While I started shopping at Whole Foods and other "organic-health-conscious" stores to find Feingold-safe food, I've started to notice and purchase environmentally-conscious products from pine-pellet cat litter to natural pest control solutions. After all, being healthful isn't just in things one eats, it is also what one breathes, uses on the skin, or on one's teeth. And being "green" in ways other than buying local produce or all-natural, organic products is important.

My kids are into the eco-conscious action, too: the Cat remarked the other day after I filled up my gas tank, "Mom, you're hating on the world because you drive this van instead of a part-electric car like Daddy!" But I digress...

In the household product aisle, I've been drawn to the brightly-colored Preserve plastic cutlery. I bought a whole bunch of lime ones since the Cat's favorite color is green.

Well, it turns out that Preserve makes more than just tableware. Thanks to Mom Central, I had the opportunity to receive two free Preserve toothbrushes.

There are many things about this toothbrush that warrant mention:

1) The bristles are WHITE. This may not seem like a huge deal at first glance, but the majority of the brushes found in drugstores and major-chain grocery stores have dyes on the bristles. Some brands market this as an indicator that when the dye fades it is time to replace the brush. But of course, the dye is going into your mouth or the mouths of your children.

After I received a rare white-bristled child-sized brush from my dentist, I begged him to let me snag a few more. He gave me his final two, and told me that the other brushes he had were dyed. I copied down the manufacturer's information and purchased an enormous package of the white-bristled ones direct from the supplier. Thereafter, I received mail about "my dental practice."

Fortunately, I found some white-bristled toothbrushes at health-food stores, but I am very relieved to know that Preserve toothbrushes are available. Preserve Jr. has some models that include dye, but they also have some all-white bristled ones as well.

2) Preserve toothbrushes are made from recycled material, namely yogurt lids. The Sundance Channel published a video about this process. [edited 2/2009: The website has been revamped; below is a quote that appeared on the original site.]

"Since 2001, Preserve and Stonyfield Farm have partnered to keep (literally) tons of plastic out of landfills. We collect cups and scrap plastic from Stonyfield's manufacturing facility in nearby New Hampshire, as well as the used cups that people who have enjoyed Stonyfield Farm yogurt return to them. Then we turn these cups into Preserve Toothbrushes, Tongue Cleaners and Razors."

3) Preserve toothbrushes are themselves recyclable. Their website includes a postage-paid label that can be affixed to a package of used toothbrushes, razor handles, and tongue-cleaners.

4) It turns out that Preserve products are not just sold at expensive health-stores. Preserve toothbrushes are available at Target stores nationwide for only $2.04! Plus, here is a printable coupon! [no longer available.]

Thank you Mom Central for letting me know about this fantastic company, and thank you Preserve for creating products out of old plastic that we can use and then recycle yet again!

A long time ago, I used to help my mom collect little cardboard "points" off of cake mixes. That was decades ago. Of course these days, the carboard-collection has shifted to Box Tops.

At one of the Cat's old schools, the office had a little bank that looked like an old-fashioned schoolhouse. Coupons were stuffed there. An additional cardboard box they used to collect the box-tops was always overflowing: little ziploc bags filled with coupons ended up on the floor. At the Cat's new school, though, I know they have a collection-container, but I think most of the publicity for fund-raising has encouraged other avenues (eScrip, auctions, and so forth.)

But those other methods are not mutually exclusive: purchase a Box Tops participating product with a credit/debit card linked to eScrip, but cut off the box-top, too. You can cash-in both ways. It is easy, and yet I admit that I haven't done it... yet.

Honestly, I thought box tops were only on cake mixes and other more highly processed food. (I guess it was Betty Crocker points that are infringing upon my memory.) Since we follow Feingold, I didn't think I buy any products that qualify. Quite the contrary, Cheerios (which is Feingold-safe and a healthful cereal choice) and Ziploc bags (which we don't eat, of course, but we use to store our food) are both products with a Box Tops Coupon. I just checked out my box of Ziploc: the coupon is 10 cents. I've been throwing away 10 cents every time I recycle a box of plastic bags? Even better, brands such as Kotex, Huggies, Scott, Cottonelle, Viva, Kleenex, and Depends all include coupons.

Be ye not as foolish as I have been: check the boxes in your cupboard (or the participating product list) to find out what money for your school you might already have lying around the house.

As if the Box Tops Program itself wasn't exciting enough, Kimberly-Clark presents Rock Your School, a sweepstakes to win a concert with Jordan Pruitt and 100,000 bonus box tops. Plenty of other prizes will also be given out, so check out their website for details! You can enter daily until September 15th. The winner will be chosen on or around September 22nd.

Even if you don't win the bonus box tops, check your pantry and your bathroom closet to discover what box tops might be lurking inside. Many of our school districts are underfunded, and while it may seem that a single box top won't make a difference, a whole slew of them will.

(Check out other Box-Tops-related promotions on their website.)

I have fond memories of baking with my mom. Especially memorable are those days we ended up covered in flour on purpose. My brother had even more of a cooking-knack and soon started making "no recipe cakes," which initially tasted okay, but some of his more adventurous versions were rather disgusting. Still, we ate them up with glee because he had made them with such pride. He later took cooking classes and is now an excellent chef in addition to his computer-related day job.

Although we've baked Christmas cookies, I don't do much baking with my kids. They enjoy trips to Grandma's for that (Splig recently helped her make lemon-milk sherbet) and beg Daddy to let them help him with his kitchen creations. Yes, Husband logs more cooking time than I do.

Thanks to Mom Central and Kellogg's Snacktivate! Ideas, my kids and I just spent part of the afternoon creating a version of "Sassy Sun-pops." The original recipe calls for almonds, but since the Cat follows Feingold and almonds aren't allowed on Stage One, I created one pan of the cookies with cashews instead. Also, I didn't actually make the cookies "pops" with candy sticks, although perhaps I'll give that a try next time!

The boys had a blast making these cookies. The Cat counted out the 60 mini-wheats necessary for the recipe, and Spliggle enjoyed crushing them. (Surprisingly, mini-wheats do not contain BHA, BHT, or artificial flavors that we avoid on Feingold, although there is BHA in the packaging itself. For those concerned, there are other mini-wheat-like cereals out there that can be used in this recipe.)

Splig helped me measure ingredients, and both boys enjoyed decorating the cookies. The Cat created a smiley-face which Splig then replicated. I gave them each a "big cookie" to decorate in their own style.

These cookies are definitely more healthful than the ordinary cookie. I'd bet they would pass our school district's "wellness policy." Of course because they contain peanut butter and include nuts on the top as decoration, they are not safe for those with nut allergies; however, Snacktivate! has plenty of recipes which do not contain nuts, such as the Butterfly Quesadillas that I hope to try next.

As for the taste of the cookies we made? Well, Splig immediately gave the thumbs up with an enthusiastic "Yummy!" I thought they tasted fantastic and am trying to think of other ways of sneaking in flaxseed to my meals (I didn't realize I actually like the taste!) The Cat, who fears novel things, said "It tastes kind of weird," but then he hid a smile. I think he wants to make sure it isn't too easy to introduce new foods to him.

We had a fun afternoon. The kids enjoyed creating what they later ate, and I didn't worry about them having another cookie since they aren't of the high-caloric, heavy frosting variety. Check out Snacktivate! to find some fun and healthful recipes for your own family.

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:

I'm always on the lookout for fun games that can double as a conversation starter or other sneaky educational thing. Via Mom Central, I had the opportunity to receive the Noodleboro Fun Park Sharing Game. This game is appropriate for the whole family, although older kids may find it simple. The focus is on turn-taking and collaboration. While each individual competes in theme park activities, the resulting prizes and stars are shared amongst all players. The ultimate object of the game is a group effort, trying to obtain as many sharing stars as possible before the theme park "closes."

The initial set-up of the game took awhile: each theme park ride must be constructed and the cards must be placed by the appropriate activity. I think my kids punched out the cards all in one big lump, so that created some extra effort to sort them, but this could be a game in itself for preschool kids eager to show off their matching skills. I ended up putting each type of prize (and the sharing stars) in individual small bowls, the plastic type traditionally used for toddler food. Spliggle the eating-machine never needed such a small portion dish, so I was glad to discover a new use for these.

Once I figured out what went where and how the game was supposed to be played, the kids enjoyed playing. There are four stations: their favorite was the "log flume," probably because in real life this is a favorite activity. In this case, the player balances a little boulder on a log, carefully maneuvering it through the vertical course. The "roller coaster" involves trying to catch a disk that goes through the coaster course. The "ferris wheel" is a game of luck: pick a color and hope the wheel lands on your color. "Tent show" is a shell game; no cheating! Success at these stations produces prizes; if a player already has that prize, he or she shares with another player, thus earning a "sharing star" for the group.

The die determines the activity: one of the four stations, player's choice, or to advance the "sun" closer to "park closing time" on the game board. Once the sun gaming piece reaches the end, the park closes. The players count up the number of sharing stars accumulated, and try to beat it the next round! In other words, you "win" every time.

For super-competitive kids such as mine, keep in mind that the goal of the game won't just be sharing stars in their eyes. It is hard to encourage a collaborative effort for kids who absolutely need to know who is "in front." (I earned five sharing stars for the pool! Well I earned seven!) Of course, it is the sharing that this game is meant to teach. I hope that with repeated playing I can emphasize that this isn't about accumulating all the prizes, because the ultimate result is that everyone in the game will have all four prizes, and then everyone will be working together to accumulate "sharing stars."

My boys created new scenarios for the Noodleboro Fun Park Game: they added a hockey scrimmage to the activities, for example, since I had set up the game close to our rod hockey game. The puck took a trip down the roller coaster and the log flume, too. Soon the theme park had visitors in the form of plastic pirates, little koosh balls, and pulled-off-the-game hockey players. While I can't say for certain that the boys got the intended "sharing message" of the game, they certainly had fun, and the game provided a great launch pad for their creativity.

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* Hasbro's Noodleboro Page

* Buy the Fun Park Sharing Game at Amazon.com! (Check out Pizza Palace Listening Game and Picnic Basket Manners Game, too)

Typically I talk about all the things out of the house that we're doing, from soccer to gymnastics. More and more, families are scattered about after-school. The reasons are "good:" the kids are attending religious youth group organizations, taking music lessons, or participating in team-building, obesity-fighting sports. But so much research has said that a strong family unit is the key to success, and that sitting down at the table as a family is a must.

I admit this is very difficult. Usually Husband has meetings, so I know that at the least I should sit down with my kids to eat. But we end up grabbing something on the way home from gymnastics, or on the way to soccer. I end up snowed-under in work and fail to make dinner, so tell the kids to go grab a Balance bar (which is a fabulous snack) or I quickly make pasta (yes, I use the Bertolli pasta sauce I received when I met Rocco.)

All too often, Husband comes home to a hungry family and will end up either bringing us takeout or cooking us something (yes, he's the chef in our house.) But by then, we're so tired and otherwise occupied that we might be in the same room, but aren't really "eating together."

Via Mom Central, I received some Libby's canned vegetables and information about their Get Back to the Table resources. Check out their "CANvenient" Recipe Section, with gems such as "$10 Meals in 10 Minutes."

I need meals that are:
- quick
- inexpensive
- healthful

Fortunately, Libby's recipes and products deliver on all three. Of course, the Cat has some dietary concerns in that we follow the Feingold Diet, so that is always a concern with recipes, but we can alter where necessary. For example, the tasty "Kicked Up Mac & Cheese" doesn't specify the brand of Mac N' Cheese, so I can easily insert in some of the organic non-artificial stuff like 365 or Annie's. And Ian's makes great panko bread crumbs. I can omit the pimentos for the Cat since he is allergic, but can add-in later for other family members if they are interested. Meanwhile, the Libby's corn and peas remain the same. Since canned veggies have such a fantastic shelf-life without those petroleum-based preservatives to which the Cat is allergic, it is a great option for "stocking up" the panty and then grabbing when needed to make dinner in a flash.

Some people have a negative association to canned products. But the truth is that different recipes do better with canned, fresh, or frozen. The different consistencies of these vegetables can aid in various recipes. So while I admit that I like to buy fresh, the truth is that it often wilts on the counter or rots in the fridge, whereas if I have some frozen or canned vegetables around, they'll be handy for when I finally try out whatever recipe I've been meaning to prepare. (And those canned and frozen veggies end up having more nutritional value than old soggy "fresh" ones.) Meanwhile, although the Cat is very picky about food in general, "mixed vegetables" is an amazing fall-back for him. Having cans of mixed vegetables in the pantry or bags in the freezer is imperative for us.

Convenience foods need-not be unhealthy. Using canned vegetables, such as Libby's, along with other easily-stored things like pasta and canned chicken broth, can be very easy and economical. Many recipes can also incorporate fresh ingredients and allow flexibility for personal preference.

Check out Libby's Get Back to the Table tips, and print out a coupon for 50 cents off a can of Libby's!

Although December brings with it lots of hectic holiday chaos, our family has been fortunate to have some pockets of time together to do fun things. Thanks to Mom Central, the four of us sat down to watch "Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa" at our local theater. Then fresh off the movie enthusiasm with catchy tunes in our heads, we unwrapped the "Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa" Wii game.

My kids love Wii, and they especially love playing games that relate to things they've experienced in other media, such as with seeing the sequel to Madagascar before actually playing the game. The game itself has different modes: the story mode relates to the movie itself, whereas the "Africa Arcade" provides various quick games that are fun on their own or as part of a multiplayer tournament. Players can collect "monkeys" which they then use at the "Duty Free Shop" to purchase items.

My sons (aged 7 and 4) initially went through the story mode, but then decided they enjoyed the ability to pick and choose mini-games through the "Africa Arcade." My eldest son has probably played the soccer game at least fifty times. Both boys choose Marty the zebra. Watching zebras play soccer is quite a funny sight!

The movie is entertaining, certainly, but it also provides a great springboard to talk about environmental conservation. Since the game parallels the movie, it too can be a good starting point for discussion. The first scene of the movie shows hunters all too eager to lure animals off the protection of their reserve. The first movie depicts zoo animals escaping from New York to Madagascar. In the sequel, the animals leave Madagascar, crash land in Africa, and discover animals from their own species.

Initially they are awed to see the beautiful savannah, but soon the characters discover that a human-made dam cuts off water supply to the reservation. Of course the friends save the day by blowing up the dam, but in "real life," such simple solutions to man-created problems are not so easily accomplished.

Fortunately, the movie and game are entertaining, even if at the core they deal with serious subject matter. My boys laugh at the funny parts, love playing the game, but they are both aware of environmental issues. My eldest loves to scold me at the gas pump (my husband drives a Prius, so he applauds him.) My youngest likes to tell me to turn off lights when we aren't in the room anymore.

And both of them love to play soccer with zebras.

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Learn more about the "Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa" video game

Purchase Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa for the Nintendo DS at Amazon

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Read on for some kid-friendly tips from Conservation International:

Wow, wow, Everyone!

Several months ago, the Cat ran around the house saying, "I have a little baby tail! Oh, I have a little baby tail!" Shortly thereafter, I heard the introductory song to "Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!" and understood: Wubbzy has a "baby tail" and the Cat picked up on it.

When the Cat was very young, he actually wore a tail made out of ribbon. It was this, along with his meowing, that led to his bloggy nickname of "the Cat."

So years later, he was back to enjoying the concept of a "baby tail." Fortunately, his fascination with Wubbzy's tail was rather brief, and the enjoyment of the show and its more important themes took over.

Wubbzy and his friends live in Wuzzleburg, a town that looks like it came out of a West Elm catalog: modern-looking right angles that have rounded corners and trees comprised of angled lines with boxy-ovals as leaves. This gives a jaunty backdrop to the upbeat show. (What did you expect with a show title with Three! Exclamation! Points!)

Indeed, Wuzzleburg is a hopping place to be. The friends are always doing some sort of adventure accompanied by exaggerated sound effects and carnival-like music. One episode was quite tuba-heavy. Their vocabulary is pretty cutey-cute, too; you can play kickity-kickball or look at a birdy-bird with Wubbzy, Widget, and Walden.

The episodes focus on problem-solving: everyone works together. The citizens of Wuzzleburg are quite inventive: their creative constructions help them get both in and out of trouble. Self-esteem building messages include celebrating uniqueness and confidence in asking for help. In fact, I need to take the advice on the "Ask for a Little Help" video - since I frequently try to take on the world without assistance. See, even adults can benefit from these seemingly silly, supportive characters.

My kids have been Wubbzy fans for quite awhile, so they were thrilled when the new "A Little Help from my Friends" DVD arrived on our doorstep Monday, free-for-review from Mom Central. They were also happy to hear that I'm following a friend of Wubbzy on Twitter.

The DVD includes eight episodes, four music videos, a "Kooky Kostume Game," activity sheets and previews of other kid-friendly shows. Both the Nick Jr. website and the Official Wubbzy Website have plenty of fun games and activities, too.

I dare you to watch the music video "Be Happy" without - yes, you guessed it - becoming very happy. Wubbzy is such a positive guy that you can't help smile when watching any of the episodes. Indeed, my kids become very animated when they watch his and his friend's antics.

We enjoy welcoming Wubbzy into our home via Nick Jr., but the DVD is a great addition since it provides plenty of back-to-back features that we can watch in the car or on our computers. It is a great compilation of fun videos and excellent episodes.

Thanks Mom Central!

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* Purchase at Amazon.com
* Visit Wubbzy's Official Website
* Visit Wubbzy at Nick Jr.
* follow WubbzyJen on Twitter

Wow-Wow Everyone! Or perhaps I should say, "Arrrrgh, Matey-Matey!" All hands on deck, Wubbzy's Pirate Treasure is available on DVD!

Of course to my pirate-loving boys, the arrival of the Wow! Wow! Wubbzy Pirate Treasure DVD via Mom Central was a time for heavy celebration. They love Wubbzy, and I've mentioned before that I think Wubbzy is pretty awesomey-awesome, too.

They've fought me for control of the DVD player. In the morning, it plays Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. Then in the afternoon and evening, it is time to visit Wuzzleburg. Of course, given a title like "Pirate Treasure," I am sure it isn't surprising that the gang doesn't stay still in Wuzzleburg. Nope, they go on an adventure after treasure. Wubbzy (er, "Long-Tailed Wubbzy" is his pirate-nickname) is convinced that there is treasure to be found, but his friends are more skeptical. Ever-academic Walden is particularly concerned that there couldn't possibly be pirates in Wuzzleburg.

Is there treasure to be found? I'll let you use your imagination, but I bet you can guess. Of course, it wouldn't be Wubbzy without some awesome songs, and the one after the pirate episode contains lyrics such as "Life is filled with treasure - everywhere you look!"

Other episodes on the DVD include one where Walden learns to overcome his fear of the water. This is followed by a song that emphasizes that things need to be learned one step at a time (lest someone run into the ocean and expect to be able to surf right away!) This is definitely something that can be called on during times of hesitation, "Hey, remember how Walden was afraid to swim, but once he overcame his fear he realized that he really enjoyed the water? Let's try..."

Having a familiar and enjoyable character as a role model is much easier than talking in the abstract.

One of my favorite episodes involves a trip to "Plaidville." As many of you know, I'm mad about plaid. The lesson behind the trip was how everyone is different, how these differences can be appreciated, and then how our own "sameness" can be appreciated too. (In other words, don't wish you were someone else, but respect that someone else for their unique self.)

Wubbzy is fun, educational, and cheery. My kids love the characters, so much so that Spliggle wanted to record his own impressions. And so, I'll leave you with his thoughts:

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* Purchase Wubbzy "Pirate Treasure" at Amazon.com (There are some sample clips on the Amazon listing for this product.)
* Read my review of Wubbzy's "A Little Help from My Friends"
* Purchase Wubbzy "A Little Help from My Friends" at Amazon.com
* Visit Wubbzy's Official Website for games, activities, and information.
* Visit Wubbzy at Nick Jr.
* follow WubbzyJen on Twitter

Ice-cream unplugged. Sounds kind of dangerous, doesn't it? But that is the tagline for Haagen-Dazs' new five-ingredient ice-cream, titled five.

When Mom Central told me about five, I seriously could not contain my excitement. You see, Haagen-Dazs and I go way back...

As many loyal readers know, I was on the Feingold Diet when I was younger. It helped with impulse-control. Since my oldest son has similar impulse-control problems with hyperactivity, we put him on Feingold and have seen success.

Haagen-Dazs is one of the few widely-available ice-cream brands that is Feingold-safe. Certainly people can make their own, but the convenience of being able to pop over to the local grocery store is truly priceless. Haagen-Dazs is at the corner market, not only sold in high-end specialty stores. Their product, however, tastes as though it would be in only exclusive upscale markets.

One of the number one concerns people admit when they question me about hyperactivity elimination diets is the worry that with the "elimination" all the convenience and fun will be taken out of eating. Fortunately, there are plenty of all-natural brands that are completely fine. Haagen-Dazs is one of these brands, and with the addition of the five line, the number of acceptable ice-creams has gotten larger.

Let's face it: the "creative" ice-cream flavors typically aren't the ones that are all-natural. To obtain those exotic flavors, most companies use artificial flavoring (along with artificial coloring.)

five is plenty creative, but maintains its purity.

The concept behind Haggen-Dazs five, is that it has only five ingredients: milk, cream, sugar, eggs, and then one "hero" ingredient. These flavors are: vanilla bean, milk chocolate, mint, ginger, coffee, passion fruit, and brown sugar.

My first motivation for trying five was that it is all-natural, as I was eager to give my son some additional dessert options. But I soon learned that using just five pure and simple ingredients naturally lends itself to an ice cream with one-third less fat. Less fat is certainly something I can get behind. And then the flavors themselves are not common. I would have thought "strawberry" would be a shoo-in, but instead the five fruit is passion fruit. Flavors like brown sugar and ginger are quite unique, and exceptionally tasty.

I was very excited when the package arrived = dry ice!

I was even more excited when my boys and I got to sit down to taste the ice-cream contained within. I am not a food blogger, so forgive the clumsy language, but here are my impressions of the four flavors I received:

Passion Fruit: This reminds me of a dragonfruit soda that I really enjoy. It is definitely a unique flavor, both spicy and fruity at the same time. It is smooth, as all of the five flavors are, and the passion fruit is subtle enough so that it doesn't overwhelm. This sort of exotic flavor is great to entice kids to try new foods. Haagen-Dazs recommends serving this flavor with pieces of tropical fruit on top - yum! [clicking link downloads a PDF]

Ginger: Of course this reminded me of Chinese food, so no doubt this ice-cream would be great paired with a fortune cookie or other vanilla-orange type cookie or cake. Ginger typically is associated with heat, but this ice-cream is refreshing. It is spicy and soothing all in one.

Mint: Most people think "mint chocolate chip" when they hear "mint ice-cream" and of course most people picture that neon green color. Haagen-Dazs is definitely not green: instead it is a natural white. The texture is completely smooth without chunks of chocolate. Although chocolate is certainly a great pair for mint (so this ice-cream would be fabulous over a rich chocolate cake) the mint on its own is so pure and subtly sweet that it doesn't need a companion. This is a sweet mint, not the biting mint of a mojito. Haagen-Dazs recommends pairing the ginger ice-cream with cardamom-honey roasted peaches. [clicking link downloads a PDF] I think pear would also work well.

Brown Sugar: My sons love milkshakes. Traditionally they have vanilla or mint chocolate-chip, but they have since had several brown sugar shakes. This flavor was absolutely my favorite. It calls to mind gingerbread men and a cozy gathering. I suppose now we can have our holiday memories during the summer, thanks to this spicy-yet-cool ice-cream. Recipe: Häagen-Dazs Five™ Brown Sugar Ice Cream with Warm Apple Cinnamon Blossoms [downloads a PDF]

I will definitely be purchasing five for my family in the future - tastes good, less fat, all natural. It is truly a fantastic five.

Fittingly, I have FIVE coupons for free ice-cream to give away to you loyal readers. Simply post a comment telling me what flavor five you are most interested in trying. (Check out the Haagen-Dazs five website to find all the five flavors - and yes, there are more than 5 flavors...) I'll give you until April 30th to enter. Good Luck! If you don't win, consider picking up five at your local store: you won't regret it.

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Wooo! You all won! Send me your mailing address to karianna at this domain name (see my header) and I'll get the coupons out to you!

I am one of those people who values a clean home but hates the actual cleaning process. My mind feels much clearer when my space is less cluttered. It is pretty dramatic how my mental state waxes and wanes depending on whether the house is "presentable."

That said, I'm usually up for reviewing cleaning products since many of them aim to do their job in an more efficient manner. Such is the case with X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover, a product that claims to remove stains without scrubbing and to keep stains away for up to two weeks. Thanks to Mom Central, I got a bottle free-for-review.

I've tested "no scrub" products before, and typically there was scrubbing involved, but even a little reduction of elbow grease is enough to make me happy. Still, many of those other products didn't work even after I scrubbed.

My test location for X-14 is a shower that I don't use. Our house has a family room that was created out of what used to be the garage. Off the garage was a utility bathroom, including shower. Our backyard used to include a neighborhood pool, but many years ago the property lines were redrawn and the pool removed. And so, I think our garage bathroom doubled as the pool shower. We use it as a bathroom and a laundry room (oh! and the cat's litter box / food room) but I didn't want to set foot into that shower... until this test.

When we have people over, we naturally convene in the family room. Unfortunately, that means that the closest bathroom is this funky one that is pretty messy. It is embarrassing to have people go in there, but it seems awkward to direct them to go back into the kitchen, through the dining room, past the living room, and then finally to the first door on the right to the "proper" bathroom.

And so the best solution would appear to be to clean up that nearby bathroom.

Let's cut to the chase. Here are photos of the disgusting bathroom shower before X-14:

Here are photos of the same shower stall after a single application - NO scrubbing:

Here are photos of the same shower stall after a second application - STILL NO scrubbing:

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the "before" with the "after second application" (so time span about a half-hour since each application and rinse took 5-15 minutes:)

Between both applications I rinsed well, as per the instructions. After the second application I was going to do "in action" photos, but the stains disappeared before I got my camera pointed. Seriously. I just sprayed, waited a few minutes, and then rinsed. No scrubbing.

To "finish" the shower, I did take a paper towel to clean up some of the metal parts. As per the X-14 instructions, it is recommended for hard, non-porous interior home, RV, and boat surfaces, including: bathroom tiles, grout, fiberglass and vinyl showers, vinyl bath mats and shower curtains, plastic garbage cans, and pails. It can also be used on outside surfaces like walls, decks, concrete, masonry, tile roofs, plastic furniture, awnings, vinyl (but not on cotton stitching,) mortar, plastic tubs, boats and marine surfaces and vinyl covers, swimming pool liners, and hot tubs. X-14 CAN be used on metal surfaces, but the instructions state to avoid prolonged contact with metal because it may cause rust stains. And so, I didn't spray the metal portions of the shower head-on, and was sure to rinse well, then wipe residue with a paper towel that didn't wash off with the water.

I didn't scrub.

I only wiped little flakes of gunk off with a paper towel.

Most of the gunk came off rinsing off with the shower spray.

X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover worked as promised. Many people will probably wonder: so just how strong is it, anyway?

The main ingredient in X-14 Mold & Mildew Stain Remover is sodium hypochlorite (bleach) at a level generally 60 percent higher than similar products on the market. The product is activated by "pH adjustments." Of course the instructions recommend ventilating the room well.

I opened the bathroom window, left the shower stall door open, and left the bathroom door open. My kids said, "What's that smell?" at one point during the cleaning, but once I had rinsed, they didn't mention it again. They didn't leave the sofa by the bathroom nor did they complain. I didn't wear gloves during application, but perhaps some might want to "just in case." Since there is no scrubbing and the product spray doesn't leak, it didn't get on my hands anyway.

I am notorious for being bothered by smells, but X-14 didn't bother me. I didn't feel overcome by the fumes. Other products have made me feel a bit woozy before, plus other products have required more product to get the job done (as well as scrubbing and thus more "intimate" involvement with the product) and so although X-14 might technically be stronger than those products, it didn't seem that way to me.

I will definitely use X-14 again. The cleaning of the dreaded ikky shower ended up not being a disgusting production as I had feared. Instead, it was a bit of spraying, a bit of rinsing, and then a quick wipe to pick up gunk the water was unable to dislodge. it was surprisingly painless.

Thank you X-14 for making our shower presentable again!

One of my reasons for finally buckling down and losing weight, or at least working out more consistently is that I realize that at age 35, every year that ticks by is another opportunity to lose bone density, flexibility, endurance, and mental health. Although 35 is not "old," it is easy to get in the hang of putting other priorities in front of one's health.

I'm hoping to turn that around - doing "cardio" for my heart, and strengthening exercises for my bones, muscles, and body control. Falls are a big part of how older people are injured, so if my core is strong, I have a less likely chance of falling. But really, it is that "cardio" that gets me: both physically and emotionally.

When my mom was 37, her mom died of atherosclerosis. Her mom was only 66 at the time. Well, my mom is going to turn 66 this December. Thankfully, my mom is not a smoker as my grandmother was. And thankfully, medicine has evolved such that many people whose heart disease is caught early can be saved. In my grandma's case, she was alive for several days in the hospital - fully awake and still with a sharp mind - but I guess they were unable to properly treat her before she had a fatal cardiac event. Of course, I don't know the details because I was only ten, but I remember feeling a shutter of recognition as I studied the various types of heart disease and stroke while in graduate medical school. (Want to know some sick irony? The professor who taught my stroke class died shortly thereafter... of a stroke.)

My grandmother left us too soon.

The Cat's school puts on "Jump for Heart," a benefit for the American Heart Association. Both years I've donated more than I would any other random charity. I've given in my grandmother's name - Ruby.

A few years ago, I went to the ER because of some odd pelvic pain. (I had gone to "minor injury" but they redirected me to the ER.) When I first got there, a man coded in the parking lot. Much later in the day, I learned he had a heart attack and hadn't made it.

Heart disease is no joke. People think they can drive themselves to the hospital after having chest pain, or that they can wait "just awhile longer" before seeking care. You can't on both counts: call an ambulance and get care immediately. Cardiac care (and stroke care) depend on TIME.

Through Mom Central, I learned of the ECC Class Connector from the American Heart Association. This site helps users locate local CPR (cardiac-pulmonary resuscitation) and ECC (emergency cardiac care) classes.

A confession: I'm not actually certified in CPR, although I've taken a few classes. I know I need to practice what I preach and actually become certified. Still, if you are like me and haven't officially gotten certified and think you probably don't have the time to devote to a long class and testing process, then CPR Anytime is for you. CPR Anytime is a line of self-directed learning products was developed to increase CPR knowledge and awareness.

Here's a chilling duo of statistics:
* Almost 80 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home and are witnessed by a family member
* Only 6.4 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims survive because the vast majority of those witnessing the arrest are people who do not know how to perform CPR

Is your life worth $35? Are your loved ones lives worth $35?

Silly girl, of course they are worth much more than that! And yet CPR Anytime costs $35.

I may sound like an infomercial - but really - it is important to have these skills, regardless of whether you take a full class, buy CPR Anytime, or learn more about heart disease, such as heart attack / stroke warning signs.

Check out ECC Class Connector from the American Heart Association to find a CPR/ECC class near you, and/or explore CPR Anytime to bring CPR knowledge into your home.

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In the interest of full-disclosure, I will receive a CPR Anytime kit (from AHA and Mom Central) for mentioning the ECC Class Connector website and CPR Anytime product -- however, I would have wanted to blog about it anyway - it is important, and means something personally to me, since I certainly would have wanted to save my grandmother's life if possible. Although I am not chomping at the bit to be a heroine, I definitely want to have the knowledge to save someone else's life if I am put in that position.

I wouldn't call myself a "scrapbooker" although I do have several albums of collages, photographs, playbills, and ticket stubs from my pre-parent days. After that, the collages became computerized, and then they just became a Flickr link.

But I still save a bunch of my boys' work, plus little things here and there that might mean something to me later. After 9/11, I saved a lot of newspaper articles and other freebies. I reasoned that it was an important enough event that having "original" articles and documentation would be wise. (And then there is that "what if someday my kid needs to write an article about it?" rationale, although these days I guess folks pull the facts online. Still, having a copy taken directly from the original newspaper would be nice.)

It is no surprise, then, that with the campaign and eventual election of our nation's first African-American President, that I would be a pack-rat about the memorabilia. I have newspaper articles, buttons, bumper stickers, and the faded lawn-signs we displayed at our house. I may even have my ballot stub - or at the least my sample ballot.

I was therefore thrilled that Mom Central gave me the opportunity to receive The New York Times' "Obama: The Historic Journey." I received the young reader's edition to share with my boys.

Frankly, I like the "young reader's edition" because it is easy-to-understand and highlights the most pertinent points. I'm honestly not a history or politics buff (although my husband is) so I'd rather get the "gist" of something than a drawn-out explanation. That said, the "young reader's edition" is definitely not dumbed-down. It gives lots of detail, presented in an interesting way.

The book has gorgeous pictures. Being a visual person, I appreciate the vibrancy and the symbolism. I love looking at pictures from the past, like Barack playing baseball as a child, or his Senior school picture. From the same visual orientation, I appreciate seeing President Obama's family tree, especially as it is superimposed over a world map to show his origins.

Definitions for common terms appear in colored boxes above and to the side of the main text during the sections on the campaign and election. These "extras" help kids unfamiliar with the vocabulary of politics and government to understand better the story depicted in the main text. Quotes from President Obama also fill colored boxes.

These side-boxes also break down the issues for both Obama and McCain. Although the positions are greatly simplified, this side-by-side glance is useful for kids just learning about the candidates. Other information at-a-glance includes a double-page statistics page listing information on Obama such as shoe size (11) and favorite food (chili.)

Sections on Obama's past, the campaign, the election, the victory, Michelle Obama, and his daughters are all very well-done. Something unique about this particular compilation of history is a section entitled "Inside the Times" that talks about planning the election issue of the New York Times. This behind-the-scenes glance is fun. A "Presidential Advice" section shows school children's letters to President Obama, along with some very cute hand drawings of the President from thirteen kids.

While some of the book is light-hearted and celebratory, there are also sections on the financial crisis and on the Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. controversy, plus a section on Barack, Sr. as an "absent" father. And so, this book is not intended to shy away from the negative.

"Obama: The Historic Journey" is a beautiful and comprehensive book. It isn't too heavy, nor is it too simplistic. I am pleased to add it to my collection about this historic election, and glad to share it with my boys to introduce them to our President.

Thank you Mom Central and the New York Times!

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Purchase The New York Times' "Obama: The Historic Journey." on Amazon:

- Young Readers Edition
- Adult Edition

I cannot play the guitar, as evidenced by this photo in which I am holding the thing upside down (apparently.) And then there is my son, who was so obsessed with a pink ukulele that when he randomly found a $20 bill mere feet from a store selling pink ukuleles - right after I told him I wouldn't use my money to buy him one - he purchased it himself. (I mean, how could he not given that the gods were apparently smiling down on him?)

So when Mom Central put out a call to try Guitar Hero for the DS, of course I responded. Not because I think I'm a rock-star, but because I clearly need the help. More so, I wanted to try out these games because I knew my boys would be interested. After all, they spent a good portion of Thanksgiving watching my brother play Guitar Hero on his Playstation.

I figured, if my brother can do it, so can I! (But, um, apparently he's the one who got the guitar talent.)

Women: do you remember the first day you got your period?

In the months before that "official" period, I had just spotting. A small pantiliner fit the bill, and I figured that was that. But then the real thing arrived, and I learned that I needed a great deal more protection (and medication.)

On one hand, that first period meant I was making a fresh start as a "woman" but of course it also carried with it a great deal of "complications." I am sure every woman has at least one "leak story."

Mine was when I was wearing an outfit I thought was super-stylish. It was a light aqua color, made by a designer totally "in" at the time. Apparently I misjudged the amount of time I could wait between changing my protection, because when I finally arrived in the restroom, I discovered I had a huge red stain on my backside. (Nobody told me about it, but isn't that junior high?) Of course the expensive, stylish outfit was ruined, and I was mortified.

Junior high mortification may seem like the utmost in severity, but as a real adult, "grown-up" woman, I know better now. I know that there are women out there whose problems far eclipse my petty junior high ones. There are lots of women out there who just wish they could make a fresh start.

The makers of Carefree® pantiliners are partnering with First30Days.com - experts at helping people through change - on a new program to help women make a fresh start. Women who visit CarefreeFreshStart.com will find tips for making a fresh start and the chance to receive up to $10,000 through the Carefree® Fresh Start Fund.

To apply for funding, women need to share why they want a fresh start, plans for reaching their goal, and how the funding could help.

Ten finalists will receive funding to help make their fresh start a reality, and the public will then have the chance to vote online for the best fresh start plan. The top three winners will receive $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 respectively, plus other benefits and prizes. All other finalists will receive $1,000 to help begin making their fresh start.

The deadline for submissions is July 10, 2009.

UPDATE: We saw the circus! It was tons of fun -- please read on to find out how you can see the circus at a discount.

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I saw the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus when I was young. I don't remember my brother being there, which means I was probably younger than five.

I remember I was nervous. It was my first time in a large arena, there were animals I had never seen before in person, and I worried that I was the one who would have to perform. But I also remember once my nerves were calmed it made quite an impression.

Yes, I'm one of those folks who is freaked out by clowns, but I love the trapeze, high-wire acts, and all the animal acts. I have fond memories of being able to meet an elephant at Ringling Brothers when I was young, and some baby tigers when I was in the eighth grade. Getting close to animals I thought would be inaccessible was a real thrill.

I took "ownership" of my Ringling Brothers experience enough so that when a competitor came to town I scoffed, saying they were just "impostors." Surely they couldn't be as talented as the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Baily troupe!

My first circus experience was at "The Oakland Coliseum" which has since gone through several renamings to become "The Oracle Arena."

Now MY kids can experience their first circus experience in the exact same place with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, just as I did. Their latest show, Zing Zang Zoom, is coming to Northern California in August. And my family will be there!

Lucky me, I have a coupon code for fellow Bay Area residents to use when purchasing tickets for these shows, thanks to Mom Central:

There has been quite a lot of chatter about bloggers' roles in product reviews - apparently some have been sued by manufacturers based on the words they posted - scary! Plus there has been some talk about how "valid" or "honest" the reviews are if they are essentially advertisements or other types of paid product placements.

And so, behold a rather long entry in which I address some of these issues as they relate to me and this particular review blog. This isn't meant to be some grand piece of writing, but rather an entry to "have it all out there."

As a result of the backlash, many of us are issuing little disclaimers on our reviews, emphasizing that either we weren't paid for the review - or disclosing that we were. I've been doing this already, either writing that I received a product or service "free for review" or disclosing whether the review is via the Parent Bloggers Network, Mom Central, BlogHer, or other review program where the client has paid a fee to the organization that then finds reviewers for the product. On the flip side, I typically mention if the review is for a product that I purchased myself - and it impressed me enough to mention here.

Most of the reviews on this site are through one of the aforementioned organizations. I receive products from them, and then post my impressions of those products. In some cases I receive a small stipend ($10-$20) but in most cases my "reward" is the product itself. I am not obligated to post a positive review. But, it should be noted that these reviews are self-selecting: when the call goes out to review a certain product or service, I will not reply unless I already think this product will be a match for our family.

Believe me, I have turned down many products simply because I know I'm not the right person to review them.

Woooo.... check me out with Alex the ZINGMaster. Oh, and Splig, too. The Cat was too afraid to approach. Oh well. We had a blast at the circus (except for some initial hesitation from the Cat and then some interesting wardrobe malfunctions from that same son.)

Thank you to Mom Central, Feld Entertainment, and Ringling Bros. for the opportunity! it was through their generosity that my family received tickets to the show - plus a pre-show meet-n-greet with a few of the performers. No other compensation will arrive because I chose to post about this event. The thoughts/opinions above and on my main blog circus experience post are my own and representations of my boys' opinions.

As I announced earlier, YOU can go to the circus, too. Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code: MOM. Please see my original post for details regarding the coupon code and dates.

A few years ago, our family took a day trip to a beachfront amusement park. We soon learned that it would be a lot more fun if we had a place to crash at night, rather than drive three hours home again when the park closed. And so, we booked a local hotel on our next visit. We had fun, but admittedly didn't spent much time in the hotel itself. The following time, the hotel was full, but a Holiday Inn Express about 15 minutes away was available and beckoning. Truth be told, we weren't sure what to expect. We mocked the Holiday Inn Express commercials a bit, and wondered what we were getting ourselves into by traveling to a small town, and to a "convenience hotel" priced lower than many of the competitors.

We shouldn't have been worried.

We are now frequent guests at that particular Holiday Inn. In fact, our kids call it our "other home." Last year when my husband's parents visited us from the opposite coast, we stayed two nights (or was it three?) at our "other home," the Holiday Inn Express. A good chunk of the time we spent at the hotel itself, in the indoor pool in particular. In fact, it was at the hotel pool that my oldest son finally became comfortable in the water. The hotel itself became a destination, not just the attractions nearby.

Meanwhile, my husband and I were able to keep up with our work because of the free internet access and comfortable suite area. (We later learned that even the single-rooms were spacious enough for the kids to fall asleep while we type away at our computers.)

Mom Central asked its interested members to give a shout-out to the Holiday Inn, and I immediately jumped at the chance because we're huge fans. Holiday Inn boasts more than 2,500 locations in the US, offering a fun and easy getaway in every state. Their website has been redesigned to highlight the various "state-cations" for your particular state. That means that you can drive close to home, but stay at a Holiday Inn and experience a "vacation" but without many of the associated costs.

In California, our family has stayed at Holiday Inns both at the beach and inland. Last January, my son decided that instead of having a party for his eighth birthday, he'd rather stay at a hotel with an indoor pool. We spent three days at a Holiday Inn while he swam in the hotel pool. We also went to a few hockey games while there, less than an hour from our house. Seemingly opposites, beach and hockey are both in California, and both accessible via Holiday Inn.

So far we've had great luck at our local Holiday Inn locations. We've had comfortable, clean, and spacious accommodations. The kids have had fun just being in the hotel - watching TV or swimming in the pool. Even though we're within driving distance of home, it definitely seems like we're on a "real vacation" when we're at the Holiday Inn. Plus, since we're so close to home, we can have a quick vacation over a weekend, even during the school year. Our travels haven't stopped just because school has started. In fact, I'm willing to bet we could create some mighty impressive weekend field trips by staying at local Holiday Inns.

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Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Holiday Inn. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

A week from now our family will be going to see Disney's Princesses on Ice (officially "Princess Classics," but "Princesses on Ice" sounds kinda rad) thanks to Mom Central. This is a Very Good Thing, since Spliggle absolutely adores princesses and has been yelping, "Can we go!?" every time the Disney on Ice commercial comes on T.V. For "proof" see how he looks adoringly into Cinderella's eyes when she signed his autograph book during a Disney event two years ago.

Lucky me, I have a coupon code for fellow Bay Area residents to use when purchasing tickets for Disney on Ice: Princess Classics. Purchase a 4-pack of tickets for only $44 by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com and entering the coupon code: MOM.** If you'll recall, this is the exact same deal as when Zing Zang Zoom came to town. Lucky us!

(If you want to see this show - head on over to my other post for a Disney on Ice coupon code!)

Last night our family went to see Disney on Ice: Princess Classics. I knew my youngest would have a blast -- he's totally into sparkles, pink, purple, aqua, and pretty princesses. But I expected my oldest would roll his eyes the whole time. Surprisingly, he got into it - the Cat loved the more physical comedy portions whereas Splig loved the more sappy, glide-y, sparkle-y parts. Meanwhile, I felt nostalgic and realized that while I own many Disney movies, most are on VHS - curses!

The show catered to a great mix of ages. The little kids were scared a bit during some of the sections, but there were no hugely frightening parts. The audience really got into the spirit, such as screaming at Snow White not to bite the poisoned apple. And of course they swooned and clapped at the various "true love's kiss" moments.

You know those free address labels that continually show up in your mailbox? Well, as a child, I loved to use 'em as stickers everywhere. I thought it was kind of funny that one sticker said MADD. I mean, don't they know it is spelled "mad?"

But then I learned what Mothers Against Drunk Driving was really about. I learned why my babysitter freaked out when I cracked open a Coors Light one day at the age of three because "I'm thirsty!" (I'm guessing I thought it was 7-up.) I learned what "being drunk" meant, and how driving in that state was absolutely a no-no.

During a trip to Argentina in high school, I watched with curiosity as some of my friends had alcohol. It was legal there, after all. I tried it myself, feeling butterflies not just because I felt I was breaking the law (even though I was not) but because of the effects of alcohol on a first-time drinker. I understood there was no way I could drive in this funky cloud.

But of course as I got older and my tolerance increased, I realized how people can erroneously think they are "just fine" when they aren't. I'd like to think I'm hyper-sensitive about counting the hours since I've had wine with dinner, but I'm willing to bet I was less cautious in college.

Last Spring I took up running (much to my surprise!) Somehow, what started out as a peer-induced challenge ("Let's run a 5K!") turned into an actual hobby. While the summer months were hot at times, the autumn and winter brought the dry skin and chapped lips out in full force. It isn't surprising that I jumped at the chance to try out a different challenge: Neosporin's 3-day Healthy Lips Challenge, thanks to Mom Central. I received two products: Lip Health Overnight Renewal Therapy and Lip Health Daily Hydration Therapy.

To put it bluntly, I didn't need three days. My lips improved overnight on the very first day. The Overnight Renewal Therapy was so soft and moisturizing that on the second day I ended up using it on a couple of my toes and on one cheek that had gotten a bit of a dry patch. Both of these other body parts cleared up immediately. Meanwhile, the Daily Hydration Therapy gave me satisfyingly slick lips with a little gloss. My lips felt great, but also looked great. As a bonus, the Daily Hydration Therapy is SPF 20 to prevent further damage.

Today I might be co-Chairing the Science Fair, but my mind is on Fantasy. For the Fair, my youngest son did a project on "freezing and melting." He carefully tested different liquids' freezing and melting points (in a non-precise, Kindergarten-way, naturally.) A week from Saturday, we'll watch a show on ice -- and of course, ice-skating is possible because the blade melts the ice as the skater glides across the slick surface. But at that point, all my son will care about will be his favorite "cutey-cuties," glitter, and sparkles.

We had a blast when Mom Central and Feld Entertainment sent us to the Circus. And then my youngest son was completely smitten by Princesses on Ice. (My eldest son thought it was pretty cool, too, but he won't admit it.) And so, we are thrilled that we've now been invited to Disney on Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy.

This show includes scenes from Cars (wooo! cars on ice!), Little Mermaid, Lion King, Tinkerbell, and more!

Of course, like with the other shows, I'll report back after I have seen it. But, in the meantime, I have a special offer for YOU, my super-awesome readers:

On Wednesday, March 3rd I took my boys to see Disney Worlds of Fantasy, courtesy of Feld Entertainment and Mom Central. Then a day later, I was on a plane to Orlando, FL where on Sunday, March 7th I successfully completed the "Tiarathon," otherwise known as the Disney Princess Half-Marathon. (I'll pause to brag that on February 7th I ran a half-marathon, too!)

As I sat watching the ice show, I couldn't help but become emotional because I knew what I was about to do just a few days later. After months of looking forward to running like a princess, it was almost here! Of course the show was magic - from the revved-up Cars, to my youngest son's favorite princess Ariel, to Tinkerbell's antics - and the kids loved their time. And then I was definitely caught up in it all, knowing that although Mickey and Minnie were on the ice, soon I'd be running right next to them.

Three years ago we moved from a big house with a little yard to a little house with a big yard. I had excited ambitions for planning my own garden, but my plans fell flat. Embarrassingly, the gardening work the previous owners had done was wasted when my purple thumb came along. In the midst of my farming failure out in our back yard, I noticed that the containers I planted in our front yard actually did well. A lime tree gave us limes for our beer, and an initially small rosemary plant is now enormous and can provide seasoning to whatever I happen to be cooking. (Okay, I don't cook much, but I have big plans for that, too!)

I hope to plant other easy-to-grow herbs in containers in an attempt to incorporate more fresh seasoning into my (future) cooking, and to essentially take "baby steps" towards having a more sustainable experience. Maybe I'll cook more if I know I already have basil, sage, and rosemary growing right there?

It was with a hope that I can make this a reality that I happily accepted Mom Central's opportunity to review Triscuit's Home Gardening Program. Triscuit has placed plantable herb cards in four million boxes of Triscuit crackers. I was fortunate to receive one of those boxes in exchange for spreading the word about their program.

I can think of many ways that people can argue over toilet paper, but none is so polarizing than whether you "roll over" or "roll under."

Cottonelle knew such a question would get plenty of opinions. Indeed, they conducted a Roll Poll.

Not surprisingly, my side won.

Yeah, that's right. I am a roll-over!

It was with passion for my roll-over-ness that I gladly decided to participate in Mom Central's blog tour about Cottonelle. After all, I love validation, and who is to turn down free toilet paper, particularly soft and fluffy paper like Cottonelle?

My youngest son - like most red, white, and blue blooded young American kids - can't get enough of that beige vehicle for cheese, occasionally red sauce, and definitely meatballs. I'd be willing to bet that most parents will nod in agreement that "pasta" is on their children's preferred menu. Many picky kids will at least eat pasta.

There is definitely concern over the "just pasta" diet, I know. And so it was with glee that I agreed to try out Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta through Mom Central. I'll admit, I pass over many food reviews because they are for products that I don't really think are healthful. But Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta is enriched with vitamin D, calcium, and fiber.

My pasta-loving son tried and loved Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta. He had high compliments for it, even choosing to eat it plain because it tastes so good!

As part of Ronzoni's campaign, they asked the review bloggers to submit a photo to their Ronzoni Smart Taste Photo Contest, depicting how our kids enjoyed the pasta.

My entry is below:

While Splig had some more "photogenic" shots, this one caught my eye because the pasta is suspended in mid-air, dancing towards his mouth. Indeed, he was shoveling it in, and the pasta seemed pretty happy to join the party in his tummy.

So, if the pasta moves you, please vote for Splig. You might win a $25 gift card for your vote! (And I could win some pasta - yum!)

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Disclaimer: I wrote a review and submitted this photo while participating in a campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Ronzoni. I received products necessary to facilitate my candid review and photo contest entry. In addition, I will receive a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate. Neither Mom Central nor Ronzoni previewed this piece prior to publication; the words are my own. Both Mom Central and Ronzoni previewed my photo prior to publication on the photo contest website to ensure my pic was family-friendly and so forth; they did not edit my photo in any way.

Win a Treatment Pack for Yourself or Your Teen!

Zits. Pimples. Poppers. Blemishes. Spots. Acne.

Whatever you call 'em, they are a fact of life for most teens, and for many adults as well. What started out as almost an exciting rite-of-passage quickly became a complete horror for me. (I wanted braces, too, go figure. But of course once they were on I wanted them off.) We all have stories of the perfect date-face gone wrong at the last minute because of a horrid inflamed red bump. Or how those darn blemishes showed up on Picture Day and during the school play.

When I was a teen, I had a lot of "white-heads" and of course a bunch of "black-heads" as well. I even had plenty of bumps on my face that weren't discolored in any way, but were just not smooth. And everyone knows your skin has to be smooth to be beautiful. And you have to be beautiful to be popular or accepted in any fashion.

My mom took me to a fancy dermatologist who poked and prodded my face, and then prescribed various creams that burned my skin or otherwise didn't do the trick. I had the most consistent results simply using those familiar Oxy circular slightly-abrasive face-wipes on a daily basis. And honestly, I still use them to this day.

It isn't surprising, then, that I was happy to try out Oxy Clinical Solutions thanks to Mom Central. After all, Oxy has been a winner for me for decades. This new Acne Solutions Pack is an over-the-counter trio of treatments that deliver prescription-strength results - or at least, that is their claim!

I love Breyers. I was introduced to them in my youth when my mom sought out all-natural, no-preservatives food for me. Many of the ice-creams and various frozen products contained varying degrees of "artificial." (Check it out - most "vanilla" products have "vanillan" instead - what a villain!) Breyers did not.

Breyer's has been a staple in my freezer from childhood up through when I started my own family. In fact, I think I only had Breyer's in my freezer and maybe some Diet Coke in my fridge when I was a grad student. (I only needed to attend nightime "special lectures" to chow down on free pizza - though the fabulous convenience and plethora of options for New York City delivery meant I had some pretty exotic take-out boxes spending time in that studio apartment as well.) These days, we purchase three or four cartons of Breyer's all at once. We use it in shakes, smoothies, and of course for sundaes or a plain ol' bowl of ice-cream.

Imagine my glee when I learned about Breyer's Smooth and Dreamy ice-cream bars and sandwiches! Oh, the excitement!

I like gum. It is good stuff. I have several favorite brands, but for the most part, I can pick up nearly any brand and be satisfied. For me, it is more the flavor that matters than the name on the label. Most out there have similar flavor and similar consistency, so my choice is a matter of price and availability.

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm eagerly awaiting a specific gum's release to the general public in October.

That's right, I'm excited about gum.

During the hoopla that was the BlogHer convention, I got my hands some packs of Extra Dessert Delights. I have both "Mint Chocolate Chip" and "Key Lime Pie." There is also a "Strawberry Shortcake" flavor that I have yet to try.

We've got bugs. Thankfully (hopefully? knock on wood) not the bed-bugs everyone's been talking about. (Yes, I've already purchased some diatomaceous earth and various sprays just in case. )

No, I'm talking about a different kind of bug I brought home from New York City - the Hexbug Nano. I was fortunate to grab the last "Hexbug Nano Starter Pack" from the MomCentral suite. My boys loved the tiny set so much that we soon got a full "Hexbug Nano Habitat Set", plus of course another couple Hexbug Nanos. (In fact, my youngest son was thrilled to find some pink and aqua ones while we were purchasing a birthday present for his friend a couple days ago. Of course I gave in, because I think the little bugs are pretty cute, too.)

Essentially, the hard plastic bugs run around, jittering on their soft plastic fringed legs the way a real bug would. It almost appears that they "sniff out" where to turn in their little environment. This effect is a result of their vibrating motion. The Hexbug Nano website has more information about what makes this particular toy realistic, but my kids just love it because it is fun.

When I went to Johnson's Camp Baby I arrived with the perspective of someone who enjoyed their products as a child, but who had gravitated elsewhere, especially after having a son sensitive to various dyes and fragrances. Other Camp Baby attendees had similar concerns - sure, J&J's smell and look was iconic, but many moms today are looking more towards the "natural" products, and are willing to pay a premium for them.

Well, much to my delight, Johnson's came out with their fragrance-free baby lotion last year, and have just launched entire "Johnson's Natural" and "Johnson's Natural Kids" lines that are 98-99% natural, plant & fruit-derived ingredients, with "ALLERFREE" fragrance. And, every Johnson's Natural cleanser contains their gentle NO MORE TEARS® formula.

Thanks to Mom Central, I had the opportunity to test several products from their new lines: 2-in-1 hand and face wash, 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner & body wash, head-to-toe foaming baby wash, baby lotion, and baby shampoo.

During BlogHer I was introduced to SOYJOY. I was fortunate to attend a breakfast talk with some fabulous food (some of which was indeed made with soy) and excellent speakers who explained some of the ways we could eat healthfully with our family. And, of course, they let us know the benefits of soy, while also speaking to some of the concerns we've heard in the media about soy products. It was a great event, and I was happy to come away with a sample of their new and improved SOYJOY bars. I received banana.

Well, when I heard that Mom Central was looking for folks to spread the word about the new SOYJOY flavors and encourage entry into their Second Chances Contest, I jumped at what would be my second chance to try SOYJOY.

I used to be a scientist. Sometimes I say I stopped once I had children because of the whole work-family balance. Other times I simply say I "retired" since that sounds fancy coming from the mouth of someone who people sometimes ask "how old are you?" because they think I'm fresh out of high school. (Okay, this phenomena is dropping off rather quickly. Stay tuned because I'm going to review a wrinkle cream soon. Seriously.)

But all jokes aside, science is still a part of my life. I'm Co-chair of the Science Fair at my children's elementary school, and I sent them to Science Camp this past summer. I definitely want to pique their interest in "how things work" and to foster critical and curious minds.

With that in mind, when Mom Central asked for interested bloggers to learn more about Mad Science's KNOW: The Science Magazine for Curious Kids, I jumped in line. KNOW is intended for kids aged 6-9, and mine are exactly 6 and 9 - perfect!

Last week turned into One Big Teachable Moment. Or, I suppose more appropriately, it was several moments with a common theme.

I've always been relatively eco-conscious. I feel guilty if I can't find a recycling bin (and will sometimes carry an empty can around with me until I do.) I am always turning off lights in the house (except there are certain ones that I want on even though my husband turns those off!) I conserve water, and I donate items to "re-use" day.

But I know I'm not perfect. I have plenty of appliances sucking energy when they aren't in use, and sometimes I forget my cloth shopping bags when going to the store, or purchase bottled water because I neglected to wash out my re-usable bottle.

My eco-efforts are a work in progress. Similarly, the way humans harness energy and deliver it to the population is a work in progress. Last week I had the opportunity to learn about PG&E's smart meter from Silver Spring Networks during an event hosted through Mom Central.

One of my favorite race-bag additions is popchips. I'm fortunate that reps from popchips are often handing out free bags in the post-race area after some of the trail runs from my favored organized running company. Just as I crave a little salt, the popchips are right there. And yet, I'm not completely sabotaging my diet by partaking. You see, popchips aren't fried. In fact, they aren't even baked. They are popped!

I know what you are picturing - rice cakes, anyone? - seriously, this is much different.

Popchips have actual flavor. It is amazing to me that a single-serve bag is only 100 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. The ingredients are natural - I can pronounce every word on the bag. This isn't a chemically-laden snack food. They start with real potatoes, and POP! them. They then add seasoning using the actual ingredients they want the chip to taste like. Remember, no manufactured flavors out of chemicals!

I've always loved the original potato and barbecue potato flavors, but when popchips sent me a whole variety of flavors, I found a new favorite: cheddar potato!