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Monday, July 20th, 2009

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

I have been in London but a week or so and have already read this book twice. The first time, I rushed through it because I was entralled with the plotline and the characters. But the second read, I took slowly and enjoyed it even more.

The title alone (The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society) was enough to have me hooked because I needed to know just want this “society” was. The book takes place in London and on the island of Guernsey, just south of England– what perfect timing for my reading of the book.

In short, this story– all written in letters between the many characters– tells the story of Juliet Ashton, a British author, and her getting to know the people of Guernsey Island through their letters and eventual meeting. The story takes place following the second World War. The people of the island share their stories with Ashton, which eventually gives her the idea of writing a book about the German occupation of the island– and of their Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

It has been a long time since I have been so captivated by a story. My only criticism is that is ended too suddenly. I would have been happy with another one or two hundred pages. As it is, the book is an easy-read of 274 pages. I was able to read it in a few hours (the first read, I stayed up until 2:15 in the morning reading it- that’s what vacation is for!). The style, written in letters, makes it very easy to pick up and put back down again- not that you will be able to do so.

I won’t share any more than this, but I encourage you to take a trip to your local library or bookshop and find a copy of this book.

I must give credit to my friend, Mimi, who recommended this book to me. Thank you.

Posted in Books, Friends, Reviews | 6 Responses »

Monday, July 6th, 2009

Did you know that 9 out of 10 dentists report seeing signs of acid erosion in their patients?

Sensodyne ProNamel for Children is the first children’s toothpaste scientifically proven to re-harden tooth enamel, helping to protect against acid erosion as well as cavities.

What is Acid Wear?

Acid wear can be caused by many healthy foods children consume daily as part of a diet including fruits and juices. These acidic foods and beverages can soften and wear away tooth enamel. Acid wear can have a permanent impact on teeth, irreversibly thinning enamel and changing the texture, color and shape over time. Once enamel is gone, it is gone for good.

How Does Sensodyne ProNamel for Children Work?

Specially developed by dentists and experts in acid erosion to provide a foundation for acid wear erosion, ProNamel for Children has an optimized flouride formulation to help re-harden enamel, making it more resistant to acids. It is recommended for children 3 to 12 years old to brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes with ProNamel.

What Did My Children Think of ProNamel for Chilren?

Punky: “It tastes like strawberry.” (It comes in “Gentle Mint”.)
Mommy: “Well, honey, it is mint-flavored. Do you like mint?”
Punky: nods his head. “I like it. It tastes good.”

Spunky: “I want some more.” “I like it.”

Typically, my children do not like mint-flavored toothpaste, but they both liked this toothpaste because the mint flavor isn’t very strong.

CLICK HERE for money saving coupons on Sensodyne products.

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Ways YOU can help stop acid erosion in your children’s teeth:

Know which foods are high in acid. These include soda, fruit juice, ketchup, raisins, citrus fruit and yogurt (These are all foods my kids eat on a daily basis!)
Encourage children to drink acidic beverage with a straw
Have children brush their teeth before eating or have them wait at least one hour after because this is the time when teeth are most susceptible to further damage because the enamel may have softened after eating.
Talk to your child’s dentist about acid erosion (83% of moms surveyed have not this conversation with their dentist).
Visit the ProNamel Website and take the Acid Erosion Quiz to see how at risk your children are.

For more information, visit The ProNamel Website.

Posted in Reviews | 2 Responses »

Monday, June 29th, 2009

I have been searching for a safe, non-toxic, eco-friendly laundry detergent for a long time now. I’ve tried many different brands, but was never completely happy with the results.

I had heard many good things about Charlie’s Soap; so I contacted the company and they sent me a full size sample (80 loads) of their Laundry Powder as well as a full size bottle of their All-Purpose Cleaner.

$Charlie\'s Soap$

CLEAN – GREEN – SAFE

“Rinses Residue Free, Flame Retardent, Nontoxic, Great for Stain Removal, Certified Safe for Food Preparation, Biodegradable, and Environmentally Safe”

Laundry Powder

The three pound bag of laundry powder can do up to 80 full wash loads because you only need one tablespoon per large washload. It is hypoallergenic and leaves no residue. It is perfect for babies, like mine, who have sensitive skin. It is also HE compatible.

Fragrance-Free: One of my favorite things about the Laundry Power is that it is not scented, but still leaves your laundry smelling fresh and clean.
Cloth Diapers: since the detergent contains no ingredients or additives that are designed to bind to fabrics and contain no antibacterial agents, Charlie’s Soap is residue free. However, even though the detergent does remove a lot of bacteria, it is important also include a disinfectant of some sort to your load- a little bit of vinegar works perfectly or contact the diaper manufacturer for other options.
Hard Water: If you have hard water and would like to use Charlie’s Soap, please go to the website to view the section on Hard Water under the Frequently Asked Question s.

All-Purpose Cleaner: “Cleans Everything from False Teeth to Diesel Engines”

The slogan on the bottle had me from the start. I’ve mainly used the All-Purpose Cleaner for wiping down counter tops or cleaning up messes on the floor. But here are many other ways that it can be used:

A Variety of Strengths: either full strength, half strength or quarter strength by diluting the product to fit your needs– great way to save money!
Pet Baths: just lather and rinse.
Carpets: clean just one spot at a time or use your carpet cleaning machine. It works both ways.
Hardwood Floors: A few sprays directly on the wood and a clean, wet mop do the trick. You can also spray directly on the mop for intensive cleaning.
Tools and Greasy Hands: safely removes pitch, tar and grease from machinery, tools and hands.
Cars: 1 cup and a 5 gallon bucket of water makes for a clean car.

Posted in Cloth Diapering, Contests, Giveaways, Green Living, Reviews | 3 Responses »

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

I was recently contacted by Leslie, owner of Forget-Me-Not-Tots, LLC, a mom-owned company dedicated to creating tools that help parents simplify family life. The company was founded in 2007 by Leslie, a mother of twins.

I had the pleasure of trying out one of her most popular products: The Nursery Notebook. which keeps track of your baby’s feeding schedule, diaper changes (wet or dirty), when they slept, and temperature and medications if they are sick. I can imagine that this is an incredible way to stay organized, especially when you have multiples! There is also room on the side of each page (one page per day) to journal about the day and about what you are feeling as a new mom.

Each book can either be ordered directly from the company and will be bound and mailed to you or you can download it as a PDF and then print it out (this is the cheaper alternative). You also have the option to customize the cover of your book.

On her website, Leslie also sells a variety of accessories that match the theme of the books.

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I love the idea behind Forget-Me-Not-Tots LLC! This is a wonderful mommy-run business! It is always great to support working moms.

I think that any new parent would love to receive a Nursery Notebook as a baby shower gift.

When my son came home from the NICU at two weeks old, I made up my own chart to keep track of his diapers and feedings. The Nursery Notebook would have been perfect for me! I know that a lot new parents or parents of newborns worry that their children are not eating enough, but if you keep a track of their wet and dirty diapers, you will always have a record to go by.

Now that we are expecting baby #3 in September, this is something that I would love have to have for the first few months of his/her life— hint, hint

I highly recommend Forget-Me-Not-Tots! Please take the time to check them out!

Posted in Reviews | 2 Responses »

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Daregal Herbs to review their product. Their slogan is: “Gourmet herbs in your freezer. Fresh, Fast, Flavorful!”

And I have to say that I agree full-heartedly with their slogan.

We received a package several days ago:

Punky couldn’t wait to help me open it!

I had expected that Daregal Herbs would be sending me a sample or two to try out. I was shocked when I opened the box to discover EIGHT full-size samples of all of their products: Original Blend, Basil, Cilantro, Oregano, Dill, Parsley, Grill Blend and Italian Blend. Thank you!

Each container has a flip top lid, which makes usage very easy.

The directions say to use the product just as you would fresh herbs.

The herbs thaw almost instantly and smell exactly like fresh herbs.

I love how they fit perfectly on my freezer door and they last up to 36 months!

My Final Review: I highly recommend Daregal Gourmet Herbs!

Pros:

quick- no chopping or cleaning
easy to use- spout to pour herbs or large opening to use with measuring spoon
fresh tasting and smelling-“Did you know that herbs lose 75% of their flavor and aroma within 24 hours of picking? That’s why Daregal ensures that all of its herbs are processed from field to freezer within three hours.” That’s impressive.
no salt or preservatives
less waste- you only pay for what you can use (no stems)- then recycle the container
cost- there is even a $1 coupon on the website
containers- fit well in freezer door and easy to hold
family farm has been around since 1887

Cons:

I typically use organic herbs- Any plans to add organic to your line, Daregal?
plastic containers- research shows that freezing or heating foods in plastic containers can release cancer-causing dioxins.
herbs are chopped up very small; therefore, they could not be used for garnish or making a meal look more presentable. I would have to buy fresh herbs for that.

I used the dill to make crab cakes the other night, and I as soon as I opened the package, I noticed the fresh smell of the dill. It tasted great in the crab cakes as well. I was very pleased.

Posted in Cooking, Reviews | 4 Responses »

Sunday, November 9th, 2008

PROS:

Screen Resolution- everything is small, but very clear
My Operating System- the computer comes with Windows (blech!) but my computer-genius-husband installed Ubuntu on it and even customized it for this notebook. The icons and fonts are all smaller. The system was actually created for these sub-notebooks. I love it!
Built in webcam and microphone
Built in slot for my memory card (SD card)
Weight- I said to my hubby that I feel like I am carrying around a large cell phone or Ipod
Compactness- I could literally put this in my purse/diaper bag
Cover- it comes with a cute sleeve cover- love it!
Battery Life- my old laptop last a maximum of 40 minutes; this computer lasts over 2 hours.
Location of powercord- it plugs into the side of the computer; Spunky can’t really get a good grip on it that way.
PRICE! We paid $348.

CONS:

Viewing photos can be difficult if they are large because they don’t fit on the screen
I have to scroll through blogs or websites to read everything (but this is something easy enough to adjust to)
Small keyboard- it is difficult adjusting from my little keyboard to the computer at church when I do the bulletin on Fridays. But this also just takes some getting used to. My hubby says I just need to learn how to type properly
No CD drive– BUT I don’t care about that. However, I am sure some people would.
Doesn’t have a trackpoint mouse, I really liked the one on my ThinkPad.

Best of All: My hubby is jealous of MY computer! His jobs have always provided him with a computer; so his computers are always top notch. And he wants one just like mine!

Posted in Reviews | 1 Response »