Monday, November 30, 2015

Glo Wubble Bubble Ball

* We received a Glo Wubble and compensation in return for our review. All opinions are our own. *



We tried a Wubble Ball a few months ago and had the most fun ever with that toy! Unfortunately, yes, it popped, BUT, I sent in for the warranty that The Amazing Wubble Bubble Ball offers and sure enough, they will replace your Wubble Bubble Ball. All you have to do is pay for shipping!! That isn't so bad, considering, shipping is just $6.99 and you do receive a brand new Wubble Ball or Glo Wubble. (Depending on which one you need replaced!) and yes, indeed, this is a lifetime replacement warranty, so, no worries there!

The fact that this toy brings so much entertainment and so much fun, even if it only lasts for a few days of outdoor play or a few months if you are careful, is reason enough for us to include this product in our gift guide and continue to play, buy, and recommend this product and all of their other fun Wubble Balls!

You can find a lot of really sweet deals on all of the Wubble Balls right now and they are perfect to have on hand for parties, picnics, last minute gift ideas, birthday gifts for neighbor kids and friends. (You know, those last minute invites and presents you have about an hour to figure out!?) Everybody who has played at our house when we have a Wubble Ball, bugs and bugs every time they come over, "Could we please get the Wubble Ball out?" My 12 year old is able to use the pump (Yes, the pump is included with this one!) and get it ready for play! Not only does it get all of the kids outside and active, it allows me to get some things done. That alone makes this product worth it to me!

Between all of the shrieks and laughs and yelps outside, (or downstairs in the play area, if it's raining.), the kids are having fun, taking turns, playing dodgeball, volleyball, or whatever new game they make up and all of those squealing kids will play for as long as you let them! This is one of my favorite benefits of the Wubble Balls! They get off of the video games, televisions, computer screens and cell phones and they play and play. Oh and get along while they play! (I can't stress enough how important it is to me that my children do spend quality time together, getting along!) I know, sometimes it seems like it is totally impossible!

What do your kids do for fun together? I don't know any kid who wouldn't want a gigantic ball to throw around at each other, especially a glow in the dark one!! Plus, it makes for good times for the grown ups too!!

Restaurant.com Cyber Monday Deal!

** I received a Restaurant.com gift card for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. **


Restaurant.com
I know, it's so much nicer and wonderful to cook from scratch every night of the week, have the house vacuumed, mopped, no clutter, all of the homework is done, all of the errands, groceries, everything is taken care of and we can just start cooking a full course meal at 4pm! This doesn't happen very often, if at all, in a real home! I make a new menu each week and if we have soccer, Girl Scouts, baseball, basketball, any other activities, we either have mac and cheese or we order take out. It's just not possible for us to have home cooked meals every single night of the week.

Eating out can be expensive so, we do eat in most of the time. However, there are a couple of nights a month that we schedule for take out or dining out. Mainly to give myself a break! We do an envelope budget each month and I don't allot very much for dining out. That is more of a treat and something we might do if we end up running errands and stopping by the mall. So, I stock up on Restaurant.com certificates because it's the only way we can afford with a big family, to spend an evening letting somebody else prepare our dinner.

I also love to stock up on Restaurant.com certificates when they are having promotions, when we go on vacation, (you can save a great deal by planning ahead and checking by zip code on their site!) I always take my blogger agenda with me and my zippered pouch with all of my coupons, gift cards, and Restaurant.com certificates, wherever I go. Not to mention, these certificates make the best gifts! At this price, you can afford to buy enough for everybody on your list and maybe add a few!

While you are there, grabbing as many of these deals as you can for gifts, don't forget about your own family! It's super easy to search for restaurants, pubs, bars, ice cream shops, pizza shops, who will accept these certificates, You can search by type, area code, read reviews, and if anything happens that you weren't able to use your certificate and you need to exchange it, no worries! Restaurant.com lets you switch it on the spot! (I have done this many times and never had an issue!)









For families who want to avoid the hours of cooking and clean-up this holiday season, Restaurant.com delivers $3 for $25 Certificates with Promo Code: CYBER today only! Find places to meet, eat and be merry from 22,000 restaurants nationwide.

And if you’re traveling, feel free to take Restaurant.com on the road with you. Their mobile app makes a primary travel companion! Search for eateries by zip code and simply use the certificate from your phone at the restaurant.
Hurry – this "Better than Best" $3 Cyber Monday Sale won’t last. Restaurant.com is the trusted and valued source for connecting restaurants and diners nationwide. This offer ends Monday, November 30 at 11:59 pm CT.







** I received a Restaurant.com gift card for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. **

Thursday, November 26, 2015

WubbleX Is Really, Really, Really Cool!!

** We received this product and compensation in return for our honest review. All opinions are our own. **



I think my husband had a bit more fun with the WubbleX than anybody else, to be honest. Of course, he wouldn't let me get any pictures of him with it but, I will say, he was beaming and the kids were losing it when they saw their dad running around like a crazy nut, cracking up and throwing the WubbleX at them. We kind of needed him because when it would float to the ceiling, he was the only one who could reach it!


For about 3 hours, (and the kids would have played even longer had it not been time for dinner.), all I heard in the kitchen and then downstairs, was yelling, giggles, and constant squeals and every once in awhile, a kid would be on the floor, literally laughing so hard they had to hold their belly and take a break. This is like the best family time toy ever created! 



You might think this is ridiculous. But, just like giant cardboard boxes, a ball that floats in the air is just to cool and just begs you to stop whatever you are doing so you can play! 


Luckily, the boys had a bench by the wall, to stand on to try to grab it because their sister kept trying to keep it away from them so, of course, the WubbleX kept flying towards the ceiling. (No, I would not recommend taking this outdoors lol!)



Unfortunately, the WubbleX is not included in The Amazing Wubble Bubble Ball lifetime warranty, but, they are very inexpensive and you can count on at least a few hours of fun. Much more if you are careful! We were able to play for quite some time, for a few days, until my youngest got it caught on a nail on the wall in the hallway. Sadly, there were tears and I promised to order another one because guess what? You can find some really nice prices on these. ($20 or less!) and yes, this is a lot of fun for kid's parties! If you need to get a few chores done or just need to relax, pull a WubbleX out, the included helium, and voila! Instant babysitter! 

Like I mentioned above, the helium is included with this product, which is wonderful because, I don't have to run somewhere to pay to have this inflated as I do my foil balloons when I order them for parties and things. I will say that the WubbleX is a little stronger than a foil balloon that you would have for kids to bash around and play with. I mean, you are going to see that the WubbleX will lose some air and that's expected. It will withstand more hits, whacks, and bumps then a typical balloon would. It will also do some pretty fabulous tricks! Like, it will float in midair and it will bounce and well, it's pretty much like magic! 

We give the WubbleX 5 stars on an entertainment scale! 5 stars for family fun and 5 stars for originality! 

Do your kids spend countless hours with the WubbleX? or your husbands? :) 



Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Swaive Ear Thermometer And A Giveaway!

** I received a free product in return for my honest review, thanks to Bloggy Moms and Swaive. All opinions are my own. **





I have been so used to using regular, old thermometers for the last 20+ years for my children and after having the opportunity to try the Swaive Thermometer over the past few weeks, I wish it would have been so easy for our first child as Swaive makes it now! I can't believe I actually had to sit there and strain my eyes, looking at the tiny, thin line in a regular glass thermometer! (I didn't think I was that old, lol!) But, the Swaive thermometer makes life much easier and for that, I am very grateful.


I don't know where to begin with this fascinating piece of technology but, I must say, this is one of the most fabulous inventions for busy moms and dads and even grandparents too! Really, you don't have to have children to use this. Anybody who cares for an elderly friend or family member, a friend or family member with a chronic illness, will find this easy to use ear thermometer, very handy!





It comes in this sleek case, complete with batteries, (yes, I swear it actually has 2 AA batteries included!!), 21 hygienic covers, a user manual, and the thermometer, of course. It is easy to store and fits right into your medicine cabinet without taking up to much space. I know, you are probably thinking, well, there isn't much to say about a thermometer. So, what is all of the fuss about? Well, I have to stress again, how very cool this case is! I have a full and very cluttered up medicine cabinet already, I certainly don't need a thermometer and a bunch of hygienic covers to try and balance on top of a bunch of bottles! So, this case is a selling point to me. and no, it isn't all about the case. (Just wait until you read about what else this snazzy thermometer does!!)


First, I should explain something I really wasn't aware of. After all of these ears of being the best supermom ever, I would have thought I would have known about why the ear is the best place to take a temperature! 
The following is from Swaive: 

Why use the ear? 
Your body temperature is controlled by the part of the brain called the hypothalamus. Blood flowing to the hypothalamus also flows through the ear drum. Taking temperature in the ear accurately reflects the body's core temperature. 

Did you know that? 
(If you did, well, I guess you are an awesome, super, duper mom!!) 

Anyway, yes, we are seriously still talking about why this thermometer is so rad! Now, I am not a major app user but, I do have a few that I can't live without and guess what?! You can install an app for your new Swaive thermometer! With this handy, dandy app, you can keep a history of the whole family, view your critical temperature trends over time, and share important temperature with doctors or spouses. 

The Swaive thermometer learns each person's normal body temperature, since normal body temperature varies by person. This is one bonus I really like. I often wonder about this when I research all of these new fancy thermometers, because I know just from my own children, that they never do seem to have the same "average" temperatures. 

Since we're in Pennsylvania, it has been cold here already. Actually, it hasn't been to bad just yet, but, we have this change of season thing going on and with that, always comes a lot of sniffles, sneezes, fevers, colds, flus, and all of that other icky stuff that tends to stick for days, weeks, sometimes it seems like a month or more. Unfortunately, we already had to try our Swaive thermometer and as I write this, we are battling this strange cold that we can't seem to kick. (It isn't a bad one. Just one that feels like you're on the verge of being totally sick.) So, I have been using my new thermometer and it's already learned our own personal, normal body temperatures. I also don't have to wake the little ones up just to check their temps! 

Now, onto a giveaway, thanks to Bloggy Moms and Swaive! 
You can enter to win your own Swaive thermometer!
Good luck! 




Friday, November 20, 2015

And Another Essential Oil Kit Giveaway




Yes, I know, some of you may be getting tired of all of this essential oil stuff all over the internet :) I love these yummy smelling, beneficial essential oils and they play a very important role here at our house. I plan to continue to offer these giveaways every couple of weeks, so that others can learn or try them out or even just stockup a bit so they have some on hand. (Especially since the cold and flu season is coming!)

I really love the snow, I really do. I want to get hit with a lot of snowstorms this year and I want to get snowed in. (As long as nobody has to drive in it!) It reminds me of when I was a kid and school would cancel and we were in our pajamas all day, drinking hot chocolate, watching the snow fall, and then, jumping in the snow and having so much fun! Now, I don't care for playing in the snow to much now lol. Mainly, because, I can barely move when it is warm outside and when the cold hits, I am pretty much stuck in my pajamas, trying as hard as I can to make the pain disappear, even just a little. But, my kids are having the time of their lives out there and I can't stop laughing at them running around with their bright red noses and their bundled up, sumo wrestler bodies, making snow forts and snowmen.

If I have to choose one thing I can't stand when winter comes around, (other than driving in a blizzard or on ice.), I would have to say that I do miss the fresh air more than anything! I run outside a lot during the winter, just so I can smell the fresh air and I feel like I am actually airing out part of the house when I do this. Yes, I am a little weird I guess. I stand at the door, waving it back and forth real fast before my husband sees me and yells, "Shut the door! We're not paying to heat the outside!" But, I NEED open windows, curtains floating in the breeze, and fresh, clean, crisp air. So, I do my best to scent the house as best as I can, so that I am reminded of warm, sunny days and the pleasant aroma of just washed laundry with fabric softener, wild flowers, and maybe a spring shower. I do this by making candles, wax tarts, scented oils for oil burners and making my own carpet refresher, fabric refresher, and air fresheners, with essential oils.


Well, I am sure you know where I am going with this! Don't forget to check out the cute idea in the image above! I am going to be grabbing a few packs of clothespins this weekend and we are including these car diffusers in our teacher gift baskets this year!


Good luck on the giveaway!!








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Friday, November 13, 2015

The Importance Of Reading To Kids With Mabel's Labels

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island. — Walt Disney

Mabel's Labels knows that reading to kids is important for their growth and development, and also one of the most rewarding and heartwarming activities we can do with our little ones. That's why they created this adorable video of Mabel's Labels staff reading with their kids. After you watch it, be sure to check out the great personalized books for kids they have available to make reading with your kids even more special this holiday season. 

Discover all the great new products Mabel's Labels has for the holidays. There are all sorts of ways to be merry with Mabel's this year!

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Vtech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX

** We received a Vtech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX in return for our review and promoting. All opinions are our own. **

Deegan, (Our 5 year old), is a big fan of VTech Toys. I am pretty pleased with them too, since, through all of these years of being a mom, (23 to be exact!), I have been able to rely on Vtech to come up with the most innovative toys each year that are not only cool, fun to play with, original, of excellent quality, but also because each toy is geared around learning! The Kidizoom Smart Watch DX is no exception!




Deegan thinks he's the coolest kid ever and can use his Kidizoom watch to catch the bad guys when he plays Army lol! He secretly records his brother and sisters and uses the evidence to make some interesting demands. Like, an extra cookie from one of their piles or for his big brother to let him play on his Xbox One. Although he hasn't really caught anything to incriminating, he has caught some recordings of his sister singing One Direction songs that she apparently doesn't want the rest of us to hear. So, it's been working out quite well for him!

I asked Deegan what his favorite part of his new watch was and he said, "I think I like the Funny Face Detector the best. No! Wait! Maybe the motion sensor or the games and the clock!" He really can not get enough of the calculator and clock! He is always customizing his watch and loves to change the time and try to trick us into staying up later or having another snack time. It's very cool because he has been telling me the time quite often since he has his smart watch and he's very proud of himself!



He also likes to take pictures with his watch and he is most often found trying to make the dogs do something cool so he can capture it on video or snap a pic! We sometimes find him in another room, cracking up, because he likes to have a couple of photos of each of us and he will use the photo filters, frames, and special effects to make us look, well, I guess, pretty hilarious! 

Of course, there are games. Deegan loves video games and he really, really, really likes that he has some games on his top secret smartwatch that he can hide out and play. He plays on the way to the grocery store, the doctor's office, when he's supposed to be sleeping at night, but, I won't tell! 


Sometimes, we hear him whispering and giggling by himself or with his favorite teddy bear, Snuggle, or his best friend, Cassie, (our American Bulldog puppy.) and we found out, he's recording his to do list and notes and sometimes he sings songs and records them on his Kidizoom Smartwatch DX! Other times, he is following us around, trying to get us to say, "Yes, Deegan, you may have 5 cookies instead of 4." and he will use this again and again to make sure that we know that one time, mom said this. (Even if I was super busy at the time and not aware of what I was agreeing with!) 


I would have to say that this toy definitely ranks up there with his favorites! When he packs up his backpack for a trip, errands, appointments, or just a day outside, he is sure he has his watch on and he's getting really good at hiding it at nighttime when he is to be sleeping! (We often find this in his little fist or under his pillow with new voice recordings!) It has been rare to see him without his watch. He's very proud and feels like a big person when he has all of his favorite games, Monster Identity, Funny Face Detector, motion sensor action challenges, and motion activated sound effects! Oh, you can also download more content through Vtech too! 

You can find a variety of colors and styles for girls and boys as well as action cams! These are great for kids ages 4 through 9. They are very durable and will last, even with your little Army guy (kid), who are sometimes in the middle of a battle in the backyard. 



Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Alternavites Giveaway





We have been using alternaVITES for a little over a year now. I think the part my kids like best is the flavors and the fact that they can eat them like they would a Pixi Stick or they can mix them with their favorite drinks, yogurts, anything really. I do have to mix my 5 year old son's packet with his yogurt sometimes and he likes that he is getting some "healthy vitamins", as he says, included with his favorite yogurt treats! We are currently using Raspberry Cotton Candy Multivitamin and Mineral and Tutti Frutti Smoothie Vitamin D. Both are quite yummy! (Yes, I have tried these myself lol!) I like to mix mine with my strawberry breakfast smoothies too!

I try to avoid giving my kids anything with sugar. So a long time ago I stopped giving my kids gummy vitamins that we covered in sugar. When I discovered alternaVites, we were instantly in love with our new vitamins. They are delicious and fun to eat. They are also sugar free and they don’t have any types of artificial sweeteners. I have to admit, that I often take these multi vitamins instead of my adult vitamins. alternaVites makes a delicious multi vitamin that your children will love. Your kids can pour them into their mouth or you can mix them into a smoothie or yogurt.
Now alternaVites also offers supplements. In addition to taking a delicious multivitamin, you can be sure your child is getting their daily dose of Vitamin D and Calcium.


Vitamin D is incredibly important as it can help to support strong bones, teeth and immune function as well as to help absorb calcium in the body. It is known as “the sunshine vitamin” because our bodies produce vitamin D naturally through direct exposure to sunlight. Since many of us are now shielding ourselves from the sun, and Vitamin D can be hard to get from food sources alone, alternaVites Kids Vitamin D can be a great source. Specially formulated for children 4 and older, this product contains 500IU in a delicious Tutti Frutti Smoothie flavor. alternaVites Kids Vitamin D powder can be poured on the tongue where it melts in the mouth (think pixie stick) or mixed into foods or drinks. In addition to the many other great attributes listed below, this formula is also very unique as it is free of all animal products or by-products making it one of the only Vitamin D products that is suitable for both vegetarians and vegans alike. 
  • Contains 0 grams of sugar (free of aspartame and high fructose corn syrup)
  • Gluten Free
  • No artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors or preservatives
  • No GMO ingredients
  • Contains no egg, milk, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish or shellfish *
  • Certified Kosher (OU)
  • One packet per day

*However, we encourage all parents of children with food allergies or sensitivities to consult with their child’s doctor or pediatrician before use. MADE IN USA.
 

Now for the giveaway! Two lucky readers will win a Celebrity Gift Bag from alternaVites! Open to residents of the US only. Giveaway ends 11/24/2105 at 1159pm EST. Enter on the giveaway form below.
Blogger is not responsible for fulfilling the prize. This information is provided byalternaVites and SavingYouDinero.com.

Monday, November 9, 2015

Stella & Dot's Holiday Trend Report

*This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Let the holiday festivities begin! Stella & Dot's Holiday Trend Report serves up the hottest styles to get you party-ready, get your gift list checked off, and find looks that you can rock well into the new year. Here are the three style trends featured in Stella & Dot's report:

Layered Looks - Delicate styles that you can layer together to create an ultra-feminine look. 





Midnight Shine - Dark and sparkly pieces that are a must-have for upcoming holiday parties
 






Neutral Metallics - Neutral hues and metallic finishes that will add instant glam 


Thursday, November 5, 2015

Essential Oil Intro Kit Giveaway



I have a lot of essential oil giveaways planned for the rest of the year and even in the new year! We will even be starting a new Twitter chat coming soon and yes, indeed, there will be prizes!

I thought you would get bored if you had to read a bunch of jibberish about essential oils, ways to use them, blah blah blah, so, I decided to just share something that I make regularly, with essential oils and maybe you want to try it, maybe not. Either way, there is a giveaway at the end of this post so, be sure to enter!!

I love making body butters, whipped body butters to be precise! I make them to sell once in awhile and to add to gift baskets, donation gift baskets, and of course, teacher gifts! My little ones have a lot of fun helping with making lip balms, solid perfumes, incense, butters, scrubs, the only thing I haven't let them really help with just yet, are candles and wax tarts. Although, my 12 year old is getting really, really, really good at wicks for candles. (I am a nervous wreck when trying to quickly wick several dozen tea lights as fast as possible, but he's a natural!)

So, this essential oil intro kit giveaway post, will be about my favorite cinnamon body butter.

You will need:

Cinnamon essential oil
Ground Cinnamon or grated cinnamon sticks
Shea Butter
Coconut Oil
Cocoa Butter
A couple of drops of vitamin e oil
Jars or glass containers with lids
A hand mixer, a pot, and something to stir and scrape with.

I am not to keen on exact measurements for cooking, baking, or even making homemade products. I kind of eye it up and add if need be and of course, it also depends on how much you would like to make.

For roughly 4 4oz containers of whipped body butter, I use a little over 1 cup of coconut oil, 1/2 cup each shea butter and cocoa butter and about 40 drops of cinnamon essential oil. (I sort of just add 10 drops at a time until it seems to be enough.)

First, melt the cocoa and shea butter on low. Then add the coconut oil.
Once the butters and oils are all liquid, remove from heat and let sit for a few minutes.
Next, I add vitamin e. This isn't required, but, it adds to the benefits of this luscious body butter!
Then, the cinnamon essential oil.
The next part takes the longest but, you only need to whip every so often and check on the bowl every 15 to 30 minutes or so.
I put the bowl in the fridge to speed the process up and whip on high every 15 minutes for a few minutes.
I also add some sprinkled cinnamon for color and added scent.

Once you have your desired consistency, just spoon into jars and sprinkle some cinnamon on top!
I like to add ribbon and some cinnamon sticks or even wooden scoops when gifting! That's the fun thing about homemade products! You can make them your own, any way you like or make them to include labels for a charity, a friend, a wedding favor, baby shower, whatever you like. The possibilities are endless!




Why cinnamon?

Believe it or not, cinnamon doesn't just taste super delicious! It has many benefits for your skin too!

One of my favorite benefits, of course, is that cinnamon can be helpful for somebody dealing with pain. It helps remove stiffness in your bones and joints, thanks to it being an anti inflammatory substance.
Cinnamon works great for indigestion and is sometimes referred to as a digestive tonic.
Cinnamon oil is very effective in killing mosquito larvae. (This would be a great summer time body butter too!)
Cinnamon is said to help plump skin which in turn, would fill in lines. (Added bonus for all of us 40 somethings and even 30 somethings out there!) You don't have to just use cinnamon to plump up your skin but, it can also plump up your lips! One trick I use often, is, I keep a jar with olive oil and cinnamon sticks and just pull one out and use it as a lip plumper. Totally inexpensive and it smells lovely!
If you get cut, sprinkle some cinnamon on the cut and it will kill the bacteria! It is also said to be; anti septic, anti fungal, and anti bacterial.
Using cinnamon on your skin is also thought to help increase collagen, helps to enhance your complexion, and soothes dry and rough skin.

I could keep going but I know you are anxious to try to win some essential oils! But, if you would like to know more, or would like more ideas on how to sue cinnamon, please feel free to email me: busymommylist@yahoo.com. I will also be writing more about different essential oils and their benefits and since cinnamon is such a beneficial oil, I will be chatting about it again soon!

** Please always check with your doctor before making any changes to your medicines or treatments! Essential oils should not be used to replace medicines prescribed by your doctor without consulting with him/her first. Always test for allergies to oils. You can be allergic to cinnamon! Do not ingest essential oils without consulting to your doctor first! **

Good luck ;)



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