o.b. Share It Forward

We have become a society of modern day conveniences.  Everything has sort of evolved, something as simple as a toothbrush has even changed over the years, to the more compact and newer model.  Being female, when I think of that inevitable time of the month, the last thing I want to be is uncomfortable with the personal feminine protection products I am using.  I know how horrible cramps, bloating and moodiness can make you feel.  Could you imagine being without the modern convenience of a maxi pad or tampon?  I do believe we are pretty spoiled, because in some countries, women go without these things.  I cannot even imagine not having what I needed during that time of the month.

For millions of girls in developing countries, sanitary protection is a luxury item, that we just toss in our grocery cart when we need it. Unable to afford sanitary protection,  young woman in these countries resort to dangerous alternatives or simply avoid school for the duration of their periods.  They are missing out on valuable education necessary for change  and increasing their susceptibility  to poverty and disease, including HIV.

Recognizing a very overlooked problem,  the o.b. Brand has created a Share It Forward Facebook campaign to raise money and awareness for Huru International, a non-profit organization that provides at-risk young girls in developing countries with the resources and knowledge they need to complete their education and safeguard their health. Now through November, the o.b. Brand will donate $1 (up to $25,000) for every person who visits the o.b. Outreach Tab on the mighty. small.™ movement Facebook page and “Shares” a message about Huru International’s mission.

In these countries, twenty five thousand dollars could buy a lot of these much needed products and help to provide the education these woman need.  I think this is a great cause and helping out couldn’t get any easier than visiting the mighty. small.™ movement Facebook page and sharing a message about Huru International’s mission. What a great reminder about appreciating the little things in life that we are all guilty of taking for granted.

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of o.b. and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Mizuno Wave Ascend 6 Review

I haven’t kept my recent journey to weight loss a secret. When I first started out, I knew that I wanted to run eventually when I was in much better shape. When I finally decided it was time, I realized that my walking shoes weren’t going to cut it. Not only were my feet already hurting, but any ramp up in my activity in them made matters worse.

I do a ton of walking on local trails, so I knew that I eventually wanted to jog them as a well. I am also a major overpronator, or I tend to walk to the inside of my feet, you can see it by the way my soles on my shoes tend to wear. Initially, I said to myself, ok I need a running shoe. When I began to look, I began to panic at all the various choices. There are about a billion different brands, different styles, there are trail running shoes, neutral running shoes, and shoes that feel like no shoes at all. After about three days of looking, my head began to hurt and that is when I was introduced to Mizuno shoes, my saving grace in my search for trail running shoes and for my feet.

The folks at Mizuno were kind enough to send me a pair of their Wave Ascend 6 trail runners. This particular shoe is in it’s 6th generation which already tells me it’s a keeper and clearly time and dedication went into it’s creation. When I received them, I opened the box and was delighted to see the one thing that was going to be significant in my weight loss journey and how awesome they looked. I loved the black mesh shoes, with hot pink and yellow accents, but I loved them on my feet even more.

The fit was that of a glove, and all the love a hug could give. They fit a tad snug, but felt extremely comfortable, I had a feeling that it was designed to stay on your foot so when you are running, your feet aren’t moving all over the place in your shoe. The shoe itself is extremely lightweight. 9.6 ounces to be exact, but offers ample cushioning from heel to toe. The real test however, was to take a test run in them and I was more than excited.

About the Wave Ascend 6  (taken directly from the site)

Mizuno Wave Technology®

Unlike other shoe technologies, as your foot touches the ground, Wave actually reduces and redirects impact forces away from your foot. Wave acts much like your car’s suspension—offering cushioning and keeping your foot centered in your shoe throughout your stride.

• Disperses impact forces away from foot
• Progressive, tunable support
• Lightweight, compact, responsive
• Doesn’t break down over time

SmoothRide Engineering™

SmoothRide is the result of years of development designed to the most fluid, smooth, rocking-chair-like motion in every step.

Smoothride begins working the moment your foot touches the ground. Flex Grooves in the heel promote natural movement from the back of your foot to the front, initiating that rocking-chair motion. Our AP+ Midsole gives the shoe a bouncier feel. And Flex Grooves and Flex Controllers in the forefoot work together to smoothly continue the roll forward to give your foot a more solid platform at toe-off. It all adds up to a more fluid, enjoyable run, every time you head out.

• Smooth, rocking motion throughout your stride
• Increased flexibility
• More power at toe-off

Dynamotion Fit™

From heel strike to mid stride to toe off, Dynamotion Fit is all about creating a shoe that works with your foot through the design and materials we use to create it. As your foot twists, bends, and stretches in each step, the shoe upper moves with you. Flex Eyelets help keep your heel secure throughout your stride by allowing the upper to stretch and contract as needed. And Stretch Mesh eliminates bunching and pulling that can create discomfort and even blisters–especially at toe-off. Together, the features of Dynamotion Fit create a shoe that gets out of your way, so you can become the best runner you can be.

• Emulates the motion of your foot
• Secure fit that still freely moves
• Eliminates bunching, pulling, and sliding

 

I took off on the trails with my pup , and did a quick 15 minute test run. The trails behind my house have lots of rocks, and the traction on the Mizuno Wave Ascend 6 is amazing. At first, I felt hesitant on my first down hill turn, but realized that these particular shoes had what felt like a tacky grip on the rocks. I never once, felt my feet slip beneath me, which was an inherent problem when walking in my other shoes. The mesh on the shoe offers great breath-ability, because let’s face it, you’re feet sweat. It was hard to tell after first run, how the pain in my foot would fair, but after logging approximately 150 miles in the Wave Ascend 6, I can tell you that any pain that I had, has apparently corrected itself as well as the over pronation problem.

Overall, I am extremely impressed in the wear of the Wave Ascend 6 and how it has held up to my pounding the trails in them.  With a $99 price point, it is a great running shoe for the wear.  I have learned that a running shoe is only good for around 300 miles and I intend on pushing the limits , so my next pair will definitely be Mizuno because it takes the guess work out of finding a good shoe.  There are a lot of shoe choices out there and you have to find a good one that you love to wear and that feels good on your feet.  It is obvious that Mizuno took a great deal of effort to make the Wave Ascend 6 a shoe you want to run in.

 

**Disclosure:  I was sent a pair of Mizuno Wave Ascend Shoes to facilitate my review, the opinions in this posting are that of my own**

Hexbug Nano Halloween Party Creeping Crawling Oh My!

I have two boys, and naturally they love bugs, snakes, worms and anything that naturally freaks me out.  With Halloween coming up, we decided to throw a small party and have a little creepy crawling fun with bugs, Hexbugs that is.  We had the chance to invite over friends and have a glow in the dark Hexbug Halloween Party.  We had treats, kids and lots of bugs!

Just in time for Halloween we were sent Hexbug Nano bugs, and limited edition Hexbug Nano Halloween Zombie bugs complete with their own habitats.  The unique thing about them was that the bugs glow in the dark along with the habitat tracks.  So when the lights go out, it is twice the fun and the kids had a blast.  There is no end to what you can come up with Hexbugs, and our favorite part was when each kid got their bugs and decided to race them start to finish through the habitat.  The first person whose bug made it to the finish was the winner.  It got a little crazy in the house, but it was truly a blast.

Check Out Our Video!

I was amazed at how well these things got around, it was like they had a mind of their own and could find their way through the twists and turns of the habitat.  We were even sent some Hexbug Larva, that crawled around with uncanny resemblance to the real thing.  It even had a sensor that makes it turn around to avoid things in it’s path.  It was a little gross for me, but gross is what the boys love.

Overall, my take, is that Hexbugs are pretty entertaining for the kids.  When I checked out the Hexbug website they have all sorts of cool bugs, and even remote ones.  My only beef is that it seems like they run out of batteries quickly, but usually kids tend to seem to leave them running and walk away.  But overall they are really cool and quite ingenious how they move about.

From bugs races, to entertaining your cat, Hexbugs are sure to make your kid smile.  Right now you can find the limited edition Hexbug Nano Halloween Zombie bugs at a Radio Shack location near you, but don’t limit Hexbugs to Halloween, they would make great stocking stuffers for the Holidays and the perfect size in their little test tubes.

 

Disclosure *Hexbugs, and habitats were provided to us to host a party by Mom Select and Hexbug, all opinions,video, and pictures are that of my own*

Tombstone Pizza Making Halloween A Treat

Halloween is fast approaching, and it’s one of my favorites with the kids.  Besides loving the Fall weather, we love spending time with all our friends in the neighborhood.  Halloween, is always special because we have a pre-Halloween get together, take lots of pictures then some adults stay back with everyone’s candy lined up in lawn chairs waiting for all the little ghosts and goblins.  After the kids get tired, there is a fire, lots of glow sticks and kids playing and parents chit chatting.

The hours before trick or treating are spent getting costumes in order, waiting for my husband to get in the door and my boys have their noses pressed to the window to see who is already out.  In all their excitement and mine, we have little time to get everyone ready and a meal on the table.  My favorite is to throw a Tombstone pizza in the oven, throw together a garden salad and dinner is ready in minutes! And who doesn’t love pizza?

About Tombstone Pizza

• Only fitting for the “Official Pizza of Halloween,” TOMBSTONE pizza was brought to life in 1962, at a bar called the Tombstone Tap that was located across from a graveyard in Medford, WI.
• It all started when Tombstone Tap owner, Joe Simek, broke his leg dancing the “Peppermint Twist.”   While recuperating, Joe experimented with various pizza recipes in the kitchen in the back of the Tombstone Tap.  The tasty pizzas he made were an instant success, creating the TOMBSTONE pizza brand.
• 50 years later, TOMBSTONE pizza today offers eight different crust varieties (including Original, Brick Oven Style and Garlic Bread) and a multitude of tasty topping choices, including new TOMBSTONE Double Top. With so many options to choose from, moms are sure to please all their favorite little ghosts and goblins this Halloween season.
• Moms can find TOMBSTONE pizza in the frozen section of their local grocery store.

This Halloween season, Tombstone is being dubbed “The Official Pizza of Halloween,” and to help make your Halloween a success they are providing you with all the tools you would need to have a spooky good time!   Start by simply ‘liking’ the Tombstone Facebook page. There you can download a free Halloween Party Kit that will give you everything you need to make your Halloween party and conjure up lots of Halloween fun.

The free Tombstone Halloween Party kit includes tons of really great ideas including fun recipes, games you can play, fun tips, decorations and way to create fun Halloween photo ideas.  I love their spider web munch and bone chillin brew in the recipe section.  I know my kids would love it!

So while you are rushing to get those excited little ones out the door, pop in a Tombstone Pizza and make it your official Halloween favorite every year!

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Tombstone Pizza and received coupons and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

 

My Ford Flex Experience

Not having a car payment is nice. Then you drive by the car dealership on your way home one day and you see those shiny new cars sitting on the lot. Stylish, sleek, with the latest gadgets and gizmos. You read about some of the newer models online, maybe you take one or two for a test drive, but it’s hard to really evaluate a car in such a short time span. Thanks to Ford, we recently got a unique opportunity to really put a car to the “real world” test.
The folks at Ford allowed me to pick out the Ford vehicle model of my choice, then had it delivered to my front door for me to keep and use for a week. Talk about great service.

We decided to make it a family road trip, to head out to grandma and grandpa’s place – about 450 miles away. When you go somewhere for a week and bring the whole family and the dog, you need a lot of space. A regular car was not going to cut it. We decided to try out the Flex.

The Ford Flex is an interesting and unique vehicle. With it’s long boxy frame, it looks different than anything else out there. . It’s not quite an SUV, it’s not quite a crossover, it’s not a minivan, and it’s definitely not a truck… it’s a little of all, it’s a Flex.

The first thing you notice when you get into the Flex is that it’s very roomy on the inside, much more roomy than you would expect by looking at it from the outside. It has 3 rows of seating for a total of 7 seats. The leg and headroom for the front and middle rows are excellent, much better than what I’ve seen in other similar vehicles (including the Explorer). The 2 seats in the third row offer enough space for an adult to sit comfortably. The third row seats are very easy to fold down to expand cargo space as needed, even using  just one hand. One issue we had was that if you have two or more child seats or boosters in the middle row, there’s no way to get to the third row seats. If you put those child seats in the third row, the cargo space is extremely limited, and it’s tough to get the kids buckled into their seats.

The second thing you notice is that the Flex is very nicely finished. You can tell that a lot of thought and effort went into the interior design and finish. No cheap plastic look and feel. Buttons and controls are where you’d expect them to be and are easy to use. The leather seats are very comfortable and can be adjusted a million ways to fit just right. The overall impression is that of a high end vehicle.
When you have a vehicle for 7 days and you take it on a road trip, you really get a feel of what it’s like to use it on a daily basis. One of the things we really liked about the Flex is that it’s packed with all the electronic goodies you could want. Bluetooth connectivity, built in GPS navigation system, a touchscreen interface on the dash where both the driver and passenger can reach it, Sirius satellite radio built in, easy phone pairing, and the really cool Ford SYNC functionality. You can easily pair up the SYNC with your smart phone (android or ios), play music from your phone or MP3 player, and control the music using voice commands so you can keep your hands on the wheel. Being able to change channels, select songs by title or artist etc all without lifting a finger is great. You can check out all the SYNC features here:

Another cool feature is being able to see exactly how much gas your engine is using at any particular time. The vehicle we used was equipped with the 3.5L EcoBoost engine , and we actually got better mileage than the EPA estimated 16 city/23 highway. We were consistently getting 26 mpg on the highway. We were a little surprised when we stopped for gas and noticed that there is no gas cap on the Flex, it uses the Ford “easy fuel” cap-less system, a nice touch.

Another feature that you won’t find in many vehicles is a refrigerated compartment in the middle console. That’s fantastic when you go on a long road trip, you can put some drinks in there and keep everything nice and cool, even on the hottest of days (the temps hovered in the 100’s during our trial).  I could forgo the refrigerated center console to have a clear path to the far back seats however.

Pros: very flexible with seating, very roomy, packed with technology, very refined, plenty of “oomph” under the hood, good mileage given it’s size.

Cons: when the third row seats are not folded down, cargo space is very small.

So what’s the final verdict? The Ford Flex is a really cool vehicle and true to its name it is very flexible in configuration. The Flex (depending on the model) goes for $29k to $39k. I personally would not be willing to pay close to $40k for the Flex, but in the $30k to $35k range it’s a very good value. Ford continues to add innovative and interesting models to its lineup, I look forward to taking some of the other new models for a spin.

 

Bissel Stomp ‘N Go Review

If you have kids, pets and carpet in your home, then you are bound to be cleaning up some sort of stain or spill from it.  I have had our carpets professionally cleaned numerous times, and it looks great for a few weeks then slowly, stains begin to reappear.  Often times they are just stains that seem to resurface.

Recently, I was given the chance to review a new product by Bissel, called Stomp ‘N Go.  Naturally, this peaked my interest for two reasons.   Firstly, it sounded way too easy and simple of a product, and two I am constantly looking for “at the ready” carpet stain removal products, that I can use to get a stain that is fresh or one that I have come across.  In our home there are our most common stains, like dirt, spilled juice, always the blue candy or popsicle, and usually the cat that inevitably throws up.

About Bissel Stomp ‘N Go

BISSELL^® Stomp ‘N Go^®

Innovative one-of-a-kind pad cleans carpet messes with just one STOMP

Forget about scrubbing out spots and stains on carpet, stomp them out! BISSELL’s new Stomp ‘N Go^® stain lifting pad is unlike any cleaning product available. Using a powerful oxy-based formula, the pre-moistened pads make cleaning easy and fun. Simply place the pad on a spot or stain and stomp on it.  Upon stomp, the pad begins working, lifting and removing the mess. You can actually see the stain being absorbed into the pad. There is no need for scrubbing or using other cleaning tools – the pad does all the work.

 

Stomp ‘N Go^® pads are great for permanently cleaning tough set in stains like red wine, food, fruit juice, coffee/tea, pet messes, blood, mud/dirt and more. The pads leave carpet smelling fresh and come in convenient, individually wrapped packages.

 

The stain lifting pads can also be used on rugs. Additional features and benefits include:

 

• Pads are portable and safe for use on all carpets including nylon, wool and stain resistant carpet
• Spots and stains are gone in about 30-minutes; tough stains may take up to 24 hours

• No scrubbing or manual work required

 

BISSELL Stomp ‘N Go^® pads are currently available at Kmart, grocery stores and select Wal-Mart stores for $4.99. Each package contains five individually wrapped pads.

 

I was  particularly interested in trying Bissel Stomp ‘N Go on this one stain that I have been wandering by in the main traffic area of our living room.  It was driving me crazy, and I had not yet had the time to get out my little handheld spot removing machine, because I didn’t think anything else would get it out.

The not so lovely stain

The product is incredibly easy to use. I opened up one sheet of the Bissel Stomp ‘N Go, placed it over the stain wet side down, and stepped on it, and left it there for about thirty five minutes.  My initial thought was, “how the heck is that going to take anything out of the carpet, without scrubbing or using a machine to extract it?”   After about fifteen minutes, I walked by and could actually see some of the stain being picked up by the sheet on the opposite side.  When I removed it, the stain was literally gone.  Not only was I thrilled, but I was happy I didn’t have to walk by that stupid stain anymore and better yet, there was no scrubbing at it with an arsenal of products I had on hand.  I love it!  I even reused the sheet (*note: It says to not reuse, to throw away after use) but  I tried it on a smaller nearby stain and it got that one as well.  It made me want to search my house for other stains just so I could use it.

Wahlah!   No more stain!

As with any carpet care product, the manufacturer states that you should always test for color fastness before using Bissel Stomp ‘N Go on your carpet.  But, what I can say, is that you will want to have a few of these handy  sheets in your home!  They come in packs of five for about $5, and take up a whole lot less space than all the carpet cleaning product in your arsenal.

 

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of BISSELL and received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

Activia Selects

Nutritious eating habits for my family has always been a priority, as well as for myself.  Recently, I have been trying to get more physically fit and lose some pounds in the process.  Watching calories and reading labels, have become a part of my every day life.  Food is something that we eat every day, so nutrition should be a top priority.

We have always been a big fan of yogurt as one of our go to healthy snacks.  It is a fast and easy snack and we all love it.  Recently, I was given the chance to try Dannon’s Activia Selects-French Fruit On The Bottom yogurt and at first, I was hesitant because I am a little picky about yogurt.  Some yogurts can be either too sweet, or too sour and sometimes, the fruit chunks can be overpowering, but this was really tasty with just the right amount of fruit.  I was worried about it tasting  different since I didn’t even know what on Earth Activia was.  What is so helpful about yogurt containing  Activia?  Well, Activia Selects yogurt has the probiotic culture called Bifidus Regularis that is supposed to help regulate the digestive system when consumed daily for 2 weeks.  Probiotics are  known by many as “the beneficial bacteria,”  which many people believe if carried in the intestinal tract in significant amounts, are thought to help ease some digestive concerns.

Anything, that can give me a leg up in nutritious eating habits and that I can quickly and easily add to my diet is definitely something that I will keep on hand.  I love that Activia Selects are a quick and easy way to get some of these good things that my body needs.  I will definitely buy these in the future.  And speaking of your health…

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

In support of Dannon’s ongoing commitment to health and wellness,Dannon is going pink in support of national breast cancer awareness month.  Dannon will donate at least 10 cents for each under-the-lid code entered at www.cupsofhope.com before 12/31/11 – up to $1.5 million – to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.® (NBCF). Dannon is committed to a $500,000 guaranteed donation to NCBF, including retailer-specific programs.

Each specially marked package of Dannon yogurt contains an under-the-lid code. Participating in Give Hope With Every Cup is as easy as entering the code from the lid at www.cupsofhope.com.

NBCF is committed to spreading knowledge and fostering hope in the fight against breast cancer. With support from Dannon, NBCF will fund free mammograms for women who could otherwise not afford them and will support research programs in leading facilities across the country.

So keep an eye out for the pink lids and help give yourself a leg up in your nutrition and overall health and help others who are in need.  If you want to learn more about Activia Selects you can go to http://activia.us.com/products/enjoy_activia_selects.aspx

 

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Dannon Activia Selects Yogurt Series and received a coupon to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.”

 

Umi Shoes Fall Collection

The air is crisp and all the kiddos are going back or have gone back to school.  It is still shorts weather, but a few days have been cold enough to break out the boys Fall weather gear.  I love to shop for them, and I love outfitting them from head to toe in some of the newest fashions.  Along with great fashion, comfortable shoes for kids are a must.

Umi Shoes is  my go to fashion for little feet.  Although, my two seem to be growing leaps and bounds, Umi has one of the cutest selections and some of the best children’s shoes in my opinion.  I am always eager to see their new Spring and Fall lineups each year, because they always have great new styles.  They aren’t afraid to change it up a bit where as when I walk into other kids shoe stores, they have the same thing virtually every time I am there.

About Umi Shoes (taken directly from their site)

At Umi they meticulously craft each and every shoe for the utmost in comfort and fit. Hands that simply know how to make a better children’s shoe. So, what makes a better children’s shoe? Years of experience working with age-appropriate lasts, patterns and buttersoft leathers give Umi a step up over everyone else. At Umi, all they make are children’s shoes, and they believe every step your child takes is as important as their very first.

At Umi, caring for little feet also means caring for the earth—which means they set their standards sky-high. Every shoe they make is tested for safety and durability and meets strict guidelines for child-safe materials. They use only non-toxic drum-dyed leathers and other environmentally friendly components. Protected in recycled packaging, Umi’s a brand sure to please parents and Mother Nature alike.

Shoes are made for much more than walking. Umi shoes are specially designed for the littlest and hardest working feet in mind. At Umi, our focus is on quality, comfort and style.

From years and years of hand crafting shoes for babies, boys and girls they’ve developed a deep understanding of materials, patterns, footbeds—the building blocks of creating the most comfortable shoes around.

 

This year Umi Shoes has some cute Fall styles for boys that include Caaden and Carrson, which are two very adorable half boot style shoes.  Caaden is a cute lace up style available in Taupe and Olive.  Carrson is another suede half boot that combines a great look, with a thick velcro closure which makes it easy for lil ones to get their shoes on and off.  Both of my boys tried them on and had a blast running and playing in their new kicks.  Usually they will tell me if  a shoe is uncomfortable and want them off right away, but this has never been the case with Umi Shoes.

 

All of their shoes offer about a half size growing room and ample cushioning in their shoes.  Kids can run and jump and play and Umi Shoes offers sturdy, flexible souls for growing feet.  Kids are known to give their footwear a vigorous workout, but I have never had a problem with Umi Shoes.   Often time they outgrow them after extensive wear and they still look practically brand new.

If you are looking for one of the best shoes for kids, I highly recommend investing in Umi Shoes.  They are incredibly  comfy for kids.  If you are like me, I want shoes that are going to hold up so I am not out buying more before the season even ends.  Umi Shoes are reasonable priced, incredible cute and well made.

 

Bazoongi Nuclear Bounce House From Hayneedle

Summer is still in full swing at our house and even though the kids are back to school, my two are still at home and want to be outdoors as much as two little boys can be.  As a stay at home mom, it can be difficult finding things for the boys to do when the neighborhood kids aren’t around, and when they are bored with their own yard.  Many times, I need to get things done inside and they want to be outside and I certainly want to encourage them being as active as they can, rather than sitting inside.

Recently, we were given the opportunity to review the Bazoongi Nuclear Bounce House from Hayneedle and let me tell you, that, this is the best thing since slice bread.  If you want to get your kids moving, and excited to be outdoors, this will surely make them jump with excitement. When I told the boys what was in the box, they couldn’t wait. The great thing is, that I can put it right out in my backyard and keep a close eye on them.

Set up was super easy and I had two little helpers by my side.  The bounce house is actually rolled up like a sleeping bag, and you simply unroll it, and unfold it, stake it down, and attach the blower and it is fully inflated in about a minute.  The  stakes help  keep the Bazoongi Bounce House in place,  so it doesn’t move around while jumping and your children don’t blow away.   The best part is that it keeps them active, happy and busy while they are outside and they aren’t sitting in front of the television.

The Bazoongi Nuclear Bounce House is also compact in size but offers plenty of bouncing room for 1-3 kiddos.  The maximum weight limit is 200lbs which makes it perfect for younger kids. The bounce house itself, is made of  semi-commercial-grade, puncture-resistant PVC material and seems to withstand all the boys tumbling, bouncing and running with absolutely no problems.  The entire bounce house is enclosed in netting.  The front entrance can be zippered clothes and attached by click in tethers, so no one is going to fall out.

Because of its compact size 9ft x 9ft,  it  fits nicely indoors!  We have a basically empty dining room and it fits nicely in there.  So on rainy days and in the winter when the kids are stuck inside, I can bring their outdoor bouncing fun indoors!  I have tried this already on several occasions and it’s a big hit.  At first, I thought they would bump into the walls but the netting around it and the bounce house foundation goes well past the netting so this was avoided.    The boys were bouncing, running circles, doing somersaults, and just having a giggling good time all inside the confines of the bounce house.  After a day of bouncing, they slept like rocks and as a parent, you can surely appreciate that.

The boys have a myriad of outdoor toys from scooters, to bikes, to their Power Wheels, and I love that I can actually put this bounce house away!  The first time I had to put it away (you know how stuff never goes back in the way it came), I struggled a little bit trying to get it folded and rolled small enough to fit into the provided duffel bag.  I found that if you kind of lean into it while rolling it up (just like a sleeping bag), it gets all the air out and fits nicely in the bag to be put away and I was also able to fit the blower in the same bag and store it in our coat closet. The Bazoongi Nuclear  Bounce House, retails for $269.99 at Hayneedle.

We love our new Bazoongi Bounce House from Hayneedle where you can buy even more than just great outdoor things for the kids.  They have everything you can possibly imagine in one place.  You can buy just about anything your heart desires from Hayneedle,  and to help you do that, Hayneedle and DoubleBugs has a a $50 gift card to Hayneedle to help get your shopping started!

Win A $50 Hayneedle Gift Certificate!!!

Winners are chosen at random using “And The Winner Is”

Here’s What Ya Gotta Do!

Visit Hayneedle.com and do a little shopping around and tell me what you would like to buy, come back here and leave a comment

Extra Entries (not required) Please leave a separate comment for each

Become a fan of Hayneedle on their Facebook Page

Follow Hayneedle on Twitter

Subscribe to my feed

Follow me on Twitter @Laurie2008

Good Luck!!!

Contest starts August 17, 2011 and Ends Sept 1, 2011

 

**The bounce house was provided by Hayneedle   for review, all the opinions expressed here are that of my own**

 

 

 

 

Sargento Cheese Tasting

We love cheese in our house, but I will be honest and tell you that, I am not a cheese connoisseur and really don’t know much about cheese beyond picking up our family favorites at the grocery store.  One of my favorite late night snacks has to be cheese and crackers and my boys would have cheese at every meal if I let them.

Recently we had the opportunity to have a cheese tasting party and distinguish the differences in processed sliced cheese versus natural sliced cheese and how to taste cheese.  Let’s face it, eating is something us humans have to do every day and sometimes even that becomes very routine.  We grab quick meals and foods we are used to eating and pay little attention to their taste.

First thing was to educate our party attendees.  Before getting started I read over the cheese tasting tips that were provided to facilitate our party.

1. Look at the cheeses. Natural cheeses, like cheddar, come in many different colors, but in general an understated and non-glossy appearance.  Processed cheese is shiny in appearance even after the plastic is removed.

2. Touch the cheese to feel its texture.  Bend the cheese. Natural cheese texture can vary by the type and variety of the cheese but will break in authentic fashion.  Process cheese Processed cheese is characterized by a smooth, rubbery and artificially pliable texture, and can often bend and fold without breaking.

3.  Smell the cheeses like you’d smell a glass of wine. Natural cheeses’ aroma will vary by cheese type, and the range of smells span and can best be described as  earthy, nutty, and fruity. Processed cheese is usually lacking in a strong aroma, but can have cooked milk notes due to its heating process. what aromas do you pick up when you smell the cheeses?

4. Taste the cheese. Natural cheeses have an incredible array of flavors – from savory to fruity to spicy and sharp. the dominant characteristic in processed cheese is often described as salty. take note of the characteristics of the cheese, the intensity of the flavor, the saltiness, sharpness or fruitiness of the cheese. how does it finish? does the taste linger?

After setting the stage for our cheese tasting party, I let my husband, kids, and neighborhood friends go to work on our cheese and fruit spread. At first, they grabbed whatever was in front of them, but I quickly noticed that they only went back for the Sargento Natural Sharp Cheddar Cheese slices vs the unnamed processed slices. When I closed my eyes and tasted the different cheeses, I noticed that the flavor was richer in the Sargento cheese and the texture was much more appealing. The processed cheese seemed to feel slimy when it hit my tongue, and lacked a definite distinguishable flavor, it just tasted like salt and had no real cheese smell. There is a clear difference in taste of natural cheese versus processed cheese and also a difference in ingredients.  I cannot believe I never payed this close attention after so many years of taking out a processed cheese slice and plopping it on my sandwiches!  Clearly, I have been missing out.

(You can see the difference in cheeses here)

Processed pre-packaged cheese slices go back to my fond childhood memories of grilled cheese sandwiches, but during this cheese tasting, I learned a little something about my processed cheese that I always loved.  Most often times, processed cheese can sit on store shelves without refrigeration and are often times pumped into their packaging and rolled out to form it into a square and is cooked into a liquid before it is formed into a slice.  After reading this, all I could say was eww!  No more shiny cheese for me!

Hands down, the natural cheese beat the processed floppy stuff and everyone could honestly tell the difference immediately just by looking at the different cheeses as well as, the difference in taste.  After really sitting down and tasting the difference, I don’t think the processed stuff will be my go to choice for our favorite grilled cheese because good cheese should make your taste buds do a little dance when you first take a bite, and although I like shiny things, but my food doesn’t have to have bling to taste good.

 

**The Motherhood and Sargento provided the cheese tasting supplies to help facilitate or cheese tasting party and my post, the opinions expressed are strictly that of my own.**

 

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