punctuate any meal or snack time with a healthy, delicious twist!

BREAKFAST:

Toss Craisins® Dried Cranberries into yogurt, hot or cold cereal or add a healthy kick to everydaybreakfast foods.

LUNCH:
Give a traditional salad a zesty twist by adding Craisins® Dried Cranberries for a sweet and tangy punch.

DINNER:
Create the perfect glaze or dipping sauce to spice up your favorite meat or fish dish.

Find out more about Craisins:

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclaimer: We received a package to facilitate this review. No monetary compensation was received!

Skindinavia: 10 Years Younger Makeup Setting Spray - A Review+

The 411 by Maria: 

Interesting.  This was a really fun review. As a mommy blogger, I get more than my share of kid reviews and while we love every minute it was fun to have a review that the kids couldn't participate in. 

 My sister-in-law and I are always talking about woman today and during our parents time. Woman in their 40s now look amazing. We believe this is how 40s are supposed to look but are never afraid to try a new product to see if it makes a difference. Marta, wears full makeup everyday for her job so I asked her to join me on this review.

She compares it to a toner that you put over your makeup. It tights everything up and doesn't settle into the lines and wrinkles around her eyes or mouth. She also loved that she could spray it on without worrying about staining her clothing. "I was surprised that it didn't mess up my makeup. It was wet when you put it on but didn't run any of my makeup including my blush. No streaks. I used to spray with another toner when I was younger and always ended up having to fix it  my streaky blush. "


We have only used it for 6 days so far and so far. Basically when you are done applying your makeup, you use this as a finishing spray.  We also love that it extends the life of our makeup. 

Marta: 
I give this product a "B". A "B+" if you have dry or normal skin. While it definitely doesn't make you look 10 years younger, it does help with keeping your make up in place. If you have oily skin, like I do, the effect doesn't last all day - but other types of skin might have different result. If you use a powder foundation (something 35 and older women shouldn't be doing) this helps stop the powder settling into fine lines, something that instantly ages you. My final thought - while this product is OK, you can buy a cheap spray bottle fill half with sterile water, half Witch Hazel and you basically have the same thing, that gives you the same effect, for a fraction of the cost.

Maria:
While I have combination skin, I found that the product definitely kept my make-up in place for most of the day. I don't know about the younger thing either but I am a realist and didn't expect it to. You can't fight gravity with a product and I have earned every one of my lines and I am proud of them. I don't agree with Marta on her rating, I believe like it more than OK and would give it a B+ because it does keep you from looking tired by the end of the day and since like her, my day never ends this is perfect for me. We definitely have very different skin so our results would be different.

CALLING INVISIBLE WOMEN

What would you do if you woke up one day and discovered you were disappearing? This is the strange circumstance that Clover Hobart now faces in Jeanne Ray’s charming and original novel, CALLING INVISIBLE WOMEN.

A mom in her early fifties, Clover knows that she no longer turns heads the way she used to, and she’s only really missed when dinner isn’t on the table on time. Then Clover wakes up one morning to discover she’s invisible, truly invisible. She panics, but when her husband and son sit down to dinner, nothing is amiss and her condition goes unnoticed. Her best friend, Marjorie, is the first to realize Clover’s disappearance, only cementing the fact that she has been invisible to her husband and child long before she knew she was invisible. Clover discovers that there are other women like her, women of a certain age who seem to have disappeared. As she uses her invisibility to get to know her family, her town and her self better, Clover leads the way in helping invisible women become recognized and appreciated no matter what their role.  

CALLING INVISIBLE WOMEN is a compelling novel that explores women’s role in family and society and calls into question the true meaning of existence.

Jeanne Ray is the mother of novelist Ann Patchett and has written six novels. She published her first novel, Julie & Romeo, at the age of 60. She continues to inspire women to find their voices, follow their passions and become truly visible.

Favorite Photo Monday - Mother & Daughter

My favorite photo so far this week...ugh so hard to choose I have so many favorites. My second wedding paid photo gig gave me some gems. I love this shot of the bride and her 12 year old sharing a hug! She spotted me in the middle of the hug but it is her mother's face I love. Pure Motherly love!

Inviting for You And Your Pooch

A new shop opened in town. We haven't had a thrift shop in some time but this is no ordinary thrift shop. The sisters who run this are honoring their mom who did a lot of volunteer work. The sisters will be giving 50% of their proceeds to either the food pantry or the animal shelter depending on the month and if they hear of a family in need, their gears will shift to provide for that family too. Beside the high end boutique feel of the place, you would never think thrift shop when you walk in, there is a bin for food pantry and animal shelter donations. Plus if you are walking your dog by the shop, your pooch just may find a treat in the bowl and water for a sip.

I love the red door and their store front has definitely changed the look of the street.

Gluten Free Foods by Udi's

As the weather heats up, grilling season officially begins. With Udi's Gluten Free Foods, grilling in the backyard can be delicious, nutritious AND gluten-free.   

We received samples of Gluten Free Foods from Udi's and have been spreading the word for the past two weeks.

So far, we don't have a need to be Gluten Free in our family of four but have many family and friends that do which means when we entertain, we are always shopping Gluten Free!

We received hot dog rolls, whole wheat and plain hamburger rolls and Snickerdoodle cookies to review.

Goddess and I were literally licking our fingers over the cookies and I am currently still craving them because I happily shared it them with my niece and sister-in-law when they visited. My sister-in-law has been eating gluten free for a health reason for 5 months and loved the cookies. She wrote the name and website down before heading back to California this week because she said she had all but given up on having a burger on a bun since her problem started.

Handsome's Godmother is another gluten eater due to her health issue with a now controlled Celiac Disease diet. If she doesn't eat gluten free she suffers terribly and really sticks to what works for her. When I called to see if she knew about Udi's she told me "yes, I recently found them and love their hamburger buns because with others when you put the burger on it, the bun falls apart. This is the only bun this doesn't happen to." I only buy them now. I of course told her that she had to now find the snickerdoodle cookies. They are amazing. I have to keep reminding myself that gluten free doesn't mean fat free. They are so good, I could literally eat the whole container in one sitting.


Udi's is running a "Countdown to Summer" promotion, where they are asking fans to get ready for grilling season with Udi's Gluten Free Foods. Instead of having a BBQ, they're encouraging grillers to have an UDI-Q.

Visit Udi's on their Facebook page and play their BUN-GO game May 7th thru June 19th.  You must be an Udi’s Gluten Free Facebook fan to participate. Each participant will get their own BUNGO board, similar to a BINGO board. Each square has an associated task, such as answering a question about your favorite hot dog toppings. Once you complete a row, diagonal, or column of squares (i.e. tasks) you earn points toward Udi’s Gluten Free bun coupons and other barbecue essentials. If you complete your entire board, you’re entered to win a $500 gift card to one of the following retailers: Home Depot, Williams-Sonoma, or Whole Foods.


Follow Udi's on Facebook and Twitter

Disclaimer: We received a complimentary box of Udi's samples to facilitate this review. No monetary compensation was received.

Like the DaVinci Code? Check out Asgard Park

With the same page-turning excitement of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, Simonar takes us on an explosive, international journey.

The paths of three strangers cross in Asgard Park and it becomes a race between two continents to uncover the oldest story on Earth and the best kept secret of all times.

 On a rainy day in late June 1991, Dr. Wallenberg, a Swedish neurologist passes through customs at Kennedy Airport. He has come to take over the Directorship at Asgard Park, an old mental institution in upstate New York. The young academic has no way of knowing that his new position is only a piece of the puzzle in a sinister game. He is about to uncover a misguided conspiracy run from the asylum. His predecessor at the helm, a man obsessed with Intelligent Design, is using vast resources to protect the “chosen children.”
 

In a broken communist state, a teenage widow witnesses the inexplicable when her hardscrabble life takes a nasty turn.