Starting today through November 14th, Jif is sponsoring their "Seventh Annual Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest" and the "Jif Moms Voice Their Choice Contest."

The prizes for both contests include trips to New York. The former includes scholarship money, and the latter includes a seat at the judges' table at the former's final event! Would you like to be a judge tasting a PB-marshmallow-and-sardine sandwich? Who knows, might be yummy. And if you are the one who made the sardine masterpiece, you could end up with $25,000 to help pay for college.

My kids aren't particularly adventurous: Splig likes his PB sandwich cut into a heart each and every time. The Cat might change how many pieces he wants in his sandwich, but it is always just PB. No bananas (although those are welcome on ice-cream.) No honey: for awhile he liked honey-toast. And I haven't tried marshmallows.

When the Cat turned two, I had chocolate-chip PB sandwiches as part of the spread, but again, I don't think this is creative enough to win the contest, especially based on the list of past winners at the base of the contest page. But at least I've got some ideas!

Believe it or not, school starts in about two weeks. And we all know what comes with school: new clothes!

Underwear is a very important piece of the equation. Sure, it may be more important for a sagging woman such as myself to have the proper foundation garment, but the boys can't very well go commando when no doubt there is "peeking" in those school washrooms. (Do they have mini-urinals in the boys' restrooms like they have mini-toilets in the girls'?)

My older son has very specific requirements for his underwear. He doesn't like tags. He doesn't like seams. He wants everything without "bubbles" (gaps and bunching.) And my younger son - who doesn't seem so worried about fit - wants flowers, plaid, or a cartoon character.

Via the Parent Bloggers Network we had an opportunity to try some Hanes Comfort-Fit Underwear for Kids. We received white No Ride-Up Briefs, plaid No Gap Fly Boxers, and white Shaped to Fit Crew Socks.

Of course my youngest son grabbed the boxers, declared them "shorts," and has attempted to leave the house with just them and a T-shirt on. Indeed, when I picked him up at preschool yesterday afternoon after their "Luau Party," I was only slightly surprised to see him shirtless, wearing just a lei and his Hanes Hawaiian Print boxers. (We received the plaid ones specifically for this campaign, but he already had other Hanes boxers.) He loves plaid (as do I) so he is excited about his new boxers. The No Gap Fly promise is good: had I not known there was an actual fly, I would have thought it was sewn shut.

My oldest son initially was skeptical about the white briefs. He dug around for his familiar "Cars," "Madagascar," and "Spiderman" varieties. He isn't in to change, so this didn't surprise me. But, with help from the Laundry Fairy, the next time he looked for underwear, only the new white Hanes were available. He scowled as he put them on, but got dressed without further hassle. Meanwhile, I thought about where I might purchase some green dye so they could be more appealing to my son's verdant dreams.

In the end, I didn't have to risk dyeing the new one-year-old carpet or my favorite pair of jeans while trying to wrangle boys' briefs. When the Laundry Fairy returned his usual underwear alongside the stack of new Hanes, my son actually selected a pair of Hanes each morning. On one hand, I am surprised, since I figured as soon as his beloved cartoon characters were back, he'd prefer those. But on the other hand, I'm not surprised, because the Hanes are soft and comfortable, whereas several of the cartoon ones are stiff with paint and - yes - dye. My son is exceptionally sensitive to texture, so I suppose in this case comfort trumped both familiarity and wearing his television preferences on his... um... bum.

Although we received Shaped to Fit Crew Socks, both boys have been going sockless in honor of summer vacation. They live in their sandals and refused to put on socks for me. "These are so very soft," said my youngest, though, and I concur. They seem like fantastically thick, extra-comfy socks. The real test will be when my oldest finally has to wear sneakers for "Club Fit" (we old-folks know it as "P.E.") once school starts. Fortunately, from reading the other reviews, I anticipate they'll be a hit.

Hanes Comfort-Fit Promise guarantees better-fitting and more comfortable basic essentials for boys and girls or your money back. But I seriously doubt you'll ask for your money back. Specially-marked packages have the opportunity to earn additional underwear, so you can still save money in the end. Also, keep an eye on the Parent Bloggers Network Blog for a Blog Blast coming up August 22nd where you can win some Hanes Comfort-Fit Underwear for your own kids.

Last autumn, I volunteered to bring the pumpkin pie to the First Grade Thanksgiving Feast. The pies needed to be cut into uniform pieces to serve four classes worth of students. Since most store-bought pumpkin pies contain cloves – which the Cat is allergic to – I was going to make homemade pumpkin bars. They cut easily into squares (easier to serve than pie slices!) and would no doubt adhere to the school’s “Wellness Policy” because I knew I wasn’t going to use additional sugar, and I use real vanilla, no artificial flavors, and no funky preservatives. It seemed like a winning situation.

But I made a tragic mistake: Instead of just showing up with 13,284 pumpkin bars, I emailed the woman in charge of the volunteers to let her know of my plans. She had said to buy “four Costco pies and cut into bite-sized pieces.” I figured the mention of Costco was an attempt to let people relax about not having to bake themselves, so didn’t think there would be any reason to object to someone who wanted to take on that responsibility. So, when I volunteered, I said I’d happily bake bars.

Her response was, “The committee decided to serve Costco's pumpkin pies,” but that I was “welcome to bake a special pie for [the Cat.]”

In Michelle Lamar and Molly Wendland’s The White Trash Mom Handbook they refer to such committees as “The Muffia,” a term they lovingly lifted from I Don’t Know How She Does It. Indeed, this particular lady is leader of our school’s Muffia, but unlike White Trash Mom’s assertion that the Muffia wishes to condemn those who aren’t perfect, this particular “you must only bring store-bought goods,” was a twist on that. It is almost as though this particular woman wanted to make sure that I didn’t get credit for being capable enough to bake enough pumpkin bars for around eighty First Graders. (And, in this cruel twist, this meant that my son would be singled out as not having what the other kids had – and I had to foot the bill for all that nasty artificial crud, the leftovers which were returned to me, of course.)

Later, a fellow non-Muffia-Mom (who White Trash Mom would simply call a Fellow White Trash Mom - but I view this particular friend more as a Hippie-Free-Spirit more than straight from the trailer park) ran into the aforementioned woman shouting out directions to her volunteers. My very strong, unflappable friend whispered nervously, “I am SCARED of her!” Indeed, upon speaking to other moms, I learned there was no “committee” that decided on the Costco pies. The “committee” was just Muffy.

I received The White Trash Mom Handbook via the Parent Bloggers Network. It is written by the same gal behind the blog of the same name, plus with “inside-information” from her former-Muffia Friend “Tacky Princess.”

While I don’t listen to “Country and Western” or quite feel comfortable wearing tie-dye, I got some great tips from this book. Part of the White Mom Trash Philosophy (thankfully spelled out quickly at the start of the book) involves not worrying so much about what other people think. Indeed, I am very guilty of that: I am an approval-seeker, which means those “Muffia” folks definitely have a victim in me. (I have plenty of juicy anecdotes like the pumpkin pie one.) But if I learn to “take a chill pill,” I should be able to accomplish much more than if I am trying to live up to an unattainable standard of perfection.

Indeed, White Trash Mom talks about how the perfect people must have help. And in my neighborhood, they do: nannies, housekeepers, personal chefs, and personal trainers. I do not. And yes, I am sure there are plenty of folks in our school who don’t either, but the most visible folks are also the most pampered.

Being “White Trash” is not about bucking all expectations and rebelling loudly, because as is mentioned many times in the book, your kids will suffer. On one hand, being “White Trash” is “still holding on to the flicker of light [you] had before having kids,” but on the other hand, “you need to be involved in some manner because the school needs you,” so “think of yourself last and put your child first.”

“White Trash Mom” and “Tacky Princess” give a run-down on school volunteer opportunities with their unique cost-benefit analysis (ROI: Return on Investment.) They mention ways short-cuts can be taken without anyone getting truly hurt. It is essentially all about balance: not trying to be Superwoman, but also not being a complete slacker.

I admit that I found a few contradictions in the book, but that is because there are many contradictions in real life. For example, the book disapproves of the Muffia’s over-scheduling of kids’ activities, particularly sports activities where the child is unlikely to ever play professionally or even in college or high school. But one of the pieces of advice (that I cheered!) was to sign up kids for activities outside of school. That way, if a bully at school is making life miserable, the kid has friends from outside of school.

Indeed, my kids’ activities are primarily with kids who don’t attend their school. (And yes, the Cat’s soccer team is a “club sport,” where he had to try out. But I think everyone made the team. Shhhh! Don’t tell him!). My own tumultuous social life in elementary school was balanced by the many hours I spent dancing with kids who didn’t know my in-school social status. Having that outlet physically and socially was valuable for me, and I hope it is for my kids as well.

But I do agree with White Trash Mom that it isn’t productive for the kids to be pushed in multiple sports if it is all about the parents’ benefit instead of for the kids’ enjoyment. Knowing when it is about the kid and when it is about the parent is hard.

The White Trash Mom Handbook begins with a dose of social philosophy and psychology, and then continues on to actual “tips” to hopefully decrease stress while still supporting teachers in the “unwritten curriculum.” It is about keeping up with expectations and appearances in a way that benefit, instead of hurt, the kids. Tips about handling work, cleaning, and cooking are all in here. I’ll happily contribute to The White Trash Mom Cookbook (yes, I see a companion book in the future) because while the recipes in that section indeed look yummy and easy, I have a bunch of easy recipes that don’t rely so heavily on the processed foods. Being healthy need not be a Muffia-trait.

Even if you don’t like the term “White Trash Mom” – put away your biases or I’ll accuse you of being part of the Muffia -- The White Trash Mom Handbook is worth a read. (pick it up at Amazon) It challenges us to be true to ourselves and our instincts while still accepting responsibility for our kids and household. The book is humorous, practical, and surprisingly thought-provoking. It is going to take some effort to wean me from my wanting-to-please-everyone ways, but at least I know there are others struggling with the same tendencies.

Bob the Builder has been a staple of our household since the Cat was a toddler. One of his first toys was a counting hammer, and his first underwear had images from the series. His bath toys were Bob-themed (even a shampoo that had a Scoop toy as its lid.) Oddly, neither boy has watched the series itself with any regularity, although they very much enjoyed the DVD I reviewed for PBN earlier this year. Still, Bob the Builder is recognizable and comfortable to my kids, and so when I learned of Bob the Builder's Can-Do Zoo via the Parent Bloggers Network, I expected we'd have two very happy boys in our house.

Indeed, this educational computer game combines both the "tool and construction" fun that many young kids are apt to enjoy, plus the universally desirable animal theme. The story itself is fun: Bob must construct the Bobland Bay Zoo to house all the animals currently making their home in unexpected places. The monkeys are on the monkey-bars at school, of course, and the alligators are in the swimming pool. This topsy-turvy situation brought giggles to the boys.

The player must escort Bob through the planning and construction process of the zoo by mastering several tasks. Each activity brings the zoo closer to completion and earns the player a sticker that can be used to construct scenes in a "sticker book" portion of the game. The activities involve memory, sequencing, matching, color and shape recognition, and pattern completion. Each activity can be done in "easy," "medium," or "hard" modes.

Splig started on the easy mode, but soon started trying the "medium." The Cat started on "hard" but decided to go to "easy" to get the hang of it before going back to "medium" and "hard." Can-Do Zoo is aimed at 3-6 year olds. Spliggle is four and definitely in that target ability level. The Cat is seven (and a half) and found most tasks pretty easy, although there are still some activities in the "hard" level that provide a challenge for him.

Both boys enjoyed the "free play" section of the game where they could skip over the story (along with its little video interludes) so they could play a particular game over and over again, both to become better at it and to earn lots of stickers. The boys spent an entire afternoon doing the exercises repeatedly so they could earn the stickers. This reward-based system works so well with the boys that they remembered another educational reward-based game I reviewed for PBN and have been playing that game religiously alongside Bob for the last couple weeks.

Since there are only five different games, the capacity to become bored is greater than with more complex computer games; however, this also means that younger players won't be overwhelmed with too much detail. Since there are only five habitats to complete, even the very beginning players can reach the game's completion, which isn't always the case with story-based games. I know the Cat wanted new challenges, but he's also a year and a half above the suggested age-range for the game. Spliggle seemed satisfied with the Can-Do Zoo's scope and definitely enjoyed giggling at the animals.

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Download a free trial of Bob the Builder's Can-Do Zoo.

When I was a kid, any cookies or brownies that had nuts in it was automatically bleeech even though nuts-alone suited me just fine (just don't tell the other kids, 'kay?) I enjoyed making the Sassy Sunpops recipe earlier this summer (which has nuts and flaxseed.) I ate them. The kids ate them. It was great.

Shortly thereafter, the kind folks at Snacktrition sent me a great spread:

Yummy, yummy!

When they contacted me, I specifically asked for cashews, since the Cat is allergic to almonds, but they also have almond varieties of their suped-up nuts (such as the divine-sounding "Calcium Smoked Almonds.") But these nuts aren't suped-up with artificial preservatives, crazy fake flavors, or other additives that would spoil the nut experience. Quite the contrary, the ingredients listed are cashews, inulin, sea salt, black pepper, and canola oil (on the "Fiber Salt & Pepper Cashews" variety.) The "Calcium and Fiber Fruit & Nut Mix" understandably has more ingredients since it has lots of fun things inside, like blueberry and yogurt chips. But the list of ingredients doesn't contain any of that nasty stuff: No BHA. No BHT. No TBHQ. No artificial flavors. No artificial colors.

So what's with this "added fiber?" Well, according to the Snacktrition website, "Some researchers have calculated that if Americans double their intake for fiber, they could cut 100 calories from their daily diet, which could shave 10 pounds off their weight, yearly."

And you may have caught "inulin" on the list above - what is that? Well, apparently, "Inulins are a group of naturally occurring polysaccharides (several simple sugars linked together) produced by many types of plants. They belong to a class of fibers known as fructans... Most plants which synthesize and store inulin do not store other materials such as starch." And "IInulin contains a third to a quarter of the food energy of sugar or other carbohydrates and a sixth to a ninth of the food energy of fat. It also increases calcium absorption and possibly magnesium absorption, while promoting the growth of intestinal bacteria. Nutritionally, it is considered a form of soluble fiber and is sometimes seen as a prebiotic." Apparently, too much inulin can cause gas, but it is a better alternative than starch, and contains less fat. Truth be told, I don't know anything about inulin other than what I just read, but my experience with eating the nuts hasn't left me bloated, farty, or otherwise ill. Quite the contrary, I've really enjoyed snacking on these tasty nuts!

But what about the Cat and Splig? Well, I received the package while Splig was in preschool and the Cat was over at my parents' house. I ate the entire sample bag of "Fiber Salt & Pepper Cashews." Fortunately, I had another carton available for the boys to try. Not surprisingly, Splig loved them. He enjoys flavorful food. The Cat, meanwhile, declared them "too spicy," but for me (and Splig) spice is the point. The Cat much preferred the "Fiber Sea Salt Cashews."

Honestly, I hadn't heard of Snacktrition until I heard from them. But I am definitely intrigued since I've enjoyed tasting their products. The food is good, and doesn't contain oil or the dreaded preservatives. And then part of their proceeds benefit The Mama Cares Foundation, a group that has worked both internationally and nationally to feed and shelter those in need.

These nuts really are tasty - and they aren't dry, which is what one would expect of nuts that weren't made with heaps of oil. Thank you Snacktrition for introducing me to a yummy snack that I can feel good about enjoying, and that I feel comfortable about giving my kids in their school lunches.

I am one of those folks who switches shampoo pretty frequently. Somehow I feel my hair "responds" better if I switch around. I get a favorite for awhile, and then switch as my mood strikes. I've been a Suave user off and on, typically having at least one of their conditioners on hand as my brand-du-jour runs out. (Yes, I run out of conditioner long before I run out of shampoo.) Since Suave has so many different scents, I frequently have several types available so I can use whichever I like as the mood strikes. During the summer, for example, I enjoy a more tropical smell. For awhile, I had a kiwi-coconut variety from Suave in the shower.

Thanks to Mom Central, I got a package filled with different Suave hair products. I received great shampoo and conditioner, but I also received their styling foam and finishing spray. Truth be told, I use my husband's styling products (quite the opposite of most households, I imagine) so I haven't purchased any for myself in quite awhile. It was a welcome experience to finally get some "for me." In the package also was a travel-size deodorant. I didn't realize Suave makes deodorant - and the concept of a travel size also didn't cross my mind. Brilliant! I am pleased to report that I adore the tropical smell and will be purchasing a full-sized stick shortly.

The first variety of Suave that I tried from my sample package was their "Sleek Shampoo and Conditioner." Ironically enough, I recently had bought a "Sleek" variety of another much more expensive brand, so the comparison was an easy set-up. Indeed, the expensive variety created sleek hair - check! But the Suave did even more and left my hair much softer than the expensive brand - double check!

I should note that I have very thick, wavy, likely-to-frizz hair. Although it is short right now, it is longer than it was last year since I am growing it out. It is slightly above chin length, at that very dangerous for the triangle-head look length, should my hair frizz-out.

Honestly, I haven't had a problem since I've been using the Suave samples.

Also in the package were the "Vibrant Shine" and "Color Care" varieties. Both of these are very important because yes, I color my hair. And yes - I want shine. The "Color Care" line contains UV protection. I didn't realize shampoo could contain UV protection!

Here are some tips from the Suave Experts themselves:

Last December I had the pleasure of interviewing Kimberly Willis Holt regarding her book Piper Reed: Navy Brat.

I am pleased to announce that Piper is back for a new adventure!

Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy is available starting tomorrow, August 19th! (Of course it is available for pre-order at Amazon, but it will be tomorrow soon enough.)

Remember that Tales of Beedle the Bard is also available for pre-order, but that is more for the older set. Meanwhile, the Cat's favorite book right now is A Snake Mistake. He's also a big Henry & Mudge and Turtle & Snake fan.

The Cat enjoyed Piper Reed: Navy Brat, and especially enjoyed coming up with questions to ask Ms. Willis Holt. As I explained last year,

Piper Reed: Navy Brat resonated with my son's experiences because he has moved five times in his six years of life. As he is younger than Piper, he didn't have the same perceptions of social impact, but a story in which the heroine can adjust to a new situation is especially relevant to him, as he started a brand new school this year.

We'll read Piper Reed: The Great Gypsy so we can see what happens next in Piper's exciting and ever-changing life. I am intrigued by mention of a "spaceship beach house," so am eager to find out more about that, since I seem to be drawn to the concept of beach houses. And while I am more of a cat person than a dog person, our family did attend a dog show once, although I am willing to bet Piper's version is much more chaotic, adventurous, and fun!

Although my boys tend to have their "regularly watched" shows, from time to time another show creeps into the lineup. Typically, it is because a favorite show ends up having a preview for another; or because the TiVo'ed show ends, revealing whatever happens to be on the television live. During one such happenchance, the boys landed on Jane and the Dragon. Since then, both boys enjoy watching it when it is on, and we've TiVo'ed some of the episodes.

The boys are drawn to the dragon. I am drawn to the idea that Jane, instead of being a lady-in-waiting, decides to be a knight's apprentice. She scowls at wearing party dresses, much preferring to spar with the other apprentices or fly around on Dragon's back as she solves the problem of the day (usually getting into trouble before undoing a mistake.) I am also intrigued by the very realistic, yet fanciful CGI animation. Jane isn't some glamorous gal: her frizzy hair and gangly legs aren't the typical "ideal" of young women, but her adventurous spirit is certainly to be prized.

I was delighted to learn that Jane and the Dragon: A Dragon's Tale is now available on DVD, starting today. This DVD has five episodes, plus some enchanting extras, such as information about the art of Jane and the Dragon, character profiles, and a printable coloring page. The art section is fabulous, explaining how the initial challenge of bringing Jane's hair to life resulted in all the characters having realistic and unique hairstyles. Similarly, the costumes flow and respond to the character's actions just as real garments would.

Apparently, the Jane and the Dragon story is originally a book by Martin Baynton. The series includes other titles, such as Jane and the Magician and Three's a Crowd. Now that the kids have enjoyed watching the DVD, perhaps I can convince the Cat to read some of the books himself for "free reading" time when school starts. In the "Art of Jane" section of the DVD I learned that the amazing animation was patterned after Baynton's beautiful illustrations. I have not seen one of the books up close to compare, but plan to purchase some for the Cat. Baynton himself is listed as one of the executive producers of the DVD.

We were lucky enough to receive an advance copy of Jane and the Dragon: A Dragon's Tale. The boys enjoyed the episodes, and as mentioned before, I really enjoyed the extras. The art is spectacular and makes the program very enjoyable to watch. Our one criticism about the DVD was that even if we select "play all episodes," they cycle through in such a way that the opening theme plays before each episode. It would have been nice to have gotten the theme at the start, but then had all five episodes play in succession with only a single title slide announcing the next episode. The upside of hearing the theme song several times was that I was able to listen to the lyrics - which contain the back-story.

The boys sat still for the entire two hours worth of the show. Ordinarily I wouldn't have them watch so much in one sitting, but I just recently received the DVD and wanted a chance to review it for today's release. Also, the show itself is high quality, so I didn't feel guilty about having them watch it.

During the episode entitled "Tooth Fairy," I held my breath a little bit because my boys are both "believers." The Cat is skeptical, so he listened as Jane explained there was no such thing as a Tooth Fairy, but I think he was sufficiently confused by the twist-ending that he didn't ask me about it. Earlier in the summer, he asked about "magic" versus what is "real," but the jolly old red-suited guy, the egg-hiding rabbit, and the giver of goods in exchange for teeth didn't come into suspicion during that discussion. The Cat is about to be in second grade, and that was when "all was revealed" for me (around the same time that I asked what the "F" word really meant, since a classmate had been sent to the office for writing it on the chalkboard,) so it wouldn't surprise me if we have "the talk" soon - I just hope he doesn't ruin it for his younger brother!

Jane and the Dragon: A Dragon's Tale is a quality production, and I am thankful to the Shout Factory for giving me my copy. The boys are happy, and I'm definitely impressed with the production aspect and eager to learn more about the books upon which this series is based.

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The DVD is in both regular and widescreen formats, with both English and Spanish audio.

Awhile back, I wrote of a brightly colored fruit snack that Spliggle enjoyed personalizing. The Cat enjoyed personalizing it on the computer, but we wouldn't dare give him the artificial color. While Spliggle happily handed out his "Happy 4th Birthday!" concoctions, I ended up throwing out the extras because the dye affected him, too - not to the extent of the Cat, but enough for me to worry. Plus, do I really want him ingesting those chemicals, anyway? As I said in my review of that product, I recall they had some Feingold-safe varieties in my day. I wish they'd bring them back.

Well, luckily, the fine folks at FruitaBü noticed my struggle: love the concept of fruit snacks, but don't love the artificial stuff.

FruitaBü is organic and additive-free. Whew! No artificial colors. No artificial flavors. No BHA. No BHT. No TBHQ. Rather, the flavor involves concentrates made from the actual fruits and the color is from... the actual fruits.

My boys were excited about both the Flats and the Twirls.

The Flats are rectangle-shaped pieces of flat fruit. They are easy to pack in a lunch, and quick to eat. The Twirls involve a skinny piece of fruit rolled up (with a paper backing for easy removal) like one of those bubble-gum twirls. These are much more fun, but since the fruit is sticky, it isn't a good idea to unroll the whole thing and then try to whip your brother with it. Just sayin'. Seriously, both varieties are great for school lunches (Eeek! Yes it is back to school time!) I think the Flats are probably easier, but now that the Cat has experienced the Twirls I am pretty sure he'll never go back.

Now technically, we avoid apple and grape for the Cat, so trying these "Stage II" foods together was a treat. (To clarify: Feingold eliminates all those extra petroleum-based additives like BHA, but also initially limits foods with particular salycilate qualities. Those foods can slowly be added back in "Stage II" since they are healthful foods, but some kids may not be able to tolerate them.) We've found that the Cat is particularly salycilate-sensitive, so have tried the "Stage II" foods sparingly.

We allowed the Cat to try the Smooshed Grape Fruit Twirls and Flats. He didn't have a reaction. Whew! And he loved them. Double-whew! The Grape variety includes apple, as many fruit snacks and products do. It also includes soy lethicin. Since we avoid too much soy for the Cat, I don't think the Twirls will be an every day snack in his lunch, but we can certainly use them as a once-a-week treat.

Meanwhile, Spliggle is not salycilate-sensitive to our knowledge. The FruitaBü Flats and Twirls are a perfect lunchtime snack for him. Ever since we've gotten FruitaBü in our house, he's stopped asking for those birthday roll-ups.

Truth be told, the FruitaBü website drives me a little nuts because it is so interactive and flash-heavy. But for those of you looking for an adventure, click away. Otherwise, look for FruitaBü in your grocery store. It absolutely beats the artificial stuff. I feel much better giving my kids these organic, additive-free varieties. They are still tasty. They are still fun. But they aren't artificial. Whew, no "Boo!"

Last night - after browsing for hours - I purchased a pair of Black Leather Shoreham Uggs from Zappos.com. By "last night," I really mean night. As in after traditional business hours. After I'd expect anyone other than a computer to respond to my order. Indeed, within seconds I received the traditional "Thanks for your Order!" computer-generated email.

This morning, I saw a second email from Zappos.com, this one saying "Your Order will Ship Today!" It appeared computer generated, and while it was sent only a couple hours after my order, it was super late at night, so I figured their "today" meant the next business day, like today - Thursday, August 28th - not the "today" of the email date.

But when I went outside, my shoes were on the porch.

Apparently, my beautiful clogs hopped the plane last night, exactly as the email had said. "Today" was really "yesterday," and somehow they reached me this morning.

The shipping insert says "your order was packed and shipped by Benjamin K. and Leia S." So to Benjamin and Leia - thank you for working so darn late last night.

As for the shoes themselves, OH MY GOSH. Don't tell Husband, but I think I'm going to order another pair of Uggs. They are THAT comfortable. The ones I bought have the sheepskin around the entire foot, but then it is an open back. I think I'll purchase some of the boot-type ones for winter. Both boys have already commented on how soft my new shoes are, and they are thus lobbying to have their own. Believe the hype. Uggs are amazing.

For the last few days, the Cat has requested pancakes for breakfast. I've complied. After all, the first week of school is important. It is that time when routines seem to work well (later abandoned as the hectic-ness of life takes over.)

But breakfast will remain important, even if I don't have the time to make pancakes. And besides, a diet involving pancakes every single day is probably not a good idea.

One of my favorite things to eat is granola. Sometimes I eat it with milk, sometimes with yogurt. I have several favorite brands, one of which is all-natural, baked from whole ingredients Bear Naked. (I especially like the Banana Nut - it is like eating banana bread for breakfast.) I was very lucky, and received some free samples of their two new flavors, so new that they don't appear on their website: "yumberry gogi currant" and "mango agave almond," both are from the new Bear Naked Native line.

The "yumberry" is definitely "yum," so much so that Spliggle ate a good part of the package as well. I am a big almond fan. I am a big mango fan. Putting these together in the "mango agave almond" created quite an enjoyable combination of flavors. The mango bits were gumdrop-like in taste and consistency, but not too sweet for breakfast. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite: both were tasty for different reasons. The "yumberry gogi currant" is more of a light fruity taste, while the "mango agave almond" is more complex: part earthy, part candy.

Another quick breakfast option that I enjoy is the cereal bar. I've been a Kashi fan for a long time: from the basic rice cereal to their TLC (tasty little cracker) cracker line. I've tasted their rice bars, but was thrilled to receive two of their new cereal bars. TLC now also stands for tasty little cereal-bar.

Usually it takes my stomach a minute to "warm up" to the idea of food, so on those days when I don't have the luxury of sitting around for awhile, grabbing a bar to take with me in the car is a preferable option to realizing halfway through my errands that I am devastatingly hungry.

First I ate up the "blackberry graham." I intended to let Husband try, since he loves blueberries. And blackberries are almost blueberries, right? But I loved the bars so much that I ate them all up myself. It was easy to just grab on my way to the Cat's early morning soccer practice.

Spliggle is a fan of the "baked apple spice." It is the first cereal bar he has finished. Usually, he gets excited about the idea of a particular bar, but after a couple bites leaves it on the counter. Not the case with the Kashi "baked apple spice" bars - he gobbles up the whole thing, and usually wants another. I think next I'll have him try the "ripe strawberry" since he loves strawberry-flavored things. But remember, these aren't artificially flavored with things like blackberry and strawberry; these are the real-deal. No artificial additives here.

In September, I'll be hosting a giveaway where you could win some of these great breakfast products. Yummy, yummy!