Motherlove Herbal :: Review and Giveaway!

****WINNER*****

Congrats to Pamela, who said,

Pamela said...

I'd try the rhoid balm. Because my babies were all nearly 10 pounds and I've been rocking the rhoids ever since. TMI, I apologize.
thedaytontime at gmaildotcom

March 19, 2011 12:05 AM

 Thanks everyone for entering! :)

*****************

I grow 'em big.

This is the truth.  My biggest baby was Seth.  At 9lbs 3oz, he really paved the way for the other kids.  I measured 46cm at 36 weeks.  Kind of big.

What do you think?  Big belly?  Yep.

I posted these pictures on a forum I was on and one woman commented that she loved my henna tattoo.  I laughed out loud.  Those marks?  Those are my stretch marks.  All from Seth.  The black and white makes them look good, right?  Well how about this...

Red stretched skin.  Those marks have never gone away and they turn red like that with each pregnancy.  They itch and they hurt.

Recently I discovered Motherlove Herbal's Pregnant Belly Salve.  Oh my gosh, this stuff is AMAZING!!!  I have 1 stretch mark that really itches and hurts.  It was bright red a few weeks ago and itching all the time.  I started putting this stuff on twice a day and it has faded and doesn't itch anymore! YAY!

Creating the purest products of the finest quality, Motherlove Herbal Company is dedicated to using certified organic ingredients for a holistic way to soothe, pamper and enrich the pregnant or breastfeeding body. Certified cruelty free and without the use of preservatives, artificial fragrances and petroleum-based additives (such as mineral oil) found in most body care products, Motherlove products instill confidence and peace of mind as you nurture yourself and the life within.

Used to soothe the discomforts of pregnancy and breastfeeding, and pamper the body, our products are also safe and gentle on baby's skin. Motherlove products have been proven so effective they have earned the trust and continued support of lactation consultants, midwives, healthcare practitioners and mothers everywhere.

I love that these products are 100% natural and almost all organic.  The Pregnant Belly Salves "Scar-healing shea butter is added to the same certified organic herbs and oil base as Motherlove's pregnant belly oil to create this creamy salve that keeps skin soft and elastic. This salve effectively prevents stretch marks and relieves the itch of stretching skin. Wonderful for regular moisturizing in the mornings, evenings or anytime! Motherlove’s pregnant belly salve has a zero rating (zero toxins) on EWG’s skin deep database."

They also have products for birth, breastfeeding and the baby.  I can't wait to try their Sitz Bath after this baby makes his grand entrance.  The Rhoid Balm is oh so soothing right now and the Green Salve works wonders on bug bites and even Libby's diaper rash!

Motherlove Herbal wants to gift one of you, my lucky readers, with any product from their website.  Whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding, getting ready to have a baby, or have a new baby, there is something there for you!

To enter, go on over to Motherlove's website and look around.  Tell me what product you would choose and why.

For extra entries you can
1. Follow Motherlove on Twitter
2. Like Motherlove on Facebook
3. Tweet about this contest!

You must leave a separate comment for each entry. You may also enter as many times as you like, but I want to know different products you would choose each time :)

This contest will run for 1 week and will end March 25 at 9 PM CDT.

*Motherlove sent me Pregnant Belly Salve, Green Salve, Sitz Bath and Rhoid Balm to try out.  When the pregnant belly salve samples ran out, I bought some of my own...that's how much I love it.  The words are all mine, you can't buy my opinion.

Holiday Gift Guide Part 2

**And the winners are....Kate for the book and Jenlynthomas for the Kidzsack.  I will email both of you.  Thanks so much for everyone participating!!!

It wouldn't be the Christmas season without ornaments for the tree and Christmas books.  We have an entire bin of Christmas books that I get out on November 1st every year.  The kids love them, and so do I.

This summer when I was at Blogher, I was invited to a Christmas in August party hosted by Hallmark.  I was able to get a sneak peek at many of their amazing new Christmas ornaments, books, and ideas.  I had such a great time!  One thing that caught my eye was the new Recordable Storybooks.  There are 3 different books, Frosty The Snowman, The Very First Christmas and The Night Before Christmas. I loved this idea so much and wanted to get one for my folks to record for my kids.

A few months went by, Jeremy lost his job, I found out I was pregnant and we found out we'd be moving to Texas.  When my box from Hallmark came in the mail the first week of November, I was so excited to see the recordable Frosty the Snowman book.  I knew as soon as I saw it that it was going to become a very special book for my children.  You see, I knew Jeremy would be leaving the day after Thanksgiving, and that my little ones would really miss having their Daddy read to them every night.  So, Jeremy recorded the book for the kids.  It really is a treasure.  Just see for yourself...

There is something magical about putting up the Christmas tree every year and getting out your ornaments.  Hallmark also sent me these 3 ornaments for my children.

Amelia's

Libby's

Seth's Hiccup and Toothless

My kids love coloring, drawing and really anything that has to do with art.  So, when I found out about Kidzsack, I was really excited.  Here is a bag that they can decorate over and over and over!!!

There are several designs to choose from and it comes with washable markers.  Have your kiddos color it, use it and when they want to color it again, you wash it!  Easy as pie!  My kids LOVE theirs and use it to tote everything from books to babies!

One of my favorite things to get during the holidays are cards.  I love to see family pictures, see how everyone has changed, and read about how the families of my family and friends are doing.

I ordered our cards this year from Tiny Prints this year.  They have such a HUGE selection (I had about 6 or 7 different designs in my cart!).

 

I absolutely love this design.  On the back there is a spot where I could write a little message.  I loved that I didn't have to write a separate note and stuff each card with it.  With hundreds of designs, there is something perfect for everyone!

With this gift guide I have a couple of giveaways.  

First, a Frosty the Snowman recordable storybook from Hallmark.  This is such a great book and it is really easy to use.

Second, I have a Kidzsack Sports design bag to give to one of you!

 

I will choose 2 winners at random on Friday, December 10 at 9 pm MST.  Just leave me a comment telling me your favorite holiday tradition and let me know which of these items you want to win.

Good luck and Happy Holidays!!!

*A big thank you to all of those who have gifted me these amazing items, Hallmark, Tiny Prints and Kidzsack.  While I was given some great things to review, the words, sentiments and opinions are all mine.

Holiday Gift Guide Part 1

It's the most wonderful time....of the year.  Come on, sing it with me! 

This is the time of year when my children start getting their lists of what they want/need/deserve ready and every toy we pass in the store is something they simply MUST have.

This is the time of year when many parents I know make themselves crazy with worry and doubt in trying to find the perfect gift.

This year, I decided to do a little Holiday Gift Guide with some of our favorite things.  These are items that my children love and I think yours will too!


We are really big with creative play around here.  Playsilks from Nova Natural are at the top of our list.  We first got some of these the year Seth was 2.  Immediately, they became a cape for our masked crusader.

They have since become headscarves, slings, princess dresses, rock star outfits, really anything you can imagine.

Or maybe I should say, they have become anything my children can imagine.  These have been such a great investment and I have not regretted once having bought them.

On the same creative note, my children LOVE Play-doh.  This is something that I can get out and they will sit for HOURS and play with each other.  They love to mix the colors (which kills me a little bit), create new things and when they're done, put it away to start again another day.

This year at Blogher, I was able to meet the great folks from Play-Doh.  They were kind enough to send my kiddos this great new set, the Dog and her Puppies.  They have had so much fun with this, and really so have I!

We love reading in our house.  Anything that will capture my childrens' imaginations and is fun for me to read too, is a big plus!  I have talked about these books before, but my holiday guide wouldn't be complete without mentioning them!!  The How to Train Your Dragon Books are perfect for your little Viking.  They are really quite different from the movie, I think only similarities are the names, so they are a lot of fun to read for everyone!

Next to Legos, Automoblox are a favorite toy around my house.  All of my kids (including Jeremy) love them.  Being able to mix and match and build different cars is so much fun for them. 

I love that they are made of wood, my kids love the colors, and how fast they go!  We have started out with the Mini Set.  It comes with the 3 you see above for only $30.  These are a must have for your little car loving kiddo!

These are just a few of my kiddos favorite toys and all are very affordable, which is vital for our family!

*I was not compensated for any of this post.  I wrote about things I love and have bought with my very own money, except for the Play-Doh (which was sent to me by the great folks at Blogher).

Stay tuned for Part 2 which will have some great giveaways!!!

Bargain Shopping :: Kroger Giveaway!

I am a big time bargain shopper.  I love to get a good deal and will check all the ads when they come in the mail before I will go shopping.

One of my favorite places to shop is Smith's Marketplace, a Kroger store.  Right now they are having some great deals with their “Add Up the Savings” Event. You can stock up on your favorite General Mills & Kimberly Clark brands From August 8 through August 21, when you buy 8 participating items from any Kroger store, you’ll receive $4 off of your purchase. Some of the great participating brands include: Cheerios, Yoplait Yogurt, Pillsbury Cookies & Biscuits, Kleenex, Huggies, Betty Crocker Brownies, Cottonelle, and Lucky Charms.

In addition to these great savings, be sure to take advantage of the special Bonus Box Tops Offers and get a jumpstart on helping the participating school of your choice this year.

All you have to do, if you haven’t already, is register at www.RewardYourSchool.com. Once you register, you will automatically receive 5 Bonus Box Tops just for signing up! You will also receive custom offers for Bonus Box Tops for purchasing participating products.

These great offers are:

• Buy any 4 Box Tops products and get 10 Bonus Box Tops
• Buy any 8 Box Tops products and get 25 Bonus Box Tops

The offers you select will then load onto your Kroger Shopper Card to be redeemed once you purchase the items. It’s extra easy because there’s no clipping! Just remember to scan your Kroger Shopper Card and the Bonus Box Tops will automatically go straight the participating school of your choice. 

I don't know about you, but this time of year I find I am buying SO much!!!  We have to get clothes and shoes for the kids, and I can use help saving money wherever I can.

Kroger is giving one of my reader's a $25 gift card to use at any of their stores (Kroger, Ralph’s, King Soopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Pay Less Super Markets and Scott’s Food & Pharmacy).

This is going to be a quick one, just 3 days so you can take advantage of the savings!!!

All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment telling me what you have to buy to get your kids ready for back to school!! 

For additional entries you can:

1. Tweet about this contest. An example could be: I just entered to win a $25 g.c. from Kroger and @prairiemama http://bit.ly/cfdeFh #myblogspark
2. Write about it on facebook.

Leave a comment for each entry.  Contest ends August 17 at 9pm MDT.

*I was given a $25 gift card from Kroger, through My Blog Spark, as compensation for writing this post.  The words and sentiments are all mine. 

Sarah McLachlan: Laws of Illusion

In 1995 I was a Freshman in College.  I was living an hour away from home and loved my independence.  That year I was introduced to a lot of things, but the one that has stuck with me to this day is Sarah McLachlan.


My best friend was up visiting for a weekend and put in her very used tape of  Fumbling Toward Ecstasy and I was hooked.  I have been a fan ever since.


When I heard that Sarah had a new album coming out I was thrilled.  Laws of Illusion is her first studio album of new material in 7 years.


I was given the opportunity to get a copy of this CD before it was released and let me tell you, I was am not disappointed!  My children and I listen to this CD while making dinner and they love dancing to her.


In typical Sarah fashion, there are haunting melodies, beautiful harmonies and each song tells a story.


Sarah is co-founder of Lilith Fair and is touring this summer with this amazing group of women.  They will be in my area in July and I am doing what I can to score tickets, because really, I don't want to miss such an amazing opportunity to hear fabulous musicians.  From 1997-1999, Lilith Fair was one of the highest grossing touring festivals in the world, with over 2 million fans in attendance and raising over $10 million dollars for national and local women's charities.  I love getting behind something that supports women, and this does just that.

So, you want to get the album?  Well you should.  Don't take my word for it though, go check out previews of the songs.  You won't be disappointed.

**Thanks to One2One Network for sending me this CD and giving me this opportunity.  They gave me the CD and I have a chance of winning a gift card, but the words are all mine, blah blah blah :)

I Love Vegetables...seriously, I do!

A little over 2 years ago we dramatically changed the way we eat at our house.  Jeremy and I both grew up in Meat and Potatoes kind of families.  Every night dinner had some kind of meat, some kind of starch and a veggie.  Salads were for special occasions and filled only a small bowl.  Vegetables were an afterthought when we went to the grocery store, and we only bought the veggies we needed for individual meals.  Our fresh food consumption was very typical of those who grew up in our generation.

It all changed when we read the book Eat to Live by Dr. Jay Fuhrman.  We became educated about what animal products do to our bodies.  We learned about how increasing our fruits and vegetable consumption could help us not only be healthier but be stronger too.

These pictures are a pretty accurate depiction of the salads we eat on a daily basis. Yes you read that right, I said daily.  We eat mostly fresh vegetables, beans, fruit and whole grains.  We try to have 90% of our calories come from those things and 10% can be animal products (meat, cheese, milk, yogurt).  This helps us to stay healthier and be in better shape.

Living in Utah however, our options for fresh produce are pretty limited.  We love the summer when we can plant a garden and shop on Saturdays at the local Farmer's Market.  We love the taste of fresh lettuce, spinach, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, edemame, peas...the list goes on and on and on. 

We have such a short growing season here, so most of the year we depend on getting our fresh greens from the grocery store.  This is not something we love, but something we do because we have to.

Recently, I was introduced to Field to Families.  It is a program that brings fresh organic produce to those of us who live in an area that is cold more than hot. 

Field to Families is the brain child of one of my favorite Farmer's Market vendors, Preston Parker and Parker Family Farms.  I accost Preston at his booth weekly waiting for the sunsugar tomato plants and then the sunsugar tomatoes.  His wife and I have bonded over a shared obsession love of these fabulous tomatoes.

Preston wanted fresh produce year round, so he teamed with a farm in California and Field to Families was born.

Here's how it works.  On Tuesday, the organic produce is picked in California and put on a truck.  It arrives here in Utah on Friday and on Saturday you can pick it up.  Pretty simple isn't it?  Last week we got romaine lettuce, spinach, oranges, cabbage, broccoli, and tomatoes.  All for just $15!

We have also gotten leeks, green onions, lemons, avocados and kale in the past.  The produce is amazingly fresh and tastes oh so good.  To have good lettuce in the winter is just...in a word...AMAZING!

Now I know that there are other programs in the area that do something similar to this, but here is where it is different.  In the summer, you get LOCAL produce.  So, you are supporting a local farm.  Also, it is all organic!

Really, you can't beat that.

So, if you want some fabulous produce, go on over to Field to Families and sign up today.  You really won't regret it.

Oh, and if you want to read another review about Field to Families that is MUCH funnier than mine, head on over to Mrs. Looneytunes and see what she has to say.

*I did receive 5 free pick ups of produce in exchange for a review.  And after having those 5 pick ups, I can't imagine my life without them, so I will be purchasing pick ups for the rest of my life!

Mama's Sick.

and that's no fun. yep my lovelies...i am sick, sick, sick. i will be back soon. all of this down time has given me lots of time to contemplate and think of things to write. so don't go too far away...just far enough that you don't get this stomach bug that i have.

xoxo
me

p.s. be sure to go over to my review site. i am planning some awesome reviews and giveaways for each of you, my darling friends. so go check it out.

Snuggle-Me Stories Review and Giveaway!

I was recently given the opportunity to review 2 new books from Sandra Magasmen. Of course, you say book, I am going to want to review it. My children LOVE books and these are no exception! No sooner did they arrive on my doorstep than did my children take off with them, each claiming one for themselves. Seth owns the monkey now and Amelia has the bear. When Libby is lucky enough to sneak one of them away from the big kids, she is in heaven.

It's not just the toys though, the books are so sweet. My Little Monkey & Little Bear Hugs are the newest additions to Sandra Magsamen's award winning Snuggle-Me Stories series.
Featuring a small fleece blanket with an attached plush monkey and teddy bear, babies and loved ones will love to read and play along with the sweet rhyming story, which delivers heartfelt sentiments of love. With playful words and illustrations, these titles are sure to become a favorite for cozy shared lap time reading.


The Author, Sandra Magsamen, is an artist, mom, author of Living Artfully and creator of the Messages From the Heart brand. She designs gifts and ideas that encourage us to live with heart. Sandra Magsamen lives with her family in the Maryland town in which she grew up.

So, I told you my kids love the plush lovies that come with it and the stories, but what do I think? I think these stories are just so sweet. The sentiments, such as "you make me laugh all day and night" and "you're my precious gift sent from above" are more than just words, it is the thoughts and feelings of every parent.

The only part of the book that I didn't like was that the back page where the doll attaches is taller than the rest of the book. Makes it a little awkward to put away, but really? when it's a great book, I'll take it!

I want to give TWO lucky readers this prize pack!! How to enter you ask? Well, leave me a comment telling me your favorite kids book.

You can gain other entries by doing any of the following and leaving me a comment for each one.

1. Tweet it
2. Blog it
3. Link to this on your Facebook page

Contest will close on Wednesday October 7th at 8 pm MST. So, enter, tell your friends and win a great book set either for yourself or a friend!!!

Rock of Ages Review

Y'all know I love One2One Network. They always have really great things to review and I have gotten some fun items.

When I got the email telling about Rock of Ages, I was a bit skeptical. I LOVED my big hair bands in the late 80's early 90's. They made me happy. In fact, I often can be found rockin' out to Monster Ballads (1 and 2!).

But, when I read that there was going to be a Broadway Musical about music from the 80's? A musical about a hairband in 1987??? Ok, to say I squealed a little wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Here is a little about the soundtrack to this great new musical:

New Line Records just hammered the in-store release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of five-time Tony Award nominated "ROCK OF AGES." For those of you not in the know, Rock of Ages is the new Broadway musical starring American Idol finalist Constantine Maroulis. Set in 1987 in a legendary Sunset Strip rock club, a small-town girl meets a big-city dreamer and they fall in love to the greatest metal songs of the 80's. The musical is an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Styx, Reo Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Foreigner, Twisted Sister, Poison, Asia, Whitesnake and more.

So, I got the cd in the mail and popped it in. I really like it. I have always loved musicals, I have always loved Broadway soundtracks. But...there are a couple things I don't love about this one.
First -- the talking. Yeah, it can get a little annoying when, in the middle of a song, they start with the dialogue. I am sure if I were able to go to New York and see this play I would feel differently about this.
Second -- they changed the lyrics to some of my favorite songs. So here I am, singing along, feeling like I am back in Jr. High, and BOOM! Different words.

Since those two items aren't huge deals to me, I still listen to it. But, that is only when I can pry it out of the hands of my 5 year old son. He LOVES this CD. He has claimed it as his and I barely see it anymore. However, anytime I want to listen to it, all I need to do is go and listen at his bedroom door. I think this is very telling of my future with him! (i totally have a video of him rocking out, but my computer is not being nice and won't upload it...someday, i promise!)

You can go buy the Rock of Ages CD today and have fun reliving the glory days with me!

Smooshies!

No, this isn't a picture of me after being in the car with my children for 20 hours. I kind of felt like this, but no. This is a picture of one of the many things that saved my sanity. This is a Smooshie. I can not tell you how much I love this toy. The great folks at One2One Network sent one for the kids to play with, I only wish they'd sent two!

Smooshies are sold exclusively at Joann Stores. You can buy a package that comes with a body, arms, legs, eyes, mouth and various other face parts for $9.99. For 1.99 more, you can buy individual parts.

Not only are they reasonably priced, but have won awards also! Not just any awards either, but they won the 2009 TOP Toy of the Year Award given by Creative Child Magazine and the Dr. Toy Best Vacation Children’s Products award.

I have pictures, lots of pictures, of my children fighting over, er I mean playing with, their Smooshie. However, they are at home and I am here. I promise you'll get pictures of my hooligans playing with their fantastic Smooshie. In the mean time, go buy your own Smooshie and let me know how much you love it also!

Ecostore USA :: Review and Giveaway!

**************************WINNER******************************

Congrats to Luvdaylilies comment #9, chosen by random.org!

Luvdaylilies said...

Wow!!!
If I won here's my idea of what I'd love to try:
Baby Soap,Baby Massage Oil and Laundry Liquid!
Thanks for hosting the giveaway & giving us all a chance at something so neat=)
Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

July 2, 2009 8:45 PM

Send me your contact info and I will pass it along to EcoStore USA! Thanks for all the entries!

****************************************************************************************

Ok Friends, I have found some new products that I love and know you will too! EcoStore USA is an extension of a 20 year old company that makes plant and mineral based houseold cleaning, baby and personal care products that contain No Nasty Chemicals(tm).

Ecostore NZ was founded more than 15 years ago by Melanie and Malcolm Rands from their home in an eco village in New Zealand.

All of the families that lived in the farm based eco village shared a commitment to organic growing and healthy living, making this an ideal environment in which a young, environmentally conscious business could thrive. Each household in the village was responsible for their own waste water, which quickly highlighted the problems caused by using regular supermarket cleaning products that relied heavily on cheap, petroleum-based, synthetic ingredients.

Faced with the challenge of protecting the pristine rural waterways of the eco village, Malcolm Rands began to research and seek expert help from scientists to develop household cleaning products using plant-based ingredients that would biodegrade safely and quickly. Achieving his goal, he eliminated the need to use toxic chemicals, leaving the eco villages water pure. His goal was more than accomplished as the product line of this home-based business began to grow, and an exciting future began to unfold.

The original customer base of ecostore NZ was comprised of mostly ‘Greenies’ and organic gardeners. However, it was not long before testimonials from other parents (many of whom were unaware of the benefits of eco-friendly products) began to pour in with wonderful news of their children's allergies and eczema clearing up. Many noted that any respiratory issues were healing, and many lingering chronic conditions were disappearing.

We have kids, we want them to be healthy, we want the best for our families don't we? That is why I love these products.

I was sent 2 items to review. First was the Baby Body Wash.


I am pretty selective as to what I will clean my babies with. My kids have pretty sensitive skin, so I don't want to use anything with heavy perfumes or dyes. It has to be good for my babies sensitive skin. When I got the box, I immediately opened the baby body wash to smell it. It has a light citrus smell and is just so nice. I gave Libby a bath and the lather was so nice. It has no nasty chemicals, so I was not concerned about using it on her. Made with all natural ingredients, this is an item that has become a staple in my house.

Next up is the Citrus Spray Cleaner.


Ecomommas can go room to room with this product. Simple to use yet high performance, ecostore Lemon Spray Cleaner is the ideal alternative to conventional, toxic products. This citrus based solvent will work wonders on almost any household surface. Have black kitchen appliances? We've been told via many testimonials that it is just awesome. And, of course, if it’s an Ecostore product, it contains No nasty chemicals™. For your health, for your family and for the planet. (17 fluid ounces)
I love this cleaner. I use it everywhere and am not worried about the after effects of it. I use it on the kitchen counters, on the tile, on my hard wood floors, even on my carpet (gotta love potty training!). This is such a gentle, yet effective cleaner, I love it!!!!

You can get these great products and so many more on the EcoStoreUSA website, or in Meijer stores in the Midwest. These products are not only earth and people friendly, but are easy on your wallet also! Sometimes things that are good for us are just too expensive, well not this.

The great folks at EcoStoreUSA want to share the love with you too!!! They are giving away a $25 gift certificate to their site to one of my readers. You can get so much with $25!!!

To enter go over to EcoStoreUSA and check out their great products. Tell me which is your favorite or what you would get with the gift certificate.

For more entries you can do the following:
1. Subscribe to EcoStoreUSA's blog
2. Follow EcoStoreUSA on Twitter
3. Tweet about this contest
4. Blog about the contest
5. Subscribe to my feed
6. Follow my blog
7. Follow me on Twitter

Leave me a comment for each item to get extra entries.

Thank you EcoStoreUSA for letting me review your great products! I am hooked and will be a forever customer!

This contest will end on Monday, July 6 at 9 pm MST at which time I will choose a winner at random. So, hurry and enter!

Diane Birch Review

I love music oh so much. I even made a c.d. when I was in college with the hopes of becoming a recording artist. My life has led me in a different direction, but my love of music and young artists remains.

When offered the chance to listen to Diane Birch's new album, Bible Belt, I was a bit apprehensive. Honestly, I thought it was going to be Christian Rock -- not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just not my thing.

I hesitantly listened to Fire Escape and immediately fell in love. I immediately signed on to receive and review this cd from One2One Network.

Diane is not Christian Rock, but a fantastic mix of blues, folk, rock and her own funk.

Diane's Bio says this:

For singer-songwriter Diane Birch, music was a refuge. Although Diane was born in Michigan, her childhood was spent on the move as the daughter of a preacher, living between Zimbabwe, South Africa and Australia, before her parents finally settled in Portland, Oregon. When she was in her early teens, Diane absorbed a unique and cosmopolitan perspective on life that shines through her music and makes a simple categorization of it impossible.

The result? Diane Birch sounds like an old favorite, with all the sparkle and magic of a breakthrough talent. People says she sounds like a combination of early Carole King, Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks, with a little Joss Stone and Cat Power mixed in. Bible Belt is only her first record, but it’s one of the most accomplished albums you’ll hear all year. From the opening track “Fire Escape” to the closing “Magic View,” Diane’s stunning voice is mesmerizing.

Written entirely by Diane, Bible Belt was recorded in New York City and New Orleans with an impressive team of Grammy-winning producers: S-Curve Records founder Steve Greenberg, soul legend Betty Wright and Mike Mangini, in their first project together since producing Joss Stone’s first albums.

Right now when you buy Diane Birch Bible Belt, $1.00 will be donated to Share our Strength, a charity to help end hunger in the United States. Just click on the button in my sidebar.

Kid Safe Ink :: Review

When I told Jeremy about Kid Safe Ink, he said, "That is a genius idea. She is going to make a ton of money with that one". I agree.

My kids love temporary tattoos and can be seen sporting many at a time. So, when I was contacted by Heather of Kid Safe Ink, I was thrilled.

These are temporary old school tattoos with your phone number on it. They read, "I'm Lost. Please Call..." and customized with your phone number!

Here is their story:

In the winter of 2006, Kieran went on a vacation in Hawaii and got lost for an hour. Reconnected, 3 hotels down at the towel exchange. Kieran's mom thought to herself, looking at her cellphone, that could have been a lot easier.

That's when the seed was sown, and we soon devised a plan to help parents everywhere. All it took was a simple system that reconnects families through customized temporary tattoos with your cell phone or contact number.

We love old school tattoos, not only because they look good but their meaning is pointing to the important things in life like family and home.

My biggest concern was that they would flake off and thus not last through a day at the beach or zoo or amusement park. So, last week, I put a tattoo on each of my children. They are still there and the phone number is still visible. These have lasted through 2 baths, long sleeve shirts rubbing on them, and lots of playing.

I am so impressed with these! They come in such cool designs too. Something to please every child; a bird, heart, star and anchor. Amelia loves the bird and Seth loves the anchor.

These are something that will be going with us when we go to the pool and amusement park this summer. Also great for a day at the Fair, or really anywhere you are going that is not home.

Thank you Heather for such a great product!! Head on over to Kid Safe Ink and order yours today. You will not be sorry!

Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten! Review

One thing I love about blogging is having the opportunity to review some really cool items. Many of you know Seth will be starting Kindergarten next year. This is something that causes me to hyperventilate if I allow myself to really think about it.

When I was given the opportunity to review Cedar Valley Publishing's Let's Get Ready for Kindergarten and Let's Get Ready for First Grade, I jumped at the chance. Reading a little bit about the founder, Stacey Kannenberg, got me even more excited about this.
Becoming a mom not only changed my life but it is impacting education. I created my company when my girls were ages 3 and 1 and I was trying to find something to help them get ready for school. I am not a teacher or educator, and yet I created a book used by schools. I didn’t create the alphabet, numbers, colors or shapes but found a way to repackage it for parents, kids and teachers. With a telephone and a computer, I created www.cedarvalleypublishing.com. 10% of all profits are donated to literacy foundations and back to schools. I am a mom inspired by Oprah to change education. This has become my passion! My mantra is if two brothers from Ohio can change the face of aviation, that why can’t a mom, inspired by Oprah change education at the core! Thirty-eight states are discussing all day 4 year-old Kindergarten because kids are not coming to school prepared. But where are the public service announcements telling parents the 7 things they need to know for Kindergarten testing: the alphabet all mixed up, number to 10 all mixed up, basic shapes, colors, coins, counting objects to 10 and how far they can count to 100? Schools purchase my books in bulk to help get parents, kids and teachers all be on the same page of Kindergarten and First Grade! Now I have a national platform speaking to educators, schools, parents and kids! This is a true family business! Who better to help me write Let’s Get Ready For Second Grade! than my 2^nd and 4^th grader!

So, what do my real reviewers think? Well, I had to hunt down the books because they LOVE them!!! As soon as I opened the package with these books in them, Seth and Amelia took them away from me. They ask me consistently to "do school" with them and these books. It is great for me also to see where Seth is and what we really need to work on in the next 6 months.

I also love that they are heavy and laminated. We can do activities in them with a dry erase marker. They are durable and obviously made by a Mom!

I think if I can get him a little better prepared for school, then I won't hyperventilate as much when I think about it!

So, go on over to Cedar Valley Publishing and check out Stacey's amazing books. They are fantastic and worth every cent.

He's Just Not That Into You.

But I am SO into this soundtrack! I had the awesome opportunity to get this C.D. and review it. The last soundtrack I bought was My Best Friend's Wedding (eons ago, I know). So, I was a little skeptical, but this C.D. is AWESOME!

Everything from R.E.M. and The Cure (hello, my Jr. High and High School Music?!?!) to The Human League and The Replacements. I love this C.D.

My favorite song however is The Last Goodbye by Scarlett Johansson. Who knew the girl could sing?

So, if you want a C.D. that you can dance to, sing to, and love to...go get this one!

Thanks to One2One Network for giving me this great opportunity!