My Toddler is on a Milk Strike!

My youngest is 19 mos. old and since I stopped giving her a bottle (a month ago) she hasn't been drinking any milk.  She has always had juice and water from a cup but when it came to her milk she was only drinking it out of a bottle, and still preferred it warm.

I was told to just cut her off 'cold turkey' basically and that she'd eventually get used to it.  My other girls did it this way and they ended up drinking milk from a cup just fine.

Not my toddler though, oh no... she refuses to drink any milk.  In fact, if you try to trick her and get her to drink it, she spits it right out!  I've tried regular sippy cups, cups with straws, cups with soft spouts, cups with hard spouts... nothing is working.

I'm now starting to doubt myself and wondering whether I should give in and let her have a bottle.  My oldest was off a bottle right at a year old, my middle daughter took a couple months longer, and now my youngest is taking the longest yet.  I really hadn't been that concerned about it though, thinking she'd do it when she was ready, until I went to the doctor and they said I should take away her bottle before it got any harder.

Image courtesy of DailyClipArt.net

Do health professionals just make a big deal out of this for nothing?  Are they pushing us parents to make our children do things they aren't really ready for?

My daughter is eating yogurt and will eat a somewhat good variety of food.  I just worry of course that now she isn't getting the proper amount of calcium.

When did your baby give up the bottle and drink milk out of a cup?  Any specific cup or tips/tricks that worked best for you?

Joy and Sadness, Celebration and Grief

Can these words actually go together?  When it comes to feelings about Mother's Day, for me, yes they do.  I've never really written about this in any extent, whether on my blog or elsewhere so it may be all over the place, but I wanted to touch on it today for anyone else who may be feeling the same thing.

Mother's Day is today- Sunday, May 8th.  It's a day for celebrating your mom and to be celebrated if you're a mom yourself.  Yet if your mom is no longer with you in this world, it's only half the celebration it should be.

My Mom, Sally 11.8.53- 3.18.95

My mom passed away when I was 16 years old- in a car accident... she died on impact.  She left behind a husband and nine children.  It was a rough time for me- at 16 you're still trying to figure yourself out, struggling with peer pressure and social cliques in school, the stress of grades and sports.  You're not a child anymore but far from an adult, even though technically it's only two years away.

Losing a parent, while tough at any age, just wasn't fair to have one taken from me while I was still a teenager.  She never got to see me graduate high school, get married, enlist in the military, have my 1st baby, buy our 1st house.  She wasn't there through my failures either, to give advice, or help me back up after I fell.  My girls will never know their Grandmother- a woman who would've loved them beyond measure.

I miss my Mom... more than these words can truly convey.  And while I enjoy the Mother's Day I celebrate with my own daughters, and am thankful the girls now have someone special in their lives to take the role of Grandma, it's still hard when you don't have that one person in your life who you think will always be there for you.  The person who helped create you and brought you into the world... the first person on Earth to love you, and love you unconditionally!

I read a post the other day, and then watched a video related to that post, that really made an impact on me and tied together several different aspects of my life.  It was a post on May is Melanoma Awareness Month, about losing a loved one, and the video was titled 'Dear 16 year old Me'- offering advice to yourself as a teen.

Of course, the part about losing a loved one pertains to me, and my 16 year old self, well I'll get to that in a minute.  But also the Melanoma Awareness- I've had a few weird things going on with my health lately that have made me suspicious and concerned.  I already have a doctor appointment scheduled and will be going in a couple weeks (hopefully to find out it's nothing), but to read the story and watch the video made me realize how important it was.  That you are the best person to know what's going on with your body... pay attention to it... and don't put off seeing a doctor if need be!

So back to that piece of advice,  if I could tell my 16 year old self one thing (before that fateful day of losing my mother), it would be to always tell your mom (and dad) you love them and give them a hug each and every time one of you goes out the door (even if you're having a typical teenage mood swing) ... because you aren't guaranteed tomorrow, and you never know if you'll see them again.

It sounds so simple and at certain times we all vow to do it.  We read someone else's story of loss and we say  "I will always do this", but after a short period of time has gone by... we don't.  We forget how important it really is and we take one another for granted.  We think "I'll see so and so tomorrow, I'll tell them the next time I see them." or "I don't need to say it out loud, they already know how I feel."  It's always when it's too late that we realize how truly important it was.

But alas, you can't change history.  I can't travel back in time and even if I could, would I really listen to myself?  I was a typical stubborn 16 year old and didn't like anyone telling me what to do.  It would be great if we were all perfect and could always remember to do the right thing, but we're human and we will always mess up.  No matter how hard we try or no matter how many people tell us, we'll make mistakes.  There are life lessons we all must learn...

I hope this wasn't too scatterbrained, and I hope if your Mother is still with you that you show her how much you care about and love her this Mother's Day... if you're like me- I hope you have memories to cherish.  And if you're a Mother yourself- enjoy your children no matter which stage of life they're in.

I love you Mom!

Save More Money on Eyeglasses

I've needed a new pair of prescription eyeglasses for awhile now... thanks to a certain toddler with grabby hands.  I hate going into the eyeglass store and trying on hundreds of frames just trying to find that one perfect pair.  And the hiked up prices... yikes!

I order a lot of things online… but eyeglasses, really?  At Zenni Optical they make it simple and have hundreds of stylish frames to choose from, starting at just $6.95 (no, that’s not a typo).

Searching for frames couldn't be easier, you can sort by frame type, style, shape, size, color… you can narrow it down to exactly what you’re looking for and get the look you want.

My favorite thing about the site though, is that I can still try on the glasses- in the virtual that is.  The ‘try on’ feature lets you pick a face similar to yours, or upload your own picture, and then compare different frames to see how they'll look!

So you can see exactly what you're getting before you buy.  And when you are ready to buy, you can still add on options such as tint or anti-reflective coating to your set of glasses also.  So you can have the stylish look without the stylish price tag.


Disclosure Policy

Ayurvedic Roast Organic Herbal Coffee Substitute {Review & Giveaway}

I love a good cup of joe as much as the next girl, but sometimes it upsets my stomach or makes me feel jittery.  And sometimes I find myself wanting a cup of coffee because of the flavor and not really because I need the caffeine pick-me-up.  We all know caffeine isn't that great for us anyway, and it can become an addicting behavior to always have a cup of coffee in the morning.


So when I heard about Ayurvedic Roast, a 100% Certified Organic herbal coffee substitute that tastes like real coffee, I was excited to try it but also a little skeptical about how it would taste.  It includes three antioxidant, adaptogenic, and immunity-enhancing organic ayurvedic herbs.

Check out the full ingredient list:  organic rye, organic barley, organic chicory, organic ashwagandha, organic shatavari, organic brahmi, and organic vanilla flavor.  And here's a breakdown on some of the benefits of the herbs:

1. Ashwagandha:
Known as the the "ginseng of India", this incredible herb promotes strength and stability in the physiology, and is also an anti-oxidant. It builds immunityand strength, and calms the mind and body.

2. Shatavari:
Possesing many of the benefits of Ashwagandha, it counterbalances its somewhat heating quality with it cooling effect, and augments their mutually beneficial effects on the body.

3. Brahmi:
Commonly used in Ayurveda to lessen mental strain and worry*, it also helps increase intelligence and clarity*. In combination with the other 2 herbs, it has a soothing effect on the mind, while maintaining alertness.

When brewing the Ayurvedic Roast, which I did like I normally do using my coffee pot, I noticed it took a lot less to make a flavorful cup versus my regular coffee.  You don't get that 'coffee' aroma with the substitute (not that I can smell much with my cold right now anyway), but when you pour them into the cup there really is no difference between the two in how they look.

Can you tell which is which?

The one on the left is the substitute and the one on the right is the actual coffee.  And I could've used less of the Ayurvedic Roast to lighten up the color.  And the flavor?  Very good- smooth, not bitter or weird tasting! I always add sugar and creamer to my coffee also, so did the same thing with the Roast and it was excellent.  The best part though is that it's actually good for me, and it isn't going to upset my stomach or have me shaking like a crazy person if I drink too much.

If you're considering or have tried to quit drinking coffee before, you can download a Free ebook "10 Easy Ways to Quit Caffeine".

Do I have you interested in trying a cup yet?

BUY IT:  You can order Ayurvedic Roast online in an 11 oz. package, a 4 lb. bulk package, or a 1 oz. sample pack.

WIN IT:  1 reader is going to win an 11 oz. bag of Ayurvedic Roast of their very own!

Ways to enter (leave a separate comment on this post for each entry you do):

•  Follow Ayurvedic Roast on Twitter
•  Like Ayurvedic Roast on Facebook
•  Subscribe to the Ayurvedic Roast Newsletter (and get a free ebook)
•  Follow my blog publicly via GFC
•  Subscribe to my blog via Email
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Like me on Facebook
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Post about this giveaway (Facebook, Cafemom, Blog, etc.) +5 entries, leave link
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link)

#Win an 11oz. bag of @AyurvedicRoast Organic Herbal Coffee Substitute via @SusieBHomemaker http://goo.gl/1FN6L #Giveaway ends 5/19

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 5/19/11 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to U.S. residents only.  The winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn.  Please make sure your email is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I was sent a product in exchange for my review.  No other form of compensation was received.  The opinions and thoughts I’ve shared with these products are 100% my own and yours may differ.

Get Fit with Centrum... and enter to Win!

Are you ready for bathing suit season?  Are you looking to get healthier?  How does a trip to LA and a one-on-one training session with celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak, creator of the 5 Factor Diet sound?  It could happen... Enter the Centrum Get Fit contest now for your chance to WIN!

• To enter to win, text the word "CENTRUM" along with an image of a Centrum multivitamin bottle to 89800

Contest ends June 22, 2011

Celebrity Trainer, Harley Pasternak

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

You can also GET FIT and “Like” the new Centrum Facebook page to:
* Receive exclusive fitness tips from renowned celebrity fitness and nutrition experts

* Learn how to enter for a chance to win a Wii Fit Plus every day between now and June 14th.

* Download a $3 coupon your next Centrum purchase

Here's some of Harley's tips for looking and feeling your best:

1. Go global with your diet. Exposing your palate to different cuisines can help you find foods that are nourishing, slimming and never boring. Whether Greek yogurt, Japanese tofu, or Swedish rye bread, the world’s healthiest countries take pride in a few very special ingredients.
2. The healthiest solutions are often the simplest ones – like walking instead of driving, broiling instead of frying, and taking a daily multivitamin. Making commonsense decisions about the way you eat, move, and live can help you exponentially increase your health and wellness level.
3. Try to stick to low-sugar beverages and drink more water. Try all sorts of tea – black, oolong, and green - for an antioxidant flavor boost.
4. Every step counts. Walk everywhere, whether it’s to the grocery store or to work. Take the stairs whenever you can. If you have to be on the phone, pace around while you talk, or do jumping jacks during TV commercial breaks. Regular movement has an infinite number of benefits.
5. Enjoy one free day a week! Indulge in eating a treat such as dark chocolate and sleep in late. It will motivate you to keep up a healthy lifestyle during the other six days.

What are you waiting for?  There has never been a more rewarding time to GET FIT!

Disclosure: I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing.  All opinions stated in the post are my own.

Prefense Foaming ALL-DAY Hand Sanitizer {Review & #Giveaway}

If you're a parent of little kids, you no doubt have used hand sanitizer... over and over and over!  Because we all know kids like to touch anything and everything and don't pay attention to what may or may not have icky germs all over it.  And though most kids don't like sharing their toys, they have no problem sharing their germs.

But wouldn't it be nice to just apply hand sanitizer once and have it last all day?  Well now you can... Prefense to the rescue!  Seriously, this stuff is amazing... you can read for yourself:

• No alcohol- it's made of all-natural organic ingredients
• Protects for 24 hours or 10 hand washings
• Non-toxic and safe for kids... won't hurt if swallowed
• Silica based so it doesn’t dry out your hands like traditional alcohol sanitizers
• Protects against staph, strep, E.coli, drug resistant MRSA strains, and more

Are you impressed yet... I was!  It doesn't dry out your hands, or your kids, because there's no alcohol in it.  It actually makes them smoother and softer, and it has a nice fresh citrus scent.  Plus if your child eats afterward, or just decides to put their fingers in their mouth, you don't have to worry because it's completely non-toxic and safe.  And the best part, since “one spray lasts all day” a 1.5 oz Prefense Botanicals Hand Sanitizer offers 120 applications, costing only $.08 per day, compared to $1.20 per day with alcohol hand sanitizers.

I mean wow... isn't this what us as moms, and dads, have been waiting for?  We can now put this on our kids hands in the morning and let them play all day knowing that they're actually protected from all the things we can't see but that we know are there.  This is perfect for using right before sending your child off to school!

BUY IT:  Online at Amazon or REI or find it at a local store (the Feed & Seed near me sells it!)

WIN IT:  1 lucky reader is going to win a big 8 oz. bottle (that's 640 applications!)

Mandatory Entry:  Just leave a comment to be entered!

(U.S. residents only)

Extra Entries for more chances to win (leave a separate comment on this post for each one you do):

•  Like Prefense on Facebook
•  Follow Prefense on Twitter
•  Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect
•  Subscribe via Email
•  Like my Facebook page
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Post about this giveaway (blog, Facebook, Cafemom, etc.) +5 Entries, leave link
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link) may copy and paste the following:

#WIN Foaming Hand Sanitizer that lasts 24 HRS. from @Prefense and @SusieBHomemaker http://goo.gl/iMreD #Giveaway ends 4/26

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 4/26/11 at 11:59 pm EST.  Open to U.S. Residents ONLY.  The winner(s) will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn.  Please make sure your email address is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I received a product for the purpose of the this review.  No other compensation was received.  All thoughts and opinions shared are 100% my own and yours may differ.

Do you wear glasses?

I've been wearing glasses for about eight years now.  I made it all the way through high school, got married, and started a career in the work force before my eyes started to get a little blurry.  I realized I couldn't see things far away quite as clear anymore.

I was reluctant to get eyeglasses (you know the whole '4-eyes' nerdy thing) but knew I needed a pair at least for driving.  So I went to a local eyeglass store to see what my options were.  I wanted something that looked good so focused on their designer glasses.  Yes they were pricey, but I figured it was worth it to be able to look stylish while having to wear glasses.

Thankfully now, there's places like GlassesUSA.com where you can get discount designer eyeglasses... you can look good and save money.  You can also get reading glasses online and prescription sunglasses online so you save money on everything you need to keep your eyes protected while being able to see.

Since having kids, I've also had a couple pairs of glasses that have met an untimely demise (that is to say they were mangled) due to little fingers getting ahold of them.  So having a second set of cheap eyeglasses around as a spare is essential as a mom of young kids.  And for the record, I'm completely comfortable wearing glasses now- both literally and figuratively.  ;)

Right now you can get some great deals when you buy glasses frames online!

Coupon:
Try glasses online and save 10% on your next order with the code: Mommy10

March Specials:
- Take 30% off ANY pair of discount eyeglasses with the code: WinterSale
- 25% off any order of 3 or more pairs of eyeglasses with the code: 25FS

Disclosure:  This was a sponsored post written by me on behalf of GlassesUSA.com.  All thought and opinions are 100% my own and yours may differ.

My Weekend Woes and a Winner!

Disclaimer:  Feel free to skip down for the winner if reading about someone else getting sick makes you sick.

*          *          *

So I spent most of my weekend very sick, as in spewing-out-everything-that-was-in-my-stomach sick!  Our whole household has been sick off and on since the end of January- over a month now!

We have all taken turns with coughing, sneezing, running fevers, having chills, vomiting, diarrhea (I always have to look up how to spell that word), sore throat, runny nose, body aches, and on and on... when will it end?!

  

I'm going to have to start displaying a warning sign on our door.

Warning:  

Enter at your own risk...

spontaneous puking may occur!

*          *          *

Ok, now that I've just scared away all of my family and friends who were actually thinking of stopping by my house... here's the winner of the Restaurant.com $25 Gift Card from Social Deal Map.

1. Jen said...

They don't have anything local for me, but they do have a Blockbuster national deal.

I have a Blockbuster near me.

Congratulations Jen... enjoy your dinner out!  Hope you didn't read the first part of the post, or if you did can at least erase it from your mind during the meal.

Do you travel overseas… would you let your kids?

I have never actually gone overseas.  I've been out of the country but only to Canada.  I'd love to have the opportunity to visit another country someday... maybe Italy or Scotland, learn a little more about our family heritage.

What worries me though is as my girls get older, if they'll want to travel abroad.  I never did the student travel thing, but what if one of my girls wants to study abroad?  It can be exciting visiting somewhere you've never been before, but it can also be pretty scary too.  You hear and read about so many horror stories nowadays.  I know that's true even for places throughout the United States, but when you're in a foreign country it's a whole new ballgame.

First you have to think about all the things your child may need in addition to their luggage- passport, different currency or travelers checks, and what about international student travel insurance.  You want to know they're completely protected while they're there, or at least as much as they possibly can be.

With student travel insurance you can also get limited trip interruption coverage, so you’re not out what you spent in the event of a trip cancellation.  Some other additional benefits include lost luggage, emergency medical evacuation, reunion, assistance services.

So you’ll know if your son or daughter has to see a doctor while overseas that they’re covered.  Travel insurance can cover doctor visits, hospitalization, surgery, prescriptions for covered illnesses during a trip, and if the situation demands it, the insured can also be medically evacuated to the nearest medical facility close to their principal residence.

You of course hope nothing happens to your son or daughter where they would need medical treatment, especially if you aren’t there to be with them.  But knowing that if they’re insured properly they’ll be taken care of without question can be a big relief to a worried parent.  Though somehow I think I'd still be a worry-wart and call my daughter to check in constantly.

Disclosure:  This was a sponsored post written by me.  Any thoughts and opinions are 100% my own

Dealing with stress... when you're 5 years old

We went to a Family Fun Night at my daughter's school on Friday.  They had games, prizes, and food.  It was a lot of fun (as the name suggested).  Everything was going great... until the last game was played.

Curls (3 yr. old) got a prize that Princess (5 yr. old) wanted and Princess proceeded to pout about it.  I explained that they could share and take turns with it.  That went over fine, and then we left the classroom to head out to the van.

On the way out Princess sees her best friend (who's a boy... that she really likes), and she wanted to say hi to him.  At the same time she dropped one of her prizes, one of those tiny bouncy balls (of course).  It bounced away from her, and she immediately went into meltdown mode.

There were lots of kids and parents walking in the hallway, and there was my daughter... scrambling across the floor, the tears starting to come down, trying to get her bouncy ball back.

She recovered her ball but by then was so worked up that she couldn't say hi to her best friend.  He had walked by right after it happened, probably seeing the whole thing, and meanwhile my daughter was hiding behind me because she didn't want anyone to see her (she gets like that when she's crying or upset).

So then we get to the van and she's in complete distress because she didn't get to say hi to her best friend.  She cried and sniffled the whole way home.  And even after getting home she was still upset and couldn't be consoled.

So we ordered pizza... and we talked.  About how she could've handled the situation differently and not immediately reacted as if it was the end of the world.  And to just ask me for help if she needed it.  And that even though she didn't get to say hi to her best friend, she would see him again at school on Monday, just a couple days away.

*         *         *

Understanding that our kids are going to get stressed is important to remember as a parent. We have to use our "superpowers" to see into the future.  We need to anticipate how they're going to react in a situation and try to avoid unnecessary stress.

In this situation I could've brought a bag for the girls to put their prizes in or carried the toys myself.  Knowing that a toy in the hands of a child is more likely to be dropped and lost. Unfortunately though, you can't always avoid situations from happening... your child is still going to get stressed, and then they need to know how to handle it themselves.

I found some great articles from the following websites that talk about teaching your child how to deal with stress:

• Teach Kids How- Teach Your Child How to Deal with Stress
• Kids Health- Helping Kids Cope With Stress
• Center for Effective Parenting- Helping Children Cope with Stress

And this is important stuff to know, because if my daughter is getting this stressed over dropping a toy and not being able to say hi to a boy at 5 years old, what's going to happen when she gets to 15 and is dealing with hormones and boys?!  I shudder to think about it!  But hopefully I'll be better prepared by then.

Family Bonding!

Guest post written by Kim Lawry

For the past several years, my daughter has helped me go shopping on the weekends.  She's such a doll, she knows how much I hate the place, so she goes so we can spend time together and knock out that necessary evil every week at the grocery store.  Luckily, I have such a great daughter who is always willing to help her mother out.  She's such a fantastic girl!  I've honestly enjoyed the time with my daughter since she started coming over to help me, and I often look forward to the weekends to be able to spend some time with and catch up.  She recently became engaged to a wonderful man from North Carolina, and she's had so much to tell me.

Lately, I've had some difficulty hearing my daughter, and I've had a hard time hearing some of my friends at the grocery store, as well.  This weekend, before we go out shopping, I am going to ask my daughter if she wouldn't mind taking me to a place where I can find the best hearing aids around.  Social time is a little rarer these days, and it's very special.  I don't want anything coming in the way of it.

Win an EatSmart Digital Scale

@EatSmartScales is celebrating hitting 1000 Twitter followers with a giveaway of 2 of their Precision Pro Digital Kitchen Scales!

I won one of their digital bathroom scales last month and love it!  Their products are well-made, slim and sleek, and accurate.  This is definitely a contest worth entering!

You can find more information on their Twitter page, Facebook page, or click here to directly view contest details and enter to win... good luck!

Mama ain't Happy...

You know how they say 'If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy' ?  Well let me tell you, this Mama feels miserable!  And yet, still doing my best to care for the household... and try to get myself better.

Less than a year ago I wrote this post (one of my first) and I'm feeling pretty close to that again.  Without the 'EDIT, tmi' line (hope I didn't just jinx myself).

Yesterday I had body aches and the chills.  Today add to that a stuffy nose, scratchy throat, sneezing, and fluid in my ears.  I just want to curl up on the couch and take a nap, and in fact I did just that yesterday.

But this time, unlike last time, Mommy was the one to get sick first... so I wonder who's going to be next??

More peas please...

Those words actually came out of my 5 year olds mouth at dinner yesterday evening.  I was shocked!  But I recovered and of course obliged by giving her another spoonful of peas.

And this is my picky eater, the one that only weighs 35 lbs. when her 2 1/2 year old sister weighs 32 lbs.  Usually the only vegetable I can get her to eat is carrots.  Well she does also eat potatoes, in fact she asked for more of those at dinner too!

We've been worrying about this girl and her weight since shortly after birth so I'm happy to finally see her expanding her palette and eating different foods, and bigger portions too.  I know she still doesn't meet all the food pyramid requirements, and no she didn't ask for more chicken too, but at least we're getting somewhere... asking for more peas is a great start.

Do your kids eat vegetables... do you have special tricks to get them to eat more veggies without noticing?

Oxylent- a New Prenatal MultiVitamin Drink {Review & Giveaway} Ends 12/15 Plus 15% Discount Code!!

I remember when I was a pregnant with each of my girls, trying to do all the right things- eating healthy, exercising, and trying to take my daily prenatal vitamin.  I honestly dreaded taking that pill- it was so big, like a 'horse' pill... so difficult to swallow.  I really wish I would've had something a lot simpler and easier to take, and something that tasted good.

Prenatal Oxylent is a daily multivitamin drink that's easy to digest and tastes great.  It's also the official prenatal multivitamin of the American Pregnancy Association.  Prenatal Oxylent nourishes by offering key nutrients to support your body throughout your pregnancy.  It supports by providing vitamins C and D for immune and bone health.  And it balances with Magnesium, which enhances cellular balance, and also with vitamin B6 which assists in reducing nausea associated with pregnancy.

• Formulated by leading health professionals
• Great tasting with no sugar
• Easily digested and absorbed
• Superior quality including Albion Minerals
• Third-party tested for purity and potency

Prenatal Oxylent provides fast absorption through effervescent technology, allowing for nearly 100% immediate absorption.  In recent articles in Nutrition Business Journal, effervescence is forecasted as the future delivery system of choice.  According to the Physicians’ Desk Reference 2000, only 10–20% of supplements in pill form are absorbed by your body.

I was sent a sample packet of Prenatal Oxylent to try but since I'm not currently pregnant, and I'm not nursing anymore, I gave it to one of my sisters to try instead.  She's currently nursing her baby and still uses a traditional prenatal pill but has a hard time remembering to take it and says it's hard to get down.  She said she really liked the drink- that it was simple to take and tasted great.  After she tried it she actually asked me if I had any more drink packets she could have!

I'd say, and my sister agrees, that the only downside would be that the cost is more than what prenatal pills cost.  But if you consider the fact that your body isn't absorbing everything it should from the pills anyway, it makes the cost totally worth it... and the fact that you don't have to swallow a huge pill anymore is priceless!

Vitalah the company that makes Prenatal Oxylent, also has Original Oxylent- a multivitamin drink for adults and Children's Oxylent- a multivitamin drink to support your growing child's development.  You can buy Oxylent online, use code SUSIEOXYLENT for a 15% Off Discount (good thru Feb. 28, 2011), or go here to find a retailer near you.

WIN IT:  1 lucky reader is going win a 30 day supply of Prenatal Oxylent to try for themselves!!

Do any or all of the following to be entered to win (leave a separate comment on this post for each one you do):

•  Visit Vitalah and tell me one thing you learned from their site
•  Follow Oxylent on Twitter
•  Like Oxylent on Facebook
•  Follow my blog publicly via GFC
•  Subscribe to my blog via Email
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Like me on Facebook
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Vote for my daughter in the Fancy Nancy Photo Contest +2 entries, can be done daily
•  Post about this giveaway (Facebook, Cafemom, Blog, etc.) +5 entries, leave 5 separate comments
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link)

Pregnant or Nursing? #Win a 30 day supply of NEW Prenatal Oxylent MultiVitamin Drink @susiebhomemaker http://bit.ly/hriceq #Giveaway

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 12/15/10 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to U.S. residents only.  The winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn. Please make sure your email is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I was given a product in exchange for my review, no other form of compensation was received.  The opinions and thoughts I’ve shared with these products are 100% my own and yours may differ

FireFly LightUp Timer Toothbrush {Review}

Are your kids brushing their teeth for the recommended amount of time?  Now that my oldest daughter is 5 years old, she's getting better at being able to brush her teeth on her own... top, bottom, in the back, the front, tongue (gotta brush the tongue).  But she still wasn't brushing for long enough and I would always go back through and brush her teeth again for her.  So what's a parent to do... FireFly to the rescue!

Invented by a dad and his young daughter, FireFly flashing toothbrush encourages kids to brush more thoroughly than regular toothbrushes.  FireFly light up technology teaches kids to brush their teeth for a minute- it lights up and flashes for 60 seconds, the dentist recommended time for kids to thoroughly brush each row of teeth.  The light can be activated by just a press of a button or pushing on the bottom of the brush, allowing children to learn and take charge of their brushing at a young age.

• Comfortable handle grip fits easily in a child's hand.
• Light up toothbrush comes with soft bristles.
• Flashing toothbrush comes in 6 vibrant colors: Red, Yellow, Green, Blue, Clear, Pink
• Also comes in characters like Spider-Man, Barbie, and Hot Wheels
• Firefly is the best selling kids toothbrush in America.

My daughter was super excited to try out her new toothbrush.. and she absolutely LOVES it!  The flashing light is a big hit and she now knows exactly how long to brush her teeth for, and she doesn't mind brushing for that long either!  She does have a hard time pushing the bottom of the toothbrush to make it light up, but I showed her how to press it down on the sink and now it's no problem.  I love the simplicity of the idea and that I'm able to give my daughter more independence by letting her brush her teeth on her own (of course, I still do the flossing).  Now I just need to get FireFly toothbrushes for her younger sisters also.

 

FireFly light up toothbrushes make great stocking stuffers for all the kids on your list!

You can buy FireFly Toothbrushes in retail stores like Walmart, Walgreen's, and Target and online from sites like Amazon and Drugstore.com. 

Connect with Firefly on Twitter and Facebook, and check out their Blog and YouTube channel!

Disclosure: I was given a product for the purpose of this review, no other compensation was received.  Thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and yours may differ.

Children's Chestal Honey Cough Syrup {Review & Giveaway}

Well it's that time of year again.... cold & flu season!  And when it comes to being sick, no mommy (or daddy) wants to see their child suffer and not be able to do anything for them.  There's the stuffy or runny nose, sneezing... and the cough.  And with everything we hear in the news about children's products it's hard to know what's safe to give them.  But what if there was something you could do for your child's cough that was all-natural and safe?

Children's Chestal is a homeopathic cough syrup with a Honey base for ages 2 and older.  It temporarily relieves cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation that may occur with a cold.  It also helps loosen phlegm (mucus) and thin bronchial secretions to make coughs more productive.  The honey instantly coats and soothes the throat while the homeopathic medicines loosens chest congestion, making all types of coughs more productive.  It's recommended to give a teaspoon every 2 hours to children ages 2-12.

Shortly after the school year started, our whole household was hit with colds.  When I received the Children's Chestal we were finally near the end of it, but my 5 year old daughter still had a slight nagging dry cough.  She was even waking up some nights with coughing fits, and I had been giving her children's Dimetapp.  So I gave her a teaspoon of the Children's Chestal cough syrup just before bed, she said it tasted like honey and was yummy!  I tried it also and it does taste just like honey you get from the store, you'd never know there was homeopathic medicines in it.  But it did work for my daughter- she slept thru the night with no cough attack... Yay!

Buy It:  You can print a $1 off coupon for your Chestal purchase, find a store.

Enter to Win your own Bottle of Children's Chestal (leave a separate comment for each entry you do, or already do)

 

•  Follow BoironUSA on Twitter

•  Like BoironUSA on Facebook

•  Follow my blog publicly via Google Friend Connect
•  Subscribe to my blog via Email
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Like me on Facebook
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Vote for my daughter in the Fancy Nancy photo contest (can be done daily) +2 Entries
•  Post about this contest/giveaway (Facebook, Cafemom, Blog, etc.) +5 entries, leave 5 separate comments
•  Tweet about this contest/giveaway (may be done daily, leave link), may copy & paste the following:

Enter to #win Children's Chestal for when your Child gets a Cough @susiebhomemaker http://bit.ly/c4CeFj #Giveaway ends 11/18

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 11/18/10 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to U.S. residents only.  The winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn. Please make sure your email is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I was given a product in exchange for my review.  No other form of compensation was received.  The opinions and thoughts I’ve shared with these products are 100% my own and yours may differ.

Get Rid of Lice with a Robi Comb {Giveaway} Ends 11/11

If you have a school-aged child, you may have dealt with head lice already.  My oldest daughter just started school last year (Young 4's) and is now in Kindergarten.  We have thankfully avoided the lice bug so far, but there was a scare last year.  Another child in the classroom had it, so we had to be extra watchful to make sure our daughter didn't get it.

We heard many ideas for how to avoid &/or treat lice if necessary- oil in the hair being a popular one.  But who wants to have to put that in their child's hair and than leave it in for hours, or worse use a chemical shampoo?  So even though we haven't had lice in our household (knock on wood), I am now more aware of the facts and fiction of the best and easiest ways to treat lice.  And by far, the product that looks the best, and most effective to me is the Robi Comb.

The LiceGuard Robi Comb is safe and effective and offers these great features:

• Detects Lice - Just comb through dry hair

• Destroys Lice on Contact
• No Chemicals / Non-Toxic
• No Mess, No Gels, No Oils
• No Odor or Fragrance
• Use Anywhere and Anytime on Dry Hair
• Reusable and Economical

Stay prepared... you can buy the Robi Comb online... and 1 lucky reader is also going to WIN a Robi Comb to have in their mom arsenal.

How to enter- do any or all of the following (leave a separate comment for each one you do, or already do):

•  Follow Robi Comb on Twitter
•  Like Robi Comb on Facebook
•  Follow my blog publicly via GFC
•  Subscribe to my blog via Email
•  Follow me on Twitter
•  Like me on Facebook
•  Enter any of my other giveaways +1 for each
•  Post about this giveaway (Facebook, Cafemom, Blog, etc.) +5 entries, leave 5 separate comments
•  Tweet about this giveaway (may be done daily, leave link), may copy & paste the following:

Be Prepared this School year- Enter to #WIN a LiceGuard Robi Comb @susiebhomemaker http://bit.ly/8YBlxD #giveaway Ends 11/11

U.S. ONLY

This contest ends on 11/11/10 at 11:59 pm EST. Open to U.S. residents only.  The winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning notification email before another winner is drawn. Please make sure your email is visible on your profile or leave with your comment(s).

Disclosure:  I did not receive any product or other form of compensation for this post.  The thoughts and opinions I’ve shared with these products are 100% my own and yours may differ.