Nozin knows noses...

Colds and flu bring chaos to households. Whether its the kids, spouse or you? Getting sick (or having to take care of someone who is) just plain sucks.

Being that I'm a serious germophobe, this Nozin Nasal Sanitizer? Looked pretty interesting. According to the Nozin website, (in lab tests) NOZIN killed 99.99% of germs that cause the flu (Influenza A), colds (rhino virus type 14) and staph infection (staph aureus). I'm all about trying to prevent colds. And I'd pay large, LARGE amounts of money (as well as walk through hot coals) to prevent any thing vomit-related.

Our little pack of Nozin arrived just in time for our trip to Orlando. I swabbed my son's and my nose just before going to the airport. Did it work? Um... I don't know. Neither one of us got sick non our vacation. So maybe it did? Who knows.

The directions were easy to understand. And I admit I was a bit nervous to stick the swab up my nose. I expected the experience to be uncomfortable -- to feel like my nostrils were on fire. But that wasn't the case at all. And the smell the product emits is like the scent of an orange peel. Its smells citrus-y and light.

My son thought it was funny -- mom sticking something up his nose. And it didn't burn the insides of his tender, little nostrils either. Although he'd much prefer the lingering smell to be one of "bubble gum", "Nerds" or "Laffy Taffy", he didn't complain about the smell.

I like the packaging. The case is small enough to fit into a purse or computer bag. Honestly, the most difficult part of the process was trying to open the itty bitty box with short nails.

I'm saving the rest of my Nozin swabs for cold and flu season. With a little boy who's slated to start kindergarten next month. (Gah! NEXT MONTH?!?) I have a feeling this little product will come in handy. Very, very handy.

This review was written for The Parent Bloggers Network. If you have a product you'd like PBN to review, click on this link for more info.

"Vaccinated" (and thankful)

Today, while at his annual well child check-up, my five-year-old received three vaccinations. Because of these shots, he will never know the itchy, burning feel of chicken pox in his throat. He will never experience the disabling affects of polio. He won't lose a day of school due to measles or mumps. And because of a compelling read by Paul Offit, I know exactly who to thank for this.

"Vaccinated" tells the inspiring story of Maurice Hilleman -- a humble man who grew up in a Montana farming community. Hilleman's tough childhood shaped him into the driven and determined man who not only discovered several vaccines, but improved upon a myriad of existing ones. (Hilleman is also the first person to invent a cancer vaccine as well as purify, characterize, and produce a drug now used in cancer treatment.)

Offit's extensively-researched tome also gives great insight into the history of vaccines. For example, although biologist Alexander Flemming discovered penicillin in the 1929, he was unable to purify the substance. At the start of the second world war, Howard Florey picked up where Flemming left off not only purifying but figuring out how to mass produce the product.

As doctor and author of three other books, (The Cutter Incident, Vaccines: What You Should Know, and Breaking the Antibiotic Habit) Offit chose a fascinating topic. The book is rich with compelling facts. I liked the way the book was organized and the way he presented his information. I also liked his writing style. He doesn't offend readers by "dumbing down" the information. But he does present the information in a way a lay person can understand.

Offit is also not afraid to present the darker side of vaccine discovery. Newly discovered vaccines always needed test subjects. For a period of time, those test subjects were institutionalized mentally retarded people or even children from poor countries. Often times, if a researcher fully believed in his work, the serum's were administered to their own children and even coworkers. Offit admits -- sometimes the vaccines worked. Sometimes they didn't. Sometimes the serum's side effects were so toxic, they caused problems that were worse than the actual illness.

And yes, "Vaccinated" addresses the controversy that ensued when Andrew Wakefield, a London doctor, alarmed the world with his "findings" that the MMR vaccine caused autism due to mercury levels. (Offit refutes Wakefield's concerns.)

Offit made a point at the end of the book that really hit home for me. When vaccines work, nothing happens. People take them for granted. And he's right.

When the author mentioned a new vaccine for rotovirus, I had a flashback of my son at 20-months laying on the couch too weak to move and too sick to even care. For five days, he couldn't even keep down a few swallows of water. He lost more than six pounds in a 12-day period. My husband was out of town. I was alone and overwhelmed with fear for my little boy. I'm grateful that now other children won't have to endure such misery. And many parents won't have to either.

This review was written for The Parent Bloggers Network. If you have a product you'd like PBN to review, click on this link for more info.

True Blue is good for you!

When the marketeers of True Blue Blueberry juice asked me to try their product, I was excited. I love blueberries! But "the boy"? Not so keen on the taste.

What did he think of True Blue juice? In one word, "Yummy".

According to True Blue's website, "each glass of TrueBlue contains as much juice as 1/2 cup fresh blueberries. TrueBlue has 25% fewer calories per serving." The juice is lightly sweetened with cane sugar -- not high fructose corn syrup which is linked to obesity.

Since we received several 64 ounce bottles of True Blue Blueberry juice, we decided to share the wealth. Overall, the product was well received. Here are a few thoughts from busy moms:

"I thought the juice had a nice blend of flavors...the blueberry taste wasn't overwhelming and wasn't sugary. I thought it was refreshing and didn't leave an aftertaste, which I find with some juices." -- Bunko Babe Stacey.

"Product taste was good however my kids continue to ask for apple juice since it is such a staple item; I (mommy) drank the blueberry juice. Boys seemed to enjoy it if I gave it to them without offering a choice of apple juice." -- Bunko babe Traci.

"My kids loved it. This was a big treat for them. I rarely let them have juice or soda because that's too much sugar." -- my sister Linda.

Seth really loved the product. In fact, he asks for "that yummy purple stuff" several times a week. But he's not the only fan in our house. I joked with a few people about how I liked the juice so much, I'd love use it to create some cool cocktails. But in perusing the website, I see someone is one step ahead of me.

True Blue Blueberry juice can currently be found in Dillon, Krogers and Shop and Save in Missouri. Suggested retail price is $3.99 for a 64oz bottle. But if you go to this website, you can get a $1.00 off coupon!

Get a Hobby! (A PBN Review)

Got some free time on your hands? Feel a bit restless or unfulfilled but don't know what to do with yourself? Get a Hobby!

From African violet cultivation to whittling, Get a Hobby! author Tina Barseghian, offers "101 all-consuming diversions for any lifestyle."

Before checking out the list of hobbies, you can initially take a short quiz to help identify personality traits that determine your hobby personality. As you flip through the book, you can then match your traits to the personality characteristics of the many people who gravitate to and enjoy that hobby.

Each hobby segment gives an overview, a history, a list of materials needed, how to get started, a list of resources, and a project idea. For certain hobbies, like ant farming, there's also a sidebar regarding hobby hazards.

The book is an easy, speedy read. And hobbies are alphabetized so you can easily find an interest. Plus? The hobby list includes a bit of everything -- whether you have plenty of money and time to devote to a new hobby or not much of either -- you'll be able to find something of interest. (Featured diversions that sparked great amusement with my hubby and I were dumpster diving, taxidermy, and urban animal husbandry.)

While I do understand that Tina is trying to provide snippets of information to keep the reader engaged, at times, I wished for more information regarding certain hobby sections.

But overall? Get a Hobby! was a fun book to browse through.

This review was written for The Parent Bloggers Network. If you have a product you'd like PBN to review, click on this link for more info. To be entered to win a copy of the book and a $100 gift card to Michael's Arts and Crafts, visit the Parent Bloggers Network site and leave a comment in the Get a Hobby! campaign launch.

What a Vue!

When Parentbloggers asked for interested reviewers to test-drive the 2007 Saturn Vue Green Line (a four-wheel drive hybrid), I was all, “Oh! Oh! Pick me! Pick meeeeee!” We plan to buy a new vehicle soon but were unsure as to what exactly we wanted. But with gas price soaring, we (like tons of other people) are seriously considerating a hybrid. And besides, I really like Saturn’s “no haggle” sales policy.

When the Green Line Vue was delivered to our front door and we were told we could “treat this vehicle as you would your own”, I felt a bit sorry for Saturn. They obviously don’t realize we have a spastic dog with a shedding problem who LOVES to go for car rides. Nor did they realize how many meals we actually eat in the car while on the run.

We did treat the vehicle as our own. (They are probably still finding cookie crumbs and dog hair in the seat creases weeks later.) But as a result, we drove the vehicle everywhere we needed to be (even took it on a few date nights). And by the end of two weeks, we were sad to bid our peppy little friend farewell.

What I liked:
First off, it felt like such a luxury to drive a vehicle that doesn’t smell like vomit. (Our son threw up in our current vehicle three times in the first 6 months of ownership. What didn’t help was the summer heat that baked in the smell. So even after almost two years of ownership, there’s still a lingering scent.) We loved the hybrid’s leather seats. The temperature controls quickly heat or cool to one’s liking. Plus? The interior seems surprisingly roomy for a mini suv. And the radio/cd player sound is great. Just those basics were enough to keep us happily reaching for the Vue keys.

The Green Line Vue arrived at our house with a full tank of gas. Since the vehicle boasts a fuel efficiency of 27 city miles per gallon and 32 highway miles per gallon, I was eager to see how far that amount of gas would take us. I usually need to fill the tank of my 4-cylinder Honda CRV once every five days. With the Vue’s hybrid engine, I was able to extend that by an extra two days!

And speaking of the engine – it is fairly quiet at faster speeds. When the vehicle stops and energy is drawn from the battery, the hybrid is so silent, some reviewers have thought the car stalled! (But it didn’t. The hybrid is as eager to get moving as you are!)

A few other mentions:
While the engine is peppy enough for city driving (going from 0 to 35 mph within a short distance), the biggest complaint for us was how sluggish the vehicle was when on an interstate going uphill. While there were no problems reaching a speed of 65-70 miles per hour on a flat stretch of interstate, the vehicle couldn't maintain that speed while driving up a fairly steep incline. (If you don’t do much highway driving -- especially in hilly regions – this is probably a non-issue. But being that grandparents live on the outskirts of the Ozarks, we tackle hilly terrain at least once a month.)

Also, while I found the steering to be very responsive, the turning radius wasn’t as tight as the vehicle we own now.

And another thing...
The Green Line Vue (which starts at $22,370 standard retail price) got a lot of attention wherever we drove. Our son’s preschool teachers, other preschool parents, neighbors, family members and friends all asked about the vehicle. (You wouldn’t believe how many times I was stopped in parking lots or even at a traffic light and quizzed about the hybrid’s handling, gas mileage and price.)

All in all, we did enjoy our stint as Saturn Vue Hybrid drivers. And by the overwhelmingly positive responses we received, I think a lot of people are looking upon the Saturn Vue Green Line with great hope and interest.

This review was written for The Parent Bloggers Network. If you have a product you'd like PBN to review, click on this link for more info.

In the Motherhood!

Is it just me or do ya'll roll your eyes at most of the fall previews for new comedies? Many of the shows just seem to be the same. Oh look! A tubby, bumbling, clueless guy and his hot, good-natured wife. Ohhhh. There's the single guy who's always got an angle and his one friend with a conscience. Gag.

(Thank you Jesus for "The Office". Oh how I love thee.)

I've often thought, if scriptwriters want some fresh, funny, material they should check out the mom blogs. With moms living out loud, there's tons of funny antics and shenanigans in the blog-o-sphere.

Well, some wise person figured this out. And they put a cool plan in motion. That plan is "In the Motherhood." We? Supply the stories. Professional screenwriters develop the characters and story lines. The final product? Some pretty funny (and highly-entertaining) webisodes.

Typically, the site will have a featured topic like "child's worst meltdown" or "funniest mother-in-law childcare advice." Moms write their stories in paragraph form. The on-line mom community votes and nominates the best entries. And Viola. Your story could be brought to life! But at least this time, that horrifying/humiliating/unbelievable moment isn't happening to YOU again.

Leah Remini stars and if you check out the YouTube on their site, you will see that it IS hysterical. (And I'm not even a big fan of Leah. But I DO like her in this venture.)So go check it out and have some fun!

The business of being a boy...

Remember digging in the dirt in hopes of discovering buried treasures? Or finding yourself mesmerized while watching the various insects scurry for cover after you'd pick up a rock? Remember those long summer days when your parents would force you outside, "to let the stink blow off ya." (Or was that just MY parents who said things like that?)

Well, brothers Conn and Hal Iggulden do. And they used those childhood memories to write The Dangerous Book for Boys -- a tome that could soon be considered the bible of boyhood.

The brothers leave no stone unturned when it comes to topics of boyhood interest. And there's a plethora of tips and "how-to's" as well.

Want to know how to fine tune your paper airplane design? Its in the book. Want to know how to build a supercool treehouse? Again -- in the book. There are even lessons on correct grammar usage, a list of books every boy should read, and advice on how to talk to girls. But if grammar and girls aren't of particular interest? A boy can always read about pirates, how to hunt/cook a rabbit or even learn the finer points of poker.

What I liked about the book:
The book has a very easy-going, enthusiastic feel to it. The chapters are short so you, or the kids in your life, won't feel so overwhelmed. And the brothers' endearing sense of humor shines through. (The way they write reminds me of my father-in-law -- an incredibly intelligent, loving man whom I dearly admire and respect.) And you get a sense that the brothers have a great relationship. It is obvious -- creating this book was a labor of love.

And they do offer some very cool tips. The book isn't limited to just boys. Anyone can read it. And regardless of age or gender, there are chapters of interest to everyone. And although, growing up, I wasn't into "Famous battles" or "The rules of soccer", I still would have loved this book for the chapters like "Dog tricks" or "Growing sunflowers" or "Insects and spiders".

My little man takes the business of being a boy VERY seriously. Most boys inherently do. I know that as he gets older, he and his friends will delve into this boyhood manual -- especially when they find the chapter on how to build a go-cart! (God help our neighborhood when THAT happens!)

What you should know:
This book is best for boys about nine and older. Also, with some of these projects I would highly recommend adult supervision, lest you WANT to spend a few hours at your local emergency room. But the sorts of projects that require supervision are obvious. People with common sense (and are majorly paranoid like me) won't allow 'tween-age kids to try to make a tree house or build a workbench completely on their own.

This book is perfect for:
Boys (and many girls) of all ages will find something to love about this book. And it would make a fabulous Father's Day gift -- especially for grandfathers. It might spark some wonderful boyhood memories for the dads and grandpas to share with their young-uns. And for those fathers or grandfathers who find they have a hard time relating/connecting with their boys -- reading this together may inspire some spirited discussions or interesting projects.

TO WIN A TWO-MAN TENT by NORTHFACE go to Parent Bloggers Network and leave a comment on The Dangerous Book for Boys campaign post.

This review was written for The Parent Bloggers Network. If you have a product you'd like PBN to review, click on this link for more info.