Monthly Archives: March 2009

PakNak® Charms


PakNaks® are fun soft rubbery 3-D
decorations for kids to personalize all of their
stuff with. Backpacks, lunchbags, headbands, nightstand lamp, a flower pot, and anything else you can imagine.  They are weather resistant by using super strong self adhesive Velcro.   Each PakNak® has a best PakNak® friend, how cute.  For example, Sola the flower's best friend is Birdy-Birdy.  There's a PakNak® for every personality.  Some of my favorite's are the robot, soccer ball, flowers, birds, monkey, skateboard, and Ted the Head.. the frog.

PakNak charms


Paknak_monkeyThe colors are vibrant and have yet to fade since we've been using them.  There are currently 38+/-  PakNak® charms to choose from.

Click here to print out a PakNak® coloring book!

WEBSITE

COUPON CODE: Use coupon code PAK20 to get 20% off your order through April 2009.

GIVEAWAY: 4 lucky winners can choose 3 PakNak's to be their very own!  I will announce the giveaway contest and rules soon.  Sign up for our newlsetter to be the first to know when the contest starts!

Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal

Crest Whitestrips Advanced Whitening my teeth with a home whitening kit provided by my dentist a few years ago was a huge confidence booster but I was less than thrilled with the cost involved.  I whitened my teeth about 5 years ago before  in-home teeth whitening kits were readily available so it wasn't cheap.  Now, however, there are many in-home teeth whitening choices and Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal is one of them.

My husband was the lucky tester for this product review and he couldn't have been happier.  Giddy in fact.  The strips are packaged in individual packets that consist of two adhesive strips, one for the top teeth and one for the bottom.  He simply peeled the strips off, applied them to this teeth, and left them on for 30 minutes. 
He didn't believe me when I told him he could drink water while wearing the strips on so he tried it out and what do you know.. the strips didn't move, dissolve, or turn into little teeth whitening aliens!  Huh!?

Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal strips provide three main benefits

  1. High-performance
    whitening
    with the same safe and effective whitening ingredient that dentists
    use to remove surface stains and those below the tooth enamel;
  2. A better fit with
    instant adhesion to teeth
    allowing users to go about their daily lives
    including talking and even drinking water;
  3. No mess left behind
    thanks to the new, advanced design.

Tim's 14 day experience with Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal was great and left his teeth noticeably whiter than they were before.  During the 14 days, he mentioned that his teeth felt a little sensitive one time and that was it.  He said he would do again in a heartbeat.  Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal did the job!  Thanks!!

Learn more about Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal at the Crest website here.

Kids Central Kitchen baking mixes – review, coupon, and giveaway

Kidscentralkitchen_flapjacksPlaying with kids can be a chore for parents.  Kids play by their own rules and often with toys that are missing pieces which gets very frustrating for me.  If you are looking for something more structured, fun, and educational to do with your young kids, look no further than Kids Central Kitchen.  My kids LOVE to help me cook and love the end result even more.

  • Kids Central Kitchen has 7 different baking mixes including Flap Jacks, Propellar Energy Bars (my favorite), and Brownies. 
  • You provide minimal ingredients, mostly water, milk, oil, and/or yogurt and the rest is in the baking mix. 
  • These baking mixes provide an easy, fun way for older kids to work on basic skills like measuring and reading.
  • Simple yes, full of yummy delicious flavor.. yes!

You'll also find kitchen utensils, bakeware, and baking supplies at Kids Central Kitchen and while you're there check out the Kids Baking Party in a Box!

WEBSITE

COUPON CODE: MOMMY15 – get 15% off your order (expires 12/31/09)

GIVEAWAY: One lucky reader will win a $25 Kids Central Kitchen gift certificate!
Leave a comment below telling me what color the BIG mixing bowl on the Kids Central Kitchen homepage is and your email address will be entered in the giveaway drawing!  GET TWO ENTRIES when you tell me a short story about a funny cooking experience you've had in the comments area below.

CORNEILLE, The Birth of Cornelius CD

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I LOVE this CD.  I am very picky about the music I listen to. It takes a really good voice to make me happy and I won't waste my time on music that I consider to be less than perfect.  A few of my favorite artists are  Tori Amos, Cocteau Twins, Enya, and Sarah McLachlan.  Corneille's music is not limited to one genre which I appreciate.  There is a mix of R & B, soul, and 'jazzy' music on The Birth of Cornelius. 

Corneille, The Birth of Cornelius is a CD you can listen to while
driving, taking a relaxing bath, or while fixing dinner.  I find it
extremely relaxing and easy to listen to while working. This CD is a moms best friend.

I you feel so inclined to listen to and watch the very handsome Corneille speak french, click over to The Birth of Cornelius website where even if you don't understand a work he's saying, you'll feel the loveHearticon
. And if you can't get enough of Cornelius you can download a nice crisp photograph of him for your desktop!  While you're on the website, you can listen to tracks and watch videos.

Corneille's story is one of happiness, sorrow, and reconnection. Corneille was born in Germany and at the age of six his family returned to Rwanda, their country of origin.  As a boy, Corneille began to develop an interest in music—initially discovering Michael Jackson and then the great soul artists who would shape his style: Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Prince.   When Corneille's father heard him singing in his room as a young boy, his father said to him, ‘That sounds good, it kind of sounds like Tracy Chapman.’   At age 16, he made his first recording, and was selected as a finalist in a music contest sponsored by the state-run television station.

Cornelius The 1994 genocide claimed the lives of both of his parentsCorneille alone escaped and he made his way to Germany to live with family friends where he spend the next 10 years in denial but never bitter.  Corneille is a truly amazing man as you will learn through his music.

Corneille is a Red Cross Canada spokeperson, has been made a Unicef
Goodwill Ambassador, and continues to be active in those and other
humanitarian roles.

New from Coach’s spring 2009 Parker line: Parker Leather Shoulder Bag

Coach-leather-shoulder-bag-small

The second in my series of Coach Parker handbag reviews.. the Parker Leather Shoulder Bag is yet another beautiful new bag from Coach's new Parker line. 

The Parker Leather Shoulder Bag is a gorgeous, mid-sized, leather shoulder bag with fabric trim and a delicate fabric inner lining. 
This bag is the rosegold/nickel color/style.  In addition to this beautiful metallic color, the Parker Leather Shoulder Bag is available in three beautiful spring inspired shades that work well with the season’s key colors.  This Parker bag will make even your simplest ensemble look radiant. The shaded Parker Leather Shoulder bags are $358 while the metallic bag is $398 and is an excellent value as it is a handbag that you will enjoy for many years.

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Why I love the Coach Parker Leather Shoulder Bag:

  • The size is perfect for a mom with a toddler.
    Madleyn is 2 so I don't have to carry 3 outfits, diapers, 2 sippies, snacks, etc..

Coachinside I carry 1 change of clothes, a sippy cup, a snack bag, a book, and a toy.  All of these things plus my wallet, phone, and 'accessories' fit nicely in this Parker.

  • One of the outer gusset pockets holds Madelyn's sippy cup and the other holds my iPhone giving me access to two of the most important things I need when I'm out.
  • The 18” handle with 8 1/2” drop makes the bag easy to carry and get into even while I'm carrying Madelyn.
  • I love that the inner slip and zipper pockets in this bag are thin and not bulky so they don't stick out into the bag but give just enough room for storing lipstick, a compact mirror, and even an 8 pack of crayons.
  • The Parker Leather Shoulder Bag is available in rosegold/nickel (shown here) and three solid shades.
  • Overall, the Coach Parker Leather Shoulder Bag is an excellent bag for moms with new babies and toddlers alike and of course for women in general!

    GIVEAWAY
    There are two ways to enter.
    Enter to win this Coach Parker Leather Shoulder Bag by simply leaving a comment below telling me why you want to win this bag and your email address will be entered once. 
    2 ENTRIES: Your email address will be entered twice when you  subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter by April 30th.

    GOOD LUCK!