BrainStrong Toddler DHA Supplement & Life's DHA

The month of June is winding down to a close, but we're not done promoting awareness of:

Child Vision Month

Any of you who have been pregnant in the past few years, have probably heard a lot about DHA and Omega-3's.  Most of the prenatal vitamins these days include Omega-3 or DHA, or your doctor may have recommended you to add a specific amount of Omega-3 to your diet.

So, what is DHA?  A quick an easy answer, is that it's one of the "good" polyunsaturated fats.  Many studies have shown that DHA (one of the 3 major Omega-3 fatty acids) can have a positive effect on the development and maintenance of eye, heart and brain health.

Where does DHA come from? Dietary sources of DHA are derived from many fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel, and tuna which many people find difficult to consume for the recommended levels.  This is why more companies are attempting to create nutritional supplements to help consumers easily increase their DHA Omega -3 consumption. DHA is also naturally found in breast-milk!

You can read a lot more about DHA and the positive role that it can play in your continued health at

life's DHA website

Who benefits from DA Omega-3?

• Pregnant Women - supports fetal brain and eye development
• Infants & Children - important for eye, brain development and may promote cognitive development
• Older Children & Adults - important for long-term development of brain & eye health
• Adults - supports the maintenance of healthy eye, brain and heart over time

BrainStrong Toddler - contains 100 mg of life'sDHA™

Now that my little peanut is a toddler, I started to wonder how I was going to maintain her DHA intake, since I was no longer breastfeeding, or giving her formula.  I've read that their little brain increases 3.5 times in mass between birth and age 5, so it's very important to make sure they have all the nutrition they need to support healthy brain growth.  Now, I'm lucky that she LOVES fish, but am also concerned about mercury levels of certain fish and need to be careful about how much actual fish she consumes.

Life's DHA sent me a sample of BrainStrong Toddler - a nutritional DHA Omega-3 supplement (the first of its kind for toddlers) that is in a powder form, so you can add it to the food your toddler is normally eating to boost their DHA intake.

The contents of BrainStrong Toddler is essentially the same DHA added to 99% of  infant formulas on the market, and since my peanut no longer drinks formula, this is a great way to add it back into her diet. I have found it really easy to sprinkle the nutritional powder on my little one's yogurt, cereal, applesauce or any other foods she's used to eating, as the powder is flavorless!

I am so excited to have found this product, to support my little one's continued brain and cognitive development, while limiting the mercury intake that could come from eating too much fish.

Flintstones Gummies PLUS DHA Omega-3

Another product that you can use to add important DHA Omega-3 into your child's diet is the Flintstones Gummies PLUS DHA Omega-3 for children ages 2+.  These gummy vitamins use a vegetarian source of DHA, so if your family is not of the meat-eating variety - these vitamins are for you.....or your kiddos, rather!

*** Please remember that I am not a medical professional and cannot guarantee any claims these products make.  As always, check with your pediatrician before adding or removing any nutritional supplements into your child's diet!  ***

BUY IT

BrainStrong Toddler is available at the following retailers online:

• CVS.com
• Drugstore.com
• GNC.com
• Meijer.com
• RiteAidOnlineStore.com
• VitaminShoppe.com
• Walgreens.com
• Walmart.com

Flintstones Gummies PLUS DHA Omega-3 is available at the following local retailers:

• Kroger
• Super Target
• CVS Pharmacy
• Albertsons
• to find the closest retailer for Flintstones Gummies PLUS DHA, enter your ZIP code HERE

WIN IT 

 (1) Life's DHA - Prize Package, including the following products:

• BrainStrong Toddler
• Flintstones Gummies Plus DHA Omega-3
• (2) other life's DHA fortified food/beverage products
• (1) copy of ,Elizabeth Somers' new book, Eat Your Way to Sexy (which talks about what to eat to feel more energized and sexier!)

CLICK Read More >>> to complete Entry Form Below
~ Giveaway ends July 13th, 2012 ~

LOCAL - Music Classes for Kiddos at Music Together of Dallas - PLUS $30 off for McKinney Mommas readers!

Music Together of Dallas

 serving Dallas, Plano, Frisco and surrounding areas

Photo courtesy of: Music Together LLC

I used to take the little boys I "nannied" (while in college) to a weekly music group.  Each week I would see them thrive and grow in their interest for music, social skills and physical motion.  It was exciting to see them weekly, putting their new creative musical play into practice at home.  Since then, I always told myself I'd put my own children in some sort of music class in the future.

If you are living in Dallas or Collin County, Texas and have young children between the ages of 0-6 years old at home, here is a fantastic opportunity for you to bond with your child, while increasing their basic music skills and love for music.

Check out the Music Together of Dallas - Calendar HERE to see the variety of classes offered all around Dallas and Collin County

Read more ABOUT the philosophy and principles of Music Together of Dallas, HERE

*** BONUS ***

$30 OFF tuition 

Music Together of Dallas has agreed to EXCLUSIVELY give McKinney Mommas readers $30 off their first semester's tuition!  So, be sure to mention McKinney Mommas when you register!

Child Proof Your Home Today with KidSafe Home Safety Products - Review & Giveaway - ends 7/13

*Disclosure: This was not a paid post. The products used to facilitate this review were given to me free of cost by the company.  However, all opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced by the complimentary product received. As I am under no obligation to post a positive review if I feel it is not warranted.  

If you didn't already know, June is....

Child Awareness Month

In honor of this month's theme, I decided to seek out companies online that provide quality Child Safety products to baby proof your home.

KidSafe, Inc. is one company I found that has a great selection of products available online that will help to keep your kiddo safe in your home. I love to do my shopping online, plus I haven't found a great selection of child safety products available at major retail stores, so KidSafe was a great find for me.

One exciting product that I was sent to review, was the Safety Bath Time Audible Thermometer by Aquatopia

Safety Bath Time Audible Thermometer - $11.99

When my first little girl was born, I had one of those rubber ducky bath thermometers, but it was so hard to read, as the word, "HOT" would turn shades of brighter white.  The problem was, you'd never know what the actual temp was, and there was nothing to indicate if the bath was too cold. Plus, the degree of white in the word "HOT" was sort of up to interpretation.

In comparison, this Safety Bath Time Thermometer, in the shape of a cute little turtle bath toy, shows the actual temperature on a digital read-out and has an audible alarm when the bath is both too warm or too cold.  There are no buttons to mess with, as the sensor activates when placed in water, and automatically turns off when taken out of the water.

We've used it in our toddler's bath over the past few weeks, and agree it is a must-have product for anyone with children. Perfect as a gift, or for yourself if you have young kiddos and no reliable bath thermometer. This product is great for when the babysitter has to give your child a bath too, so you can be sure they use the correct bath temperature.

Reasons to visit KidSafe, Inc.

• They have a great selection of FREE Home Child Proofing Checklists and Nursery Safety Tips
• 36 Shopping Categories to choose from: Baby Gates to Drawer Locks to Pool & Travel Safety
• Their #1 Mission is to provide high-quality items to help you keep your children SAFE!
• WishPot Baby Registry friendly

XL Clean guard - $31.95

The second item we received to review, was the XL Clean Guard by Smart Guard - this portable container is designed to lock up your cleaning products and other dangerous substances, so even if your toddler's curious hands can open up a cupboard, they won't be able to get into the dangerous chemicals!

I have to admit, that I had to READ the DIRECTIONS to figure out how to open this container myself.  So, I'm pretty sure that means my toddler's little fingers won't be able to manage to get this box open, which is GREAT! Once I DID read the directions, it was super easy for me to get it open and closed - so will be simple for an adult to access products as needed.

I've never seen a product like this in stores, so was very happy to find this safety box at KidSafe, Inc. since my household product cupboard seems to be of TOP interest to my toddler. I can breathe easy now, knowing that even if a door gets left open on accident, my little one won't be able to access the harmful products I might have in my home.

BUY IT

• SHOP for all your Baby Proofing and Child Household Safety products at KidSafe, Inc.
• FOLLOW KidSafe on TWITTER
• LIKE KidSafe on Facebook

WIN IT 

Enter to win a $50 Gift Certificate to KidSafe

•  To enter giveaway: click Read More >>> below and complete Rafflecopter Form
• Giveaway ends: July 13th, 2012

Dramamine for Kids - Week Long Cruise Sweepstakes! Ends 9/30

Thinking about traveling with the young ones this summer?  Have they had trouble with motion sickness in the past?  Well worry, no more, there is a NEW motion sickness product available now by Dramamine for KIDS!

Read about it below, then ENTER TO WIN a week long CRUISE for your family of 4!

ABOUT Dramamine® for Kids

Dramamine® for Kids treats symptoms on the spot, relieving nausea, dizziness and vomiting and prevents motion sickness before it happens. Moms trust Dramamine®, believe it is safe, and feel comfortable giving it to their kids. Dramamine® for Kids comes in a safe, precise children’s dose, avoiding the need to cut adult tablets.

Motion sickness is a problem for both adults and kids alike. According to an Omnibus Study in June 2011, 34% of households with children ages 2-12, have a child with motion sickness. This is three times the rate for adult motion sickness (10% of households). Motion sickness is most prevalent in cars, followed by airplanes and boats. Typical symptoms are nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. 

  

Dramamine® for Kids comes in a safety travel case with 8 chewable tablets that have a great-tasting grape flavor. Dramamine® Less Drowsy is available in an 8 count travel vial.

 

For more information on Dramamine® for Kids, Dramamine® Less Drowsy and other Dramamine® products, visit www.dramamine.com.

 Traveling with Dramamine®

Enter the “Dramamine® Travel Challenge Sweepstakes” and Win A Week-Long Cruise for Four!

  

Sweepstakes held: June 11th - September 30th, 2012

 

 

Entering is easy! Just visit the Dramamine® website and tell us in 50 words or less why you wish you had used Dramamine® during a recent trip, and you could be chosen to win a weeklong cruise for four people!  The sweepstakes is a way to educate consumers about the benefits and uses of Dramamine®, especially its effectiveness in easing symptoms associated with motion sickness.

 

To enter, simply go to www.Dramamine.com and click on the “sweepstakes” banner.  The sweepstakes period runs from 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) on June 11^th, 2012 and ends at 5:00 p.m. ET on September 30^th, 2012 (the “Sweepstakes Entry Period”).  Limit one entry per household per day. Winners will be determined by random drawing.  The sweepstakes is open to residents of the United States of America who are 18 years of age or older as of date of entry. For additional contest rules and limitations, visit: www.dramamine.com/sweeps/rules.

 

One Grand Prize winner will receive a week-long cruise package for four (4). The cruise package includes airfare to port of departure and additional expenses (Approximate retail value of $8,000). Additionally, Four Finalists with receive a travel package containing headphones, e-readers (Kindle Fire**), neck pillows, eye masks and Dramamine®, a $200-$400 retail value.

 

*DISCLOSURE: I was not paid for this post. 

Hip Swap presents 6 weeks of #winthisbag - Enter to Win Designer Handbags weekly until 7/1/12

Who is ready for 6 WEEKS of Designer Bag Giveaways?

  Welcome to Week #1 of Win This Bag sponsored by HipSwap hosted by Sidetracked Mom’s Blog

“Win This Bag” is a 6-week event that will feature 6 weekly giveaways. There will be one designer handbag given away every week! Each bag will be an authentic, recognizable designer brand such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach, or Fendi. Our 6^th week will feature a highly coveted designer handbag and you will have the option to claim bonus entries for each of the 5 weekly "Win This Bag" giveaways you entered leading up to this grand finale! So, enter each weekly giveaway to increase your odds of winning!

Here’s what really separates this event from any other handbag giveaway you may have seen before… some of these handbags will come to you directly from a celebrity’s closet! That’s right 

Thanks to HipSwap, you have the opportunity to win the exact bag that may have been on the arm of a famous celebrity!  

About our Sponsor:

HipSwap is a mobile and web marketplace that connects buyers and sellers locally and nationally. It enables people to discover what's inside the most fabulous closets, homes, and shops in neighborhoods and cities across America. HipSwap currently offers delivery service in Los Angeles and New York with its iconic pink delivery van.

This week’s prize:

I watched the first few seasons of Dancing with the Stars, and honestly was more impressed by the professional dancers, than the "celebrity" partners.  It seems like this show has launched the actual dancers into stardom, which is rare for professional dancers - hey they deserve all the credit in by book! So, to begin this 6 weeks of designer bag giveaways, we begin with the arm candy of Karina Smirnoff! Excited?  Read how to enter, below. Remember to come back weekly for the next 6 weeks to try to win each and every handbag. Special bonus giveaway for those who enter each week!

 

How to Enter:

1. Create a HipSwap account. You will be asked to enter your name, email and zip code. If you do not live in the United States, please enter your City and Country in the Zip Code field.

2. Once registered, you can earn additional entries by:

a. Pinning your favorite HipSwap bag on Pinterest

b. “Liking” HipSwap on Facebook

c. Following @HipSwap on Twitter

d. Tweet with the hashtag #winthisbag for daily bonus entries

e. Following the blogs who are bringing you this awesome giveaway

To be credited, all entries must be completed using the Rafflecopter form below. You can complete as many or as few entries as you’d like but remember, the more you do, the better your odds of winning! Plus, once you are following all of your hosts, entering each subsequent weekly Win This Bag Giveaway will be even faster & easier!

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to entrants worldwide 18 years of age or older, except where prohibited by law. No purchase is necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received. This promotion is no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook and is Facebook-compliant. To qualify to win, you must complete, at minimum, the mandatory entry on the Rafflecopter form. All entries will be forwarded to our sponsor for the purpose of randomly selecting a winner. Winners will be notified by email from a HipSwap representative. Winners will have 72 hours to respond or risk forfeiting their prize. Prize may re-awarded solely by the Sponsor's discretion. Prize fulfillment is the sole responsibliity of the sponsor. This blog may not be held liable for Sponsors who do not fulfill prize shipments. The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. We reserve the right to publicly publish winners' names and/or likeness. By entering this giveaway, you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.

SneakPeeq - special bonus rewards for shopping with facebook account

We've posted about Sneakpeeq before, but I wanted to bring them back to your attention.  I've found so many cool household, gourmet and fashion items over the past few months that I wanted to share their site with you again.

If you haven't already signed up, go check them out now and unlock YOUR rewards. Sometimes, they offer FREE items to their members, just for browsing, plus you can get special rewards and bonus items by unlocking the sneakpeeq badges!  It's a fun way to shop.

Plus, with new items added daily, at really low prices, you'll feel good about saving money.  When you log in with your Facebook account, you'll be able to share your favorite finds with your friends and earn bonus FREE rewards and surprises.

....and who doesn't like SURPRISES in addition to great deals?! 

Some great items for SALE at Sneakpeeq today

C & H Glassworks - Sky Seahorse Hummingbird Feeder 

Pearls of Wisdom - Pearl Ring

MOHZY - Hot Mama USB & iPhone Cable

SIGN UP with your FACEBOOK account today, for special REWARDS and DEALS on SneakPeeq!

Ready to start Potty Training? Summer Infant Story Time Potty Review & Giveaway - ends 7/13/12

Thinking it's about time to start potty training with your toddler?

It's still a little early for my little peanut, at 16 months old, but she has started showing interest in "the potty" and all things related, so we decided to begin casually, thanks to Summer Infant.

What better way to begin a fun adventure into potty training than with the Summer Infant Story Time Potty.

Summer Infant has hit the mark on potty training with this fun Story Time Potty that is designed to keep children interested while potty training. Complete with read-along book and an exciting, electronic panel that tells the story of "Frankie the Frog" who is on a mission to get to HIS potty in time.

You can keep the progress going with positive encouragement, as there are a few fun buttons that your little one can press that offer encouraging phrases, like "HIP HOP HURRAY" to keep them motivated to keep coming back for more potty time!

Why choose Story Time Potty?

• Supportive, high back offers kids the ability to lean back and relax

 (my peanut has taken full advantage of this feature, looks like she's lounging in an easy chair while on the Story Time Potty)

• Large, easy to remove pot has a splash guard for boys

• Removable trainer fits the adult potty, when child is ready for the transition to "big potty"

• Base of potty can be used as a step stool once transitioned to adult potty

I don't think I've seen another potty on the market that is so versatile, in that it is fully transitional to the adult potty. That means, money saved and no need to purchase a separate toilet trainer seat OR step stool!

So, do you think your kiddo is ready for potty training?  Check out this article, "The Potty Police" written by Dr. Levine to find out.

LEARN MORE about Summer Infant Products

• Summer Infant Website
• Summer Infant on Facebook
• Summer Infant on Twitter

BUY IT

 The Summer Infant Story Time Potty is available at the following retailers:

• Story Time Potty at Toys R Us / Babies R Us - $31.99

WIN IT

Summer Infant Story Time Potty Giveaway

• Click Read More >>>  to complete Rafflecopter Entry Form
• Giveaway ends: July 13th, 2012

Contigo - Stainless Steel Travel Mugs Review & GIVEAWAY - ends 7/6

My husband will soon earn a new title - "Daddy of TWO!"

Shh, don't tell him, but he's in for a surprise.  With the "big sister" being only 16 months, late nights will turn into even LATER nights and early mornings magically transformed into even EARLIER mornings.

He's going to need his daily dose of caffeine for sure.  In his case, it's TEA.  He's one of those snobby loose-leaf fancy tea drinkers (and I say that with much love).  Recently, he gently let me know that my morning coffee, was "tainting" his travel mugs and that the coffee flavor was overpowering his tea.

The husband's fancy tea!

I noticed that most of our travel mugs had some sort of plastic interior, that absorbed the flavor of whatever was put in them, and realized he was right - all the mugs now tasted like coffee.  The solution according to my hubby?

Stainless Steel Travel Mugs! 

 I shopped and shopped to find a travel mug with a stainless interior and exterior, and actually purchased a few online, that were marketed as stainless.  However, when they arrived, were only stainless on the outside and plastic inside.

Enter, Contigo! Finally, a company that has a wide selection of stainless steel exterior AND interior travel mugs that WORK!  I love the cool, streamlined design that is perfect for a man or woman.  The AUTOSEAL^® West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug, below comes in (11) brilliant colors that would suit any coffee or tea drinker in the house.  I love this in blue!

AUTOSEAL^® West Loop Stainless Steel Travel Mug (Vacuum Insulated) - 16 oz.

Contigo, agreed to let us review one of their Stainless Steel Travel Mugs and put it to the test.  We chose the AUTOSEAL^® Randolph Stainless Steel Travel Mug (pictured below).

AUTOSEAL^® Randolph Stainless Steel Travel Mug

We were so happy to find that this travel mug finally had a stainless steel interior, as well as exterior which means NO funny flavor seeping through from one use to another.  One of the awesome features about this mug, the AUTOSEAL^® technology intrigued us - but does it actually work?  The answer...YES!  No more, forgetting to slide the cover forward, or backward to seal & open the opening.  The spout automatically seals, and when you want to drink you simply press the button on the handle.

I even tested turning the whole mug upside down while filled with 16oz. of liquid (no, not HOT liquid for the test) inside.  Result, NO SPILLS. Not even a tiny drop.  I think I'm going to start making my toddler drink out of this, instead of her sippy cup!

Whether it's iced tea or hot tea or coffee this travel mug keeps hot drinks HOT for 4 hours and cold drinks COLD for 12 hours!  This is MY new favorite mug....err if I can pry it from my husband's tea drinking hands.

Plus, this design comes in (4) classy colors - gunmetal, berry, midnight blue and silver so you can have one for each person in the family.  Pretty sure I'm never going to buy another cheap-o travel mug again, as long as Contigo continues to make this stellar product!

Why Choose CONTIGO Travel Mugs?

• Made from 100% FDA approved materials
• Fits most single-serve coffee makers
• Designed for both left and right handed drinkers
• Patented AUTOSEAL^® lid is 100% leak-proof and spill-resistant
• Dishwasher Safe (top rack)

Shop for your very own CONTIGO Travel Mug HERE

and

• LIKE Contigo on Facebook 
• FOLLOW Contigo on Twitter

ENTER GIVEAWAY

Prize: NEW Contigo Randolph AUTOSEAL^® Handled Travel Mug

Retail Value: $22.99

• To enter giveaway click Read More >>> and complete Rafflecopter Entry Form
• Giveaway ends: July 6th, 2012

The Fieldcrest Luxury Pillow - now available at Target

Remember that post I recently made about The Fieldcrest Luxury pillow, filled with DACRON® Memory Fiber down alternative?

Well, it wasn't available for purchase at the time the review was posted....it had yet to debut it's luxurious, comfy self to the world.

Wait no longer!  The Fieldcrest Luxury Pillow is NOW AVAILABLE for only $19.99 (Queen size) on Target.com as well as at Target stores all across the nation.

To learn more information, or to purchase online, click HERE

FREE Blogger Opportunity - Designer Handbag Giveaways for 8-weeks!

Sign ups going on now for a FREE Blogger Giveaway Event!

Do you LOVE designer handbags?  How about ones that come directly from a celebrity's closet?  For a total of 8-weeks, there will be a new prize up for grabs - like a Fendi handbag owned by a Dancing with the Stars Celeb. Plus a grand finale prize for entrants that participated for all 7 weeks leading up to the finale.

If you're a blogger, this is a fantastic way to drive new traffic to your website.

BLOGGERS: Sign up HERE if you are interested in participating in this event. Since this is a FREE event for bloggers, sign ups will only be open for a short time, so don't wait to get on the wagon!

* And if you're not a blogger - stay tuned for the post where YOU can enter to win 8 weeks of fantastic designer handbags :-)

Whoo Hoo! I'm excited!

Office Supplies & Organization Tools from Shoplet.com - REVIEW

I love office supplies!  

I've always appreciated products that make my job easier and tasks quicker to accomplish.

Even though I don't have a "traditional job" at this moment, while raising my children, I still love to shop for office supplies that help organize my time, as well as my mom and blog responsibilities.

Shoplet.com sent me a few products to review, recently and I put them to the test.

First up, the Pendaflex Ready-Tab Lift Tab Reinforced Hanging Folders - I wish I had these when I was working my last job. We were big into recycling (non-profit), so I'd always have to weed through piles of used file folders to find the ones with nice tabs left on them. No missing tabs with this product.

This product has (5) angled tabs that easily lift up and won't fall out.  So you can choose whichever position you'd like for each file and the tabs will look clean and organized right from the start. Easy to write on directly, or to outfit with a peel-off label. These Hanging Folders are available in red, green, blue, yellow and orange, so there are plenty of colors to organize by topic.

The second item, is the Pendaflex Divide it Up File Folder - this is a perfect item for both stay-at-home moms, and working moms to stay organized.  At only $7.95 for a pack of 12 - these folders have (3) separate sections to help manage bills, coupons, receipts or other important documents all within one folder.

I am always looking for better ways to sort my paperwork within a topic or theme instead of having a million separate folders for each piece of paper.  This folder is perfect to divide up items by topic, but still keep similar items all in one easy to find location. Plus there is no need to purchase a separate tab, as they are already built into this product. Just stick a label on and you're that much closer to having your bills, receipts or coupons organized and easy to find.

The last item I was sent to review, was the Ampad Project Planner - now I'm not "into" pink, but I'm all about any product that donates to breast cancer research!  This Daily Planner is perfect for keeping myself on task for writing reviews and articles in a timely manner here on McKinney Mommas!

The Project Action Notes section is perfect to assign myself tasks and the lined and numbered Project Planning notes section is perfect to include more information on the steps I need to take to accomplish the overall project.

Each sheet is able to tear off cleanly, with micro-perforated edges so you can take your tasks with you on the go, or file them elsewhere if needed. With 84 sheets, you'll be able to use this planner for many projects to come, and at only $5.24 each at Shoplet.com you won't shed a tear when it's time to buy more!

So, when you're in need of some home or business office supplies, at fantastic prices - check out Shoplet.com

I
SHOP GREEN

*Disclosure: This was not a paid post. The products used to facilitate this review were given to me free of cost by the company.  However, all opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced by the complimentary product received. As I am under no obligation to post a positive review if I feel it is not warranted.  

Farm Rich Snacks & Appetizers - Review & GIVEAWAY - ends 7/1/12

 

Aaah Summertime - well in three days from now, anyway!

Kids are playing outside, daily outings to splash parks and soccer camps, which all produce....

HUNGRY KIDS!

I usually like to make my own snacks at home - apple slices, celery and peanut butter, etc. but sometimes you just need to pop something in the oven and have an instant snack without prep work.

Farm Rich, has a bunch of snacks and appetizers that are quick and easy - no prep work required - and will be on your table ready for the kids (and neighbor kids) to eat in 10 minutes or less. 

• Cheese Sticks
• Mozzarella Sticks
• Turkey Meatballs
• Pizza Slices
• and tons more..............check out the full selection of Farm Rich Snacks HERE

The company recently approached me to try out a few of their products, and I gladly accepted, not being familiar with the brand previously - and always ready to try something new!

Mozzarella Sticks  - Made with 100% Real Mozzarella Cheese

We tried the Mozzarella Sticks, from Farm Rich and were pleasently surprised at their products!

The Mozzarella Sticks, had an exciting tangy surprise of marinara already inside the snacks.  I LOVE to dip my Mozzarella Sticks in marinara sauce, but these little guys already have a nice dollop of sauce inside - so no need to dip!

The preparation was easy as pie, just pour out however many you plan to serve (or eat....hee hee) and throw them on a baking sheet in a pre-heated oven at 450 for 10 minutes.  Mine turned out crispy on the outside with a nice golden brown color, and the cheese was melted just right with the pop of sauce for extra flavor!

My tasty Mozzarella Sticks, right before I gobbled them up!

 

Farm Rich Products has a fun club with special savings and offers available for moms like you and me, including special birthday deals, contests & giveaways, a forum to share tips and recipes with others and more!

Join the Keep 'em Happy Club - HERE

and 

LIKE Farm Rich on Facebook

FOLLOW Farm Rich on Twitter

VISIT Farm Rich at their Website

~ ENTER GIVEAWAY ~

Prize: (2) FREE Coupons for any Farm Rich Products

• Click Read More >>> to complete Entry Form by July 1, 2012

Little Miss Coppertone Contest - enter by 6/22

Ooooh, if only my little peanut was 8 months older.....she could be the next Little Miss Coppertone!

You all know the Coppertone symbol of the baby getting her drawers pulled down by the puppy on the beach?  Well, I guess the company thought that it's time to UPDATE the symbol, and I agree!

If your little girl is between the ages of 2-8 years old, you can enter the Little Miss Coppertone contest by submitting a photo of your little beach baby by June 22nd!

The winner of the contest, wins a DREAM VACATION for the whole family and will be featured in a Coppertone print ad.

No Purchase Necessary. Contest Ends on 6/22/12. Click for Details

And for us mommas, check out this fun quiz "What Kind of Coppertone Girl Are You" on their Facebook page.

Apparently I'm a Social Surfer Girl!  

Which one are you?




Disclosure: I was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.  No monetary exchange took place.

Win a Kindle Touch - hosted by Casino Mate - ends 6/29

Want to win a Kindle Touch?

I do! 

Casino Mate is sponsoring a giveaway, for your chance to WIN your very own Kindle Touch!

ENTER TO WIN BELOW

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Evenflo Triumph™ 65 LX Convertible Car Seat - REVIEW

With our second child on the way in just 4 short weeks, we decided it was time to "upgrade" our 16 month old to a convertible car seat, and free up the infant car seat for the new peanut to-be.

Evenflo, offered us an opportunity to shop their selection of car seats and choose one to review.  Their website is a great source for information - and I like to do a lot of my shopping research online.  For some reason, I just can't focus well on narrowing down choices and features, in the store with a 16 month old running around at my feet!

It was easy to narrow down what I was looking for on the Evenflo website, as they have checkboxes to elminate (or select) features you want in a car seat.

• TYPE: Infant, Convertible, All-in-One, Booster or Accessories  =  Convertible, please!
• STYLE: Rear facing, Forward Facing = BOTH, please!
• WEIGHT: 5-40, 5-50, 5-65 = Let's go for the LONG TERM with 5-65, please!
• COLOR: Navy, Red, Black, Blue, Green, Pink = Something neutral, please!

My search results came down to the Evenflo Triumph Advance 65, or the Evenflo Momentum 65 - there didn't seem to be a lot of difference between these two as far as features go.  I think the only differences were that the Triumph has a new harness tightening mechanism, and seemed to have slightly higher ratings on Amazon and other sites I found - so I went with the Triumph Advance 65.

Triumph™ 65 LX Convertible Car Seat

Initially, upon receiving the car seat - I was slightly nervous at the size. It's not tiny, then again it has to be large enough to keep a 65lb child safe.  In actuality, it still wasn't quite as large as some other convertible seats I've seen in the stores. Being that we drive a small car (Honda Civic) I needed to be sure it would fit along side our other infant car seat.

Verdict..............IT FITS! Whew.  My husband installed the seat, in about 10 minutes, mind you he's a safety FREAK so he has to make sure everything is just so.  We were happy to find that the Triumph 65 has the LATCH system, for a safe and secure fit, just like our infant car seat that we loved so much.

Since my daughter is tall, i.e. her legs already touch the back of the seat when rear facing, and now meets the weight requirement for forward facing- we decided to try installing the seat facing forward. the LATCH system was easy to use, and didn't cause us any trouble.

I love the "Infinate Slide Harness" feature, so you don't have to re-thread the whole harness strap when your little one grows taller.  I remember with our first infant car seat, having to wait till my husband got home so he could re-thread the whole seat when the straps were too low on her growing shoulders.

Evenflo Infinite Slide Harness

The other new feature on the Triumph 65, is the tightening mechanism for the harness. Most car seats have a traditional pull strap in between the child's legs.  The Triumph 65 has a tension knob on either side of the car seat.  I heard some other mother's didn't like this feature, however my husband and I have had no problems with it at all. You can tighten from one side or the other (don't have to do both) and the release is on the same knob. 

So, far, even though it's been around 90+ degree weather here in Texas, I'm not noticing my little peanut getting overly hot in this car seat - which is a problem we had to deal with in her infant car seat for some reason. Keeping baby cool, is a BIG plus in my book.

Pros and Cons

• Pro - Won't have to buy another seat until she's 4-5 years old! (Weight: 5lbs to 65 lbs)
• Pro - Latch System for easy installation.
• Pro - Nice neutral color, so we can reuse whether a boy or a girl comes along next.
• Pro - Infinite Slide Harness - don't have to re-thread harness as child grows.

• Con - Shoulder straps are not padded - need to buy strap covers to minimize irritation.
• Con - Top tether strap, did not tighten down as well we we'd like to automobile anchor.
• Con - Tension knob is a bit loud (could wake a light sleeper).

At the end of the day, we are really happy about our experience with the Evenflo Triumph 65,  and our little peanut seems to be pleased as a peach to have a new "big girl" seat! Thank you, Evenflo!

Available at the following retailers

• Triumph 65 at Walmart
• Triumph 65 at Target
• Triumph 65 at Babies R Us
• Triumph 65 at Sears

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*Disclosure: This was not a paid post. The products used to facilitate this review were given to me free of cost by the company.  However, all opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced by the complimentary product received. As I am under no obligation to post a positive review if I feel it is not warranted.