the Mom Buzz

If You Are Reading this, Please Redirect Your Attention to...

2009-11-02T12:35:00.002-05:00

If you are reading this, you are still reading the Mom Buzz at a blogspot. Unfortunately, you really won't find me here. The Mom Buzz is now self-hosted at THEMOMBUZZ.COM. The blogspot will stay here to help redirect lost readers. But, you are probably missing lots of great contests and my holiday guide over at themombuzz.com.

If you have entered a contest here - no worries - I am checking entries here too until everything is 100% done. In the meantime, please follow me!

To read the buzz: http://www.themombuzz.com
To update your feed: http://www.themombuzz.com/feed/

Thanks and see you there!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Introducing the new Curly Lamp from FUZ

2009-10-25T06:58:00.013-04:00

Introducing the new Curly Lamp from FUZ!

Unusually Smart.

Sustainably produced.

Made in the USA.

Check it out at FuzFarm.com!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Alligator Farm Feeding

2009-10-21T07:01:00.000-04:00

We saw an Alligator Feeding at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. It was pretty amazing. They are HUGE! There is a lot to do and the boys really loved it. Although, my oldest just wanted to see the monkeys. Hello, kid! We are at an ALLIGATOR FARM! But yes, there are also moneys, snakes and birds.

Welcome a Gator into Your Home: Dirt Devil Gator Series

2009-10-20T07:25:00.001-04:00

This is how badly I needed a hand vac with power ... I actually take my vacuum and instead of using the handtools, I will lift my vacuum onto the couch to get as much suction power as possible to clean off the messes my boys leave behind.

The day that the couch (and surrounding area) need the most help are days I give the boys cereal. Next thing you know there are thousands of cocoa flakes all over the place. And honestly, taking the vacuum out to clean the couch can be a PITA.

So I was thrilled when the opportunity came to test the Dirt Devil Gator Serie s. It is designed with a dirt cup that flips open for easy emptying, as you remove debris with a quick press of the side buttons. This allows you to minimize your contact with dirt.

Depending on the model you choose, your Gator will vary in voltage (10.8V-18V and price ($29.99-$59.99). The Mom Buzz received the Gator 10.8V Hand Vacuum. First off, they suggest charging it for 24 hours. But, I did learn that it comes charged as I poked at my husband with it precharging. (I vacuumed his head - he thought it felt good, if you are wondering.) After I did that, I tried out the flip compartment. With a squeeze on either side of the vacuum it opens and lets you dump out debris. Finally, I pulled out it's crevice tool. It came out easily and slid into place.

Now the real test. After I let it charge for 24 hours, I gave the boys their Cocoa Pebbles. Sigh. Without a doubt I had a HUGE mess on my hands as one boy spilled on the couch and the other on the floor. Honestly, this time the mess WAS big enough for me to go through the effort of dragging in a traditional vacuum. But, what's the fun in that? I took out the Dirt Devil Hand Vac and that thing had power. I can only imagine what the 18V one is like! This thing sucked EVERYTHING up off the couch. I even pulled out the crevice tool to get between the cracks - it worked as expected.

Then I used the Hand Vac to clean up the other mess on the floor. It did it pretty quick. No surprises there! If it could clean up the couch, with hidden cracks and crevices, you would expect it can handle a Pergo floor! It even tried sucking up toys! And when I was done with the Gator, it easily flipped open and I could dump the contents into the trash.

My favorite feature of the Gator is the power. It is just amazing at how well it picks up everything. The Hand Vac is light weight and comfortable in my hand. I love that it has a 3 year limited warranty and a filter that you can easily change. The crevice tool is easy to use. I think I would like a wider mouth on the Dirt Devil - just a tad. But the way the mouth of the gator is now keeps it from sucking up the kid's toys. As it was, it ate one of my boy's shoe lace ties.

Trying to decide which Gator to buy? Here are your options:

Dirt Devil® Gator 10.8VTM

Cordless Hand Vacuum
Gator SeriesTM Dirt Cup for easy emptying
Powerful suction for quick clean ups
Built-in crevice tool for cleaning tight spaces

Dirt Devil® Gator 15.6VTM

Cordless Hand Vacuum
ENERGY STAR approval rating
Gator SeriesTM Dirt Cup for easy emptying
Reusable filter – simply rinse to clean
Powerful suction for quick clean ups
Built-in crevice tool for cleaning tight spaces

Dirt Devil® Gator 15.6VTM or 18VTM WITH BRUSHROLL

Cordless Hand Vacuum
ENERGY STAR approval rating
Motorized brushroll for cleaning stairs, cars, and especially pet hair
Gator SeriesTM Dirt Cup for easy emptying
Reusable filter – simply rinse to clean
Powerful suction for quick clean ups
Built-in crevice tool for cleaning tight spaces

Want to buy a gator? Well, it's available now at my two favorite stores - Target and Best Buy! Plus, you can also find it at DirtDevil.com.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. The Mom Buzz was provided a Hand Vac for this review. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Mineral Make-up

2009-10-19T14:58:00.000-04:00

For the past few years I’ve definitely heard a buzz about mineral make-up. What do we know about it? Better for the skin? More uniform? Powder? More natural? Well, at least that was what I thought when I heard that Avon had a smooth mineral make-up line. And guess what … I was right! Well – mostly right – it’s not all powders. But their Smooth Minerals Collection is specially formulated for all skin types – from normal to sensitive and everything in between. They say that their mineral based ingredients let your skin’s natural beauty shine through, since it gives you a smooth skin texture, even color and gorgeous glow.

The first time I tried a few items from their Smooth Minerals collection, I had paired it with Avon’s tribal teal collection (eyeliner and eye shadow quad). When I finished up and was ready to attend a wedding as a photographer – sans husband – my hubby couldn’t stop complimenting me. Honestly, I was a little insulted! Ha! I told him not to get used to it, but I guess there is no harm in a little beauty routine before our Sushi dates! I admit I got in the habit of throwing on jeans, a tee and a quick touch of lipstick.

The great thing is, even if your make-up routine is that simple – just lipstick and run – you can still take advantage of their creamy, lightweight mineral lipstick. It goes on smooth as the anti-oxidant and vitamin-enriched lipstick keeps lips soft and moisturized. Better yet, the lipstick is free of talc, dyes, fragrance and preservatives. There are FOURTEEN colors to choose from right now, with delicious names like Chocolate Kiss and Rumberry. Pink Quartz and Crystal Coral look especially “in” right now. (Bright colors are the latest craze, say my magazines.)

I was given three lipsticks as a gift though – and I loved the colors. Malted Mineral is almost a nude lipstick. It keeps my lips fresh, yet muted, allowing dramatic eyes to shine through when I am out. Pinkberry is youthful, great for just carrying in my purse and putting on to “freshen” my appearance – whether at a play date, pediatrician visit or just picking up a Starbucks. Finally, I received Plum Craze. That is my “mature” lipstick. If I don’t go all out on the eyes, yet I still want to make a statement, the Plum Craze lets my lips get noticed. (and if you are wondering, I am wearing Pinkberry right now. LOVE IT!)

Even though I am loving the tribal teal fall colors for my eyes, there are eye shadows and liners that you might like from the Smooth Minerals line. I am usually super hesitant of pencil liners. They tend not to sharpen well and catch on my lip. Ouch! But after having success with the eyeliner with smudge brush from the fall 2009 Avon color line, I figured that the eyeliner from Smooth Minerals has to be just as good … maybe better. They said the minerals allow it to glide on … and it does. Silky smooth lines that last throughout the day into the night. It comes in 4 colors – Earth, Indigo, Iris and Onyx. The Onyx that I tried is SO BLACK. BLACK BLACK BLACK BLACK BLACK. Can we say dramatic? Whoa… it puts all other black liners to SHAME. The Indigo looks really hot, though, if you want a splash of color.

Okay – let’s talk powders. Their blush, foundation and eye shadows are all powders. They are loose, blendable and have a natural finish. I never really used a powder foundation before, but the medium beige I tried was pretty good. It seemed a little dark for my skin. I am a light olive color – usually not tanned. Pure Beige probably would have been a better fit. But the coverage was even and it removed all shine. And it was a good base to apply the blush on. And just so you know, there are 12 foundation colors to choose from. And the medium beige I tried was great and stayed put when I was photographing that HOT HOT HOT sweaty wedding.

There are eight shades of blush in the Smooth Minerals line. I love the sifter, which is deep and not too many holes. This keeps you from applying too much – and you don’t waste it either! I tried copper glow, which was a nice start. I really think their rose and blushing mauve look fresh and youthful. I haven’t tried them myself, but based on the photos I’ve seen they look like they would be a hit on almost any skin tone.

Finally – let’s get back to the eyes. They are one of my favorite things to “make-up”. So many ways to play and color your lids to create different looks. There are 10 eyeshadow colors to choose from, whether you are looking for subdued (rose quartz) to eye-popping-and-locking (enchanted lilac or pink sapphire). I was thrilled when I was peeking at the colors in my package and saw Enchanted Lilac (pop pop pop) … and also a deep russet rock. I thought the Russet Rock went perfect with the dark Onyx eyeliner. It was very mature and would be great for working mamas. The Enchanted Lilac was youthful, shedding like 10 years off me (I wish). But honestly, it made me feel energetic and I can’t wait to go out for some Sushi with my husband wearing this shade. It just says FUN FUN FUN!

Overall, I am REALLY enjoying the Avon line. I am so happy that I received the make-up as a gift to try. And in the end, I just had to share with everyone else. Why? Well – not only are the colors GORGEOUS and the make-up FLAWLESS. But it is AFFORDABLE. The lipstick? $8. Eyeliner? $6. Foundation? $11. Blush – okay … I admit it seems pricey for blush. I am so dang economical – but I do love the colors and you saved so much on the other items … the blush is $10. Honestly, not bad. Just not cheap. And when you talk about skin – you don’t want to cheap – do you? And the loose powder eye shadow is $9.

And better yet, ever since I started buzzing Avon – lots of readers have approached me telling me they sell it. If you sell it … let me know and tell me your #1 pick from your line-up! I would love to share with my readers! Or do you already have a rep you buy from? Let me know what your favorite pick from them is?

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Quick, Easy Non-Invasive Thermometer: EXERGEN Temporal Artery Thermometer

2009-10-19T07:07:00.014-04:00

If you are long-time reader of the Mom Buzz, you probably know I am a big fan of the Exergen Temporal Scanner Infrared Thermometer. This was something I registered for when I was pregnant with my second son. No one bought it for me, I guess they thought it was boring? But luckily, I ended up with two mattresses, so I bought the Exergen Temporal Scanner Infrared Thermometer myself. Best. Idea. Ever.

So when the Parent Reviewers offered me the opportunity to review the Exergen on my site, I jumped at it! Because it gives me the opportunity to talk to you about how the thermometer has worked for me over the past 2 years.

I don't know how your pediatrician takes temperatures at their office, but mine uses a temporal scanner. I loved how easy and quick it was. And if they use it, it's gotta be good! (I love and trust my pediatrician.)

Now, yes, there are other options out there for taking temperatures. And I can tell you why I don't like many of them. Pacifier Thermometers are not accurate when they just drank something cool or are breathing through their mouth. And when they are congested, they usually don't want a paci. Plus, how long would I be able to use a paci thermometer.

Don't even get me started on anal readings. I won't do it. And underarm readings are just hard to do with a wiggly kid.

The Exergen is a simple swipe on the forehead. Done in seconds. I find it super easy to use. When you swipe the Exergen across their foreheads, it scans the temperature approximately 1000 times per second! It's capturing the heat emitted from the arterial blood supply and the temperature of the forehead and accurately determines your child's temperature.

The Exergen is my best friend when my oldest spikes fevers to 104 and I just want to give a reading to the pediatrician ASAP. Plus, I can also get his temperature when he is sleeping - he never knows that I am checking up on him again. And those times when your kids feel "warm", but you aren't sure if they are feverish - well it's a lot easier to just grab the Exergen and double check than any other thermometer in the house.

And I have to tell you, my pediatrician approves of my use of theTemporal Scanner.

WHAT'S NORMAL:
Exergen gives a range of temperatures that would be considered normal for the different common areas to take a temperature.

The normal range for arterial is 97.4 - 100.1 degrees Fahrenheit. Orally, the normal range is 96.6 to 99.5. Rectal is 97. - 100.3. It also provides temperature ranges for oronasal, axillary and esophageal.

WHY I LIKE THIS TEMPORAL THERMOMETER:
1. When your child has a fever, the temporal artery is the first to indicate it through heat.

2. It is less invasive then rectal.

3. Your child doesn't need to be as cooperative, as they do with the oral. My son simply wouldn't put the pacifier thermometer in his mouth. He didn't object to the quick scan.

4. Accurate and quick!

5. Trusted by my pediatrician.

6. It comes with a 1 year manufacturer warranty.

OVERALL:
I paid around $50 for my first Exergen thermometer and it was worth it. I can use it with everyone in the family - from the littlest one to Big Daddy. Plus, I am thrilled to have an accurate way to tell my toddler and baby's temperature without being invasive.

I have a few "go-to" gift ideas for baby showers. One is the Heartbeat Bear - the other is this Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer. If you are registering for a shower or have a gift card to use, definitely consider this thermometer! It will save you time and give you accuracy when you need it the most.

The Mom Buzz received a Temporal Artery Thermometer for "review". But, the Mom Buzz has owned her own Exergen Thermometer for two years and loves it. Therefor, this is my own opinion and not influenced by the receipt of a product.

MyBestBirth.com: Never Before Seen Celebrity Interviews

2009-10-18T07:49:00.012-04:00

A few months ago, celeb mom Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein launched an exclusive celebrity webisode series where celebrity moms – starting with Cindy Crawford -- share personal birth stories through a four-part series. The network at MyBestBirth.com, features exclusive clips, online chats, and never before seen interviews from celebrities. Cindy’s birth story began the series on July 8th and her birth story webisode can be viewed at the network: Cindy Crawford's Birth Story Part 1. You can also catch the beginning of the Melissa Joan Hart Webisode online.

Here is the trailer for the Webisodes:

MyBestBirth is not just for celebrities, though. Everyone is invited to join and to share experiences and options about pregnancy, natural birth and holistic parenting.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Family Cir*Kis - Perfect for Game Night

2009-10-17T07:01:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I wonder how toy and gameboard companies keep coming up with new ideas for games. Well, there is a fun, captivating, easy-yet-challenging game out there that is approved by the Mom Buzz! It's called Cir*Kis - so easy, anyone can play - but who will win???

Cir*Kis is for 2 to 4 players, is recommended for ages 8 and up and can take banywhere between 15 and 45 minutes to play. It's a game of Circles, Stars and Puzzles. You have a plastic board that has slots all around for you to place different colored pieces. (Each player chooses a color, between yellow, red, green and purple.) You get points as you use your pieces and your opponents pieces to create either a circle or a square. The tricky part is that each piece must be placed next to the last piece played. Yet, you don't want to make it easy for your opponent to create a circle or square and get points!

You can give it a try and play Cir*Kis online!

It's easy to keep track of pieces and scores during this crazy game, since it has these little scoring tracks that you put your peg in. No scrounging for paper and pencils to keep score! And there are little compartments on each players side to put your pieces in.

My husband and I thought it was fun for a game night. We are planning on inviting some family over to play with four people rather than just two. I think this would make a great game for your weekly game night - kids or adults-only. And my husband's family plays games after dinner on Christmas and Thanksgiving - this game would fit right in.

There is no real downside to the game, other than I wish you could play with even more people. Otherwise it's creative, makes you think and gets everyone in a friendly-competitive spirit.

Cir*Kis is created by Winning Moves Games.Winning Moves also creates exciting renditions of games like Scattergories, Go to the Head of the Class and Rubik’s.

You can get a better idea of how Cir*Kis looks and is played with this video:

One Buzz reader can win Cir*Kis to play at their home for Family Game Night... or save it for a Holiday Gift!

MANDATORY, FIRST ENTRY: Visit Winning Moves online and tell me what other game looks fun for family game night or the holidays!
EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following - leave a comment for each:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per day is allowed)
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site
Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll.
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!
Play a Game of Cir*Kis online! Who won?

Contest ends 11/15/09. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner's Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Pardon My Dust

2009-10-16T16:29:00.002-04:00

The Mom Buzz is moving from a Blogger Platform to WordPress starting now and throughout the weekend. Things are a little wonky right now, but everything will look peachy keen by Monday. So if you want to read parenting tips, see the latest gadgets and enter contests - visit themombuzz.com on Monday. There is also a fabulous Holiday Gift Guide with chances to win this year's Must-Haves starting November 2nd!

Also, whether you enter a contest here on the Mom Buzz blogspot or theMomBuzz.com - all entries will be counted. No worries, peeps!

Custom Stickers from UPrinting

2009-10-16T14:38:00.002-04:00

Whether you are looking for custom stickers for business or fun, I am learning to count on the printing services of UPrinting for all of my creative needs - from Canvas Prints to Business Cards. That's why it's super that they print out your designs on stickers, as well! Because businesses can use these stickers for product labels, unique business cards, promotional stickers and more. Or creative folks, like us moms, can put or kids faces on stickers for unique party favors, create place settings, label packages from Santa and oh-so much more! There is a lot of fun to be had with sticker printing!

At UPrinting, sticker prices start at $38. There are 9 sticker sizes to choose from, including a custom size. And you can choose to print on 70lb Matte or Glossy paper. Printing is done in 4 Color.

Honestly, if I was going to make stickers I am almost 100% positive I would do package labels from Santa. But, if I was doing any Blogger Conferences, I might make sticker labels for Swag bags instead. Hmmmm... tough call! What would you use custom stickers for?

Giveaway Prize:

250 Stickers/Labels for One (1) lucky winner
Sizes: 2” x 3.5”, 2” x 4”, or 3” x 3”
Paper: 70 lb Label Matte
Specifications: Full color front, blank back; 4 Business Day printing

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Comment how will you use your stickers if you win?

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.
Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail or RSS feed. (See right sidebar)
Share this give-away on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to the contest and say: Business Card Give-Away @Uprinting @theMomBuzz #giveaway
Become a fan of UPrinting on Facebook!

Contest ends 10/24/09. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner's Wall. The prize code will be send on November 6th. Winner will receive FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the USA (Canadian residents need to pay shipping and taxes). Offer is not available to residents outside the US and Canada.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!The Mom Buzz will receive 250 Stickers from UPrinting for hosting this give-away.

Halloween Carols: Review & Give-Away

2009-10-16T07:14:00.033-04:00

A few days ago I received two Halloween CDs - A Broom with a View and Vampire Empire from the Halloween Carols. These CDs are performed and sung by Kristen Lawrence. Unlike other Halloween CDs, you won't hear The Monster Mash or Time Warp on these CDs. Nor is it a CD full of creepy sounds, monsters wailing, ghosts, booing, screams, cackles and more. This one is MUSIC.

You see, just like there are Christmas Carols for Christmas, Kristen has written and performed historically-based Halloween music for this spooky holiday. Kristen has written approximately 60 songs and is releasing them in batches of ... thirteen, of course! In fact, as my husband and I were listening to Vampire Empire and he realized we were on track 12 - he asked how many songs there were. I told him I bet they all have 13. I was right. Mwa-ha-ha!

My husband loved the music - he is going to bring it to his office to play there. The music is eerie - but not "corny" or trite. You definitely get a "Halloween" feel when you listen to the organ and melody. There are some recognizable "Halloween" sounds that accompany some of the songs - most noticeable to me was a cat that was meowing. Amazing how a cat can really add to the music!

And what songs can you expect on the CD? Here is what you can expect:

A Broom With a View
1. Mostly Ghostly - Entrance Music (2:20) - A ghost bemoans the lack of physical brains, wailing with a massive pipe organ.
2. A Broom with a View (5:16) - A witch is out on a joy ride on her broom. Organ, piano and strings set this music ablaze.
3. Souling Song - All Hallows Version (7:56) - Traditional English melody and lyrics about the practice of souling - offering prayers for people's beloved departed in exchange for soul cakes. Cathedral bells and organ ring out.
4. Souling Song - Sohmain Version (7:10) - This song describes the ancient Celtic celebration of Sahmain, where the dead visit the earth, accept food offerings and share their magic. Drums, organs, electric guitar, bass and voices dance together.
5. Dark Glass (5:42) - Written based on a dream Kristen had - windy sounds and distant voices are set against an organ and strings.
6. Cats in the Catacombs (4:19) - A xylophone-bone-clicking romp with organ, piano and a feline-esque cello.
7. Sleeping Dust ("The Death Lullaby") - Ashes to Ashes Version (5:58) - A lullaby about death, with an organ, piano, celesta and humming.
8. Flappy Bat (5:10) - A carol's vocal duet and patterns in the strings sound like the flapping wings of bats.
9. Vampire Empire (6:07) - A vampire invites a mortal to become undead, along with a majestic organ, harpsichord and heartbeat-like drums.
10. A Broom with a View - Instrumental Version (4:19)
11. Cats in the Catacombs - Instrumental Version (6:02)
12. Vampire Empire - Instrumental Version (6:02)
13. Mostly Ghostly - Exit Music (2:20)

Vampire Empire
1. Vampire Empire - radio edit (3:58)
2. Souling Song - Sahmain Version - radio edit (4:38)
3. A Broom with a View - radio edit (3:54)
4. Cats in the Catacombs - radio edit (3:50)
5. Blood Waltz - radio edit (3:59)
6. Arachnitect - radio edit (4:38)
7. Ghost of John - bare bones version (4:40)
8. Vampire Empire - instrumental version (6:06)
9. A Broom with a View - instrumental version (5:16)
10. Cats in the Catacombs - instrumental version (4:20)
11. Blood Waltz - instrumental version (5:07)
12. Dark Glass - instrumental version (5:41)
13. Mostly Ghostly - exit music (2:18)

BUZZWORTHY: Want to try before you buy? Check out some free musical treats on Kristen's website!

Here is the Blood Waltz by Kristen Lawrence, so you can have a taste!

You can buy A Broom with a View as a CD or the album as an MP3 Download. The CD is $13.95. The MP3 Album is $11.95.

Overall, I love it and look forward to playing it every October!

One buzz reader will have an opportunity to win A Broom with a View.

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit Halloween Carols and tell me something you learned from her site!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.
Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail or RSS feed. (See right sidebar)
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!
Follow Halloween Carols on Twitter and tell them the song you are most excited to hear!
Follow a Broom with a View on Twitter and tell them you saw them on the Mom Buzz!
Become a FaceBook fan of Halloween Carols and tell them you came from the Mom Buzz!
Add one of Kristen's YouTube videos to your site! She has a whole list of possibilities on her site!

Contest ends 10/25/09. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner's Wall.
* They are requesting that you encourage your readers to follow them on Twitter @HalloweenCarols & @ABroomWithAView and become fans on their facebook page. (not required)

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. This post was written as part of a program for Family Review Network and Halloween Carols, who provided the CD for review and give-away. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Win One Lil' Snap: Your Child's Fashion Statement

2009-10-15T14:33:00.027-04:00

Recently I buzzed the Snap and Go Hair Bow Sets from One Lil' Snap. You can find that review over at Cool Baby Kid! The sets are super cool because you can choose between headbands, hats, different flowers and appliques to make a unique accessory, dependent on your child's mood or outfit. The sets are priced awesome, starting at $23. You can you choose from their Headbands & Flowers set, the Flap Happy Hat & Flowers set, the Baseball Caps & Flowers set, the Baseball Cap & Appliques set and the Flap Happy Hat & Appliques set. For Cool Baby Kid I reviewed a Headbands & Flowers set for my niece, which allowed me to choose two headbands and 3 flowers. It comes packaged in an adorable paper box. You can choose from a myriad of colors from either a satin or velvet headband. The set I chose would have cost around $23.

The Snap and Go Hair Bow Sets make a GREAT GIFT. But maybe you are looking for a unique gift ... just a little smaller and less money. Think "stocking stuffer". Well, then maybe an "All" Set is what you are looking for. You get to choose one accessory to put on a hat, clip or band of your choice. There are many styles to choose from to make the item uniquely your child's! I once again was shopping for my niece, so I chose the Headband and Flower Set. It will go beautifully with the set she already owns, allowing her to swap out another hairband and Gerber Daisy. This set starts at $8. The Gerber Daisies are my favorite flowers for the girl accessories, totally making a statement for any little girl. Here is a video just to show you how you can snap the accessories on and off in a ... snap!

Also, for little boys I would love the Flap Happy Hat and Applique Set. It is so cute and perfect for winter! Totally check it out!

One Buzz reader can win a t-shirt of their choice between the Snap and Go Headband and Flower Set or the Snap and Go Baseball and Appliques/Flowers Set.

MANDATORY, FIRST ENTRY: Visit One Lil Snap and tell me what you would choose if you won.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following - leave a comment for each:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per day is allowed)
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site
Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll.
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

The Kia Forte Koup: First of It's Kind - with an awesome give-away!

2009-10-15T12:59:00.001-04:00

Kia wants you to know that the new Kia Forte Koup is the first of it's kind. For example, did you know that Kia is the only coupe in its class to offer MP3/USB port standard on all trim levels? They are also the only coupe in its class to offer Bluetooth connectivity standard on all trim levels. Better yet, Kia offers you a unique combination of class-leading standard horsepower, fuel efficiency and advanced standard features. Overall, the Kia Forte Koup offers exceptional engineering, innovative design and outstanding value.

With the Kia Forte Koup, drivers will experience:

Industry-Leading Warranty Program
Spacious Interior
Plenty of Legroom
Chic Design
Exhilirating Performance

The Mom Buzz expects that all that together makes for one fun ride! Horsepower, comfort, standard wireless technology - all savvy features that you will find in the Kia Forte Koup!

With that said, Kia wants one of you to “ready for your ride in a Koup” by setting you up with a $25 iTunes gift card and a $25 Best Buy gift card for all of their Kia Forte Koup technology needs!

MANDATORY, FIRST ENTRY: Visit Kia Forte Koup and leave me a comment telling me what you like about the car.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following - leave a comment for each:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per day is allowed)
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site
Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll.
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!

Contest ends 10/23/09. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner's Wall.

This is solely some buzz you may like. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Celebrate Fall with Dunkin' Donuts' New Fall Flavors

2009-10-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

With the autumn leaves changing colors and temperatures cooling, Dunkin' Donuts, America's all-day, every day stop for coffee and baked goods, today unveiled a harvest of foods and beverages celebrating the flavors of the season. Emphasizing the beloved traditional tastes of pumpkin and apple, Dunkin' Donuts' fall lineup features both new items and returning favorites guaranteed to help people on-the-go capture the spirit of fall, including the brand's very first low-fat muffin.

Available throughout November 26 at participating Dunkin' Donuts shops throughout the country, Dunkin' Donuts' fall flavors menu items include:

New Low Fat Apple Caramel Muffin: The delicious Low Fat Apple Caramel Muffin is Dunkin' Donuts' very first low-fat muffin, with only three grams of fat. Available at the suggested retail price of $1.39, the new muffin is part of Dunkin' Donuts' DDSMART menu of better-for-you items.

Pumpkin Coffee and Latte: Pumpkin flavoring adds seasonal flair to these Dunkin' Donuts favorites that can be served hot or iced. The Pumpkin Latte includes whipped cream and a caramel drizzle and is available at the suggested retail price of $2.49 for a small 10 oz. beverage.

New Pumpkin Coffee Coolatta®: This take on the traditional Coffee Coolatta, Pumpkin Coffee Coolatta features a swirl of pumpkin flavor and is available at the suggested retail price of $1.99 for a small 16 oz. beverage.

Pumpkin Muffin: The Pumpkin Muffin, one of the most popular seasonal varieties, is topped with white icing and streusel crumbs and is available at the suggested retail price of $1.39.

Pumpkin Donut: A pumpkin-flavored, glazed cake donut, the Pumpkin Donut is a seasonal favorite, available at the suggested retail price of 89 cents.

"Fall Harvest" Donut: The "Fall Harvest" Donut is a yeast ring donut topped with orange icing and a festive pumpkin sprinkle mix, available at the suggested retail price of 89 cents.

Fall Munchkins® Donut Hole Treats: The Fall Munchkins Donut Hole treats are decorated with autumn colored non-pareils and are available at the suggested retail price of $4.49 for a 25 count box.

New Spiced Apple Twist (New England only): Served warm, the Spiced Apple Twist features apple flavored filling swirled throughout sweet dough and topped with delicious icing. Available only in New England, enjoy a combo including a Spiced Apple Twist and a Medium Hot Coffee for the suggested retail price of $2.99.

Plus, Dunkin' Donuts is celebrating Halloween by offering a limited time only "Boston Scream" donut from October 25 - October 31. The "Boston Scream" donut features a traditional Boston Kreme donut decorated with orange icing drizzle.

My husband is a huge Boston Kreme fan, so I am so getting him the Boston Scream on Halloween! The kids like Donut Holes, so I'll probably get them the Fall Munchkins. And my choice would be the Fall Harvest Donut. Are any of these Fall or Halloween Flavors tempting you? Or will you go for a more classic DD treat?

There Once Was a Princess Named ... (My Princess Academy Review and Discount)

2009-10-14T14:08:00.009-04:00

There once was a princess named Skyler. She wore tutus, danced and told her little cousins what to do. Her aunt doted on her, loving any opportunity to treat her like the princess she was - as did her parents and grandparents. But this aunt, from the Mom Buzz, knew where all the cool princess gear and training was ... at My Princess Academy.

At My Princess Academy you will find two things. First there is a virtual world where girls can learn to be a princess through princess classes, games, activities and befriending other princesses-in-training. When you purchase products through My Princess Academy you will receive an instant code to unlock new levels and games on the site. And the purpose of the site is to promote generosity, intelligence, beauty and confidence. After all, at My Princess Academy, Girls Rule!

Next is the shop, where you can purchase princess must-haves, which have all gone through safety testing. And all of their products are Phthalate free. That's important to us as parents (or aunts or grandmothers). The girls though - they just want to know about the glittery, punk, fun stuff! I love the 2009 Product Catalog I saw for those items. There were skirt and wing sets for fairies and pixies. There were empire and sequin princess dresses to help your little one rule. There were fancy pettiskirts in purples and pinks, accented in blue or purple, to twirl about in. And of course there were accessories ... wands, boas, crowns, shoes, lip gloss and tiaras... to complement any of the clothes.

We received the Fancy Pettiskirt in Pink, accented in Purple. Now, sometimes dress-up clothes can be a little ... cheesy. Not this pettiskirt, though! I loved how FULL the pettiskirt was, just like a boutique would offer. It had a gathered satin elastic wasitband to allow it to fit almost any size. I tried it on everyone I could to prove it and it fit the kids from ages 2 to 4. The boutique-style pettiskirt arrived on a hanger that was labeled with Patience. It tells you and your child that patience is the ability to wait your turn or work through a challenge. And Princesses should try to be patient with themselves and other people and things around them. What super advice! There was also a tag on the pettiskirt with an explanation of the Princess Virtue of Generosity.

Here is a video to give you an idea of how fluffy the pettiskirt is - and you get my opinion on princess dresses too!

I also LOVE the tees that they have at MyPrincessAcademy.com. They have such cute saying on them, like "I Rule!" or "This is How I Roll" with a picture of a horse drawn carriage, as well as "Check out My Sweet Ride" with a pegasus. These princess tees would look awesome paired with the pettiskirt and some tights underneath.

Overall, this is a top buzz pick for any little princess. Sizing can range from 3 to 8. Cost ranges from $6 to $32 for an individual dress-up item. You can save when you purchase a "complete look" like the "Sporty Princess".And of course, you need to check out some of the unique "room decor" they have.

HOLIDAY PICK: When I was buzzing around My Princess Academy I saw the cutest Princess Canopy. It hangs from the ceiling creating a nook for your little princess. It can accomodate 9 feet high ceilings! It costs $129 - but maybe Santa can fit it in his sleigh?

DISCOUNT

Receive 15% off your entire purchase at MyPrincessAcademy.com

– no minimum purchase required! Expires 10/31.

Promo Code: princessvip

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Wordless Wednesday: The Crew Meets Donald in Epcot

2009-10-14T07:09:00.002-04:00

My boys LOVE Donald Duck! They got to meet him at Epcot!

Participating in Wordless Wednesday? Leave your link here!

UPrinting Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print Video Review

2009-10-14T06:21:00.000-04:00

This review was done for Uprinting.com as a contest entry!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Uprinting Custom Greeting Cards

2009-10-13T14:30:00.000-04:00

Congratulations rccalyn for winning the Uprinting Custom Greeting Cards contest from the Online Printing Company Uprinting. I am sure your cards will look fabulous!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Dunkin' Donuts Helps You Get Into The "Back To School" Routine

2009-10-13T07:05:00.000-04:00

Summer is gone and y'all are trying to get into a good "morning" routine for getting your kids out of bed and onto school. While your kids are fed and on their way, parents often ignore their own needs! But my friends at Dunkin' Donuts want to let you know that you can keep yourselves running with the Dunkin' Donuts DDSMART menu with their better-for-you breakfast options.

DDSMART menu items meet at least one of the following criteria: 25% fewer calories; 25% less sugar, fat, saturated fat or sodium than comparable fare, and/or contain ingredients that are nutritionally beneficial. A highlight of the DDSMART menu is Dunkin' Donuts' Egg White Flatbread Sandwiches. Dunkin' Donuts is the first national quick service restaurant chain to introduce egg white sandwiches. The DDSMART menu includes two varieties of this innovative item: Turkey Sausage (featuring turkey sausage, spinach and reduced-fat mozzarella cheese) and Veggie (featuring peppers, onions, mushrooms and reduced-fat cheddar cheese). Both are under 300 calories, with nine grams of fat or less, and are served on wholesome toasted multigrain flatbread.

Other options include:

Dunkin' Donuts' famous coffees, lattes and espressos, which can be enjoyed for 70 calories or less when using skim milk and a sugar substitute.
Dunkin' Donuts' freshly brewed unsweetened iced tea. A small cup is only five calories, and all flavors are sugar free.
Coffee Coolatta® made with skim milk, which has zero grams of fat per serving.
Dunkin' Donuts' Multigrain Bagel, an excellent source of fiber, with eight grams of total fat per serving. Customers can top it off with Dunkin' Donuts' reduced fat flavored cream cheeses.

Check out the menu at DunkinDonuts.com!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party - Fun for the Whole Family

2009-10-12T16:13:00.006-04:00

This past Friday the family attended Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. My former boss, now friend, has gone for years and LOVES IT. And as a passholder, I often would get to see the park getting ready for the party and it looked just... awesome.

This year my boys were old enough to really understand what was going on when they saw the decor at the front of the park when we bought our annual passes and went just on a "normal" day. There were giant pumpkins that greeted you pretty much the minute you entered the park. Plus, when we bought the boys some drinks, they were served in a fun, keepsake cup that had some Disney characters in a haunted mansion. The boys LOVED IT. My husband was all for going ... but I hesitated. When we got home we showed my oldest son the website, which also allowed me to learn more - and we were hooked. My oldest (3 years old) kept exclaiming about a spooky Mickey and Goofy and even my one year old was chanting Halloween.

One thing that everyone keeps asking me is, "What is the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party?" I mean, knowing it is Disney-themed you can make three assumptions. One - it is funtabulous. Two, you need to plan accordingly and have some cash on hand. Three - its all totally worth it.

At Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party you will experience:

Trick-or-Treating
Character greetings - many in "costumes"
Character Dance Parties
A Firework Show that is done just for this event (Halloween Hallowishes)
Villain Mix & Mingle Production
And a Spooktacular Parade! (Mickey's Boo-to-You)

We did everything except the Villain Mix & Mingle. Trust me, that was a big bummer for me! I really wanted to see it. But from the minute we entered the park, the whole family was in awe and in motion. Disney had replaced some of the traditional statues and decorations with scarecrows and Halloween statues. Ghosts and other Halloween images were reflected onto the stores to make it look like they were flying. My little one LOVED that. And you kept hearing the ghosts from the Haunted Mansion talking around the park. Or at least, I did! It completely added to the spooky atmosphere.

Since we had to leave the house early to get there in time, we decided to eat at the park. That was a mistake, because pretty much they give you bags to collect candy when you first enter the park. And within minutes we did our first Character Greeting with Baloo the Bear from Jungle Book. When we were leaving, we passed a Trick-or-Treat location. The kids got candy. Then we tried to get them to eat a kids meal. Uhm, no-go. They only wanted Smarties and Lollipops from that point on. So that takes us to:

BOO-TIP #1

Feed your kids a nutritious meal BEFORE you go. They will probably not eat ANYTHING except candy at the park. It is EVERYWHERE. There are specific locations that you will find on your map, as well as candy spots that are after character greetings AND they give out candy during both parades.

If you have little ones, they will probably get tired. You will need a stroller. Since we came from the beach house, we didn't have a stroller. Renting a single stroller is $14 and change. Renting a double is $30 and change. We rented the double. So here is...

BOO-TIP #2

Bring a stroller if you own one. We have carried our kids through Epcot before and it is tiring, especially since at the Halloween Party you probably will also have a camera and bags of candy. Otherwise expect to rent one. The perk in renting one is that if it gets "misplaced", you just take your ticket back to the stroller spot and get another one! And yes, BIG kids get tired too. I saw plenty of 7 - 8 year olds in the Disney strollers. And parents were also using them to carry bags. So just plan accordingly!

Speaking of planning ahead ... let's talk parking. Since this is a special event even pass holders need to pay for parking. I *think* if you are spending the day at the park and got there when it opens you can get out of this ... but if you arrive when the event starts there will be a $14 parking charge for everyone.

BOO-TIP #3

Bring money for parking! Parking is currently $14.

Let's get back to the fun stuff, though. Even though the event runs until midnight, many guest will start leaving around 10:30pm. Face it, many of us brought little ones! They get tired, cranky and fall asleep. Although, my kids rocked and stayed awake the WHOLE TIME. And they were in good spirits, no pun intended. But what does this mean for you? If you want to avoid long lines and crowds, you need to hit the character greeting and parade later.

The parade is AWESOME. You see much-loved Disney Characters dressed in "costumes" or their Halloween Best. The Villains come out to play. The Headless Horseman RIDES through the street. I wish I caught a picture of that. It was AWESOME! And my favorite part, after the headless horseman, was when the ghosts, ghouls and zombies came out from the Haunted Mansion. They did a "shocking" show through the streets, scraping their shovels to the beat and causing "sparks". And then some of the ballroom ghouls danced and twirled, never even noticing the crowd of spectators watching.

BOO-TIP #4

There are two "Boo-to-You" Halloween Parades, 8:15 and 10:30. The 10:30 one is less crowded. The perfect spot to watch the parade is where it starts in Frontierland. Otherwise, expect a lag as it makes its way to you. No matter which parade time you choose, try to get a spot a little early that way you can see EVER STEP.

There are loads of characters that you can get your picture taken with. We found Mickey in Toon Town. At 10pm the line was about a 20 minute wait. Minnie seemed a little busier - she was also in Toon Town.

We saw characters from Jungle Book, Tarzan and Lion King in Frontier Land. We also saw Captain Hook right outside of Pirates of the Caribbean. The kids LOVED Captain Hook, nearly capsizing him with their giant hugs. I am pretty sure he wasn't expecting that from a 3 year old and 1 year old! We also saw Snow White with the Seven Dwarves and Pooh and Friends doing photos outside The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. We did skip those character photos, since at that time we were trekking across the park to find Mickey. And if anyone knows where Donald does his character photo for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Party, I would love to know. My kids were dying to see him, and we just couldn't find him. But this takes us to:

BOO-TIP #5

Don't waste time in long lines to meet characters. All characters will be out until 11:30pm. The later you stay at the park, the shorter the lines are.

As a parent, I can easily see taking part in this even yearly or bi-yearly. We are already making plans to go again next year. And I've talked to quite a few of my friends about the party, already. Of course, they had some questions. Here are the most common questions and my answers:

Is the cost worth it?

A ticket for ages 10 and up is between $52 - 59. It is $46 - 53 for ages 3 to 9. It is free for under 3. The amount you pay depends on the day you attend and any discounts. Now, a one day ticket to Disney (to compare) is between $68 and $79 dollars. A "day" ticket is good for between 9 am and 7 pm. The Halloween Party ticket is good from 7 pm to 12 am. The one thing I noticed is how less crowded it was on October 9th when I went, as opposed to when I went to the parks during the day on October 7th (for Epcot) and October 1st (Hollywood Studios). It was almost like having the park to myself. The longest wait was 20 minutes. Many rides and character greetings were a 10 minute wait or less. We even got to go on Snow White's Scary Adventure, something that we usually can't do because of the insane crowd. During the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party we simply walked on and relived memories. So even though the time spent in the park is shorter, you can do more. Plus the Parade makes it SO WORTH IT. Most rides are open, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Flight, Dumbo, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Tomorrowland Speedway, The Barnstormer... and there is plenty more that is open, those are just my top choices.

BOO-TIP #7

And if you want to go on a coaster but have little kids, you and your spouse/partner can take turns riding. Just ask a Disney Cast Member for help!

Is it appropriate for my child?

I saw every age, from newborns to older adults without kids. As a parent with little ones, I would love to say that no one else should go. Mwa-ha-ha! More candy for us! Kidding, though. I can easily see my boys enjoying this as "children", tweens and teens.

There were some adults, maybe in their 30s, going with friends and dressed a little inappropriate. I wondered what their attraction to the event would be? But for the most part I saw lots of little princesses, families dressed as "Incredibles" or as the characters from Peter Pan. There was even some adult men there dressed as Darth Vader and some Storm Troopers. Again, I am curious about the attraction for the adult men - and they got stopped for A LOT of photos that they didn't look like they enjoyed. But their costumes were authentic ... what else could the expect???

My favorite family costumes that I saw were a mom dressed as Alice in Wonderland, her 16 month old dressed as the White Rabbit and her parents dressed as the King and Queen of Hearts.

BOO-TIP #7

It's Florida, people. The weather is finicky in October. The weather can be cool and dry or hot and humid ... even at night. Check the forecast and dress appropriately. I saw so many people sweating in their costumes and looking uncomfortable. My husband and I wore shorts and tees. Albeit, I wore an Andy Monsters tee. And my boys wore thin, black outfit with a glow in the dark skeleton. If the weather was cooler, we would have done full costumes ... but we wanted this to be enjoyable. So check that weather forecast! If you don't go on Halloween, feel free to wear any attire!

Is it crowded?

My guess is that it depends on when you go. I wrote above that the longest wait was 20 minutes, with most wait times being 10 minutes or less. I imagine that the later you go the more crowded it is. I think you can also guage the popularity of the night by the ticket price. The higher the ticket price, the more crowded it will be. I suggest choosing a night that is less popular so you can enjoy the atmosphere, parades, trick-or-treating and rides.

BOO-TIP #8

Buy your tickets in advance - they do sell out. As I write this, I am checking the site and I see that October 31st is sold out.

My family was already a huge Disney fan - hence the annual passes. But I know the boys will be thrilled to go again next year. My husband is already dreaming of their Rice Krispy Treats (they are yummy) and I can't wait to ride the Haunted Mansion! So if you are wavering on whether Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is right for your kids... just ask them! Or just go for yourselves!

Any questions about Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or any other Disney Park - just ask! We have annual passes and go often. Just leave your question as a comment here or e-mail me at erintales@themombuzz.com. And check out the official Not-So-Scary Disney site for dates, times and pricing.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Where Was the Mom Buzz? A Buzzy Week!

2009-10-12T13:37:00.000-04:00

I have to say the Mom Buzz has had a buzzy week. Yes, things keep going live at the Mom Buzz. Thank goodness for planning! But, while posts were going up here ... this is what I was doing:

1. Attending IZEAFest to learn how to improve the Mom Buzz for social networking

2. Spent a week at my parents beach house. It's one of my favorite places...

3. Went to St. Augustine, enjoyed an Alligator Farm (more like a zoo... they don't kill gators) and LuLi's Cupcake Bakery.

4. Had some Disney Mania, as I went to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT and Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! (BTW, there is still time to go! It is da' bomb!)

I plan to write some detailed posts and share some photos ... I just wanted to let you know what was coming up once I can get organized!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

UPRINTING BUSINESS CARD WINNER

2009-10-12T10:27:00.000-04:00

Congratulations rccalyn for winning the Uprinting Business Cards contest from the Online Printing Company Uprinting. I am sure your business cards will look fabulous!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Mad Monster Party Halloween E-Card

2009-10-12T07:48:00.000-04:00

Lionsgate Home Entertainment is counting down the days to Halloween with special Halloween E-Cards released once a week through the month of October from the beloved animated Halloween classic Mad Monster Party.You can even tweet it!

The stop-motion movie Mad Monster Party comes from the team who created “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman” and other classic holiday specials and was a major inspiration for Tim Burton in his creation of "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Helping Your Kids Cope With Moving: Tips from RealEstate.com

2009-10-11T07:40:00.001-04:00

Moving is a tough transition for anyone, but kids can sometimes find it especially difficult to cope with the change. For many, a big move means leaving their favorite friends, places and activities behind. But according to the experts at RealEstate.com, there are some tried-and-true methods that will help minimize the impact of a move and make it a rewarding experience for everyone. I thought these quick tips might be of interest to you to post!

Follow Established Home Routines: For all children, but especially pre-schoolers and kids in primary school, follow established home routines faithfully for the first few months after you move. This means having dinner at the same time, serving familiar foods, watching favorite TV shows, going to bed at the same time and observing the same bedtime rituals on a day-to-day basis.

Let Your Child Decorate: Let your child pick the paint color; the fabric for curtains and bedspread and choose posters for the walls. Younger children typically resist change of any kind. If this is the case with your child, it may help to replicate the décor and furniture arrangement of his or her old room as closely as possible.

Help Your Child Keep Up With Old Friends: Encourage your child to write and exchange photos; arrange phone calls, visits and sleepovers on a regular basis. Kids who are struggling to make new friends find it very relaxing and comforting to be with old buddies they don’t have to impress.

Reinforce Their Confidence: For school-age children, reinforce your child’s confidence by enabling him or her to participate in extra-curricular activities. Whether it’s soccer or music lessons, continuing a favorite activity or starting a new one gives you your child feelings of competence and self-esteem that don’t depend on how well he or she is fitting into the social order at the new school.

For more moving tips visit realestate.com!

Breast Cancer Fundraiser and Giveaway

2009-10-10T17:11:00.000-04:00

Personal Fit Coach has joined forces with Yeahtips.com to help raise money for breast cancer research. This October, marks the 25th anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness month. Our goal is to raise money through social networking and blogging.
Yeahtips.com is going to donate $1 to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® for each new Yeahtips Twitter follower and Facebook fan. The goal is to reach $100. But why stop there? Personal Fit Coach will match this with another donation of $100. If you have a blog and want to join us, please do so. Wouldn't it be amazing if 10 or 20 or even more blogs raised $100 each. Lets get the ball rolling and see where this goes.

Win Great Prizes
In addition to raising money, we'll recognize our great new followers and fans with some terrific prizes.

First Prize
DVD Fitness Bundle provided by Yeahtips.com

Sharon Mann Body Sculpting Video DVD
The Ultimate Bikini Body Workout DVD
FITNESS WITH THE PROS DVD
Quick and Dirty Guide to Salsa

Detailed descriptions for these DVDs here at Yeahtips.com

Second Prize
Pure and Simple Yoga DVD provided by PersonalFitCoach.com
Detailed description of this DVD here at PersonalFitCoach.com

Compact Givaaway
In addition, 12 lovely compact mirrors will be given away at random. This is a continuation of the Yeahtips.com Health is Beautiful campaign. More information here.

Keep Informed About Breast Cancer Awareness

First and foremost, we want to help keep everyone educated about Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Awareness month. Stop by NBCAM.org to keep yourself up to date on the latest breast cancer news and research.

Head on over to PersonalFitCoach.com for entry details.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Gorgeous Fall Colors from Avon

2009-10-09T15:33:00.001-04:00

Fall is in the air. Leaves are changing colors, it's getting darker earlier and their is a chill in the air. With all of these changes, shouldn't we be able to change the make-up we wear, as well? So it's awesome that Avon came out with some new, brilliant colors with their fall 2009 line. Here is are some of my favorite items:

I love the Textured Teal eyeshadow quad. The box gives you instructions on how to apply the eyeshadow to create a perfect, smoky eye. When I did my eyes following their instructions, my husband was duly impressed! And face it, we do want our husband's to be attracted to us! In short, you use the paler shade as a highlighter, blend dark gray into the crease for smokiness and smudge the deep teal shade in for a dramatic effect.It's a bright pop of color with smoky allure. I personally will keep using quads from Avon, since they make it so easy to create a gorgeous, professional look.

In the new Tribal Teals line you will also find professional eyeliner with smudger. These eyeliners help finish the dramatic look you are going for. They glide on easily, no sticking and stabbing your lid! And the smudger helps any busy mom create a professional look. I've tried the bronze and charcoal colors - and I think the bronze is super sexy! They are both a great alternative to typical black and brown options.

SuperCurlacious Mascara is also big ... for your lashes. I got to try out the black and navy ... but I love the navy. Both gave my eye lashes a big, bold curl - but I love the hint of color I got with navy. Neither color lumped or flaked and it got me through a hot, humid, sweaty Florida wedding that I photographed ... and at the end of the night it was still going strong. Avon's superCurlacious mascara is hypoallergenic, opthalmologist-tested and suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

SuperCurlacious mascara comes with a pink brush. The problem is that the thick, mascara solution covers the vibrant color! But it still works great! The brush has a great curve that made it easy to grab my lashes and curl them up and wide. There is more than basic black and eye-popping navy - you can also find it in Brown and Black-Brown.

What's great is that this new Fall Line looks great, wears all day and is AFFORDABLE. You don't need to break the bank to have your husband say "Wow!" The Must-have eyeshadow quad is only $7! The eyeliners are $6 and the mascara is $7.50.

If you buy and like - then you'll also want to keep a dramatic, teal eye out for this season's nail polish and plumping lipcolor. I havn't tried it yet - but expect it works as great as their other products.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. The Mom Buzz received the products as a gift and loved them so much she had to buzz! And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

SwimSuits For Sizes 8 and Up!

2009-10-09T07:03:00.001-04:00

Do you know the average swimsuit size for a woman?

Six? Nope!

Eight? Nope!

Ten? Getting Closer!

Twelve? Hotter!

Fourteen? Bingo! The average clothing size for a woman in the USA is fourteen. But most swimsuit styles that you find when you are searching in stores and online specialize in smaller sizes. But if you are an "average" size, there is an online swimsuit store for you - SwimsuitsForAll.com.

There is a HUGE selection of bathing suits for women! You can choose between tankinis, separates, one pieces and cover-ups. You can also shop by brand, collection and ... my favorite... fit solutions! With Fit Solutions you can find a bathing suit that enhances your bust, hides your hips, fits long torsos, minimize your rear and thighs, slim your tummy and support your bust. And if you are still stuck on what to buy, just enter their live chat!

My favorite bathing suit is probably the Beach Belle Midnight Garden (pictured). This bathing suit would be perfect for moms who want a little more coverage. It has a gorgeous pattern, cute contrasting colors and tummy control to give you a smooth body shape. The bathing suit is available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 8 to 16. If you don't like the floral pattern, you can also get it in black. And best yet - it's only $36!

Without a doubt, most of my readers are moms who want a bathing suit with some coverage. Definitely check out the selection at Swimsuits For All, where you will find bathing suits ranging in size from 8 to 24 with just the amount of coverage that you desire!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Trident Layers: Multilicious Gum

2009-10-08T15:38:00.000-04:00

There is a new gum from Trident! So all you bloggers who are flying to and fro to fun social networking conferences and you need to ensure your ears don't pop on the plane - Trident Layers is a Multi-Licious surprise!

Trident Layers is made with real fruit flavor for an unbelievable taste experience! It has three distinct and visible colored layers that make it as great tasting as it is fun to look at. Currently there are two flavors:

Wild Strawberry & Tangy Citrus
Green Apple & Golden Pineapple

I personally like chewing it to keep my mouth busy - that means I am less likely to pop an unhealthy snack in my mouth. I LOVE both flavors, although I think I favor the Wild Strawberry & Tangy Citrus. And I don't have to feel guilty chewing it, since there are less than 5 calories per piece and it's sugar free!

Want to try it? Well, right now you can save 75 cents on a pack of Trident Gum. Visit the Trident Layers Coupon Link, register your name and e-mail, then you'll go to a page where you can print out the 75 cents coupon for a single pack of Trident Layers. Yum and Ka-Ching!

So get out and experience the first gumwich ever and let the layers envelop you!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. The Mom Buzz has received Wild Strawberry & Tangy Citrus AND Green Apple & Golden Pineapple for review. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Retse Designs Store Give-Away: P is for Pumpkin

2009-10-08T07:03:00.020-04:00

This month, P is for Pumpkin. And judging by the children's alphabet shirts at Retse Designs Store - there is a great start to some adorable alphabet tees that give back to the community with every purchase.

It's the story behind these lettered-tees that really made me take notice. For every shirt you buy, they contribute $1 to a related charity. And every shirt is currently "designed" by her 6 year old daughter! Retse and her husband just help bring her print the designs on the charitable tees. Their alphabet shirts give $1 to the Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools to keep art in the classroom. Currently Retse Designs has 5 alphabet shirts to choose from, but her collection is growing to include the complete alphabet. Designs include:

A is for Alligator

C is for Car

E is for Elephant

M is for Monkey

P is for Pumpkin

Retse was kind enough to send a C is for Car shirt for both of my boys. I was surpprised to see the shirts were American Apparel brand! I have other tees that are American Apparel and they are well made, soft and wear well. They are 100% Fine Jersey cotton construction. The shirts that were sent were 4T and they fit my small 3 year old and large 1 year old perfectly. Okay, it was a little "long" on my "little one" - but I like that he can grow into it. The graphic was printed perfectly on the tees - and the imagery was bright, colorful and playful!

Also, we put these tees through the wringer. We wore them to Epcot, they spilled soup and food on them, lots of sweat from the heat, we washed and dried them .. and they came out great! Perfect for playtime again!

The tees are available in sizes 6 months through size 6. The infant sizes feature a neckband designed for easy on-and-off. Retse says that her t-shirts run small and she suggests ordering a full size larger than usual. So, if your child is normally a 3, order a 4. The shirts cost $15 a piece.

What's super is that Retse Designs will accommodate custom orders for parties, family reunions, party favors or fundraisers, the order must be for 30 or more. If you need a shirt created for a cause, contact Retse direct and see what her team can come up with!

One Buzz reader can win a t-shirt of their choice from in stock Retse Designs.

MANDATORY, FIRST ENTRY: Visit Retse Designs and tell me what shirt you want to win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following - leave a comment for each:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per day is allowed)
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site
Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll.
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!
What other letter shirts would you like to see?
Follow Retse on Twitter and tweet your favorite shirt design to her!
Become a Facebook Fan of RestseDesignsStore!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. The Mom Buzz received two C is for Cars tees for review. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Business Card Give-Away: A Must-Have for Moms, Business Owners and Bloggers

2009-10-07T07:05:00.002-04:00

Prior to becoming a "blogger", I wanted "cards" to hand out when I meet other moms. I thought it would be a great way to keep in touch with the moms I met at the park, playdates or library - rather than searching for a pen and scrap of paper that I would inevitably lose the next time I cleaned out the diaper bag.

As the owner of the Mom Buzz (and a mom blogger), the value in the business card is to introduce other people to my site and network with other site owners.

And for all of you who run small shops on Etsy or your own site, you MUST have a business card to help promote sales and introduce people to your products and yourself.

There are some places that promise cheap or free business cards - but be wary. Google their company name and SCAM and see how many complaints you come across. I know it has made me wary.

I have heard great things from people who have bought business cards printing from the Online Printing Company UPrinting ... and UPrinting wants one lucky Mom Buzz reader to experience the benefits themselves! You can choose from various sizes, even custom. Youc an choose from three card stocks, including matte, glossy or uncoated. You can even to choose to have full color on the front only, full color on front and black back or full color on both sides! Prices start as low as $15.03 for 250 cards.

Designing seems simple. Either choose from a template - great for non tech savvy peeps - or design your own! That's probably the route most bloggers would choose! Either way, I am excited to get my next batch of cards from UPrinting with that Mom Buzz logo! Full color both sides is my choice.

Giveaway Prize:

250 business cards for One Lucky Winner (Free UPS Ground Shipping in USA)
Sizes: 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)
Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
Specifications: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Comment how will you use your business cards?

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.
Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail or RSS feed. (See right sidebar)
Share this give-away on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to the contest and say: Business Card Give-Away @Uprinting @theMomBuzz #giveaway

Contest ends 10/19/09. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner's Wall. The prize code will be send on October 23rd.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. The Mom Buzz will be awarded Business Cards from UPrinting at the end of this promotion. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Bob Harper Wants You to Go With The Grain!

2009-10-06T18:06:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow, I will have to opportunity to meet with Bob Harper for a phone interview. I can't wait to share the details. In the meantime, here is a great press release regarding Bob's new initiative to encourage Americans to include more grain in their diets. You can even win a 90-minute training session with Bob. Details at the end of the article. Enjoy!

Nearly all Americans say they aren’t getting the recommended amount of grains in their diet, according to a recent Grain Foods Foundation survey conducted on its behalf by Harris Interactive®. Almost all U.S. adults (98%) indicate they eat at least one serving of grains per day, with an average of 3.2 servings.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating six servings of grain foods each day, with at least three coming from whole grains. However, only 4% of U.S. adults say they are eating the recommended daily servings of grains. With the amount of nutrition information out there, it’s easy for people to become overwhelmed and confused about what’s best for them.

That’s why the Grain Foods Foundation has partnered with health and motivational expert Bob Harper to launch the Daily 6, an easy and stress-free way to help people achieve a healthy, balanced approach to their diets. Getting six servings of grains each day is as easy as
having cereal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch and a cup of pasta with dinner.

“Grain foods are healthy, convenient and affordable,” said Judi Adams, MS, RD and president of the Grain Foods Foundation. “Many of us are eating grains throughout the day and not realizing it – pretzels, snack mix, bagels, rice and tortillas all count toward our Daily 6.” Half (53%) of U.S. adults indicate they love eating bread, and 45% indicate they eat bread almost every
day.

Not only do bread and grains provide many of the essential nutrients our bodies need to stay
healthy and fight disease, they also supply the energy to power regular physical activity.
“Bread and grains are important sources of energy in our diet,” says Harper. “We have to remember to achieve balance in life, and the same goes for the way we approach our health. In addition to eating right, it’s important to be physically active.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend adults couple a healthy diet with at least two hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week – or 30 minutes five days a week. If necessary, this can be broken up further as long as moderate or vigorous activity takes place for at least 10 minutes at a time.

Almost half (48%) of U.S. adults are satisfied with the amount of physical activity they get daily, but of those who are not satisfied, about four in ten indicate no motivation (42%) and not having enough time (39%) as things that prevent them from getting their desire amount of physical activity. Harper suggests easing into a new routine for longer-lasting commitment and effectiveness. “Allow your mind and body to adjust,” Harper says. “Trying to make every diet and exercise change all at once can be overwhelming and difficult to maintain.”

For tips and recipes, visit gowiththegrain.org. For daily motivation, follow GFF at twitter.com/gowiththegrain or post questions and tips for others at facebook.com/gowiththegrain.

Win a One-on-One with Bob Harper
Between September 12 and October 27, 2009, consumers can enter for the chance to win a trip to Los Angeles for a 90-minute one-on-one training session with Harper. Log on to gowiththegrain.org for information.

Until next week, have a safe, happy and healthy week ahead.
- Coach Jenn of PersonalFitCoach.com

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

You Can Make a "Not-So-Scary" Halloween! $50 Halloween Bundle Give-Away

2009-10-06T14:47:00.011-04:00

I love when I have time to be crafty! In fact, a lot of moms try to make things on their during the Howl-iday to give it their own personal touch, for economical reason or just cuz it's FUN! So, where do you go for some creative ideas and patterns this Halloween? How about visiting YouCanMakeThis for sewing patterns, ebooks and creative instructions?

Want to make a witch or fairy? Well, complete this costume with a black/purple or pink/gold fancy filled tutu!

Want a cute outfit for your little girl when you pick out pumpkins and gourds this year? You will love the Pumpkin Polly Applique Patterns on a white tee! And the Too Cute to Spook, Little Miss Spider and Hocus Pocus Patterns are great for preschoolers! You can make these tees for your little ones and all your nieces and nephews!

Want to add some creative, unique decor for your home? The Pumpkin Patch Pillow is "to-die-for". Mwa-ha-ha! But my favorite item from their Halloween Bundle is the Halloween Table Runner! Not too spooky and it will totally put everyone into the spirit of the Holiday!

And many of these projects involve applique - which is super easy. But to get you in the comfort zone you can always read How to Applique the Easy Way!

So what about you? What Halloween or Holiday ideas do you see at You Can Make This to add a little magic to these next few months?

One Buzz reader can win a $50 Halloween E-Bundle, including:

Fancy Filled Tutu with Bonus 40 Tutu "Recipes"
Pumpkin Polly Patterns
Paper Piecing Project: Pumpkin Patch Pillow

Frayed Applique: Too Cute to Spook!
Little Miss Spider Applique Patterns
How to Applique the Easy Way
Hocus Pocus Patterns
Just a Little Something for a Happy Halloween Table Runner

MANDATORY, FIRST ENTRY: Visit You Can Make This and tell me what you would make for Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas using their patterns?

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following - leave a comment for each:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per day is allowed)
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site
Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll.
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. The Mom Buzz will receive the Filled Tutu to try from You Can Make This. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

The Mom Buff: The Butt Book

2009-10-06T14:22:00.005-04:00

One reason I started my mission to compete in a Figure Contest was simply because I wanted to improve my "glutes". Okay, let's be honest - I want slimmer thighs and a better butt. I work at it at the gym with exercises my "personal trainer" suggests. Not everyone has a personal trainer ... but everyone has access to a cute, simple book by David Kirsch that is all about improving your ass...ets.

Honestly, David Kirsch is known as the Master of the Ass and he's been sculpting butts for 20s years. He's worked with Heidi Klum, Liv Tyler, Naomi Capbell ... and loads of other gorgeous women. He claims he can make a butt higher, rounder, tighter, smaller, larger ... perfect ... with some simple exercises in his Butt Book. I had my personal trainer review the book first to ensure it was safe and accurate - and he said yes!

The book is absolutely easy to follow, thanks to illustrations by Steve Wacksman. It's cute and easy to follow, with a mixture of exercises. Some are well-known like squats and lunges. Others might be a little new to you ... but still fun ... like the platypus walk and crab crawls. Plus, there are also some simple stretches, cardio tips, nutrition tips and a meal plan.

This book is around 80 pages long, published by Blurb.com and costs only $12.95. It is small and "soft-covered" - so it would be a wonderful stocking stuffer for the holidays. But you don't need to wait that long - you can always order it yourself now ... no more ifs, ands ... or butts!

BUZZWORTHY: David is famous for getting Heidi Klum from baby weight to runway-ready in 3 weeks for the Victoria’s Secret fashion show in 2005, just eight weeks after birthing her child. (The show was recorded November 9 and Kirsch arrived in LA to train Klum on October 13.)

One buzz reader will have an opportunity to win one Butt Book!

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Check out David Kirsch's site! What interests you most about the book?

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.
Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail or RSS feed. (See right sidebar)

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. The Mom Buzz received the Butt Book to review. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Win The Girls Apparel: For Buff Bunnies and Busy Moms

2009-10-06T07:30:00.005-04:00

I was recently introduced to apparel from The Girls and I absolutely adore it. I just had to buzz about it ASAP! Pretty much, I can say that all moms are active moms. Whether you are dashing to pediatrician appointments, picking kids up from school or going to a playdate - you are BUSY. On top of that, some you keep on pumping by going to the gym, doing yoga, pilates, P90x, running ... you get the picture. Whether you are a busy mom or a busy buff mom - The Girls have something awesome for you.

The Girls specializes in apparel that compliments your body. As I have said before, if you want to feel good about yourself you need clothes that fit your body. And their bottoms and tops do just that! When you shop at The Girls you will find so many styles, colors and lengths - and some with tummy control to streamline your body as you are on the move!

For bottoms, you will find capris, boot cut, shorts, straight leg, tummy control and yoga styles. Tops come in tanks, short sleeve, long sleeve, zippered, tummy control and sleeveless.

I had the opportunity to try Faith's Foldover Yoga Pants in Heather Gray. I chose them because I liked the length and style. I thought it would be great for the gym when doing squats, as well as at home when doing my P90x Yoga Workout. It would also be good for the upcoming fall and winter weather, when workout shorts might just leave me chilly.

I was thrilled when they arrived. When you pull it on the part that you need to fold over is high on your torso. It made me laugh, reminding me of the bands on pregnancy pants. But once I folded it over it was beyond flattering and complemented my waist perfectly. The pants have a slight flare on the bottom - not quite boot cut, but not straight leg either. The stretch fabric is soft and just thick enough - it says QUALITY. And since it conforms to my figure, it makes everything nice and sleek.

I have worn it for around the house, running errands and at the gym. I love pairing it with tees or a sports bra/tank combo. Always stylish and always offering the support I need in active wear!

The foldover yoga pants come in a great selection of colors. I chose the Heather Gray to get away from my usual black. But other than heather gray and black, you can get these pants in charcoal, navy blue, chocolate brown and white.

I think every active mom could use some of the wonderful styles from The Girls! But, you have to see it for yourself! (Okay, do check out the cute Lace Bottom Capris first - they are adorable!)

BUZZWORTHY: Save an extra 15% throughout October 15th when you type in FALL at check out. And free shipping with orders over $75!

One buzz reader will have an opportunity to win an item from The Girls. To enter, visit either The Girls Apparel and tell me your favorite product.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.
Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail or RSS feed. (See right sidebar)
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!
Purchase an item from RockerByeBaby! Get 10 entries for every item bought. Let me know what you bought and be sure to tell The Girls that themombuzz referred you!

Contest ends 10/31/09. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner's Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. Thank you The Girls for sending a product to review. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

IZEAFEST: Telling Dad, the Mom Buzz and Life in a House of Blue

2009-10-05T19:22:00.000-04:00

I am still trying to get "everything" together after attending IZEAFEST 2009. One thing I do have - a cold. UGH! But I did get the opportunity to meet a few awesome bloggers in person. Here is one of my favorite photos from the trip. From back to front:

Greg - Telling Dad
Erin - Me at the Mom Buzz
Susan - Life in a House of Blue

Just so you know - I am 5'6". Teehee.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Discount Holiday Greeting Cards from Tiny Prints

2009-10-05T19:13:00.000-04:00

Last year I ordered some labels for envelopes and packages from Tiny Prints. The labels were for those massive amounts of holiday cards I sent out - as well as "gifts from Santa" to the kids. I LOVED them!

Well, I was just over on their site and saw they had cards as low as .69 cents and LOADS of new designs! They have SERIOUS cards printed on QUALITY paper (coated, 100 lb)! They have great designs - from holiday to winter and hannakuh to reindeers. And there are various paper sizes too!

My favorite design is the Smiling Santa. But they have over 200 to choose from, so check out the selection for yourself!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Book Buzz: Where's My Mummy - Give-away!

2009-10-05T07:23:00.002-04:00

A year ago I went to Borders to buy a new copy of Coco Counts. The original copy we owned went swimming in the bathtub with my son. Water + Board Book = Swollen, Soggy Mess. While there, Keegan asked for Monster Mess by Margery Cuyler. He LOVES this book. But unfortunately they didn't have it, so I handed him Where's My Mummy by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by John Manders. He was IMMEDIATELY enthralled by the skeleton - just one of a few creepy creatures that you will find in the book. So of course I bought it!

Where's My Mommy? is a combination bedtime story/halloween story/good ol' monster story. It is about a Little Baby Mummy that just doesn't want to go to bed, so he pleads to Mamma Mummy to play one last game of hide and shriek. He runs and hides behind some gravestones and waits..and waits...and waits. Finally he TROMPS, TROMPS, TROMPS into the deep, dark night to find Mama Mummy. Instead he finds characters such as Bones the skeleton, Glob and Drac - all who tell Baby Mummy to GO TO BED. Finally, Baby Mummy gets a fright, Mamma Mummy finds him, they go through their bedtime routine and she tucks Little Baby Mummy up tight.

I love the repetition as he tromps, tromps, tromps through each page. There are plenty of opportunities to make eerie sounds with your toddler as there are clinks, flaps, glugs and rustling going on throughout the pages. And the adjectives are vivid, as baby Mummy leads you through spookery woords, shivery caves and slithery swamps.

My sons LOVE this book. They point out the mummies, frogs, mice, bubbles, bats, globs and all sorts of other creatures in this wickedly illustrated, frightfully fun book. They also answer questions about what they see on the pages and what will happen next. It's just a great book.

I have the larger, hardcover copy which costs $15.99. But there is also a smaller version, also hardcover, that is easier for toddlers to handle. This smaller book costs $7.99.

AUTHOR: Carolyn Crimi
PAGES: 32
PUBLISHER: Candlewick Press, 2008
RECOMMENDED AGE: 4 to 8 - But I've been reading it to my boys since my oldest was 2.5 years and my little one was not even a year.

One buzz reader will have an opportunity to win the smaller version of Where's My Mummy.

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit Carolyn Crimi's Web Site and tell me something you learned from her site! About her, about the books - anything.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.
Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail or RSS feed. (See right sidebar)
What other book by Carolyn are you most interested in?

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Mic O Mic: Colorful Model Car Kits for Preschoolers

2009-10-04T07:01:00.019-04:00

When I first received the Mic-O-Mic Model Car Kit, I immediately loved how colorful it was! You see, in a way it is a 3-D puzzle for preschoolers and the bright colors make it easy to assemble the pieces into a working car ... or airplane... or dump truck ... or ... you get the picture. There are SO MANY mic-o-mic sets to choose from!

My sons received the mic-o-mic sports car to build. It is meant for ages 5 and up and there are small pieces. As it was, my littlest helper did misplace a small peg that holds some parts of the puzzle together - but you can't tell when looking at our finished product. And my three year old LOVED this kit. I would show him the car on the back and we would find the pieces we needed and snap them together. Sometimes the pieces snap directly to each other. Trickier pieces, like the door, use a small black rubber "hinge" and pegs to keep it in place... and allow movement! Plus, these black rubber pieces and pegs are also used as detailing on the car.

The finished product really works! The wheels move and it is pretty sturdy, so you don't have to put it high on a shelf when you are done. After all, it is meant for preschoolers and young boys! Let them play with it!

The hardest part of the assembly was the wheels. It took me a while to push them in place. But the rest was easy for us! And I am pretty sure those wheels are going to stay on that car no matter how much you roll it around.

Mic-o-mic kits like this model car are available from Gifted Imaginations. Gifted Imaginations specializes in toys that encourage imaginative play! Forget about all those bells and whistles ... my three year old was IN LOVE with building this car. And it gave him ownership of it. Plus, when his daddy came home he was so excited to show it off - no prompting from me!

Some other Mic-O-Mic kits that you can find at Gifted Imaginations include:
Tow Truck (Small or Large)
Small Car
Plane
Dump Truck (Small and Large)
Chopper
Motor Scooter with Side Car
Bi-Plane
Locomotive/ Train

If you are looking for a toy for a little boy - this is a puzzle and model car in one! You can purchase one for between $9.99 and $29.99 at Gifted Imaginations! And be sure to read my other reviews from great items you can find at Gifted Imaginations:

Back Pack
Bilibo

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. Thank you Gifted Imaginations for the cool sports car. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Toys R Us Celebrates Bricktober

2009-10-03T16:25:00.004-04:00

Toys“R”Us has partnered with LEGO Systems, Inc. to create “Bricktober,” a month-long event at Toys“R”Us stores nationwide and online at Toysrus.com saluting the bricks that countless kids have used to build skyscrapers, planes, trains and more. The fun begins as October transforms into “Bricktober,” when consumers will find a celebration of all LEGO things, highlighted by weekly deals on LEGO products, in-store boutiques, special events and exclusive, collectible LEGO bricks, while supplies last.

Among the most iconic toy brands in the world, generations of children have fallen in love with LEGO bricks. Since its creation in 1932, the LEGO brand has become synonymous with quality and value, offering open-ended play that allows kids of all ages to build whatever they can imagine. Today, with LEGO products ranging from $4.99 to $499.99 at Toys“R”Us stores, parents can find items to fit their budget while putting big smiles on the faces of budding builders.

Broadest Assortment of LEGO Products, Plus Incredible Values All Month Long

Every week during the month of October, Toys“R”Us stores and Toysrus.com will offer stellar savings on ALL LEGO products. The amazing deals begin with up to 30 percent OFF SELECT LEGO products and with additional specials on more than 230 LEGO construction sets available at Toys“R”Us from Sunday, October 4 through Saturday, October 10, while supplies last. In subsequent weeks, Toys“R”Us stores nationwide will provide additional values, including special offers, gifts with purchase and other deals to LEGO lovers of all ages, while supplies last.

In addition to its permanent home in the construction aisle, through “Bricktober” LEGO products will receive a place of honor in dedicated boutiques in every Toys“R”Us store. Filled with visuals that replicate the image a giant LEGO brick, the boutiques will feature the largest assortment of LEGO construction sets available.

Beginning October 4, LEGO products will be prominently featured each week on either the front or back cover of TRU's newspaper circulars.

Collecting LEGO Bricks Throughout October

Offering LEGO fans the ultimate constructible keepsake, Toys“R”Us and LEGO will also present customers with one FREE, collectible LEGO brick each week during “Bricktober,” with the purchase of any LEGO product, while supplies last. At the end of the month, LEGO fans who receive all four collectible LEGO bricks can combine them to create a spooky “Bricktober” skeleton direct from the LEGO CASTLE collection.

Special “Bricktober” Event Races into Toys“R”Us Stores Nationwide

To bring “Bricktober” to life for young LEGO fans, Toys“R”Us stores across the country will host special racing-themed LEGO “Bricktober” 500 events on Saturday, October 24 from 12 noon – 2 pm. During the event, kids can build and decorate their own complimentary LEGO car and receive an official LEGO “Bricktober” 500 driver’s license, while supplies last. Once the car is constructed, they can race it against other LEGO fans’ creations.

Building Upon the Broadest LEGO Assortment Available with Exclusive LEGO Products

Complementing its broad assortment of LEGO products, Toys“R”Us offers dozens of differentiated LEGO products that can’t be found anywhere else. From movie-themed construction sets and buildable cityscapes to LEGO-themed electronics and basic boxes of LEGO bricks, exclusive new LEGO merchandise found at Toys“R”Us stores include:

Star Wars Fan’s Choice Anniversary Edition Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser

Modeled after scenes from Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, this 789-piece construction set contains enough pieces to build the classic Mon Calamari Star Cruiser’s command deck, briefing room and repair hangar. No batteries required. Ages 9 to 14 years. Featured on the 2009 Toys“R”Us Hot Holiday Toy List, this set also comes with an A-wing fighter and six mini figures.

LEGO Brick Boom Box from Digital Blue

Part of a LEGO-themed line of electronic devices for kids, the LEGO Stereo Boom Box looks like a traditional LEGO brick, but is 10 times the size. Available in pink or blue, this boom box has an AM/FM radio, 1.1-inch LCD display with backlight, MP3 connection capabilities and more.

LEGO CITY Cargo Plane

Taking off from LEGO City and heading towards destination imagination, this transport plane is ready to carry cargo anywhere. Kids construct this plane that measures more than 20-inches long from more than 460 pieces to create their own airborne adventures.

LEGO Belville Horse Stable

Kids can help build Cecilia and her horse April before getting them ready to compete in an equestrian match with this 209-piece construction set. After taking April through several jumps, children can trot her over to constructible ceremony steps to award her with first prize.

Get ready to celebrate Bricktober with Toys R Us! Keep an eye on the Lego Savings online!

This news was shared by Toys R Us. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Edwards Singles - Mmmmm

2009-10-03T14:40:00.000-04:00

Have y'all tried Edward Singles yet? I received a coupon to try one the other day and I was SO DISAPPOINTED in my supermarket. They had none of the Singles Á La Modes that I've been drooling over! I so badly wanted to try that Hot Fudge Brownie OR Hot Turtle Brownie with Creamy Ice Cream - but I guess it wasn't going to happen. (They also have a hot Apple Crisp with Creamy Ice Cream, which sounds delicious - but just can't beat chocolate for me!)

But I didn't leave empty handed! I did find another great option from Edwards Singles - the Cookies and Creme Pie Slice. A box actually comes with two separately packaged pieces. So if you eat one, the other one is still boxed and safe from freezer burn. For me - 1 slice is PERFECT. For my husband, both slices are a little more "fulfilling" for his sweet tooth. I managed to get a bite before he finished the whole box ... and the cookie crust was YUMMY! And the icecream filling was oh-so creamy. No freezer burn at all, perfectly sweet and an awesome treat!

Both pies, the frozen ice cream pies and the Á La Modes are an affordable, easy way to treat yourself. And while you can eat the ice cream pies straight from the freezer (or slightly thawed) - the Á La Modes sound absolutely delicious when you warm the dessert in microwave in under one minute and top with cold, creamy ice cream.

Buzzworthy: The makers of Edwards frozen desserts are hosting the “Simple Indulgences Spa Sweepstakes” on EdwardsBaking.com through October 9, 2009. You can sign-up to receive a coupon for $1.00 off one package of Edwards® Singles Á La Modes desserts and enter for a chance to win a $500 SpaFinder.com gift cards to treat yourself to a relaxing spa experience.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Unbelievable SlimPerfect Sale & Contest!

2009-10-03T13:36:00.000-04:00

SlimPerfect Swimwear & Activewear has slashed their prices due to overstock and to make room for their 2010 line! SlimPerfect, Inc. was listed as "Best Brands" for swimwear in an article titled "Best Bathing Suit For Any Body (Yes, We Mean Yours)" for "Sizes 12 & Up" and "To Take Inches Off" in the May issue of O Magazine at Oprah.com.

SlimPerfect offers versatile pieces that can be worn for swimming or working out. SlimPerfect offers comfortable slimming features, more coverage and a sleek look to help women gain confidence at the pool or gym! Just check out the incredible SlimPerfect testimonials! You can also view many photos of "real" women wearing their SlimPerfect garments in their SlimPerfect picture gallery.

SlimPerfect.com is offering SlimDresses as low as $18.00 and Tankinis as low as $15.00 as well as other styles which are well below their cost! All SlimPerfect.com garments are manufactured in the USA and made with high end Brazilian fabric. Instead of SlimPerfect selling their overstock to apparel companies that purchase overstock, SlimPerfect would like to pass the savings on to you! Be sure to go to their site and check out these amazing deals and let your friends know, because their overstock will go quickly at these prices! Check out just a few of their closeouts below:

Pictured are two popular choices. First is the Black/Coral SlimDress - Regular Price $99.90, Closeout Price $18.00. Second is the Black/Aqua Tankini - Regular Price $69.90, Closeout Price $15.00.

Want to learn more, be sure to read the Mom Buzz SlimPerfect Review!

One Buzz reader can win a $50 E-Gift Card to SlimPerfect!

MANDATORY, FIRST ENTRY: Visit SlimPerfect and tell me what you would purchase with the E-Gift Card.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following - leave a comment for each:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per day is allowed)
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site
Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll.
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!
Sign-up for the SlimPerfect Newsletter. (Go to the very bottom of the home page)

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Avon Raises Awareness for Breast Cancer

2009-10-03T12:30:00.000-04:00

Breast Cancer Awareness month is right around the corner and in honor of BCA, Avon is launching some fabulous new beauty and fashion must-haves that offer beauty that gives back!

Through the sale of fundraising products alone, more than $89 million has been raised since 1992, and all fundraising initiatives worldwide – events, product sales, and special programs – have exceeded $585 million raised and donated in 55 countries! Avon's Breast Cancer Crusade and Speak Out Against Domestic Violence 2009 Fundraising Products are part of the Avon Foundation for Woman, a leading charity that works to improve the lives of woman worldwide.

The newest additions to the breast cancer awareness collection include the new chic Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Marimekko Tote ($10) and Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Soap ($4). My favorite item is this gorgeous tennis bracelet - only $5!

In fact, all products are $15.00 or less, with 52-80% of the purchase price returned to the cause!

Check out all of the Breast Cancer fundraising products at www.avonfoundation.org.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Where is the Mom Buzz: IZEAFest 2009

2009-10-03T12:04:00.001-04:00

The Mom Buzz is at the IZEAFest Social Networking Conference. It's been a hit and we've been very busy! Susan from Life in a House of Blue has done a GREAT post about what's been going on so far at IZEAFest... so I definitely suggest you check it out!

Here is Me (left) and Susan (right) having a BLAST at ICEBAR!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

What's Buzzworthy: Halloween

2009-10-03T07:27:00.018-04:00

What's Buzzworthy for HALLOWEEN! Of course, you can leave ANY buzzworthy link - but the more Halloween Goodies - the better!

I have some goodies already to celebrate this spooky holiday - as well as some Halloween news.

CURRENT:

Win an Adult Costume from Crazy Dog T-Shirts
Win a Halloween Blanket from RockerBye Baby
SeaWorld Spooktacular - I am Going!

Sookie Stackhouse book: A Touch of Dead

TOP HALLOWEEN BUZZ FROM AROUND THE BLOGOSPHERE & ETSY!
Little Ones Halloween Special Feature
Trick or Treat Baby Bib from FrayBabyBibsandMore

YOUR TURN!
This is the place to leave your BUZZWORTHY post of the week! I am looking for:

Yummy Snacks and Recipes - Halloween Treat Ideas
Halloween Crafts
Etsy Shops run by Bloggers or loved by Bloggers
Funny Halloween Stories, Moments, Posts, Pictures
Halloween Safety Tips
Memes
New Blogs and Blog Redesigns
AND... CONTESTS!!

I know y'all have them. So help me FIND THEM. See the form below. Put the permalink of any of those items there. If it's buzzworthy, I want to see it! It can be from your blog, a friend's blog, something you saw in passing. I do this EVERY SATURDAY. So if you have a super post during the week, remember to stop by the following Saturday and leave me that permalink!

Sookie Stackhouse: A Touch of Dead

2009-10-02T14:12:00.001-04:00

On October 6th, A Touch of Dead will be available to purchase in bookstores! My sister is anxiously awaiting her copy to read! Why? Because the five short stories in this book will reveal missing pieces and give you a more in-depth look into Sookie's world!

Yesterday I posted a review on the other novels in the Sookie Stackhouse series. They are humorous, sexy and intense. What I liked about the short stories in A Touch of Dead is that since they are just snippets of her life, they offer an overall "lighter" read.

I don't want to reveal too much, otherwise why would you read it? Oh - that's right - because we are addicted to author Charlaine Harris' storytelling. Still, I don't want to spoil the fun and mystery. But here is what I can tell you.

These are the short stories and where they fit in the Sookie Universe.

Fairy Dust: This short story would take place after Dead to the World. It talks about the fairy triplets and Sookie's part in solving the mystery with psychic ability and powers of deduction. I love Claudine in this one - she really has some "bite" to her personality!

Dracula Night: This story takes place before Dead as a Doornail. Eric is beyond excited as he prepares for the possibility that the real Dracula might come into his bar to celebrate his "birthday". What I love about this story is Eric's boy-like excitement, almost like it was Christmas morning for him!

One Word Answer: This story takes place after Dead as a Doornail. Hadley, Sookie's cousin, has died and Sookie is led into the reason why thanks to the half-demon lawyer Mr. Cataliades. What do I like about this story. Well - El... Bubba is in it. And I really do like Mr. Cataliades character too. And it was interesting to see Sookie's thoughts unfold as she listens to Mr. Cataliades as he answers her questions.

Lucky: Lucky takes place after All Together Dead. Amelia the witch is rooming with Sookie at this time. I do love Amelia! If I could be any character in the Sookie world, it would be Amelia. She is open, funny, boisterous ... there is almost no dark side to her. So that makes the story just ... funny... as she helps Sookie and Sookie's insurance agent to find out who is breaking into his office at night.

Gift Wrap: This takes place before Dead and Gone. I think this is my favorite of the five stories! There is definitely a twisted Christmas for Sookie as she receives a special "gift". Of course, the supernaturals all play a part in what she thought was going to be a lonely holiday.

If you read all the other books in the series - you will want this one to fill in the gaps! And even if you looking for some fun reading during the holidays - Halloween, maybe? - you will definitely enjoy these short stories that involve all of the usual Sookie Stackhouse characteristics - action, mystery, horror and romance.

A Touch of Dead is $23.95 in hardcover and on sale October 6th.

Want to win a Touch Of Dead?

Check out the contest page to enter the Sookie Stackhouse give-away!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. The mom received A Touch of Dead for review. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Composting with Worms: Benefits

2009-10-02T12:39:00.000-04:00

The Mom Buzz has started a new journey recently - composting with worms. When I first heard about the idea, I was immediately intrigued. You see, I feel GUILTY with everything I throw away. Yah - we recycle, but what about the food and debris that goes in the garbage and takes up room. I just felt there was a better way to dispose of it. And worms provide a natural, clean way of doing that. And the Worm Factory is how you care for your worms.

Already I learned some BIG LESSONS with the worm factory and I am going to take you on my journey over the next few weeks on how to set-up, purchase, care for and benefit from worm composting. Let's begin with the benefits of a worm compost heap!

Benefits of a Worm Compost Heap

Why do you want to compost with worms? There are TWO BIG REASONS!

Help the Environment: Composting with worms is a great way to recycle and minimize your household waste. When going green and working on helping the environment, every little bit helps.

Good for Your Garden: When composting food debris and paper with worms, you are creating a nutrient-rich fertilizer. Your garden and grass will love it. Plus, you the compost from the worm factory is less likely to "burn" or harm your plants, like store bought, non-diluted fertilizers may. Also, a liquid called "Worm Tea" is a by-product of the composting. This "tea" can be diluted as an organic fertilizer.

For Your Kids: Honestly, it's fun. I know my little boys LOVE worms and are interested in the worm factory we own to compost. And it sets a great example for them, that we have to take responsibility for our environment.

Now you know the Benefits! Stay tuned for part two - how to Set-Up a Worm Compost Heap!

Want to get started NOW composting with worms? I am currently using a Worm Factory from Cascade Worm Factory. Great support, durable product and wonderful instructions to follow!

And you can also get great tips by following wormfactory on twitter!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Inscribe It for Your Child: Great Books with a Personalized Touch

2009-10-02T07:30:00.000-04:00

My kids love reading ... and I love to encourage it. Most of the books I choose for them are "classics". Not in the sense that they've been around for a long time ... but in the sense that I think they will be read, loved and cherished for a long time. To make books even more special, often we inscribe them with a note from us. The option to professionally inscribe books your children will love is something you can't pass up on, though. No smeared ink ... and you can even add a photo!

That's why I love Inscribe-It for personalized books for all occasions. Summer reading, the start of a new school year, birthdays, Christmas ... or just for the love of reading and your child. You see, I had the opportunity to test out Inscribe-It. It was super simple. Well... actually choosing a book was a little hard. But my littlest one recently has been on a huge Thomas the Train kick, so I settled on Thomas and the Big, Big Bridge. It is a Big Little Golden Book - hard cover. For the inscription I was able to upload a photo, enter a dedication, and even change the text style, color and alignment. If you are stuck on a dedication, they give you some ideas. Super simple! And of course you can proof before you buy!

Currently they have some great ideas for HALLOWEEN BOOKS! One of my favorite books with an option to inscribe is The Monster at the End of this Book. It is a Sesame Street Book starring Grover. He knows there is a monster at the end of the book so he does everything he can to keep you from turning the page. But... at the end ... it's just him! He's the monster! Not so scary, eh? But it is a super fun read!

You will also want to check out their Holiday Book Collection, so you can ensure it comes before Christmas. But no worries, they ship these books FAST! And shipping is FREE!

Inscribe-It is not just for kids books. You will find all sorts of books you can personalize for all members or your family, and friends too! There are even books for new baby or thank you books that you can peruse. Every book from Inscribe-It is memorable, collectible and will be something your loved ones hang on to forever!

Prices range from $14.95+. And remember, shipping is free. Overall, the quality is outstanding, the service is quick and the final product is priceless.

Buzz Tip: Follow Inscribe It on Twitter to stay up-to-date on contests, news and deals.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. Thank you Inscribe It for providing a product for review. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Earth Footwear Review and Giveaway

2009-10-01T14:51:00.001-04:00

Personal Fit Coach is pleased to announce a wonderful giveaway for our readers. Win a pair of Earth Footwear Ambition walking shoes.

Ambition Product Description:
Rise to the next level in this supportive walking shoe that gives you an extra push. The whole-body benefits of walking on an inclined treadmill packed into an ultra-comfortable style. Leather and mesh uppers deliver the right blend of breathability and durability. Available for both men and women.

Earth Footwear shoes primary benefits relate to fitness. Earth’s wellness benefits are the result of a proprietary design known as Kalso® Negative Heel Technology®. Found in all Earth footwear, the slight incline from heel-to-toe sets the wearer’s toes at a 3.7° angle relative to their heels. This technology actively engages and recruits muscles throughout the body, and has an overall strengthening and toning effect. As illustrated through clinical research, Earth wearers can increase lean body mass, increase overall body efficiency, and effectively burn more calories with every step.

Shoes that create an incline within the shoe seem to be all the rage right now. I’ve tried on a few brands at various retail outlets. For me, the most comfortable shoes are by far my new Earth Footwear walking shoes. I received the Ambition shoe for review and I cannot rave about them enough. I typically find that it takes a period of time to “break in” new shoes. My Ambition shoes were comfortable from the moment I put them on.

Inside all Earth footwear, a form-fitting footbed provides exceptional comfort with BioFoam™ cushioning. The proprietary material molds to the shape of the foot, displacing and absorbing shock with each step, and is environmentally-considerate, using 70% recycled content.

In addition to walking (and constantly raving about my shoes to my walking group) I love my Ambition shoes for cardio and plyometric work as well. The extra cushioning under the ball of my foot is a dream for higher impact work. The company does not promote the shoe in this way, but I certainly found it as an added bonus.

Another great thing about Earth Footwear as a company is that their shoes are stylish, and quite affordable for the level of quality of their shoes. They also have a ton of style to choose from like boots, sandals, flip flops and more. All provide the Kalso® Negative Heel Technology® so even the most fashionable styles provide the added fitness benefit.

Earth Footwear also has a nice line of accessories like t-shirts, pants, belts, and more. In addition Earth offers an array of health and beauty items like body lotion, shower gel, natural oils, and home cleansers.

Earth Footwear is certainly providing quality products to improve our lives. I can’t wait for one of our readers to win a pair and let us know what they think. Have any experiences with Earth Footwear products? Let us know.

Stop by PersonalFitCoach.com to enter. Contest ends 10/31.

In addition, Earth Footwear is hosting a giveaway where you can win 3 pairs of shoes from their new Fall line. Stop by their web site for more information.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Top 5 Photo Tips for Capturing Your Little Bean (And a Discount from JellyBean Pictures)

2009-10-01T14:08:00.000-04:00

Top 5 Photo Tips for Capturing Your Little Bean

by photographer Jennifer Tonetti-Spellman, JellyBean Pictures

1. Try and shoot outdoors whenever possible. Most parents do not have an external flash which helps eliminate dark shadows indoors, so natural lighting is the best way to go to ensure better snaps. At the very least, shoot in the naturally brightest spot in the room- near a window, patio door etc.

2. Don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ shot. The more pics you take, the greater the chances are that you will catch that ‘magic’ moment. Remember: In the age of digital, there ARE no wasted shots, just hit the delete button and purge what you don’t like!

3. For small babies and toddlers, have a bell or something small and colorful that you can easily hold in one hand to get their attention to look at or towards the camera. You are hoping for a reaction, be it an open mouth surprise, a smile etc. For sibling who frown at portrait settings, try making it more fun by telling them to ‘mush’ each other see how close they can get their heads together. They always crack up and you will get a natural photo.

4. Think outside the “portrait” mentality. If baby is playing with his/her foot, try for a close up of those tiny hands and feet. You will want to have pictures as a beautiful reminder of all these nuances and details of your little bean as they grow.

5. Always do your ‘shoot’ with a well rested, well fed bean. If it is near naptime or mealtime, wait until after these times to attempt to channel your inner photographer. You will save your bean AND yourself unnecessary frustration.

Happy snapping!

- Jennifer Tonetti-Spellman

Owner/Photographer

JellyBean Pictures

www.jellybeanpics.com

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BUZZWORTHY:

Jennifer is offering Buzz Readers 20% off any session

when you book from October 1st-December 1st!

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About JellyBean Pictures Holiday Session:

JellyBean offers clients within a tristate area (NY, NJ, CT) a holiday session where Jennifer comes to your house, backyard, local park to get the shots you want in a much more comfortable and relaxed setting.

She gives her clients a CD of images to keep. You have FULL copying rights and can make as many prints as you like. You know that most photographers up-charge for prints and make you order through them! Though JellyBean retains the copyright of the actual photo(s), her clients are free to do what they wish with the prints and share them with as many people as they wish.

If you are located in the tristate area, I hope you take advantage of the deep 20% discount for the Holiday Session!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. The Mom Buzz received no renumeration for this buzzworthy deal and wonderful tips! And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Invite Sookie Over for Halloween: Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris (Review & Give-Away)

2009-10-01T07:15:00.098-04:00

My sister and I have the same taste in books. But when she told me I had to read a series of books about a telepathic waitress who solves mysteries that envelop her in a world of vampires and other supernatural beings, I had to start wondering about her. But, since she is older and wiser - (right?)- I decided to take her word for it, visit the local bookstore, and picked up the first 3 books in the series, the Sookie Stackhouse Novels by Charlaine Harris:

Dead Until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead

I finished those books, approximately 300 pages each, in three days. Without a doubt, I was hooked. And whenever someone my age (in my thirties here) starts talking about the Twilight series - you know the stories I am sure, with Edward, Jacob and Bella - I tell them they have to put down the kiddie books and pick up a novel for adults! Honestly, I much prefer following the story line of a 20-something year old telepathic waitress and her ties, whether they be romantic, friendships or simply tolerance, with the other characters in the book. Reading Twilight just makes my mind twist as Bella contemplates ending her human, high school life to be with a vampire boy. No-No-No!

In the Sookie Stackhouse novels, the star of the novels is obviously Sookie. She has a talent for reading people's minds, but at times it can be more of a curse. I mean, imagine dating when you are telepathic! You know every thought on your date's mind! Awful! So while she tries not to date - or freak out her friends - with her ability, there is something else peculiar going on. You see, synthetic blood was invented, so the seclusive vampire community came out of hiding since they no longer have to hunt humans and could drink the synthetic blood instead - like True Blood. (If that sounds familiar, that's because there is an HBO series called True Blood based off of the Sookie Stackhouse novels.)

Within minutes of seeing her first vampire, as it enters the bar that she works at, she realizes she has to save his life from people trying to steal his blood. From there, a romance blooms and she enters a world that most people can't fathom. There are other "supes", from shapeshifters to werewoves and witches to fairies. Sookie gets a better idea of why she is "special", and most supes accept her on some level because of her ability. But you see, it just seems like the little town Sookie lives in is a haven for trouble, often related to the supernatural. So Sookie used her telepathic abilities to help her human friends and the vampires through some heavy mysteries.

And of course, there is romance. The people who watch True Blood often love her boyfriend Bill. In fact, Anna Paquin is engaged in real life to her co-star Stephen Moyer. But, my sister and I are on "team Eric", thanks to reading the novels. Bill is so dull and not half as passionate as Eric! And honestly, while the Twilight fans are arguing over whether Bella should be with Edward or Jacob. They are all teenagers, people! It is so much more interesting to argue about whether Sookie should be with a vampire, shapeshifter, werewolf, werepanther or weretiger. Choices, choices, choices.

So here is a lowdown on the nine books I have read thus far.

Dead Until Dark: This is the introduction into Sookie's telepathic talent and the vampires that are emerging. There is a mystery for Sookie to solve, as women who are involved with vampires begin to die. And there is definitely some romance between Sookie, the vampire Bill and someone else who has taken a liking to our Sookie!

Living Dead in Dallas: Sookie has yet another mystery to solve as a coworker is murdered. Plus, when vampires save her life, she has to return the favor by using her telepathic skills to help solve a mystery for the vampires, as well.

Club Dead: Vampire Bill is acting distant ... both emotionally and physically. So his boss Eric sends Sookie to a Vampire Bar in another state to help solve a mystery that revolves around Bill and what he is up to - and what he is up to is betrayal! Thankfully, Sookie is able to count on another hot "supe" to get through this mystery!

Dead to the World: This book is for all the people that love Eric. You see, Sookie finds him naked running along side the road. But although mystery starts there, it sure doesn't end. That's because Eric has amnesia! And the only one who can protect him from the deviants that cursed him is Sookie. Of course, she puts herself in the path of a lot of danger, hiding Eric. But she enjoys his company, as well, since he's still just as hot, but a helluva lot sweeter when he can't remember how he used to act.

Dead as a Doornail: A sniper is killing supes in the area! With so many "friends and family" in danger, Sookie knows she has to put a stop to this before too many supes die!

Definitely Dead: This is a fun book, as you get to meet some interesting characters - including witches and a closer look at a were tiger! Since Sookie is no longer with Bill, she starts working on a project with Were Tiger Quinn, which has the downfalls of some business with vampires ... and the perks of dating a were tiger! So what's the mystery? Well, Sookie's cousin Hadley, a vampire, has been murdered, and Sookie goes to New Orleans to uncover the mystery surrounding the death and the Vampire Queen.

All Together Dead: Sookie is all business here, as she is working for the Vampire Queen at a vampire summit! She is being used to sense when lies are afoot, to help her defend the Queen during her trial of the death of her husband. Crazy, but fun, as Sookie works with another telepathic to solve mysteries and murder that surround the summit.

From Dead to Worse: A lot is going on in this book. The short of it is that Hurricane Katrina (which happened before All Together Dead) already ravaged and hurt the territory that the Louisiana vampires held. But after the bombing and the death of even more high-level vampires, some other vamps have decided that Louisiana is up for grabs. So there is fighting, witchcraft and mystery - meanwhile Sookie learns a little more about why she has the gift that has helped her enter the dangerous supernatural world.

Dead and Gone: This is the last book I have read so far. It's probably one of the more gruesome ones. Where fairies live - let's just say it's not such a nice place. And since Sookie has ties with the secretive faes - they want her out of the way. Meanwhile, a young werepanther was murdered behind the bar where Sookie works. So trying to solve that murder, while simultaneously trying to avoid being killed by fairies leaves, plus she still has to deal with the very posessive Eric ... makes for a very busy, fun book that is hard to put down!

And available on October 6th is her new novel, A Touch of Dead. A Touch of Dead is every short story ever written about Sookie Stackhouse, all together in one volume!

One buzz reader will have an opportunity to win Charlaine's new book - A Touch of Dead!

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit Charlaine's Website and tell me something you learned from her site! About her, about the books - anything.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.
Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail or RSS feed. (See right sidebar)
What book by Charlaine Harris would be your #1 pick? (it does not have to be a Sookie Stackhouse novel - she has written a lot!)

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. The Mom Buzz received no remuneration for this review. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Zhu Zhu Pets Party!

2009-09-30T16:17:00.003-04:00

What a fun playdate I had today! Four moms and their 8 kids joined me and my brood for a Zhu Zhu Party Playdate! I had the opportunity to throw this party to introduce people to these little intertactive hamsters that run through a habitrail - just like real hamsters. The perks are they are less messy and don't eat or poop! They just run on batteries!

Since I had quite a crowd, I had the party at my mom's house. As the other moms came over they helped me set up different parts of the habitrail. But the FUN part for the kids was choosing the hamsters and letting them RUN! It was like a pet store exploded as every where I looked a little furry body was on the move - followed by a toddler or preschooler! And what's cool is that each Zhu Zhu Pet Hamster has its own unique personality and whimsical sounds! I hear cows, pig noises and other barn animals coming from my son's hamster!

Loving Mode:

Pet them, love them, hear them squeak and chatter

Explore Mode:

Let them scoot, scamper, bump & boogie across the floor or through their Hamster Habitat

My friends were laughing at some of the accessories you could get these furballs - like clothes! And I think we all were amazed at the hamster variety... and their names. And the habitrail you can build is AMAZING. There are just so many parts that you can make it grow- and grow - and grow! There are normal hamster things - like wheels and balls. Then there are also surf boards, cars and other crazy accessories!

Overall, I think we were all entertained by our kids and their new easy-to-care-for buddies.You can find these at Target, Walmart and Amazon!

Aren't convinced yet? Check out this video!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. The Mom Buzz was supplied with these Zhu Zhu Pets for the Party. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Skuut Wooden Balance Bikes: TWENTY PERCENT DISCOUNT

2009-09-30T07:47:00.002-04:00

My son has been using his Skuut Wooden Balance Bike since February! So that is around 8 months of skuuting! We absolutely love it. I knew nothing about "balance bikes" until Skuut - and it was a great brand to kick-start bike riding.

The Skuut is for children ages 2 - 5, who aren't riding a two-wheel bike yet. It can help your child go from a ride-on to a bike - without using training wheels! That's because they learn balance, steering, coordination and independence from the balance bike - something you can't get from traditional ride-ons even with all those bells and whistles they have. The only thing it's missing is the pedals, but by then your child will have mastered all the skills and the confidence to ride a bike by pedaling!

When you receive your Skuut, you only need to do minor assembly. I attached the seat, the handlebars and the front wheel. The seat is adjustable so the tiniest of riders can Skuut! If you want measurements, the height of the seat can range from approximately 13.5 inches to 16.5 inches high.

Now, you know the Mom Buzz wouldn't steer you wrong. But if you want to hear more accolades on this awesome first bike, then feel comfortable in knowing that it has won awards from:

The Toy Man - Editor's Choice
The Toy Man - Award of Excellence
The Toy Man - Seal of Approval
The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Winner
Top 10 active children's products for 2006 by Dr. Toy
Winner of the Education.com A+ Award
Picked as a top Ride-on Toy in The Great American Toy Test 2006

The Skuut makes a GREAT gift for a birthday or the holidays! And you can save twenty percent when you buy it now from CountryMooseKids!

SAVE TWENTY PERCENT

Love the Skuut? Now is the time to buy it. For one month only CountryMooseKids will be accepting the following promocode, giving you 20% off the SKUUT Wooden Balance Bike! TWENTY PERCENT PEOPLE! That makes it around 80 dollars, instead of 99 dollars!

DETAILS
Promo code: IzeaFest09
This is valid from 9/30-10/31/09
Save: Twenty Percent

Where: This code is ONLY valid on the www.countrymoosekids.com website.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Toshiba Portable Hard Drive: Small, Compact and Protecting your Memories

2009-09-29T07:12:00.006-04:00

I recently talked about how my husband routinely backs up my computer. That's because he doesn't want me to lose my photos, videos and design files I work on. But the portable hard drive he normally uses is a few years old, big and bulky.

Since I wasn't sure how to use his portable hard drive, I started using a USB flash drive to save some of my more "precious" memories. This also gave me easier access, since it was so small and portable.

But recently, we went to Disney and my husband took a great video of the boys. I asked him to save it on the USB drive ... and it had no more room. Ack. It ran out of memory too fast! And considering my last computer really did sizzle out, forcing me to get a new laptop, I definitely did not want to chance losing this video and other memories until I get them burned on a DVD. Then I thought, "Ah-ha!" I ran to my bedroom and grabbed the Toshiba Portable Hard Drive that I received just for a moment like this.

Toshiba Portable Hard Drive

Like I said, my husband has HIS older hard drive, but it is about 6x larger, has 1/3rd the memory and it's boring and black. The Toshiba Portable Hard Drive has 4 different capacities, ranging from 250 to 500 GB. The one I received was 500 GB. And it is so slim - measuring approximately 5 x 3.5 x 1 inches. And it comes in fashionable colors, like my red one. I think you can get it in Frost White, Electric Blue, Hot Rod Red and Carbon Grey, according to the Toshiba website.

Moving files to the Toshiba Portable Hard Drive was simple. For some reason I thought it was hard to back up files! But Toshiba definitely makes it easy. There is a little USB cord that you attach from the Hard Drive to the Computer. You locate the new device on your computer when you attach the cord. Then you move any specific files you want to save onto the new device. It is that simple!

Plus, the software will run in the background to capture updates to files and automatically save them to the external drive. There are no confusing buttons to push or icons to click to activate a backup. You just plug in the drive, load the software and all of your important digital photos, music, movies and documents are backed up, protected and portable.

I plan to burn all my videos and images yearly onto a CD and DVD. From Birthdays to Holidays - and SeaWorld to Disney - there are a lot of moments I want to remember clearly through videos and photographs. So now I can continuously keep these memories "backed-up" until I am ready to burn. And if my computer gets a virus or someone accidentally erases files (it happens), I know I have them safe on the Toshiba! How cool is that?

Loading the software is not challenging - the first time I plugged it in, it automatically loaded the software for me. And when it is plugged in, I can easily open the folders to see the files it has saved.

The Toshiba Portable Hard Drive is compatible with both Macs and PCs. My husband loves that it's USB powered, so you don't need to take up another electrical socket to plug it in. It's simply ready to go wherever you need your data.

The Toshiba Portable Hard Drive is not just great for moms who are recording memories. It would be great for work too!Since it is so portable, you can have a back-up of presentations and work documents on it. So even if your computer crashes, you can still keep on going without missing a beat, simply borrowing a computer from a coworker or restarting your own. Documents are no longer lost forever, if backed up on this tiny portable device!

Gift Idea!

I absolutely adore this tech product! It is great for anyone who uses a computer, from moms storing memories to working parents trying to climb the corporate ladder. I definitely consider it a great holiday gift idea or stocking stuffer!

BUZZWORTHY:

If you are interested in learning about 10 Steps to Protect your Digital Memories,

be sure to read this tip page.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. Thank you Toshiba for sending a Portable Hard Drive to protect my digital memories! And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Get Clean with Elmo - and Win!

2009-09-28T15:21:00.003-04:00

My oldest likes Elmo. My little one LOVES Elmo. Like obsessive. His love is actually common with preschoolers and toddlers. And after watching Elmo a few times, I can't say I have a problem with it! He's overall a good little monster with a desire to learn and sing - like my son.

So it's no wonder that my son loves to do anything that has to do with Elmo. And if Elmo can make portions of bathtime easier and more fun - why not roll with it? That's why it rocks that there is a whole selection of Elmo bath products ... which also feature some other kid-loved, mom-approved Sesame Street Characters.The line includes:

Foam Soap
Foamy Hand Soap
Bubble Bath
Shampoo
Finger Paints
Fizzy Tub Colors
Body Wash

And these products come in awesome scents, like watermelon, cherry and berry! We recently had the opportunity to try some of these fun, bathtime products, such as the Shampoo, Bubble Bath and Finger Paints.

The Sesame Street Shampoo was Apple Scented - not overwhelming at all. It is hypo-allergenic and tear-free. My kids are really sensitive to anything in their eyes, though, so I am careful when I rinse their hair out not to test out that theory. But sometimes it accidentally gets in their eyes - and there really were no tears. The bottle of shampoo is 16 fl oz - a good amount that should last a while! It features Elmo on the bottle.

The Bubble Bath was WONDERFUL! I loved the wet wild watermelon scent. It was a green color, also featuring Elmo. The minute my son saw it, he wanted to take a bath over and over and over. It also comes in 16 ounces. The amount of bubble it made with a small capful was PERFECT for my two boys.

Finally ... the Bathtime Finger Paints. It came with 3 colors - Red (for Elmo), Yellow (Big Bird), Blue (Cookie Monster). At first I would pour the colors in little "piles" and let the kids dip their fingers in it. Then I let them do it themselves. They loved it and we made it educational, as I asked them to name their colors or we would write letters and numbers into the paint. Although they can paint on themselves with it, don't let it sit too long on them. I was a little sensitive to it if it sat on my skin too long. But the kids had a blast and were sad when it was all gone. It lasted about a week. I think they would make good stocking stuffers!

Overall, I would definitely purchase these products again! It was totally worth it to see the smile on my toddler's face! It made bathtime fun for them.... and me!

Sesame Street Bathtime Products are made by the Village Company. They also sell other products, like Mr. Bubble, Rubber Ducky Bubble Bath, Village Naturals Bath Shoppe, Village Naturals Therapy, Village Naturals Foot Therapy and Village Naturals Body Scrub.

One buzz reader will have an opportunity to win three bath products from the makers of Sesame Street Bathtime Products. You can choose any bath product from The Village Company. To enter, visit the Village Company and tell me what 3 products you want to win.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.
Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail or RSS feed. (See right sidebar)
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!

Contest ends 10/20/09. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner's Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. Thank you the Village Company for providing the products to review. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Fall is Here! Celebrate with Avon!

2009-09-28T07:46:00.001-04:00

Get ready for fall with some wonderful styles from Avon! It's honestly amazing what you can find at Avon.com for yourself - or gifts for others. Personally, I recently gave my sister some gorgeous bangles and bracelets that fit her perfectly from the collection. They accented her long, lean arms perfectly!

Most recently, she is wearing this gorgeous black tote (see video below). It has a huge zippered compartment in the middle for her valuables, like her wallet. Then there are two smaller pockets on the side for items she needs to have within fingers-reach - like her cell phone. Plus, she there is room for items she needs for her kids - like snacks and games. It has a comfortable shoulder strap, faux leather accents and brass detailing. It's very chic and perfect for her.

Avon also has some fun fashion rings at affordable prices. Big, chunky and totally making a statement. Once again, my sister is one who can make almost any style work. (I am so freaking jealous!) But I knew these rings would be perfect for her! They are adjustable, so they can fit an array of finger sizes. I love the chunky blue stone in this turquoise ring (pictured) as well as this fab faux semiprecious ring that is designed with a tigers eye stone design. Although, I honestly have to say if you love rings you have to check out the complete selection. There is a gorgeous sterling silver princess cut CZ ring that would really make any woman feel like a million dollars - and it only costs $29.99 at Avon!

Finally, if you are starting to feel a nip in the air, check out some scarf styles! I got my first scarf from Avon and I am so thankful. I am amazed at how much more comfortable I am when I wear it! And I love the red/charcoal design. You can also get a 2-pack of dip-dyed scarfs from Avon for only $24.99.

I bet you can find something for every woman in your family at Avon.com! What products have you tried and loved from Avon.com? Or is there anything you've been curious about? A make-up color or brand, a perfume scent, whether a certain style would work for you? Let me know!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. Thank you Avon for sending a Fall preview. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

UPRINTING WINNER

2009-09-28T05:09:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Melissa for winning the Poster Printing contest from Large Format Posters! I am sure your 18 x 24 rolled poster print will look fabulous!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Theme Parks and Sun Protection

2009-09-27T07:06:00.000-04:00

I am sure most of you know that my family gets to enjoy a lot of outside fun here at home. I am often sharing photos of us at the beach, zoo and theme parks. Now, the beach is almost a no brainer when it comes to needing sun protection. But what about the outside attractions? Heck yah - you better be protecting your skin and your children's skin as you stay 8 hours out in the sun! Just because you aren't purposefully laying out to "get a tan", doesn't mean the sun isn't hitting unprotected skin.

So you have your sun lotions, right? The problem is that even they need reapplication as you sweat and rub them off. But uv protective clothing, like this UV Skinz my husband is wearing in the picture, offers protection for as long as he is wearing it! His arms, chest and torso are all protected. He wears glasses to protect his eyes and lotion everywhere else. And of course, my boys were wearing UV shirts too. (I am so much better at keeping them protected than myself - I admit I was only using sunscreen.)

But, as a mom, isn't that our job - to ensure everyone is safe and healthy? And my husband LOVED this Black and White Koi Pattern shirt that I bought him for his birthday! He wears it to the theme parks, the beach, or whenever he is going to be outside for a long time. It is comfortable and moves with his body. And it really makes his arms look huge! (I mean, they are already huge, it just emphasizes it!)

Face it, in the water T-shirts often become more transparent allowing the sun's rays to hit your body. But not this swim shirt! It moves with him, doesn't absorb a lot of water, dries quickly and is always protecting him and moving with his body!

I absolutely adore the shirt and want to get him more ... plus more for the kids too. And I am even thinking that they would make a fabulous gift for any family members that love to swim and be outside!

So, if you are heading outside to play - whether at the beach or a theme park - definitely consider check out the uv protection apparel that you can find at UV Skinz!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

What's Buzzworthy: Halloween

2009-09-26T07:21:00.006-04:00

Okay - I can't wait anymore. I am switching the theme of What's Buzzworthy to HALLOWEEN! Of course, you can leave ANY buzzworthy link - but the more Halloween Goodies - the better!

I have some goodies already to celebrate this spooky holiday - as well as some Halloween news.

CURRENT:

Win an Adult Costume from Crazy Dog T-Shirts
Win a Halloween Blanket from RockerBye Baby
SeaWorld Spooktacular - I am Going!

COMING SOON!

A Sookie Stackhouse book give-away!

YOUR TURN!
This is the place to leave your BUZZWORTHY post of the week! I am looking for:

Yummy Snacks and Recipes - Halloween Treat Ideas
Halloween Crafts
Etsy Shops run by Bloggers or loved by Bloggers
Funny Halloween Stories, Moments, Posts, Pictures
Halloween Safety Tips
Memes
New Blogs and Blog Redesigns
AND... CONTESTS!!

Cozi® Announces the New Family Journal with SimpleShare

2009-09-25T15:11:00.001-04:00

Finding time to keep grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends updated and connected is one of the biggest challenges families face. That's where Cozi comes in. You see, Cozi is a free web service that helps you organize and simplify your daily life. How? Well, the Cozi Family Journal with SimpleShare lets you capture and save family moments and quick stories. Plus, you can customize exactly how you want to share your stories with relatives and friends!.

I think the Cozi Family Journal with SimpleShare helps keep everyone in the loop when it comes to your family! And forget about mailing out a "yearly letter" around the holiday. It's so easy to send an e-mail newsletter to let Aunt Joan in Alaska know what's going on in the family - or they can even get news via Facebook or straight from your website. Relatives can mark what they've seen and read with Smiles, too, so you know who is seeing what!

How do these unique updates work? Here is an explanation of your options:

Family email newsletter - Each month, parents can automatically send out a private family newsletter to loved ones full of special moments and quick stories.

Quick email update - For those moments that can not wait, parents can send out a quick email update to select family and friends.

Family website – Parents can choose a URL and automatically turn their family journal into a family website with Cozi. The journal entries they select instantly show up on their family website and can be shared publicly or privately. There is no complicated blogging technology to learn.

Facebook - The Cozi Family Journal Facebook Application allows users to share with friends on Facebook. Users can update their family journal in Cozi, Facebook, or both. They can share their journal with a spouse or partner on their Facebook page. Cozi keeps everything in sync and everyone’s friends in the loop.

Twitter - An automated Tweet lets followers on Twitter know when their family website has new stories.

Want to see what a Family Journal is like before signing up? See an example on Robbie Cape's very own Cozi Family Journal.

Win a T-Shirt!

To celebrate the launch of the Family Journal with SimpleShare, Cozi is featuring journal entries at www.cozi.com based on the theme Kids Say the Darndest Things. Enter a quick quote from those funny statements your kids are so famous for in your Cozi Family Journal, add a photo if you want, and share with Cozi using SimpleShare. Family Journal entries featured on www.cozi.com will receive a Cozi “Smile” t-shirt.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Win a RockerBye Baby Trick or Treat Bag and Blanket: Is Your Baby Ready for Halloween?

2009-09-25T07:44:00.019-04:00

I absolutely adore the selection for babies from RockerBye Baby. As they say, they have everything in stock for your baby to rock. At their online boutique, you will find ultrasoft (and cool) minky blankets, wicked diaper bags, and rocking cloth diapers! Plus, you can even travel on over to their Etsy Shop to find unique apparel, onesies and bedding sets! And forget about sweet baby blues and pastel pinks - everything has some edge for the cool babies!

Their selection is meant for babies, so too young for my kiddos. But I LOVED the edgy look to the items and felt they would be completely appropriate to buzz for Halloween. Why? Well, here are some of my Halloween Picks from RockerBye Baby:

Skull AIO Diaper: This all-in-one diaper is fool-proof for use. Simply put one a fresh diaper when needed - and when it gets dirty the whole thing goes into the wash (after shaking out any solid waste). It comes in black with a white skull or white with a red skull - and I just think it's so different! It would be great to show off throughout the month of October ... and the rest of the year too! You can choose from three sizes, so babies can style with these oh-so-cool skull AIOs from birth to 30 pounds! And if the Skull AIO is not quite your thing, they do have a selection of prints to choose from - I love the Bad Luck Club one.

Skullie: Skullies are little tagalong blankets that come with a clip for clipping to strollers, pacifiers, toys and more. They are minky soft on one side and have cute patterns on the other. I love this unisex skullie, with a bright skeleton pattern on one side and the blue minky on the other. It's only $12 and makes a wonderful Halloween lovie!

Blankets: RockerBye Baby has a great selection of not-so-scary toddler blankets. I have a hard time choosing a favorite, but for Halloween I was on the look-out for skulls and skeletons. For girls I love the pink skull and crossbones blanket, with a pink minky swirl on the other side. It is a great size for toddlers to cuddle with - 30 x 36 inches. And moms of boys - if you love it... there is also a version in blue!

So, shopping for baby this Halloween? Be sure to see what RockerBye Baby has to offer at RockerByeBaby.com, as well as their Etsy Shop.

BUZZWORTHY:

Looking for completely unique crib baby? Visit Rockerbye Baby to find something cool that you wont find at mass retailers! They are 100% customizable!

One buzz reader will have an opportunity to win an orange and black blanket and a TRICK OR TREAT BAG. This was custom made just for the winner of this contest! To enter, visit either RockerByeBaby.com or the RockerByeBaby Etsy Shop and tell me your favorite product or what you would like to have custom made.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.
Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail or RSS feed. (See right sidebar)
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!
Become a Fan of RockerByeBaby on Facebook
Follow RockerByeBaby on Twitter and say you saw them @themombuzz!
Purchase an item from RockerByeBaby! Get an entry per dollar spent. Let me know what you bought and be sure to tell RockerByeBaby that themombuzz referred you!

Contest ends 10/16/09. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner's Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. The Mom Buzz received NO RENUMERATION for this post. I just thought the products were oh-so cool and had to share. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Custom Greeting Cards from UPrinting

2009-09-24T23:55:00.004-04:00

I love designing and receiving Christmas Cards. Even better is when the sender adds a personal touch and uses their own photo in the design. Thinking of designing your own cards this year? Well, I've gotta go with experience and say that Uprinting has done an awesome job on a canvas print for me in the past, so I am positive that any custom greeting cards from them would be a superb quality!

Uprinting's Greeting Card Printing can be used for business or family! You can choose to create a stunning design or simply use a cozy family photo. I know my family is planning on something completely original for our Holiday Card this year! It's going to be a Narnia Theme! Once it's done, I'll share with y'all, of course!

But now for some early holiday cheer! Uprinting is giving away 250 7x5" Custom Greeting Cards!

One buzz reader will have an opportunity to win (250 ct.) 7 x 5" (folded to 3.5 x 5") Custom Greeting Cards ($96 value)! To enter, telling me how they would use the cards.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.
Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail or RSS feed. (See right sidebar)
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!

Contest ends 10/11/09. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will receive a coupon code on October 19th to claim their prize. This contest is sponsored by Uprinting. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner's Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Jennifer Garner and Frigidaire: Time for Change

2009-09-24T17:47:00.025-04:00

Moms are busy. Constantly multi-tasking. We make time to clean, work, cook ... and for our children.

Isn't it great to have extra time where we can? That's why it rocks that Frigidaire's new line of appliances, the largest launch in the brand's history, is designed with time-saving features for busy moms. It gives us more time with our children to play, read and cuddle!

Right now Frigidaire is asking Moms - and everyone who believes in the power of Moms - to think ahead to November 1st - the day all of us change the clocks and get an extra hour - and pledge to use that time to make CHANGE for children. You see, Frigidaire has teamed up with Jennifer Garner to kick off the "Make Time for CHANGE" campaign to support Save the Children's U.S. Programs, dedicated to making a difference for the smallest and most vulnerable Americans - children.

WE ALL WIN

Starting today, for everyone who goes to Frigidaire.com and raises their hand with a pledge to make time for a child, Frigidaire will donate $1 to support the CHANGE program and Save the Children's work to help children in need in the U.S. And in addition to that fuzzy feeling you get from doing something good, everyone who pledges their time will be entered for a chance to win a new Frigidaire Professional double wall oven! Those in the market for top-notch new appliances should also know that, for every new Frigidaire Professional double wall oven sold, Frigidaire will donate $100 to Save the Children's U.S Programs as part of their $250,000 commitment to this worthy cause.

So feel good about making that pledge and know that Frigidaire is giving help to those who need it close to home - children in the USA.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Eating Right with Bugs Bunny and Friends!

2009-09-24T14:27:00.001-04:00

It can be a battle to get your toddlers and preschoolers to eat healthy. Mine are "snackers". They avoid meals and just snack - snack - snack throughout the day. And that's perfectly normal and can be healthy, if you help them make the right choices.

So I was just introduced to Eating Right Kids. They have an array of choices, all featuring Warner Brothers characters. Some products include:

Watermelon Applesauce
Special Recipe White Bread - 15% DV of Calcium and 3 grams of Fiber
Chewy Bars - Mixed Fruit, Sour Strawberry and more
Fat Free Pudding - Chocolate, Tapioca, Vanilla
Fruit Cups - Mixed Fruit, Diced Pears, Diced Peaches
100% Juice - no corn syrup and flavors like White Grape Cherry, Fruit Punch, Apple and Orange Tangerine
Frozen Entrees - Chicken Nuggets, Chicken and Cheese Enchilada, Macaroni & Cheese, Macaroni, Spaghetti with Turkey Meatballs
Pasta - Tri-Color Wheat Rotini and Wheat Pasta Rings

I received some samples to try at home - a Mixed Fruit Chewy Bar and Macaroni with Beef. The Chewy Mixed Bar was a granola bar with tangy mixed fruit and a yogurt bottom. I only had one bar to split with the boys. It was so delicious, I would definitely consider buying more and throwing them in the diaper bag for on-the-go!

The Macaroni with Beef was HUGE. It has 2 servings in there - but I would be stuffed trying to eat it as an adult. So it is good to cook one for both boys AND me! It has 6 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, 28 grams of carbs, 3 grams of fat and 460 mg of sodium. It's kind of high on the sodium side, but low on fat. One serving is 160 calories. Sylvester the cat is on the container.

You can purchase all of these Eating Right Kids products at 1,700 Safeway locations. There are more than 60 items across 18 categories, including breakfast foods, produce, portable meals, dairy, snack, beverages and frozen entrees. It's available in both the Unites States and Canada.

Overall, the Eating Right Kids line encourages kids to eat right without losing the "fun". You'll find Bugs Bunny, Tweety, Taz, Sylvesterm Wile E. Coyote, Roadrunner, Marvine the Martian, Daffy Duck and other characters on the containers, making them easy to spot at the stores.

And you can feel comfortable knowing the producs are based on the most recent dietary recommendations and regulations from several federal and state agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation adn the California School Nutritional Guidelines SB12.

And as Porky Pig would say ... "That's all folks!"

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Fun Fact: Intergenerational Activities

2009-09-24T13:42:00.000-04:00

Sure, you may not have known that your kitchen could get you in great shape, but maybe you know this one? Intergenerational activities increase cooperation, interaction and exchange between people of different generations, according to Generations United- an organization that began in 1986. Generations United is the country’s only membership organization promoting intergenerational public policies, strategies and programs.

When different generations work together, you can prevent unnatural age segregation and apply the strengths of one generation to meet the needs of another. For our children, these activities can enhance their social skills, improve academic performance, decrease drug use and increase stability.

For older adults, like our parents and grandparents, these activities can enhance socialization, stimulate learning, increase emotional support and improve health. You can learn more here: Benefits of Intergenerational Activities

Do any of my readers have tips on how we an increase intergenerational activities at home? Maybe they can do something that is truly win-win and do something to help the environment, since it is something all generations have in common. What ideas do you have?

This fun fact was brought to you from GE! And don't forget to enter to win a GE APPLIANCE from the Mom Buzz.

And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Incentive to Stick with Yoga

2009-09-24T11:10:00.002-04:00

Tony Horton, personal trainer to the stars, likely most famous for his P90X program, has turned 50. He now swears by yoga for keeping him young in is "golden years."

More and more studies are saying that yoga is key for overall health and longevity. Even if you’ve never tried yoga before, regularly practicing some simple yoga stretches and poses when you’re older can give you back some of the energy and flexibility of your younger years. Here’s a brief list of some of theo health benefits.

After six months of taking beginner yoga classes, men and women ages 65-85 reported:

* Feeling more energized compared to how they felt before they started
* Less pain overall in their day-to-day lives
* Having better balance
* Greater flexibility in their trunk and limbs

If you are not yet in your "golden years," consider the benefits for your now that will last long into the future.

Yoga may be good for your heart, too. A study used a group of people with heart disease who adopted a “yoga lifestyle,” a holistic approach to health including eating right, getting enough sleep and maintaining a generally positive attitude. Heart disease lesions diminished in almost half of the people who had signs of the disease at the beginning of the study.

Recently, I found a wonderful site where you can try wonderful yoga classes right from your computer. Check it out at MyYogaOnline.com

Until next week, have a safe, happy and healthy week ahead.
- Coach Jenn of PersonalFitCoach.com

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

FREE Birthday Fun at Toys"R"Us

2009-09-24T07:30:00.000-04:00

In a recession, kid birthdays can be TOUGH. Here we are, trying to plan for our kids’ upcoming birthday parties, as we look for ways to save without compromising the quality of their child’s special day. To get the most bang for your buck sign up for Geoffrey’s Birthday Club at Toys“R”Us (for FREE) and help make your child’s day magical!

First, enroll in the program by visiting any Toys“R”Us store nationwide, or signing up online at Toysrus.com or Birthdaysrus.com. Once you are a member (valid for children up to age 10) you will receive:

A customized birthday card addressed to the child, with different styles to specially suit young girls, young boys, older girls, and older boys;
A special present from the Geoffrey the Giraffe- a Toys“R”Us gift card;
The opportunity to receive a “Happy Birthday” call from Geoffrey;
A unique in-store experience when visiting any Toys“R”Us location, inclusive of congratulations from store associates (over the loud speaker!) and complimentary gifts, such as a birthday crown and balloon; and
A Party Planner, saving parents $5 when they spend at least $25, that can be applied to purchases at any Toys“R”Us store.

Every little bit helps, right? I know I appreciate it, considering my son is born 4 days before Christmas. Double whammy on me! So check out Birthdaysrus.com and start receiving deals and tips from party-planners that you really can't miss! (And it's all FREE!)

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Modular Carpets from FLOR: Win a FLOR of your Choice*

2009-09-23T14:33:00.002-04:00

Recently I was on the search for a new rug to put in my living room. My dogs and son's destroyed the one I had there. You don't want to know how... whatever you were thinking - it was worse. The thing is, I liked having a rug there, and I do think they (the animal and boys) can handle it now. But the good thing is, the rug that I got to replace the old one can handle whatever my kids and dog dish out - that's because it's a FLOR rug!

What makes FLOR rugs special? In my case, the fact that they are modular rugs is what makes them work in a high-traffic area with these little messy critters about. A 5x7 rug is made up of 12 tiles, each measuring around 19.7 inches. You combine the tiles to create a pattern and texture of your liking. And if the rug gets various liquids or viscous materials on them that cannot be removed by simple cleaning (vacuuming, steam cleaner) you can actually remove the square and scrub-scrub-scrub it in the sink. And if it is beyond repair (!!!) you can recycle your old FLOR tiles and purchase as many as you need to make your rug work again.

Size Matters! What's really cool is that you can make a rug as big as you need with Flor. Let's say you love Toy Poodle 1. In the catalog this is sold as an 8x10, 30 tile rug. Well, you can easily request only 12 tiles using the same color pattern ... or you can fill a whole room (wall-to-wall) and order more tiles. Or, maybe it's not size... maybe you love the rug but think that shade of uh-oh orange that is in the pattern will clash with your cat. So trade it out for biscuit brown instead! Problem solved!

My Experience:

I received the Fez Rug to review. It's a 5 x7 rug that is perfect for a high-traffic area. It doesn't have a lot of fibers for yucky stuff to stick to. So when I vacuum ... it's so clean again! I love it compared to other rugs I've had in that spot. It's really cushy and almost reminds me of a foam material, but more "grown up" for the living room. The rug is made up of four Fez tiles - Earthen, Gold, Green and Vanilla. In hindsight, I should have avoided a color called "Vanilla" with the boys. But when they spill strawberry milk of smash a chocolate cookie (always on the vanilla tile), I am able to clean it with some simple cleanser. I used a toothbrush once to really get some stuff out - but it's looking good. And I know if the boys destroy it, i can sent the tile back to FLOR and purchase a different Fez tile that might work better - like Orange Fez.

When they sent the Fez Rug, it came with directions on how they suggested I assemble it and little sticky squares (FLOR Dots) to attach the tiles to each other. If the tiles lose their stickiness, you can order additional ones from FLOR. I didn't assemble the rug according to the directions, but that's part of the beauty of FLOR. You can make the rug WHATEVER you want!

How to Install:
Need to see how easy it is to put together your FLOR rug, whether you are creating a 5 x 7 or wall-to-wall? Check out this installation video: How to Install FLOR

I also loved this FLOR Video - it sure makes FLOR carpet tiles memorable!

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR....
When I was looking through the FLOR Catalog, I saw that they had some really remarkable kits that might catch your eye. Some that stood out for me were...

SITTING PRETTY: Made of soft and curly "toy poodle" tiles, here you are alternating Uh Oh Orange and Feelin Groovy in bold, pink and orange stripes.

ARACHNOPHOBIA: Cobwebs and spiders make for a delightfully ghoulish rug design, perfect for Halloween or any other time you want to add a spooky vibe. The cut-and-loop construction is soft underfoot and features a slightly raised spider web design in either white or orange on a deep background of black. And not all Arachnophobia tiles feature the spider, lending an air of surprise on when you'll spot him!

FUZZY BUTTONS: These are circular rugs that are created using four separate rounded wedges. You can literally do a whole room with this unique rug, since it there are straight edges that will blend into a wall if necessary. It's available in the soft, curly Toy Poodle material in Uh Oh Orange, Roll Over Raspberry, Go Fetch Green and Tin Tin Teal.

One buzz reader will have an opportunity to win a 5 x 7 Flor Rug of their choice, excluding Coir and Shaggy Sheep! To enter, visit FLOR and tell me your favorite rug.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.
Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail or RSS feed. (See right sidebar)
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!
Add Flor to Twitter and tweet them your favorite modular rug!
Add Flor to Twitter and tell them you saw their modular rugs @themombuzz!
Embed the Flor YouTube video above onto your blog or share it on MySpace or Facebook.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

The Juice: Feathered Hair

2009-09-23T08:41:00.000-04:00

You've got to check out the JuiceBoxJungle widget! You'll always see it on on my sidebar - but I wanted to introduce it to you since it's always being updated with new stories, information and shopping fun! Right now they want you to click on it and tell them if you've ever feathered your hair! Now is the perfect time to honor Farrah and help us tally up the true magnitude of her hair-legacy, and it only takes (literally) a second. Click to register your voice and to find out how many of your Facebook friends have ALSO feathered in the past!

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Wordless Wednesday: The Boys Meeting the Mouse

2009-09-23T06:53:00.002-04:00

We haven't been to Disney in QUITE A WHILE. DH was insistent that we go over the weekend, and it was definitely worth it ... just for this moment below.

Participating in Wordless Wednesday? Leave your link here!

This is solely the Wordless Wednesday of the Mom Buzz. Other kids may have different experiences with the mouse. And don't forget to enter my hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Family Game Night: Three Winners

2009-09-22T17:46:00.003-04:00

Mark your calendar for THIS Wednesday, September 23, so you can be a part of the first-ever National Family Game Night by Hasbro! On this day, Hasbro is encouraging families across America to spend an evening at home playing games together to reconnect and reenergize relationships.

Face it, often we can get caught up in all the electronical devices and Social Networking devices in our homes. Wii, XBox, Facebook, MySpace - we forget that something as simple as a board or card game can be just as much fun and lead to lots of laughs with family and friends. And there is a great selection of games from Hasbro! Cranium, Monopoly, Pictureka, Clue and more!

Here are some tips to scheduling your own Family Game Night!

1. Schedule it!: National Family Game Night is Wednesday, September 23, mark the calendar!

After participating in the gaming event, decide in advance which day will be your weekly family game night. It doesn’t matter which night of the week you choose – any night will do! As long as the date is marked on a calendar that everyone can see and parents make it a priority to keep the appointment, the night will be one to remember! Use stickers or a colored marker to help make the family game night dates stand out on the calendar.

2. Involve everyone in the planning: Involve the whole family in the planning process by allowing the kids to pick the games or choose the snacks. For variety, rotate responsibilities during each family game night.

3. Game suggestions: Be sure to pick games that are age-appropriate for all family members so that everyone can participate. For an active family, BOP-IT! or the classic game of TWISTER are great options. For a laugh-out-loud time, families might want to try GUESSTURES or TABOO. For families that thrive on competition, try CONNECT 4x4 or MONOPOLY CITY.

4. Fun food “pairings”: A special family game night menu will make everyone look forward to the festivities. Serve fun finger foods that are easy to eat during game play, such as hamburger sliders or chicken fingers. A make-your-own sundae bar is a sweet treat for dessert before or during game night. Or, use a family recipe to make your family game night unique.

5. Create a tradition: Whether it’s the way that teams are selected, a 30-minute bedtime extension, or having everyone play in their p.j.’s, establishing an activity on family game night that becomes a family tradition will create even more excitement around game play for everyone in the family.

6. Keep a family scoreboard: From week to week, recognize the family member who won the last family game night by posting their name on a special scoreboard that receives a place of honor on the refrigerator. Or, create a family crown that can be worn by the winner at dinner or during the next family game night.

7. Remind everyone: To keep the date with the family, set up reminders on a handheld device or on the family computer to make sure that game night happens. For the tech-savvy, reminders can also be sent through Evite.com or on social networking sites such as Facebook. For the kids, put a note in their lunchbox reminding them about family game night.

8. Mix it up with “special guests”: To expand the fun, invite other families in your neighborhood to participate in a family game night tournament. If you have extended family members living in the area or if you are traveling during a scheduled family game night, invite everyone to participate!

9. Capture the memories: By having regularly scheduled family game nights, families are guaranteed to create new and lasting memories. Snap a photo of special moments at each family game night and place the printed photos around the house or email to relatives to share that come-from-behind win or incredibly tall Jenga tower!

10. Brainstorm for next week’s family game night: As each family game night winds down and clean up begins, start brainstorming for next week’s event. What games might be selected? What will be the special food served? By planning in advance for the next event, you can get a jumpstart on the preparations and raise the anticipation level for the next family game night.

Check out http://www.familygamenight.com for more information and to see a great selection of games for your own Family Game Night and let the fun begin!

Three Buzz Readers have the opportunity to win THREE SETS of Hasbro Card Games: Crazy Old Fish War, Monopoly Deal and Scrabble Slam. To enter, visit Hasbro and let me know what game you would choose for Family Game Night.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.
Enter the GE appliance give-away - you can do this daily!
Subscribe to the Mom Buzz via e-mail or RSS feed. (See right sidebar)
Follow Hasbro's Family Game Night on Twitter (@familygamenight) to find daily trivia, game news and information.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

The Looking Glass:

2009-09-22T14:18:00.021-04:00

Going to a baby shower and want to give a unique gift? Or maybe you are preparing for a little one's arrival at your own home? Well, The Looking Glass might have just what you are looking for to add a posh touch to celebrate baby's arrival! That's because they have a chic selection of baby and toddler products that are mod, useful, affordable and all can be personalized.

Just search through their four collections (Bath, Baby, Bed, Kids) and check out their hand-picked brands that moms are sure to love. These brands include:

Angel Dear: For baby, you need to check out the zip-front bear bunting. This is so adorable, as your baby stays warm this winter ... with those little ears on the hoodie of the bunting. It is available in brown, pink and blue. The animal blankies are also adorable and snuggle-worthy, available as a tan giraffe, blue lamb or pink lamb. And you can personalize this item, as well!

Bumkins: I am a big fan of Bumkins, having tried out their aprons and diapers. Well, at The Looking Glass you can choose from the #1 Bib - the Bumkins Superbib, a basic terry bib and a cotton flannel/ silky satin blanket. And don't forget - everything can be be personalized and gift-wrapped.

Cuddlebee: I absolutely adore the mod "burpies" from Cuddlebee. No boring colors or hackneyed characters here. Instead, you can choose from 3 fashionable fabric options on a vanilla chenille backing and cotton insert, giving you a super absorbent burp cloth.

Gerber: Gerber is a staple for babies. So no wonder The Looking Glass has chosen some must-have products from this great company that can be personalized for babies and toddlers. The collection includes burp cloths, receiving blankets, snap front gowns and even wash cloths!

SwaddleBee Designs: This is probably my favorite "overall" brand that The Looking Glass carries. (As much as I love the zip-front bear bunting from Angel Dear!) But under SwaddleBee designs you will find the most gorgeous hooded towels! You can get pastel pink, lime green or pastel blue - all with mod colors. It is a cozy, soft cotton with a satin trim. SwaddleBees also has a stroller blanket - which is massive and perfect for keeping your kids cozy this winter. The SwaddleBees stroller blanket measures 30" x 40", is fuzzy and plush and has a smooth, silky satin trim. It is available in the same colors and style as the hooded towels - pink, lime green and blue mod circles.

There is a lot more to choose from than that small sampling. Check out the personalized beach towels for summer, twin bed sheets for a new "big kid" room, or consider a personalized gift set like Bedtime Reflections for a new baby! The possibilities are endless as you shop through The Looking Glass online!

BUZZWORTHY:

All items from The Looking Glass are delivered gift-wrapped at no extra charge!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

Win Tickets to the Baby Show NYC!

2009-09-22T11:59:00.008-04:00

On October 3rd and 4th a huge 2-Day event celebrating pregnancy and motherhood will be going on in NYC! It is The Baby Show NYC! I can't go, since I'll be at a social networking event that is close to home. But I do have a ticket to give-away to The Baby Show NYC - and you can bring your family!

Here is the buzz. You'll be joining top-notch experts in the baby field for exciting seminars, shopping the latest products for baby and mommy - from diapers and bottles to strollers and organic care, and enjoying unique hands-on experiences in a stroller test drive track and nursery design showroom. Plus, children will love playing in the events Kids Korner and noshing in the organic cafe.

There is an amazing list of attending exhibitors, including mom-loved brand like Babies R Us. Plus there are plenty of other exhibitors that I've buzzed in the past, such as Skyoozmee and Miss Brittany's Organic Preschool Fun Dough.

Ticket prices range from $20 - $40! If you don't win, you can purchase a ticket at the door! Tickets may be purchased on their website at www.thebabyshownyc.com. Advance ticket deadline is 5pm Oct 1st.

Event Details:

Saturday, October 3rd 2009 - 11am-7pm
Sunday, October 4th 2009 - 10am-6pm

Metropolitan Pavilion - 125 West 18th Street NYC

One buzz reader will win a 1-Day Pass to The Baby Show NYC! The winner can choose the day they wish to attend. To enter, check out the list of exhibitors and tell me who you are most excited to see!

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But for extra entries, you can:

Add the Mom Buzz to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link!
Blog about the contest - add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor
Add the Mom Buzz button to your site OR add the Mom Buzz to your blog roll.

Contest ends 9/25/09. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner's Wall.

And don't forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

The Mom Buff: SAHMs Have More Time to Work Out

2009-09-22T07:23:00.006-04:00

"Erin, you have more time to work out since you don't work," says my friend Benny. (The commenter's name has been modified for his protection from angry SAHMs everywhere.)

When he told me that, I think 5 flies flew into my open mouth. Let's look at the participants in this conversation.

Me, Erin of the Mom Buzz: A stay-at-home mom of two boys ages 1 and 3. Husband works over 40 hours a day, plus he works out 5 days a week after work.

Denny: Single male, recently engaged. Probably works over 40 hours a week too, as a manager of a busy retail location.

Who has more free time? Every SAHM I told this story to gasped, laughed or asked for his address to deliver a special message to him. That's because I would like to know where our free time is? Personally, my husband wakes up at 5:30am to cardio. He returns home at 8:00pm most days. But even then, my work day does not end until at the earliest 9:00pm, since we start the bedtime routines at 8:30. And I can't just leave the kids home by themself to go workout - kinda defeats the purpose of being a SAHM - plus I think it's illegal.

So when do I work out? Most days, between the hours of 9:30 pm and 11:00pm. I don't really want to be at the gym between the hours of midnight and 5:30am, when my husband is also home. I hope you understand that, all you Benny's out there.

Now let's talk when Benny, in other words - all single males, can work out. They can go before work, during lunch, after work. Their work day often (not always - but commonly) begins at 8:00am, a 1 hour lunch break is common (good enough for a 30-minute cardio session) and then they can work out anytime after work. The common end of a workday is 5pm. As a manager of a retail location, the hours will differ than common office hours - but with an 8 work day they still have plenty of options to work out. How do I know this - because I was a single person who used to work out BEFORE WORK, DURING LUNCH and AFTER WORK.

There is no before, during or after work when you are a SAHM. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being with my babies. But at the same time, there are no sick days or days off. So, I plan my schedule accordingly to fit in working out. And to tell me it's easier is only proof that you don't understand everything a mother does - one thing being planning. I plan morning routines, lunch time, playdates, bed and bath routines, etc. And I can plan my work-outs.

Benny is engaged now - what lies in his future... who knows. But if parenthood is to come, I hope he never make those assumptions with his future wife! And I hope that instead of using his time working out his "mouth" to say asinine comments, that he use that same time to fit in a work-out!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with single males. And don't forget to enter my hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

the Mom Buzz

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Modular Carpets from FLOR: Win a FLOR of your Choice*

The Juice: Feathered Hair

Wordless Wednesday: The Boys Meeting the Mouse

Family Game Night: Three Winners

The Looking Glass:

Win Tickets to the Baby Show NYC!

Saturday, October 3rd 2009 - 11am-7pmSunday, October 4th 2009 - 10am-6pm

Metropolitan Pavilion - 125 West 18th Street NYC

The Mom Buff: SAHMs Have More Time to Work Out

Saturday, October 3rd 2009 - 11am-7pm
Sunday, October 4th 2009 - 10am-6pm