Pasta at Pizza Hut? (Yes siree)

Pizza Hut recently debuted an alternative to their pizza -- Tuscani Pastas. If you happen to catch any sort of television programs during the dinner hours then you've probably seen the commercials of hot, steaming, tantalizing pasta. You might have even drooled a little.

The meal (that's supposed to feed a family of four), also includes five breadsticks. So you get a hot dish delivered to your door for the price of $11.99. And hey, if you use paper plates? Clean up is easy-peasy. What's not to love about that?

A rep at Pizza Hut contacted me a few weeks ago and offered to have my local Pizza Hut deliver a meal to us. All we had to do is give them a delivery time and specify whether we wanted the "Meaty Marinara" or the "Chicken Alfredo".

At first we chose the chicken but when we hosted a last-minute playdate, we decided to change the order and move up delivery time. I LOVE our local Pizza Hut. The service has always been great. They were very nice about both changes. Dinner was prompty delivered.

What did I think? It was... Ok.

The meal does feed a family of four -- unless you've got teen boys. (At that point, you should probably order a full tray just for two of them.) I was expecting more sauce and cheese. We are a cheezy kind of family, so I ended up adding more shredded cheese. The hubby, son, and playdate ate the dish. They didn't complain but they didn't rave about it either. It was just sort of... there.

The sauce did have a nice amount of meat added. But overall, hubby and I prefer the flavor of a marinara sauce to be more robust. But then again, alot of people (like my parents) who like their food to have a more subtle flavor would really like these pastas.

So what am I saying? Like most products on the market, it has its place. For a quick meal that's delivered to your door that younger kids would eat? (Because typically kids prefer a mild flavor) It is a meal that will work. But if you are looking for a dining experience and want a pasta with more robust flavors? You probably won't enjoy the pastas.

As for us? We might try the chicken dish soon. But when it comes to a fast, cheap, yummy meal delivered to our door? We still prefer our pizza.

Refresh yourself

The hubby is on my "bad" list. Why? While I was out of town this past weekend, he drank my last Ocean Spray Cranergy drink. (And yes, I am serious. They really ARE that yummy!)

According to Ocean Spray's website, Cranergy™ is made from "refreshing cranberry juice, which we've enhanced with natural energizers like green tea extract and B vitamins. Made with Splenda® brand sweetener, Cranergy™ has only 35 calories per eight-ounce serving, 50 percent fewer calories than other leading energy drinks and traditional sodas. Cranergy™ is a "good for you" kind of energy that helps you get stuff done!"

If you love green tea (or drink it for a little lift) and Cranberry juice (I do! I do!), you will really enjoy this beverage. (Grape juice is included as well as the artificial sweetener to give it a sweet taste.) At a mere 35 calories per eight ounce serving, its a nice little treat for when you're craving something sweet.

Ever since I tried this beverage, I've been hooked. I drink alot of liquids throughout the day in an effort to curb snacking urges. But let's face it, you can only drink so much green tea and water. So I'm happy Ocean Spray came out with this product.(They've also got another flavor -- raspberry.) And ever since I've had my first taste, I've been on the lookout for Cranergy at two large grocers near our house. I can't seem to find any yet. But I'm hoping that if the product isn't on shelves yet, it soon will be.

Oh, and once I get my hot little mitts on some Canergy? You'd better believe I'm going to hide it from the rest of the family.

This review was written on behalf of MomCentral.

I may be cheap but I'm not easy...

That little ole holiday called “Mother’s Day” is just around the corner. Julie and Kristen, the masterminds behind Parent Blogging Network, are asking moms everywhere how we’d like to be recognized this Mother’s Day. Ladies? So glad you asked!

First off, the hubby can skip the flowers. The easiest way to get to my heart is to bring me a fountain soda from Quik Trip. Nothing says “I love you” like waking up to find a QT soda waiting in the fridge. (Yeah, I’m cheap.)

And then, he could hang up the blinds we bought last fall, cut the grass, then finish up a certain administrative project he promised he’d finish ”before the baby comes” (Seth turns six next month!). Oh and the icing on the cake would be for him, on Monday, to call Satan’s helpers (insurance company) and battle with them over coverage of his surgery from last year. (The home admin tasks? Definitely not easy.)

I know the man works hard so the boy can be up to his elbows in Star Wars stuff and I can stay home/pursue writing opportunities. I appreciate this greatly. I know that when the weekend rolls around, the last thing he wants to do is dive into chores around the house. He’s tired. Watching a few movies or taking Seth to breakfast sounds far more appetizing. But when he does work around the house, in my mind, he’s telling me that he cares about our home and household. It makes me feel valued and taken care of. It is lovely to feel that way, yes?

So I guess this year I just want the loose ends tied up from a few old projects. And a soda.

**********

In an effort to promote their new charitable giving site, Johnson’s Baby Cause, powered by Global Giving, Johnson & Johnson are combining energies with PBN to launch a new blog blast. And this particular blog blast? Prizes galore! All you have to do is write a post on your blog about how you’d like to be recognized this Mother’s Day. Post anytime between now and next Thursday, May 8 and include links to http://www.babycause.com and http://blog.parentbloggers.com. Then, send your blog post link to parentbloggers@gmail.com. The posts will be listed on the PBN blog Thursday, May 8. (And don’t forget to give your post a unique title.)

Both Johnson’s and PBN are chipping in for the prizes. Ten winners will receive a Johnson’s Mom and Baby product gift basket (thanks to Johnson’s) and $25 credit to donate to the charities of their choice at Johnson’s Baby Cause (thanks to PBN).

Oh and don’t forget to check out the celebrity-sponsored eBay auction benefiting Johnson’s Baby Cause where you can bid on baby gear that been “gently used” by celebrities like Julianne Moore and Matt Damon.

Break out the Boas! (A cool new contest)

You're probably already planning your summer activity to-do list. Well don't forget to add "Go See Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia!"

Yes, THE Meryl Streep will grace the silver screen in this much anticipated remake. And Pond's is launching a cool new contest in celebration.

According to Mom Central, "Women 40 and older are invited to form a singing trio to perform their own take on the classics "Mamma Mia" or "Dancing Queen" and submit videos of their performances via the Pond's website, which also houses music and lyrics you can download to rehearse."

Oh the possibilities! My only gripe with this is that I was born five years too late. (Oh that and my singing sounds like a tom cat trapped in a trash can. )

The tidbit of info that has me salivating is the prize -- a very cool trip to London for you and your chicks to see the world premiere of Mamma Mia!

For more information click here. But you and your diva darlins' better hurry! The deadline for submissions is April 30th!

This post was written on behalf of Mom Central.

LiceMD - Get rid of unwanted "guests"

Have you ever seen a magnified photo of lice? I have. Just the thought of those little blood suckers (and their young) camping out on my son's head? Grosses me out far more than when I was a girl who'd first learned about sex --and then realized the reason for my existence boiled down to a night of "mattress mambo".

What does the thought of parental units "doing the deed" have to do with lice? Um. Nothing other than both have an "ick factor" of about ten thousand.

About a month ago, my son did bring home a note from school that sent my stomach rolling. There was a lice outbreak. I've heard plenty of horror stories about kids getting lice, only to have it return -- or to never have gotten rid of it the first time. And then there's the hours of extra washing and cleaning in an effort to rid the home (or school) of these sesame seed-sized parasites. YUCK.

As if that weren't enough? Most lice treatments smell and contain some very nasty chemicals. But not LiceMD. This product, according to their site, is odor-free, doesn't contain pesticides, works the first time around and conditions your child's hair.

I received my trusty-little sample this past Friday. Thankfully I don't have to use it. But it is nice to know I've got a product that's non-toxic and hypoallergenic. Also? The product claims to work in even the longest and thickest of hair. Plus, there's no expiration date on the product. A four ounce bottle retails for about $14.99.

This review was written on behalf of Moms Central.

Because heavy periods bite!

Most of the time, I can tell exactly when my period will strike. No, I'm not that regular. I will typically get a migraine the day before as well as encounter a few nights of insomnia prior to my visit from "Aunt Flo".

The span of my period, and even the day after, is peppered with headaches. Until recently, I'd throw myself a little "pity party" here and there. I thought my hormones were mean spirited little creatures. But then I found out about a condition that makes me feel like a wussy in comparison. I found out about women who have menorrhagia.

According to the website, Dare to Wear White, menorrhagia is a condition where women suffer excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Bleeding can be so bad that many women have to double up on their protection (wearing a pad and tampon) and change their protection more than every 1-2 hours. But one of the scariest (in my opinion) symptoms is that women can get blood clots in the menstrual flow or constant pain in the lower abdomen. And just as bad? Periods more often than every 21 days. Can you say "anemia?"

If you click on the Dare To Wear White website, you will find that many, many women deal with this condition. There's also a plethora of information regarding symptoms, causes, treatments, and even a button you can click to find doctors in your area who can treat the condition.

But the main purpose of this post isn't to just talk about the condition but to also discuss treatment options. For some, hormone therapy, hormone-releasing IUDs (Intrauterine Devices), D & C's (Dilation and curettage) or hysterectomies work wonders. Now there's another choice known as Endometrial Ablation.

According to the Dear to Wear site, NovaSure's Endometrial Ablation procedure is a safe, simple, one-time treatment that has been performed on hundreds of thousands of women. The procedure, which is minimally invasive, uses energy to remove the uterus' lining -- thus controlling the heavy bleeding mentioned earlier. The procedure takes less than five minutes and most women can continue their normal activities within a day or two.

For those of you who have menorrhagia, (and have decided you are finished birthing babies) there's a survey asking you for your input. The first 250 women who complete this survey (http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB227MUNNJFG7) will receive a $10 Amazon gift certificate. Please remind them that the survey is for women who have heavy periods AND are done having children. (If these guidelines don't apply, please don't take the survey.)

This write up was written on behalf of Mom Central.

Shake your "groove thang" with Hip Hop Harry!

Who is Hip Hop Harry? Hip Hop Harry is a golden-colored bear with lots of bling and a thing for dancing. And he's encouraging children all over the nation to get off the couch and "bust some moves."

I'd never heard of Harry until Parent Bloggers Network offered up a chance to review the dvd, "Move those Feet". We are all about getting off our butts and shaking our booties to silly songs. So we plugged in the dvd an hour and a half before his afternoon kindergarten session. (It was raining and I'd hoped "the boy" would burn some energy and be better able to focus as a result.)

But Seth just sat there. He wasn't feeling Hip Hop Harry. (Course that could very well be due to the fact that the hubby saw the first five minutes of the dvd then loudly declared his negative opinion. "The boy" has a serious case of hero worship when it comes to his papa. Methinks he was vastly influenced by this incident.)

But I have to admit that the first episode of Hip Hop Harry left me feeling "meh". Harry and the rest of the cast remind me of Barney. There were lessons on hydration, competition, and on the importance of warming up before exercise. There didn't seem to be that much dancing. To me, that's too many lessons. I felt the writers were trying too hard to be all things in this episode.

But by the third episode, I felt like Hip Hop Harry was beginning to find his stride. By that point, there was more of a focus on dance moves. There was also a lesson about being open to trying new things.

After some cajoling during that third episode, my son did get off his butt and try some of the moves with me. I'm sure anyone who would've happened upon us would have had a good laugh --two lily white people (one of which is a mom WAY past "clubbing age") with no rhythm awkwardly trying to (unsuccessfully) copy the initial moves. But who cares, right?

When Seth finally gave it a try? He had fun. We BOTH had fun.

As a parent, I do appreciate Harry's positive character. I think most kids would really respond to his energy and his "I love to learn" attitude. Also, toward the end of each episode there's a quick recap and the kids discuss what they've learned.

So if you've got some little dancers (or wannabes at your house) with lots of energy to burn, you might want to give this dvd a try. This could save a caregiver's sanity when those little "wild things" are trapped indoors due to April showers, the extreme heat of summer, or icy winter weather. The dvd costs $12.99 on Amazon's site.

This review was written on behalf of the Parent Bloggers Network.