CrAzY Working Mom: product reviews

Showing posts with label product reviews. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Gerber Graduates Preschooler Snacks - A Review

My kids and I recently teamed up with the folks at Gerber to sample a few products from their Gerber Graduates line. On the menu were Gerber Graduates Preschooler Snacks.

Gerber Graduates for Preschoolers Fruit Twists
"Fruit Twists are real fruit snacks that are perfect for on the go snacking – best of all they are made with 99% real concentrated fruit and juice and provide ½ of a preschooler serving of fruit per twist as well as 25% of the daily preschooler amount of antioxidant vitamin C. The great thing about these Fruit Twists, is that your child can pull them apart and eat one flavor at a time, or eat them both at once, combining the two flavors. Either way, your child can choose what they like best!"
What we thought:

My children LOVE fruit snacks. This was a pure treat for them. They all loved the fruit twists. They come in two flavors: Strawberry and Grape as well as Apple and Strawberry. The Strawberry and Grape seemed to be the crowd pleaser at my house. Of course I don't believe that this should take the place of fruit in your home, but if you're on the go as much as we are, they will easily fit in the diaper bag and you'll have a great, healthy snack for any trip you're taking. A five pack will cost around $2.99 so they are a bit pricier than the store brand snacks, but reading the ingredients might steer you toward the Gerber brand. This was by far the favorite of my children!

Gerber Graduates for Preschoolers Cereal Twists

"Cereal Twists are made with whole grains and two flavored yogurt fillings. Each cereal bar is individually wrapped for convenient on-the-go snacking and comes in three delicious flavors: Strawberry Blueberry, Banana Peach and Raspberry Vanilla."

What we thought:

The kids didn't like these as much as I did! If you've ever eaten the Nutra-Grain type bars these are similar in texture and taste. Emily (age 19 months) enjoyed them but my 4 and 7 year old passed on them very quickly and asked for more Fruit Twists!

Gerber Graduates for Preschoolers Chewy Granola Bars
"Chewy Granola bars are made with whole grain rolled oats and wheat flakes for a unique soft texture that preschoolers love – they’re naturally flavored and provide 10% daily value for 4 vitamins and minerals. They have 6g of whole grains per bar and have no preservatives or artificial flavors."

What we thought:

These bars were also a hit with the kids. We tried the apple cinnamon and the strawberry. Shelby especially loved this product. Since she takes her lunch to school daily, I am constantly struggling to find healthy snacks that she can transport easily in her lunch box. We've tried other granola bars and usually she's not a big fan. She really liked these.

The Bottom Line:
All in all, the Gerber Graduates for Preschoolers line are a good alternative snack. Lets face it, as parents we'd much rather see our children snacking on a granola bar than a chocolate bar! By keeping such snacks handy, we're teaching our children to make good choices when snacking and setting a standard which they will carry with them from childhood into their adult life. Who knew that choosing snacks for your children could play such an important role in their future?! For more information on Gerber Graduates and other Gerber lines, you can click here.

Friday, April 30, 2010

McNill Designs Games = Fun Family Time

I recently teamed up with the folks over at McNill Designs via Business2Blogger to review a couple of their products which I thought the readers of CrAzY Working Mom might enjoy! I see commercials all of the time advertising "Family Game Nights" and I always think that would be so much fun, to implement a night to playing board games or card games with the kids. Since our kids are so spread apart in ages (7, 4, and 19 months) it's hard for us to find games that aren't too hard for one while being too easy for another. We received two games from McNeill: Twisted Fish and You've Been Sentenced.

Twisted Fish is described on McNill Design's Website as follows:
"For Ages 8 and up, 30-40 min, 3-6 players

The old game of go fish just got a very challenging twist. It isn’t child’s play any more! Twisted Fish takes a traditional standby and casts it into the 21st century.

13 unique Fish characters in five different colors, plus 8 unique “Zingers” that allow you to break the rules, makes “Twisted Fish” a unique game experience. The real challenge takes place when asking for the fish cards you are collecting—Now you have to be specific about the type of fish and color you are seeking. “Twisted Fish” challenges you to remember every question asked at the table. It is challenging and fun right down to the very last card!

We promise you’ll fall hook, line, and sinker! Twisted Fish offers laugh-out-loud fun for the entire family"

Since none of my children fall into this age category I was worried that we'd have some trouble playing. We were determined to give it a try. We opened the box and took a look at the silly cards included in the set. The characters are oddly original and wonderfully illustrated. The kids really enjoyed this but what we all found perplexing was the rubber duck that was included in the box. To find out, the instructions tell you that you must go online to do so. We did and thought it was a royally fun idea! All in all it's a fun game and way better than the "normal" go fish game. It can take a while to play especially when you're playing with younger children or CrAzY Mom's who don't have a very good memory. With the Zinger cards such as the Glass Bottom Boat, Dead Scuba Diver, and The Game Warden it can add loads of fun to an already interesting game. It's a wonderfully witty idea and would be a great addition to anyone's game closet. It would be especially fun at slumber parties and the likes.

You've Been Sentenced is every grammar teacher's dream. Who knew that turning words into sentences could be so much fun?! The cards contain words, phrases, famous names and places in which the players have to use to make sentences. Sounds easy, right? Well, the tricky part is that the sentences have to make sense and be grammatically correct! There are several methods of play that you can try out according to your preferences and the amount of players. You've Been Sentenced comes with extensions such as Pop Culture, Sports, Sci Fi/Fantasy, Gourmet Cooking, and the official Readers Digest Word Power Challenge.

A portion of each retail sale of You’ve been Sentenced goes to fight illiteracy in the USA through the not-for-profit organization Success Won’t Wait, Inc. Founded in 2002, the organization’s mission is to encourage reading, particularly by children. For more information about Success Won’t Wait and its literacy programs, please visit www.successwontwait.org.

If you're interested in being on the television version of this game, you can click here! I've always thought it would be fun to be on television, but I'm afraid that my brain would freeze and I'd never be able to do it.

McNill Designs has won multiple awards. You can click here to see them all.

McNill Designs sent me the above products in order to review. I was given no other compensation for doing so. Any opinions stated above are my own and I have had no outside influence. Any statements made by McNill Designs or affiliates must be validated by those companies as I am not responsible. To see my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Tickler Tags Review & Giveaway

My daughter Shelby takes her lunch on most days. She never has cared much for the cafeteria food (and who could blame her) at her school. I've just made it routine to make her lunch daily. She loves it when I put a note in her lunch box. I will write words of encouragement or sometimes just a simple I Love You note and it will bring a smile to her face because she has a note from her mom and she can enjoy it while eating her PB&J.

Thanks to the fine folks over at Business2Blogger, I have been connected with Nicole, Mom and Owner of Tickler Tags, interchangeable backpack reminder tags that parents attach to their child’s backpack. They can be used to communicate words of encouragement, positive feedback or to remind your little one of a task they might otherwise forget.

When I received my Tickler Tags, I'm not sure who was more excited, my 7 year old daughter Shelby or myself! We decided that since our routine is the same on most days that the Smiles and Words of Encouragement Tags would be most useful for our family. We do have the Early Release tag as well so that we can both remember those days when she gets out of school early.

Shelby loved the carabiner clip. She couldn't get it on her lunchbox fast enough. She was excited that she would have something completely different from the other students in her class making her stand out of the crowd. Each day she looks forward to seeing which Tickler Tag adorns her clip. These are a wonderful idea and very reasonably priced. You can also customize tags for yourself if you so choose with photos and text. What a brilliant idea!

The carabiner clips come in four bright colors: orange, blue, red, and purple and retail for $2.50. The tags themselves are $1.50 each with the customized tags at $5. You can purchase HERE via PayPal, and most major credit cards.

Nicole has anxiously agreed to give away a set of your choice of (5) five Tickler Tags with (1) one carabiner clip in your choice of color to one lucky reader!

Give Away Details:
The give away will begin today: Wednesday, April 7, 2010 and end on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at midnight CST. For your chance to win one of these DVDs, all you have to do is go to the Tickler Tags Website, browse all of the tag options and ask choose your five (5) favorite TicklerTags (standard options, no customized tags) and carabiner clip color. Be sure to choose carefully as these selections will your prize should you be chosen as the winner. Come back here and leave your choice in a comment. You must do this step in order to earn any extra entries listed below. It is also important that you leave your e-mail address if it is not visible in your profile so that I can contact you should you be chosen as the winner. *Contest open to US Residents only due to shipping.

For additional entries:
Please be sure to leave each of these in a separate comment, this is important since I will use the random number generator to choose a winner and if you put all of your extra entries in one comment, it will only count as one entry.

- Follow my blog via Google (in the sidebar) and/or Facebook.

- Become a fan of CrAzY Working Mom on Facebook.

- Become a fan of Tickler Tags on Facebook.

- Blog about this contest on your blog. Be sure to leave the link in your comment.

- Follow CrAzY Working Mom and Tickler Tags on Twitter and Tweet this: Another #giveaway via @ticklertags on @crazyworkingmom: Come back and leave a link to your tweet. You can tweet daily for entries.

- Add my badge to your sidebar or add my link to your blogroll.

- Send an e-mail to five or more of your friends with a link to this post and cc: me at tishblack (at) gmail.com.

Of course if you already to any or all of these, leave me a comment (separate for each entry) and it will count.

* I received the product mentioned in the post in exchange for a review post. No other form of compensation has been received and the opinions stated above are my own. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Fashion Playtes - Online Design for Girls

As most of my regular readers know, Shelby my oldest child is quite the little diva. Gone are the days when I could just wake her up, dress her, brush her hair and send her out the door. She now has a say in every single aspect of her wardrobe from accessories and the likes down to her shoes. I learned a long time ago to do this the night before so we are not scrambling around in the mornings trying to get it together. Shelby has expressed to me before that she would like to be a designer so she could make her own clothes. In fact, she has done just that from time to time. She has scribbled designs on paper and she will emerge from her closet sometimes with the strangest combinations. She will have scarves tied around her waist as belts. She will layer shirts with different prints, or wear shorts over pants.

When I was asked to do a review for the website Fashion Playtes I knew that this would be something that Shelby would be very excited about. Fashion Playtes puts your daughter in the designer's seat! She will begin with the sketch book. She'll select the item she would like to use for her design from the Fashion Playtes Sketchbook. Then, she Be choose a pattern, color and fabric. By adding special touches like ribbons, fuffles, appliques and more she will make the design uniquely her own. This is her chance to show that one-of-a-kind style I mentioned that my daughter has! When she's happy with her order, you can add it to your cart, check out, and Fashion Playtes will do the rest. Your daughter's very own design will be shipped to her within 3 weeks.

When Shelby heard about it she couldn't wait to get online and try it out. She has been wanting a vest, so she immediately chose it. She went through all of the steps in designing. We made the mistake of not creating an account before starting which posed a bit of problem when we got ready to order and we had to go back and re-do the design. This, of course did not upset Shelby one bit. It just meant that she got to play designer a bit longer.

Shelby's custom label

Shelby chose "The Madison" (vest) with Pink Dots on Black Ribbon Ribbon and custom label, which she also designed. She had so much fun trying several different designs and ultimately went with one that she knew would match a particular shirt she had.

Shelby sporting her new design!

Two thumbs up on her design!

Once the design was complete, she was excited about the prospect of getting her vest in the mail. It takes about 3 weeks to get your design in once your order is placed. Of course to Shelby it was a horribly long 3 weeks, but once the package was received she was very excited and could not get it open fast enough. In fact, she opened it before I could even get any pictures of her doing so!

I am very happy with the overall quality of the product, the ease of navigation on the website, and the price of the garment. Another great thing about Fashion Playtes is that they offer gift cards so this would make a perfect gift for that fashionista on your shopping list. It's a great place for a young girl to express creativity and self expression! Shelby AND I give Fashion Playtes and her new Madison Vest two (well, okay 4!) thumbs way up. Thanks Fashion Playtes for an awesome idea at an affordable price. It's a win-win situation for Mommies and their daughters! To find out more about then, you can also follow on Facebook!

*Please Note: I was given a $25 gift certificate toward the purchase of anything on the site in exchange for this review. No other compensation has been given to me or any other member of my family. Any claims made my Fashion Playtes should be validated by the compay as I am not responsible. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and have not been influenced by any outside source. To read my full disclosure policy, you can do so by clicking here.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Wumblers DVD Review

After Mom and former teacher, Laura Wellington lost her husband to cancer she wanted to help her own four children cope with the loss. She came up with a brilliant idea and created The Wumbler Series and The Wumbler Patch. It is wonderful to see ordinary women taking a truly negative situation and turning it into a positive, not just for their own self, but for others as well.

Both The Wumblers series and The Wumbler Patch brand support "Green Living" throughout the story lines pertaining to all aspects of The Wumblers series. Wumbleton is an extremely non-wasteful society where food falls from the sky only when needed, babies are born from watermelon, and Mother Wumbler provides the "green" lessons that the entire community lives by.

The Wumblers teach character building, and spread positive, family friendly messages in a non-intrusive way. The main Wumbler is Bertrum and when a Wumbler turns five years old they also turn into the color they are supposed to be. The very first episode in the series shows how Bertrum is so nervous that once he turns color people won't like him anymore. His best buddy Raimundo, a Spanish speaking snail and his imaginary friends reassures him that everyone loves him for who he is on the inside not what color he is on the outside. It is messages like this that thread their way throughout each episode.

We received a Wumbler DVD (Volume 2) which contains two episodes: "Roosters Don't Bark" and "I'm Too Small" as well as a collector plush Wumbler that my youngest daughter fell in love with! We immediately had to go online and register our Wumbler. The kids were also excited to see the series on the Trinity Broadcasting Network! You can see all of the scheduled TV listings by clicking here.

Roosters Don't Bark teaches a beautiful lesson about self acceptance. Lenny, Mr Flynns rooster overhears how much everyone loves their dogs and cats, he decides that he wants to be one as well. After Lenny tries to be every pet imaginable, even a goldfish he learns from his friends that "being you is the best thing to do"!

I'm Too Small tackles an issue that most parents with young children have delt with. All of the Wumblers were trying to get to the Watermelon Patch. In order to ride the train, they had to be measured to see if they were tall enough to ride. Raimundo was too small to ride because the safety bar would not hold him in. This made him sad, especially when he was called names, like "short shell". Thankfully Raimundo helps Baby Jasper later and realizes that his size might hinder him sometimes but made him the hero in the end!

My thoughts:
I really loved the message that The Wumblers bring. The bright colors were eye catching and seemed to really intrigue my 18 month old daughter. The older two children (ages 4 and 7) also liked the series and seemed to understand the message. We had a discussion after the I'm Too Small episode because we have been in such situations when we were at fairs and amusement parks so they knew how Raimundo felt when hew as refused a ride on the train. All in all, I think that The Wumblers DVDs are a very good investment for any parent who is looking for some good, wholesome entertainment for your children.

For more information on The Wumblers Series or The Wumbler Patch, you can check out the website. For purchase information you can click here. You can also become a fan of The Wumblers on Facebook.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Nescafe Instant Coffee Review and Giveaway

{Contest Closed}

I was awakened this morning at 4am by a sick baby. I thought it was a perfect time to try a product I'd received for review: Nescafe Taster's Choice. After cleaning up the sick baby, I put the bed covers in the wash and prepared my first cup. I tried the gourmet roast to get the morning started off right. I think the spoon stood on it's own as I was stirring this stuff. What a way to start your day! It is most definitely a strong coffee. In fact, I didn't have enough hair on my chest to drink it without doctoring it up. I am not a black coffee drinker anyhow, so this did not surprise me. After adding my favorite creamer, it was perfect! I received a six pack: Gourmet Roast, Decaf, Original Roast, 100% Colombian, Vanilla and Hazelnut. Since I was afraid that if I went back to sleep I would not wake up I figured it was a perfect time to try them all. Once I finished the gourmet roast, I moved on to the vanilla and hazelnut which I loved! Since I usually drink french vanilla creamer in my coffee this is a great compromise.

I amusually not an instant coffee drinker since I have a handy dandy automatic "set it and forget it" coffee pot. But, I could see myself keeping these on hand for emergencies or if you're in the mood for some variety, you can always brew yourself some hot water in your coffee pot and have up to six great coffee tastes in the same morning. The great thing about Nescafe is that you can drink the coffee and still afford the gas it takes you to get back and forth to work, unlike other gourmet blends! If you don't believe me, click over to the Nescafe website and calculate for yourself by using their Bottom Line Calculator. You will be shocked to learn your annual savings on Nescafe versus your normal daily drinks.

*My Thoughts: I like the idea of having variety in my coffee. Sometimes the same thing can become monotonous. These convenient stick packs could be great for someone with that on the go lifestyle like most of us lead in today's times. All in all I think it's a great product and there are enough varieties in the flavors that everyone should be able to find one they like.

*Win It!: Three lucky readers will win a Nescafe mug and six stick packs of the Nescafe Taster’s Choice flavors, just as you see pictured from Nescafe. All you have to do to enter is visit the Nescafe website and take a look around. Come back here and leave me a comment letting me know your favorite website feature or coffee blend. It's that easy. You must do this step in order to earn any extra entries listed below. It is also important that you leave your e-mail address if it is not visible in your profile so that I can contact you should you be chosen as the winner. *Contest open to US Residents only due to shipping.


You know you want it!!!

You may earn extra entries by doing any or all of the following:

- Follow my blog via Google (in the sidebar) or Facebook.

- Become a fan of CrAzY Working Mom on Facebook.

- Become a fan of Nescafe on Facebook

- Blog about this contest on your blog. Be sure to leave the link in your comment.

- Follow CrAzY Working Mom AND Nescafe on Twitter and Tweet this: Free coffee courtesy of @Crazyworkingmom and @NescafeUSA:http://www.crazyworkingmom.com/2010/03/nescafe-instant-coffee-review-and.html Come back and leave a link to your tweet. You can tweet daily for entries.

- Add my badge to your sidebar or add my link to your blogroll.

- Send an e-mail to five or more of your friends with a link to this post and cc: me at tishblack (at) gmail.com.

This contest will end on Monday, March 29 2010 at midnight CST. One winner will be chosen randomly. Please make sure that your profile links to a valid e-mail address if you do not leave one in the comment. If you are chosen as the winner, you must respond within 48 hours or you forfeit your prize and an alternate winner will be chosen. I will have to have your shipping address in order to get the prize to you.

Disclosure: I was given the coffee mug and sample packets pictured in the review by the sponsor in exchange for a review. No other form of compensation has been given to me nor any other member of my family The review is my honest opinion of the product. I cannot be responsible for the statements made by the sponsoring companies or it's affiliates. To read my full disclosure policy, click here.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

SnackTAXI Review and Give Away

Thanks to the awesome folks over at Business2Blogger, CrAzY Working Mom has teamed up with snackTAXI for an awesome give away! If you are interested in doing product reviews and haven't signed up with Business2Blogger then you are missing out, my friend! There are lots of great opportunities to be had. It's a great new company that levels the playing field for all bloggers by putting you in direct contact with the companies in which you are chosen to do reviews! So, go sign up now and then follow them on facebook and twitter as well.

Now on to the featured product: SnackTAXI.

As a working mother of three we're always on the go. I'm constantly packing snacks, lunches, etc for someone in our household. During the week, my 1st grader and husband both require a lunch to be packed on most days. I usually bring a microwaveable dinner to the office with me, but on those rare occasions I want a sandwich, that's three lunches I have to pack. Usually the kids take goldfish, cookies, etc with them when we go on trips, church, and the likes during the week. Needless to say we go through A LOT of plastic bags. In our constant quest to become more environmental friendly, or "green" if you will snackTaxi seems to be the perfect solution! They are reuseable bags for snacks or sandwiches that are made of fabric. You would use them just as you would a plastic bag, only they are much safer for the environment and lighter on your pocketbook!

On the About page, Owner Kelly Dill explains how the company came about:

"I invented snackTAXIs way back in 2003 as a way to stem the tide of plastic ziplock bags that flowed from our house to the landfill when our 3 kids started school! We pack over 500 lunches every year, and had definitely fallen prey to the easy appeal of the ziplock bag.

snackTAXIs are easy too- really! They are made in our home-based workshop by talented (and fun!) local sewers- we are committed to keeping our business local, and will never outsource our labor."

SnackTAXIs are lined with coated nylon, and can be machine washed and dried, or simply wiped clean with a damp sponge. They come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. You can click here to see the many different patterns.

I was sent a snack sack as well as a sandwich sack (pictured left) for review. Immediately my 7 year old daughter was excited to be able to have a unique product in her lunch. I packed her sandwich in the sandwich bag and chips in the snack bag. She came home telling me how everyone asked her if her mom made those for her. I only wish I was that crafty!

This is an awesome product and I can't imagine why I'm just now hearing about it! But, I am glad to know that it's out there and can assure you that I will be having to get more so that all three children have their own snackTAXI bags. If you're interested in getting your own SnackTaxi bags, you can click the website to purchase OR enter to win a set right here! Details below:

I will be giving away a sandwich bag, snack bag, napkin, and produce bag, a $25.80 value to a lucky CrAzY Working Mom reader. All you have to do is hop over to the snackTaxi website, take a look around, come back and tell me your favorite design in a comment below. One winner will be chosen randomly. This contest will be open from Wednesday, March 10 through Wednesday, March 24, 2010 (midnight CST). Since I am responsible for shipping of the product, I must limit this contest to US Residents only.

As always, extra entries can be earned by doing any or all of the following:

For additional entries:
Please be sure to leave each of these in a separate comment, this is important since I will use the random number generator to choose a winner and if you put all of your extra entries in one comment, it will only count as one entry.

- Follow my blog via Google (in the sidebar) and/or Facebook.

- Become a fan of CrAzY Working Mom on Facebook.

- Become a fan of SnackTAXI on Facebook.

- Blog about this contest on your blog. Be sure to leave the link in your comment.

- Follow CrAzY Working Mom on Twitter and Tweet this: Win a snackTAXI set from @CrAzY Working Mom:http://www.crazyworkingmom.com/2010/03/snacktaxi-review-and-give-away.html Come back and leave a link to your tweet. You can tweet daily for entries.

- Add my badge to your sidebar or add my link to your blogroll.

- Send an e-mail to five or more of your friends with a link to this post and cc: me at tishblack (at) gmail.com.

Of course if you already to any or all of these, leave me a comment (separate for each entry) and it will count.

{Contest Closed}

* I received the product stated above in order to review on this website. No other form of compensation has been received and the opinions stated above are my own. I was also sent product to give away (at my request). Shipping the prize is my responsibility. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Today on DVD

The following titles are available on DVD today:

Old Dogs - John Travolta, Robin Williams, and Seth Green...need I say more? Well, okay I will say more. This movie is Laugh Out Loud funny! Dan (Robin Williams) and his best friend and business partner Charlie (John Travolta) are on the verge of the biggest deal in the history of their sports marketing firm when their lives are turned upside down by a surprise visit from Dan’s ex-wife Vicki (Kelly Preston). Vicki has big news for Dan—their ever-so-brief liaison produced twins Zach (Conner Rayburn) and Emily (Ella Bleu Travolta), now seven-years-old and in need of a dad to keep an eye on them for two weeks. With only high-living playboy Charlie for support, Dan’s bumbling attempts at “on the job training” in fatherhood result in a series of disastrously funny exploits that lead him to a new understanding of what really matters in life. You should add this one to your must see list because, my friends it is funny. When Dan and Charlie's medications get mixed up and you see the side effects it causes, I promise you that you will laugh. This is a great movie and fun for all ages. Check this clip out and see if it makes you laugh:

Hannah Montana: Miley Says Goodbye? DVD viewers will see the season finale before it airs on Disney. My daughter was just dying to know if Miley was moving back to Tennessee or staying in California. When she misses her horse "Blue Jeans" she moves him to California only to quickly realize that it was the worst mistake ever. Jackson also ventures out on his own only to realize that he's renting a "fixer upper" from the infamous Rrrrrrrrrrico! This DVD contains six episodes including the one hour Season 3 finale.

Bonus Episode:
• “He Could Be The One” – 1-hour episode with alternate ending

Bonus Features:
• Sister Secrets – Miley’s real-life sister, Brandi, leads this exclusive backstage tour of the Hannah Montana show. Armed with her “Brandi-Cam,” Brandi gets access and juicy details that only a real BFF can get with Miley, Emily, Jason, Mitchel, Moises, and even her dad, Billy Ray.
• Hannah Highlights – Pop-up trivia/facts on the episode “You Never Give Me My Money”

Martha Speaks - Martha Says It With Flowers - This DVD is based on the popular childrens book series by Susan Meddaugh, “Martha Speaks.” It contains eight episodes of the popular PBS Television Show including:
(1) Raiders of the Lost Art
(2) Martha Says It With Flowers
(3) Martha Gets Spooked
(4) Martha Changes Her Luck
(5) Martha Sings
(6) TD Makes the Band
(7) There Goes the Neighborhood
(8) Ice Scream

Special Features include:
- Coloring Pages
- Resources for Parents

This DVD is great for parents with smaller children. Martha will keep them captivated for the full 100 minute run time. It's a great educational show and I must admit that I was sucked in to a few episodes myself!

All of the DVDs mentioned above hit the shelves today so go out and get your copy while they're still available.

* I received a review copy of this DVD in exchange for my opinion of the movie. No other form of compensation has been received and the opinions stated above are my own. I was also sent a copy of The Princess and The Frog to give away (at my request). Shipping the winner's copy is my responsibility. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here.

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Mommy Invented Products - Television Appearance

Here you have it, the video of my Good Morning Arkansas appearance on the local ABC affiliate. I had a wonderful time. The staff at GMA are amazing and Melinda Mayo is beautiful and so nice. Thanks so much to everyone for your kind words of encouragement here and on Facebook. I am so glad that I have the support of my friends, family, and fellow bloggers. Now, without further adieu, here you have it:

To read my full reviews on these products or where to purchase, you can click HERE.

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Mommy Invented Products

I have the great honor of appearing on Good Morning Arkansas on Friday Morning, March 5th, 2010 (local channel 7 - ABC Affiliate @ 9am). I am promoting the following Mommy Invented products. I am very excited about my appearance. I hope that if you're visiting this site after watching the show that you will bookmark this site or add us to your reader.

Pig Treasure Chest Pet

Treasure Chest Pets are the first and only organizers that make putting things away fun and a great way for kids to keep their special things safe. Designed to look like cuddly stuffed animals, each TC Pet has a magnetic, detachable, pillowy stuffed animal head and stuffed animal bodies that contain external and internal compartments for organizing and storing treasures. Treasure Chest Pets are a great way for kids to keep their special things safe. There are six different stuffed animal designs to choose from in 3 three different styles - Accessory Chest Dog and Accessory Chest Pig have a hidden drawer and two secret pockets on the outside, along with secret pockets in both ears. Treasure Chest Monkey and Treasure Chest Cow have one gigantic pocket inside that opens like a treasure chest. Media Chest Bear and Media Chest Horse have a secret pocket inside the head and 3 compartments in the body to store CDs, DVDs, speakers/cables, MP3 player and more.

Shelby & Emily - pig accessorizing.

We received the TC Pig and Shelby, my 7 year old daughter was so excited when she saw it. She immediately took it to her room to find out what she could stuff in and wrap around it. The piggie's head makes a cute little pillow and believe me, she easily found things that fit perfectly in and on it. Headbands, wallet, jewelry, and the likes. She really loves it.

If you're interested in purchasing this item, it retails for $19.99 plus shipping and handling. You can order this TC Pig Pet or any of the other five animal styles by clicking HERE.

____________________________________________________________

My Plate Mate

My Plate-Mate is a unique, mom-invented product for toddlers geared to make meal times easier for families. My Plate-Mate is a spill-guard that attaches to the rim of any standard plate. Great for promoting independent self feeding while minimizing messy spills and clean up for parents whether you're at home or on the go out at restaurants or grandma's house. As a spill guard, it creates a bumper to prevent food from falling off the plate while a child eats. Also, My Plate-Mate's innovative design provides a curved wall that helps children scoop food onto their utensil with ease, giving them independence and confidence in self-feeding. Made in the USA, using only FDA-approved plastic (no lead, phthalates, bisphenol-a, polycarbonates or PVC). Dishwasher-safe and conveniently portable so that children and families can enjoy their meals anywhere.

Tyler & his Plate Mate

Since I have a 5 year old and an 18 month old, I knew this would be something that we could use. When I saw this product, I had one of those Why didn't I think of that moments! It is an awesome product. The fact that it was mommy invented (by Michele Wong and Paige Akabane) came as no surprise to me. Tyler was happy to demonstrate for a picture as he enjoyed some peaches. He had a hard time not sticking his thumb up there to catch the food. Then he'd realized he didn't have to! Genius, this product is simply a MUST have for any person with small children, or caring for the elderly! They fit easily in the diaper bag if you're taking your children out to eat.

The plate mate comes in three colors: white, pink, and blue. They retail for $7.99 each or $20 for a set of three. For purchasing information, click HERE.

____________________________________________________________

BabyBriefcase

BabyBriefcase is a document organizer designed specifically for parents and their babies and toddlers, particularly useful and important for health-related documents. Stylish and charming, the mom-invented BabyBriefcase stores all the documents and information relating to a new baby in a way that makes everything easily accessible whether at a hospital, doctor's office, on vacation or anywhere else. Every document that deals with the new baby has a special place for it in the BabyBriefcase so that if an emergency arises, parents don't have to sort through to find what they need.

When you bring a new baby home from the hospital, I think that all of the paperwork that comes along with it weighs more than the actual baby itself. The BabyBriefcase can help any mom get organized...not just a new mom! I have three children and I must admit that sometimes I have a hard time remembering where I put the shot record for one or the birth certificate for another. This is an easy way to keep it all together. It fits into most standard sized file cabinets and can accommodate many standard letter-size file folders. It comes with 15 durable letter-size frosted plastic folders in yummy periwinkle, mint green, and peach, 20+ pre-printed and customizable folder categories, a thank you note tracker, 2 baby wallet info cards, framed photo pocket and a convenient pen slot (pen not included).

The BabyBriefcase retails for $29.95. You can click HERE to purchase.

____________________________________________________________

BumpyName

The BumpyName is a line of cute, mom-invented, elastic rubber orbit labels. BumpyName labels are personalized, non-adhesive, reusable and come in a variety of colors. BumpyName's stretchy, elastic design allows it to snugly fit around or "orbit" a container, but can simply be taken off when not wanted BumpyName works great on everything from baby bottles to sippy cups to snack containers. Each label has a child's standard written name as well as the name in Braille. BumpyName labels are heavy duty and can withstand the rigors of repeated dishwashing, microwaving, boiling and sterilizing all while maintaining a clear personalization of a child's name as they progress from baby bottles, to sippy cups, to regular drink bottles.

These are a great idea for anyone who has children in daycare or if you're around other children a lot because, if you're like me and live in a small town, there aren't very many places to shop for things like bottles or sippy cups resulting in children having the same items. If you have three children, this helps as well for the children to be able to find their own cups.

This product retails for $12.95 for a single personalized line or $13.95 for a double line personalization and comes in a four colors: sky blue, scrub green, bubble gum pink, and pinkly purple. To purchase, click HERE.

Monday, March 01, 2010

Smartipants Product Review

We live in such a disposable society, that many of us are trying harder to live a "green" life. For families like us it's very difficult to do, but every little step we can take to move toward that life style makes a big difference in the future for our children. When I was asked to review some cloth diapers, I was a bit skeptical at first.

I have younger siblings, and I remember when my brother and sister (twins!) were born Mom used cloth diapers with them. I remember very well having to deal with the scrubbing and washing of those things. It is not something I would want to have to go through again. I looked at their website and read a bit about Smartipants and realized that their product might be just the right product for me!

Smartipants was the vision of a mommy of four who was constantly looking for an economical, yet easy to use cloth diapering system. As a company Smartipants is committed to making cloth diapering not only easy, but affordable. Smartipants diapers feature Leak-Guard Technology, keeping moisture contained, and your baby dry. These diapers are made with “breathable” fibers and are free from any chemicals or irritants. Smartipants reusable diapers are designed to grow with your baby from newborn to toddler, babies 7lbs - 35lbs. Smartipants are proudly made in the USA!

I was sent a sample smartipants to try on my little one. Emily is almost 18 months old and when I put it on her she was excited to have it on. I put it on her with ease. The gentle pleated stretch elastic on both legs and in the back of the diaper make for a cozy fit for little Emily. The adjustable snaps allow for a "one size fits all" diaper so there's no need to invest money in several different sizes of diapers. This in itself will save you lots of money. Smartipants is the first reusable diaper to introduce the smart sleeve. This unique isolated insert lining puts absorbency where you need it and prevents moisture from seeping outside the diaper. The greatest thing about this smart sleeve is that you just toss the entire diaper (sleeve inserted and all) in the wash and it will come out on its own. This saves you from having to deal with the mess of a soiled diaper!

All in all I think this is a great product. Every year our country contributes roughly 3.4 million tons of disposable diaper waste into landfills. Using reusable diapers not only reduces the amount of solid waste, it also reduces the amount of harmful chemicals, oils, and trees required to produce them! Instead of requiring 7,000 disposable diapers, the average baby needs only 24 reusable diapers, resulting in a net savings of nearly $3,000.00! I felt that the product was easy to put on my daughter. She seemed comfortable in it. It is ultra absorbent and easy to put on and take off. Emily loved it. I think that she thought she was wearing big girl panties. My 7 year old daughter asked, "Is Emily wearing panties?". I am most definitely not an expert in the field of cloth diapers. We have always used disposables, but this would be a product that I could see my family switching to with ease!

If you're interested in purchasing this product, that information can found by clicking right here.

Please Note:
I was sent one diaper and two liners to review for this post. I nor any other member of my family were not compensated in any other way. All opinions stated above are mine and were not influenced by any outside source. I cannot be responsible for the statements made by the sponsoring companies or it's affiliates. To read my full disclosure policy, click here.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Magnapods Product Reveiw

Magnapods: Where have you been all of my life?!?! Magnapods are magnetic organizers for the home. They are tiny little slices of heaven, if you ask me. I love to be organized but being a working mother of three children can prove that to be quite difficult!! These clear, plastic containers will magnetically stick to any metal surface. Generally speaking, you could put them in your bathroom, on your medicine cabinet, but I found mine to be most useful on the refrigerator - to hold pens and markers, scissors, that I need to keep put up high where little hands can't get them. I also found it handy for small things that seem to gather on the bar. Unfortunately I use a lazy woman's toothbrush that requires batteries...you know the kind that vibrates so when you're half asleep you only have to hold your head up and you still get a decent clean. This means that the base of my toothbrush was way too big for the toothbrush holder. Thank goodness I have LOTS of other things that will fit just properly and stays right out of the hands of the little ones!!! Fortunately, I found the PERFECT item for the toothbrush holder...

Toothbrush Holder / Scissor Storage

Voila! Away from the kids!!

What did I think?

All in all I think this product is great, and very handy for those OCD mommies like me who want everything to be neat and organized! They are easily placed and removed for cleaning, and very durable and since they are clear, they will match any decor. I think that the smaller organizers would be perfect for paper clips and the likes that I need on a daily basis at the office. I have a magnetic file cabinet right by my desk. I plan on trying them out there.

Where to buy?

To purchase Magnapods, you can click here.

Disclosure: I was given the toothbrush holder and cosmetic organizer pictured in the review by the sponsor in exchange for a review. No other form of compensation has been given to me nor any other member of my family The review is my honest opinion of the product. I cannot be responsible for the statements made by the sponsoring companies or it's affiliates. To read my full disclosure policy, click here.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Picture the Audience Naked...or Use Bravina!

Did you know that public speaking anxiety ("stage fright") is the number one fear of Americans. One out of every three people rate public speaking anxiety as their number one fear - above death, divorce and job loss. We've all heard the adage, picture your audience naked to calm your nerves. Well, how would you like to be able to take a natural supplement to do so? Bravina is comprised of *nine essential natural supplements and has been shown to decrease public speaking anxiety by almost 97%**!

Okay, so you don't do any public speaking? Well, what if you're like me and have three children, a dog, a husband, and hardly no time to concentrate?!?! 81% of those tested** with Bravina reported an increase in concentration! Wouldn't it be nice to be able to take a supplement to help you to concentrate on the task at hand? Bravina is a natural supplement with no side effects*. To read more about the natural ingredients in Bravina, click here.

So what did I think?
I was sent a sample of this product to review. I took it on a Saturday when I knew I was going to be home all day with the kids. I thought it would help me to focus and calm the anxieties that sometimes comes with three kids cooped up in the house during the winter time. My results: I was able to go about my day as any other day without any side effects. But with that being said, I don't know that I really noticed any changes. Perhaps it did help me to keep my cool with the kiddos and hubby a bit more. I was able to get most of the house cleaned, so maybe it did help me to focus on the task at hand a bit better. But, all in all I would say that this is not something that I would rely on (for me) to focus or calm anxieties. I also tried taking this product on a regular work day at the office. I took it on a Thursday when my work load is a bit heavier due to payroll. I didn't feel like it made a difference on this day either. I don't do any public speaking, although I've never really had a fear of it. I can't attest whether or not it would help me if I did. I used to be a paid singer, so I have always been pretty much at home in front of people. I do lead a somewhat stressful life as I am a working mother of three children. The positive in this review is that I had no side effects from this supplement but all in all I don't feel like it made a noticeable difference to the anxieties in my day to day life.

If you're interested in trying this natural supplement out for yourself, you can click here for purchase information.

*This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

** The July 2009 survey of Bravina clients was conducted by Deephaven Nutraceuticals, LLC. Deephaven Nutraceuticals, LLC makes no express or implied claims as to the efficacy of the Bravina supplement for public speaking anxiety symptoms.

I was given a sample of this product for review purposes. All opinions stated above are my own and have not been influenced by any outside parties. To read my full disclosure policy, please click here. Please note that any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

Monday, February 01, 2010

Yoohoo & Friends Review & Give Away

I'd like to introduce you to the two newest critters in our home called YooHoo & Friends™ by Aurora World Inc. "Roarrrrrrrrie" (named by the ever creative 7 year old in our home) is a Barbary Lion with sound. She actually roars. Emily has taken a liking to the roaring lion. She likes to carry it around the house roaring along with it.

This is "hop-a-long" (yes, my daughter named this one as well), an Easter Yoo Hoo & Friends.

There are more than 50 styles in the line in a variety of sizes and themes: Valentine's Day, Spring/Easter, Halloween, Birthdays, etc. YooHoo & Friends teach kids about endangered species from around the globe. There's a corresponding free, interactive web site (no activation codes required) that teaches about the animals (on which the YooHoo & Friends line of characters are based) in their natural habitats; as well as a host of games, desktop wallpapers, coloring sheets and more -- the web site makes learning about these animals engaging and fun. Each plush piece also makes a fun sound when squeezed.

Aurora's Mission Statement is: To design, manufacture and distribute the finest quality, best valued, safest plush gifts in the world marketplace. Aurora pledges to provide excellent service, integrity and honesty to our customers, employees and associates. Today, Aurora maintains 12 showrooms across the United States, from Anchorage to Atlanta and everywhere in between. In addition to four headquarters and multiple factories around the world, Aurora participates in more than 50 gift and toy shows annually and its products are sold through more than 25,000 retail outlets worldwide. To read more about this company you can click here.

Buy It!:
You can purchase YooHoo and Friends online at AuroraGift.com or by clicking on Where to Buy at the bottom of Aurora World (Prices range from $7 - $14)

*Win It!: One lucky reader will win a random 5" Plush and keychain (or back pack zipper pull) from Aurora. All you have to do to enter is visit the Aurora website and come back here and leave a comment telling me which Yoo Hoo & Friends is your favorite. It's that simple. You must do this step in order to earn any extra entries listed below. It is also important that you leave your e-mail address if it is not visible in your profile so that I can contact you should you be chosen as the winner. *Contest open to US Residents only due to shipping.

You may earn extra entries by doing any or all of the following:

- Follow my blog via Google (in the sidebar) or Facebook.

- Become a fan of CrAzY Working Mom on Facebook.

- Become a fan of Aurora World on Facebook

- Blog about this contest on your blog. Be sure to leave the link in your comment.

- Follow CrAzY Working Mom AND Aurora on Twitter and Tweet this: WIN an @Yoohoofriends plush & keychain from @Crazyworkingmom. Click for details: http://www.crazyworkingmom.com/2010/02/yohoo-friends-review-give-away.html Come back and leave a link to your tweet. You can tweet daily for entries.

- Add my badge to your sidebar or add my link to your blogroll.

- Send an e-mail to five or more of your friends with a link to this post and cc: me at tishblack (at) gmail.com.

This contest will end on Monday, February 15, 2010 at midnight CST. One winner will be chosen randomly. Please make sure that your profile links to a valid e-mail address if you do not leave one in the comment. If you are chosen as the winner, you must respond within 48 hours or you forfeit your prize and an alternate winner will be chosen. I will have to have your shipping address in order to get the prize to you.

Disclosure: I was given the two plush animals pictured in the review by the sponsor in exchange for a review. No other form of compensation has been given to me nor any other member of my family The review is my honest opinion of the product. I cannot be responsible for the statements made by the sponsoring companies or it's affiliates. To read my full disclosure policy, click here.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

My Four Minutes of Fame on Good Morning Arkansas

They say that you are your own worst critic, right? Well, every time I watch this segment I find more and more things that I wish I'd done differently, from my make up to my hair, trying to hide a little bit of my country "twang", and I could go on and on. I have no other way to get this segment here other than using a Christmas present that we got for my daughter, a digital recorder to record my television screen and then upload it to my lap top. The quality is not that great because it's a cheap recorder. Maybe I can get a copy from the Good Morning Arkansas producers. But, I know that many of you who live out of the state have requested to be able to see the segment and some who did not get a chance to see it live. Here it is, my television debut on KARK, Channel 7 - Arkansas' ABC Affiliate on Good Morning Arkansas:

FYI: The contest is now closed. Winners were announced yesterday if you missed it! Thanks to all who participated.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Stocking Stuffers For Christmas

There are 15 days until Christmas! I know that some of you just read that and cringed a bit. Others (let's all hate on them now!!!) are finished with their shopping and are sitting back in their recliner sipping on some eggnog waiting anxiously for the wrap to be removed from their perfect gifts under their beautifully decorated tree. I'm sure that there are more of the cringers than the eggnog sippers, right now. You are the ones that will benefit from this post. If you've already done your shopping, you might want to take not of the following items for next year's list, because I'm sure you'll start as soon as the used paper is cleared from the floor, right?

I have the opportunity to bring you information on some wonderful gift ideas for those hard to shop for folks on your Christmas list!! The greatest thing about this list is that you could WIN one for yourself! Yes, you heard me right. You can snag one of these unbelievably awesome gifts for yourself.

I will be on the local ABC affiliate KATV, Channel 7 Friday morning, December 11 showcasing the following items on Arkansas Today. This will be my television debut, so I hope that those of you who are able to watch the program will do so and leave me some feed back in the comment section. For those of you who live out of the area, I will do the best I can to get a link here for you to see the segment. EVERYONE is able to enter the contest. Well, those of you in the US (sorry to all of my intercontinental friends but I am responsible for shipping).

Roasted Garlic Express - Roasted Garlic Express is a miniature roasting device that makes preparing garlic and other small vegetables quicker and easier than ever. Taking only a third of the time to roast garlic and other vegetables than a conventional oven and having a non-stick coating, the Roasted Garlic Express is quick and easy for the home. Attractive, kitschy garlic-shaped design makes it a nice visual addition to a kitchen and a nice kitchen conversation piece. Small and lightweight, it is very portable as well. This item retails for $34.95 and is available at roastedgarlicexpress.com.

PlaceTiles - PlaceTiles are stylish erasable ceramic accent labels, perfect as table place cards for guests or as a descriptive accessory for each dish being served. No more cheap paper or plastic tags, PlaceTiles are a nice, personalized finishing touch for a dinner party, reception or any gathering, giving the VIP treatment to guests and highlighting each dish. Comes in a variety of styles such as Medallion, Fleur-di-Lis, Vine, Shell and more. This item retails at $35 for a set of 6 and is available at placetile.com.

Tao Digital Picture Keychain - Tao Digital Picture Keychain is a miniature digital picture frame shaped like a keychain that can store and display digital images. By plugging into a computer or cell phone, you can download the images onto the keychain, and choose which one to display. Over 50 images can be stored on the Keychain at once, allowing for images of family, friends, and everything in between. Designed to be taken anywhere and used frequently, the Tao Digital Picture Keychain has a long-lasting rechargeable battery and durable build. This item retails for $14.99 and is available in a variety of colors. For more information, visit taoelectronics.com

Phone Headset Buddy - The Phone Headset Buddy is a device that allows a standard phone headset (w/ 2.5mm plug) to be plugged into a PC (w/ 3.5mm plug outlet), allowing use of a phone headset on a PC. No more needing to buy 2 separate headsets, one for phone, one for PC. Simply plug your headset into the Headset Buddy and then the Headset Buddy into the PC. This is a small item, but life changing for someone who is on the phone for a living! This item retails for $9.95 and is available at theheadsetbuddy.com.

Allergy Free Passport - 1 in 3 people suffer from at least one food sensitivity or allergy. Allergy Free Passport is a how-to guide that instructs people with food sensitivities or allergies how to eat what they want, where they want and when they want, whether in their own localities or traveling abroad. It is a visa to the world of eating out for people who normally have to worry constantly about having a bad reaction to a meal, giving them a full range of info about cuisines, ingredients, preparations, what questions to ask and how to ask and helping them communicate their food requirements, order allergy-free menu items and enjoy allergy-free meals anywhere in the world. This item retails for $24.95 and is available at allergyfreepassport.com

Winning Is Easy - Contest Information:

To win any item, all you have to do is leave a comment below with your contact information. You must have a valid e-mail address. A winner will be chosen for each product at random. I usually use the old fashioned method of letting my kids draw names out of a hat. It's easy and fun for all!

You can earn extra entries by doing any (or all) of the following:
Please be sure that if you do have extra entries, put them each in a separate comment (this is very important).

- Follow my blog via Google, Facebook, or Twitter (if you already do, leave it in a comment - it counts) and leave your user name in a comment.

- Become a fan of CrAzY Working Mom on Facebook.

- Blog about this contest on your blog. Be sure to leave the link in your comment.

- Tweet this: Enter to win adult stocking stuffers: http://www.crazyworkingmom.com/2009/12/stocking-stuffers-for-christmas.html. Come back and leave a link to your tweet.

- Add my badge to your sidebar or add my link to your blogroll.

- Send an e-mail to five or more of your friends and cc: me at tishblack (at) gmail.com

This contest will end on Friday, December 18, 2009 at midnight CST. One winner will be chosen randomly. Please make sure that your profile links to a valid e-mail address if you do not leave one in the comment. If you are chosen as the winner, you must respond within 48 hours or you forfeit your prize and an alternate winner will be chosen. I will try to get the items shipped out on Monday, December 21 but I cannot guarantee delivery by Christmas.

The Contest Is Closed. Winners to be announced soon!

Disclosure: I was not paid to appear on TV or review these products. The statements made in this post reflect my personal opinions and not necessarily that of the sponsoring company. No other form of compensation has been received by myself nor any other member of my family. I did receive free products so I could show them on the program. I was given the option to keep all of the products, however, I am choosing to give them away to my wonderful readers. Shipping them out is my responsibility. That's how much I love ya!

Search This Blog

Mail Me:

My Daily Reads

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Friday, April 30, 2010

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Monday, March 29, 2010

Monday, March 15, 2010

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Monday, March 01, 2010

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Monday, February 01, 2010

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Thursday, December 10, 2009

About Me

Twitter Updates

I ♥ Photography!

Previous Posts

Follow me on Facebook?

They Love Me!!!