Sun and fun -- Beaches style

Want a summer vacation that'll be a blast for everyone in the family? Look no further than THIS WEBSITE!

When I started checking out the WonderFALL website, I seriously started drooling! What an amazing adventure for a family! Escape the rigors of daily life and enjoy some family time in The Turks or Jamaica! (I know! I am using too many exclamation points! But its because this sort of vacation looks so awesome!)

The hubby and I had originally looked into this sort of vacation (at a Beaches Resort, no less) just a mere 6 weeks ago. But then we were slapped upside the head with a heaping dose of reality when we looked out the kitchen window at our rotting retaining wall. Oh and then we also remembered how the hubby really needs a different vehicle and the porch needs to be replaced. It will be an expensive summer, but not because we threw financial caution to the wind and went on a luxurious month-long tropical retreat. (Sigh)

But we are definitely making plans for next year. (At least for a week's stay somewhere!) And Beaches Resorts, with their many locations, is a website that's been "favorited".

This post was written on behalf of MomCentral.

Roll with it, baby!

I remember the first time I saw a Fruit Roll-Up. I was in fourth grade and in the middle of a bustling cafeteria. A classmate, a few seats down, whipped out the new treat, tore off a chunk and began to nonchalantly chew. I was awed and envious. Throughout my childhood, my mom believed sugar was the enemy. So no Fruit Roll-Ups (or any thing like that) for my siblings and me!

Eventually, I got to try one at a friend's house. I could totally understand the appeal. To this day, Fruit Roll-Ups are still a popular lunchtime treat in schools and at playdates. Now my son's one of those kids happily chomping along with the rest of the bunch.

So when Parent Bloggers Network mentioned a new campaign for a little somethin' called My Fruit Roll-Ups, I was all, "YEEHAW"! The gist? Now you can customize your Fruit Roll-Ups!

The most difficult part of the process? The decision making! Do you want a two-part design or three? What size font? (There are several sizes.) What color font? (There are three colors.) What kind of font? (There are four choices.) What kind of picture would you like? (There are clip-art like pictures for many a holiday or special occasion. There are even a few characters and lots of animals too!)

The website is very responsive so if you want to adjust or change a detail on your work-in-progress, you can quickly do so. There's even a place where you can save your designs to tinker with later on. And ordering is quick and easy.

The animated characters on the website are lively and cute. The accompanying sound effects are fun too. My son got a big kick out of creating his own design. The only thing he had trouble with was the touchpad on MY computer. If an almost 6-year-old can navigate through the design process, that says alot for ease of use, yes?

The product is great for graduations, birthdays and weddings. And since we've got so many bloggers adding to their families, I couldn't help but think... Wouldn't this be a fun treat for kids to design and give out to announce their new status as big brother or sister?

The timing for the campaign couldn't have been more perfect. I ordered them on May 27 and was told they'd get in sometime next week. But we got them June 3 -- just in time for Seth's birthday party with extended family. Plus, he's got enough left to pass out as a birthday treat in summer school.

A box of 30 customized treats costs $29.99 (plus tax, where applicable). Shipping charges and times vary.

Enter to win a FREE box of My Fruit Roll Ups! Leave a comment on this post or the most recent one on Midwestern Mommy. Let us know what you'd design! A winner will be picked at random by Friday morning.

This post was written on behalf of The Parent Bloggers Network.

For cleaner air in your home...

After many visits to a neurologist and trying a number of medications to prevent migraines, (that failed) someone mentioned a visit to an allergist.

I came. I saw. I got tested. And I was allergic to more than 25 things. And since many of the allergens would "kick in" at different seasons, I'd had year round allergy issues and never really realized it. (And since my allergies were a migraine trigger, I got ALOT of migraines.)

Aside from getting allergy shots, changing the type of bed sheets/pillow sheets I use, vacuuming ALOT and taking allergy medications, I still have issues. That's why I very, very interested in THIS website!

According to the website, the AccuClean Whole Home Air Filtration System "removes up to an unprecedented 99.98% of unwanted particles and allergens from the filtered air in your home." That means all of those little floating causes of misery -- like mold spores, pollen, animal dander and dust mites are removed before they settle on your carpets and flooring.

I have a small air purifier in the master bedroom. I LOVE it. Aside from breathing cleaner air, one of the other benefits I hadn't anticipated (but makes sense now that I think about it) was less dust on the furniture. Hey, less dusting equals more time to do stuff you WANT to do.

But the small purifier we have can't help the entire house. So we do need some sort of system - especially since "the boy" has developed allergies too. This AccuClean Whole Home Air Filtration System is something I definitely plan to check out!

This post was written on behalf of MomCentral.com

Make Dinner "Fresh and Simple"

You know how it goes -- the evening rush to get home and feed the fam. Well, apparently the people at Ragu are all too familiar with the drill too! Recently, they've come out with a new take on an old favorite. Enter Ragu Fresh and Simple.

Ragu Fresh and Simple is sauce in a pouch that can be heated in 90 seconds then poured over pasta for a quick meal.

Recently MomCentral asked me if I'd give the sauce a try. We love our pasta in these here parts. And we buy ALOT of Ragu. So I was game. The package was small -- about three servings per pouch. So when the hubby was out of town last night, I figured this would be the PERFECT time to try it out. (Like alot of the women with hubbies who frequently travel, I typically don't do much cooking when the hub's out of town.) I boiled some multigrain pasta then poured the All Natural Garden Veggie pasta sauce.

It was... yummy. The flavor has a little bit of a zing to it but overall is pretty mild. And since the sauce came from a pouch, there was no extra pot to clean up. (Any harried mom who's trying to get her dishes done at 10:30 at night will tell you that's a good thing.)

The boy loved the sauce. He's not a big fan of the multigrain pasta, but because of the sauce, he didn't seem to notice the healthier swap. And speaking of healthy --there's a full serving of veggies in every 1/2 cup of sauce. (If your kiddos loathe veggies like mine? You appreciate stuff like that!)

I've got another package of Ragu Fresh and Simple. But I'm saving it for the next time hubby goes out of town. No doubt "the boy" will enjoy the Tomato Basil sauce as much as he did the Garden Veggie.

Oh and did you know? Ragu has created a recipe booklet with bunches of yummy meal planning suggestions and time-saving tips. The FREE booklet (found at http://www.fedourkidswell.com/) includes recipes/tips from Food Network’s Robin Miller, celebrity fitness trainer Kathy Kaehler, and MomCentral's Stacy DeBroff. (I've met Stacy. And if she's involved, its gotta be good!) So take a few minutes to peruse!

This product review was written for MomCentral.

Buy someone a clue - aka "Raised by Wolves"

I grew up in a very small farming community. As the eldest in a working class family, I was the first of my generation to go to college. At 22, I moved to St. Louis and began working for an engineering/architectural firm. I was living on my own, for the first time, in a city I barely knew. I was working mostly with well-educated men who held high positions and lived affluent lifestyles.

So what does this useless information about me have to do with Christie Mellor, the author of Raised by Wolves: Clues to the Mysteries of Modern Living? Well, as a clueless 20-something who felt completely out of her element, I would have welcomed this book with open arms. Even 13 years later, (and with far more life experience) I STILL welcomed this book with open arms.

Mellor is here to tell you (or anyone you feel needs a clue) how to still save money on a modest income, how to make an "E-Z Bad Boy Bar" and how to be the perfect house guest.

But there's also more than how-to's. There's tips galore! Want to find a bazillion uses for baking soda? Or how about another great use for the safety pin? Or a sure-fire cure to the common hangover? Christie's got the 411.

Overall, I liked the chatty, friendly tone of the book. The writer's style is breezy and humorous. She infuses energy and wit into what could be a very stuffy and staid subject. I just want to invite her to a dinner party at my house, make her "the perfect martini" (yes she covers both areas Raised by Wolves) and tell her that I now make the bed each day because of Chapter One.
Oh and have you seen the illustrations? So darling and fun!

Overall, this book is a great read for the twenty-something set. Even people beyond their 20's will pick up a few hints. I plan on giving my copy to a certain college graduate. (I won't say who!) And I also plan to make Mellor's previous book, The Three-Martini Playdate my next read.

This review was written on behalf of Parent Bloggers Network.

Bugging out -- Discovery Channel's Bug Net Launcher

When we opened the box and the toy emerged, Seth's eyes grew big. As I explained the premise behind the toy, I could tell by the look on his face. Saying the word "launcher" was all it took -- the boy was in love.

The Bug Net Launcher looks like a futuristic gun. The four safety darts are attached to a mesh net. When you pull the trigger, the darts fly out. This pulls the net over the unsuspecting insect, butterfly, spider, or even toad. (Yes the net is big enough to cover a small toad or frog.) And if you're wondering about spring action? Oh yeah. The launcher shoots the darts/net so fast, the critter won't have time to react.

The darts can be difficult to jam back into the gun but determined youngsters will find ways around that once you tire of doing it for them. (Like putting all the darts back into the gun then pushing it up against a hard service like the sidewalk or retaining wall.)

As for "catching" stuff, a good aim and a steady hand helps. But so does a plentiful supply of "specimens" for targets. While Seth has the first two, we've found the bug supply lacking lately. But I'm sure summer will bring a vast amount of insects.

Oh and if you're hosting a playdate of more than one child, be beware. Three boys + one bug launcher = drama. ("Hey, quit hogging the gun! Its MY turn!") Oh and depending on the rambunctiousness of the group, the gun may quickly be used for other, um, endeavors instead of its intended purpose. (Not that I had the latter experience but from watching the older kids running around in our 'hood? Its doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that one out.)

For the kid who practically lives in the backyard, is fascinated by bugs, and has a strong love of "weapons"? This toy (priced at $24.95) is something you'll want to look into -- especially since we're on the cusps of summer.

This review was written on behalf of The Parent Bloggers Network. For more reviews on this product, go here.

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.