#Listerine Oral Care 21 Day Challenge Wrap Up

At the beginning of this month our family committed to the 21 Day Challenge from Listerine.  Why 21 Day?  Because it's said to take 21 days to create a new habit.  Thanks to Listerine we had a great arsenal of products to help us improve our oral care routine.

Thanks to some fun Phineas And Ferb branded products the boys were excited to give it a shot.

For the last month we've been taking better care of ourselves by taking better care of our mouths.  I was THRILLED by the results I saw very quickly with the boys* by simply adding the addition of the Listerine Smart Rinse.  Getting them to brush well has always been a major battle and it was showing.  But after only a couple days of brushing and rinsing their teeth and gums looked great again!  This is a product we will not go with out from now on.  They are very picky about their toothpaste flavors and usually go for flavors that seem to do very little to help freshen their breath so I was very happy to see that they were ok with the Bubble Blast flavor and even more excited that it helped a lot with their breath even without that strong minty scent.

*Only the older boys used the rinse as its recommended for 6 and up and Bryan JUST turned five.

My only word of caution is to show your kids how to measure this a couple times and then WATCH them do it a few times. I showed them and then left them to do it.  Almost a week later I happened to be walking by the bathroom and spotted Johnny filling the cup part and holding it so it didn't go back down to the level that gives them all they need. As long as they are rinsing and spitting it out, I can't imagine it hurts them to use more but you'll go through bottles VERY quickly at that rate.

I have done much better too.  I think that using the Listerine helped my gums a lot so flossing isn't as painful so I am doing it more!

Overall, I am very pleased with how much difference I see in our oral health in just three weeks and will continue to use these products in our house!!! 


You can still take the Challenge!  Visit Listerine on Facebook for full details.

 

I received products from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE^® 21 Day Challenge. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. - See more at: http://www.ohboyohboyohboy.com/2013/02/listerine-oral-care-21-day-challenge.html#sthash.RdttifYS.dpuf

I received products from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE^® 21 Day Challenge. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. - See more at: http://www.ohboyohboyohboy.com/2013/02/listerine-oral-care-21-day-challenge.html#sthash.RdttifYS.dpuf

I received products from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE® 21 Day Challenge. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Teenymates Perfect Stocking Stuffer for Your Football Fan

Now you can hold the NFL in the palm of your hand!
Just one inch tall, TeenyMates have burst onto the scene as the official pocket-size players for all your favorite NFL teams. But don’t let their size fool you. TeenyMates are BIG FUN for kids, collectors and sports fans of all ages. Trade and play and collect ‘em all! Now available from Party Animal Toys. PLUS - Keep a lookout for more leagues coming soon.

If your kids love football these great collectible figures are perfect.  Collect all the teams and also puzzle pieces to complete your very own pint sized football field.

I was worried about how my Chicago Bears lovin' son would feel about opening a package and finding a less appealing team but even when we discovered a "yucky Packers guy" in one of our packages, all the boys that it was great because 'they would lose for sure'.

Although we already have the full field (courtesy of Party Animal Toys) we are still missing many of the other teams so the boys will be getting some Teenymates in their stockings this Christmas.

Disclosure: Teenymates were provided to our family for review purposes but we have not been compensated for a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own honest, personal feedback.

Intuition by LG Review with @VerizonWireless Service #VZWSM

The Intuition by LG is probably not a phone for everyone.  If you talk on the phone while holding the phone on a regular basis...the size of the Intuition might be inconvenient for you.  But for smart phone users like myself who use a smart phone for almost everything except a phone the Intuition is great.  I do talk on the phone a little each day but almost exclusively while in the car (its usually the only time there is enough quite to hear someone other than my kids screaming) and since you can use handheld phones in our area, I rarely hold a cell phone while I talk.   But the big screen is FABULOUS for reading on the Kindle app or watching Netflix!

It took me awhile to get the Quick Memo feature but once I did it really is handy.  Below is an example of my scribbling on a screen shot.  It can obviously be more useful but I couldn't think of a good example that didn't share personal information.  It can also be used to write a note on plain paper.  I have been using Evernote for lists for several months now and while I do still need the ability to use it on my phone or any computer, the Quick Memo feature is much quicker than opening an app starting a new note, etc.  It's a single button touch and you're reading to write.  You can use your finger or an included stylus to write.  The only issue I had is that while the stylus is larger than most which I think makes it more comfortable to use, there is no way to attach it to the Intuition.

Overall if you wish your tablet could just make phone calls...this is the all in one option for you.  While its 5" size isn't as big as a full sized tablet it is large enough to do many tasks easier then on your standard smartphone.  And I have been so thrilled with using it on the Verizon network.   The combination is super dependable.  I haven't experienced any major service interruptions or errors.

Experience the Intuition™ Simulator



Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Midwest Savvy Moms program and have been provided with a wireless device and six months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.”

Chamilia Jewelry Review

If you are into personalized jewelry you should check out Chamilia.com.  I could spend hours searching the site for everything from birthstones to Disney themed charms.  There are so many choices I could fill several bracelets.  But after much pondering I narrowed my choices down to the ones in this post and finally chose just one...this one! "Believing is just the beginning!"

When I got my Chamilia package I was surprised by how cutely it was packaged.  As soon as I opened the box the bright green bag just popped.  Inside the paper bag was the small fabric draw string bag which serves as a great place to store your bracelet when you aren't wearing it.

 Once I got my bead and bracelet out, I was equally thrilled with the quality.

It took me a minute to figure out how to put the bracelet on. I even looked back in the packaging for directions but didn't find any. Luckily, upon further inspection I realized that the end with the 'C" on it pops open and secures the tip of the other end.  Once it was on it felt much more secure than other bracelets I've purchased for these style of beads. 

Chamilia bracelets and beads would make a great gift for mom and can fit any budget as you can add as many or as few beads as you'd like.  Make a beautiful bracelet in her favorite colors or fill it with meaningful beads to commemorate precious milestones.

Need some inspiration check out Chamilia's blog.



Disclosure: I received a complimentary bracelet and bead courtesy of Chamilia to review, all opinions expressed are my own.

Nikon Coolpix S800c available at Best Buy

The Coolpix S800c has all the imaging power of a Nikon camera, including a 16.0MP CMOS sensor, 10x optical zoom, and full 1080p HD video recording. But it also has the endless possibilities of the Android OS and Wi-Fi connectivity. Create exceptional photos and videos, then edit, style and share them easier and faster than ever before. 

Thanks to the fabulous people at Best Buy, I have been testing out the Nikon Coolpix S800c.  First of all, I may have wept simply at the thought of using a Nikon.  I have a DSLR camera and I will be the first to tell you that cameras don't get full credit for quality photos.  But a poor camera can ruin your chances of getting a good photo.  I actually have a small collection of point and shoot cameras.  Because I have an expensive dslr I can never justify spending too much on a point and shoot.  And therefore I end up with small cameras that I HATE.  These cameras have a range of issues from horrible shutter lag (the time it takes from when you push the button until it actually takes the photo)  to misc focus issues.  Most cameras can handle taking a good photo in perfect conditions, but the real test of a camera is what it can do in less ideal conditions.

For me these less than ideal conditions are typically where I don't want to be toting my DSLR.  For instance when we're going to the circus, this year I took the three boys on my own.  It's stressful enough to make sure I don't lose anyone in the sea of people but I can't handle worrying about my camera too.  So this year I brought the Coolpix S800c.  If you're familiar with photography, you'll know that the circus is not the optimal photo spot. The lighting is crazy and everything is always moving.  Now mind you, I took a lot of photos that didn't turn out at all but given the circumstances I was thrilled with what I got!!  Much better quality than I would have gotten with my cell phone and still able to carry the camera in my pocket.

And then of course there's the Android features.  To me this is simply just a super fun bonus.  With smart phones and tablets I'm not sure I'd NEED this feature but it cool feature.  It does however make my 10 year old think that this should be HIS camera.  I'm thinking....not!  

I did have a slight issue initially with some blurriness but after playing with it for a few minutes I really thought it did well.  And I've heard from other's who've been testing it that they couldn't find an easy way to load the photos from the camera to their computer.  I didn't even try this as I plopped in my Eye-Fi card right away which uploads my photos automatically.  

Check out what other bloggers are saying about the Coolpix S800c and see their photos:
BeingAlison
SurvivingaTeachersSalary.com

Coolpix S800c Features

16.0-megapixel 1/2.3" CMOS sensorCaptures high-resolution images up to 4806 x 3456 pixels.

Android operating system
View, edit and share photos and videos, check e-mail and Facebook, browse the Web, stream music and more. Plus access thousands of Android apps on Google Play.

3.5" high-resolution OLED touch-screen monitor
With antireflection coating. Easily swipe through photos and watch videos, adjust camera settings, use mobile apps, and more.

Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity
Wirelessly share photos and videos via social media, e-mail and more. Back up photos and videos or offload memory card contents and keep shooting.

Full HD movie mode
Lets you record high-definition video clips in 1080p with stereo sound.

Optical VR (Vibration Reduction) image stabilization
Helps prevent blurry photos and promotes sharp, clear pictures and videos.

9-point autofocus
Features face priority and center options for clear photos. Subject tracking allows you to focus on and follow a moving subject.

Built-in GPS
Records locations of photos and videos, allowing you to share that info when posting images to social media sites. Integrate geotagged photos and movies with Nikon's myPicturetown sharing site, Google Earth and Nikon ViewNX 2.

Smart Portrait System
Optimizes camera settings, identifies and focuses on faces, adds subtle skin softening and more to ensure everyone looks their best.

In-camera effects and apps
Explore black and white photography, selectively highlight one color within a composition, create wide fisheye shots or use a nostalgic sepia. Plus, access thousands of popular Android photo and video apps.

1.7GB internal memory
For convenient storage of images, video and apps.

SD card slot
Supports Secure Digital and Secure Digital High Capacity memory cards.

For TONS more detailed info 

on the Coolpix 800c visit BestBuy.com.

 
I received Nikon Coolpix S800c courtesy of BestBuy as a member of the Offical Best Buy Blogging Board.

Soundfreaq Sound Kick BlueTooth Speaker Review

The music lover in me swoons.  The Soundfreaq Sound Kick has made my work day much more fun.  For over a year I've had two choices for listening to music at work, either dealing with my horrible built in speakers on my computer which are super quiet and bad sound quality or listen through my phone.  My phone has decent sound for a phone but its not something I want to listen to all day, everyday.  I have said a thousand times that I'd get myself some decent speakers but there was just always something that didn't seem to work with anything I looked at.  But I am a happy girl now.  

The Soundfreaq Sound Kick plugs in to charge but then can unplugged to move around  (battery life is listed at 7hours but I haven't drained it yet but I'm not at work using it that long in a day).  Being able to unplug is great for me when I need to do something out in our shop or if my boss wants to borrow it.  I can also plug my phone into the speaker to charge the phone if I need to.  I love this  because I tend to run out of outlet (or usb plug) space pretty quickly.  And I was able to set up the bluetooth function within seconds.  So now when I come in to the office each day all I have to do it connect my bluetooth to the Sound Kick and start up Pandora.  My normal station is "P!nk Radio" but this week I had to go and find the Christmas station.  (I'm hoping it will help me get in the mood to wrap the mountain of Christmas presents I have bought!!)  But regardless of WHAT I listen to it sounds fabulous.  I'm sure my sound geek husband would tell me I don't have my speaker placed for optimal sound but my ears simply aren't all that picky and having it placed anywhere facing me makes me giddy.  It's such an improvement!  

The ONLY imperfection I've found for me, the way I use it is because I may occasionally turn it up a little too much to be able to answer the phone and not sound like I'm having a party is that it doesn't have a mute button.  (I can prevent myself from getting TOO crazy with it by turning down the volume on my phone as that regulates the maximum volume the Sound Kick will go to.)   It has a pause button but this doesn't work at least with my phone/Pandora app.  Its not a huge deal as I can obviously just turn it down but a one touch mute button would be the only thing I would add if I could.  And speaking of the buttons, they're pretty cool too they are inset a little and you don't actually pretty them, they are like touch pads and with each registered touch the light on the front blinks.

I've very seriously considering getting one for at home.  (I suppose I could technically take it back and forth because it is super light but that just means one more thing for me to forget to bring each morning.)  But I can't decide whether to stick with the traditional black, like I have at work or whether I should get one of the Chromatics Collection in colorful Sunset, Ocean and Twilight.  I'm think Ghost (white) would be best for home but the other colors are really a lot of fun. 

• 
  
• Award winning product: Sound Kick won Overall Best of Show from iLounge at CES 2012 and Gizmodo's award for Best $100 Bluetooth Speaker.
• Plays any audio from your mobile device including music, movies, TV shows, videos, games, Internet radio and apps.
• Compatible with any Bluetooth device including the new iPhone 5, iPad mini, iPod nano etc.,as well as iOS like iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and Android and Blackberry devices, PCs and tablets.
• Great device for whole family and is easy to share since it's compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled device. Will be compatible with future devices that have Bluetooth too so you don't have to worry when you upgrade your device.
• A case is available; you can buy the case separately as well as part of a bundled version (Sound Kick + case).

Want to get your own? Or maybe for someone on your holiday list? This would be a great accessory for anyone getting a new ipod, ipad, table etc.  Sound Kick is available nationwide at Target, Radio Shack, Walmart, and Sears stores, on Target.com, Soundfreaq.com, Bestbuy.com, Staples.com, Kohls.com, Sound Kick w/case option is available on Amazon.com and Sound Kick Chromatics and Sound Kick Ghost available only at Target.com and Soundfreaq.com.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Soundfreaq and received a product sample to facilitate my review.

Blankets That Are Puppets...CuddleUppets

 Cuddle, CuddleUppets! Blankets that are Puppets!  My kids sing the song all the time.  But  had NO idea how excited my four year old would be to get a CuddleUppet of his own!
My older boys never really had a real attachment to any THING.  There was only a short period when Johnny had a stuffed toy he wanted to sleep.  Bryan however seems to be collecting more and more things he MUST have to sleep all the time and the CuddleUppet was no exception.

Each night he needs to make sure his Yellow Dog CuddleUppet is in bed with him before he'll settle down.  I was surprised that the blanket is actually a decent size that covers him well.  It's also very soft and snuggly.  If it was big enough for me, I might even steal it, but its the perfect size for younger kids...not moms!

 But the thing that surprised me the most is that the boys actually love playing with it as a puppet.  One morning as I flopped on the couch half asleep I listened as the boys giggled in that way that usually means nothing good.  But as I listened I realized that the older boys were actually taking turns making Bryan laugh by doing puppet shows for him.  Yeah, CuddleUppet you win this moms heart just for that!!

The boys loved the Yellow Dog but look at all the other fun CuddleUppets!  I love the elephant!

Recognized by industry experts such as Dr. Toy, PTPA Media and Traveling Mom as a Top Travel Toy since the product launch in 2012, CuddleUppets are machine washable and cost less than twenty dollars, making them an affordable gift for the holidays and every day!

CuddleUppets are available in eight varieties: Pink Poodle, Blue Elephant, Purple Monkey, Yellow Puppy, Brown Bear Green Crocodile and the newest additions Pink Ladybug and Magic Unicorn. They are available online at http://www.cuddleuppets.com and in major retailers as well as Amazon. 

I received a CuddleUppet courtesy of Jay at Play through The Blogger Connection to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Celebrate World Pasta Day with Barilla

Do you NEED an excuse to have pasta? I truly don't, but I'll gladly take one anyway!  Today is World Pasta Day so get out there and enjoy some pasta today.   

I've always loved pasta but as a mom making pasta for my family means I can get a meal that my whole family enjoys on the table quickly.  This is HUGE for me since our schedule has gone crazy in the last year, leaving us out of the house until after 7pm almost every week night.  I love that I can have the things I need to make a meal in my cupboards for anytime I need a quick dinner solution.  And as you can see by some of these statistics, I'm not alone!

Increasingly hectic lives make at-home meal preparation more challenging than ever BUT it’s still important:

• 88% of parents are reliant upon multi-tasking each day and more than half (58%) say their life is more hectic now, than a year ago.
• While families are making time for dinner, Two-in-five meal-preparers agree it is difficult to find time to prepare dinner in their household.
• They don’t want to miss enjoying a home cooked meal with their family as they worry the alternative will offer poor nutritional content (74%) and they will miss out on family time at the table (65%). 

Leading contributors to a hectic lifestyle, making meal-planning and preparation a challenge:

• 1) Work 2) Household chores 3) Errands 4) Kids’ after school activities 5) Kids’ homework

Pasta provides the perfect meal solution for time-limited households:

• Pasta is recognized by parents and non-parents as a tasty (88%) and easy (87%) meal option and one that can be prepared using on-hand ingredients from a pantry (82%).
• Other benefits of pasta that help alleviate chaotic schedules include that it is versatile (52%), a quick go-to meal (51%) and allows for multitasking while it’s cooking (44%).

Because of my lack of time AND lack of love for the kitchen, I haven't ever attempted to make lasagne despite it being one of my families FAVORITE pastas.  So when Barilla sent their World Pasta Day cookbook (and some fabulous Barilla products) and asked me to make try one of the cookbook recipes...I decided to step outside my normal box and give Lasagna a try.  With Barilla's no boiling required noodles I thought I might just be able to handle the task!

I'm not gonna lie, it didn't take me long to realize why I am not a fan of cooking.  Three pots...oh the dishes...did I mention I HATE dishes? All I could think of was...this better be worth it!

And when I started layering, it seemed like I was very short on sauce.  I was worried I had spent the evening creating a disaster instead of a meal...

And when it came out of the over it still didn't look the greatest....

But it was delicious!!!  This recipe used Parmesan instead of ricotta cheese so it has a slightly different flavor but I LOVE Parmesan so I thought it was good.  And compared to the work I thought a lasagna required, it wasn't too bad.  Now the dishes...well I did them right away...I didn't like it...but it WAS worth it!!!

We paired our lasagna with some garlic bread and salad for a great meal!  And this made a 9x13 pan which left enough for a second meal for the three boys and I. (One jar of sauce and one box of pasta plus additional ingredients per recipe.)

If you'd like to try this or many other great recipes from the Barilla World Pasta Day cookbook

click here to download

As if sharing a great meal with your family weren't enough of a reason to celebrate, be sure to visit Barilla on Facebook today (October 25, 2012) to share a huge and donate 3 meals to Feeding America to celebrate World Pasta Day

Visit the Barilla Facebook page “Share a Hug” Tab to help Barilla donate to Feeding America

 I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Barilla. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.

Have You Tried Arby’s® Grand Turkey Club Sandwich? #craveability

The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping and you may be craving some of the best foods of fall, like freshly carved turkey, pumpkin pie, or a spiced cider.  No need to wait for the holidays to roll around, you can have a delicious hot Grand Turkey Club at Arby’s®.  Arby’s is “slicing up freshness” with the new Grand Turkey Club.  It’s served on a toasted Harvest Wheat bun with turkey sliced fresh in-store, served hot with melted Swiss cheese, pepper bacon, leaf lettuce, tomato and mayo. This is more than just a sandwich. The new Grand Turkey Club has true “craveability!”  Learn more here.

 

Turkey Classic

Thinly sliced oven-roasted turkey piled high on a toasted sesame seed bun and served hot. Try it with your choice of honey mustard, mayo or ranch. Makes your mouth water, doesn’t it? Just imagine what it’s like to actually eat it.

Turkey ‘n Cheddar Classic

Thinly sliced oven-roasted turkey topped with cheddar cheese sauce and zesty Red Ranch sauce on a toasted onion roll and served hot. Take one bite and you’ll know why this new “classic” will be an instant legend.

Grand Turkey Club

Served hot on a toasted Harvest Wheat bun with sliced roast turkey, melted Swiss cheese, pepper bacon, leaf lettuce, tomato and mayo, the Grand Turkey Club tastes like it’s more than a sandwich. We like to think of it as a savory, taste bud tingling masterpiece.

As a lifelong fan of Arby's it doesn't take much to convince me to try their new menu items.  While I'll always love a regular roast beef sandwich, they have made me fall in love with a ton of various other menu items like their loaded potato bites and French Dip Sub.  When I heard they now had Turkey Roasters, I was definitely in to try one.  So one day this week I headed to the closest Arby's around on my lunch hour.  I was surprised by an unusually long line even though I was on the early side for lunch...maybe everyone else was craving turkey too!  But the line moved quickly and I was about to order my Turkey Classic quickly.  (In case you forget which turkey creation you were craving, my Arby's had great signage in the drive thru with info.)

 I grabbed my Turkey Classic and headed back to my office.  Even though it took almost 15 minutes to get back, it was still nice and warm.

Because I couldn't decide what to put on it I went plain.  It was really good without anything else on it but I could see it with ranch, BBQ, mayo, mustard or I was even thinking a little hummus would have been good on it. 

I loved the Turkey Classic. It has that very comforting turkey taste.  Almost like I should have had a side of mashed potatoes to go with it.  Next time I think I'll try the Grand Turkey Club (no tomato though).  I only went with Classic because I couldn't tell what all came on the Club and I can't eat mustard and I could have asked but the sound quality of the drive thru was horrible so I just went safe instead.  But I can only image that a little peppercorn bacon would make the this turkey creation even better!!!

In an effort to minimize my calories for lunch, I just grabbed a sandwich Arby's also has delicious sides like loaded potato bites (not available at all locations though), potato cakes, mozzarella sticks and curly fries.  And of course don't forget their yummy shakes and desserts.  And don't forget the kids, they can now get a Turkey and Cheese in their kids meal.

More info on Arby’s: http://www.arbys.com

Follow @arbys on Twitter

Arby’s on Facebook

Have you tried Arby's Grand Turkey Club? 

This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Arby’s blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own