Just Another New Blog

Scarves Dot Net Review and Give Away

2012-02-26T08:57:00.000-05:00

I got my love for scarves from my mom. When I was a kid, she had a passion for silk scarves, and wore one almost every day. Her scarves complemented perfectly the right outfit, and gave the impression of certain effortless elegance.

Scarves Dot Net has a great selection of affordable scarves - from silk and cotton to cashmere and wool. I spent a long time browsing, and found tons of scarves that I loved. Since it's winter, I chose a warm plaid scarf that works for men or women. It's a classic plaid scarf made of soft wool and cashmere - just perfect for cold weather. The Erin scarf measures 64x12 inches and has a nice 3" fringe. It's very versatile and can be worn with a coat, jacket, or sweater.

Scarves Dot Net offers many beautiful scarves, including silk scarves, wraps, pashminas, crinkle scarves, and more. You can shop by season, shape, trend, color, material, or length - extra-long scarves, anyone? The price is right, too - almost all of these scarves cost under $20. I have bookmarked several gift ideas for my mother and for myself. Check them out - Mother's Day is coming up, and I know just what to get my mom.

If you need some pointers on how to tie a scarf, you will find 37 different ways on the Scarves Dot Net site.

Connect with Scarves Dot Net on Facebook, via their blog, or on Twitter (@ScarvesDotNet).

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader will win a $20 gift certificate to Scarves Dot Net!

To enter, please follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received free product sample for review purposes. No compensation was obtained for this post. The review reflects my personal opinion and may differ from yours.

Babyopoly Swaddling Blanket Review

2012-02-25T19:08:00.000-05:00

The Babyopoly blanket is a swaddling blanket that combines the layout of a Monopoly board with the trials of early parenthood. This adorable blanket is just right for swaddling - and for giving a much needed laugh to new parents. It's a gentle reminder to live in the moment, and take things one change at a time.

The Babyopoly blanket is made of nice cotton blend fabric and measures 30x40 inches. It comes beautifully packaged in a tulle bag and a bow. This adorable blanket would make a wonderful baby shower gift.

Check out the other Babychix baby products for more great gift ideas and connect with the company via Facebook and Twitter (@babychix_).

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Mixbook Custom Thank You Cards Review

2012-02-25T18:36:00.001-05:00

Mixbook is a photo products company that helps people create custom photo books, cards, and calendars. Last year, I created our family holiday cards at Mixbook. The quality of their products is excellent, the designs beautiful, and I could not be happier with the customer service.

They offer tons of wonderful thank you card designs. I created a custom 5x7 thank you card that turned out beautifully. The site is easy to navigate - the hard part for me was narrowing down the choices. I got to pick a background, font, and design. The design and ordering process was a breeze. I ended up with a set of elegant flat thank you cards with a simple purple flower, printed on premium stock paper. They come with nice white envelopes. The cards are very stylish and can be used for any occasion that warrants a thank you note.

Connect with Mixbook on Facebook or Twitter, and make sure to check out their impressive selection.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

#Linky for Your Give Aways Saturday - 2/25

2012-02-24T18:51:00.000-05:00

Got giveaways? Please do share! You can link any family-friendly giveaway here weekly to promote it. My Saturday linky is below. Please include prize and ending date, and link directly to the giveaway page.

Looking for more blogs hosting Saturday giveaway fun? Visit Aleks at Busy Working Mama and Kristi at Mom's Own Words. Good luck to those who enter, and everyone else - enjoy browsing!

* $25 GC to Goat Milk Stuff 2/27

* Betsey Johnson Heart Necklace 2/29

* The Obamas 2/29

* The Snow Child - 3 winners 3/2

* Memory on Hand USB Wristband 3/4

* The Blood Sugar Solution - 3 winners 3/8

The Beauty of Arbors

2012-02-24T09:56:00.000-05:00

There's something almost magical about arbors. They remind me of doors leading to enchanting places. An arbor is a gate into nature that's always open. It can be used to showcase a beautiful place in the park, the botanical garden, or your own yard. Garden arbors are like the frame to a photograph, focusing the eye of the beholder on a peaceful, calming snapshot.

I love wooden arbors because wood is a material that's in sync with nature. Arbors can be flat on top, rounded like an arch, or in a triangular shape like a charming little rooftop. They can be painted white or any other color. Personally, I prefer a finish that has a more natural look and reminds me of tree bark. How beautiful are New England arbors?! My favorite is the red cedar one you see in the picture. It's naturally resistant to decay, insect and weather damage, in case you are wondering how long it will last. This arbor can be painted, stained, or left to weather naturally.

Vinyl arbors are a good option if you are looking for something more affordable and maintenance-free. A nice arbor is not just a pleasure to look at but can increase the appeal and value of your home. Now that's another reason to smile whenever I see those pretty arbors.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our advertisers. Photo credit Yard Arbors. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

Living Paycheck to Paycheck - Then and Now

2012-02-23T19:41:00.002-05:00

The other day, I was talking to a good friend about our childhoods. Both of her parents had worked full time, she said, but the family just could not make ends meet. Every month, they borrowed a small amount of money to tide them over until payday. A few months later, some unexpected expense would come up, and her mom and dad would be short on cash again. They did not have much debt and made a good enough living but life happened, and they had to find a way to bridge the gaps.

My friend's mom would borrow from a friend, a neighbor, or a family member. She always paid them back when her next paycheck came. Still, my friend felt her mom had been embarrassed to ask over and over again. Back then, no one had heard about fast and easy payday lending. These days, there are ways to take a small loan without resorting to friends and family. My friend's parents would have welcomed the opportunity - with the security and anonymity that comes from not borrowing money from someone they knew.

My friend is all grown up now, with a family of her own. She manages their finances with an iron grip - and maybe uses a small loans service when she needs to. Just a few clicks online, and she has the money. And no one in her extended family has to know.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our advertisers. Photo credit PaydayLoans. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

Book #Giveaway: The Blood Sugar Solution by Dr. Mark Hyman

2012-02-22T10:02:00.001-05:00

Today, I have a fascinating new title for you: Dr. Mark Hyman's The Blood Sugar Solution: The UltraHealthy Program for Losing Weight, Preventing Disease, and Feeling Great Now!. The book takes readers through a six-week program that has helped people achieve better health, drop those extra pounds, and feel fantastic. I can't wait to read it! Check out the book description, and don't forget to watch the inspiring 4-minute video below.

Book Description
In The Blood Sugar Solution, Dr. Mark Hyman reveals that the secret solution to losing weight and preventing not just diabetes but also heart disease, stroke, dementia, and cancer is balanced insulin levels. Dr. Hyman describes the seven keys to achieving wellness-nutrition, hormones, inflammation, digestion, detoxification, energy metabolism, and a calm mind-and explains his revolutionary six-week healthy-living program. With advice on diet, green living, supplements and medication, exercise, and personalizing the plan for optimal results, the book also teaches readers how to maintain lifelong health. Groundbreaking and timely, The Blood Sugar Solution is the fastest way to lose weight, prevent disease, and feel better than ever.

The Giveaway
Three (3) lucky readers will win The Blood Sugar Solution by Dr. Mark Hyman!

To enter, please follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dyson Vacuums and Dries

2012-02-21T13:30:00.001-05:00

A few years ago, I came back from a family vacation to find out my vacuum cleaner broke. After some frenzied research, I took the plunge and bought a Dyson vacuum. And I am so glad I did. This baby is the best thing that's ever happened to my housecleaning chores - other than having someone else do them, that is. Dyson made me love vacuuming. That's no small feat.

Sure, the Dyson vacuum cleaners are more expensive than other brands I've tried. They are worth every penny. I could not be happier with the cleaning ability of my DC17. I can only imagine what it would be like to reverse that excellent suction and use it for a hand dryer. I have not tried Dyson hand dryers but I am curious. I wonder what airblade hand dryers look like. Do they have blades to move the air more efficiently?

A Dyson airblade hand dryer is used every day somewhere around the world to dry about 25 million hands. It takes about 12 seconds and dries at air speeds of 400 miles per hour. Now that's fast. This dryer also uses 80% less energy than warm hand dryers. I love how green it is - and the futuristic design.

Hmmmm, I wonder if I can have a Dyson hand dryer installed in every bathroom in my house... A hand dryer like that would go perfectly with my Dyson vacuum cleaner. Then maybe Dyson will come up with the perfect dishwasher, washer and dryer. I'll be waiting.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our advertisers. Photo credit HandDryerSource. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

Photo Mishaps

2012-02-21T11:16:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, I made a blueberry and yogurt parfait a la Starbucks for my kids. I carefully layered yogurt, blueberries and granola, and snapped a few pictures of the pretty treat. Then I called the kids to the table. Just as they dug in, I raised my camera to take a photo of children enjoying parfait. And my trusty Rebel responded with "Replace Battery Pack". Oh no! Do I have an extra Canon camera battery? Erm, I don't.

I take pretty good care of my photo equipment. I keep my lens collection in a special box to protect it from dust - and from curious little fingers. I always know where to find my Canon battery charger. And I re-charge the battery before it's completely empty.

Until now, I had not given much thought to getting another Canon digital camera battery. Just in case mine suddenly stops working - like the other day - and I am in the middle of a photo opp. Too bad memories can't wait a few days until I get a replacement battery.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our advertisers. Photo credit Batteryheads. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

Memory on Hand USB Wristband #Giveaway

2012-02-18T16:57:00.003-05:00

I own about a dozen flash drives. It's hard to pinpoint it exactly because I tend to misplace them. I am pretty sure there's one lurking on the bottom of my purse right now. I see a few in a glass pencil holder on my book shelf. And I think hubby's got a couple in his desk at work.

Some of these disappearing flash drives have a cord to wear around my neck. But let's face it, that looks a bit nerdy. And I like my necklaces a tad more, how to put it, stylish and elegant, thank you very much.

Can't find your flash drives, either? Don't despair - there is a nifty way to have your USB on hand: Memory on Hand! Yes, really: the MoH is an utterly cool wristband with a flash drive built in. The band comes in a variety of colors, so no one - including your teen - can ever accuse you of nerdiness. In fact, your hip, fashion-conscious kid will probably "borrow" it.

These equally cool and hot USB wristbands are made of soft rubbery plastic. They are super comfy to wear, and hold 2 GB or 4 GB of precious data. Aren't they the cutest thing? I love mine and try to keep my husband from stealing it. Sorry, I meant to say borrowing. OK, maybe I'll share...

The MoH Band can be used just like any other flash drive, jump drive, or thumb drive. Just plug it into an USB port on your laptop or computer. Once plugged in, it will either pop-up on your desktop or can be accessed by opening up 'My Computer'. And yes, you can use it with any USB compatible device besides a notebook or desktop computer - printer, TV, gaming system, photo frame, sound system, or projector.

There are tons of pretty colors to choose from, including solids, tie-dye, and even glow in the dark. How cool is that! You can even get a MoH band with a peace sign. The wristbands are very affordable: a 2 GB band costs $19.95, and a 4 GB band is $24.95. I can just see college and high school kids wearing MoH wristbands, three or five at a time - on each hand.

The MoH wristband is the brainchild of two former students. The Cambridge, MA startup that creates, manufactures, and sells The MoH Band has launched a Kickstarter project. Kickstarter is the world's largest funding platform for creative projects and helps raise money for individuals and companies through the support of a larger community. By starting a Kickstarter project, Andrew and Jeff, the guys behind the smart wristband, are trying to create new products, grow the business, and keep the company their own. They need your help! Anything you can "pledge" to their project and any way you can share it with others goes a long way. Check out their project and support these young entrepreneurs if you can.

Connect with Memory on Hand on Facebook or Twitter (@themohband).

The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a Memory on Hand USB Wristband in their choice of color!

To enter, please follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. Sponsored by Tomoson.com

#Linky for Your #Giveaways Saturday - 2/18

2012-02-17T18:37:00.000-05:00

* Space Bag Jumbo Storage Tote 2/18

* $20 GC to Crate & Barrel + Golf Umbrella 2/19

* Lucy's Cookies Prize Pack - 3 winners 2/21

* Long Drive Home 2/22

* $25 GC to Goat Milk Stuff 2/27

* Betsey Johnson Heart Necklace 2/29

* The Obamas 2/29

* The Snow Child - 3 winners 3/2

Angelina Ballerina Apron Review

2012-02-17T13:52:00.000-05:00

My kids love helping in the kitchen. As soon as they see me prepping for lunch or dinner, my daughter asks: "Mommy, can I cook?". You most certainly may, I tell her. Go wash up and don't forget your apron.

My little girl loves ballet as much as she loves cooking, so she was delighted to get an adorable Angelina Ballerina apron. It features our favorite dancing mouse on the front. It's pink, it's cute, it protects her clothes, and all it needs is a quick wipe after we are done. Now if only kitchen clean up were just as easy...

These days, you can find tons of cute childrens aprons. I wish my own were that pretty! Unfortunately, they don't come in my size. There are polka dots, cupcakes, butterflies, cats, farm animals, hearts, bugs, strawberries, and flowers. Boys are not forgotten, either - check out those trucks, soccer players, and robots. On your mark, get set, cook!

And since cooking can be messy business, we all must have beautiful aprons. Don't they make food taste better? Or maybe that's just my kids helping.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Genmai Green Tea Review

2012-02-17T12:43:00.001-05:00

I love a cup of good tea in the afternoon. My mornings are reserved for coffee but later in the day, it's time for tea. While I've always liked black and white teas, these days my cup of choice is green tea.

Drinking tea is hardly new but it's becoming a popular trend in healthy living. Last month, Dr. Oz recommended green tea as a start for a 28 day health regime in O Magazine and talked about Teas To Fight Disease on his show. You can read more about the benefits of tea here. The way I see it, tea is good for me but it also tastes good, so it's no hardship to drink up.

Recently, I discovered green tea from ITO EN. The company's mission is to make green tea a part of American culture. ITO EN offers a variety of green tea from loose whole leaf teas to prepackaged tins and tea bags. They also have bottled Ready to Drink green teas in unsweetened and classic sweetened flavors. Last year, I tried two of the Teas' Tea bottled varieties and found them quite refreshing.

Genmai Green Tea is described as a 'marriage' of two classic Japanese flavors - roasted rice adds a mellow nuance to the bright notes of whole leaf tea, and freshly ground green tea (Matcha). The taste was a bit unusual for me at first but I am getting used to it now. I've tried it hot and on ice, with and without sweetener. My favorite way to enjoy Genmai Green Tea is warm and with nothing extra.

Green tea is not the only green thing about ITO EN. The company packs their tea products in cardboard boxes made of used tea leaves and delivered by low-emission vehicles. Collected PET bottles are used to make ITO EN staff uniforms. Recycled tea leaves are used in mat boards, tatami, plaster boards, even antibacterial benches, pens and vending machines. Last but not least, the company supports the Whole Planet Foundation, Whole Foods Market's non-profit initiative.

Connect with ITO EN on Facebook and Twitter (@ITO_EN).

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Little Payday

2012-02-17T11:49:00.000-05:00

According to a 2011 national survey conducted by CareerBuilder, 42% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. More than a third don't save for retirement. Of course, these two go hand in hand. It's hard to think long-term when you are barely scraping by until the next pay day.

Occasionally, people need some quick cash to tide them over. Little Payday offers small loans of up to $1,000. You can apply online and have an 80% chance of being approved. Then money is deposited in your account in as fast as an hour. The company is not a lender but works with over 100 lenders to provide short term loans to those who qualify.

While personally I have not used Little Payday, it sounds like an uncomplicated way to get a small loan. Spend it wisely.

This post was brought to you by our advertisers. The opinions are all mine. Information and logo courtesy of Little Payday.

Book #Giveaway: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey {3 Winners}

2012-02-16T18:10:00.001-05:00

This is a book that I have not read yet but it ranks high on my TBR list. I've seen some wonderful reviews - you can check out my favorite one here. The Snow Child is new this month from Reagan Arthur Books, a division of Hachette Book Group.

Book Description
Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart--he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone--but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.

This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them.

The Giveaway
Three (3) lucky readers will win The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey!

To enter, please follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Music Lessons

2012-02-16T13:41:00.000-05:00

The Author of this post is Velma Baird

We offered our daughter the change to take music lessons, and told her she could choose whatever instrument she wanted to play. I think playing a musical instrument is a great skill, and it’s one I’ve always regretted not learning. In the back of my mind, I really hoped she would pick a small, affordable instrument to learn on. As I should have expected, she did not. She chose the piano. We let her take a year of lessons while we rented a piano, just to make sure she enjoyed it and wanted to stick with it. The agreement was that if she loved the piano and was committed to it, we’d buy her a piano for the house. We’re coming up on eleven months, and she’s still going strong, so it looks like we’ll be buying a piano next month. Luckily, my husband and I started saving about a year ago “just in case,” so we’re in a good position to buy a very nice used one. It wasn’t easy to stock the money away, but we found some creative ways to save money every month. One of the easiest ways we found was to select a new energy provider! In Texas you can actually select a provider based on its rates, which is awesome. We found a website that offered info on electric rates Dallas, and made the change. We’re glad we did it a year ago, because it’s removed a lot of the stress we’d be feeling right now otherwise!

A Gift for My Mom's Garden

2012-02-16T10:30:00.001-05:00

My mom is an excellent gardener. For as long as I can remember, her yard has been filled with flowers. She has a vegetable patch, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, cherry trees, pear trees, apple trees, and more. My kids have a blast when they visit Grandma's house and get to pick their own berries, put together a bouquet of flowers, or water the veggies. One of my greatest pleasures is to watch them help her in the garden. Or, when they are still asleep in the morning, to sit in mom's porch swing with a cup of coffee, admiring her roses and thinking of nothing in particular.

This year, I have the perfect gift idea for my mom's birthday. A garden trellis or two would look fantastic in her yard. I love the look of the metal trellises with their elegant lines. I am torn between the Aspen Leaves garden trellises and the Bell Windchime Trellises. Imagine the soft sound of bells gently ringing with the breeze...

Maybe she'd like a vinyl trellis better. I like the Nantucket Vinyl Trellises. Or I could get her the Kensington Planter Trellises for her deck. She could use it for growing climbing flowers or vegetables. Hmmmm, maybe I should let my mom pick her favorites...

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our friendly advertisers. Information and photos courtesy of TrellisCenter. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

On Baby Proofing

2012-02-15T12:00:00.001-05:00

I was a mom who childproofed the entire house before my firstborn could walk. I put away most breakables from the family room when she started pulling herself up. Long after the toddler stage, our electric outlets still have plastic covers.

Once my daughter became a proficient crawler, she got interested in stairs. At first, she reminded me of my mom’s puppy when he was a baby. He would put his front paws on the first step and start looking at me expectantly. Pick me up and carry me, why don’t you? My daughter did the same thing – until she figured out how to get upstairs on her own. I started wishing for a home with no stairs. Since that was not happening, I installed a baby gate before she could start competing for the gold in the baby stair crawling Olympics. She would have won, hands down.

When she started walking, my little girl was very careful going down. She learned to wait at the top of the stairs for me to hold her hand. When she mastered the stairs, we moved the safety gate to the hallway outside her room. She was out of the crib and into a big girl bed, and got out of her room about a million times every night. By the age of 3, she had a PhD in stalling. A sip of water, going potty, one more hug and kiss – you name it, she got it.

Now our safety gate is stashed away in the closet. If you have a toddler – and stairs or a working fireplace - I highly recommend installing baby gates even before you think you need them. Don’t know where to start? Check out the KidCo Safety Gates at the Kidco Gate Shop. Recently, they upgraded their entire line of safety gates. In addition to baby gates, KidCo makes pet gates. You can use them for doorways, stairways, and fireplaces. The company offers hardware mount gates, pressure mount gates, extra wide gates, and gate mounting kits for easy installation. If you are unsure which safety gate to get, consult their Safety Gate Guide and Tips.

And let the baby Olympics begin...

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our friendly advertisers. Information and photos courtesy of KidCoGateShop. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

Playgrounds Then and Now

2012-02-15T10:28:00.001-05:00

When I was a kid, parks and playgrounds were covered with asphalt, dirt, grass, and rocks. I was a very active child, riding my bike fast, climbing trees every day, and just being a kid. My knees and elbows were skinned all the time. Scrapes, scratches, and a broken bone now and then were normal part of childhood.

Neither I nor any of my little friends had helmets, knee pads, or elbow pads. No one talked to us about bike safety. Our parents just told us to watch out for cars and go home when it gets dark.

Fast forward a couple of decades later. My kids go to the park to ride their bikes in full protective gear. Everyone wears a helmet. I have a first aid kit in the car. Playground safety matters a lot to me. I sit on a bench and don’t let my kids out of my sight. Now playgrounds are no longer covered with asphalt. Some areas have special rubber covering on the ground that feels perfect to walk on – and ideal for running and playing. A couple of weeks ago, we watched in fascination the park workers getting ready to apply mulch. The area around the swings was cordoned off for a new mulch application that looked like rubber flooring.

Rubber on playgrounds was new to me, so I looked it up. It turns out rubber mulch is an innovation not just in playground safety and flooring but also in landscaping and even horse arena footing. Rubber Mulch is a company producing recycled flooring from used tires, helping protect the environment and keep old tires out of landfills. Rubber mulch is granules made entirely from recycled scrap tires. These granules make an effective safety surfacing that’s perfect for outdoor play areas. It cushions falls and helps protect children from playground injuries.

Rubber mulch playground surfacing is available several colors. It’s clean and odor-free, and it does not rot or decompose. It comes with a lifetime warranty and it’s non-toxic, non-abrasive, and non-staining. This surfacing can be used in playground areas in parks and schools but also in your own backyard.

Speaking of backyards, did you know that you could mulch trees, shrubs, and flowers without getting your hands dirty? That’s a novel idea to me since I always thought gardening and landscaping come with dirt under the fingernails (unless you remember to wear gloves which I rarely do). Rubber mulch creates insulation for your soil, allowing water and nutrients in, while keeping weeds out. You can forget about mulching for years with rubber mulch. Another advantage is that it does not attract termites and most other insects. Plus, it won't blow away in wind or rain. While I have not tried it yet, I would certainly love to test it in my yard.

Rubber mulch has other interesting uses, such as surfacing athletic fields, horse arenas, and military training areas. Rubber Mulch also offers rubber curbs and wear mats. The curbs are smooth and seamless, keeping debris out. The mats provide extra cushioning for high-impact areas such as swings and slides.

With such progress in playground safety, it’s no wonder my kids rarely skin their knees and elbows. And I am grateful for that.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our friendly advertisers. Information and photos courtesy of RubberMulch.com. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

Book #Giveaway: The Obamas by Jodi Kantor

2012-02-14T17:35:00.002-05:00

Book Description
When Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election, he also won a long-running debate with his wife Michelle. Contrary to her fears, politics now seemed like a worthwhile, even noble pursuit. Together they planned a White House life that would be as normal and sane as possible.

Then they moved in.

In The Obamas, Jodi Kantor takes us deep inside the White House as they try to grapple with their new roles, change the country, raise children, maintain friendships, and figure out what it means to be the first black President and First Lady. Filled with riveting detail and insight into their partnership, emotions and personalities, and written with a keen eye for the ironies of public life, The Obamas is an intimate portrait that will surprise even readers who thought they knew the President and First Lady.

The Giveaway
One lucky reader will win The Obamas by Jodi Kantor!

To enter, please follow the instructions of the Rafflecopter.

* If you can't see the form, please refresh your page, make sure Javascript is enabled, or try another browser.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our Heartworm Heartbreak

2012-02-14T17:02:00.004-05:00

Shortly after I started college, my mom got a dog. Her decision took me by surprise because we'd never had a dog until then. I think it was her way to find someone – or something – to take care of, a substitute child.

We brought Tommy home when he was just 45 days old. He was a sweet, adorable mutt with soft beige fur and a big heart. I was staying with my mom over winter break, and I took care of Tommy during the day – with a mop in one hand and a book in the other. At night, my mom had to take the puppy with her in bed because he would not stop crying for his canine family.

Tommy was a playful and happy dog until he got sick. He started coughing, especially after running around or playing. The vet told us Tommy had heartworm. I had no idea what that was – I thought maybe it was some kind of a doggy heart defect. It turned out heartworm was a parasitic roundworm spread from host to host through the bites of mosquitoes. Until then, I did not even know mosquitoes would bite dogs. Usually, I am the preferred dish for those pesky insects. Heartworm damages the lungs, and dogs show no symptoms of infection during the 6-month-long prepatent period before the worms mature.

Before the worms could be treated, the vet checked Tommy’s heart, liver, and kidneys. Then he proceeded to kill the adult worms with an arsenic-based substance. That sounded quite risky to me, and my mom was terribly worried. Luckily, her four-legged companion tolerated the treatment with no side effects. The vet told us Tommy had to rest for a few weeks afterwards so his body could absorb the dead worms.

We survived the ordeal but just barely. If you have a dog, you probably know that the best thing to do is to focus on preventing heartworm. Heartgard for dogs is a prescription medication that helps prevent canine heartworm disease. It also kills hookworms, roundworms, and other parasites.

If you need more information on heartworm in dogs, check out the website of the American Heartworm Society.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our friendly advertisers. Photo credit vrkm2003 on Photobucket. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

Betsey Johnson Heart with Bow Pendant Necklace #Giveaway

2012-02-14T11:04:00.002-05:00

Have you heard of Betsey Johnson jewelry? They have trendy costume jewelry, including adorable necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets.

Today is Valentine's Day, and I am wearing the Betsey Johnson Heart with Bow Pendant Necklace. It's a beautiful heart-shaped pendant and a cute little bow on a double chain. I love the vintage look and the romantic feel of this necklace. The bow gives it a little extra something and makes it a tad different from other heart-shaped pendants. A pretty little key (to your heart?) at the clasp complements the pendant. This piece is from Betsey's Iconic Midnight Romance Collection. The pendant hangs on a 16 inch chain with lobster claw closure. This versatile piece is appropriate for daily wear and for special occasions. Such as Valentine's Day!

I fell in love with other pieces I found on EllysCouture.com, such as the Betsey Johnson Pink Leopard Heart Necklace - perfect for Valentine's Day! - and the sweet Betsey Johnson Crystal Earrings. Check out the entire collection to find your own favorites.

The Giveaway
We are celebrating Valentine's Day by giving away a Betsey Johnson Heart with Bow Pendant Necklace!

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Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received free product sample for review purposes. No compensation was obtained for this post. The review reflects my personal opinion and may differ from yours.

Book Review and Blog Tour: Much Ado About Loving

2012-02-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

Book Description
Ah, romantic happiness.You’d think finding it would be easier now than ever before, given all the options modern life allows us. Instead, it’s much harder—because there’s so much to figure out. And we feel such pressure to find someone perfect: soul mate, sexual dynamo, emotional stalwart, and best buddy all in one. And if we do beat the odds and manage to get into something steady, then a new batch of concerns arises — like how to go from a friendship-with-benefits to a full-fledged commitment, how to deal with his overbearing mother, or how to overcome problems in the sack.

In our quest to reach romantic nirvana, we turn to self-help manuals, daytime TV, magazines, talk shows, friends, relatives, and shrinks. But we’ve forgotten a far better source of wisdom: the timeless stories written by the great novelists. Jane Austen was around long before Oprah — and though ladies in tight-laced corsets didn’t have to deal with Internet profiles or speed dating, they can help us better understand why first impressions shouldn’t necessarily be lasting (Sense and Sensibility) and why sometimes it’s okay to date bad boys ( Jane Eyre).

Daunted by how hard it would be to mine books like those for the best nuggets? Don’t be. The authors of Much Ado About Loving have done it for you, combining expert dating advice with lit crit as they discuss classics of literature. Avid readers and relationship gurus, Maura Kelly and Jack Murnighan have gone through as many romantic highs and lows as Bridget Jones and Don Juan combined. They’ve also stayed in plenty of nights, comforting themselves with great novels and learning a few lifetimes’ worth of lessons in the bargain. Trading off narration chapter by chapter, they explain the key romantic eurekas that more than thirty books have given them. Whether they’re talking about Moby-Dicks or why brides are prejudiced, each chapter will get you thinking — and keep you laughing all the way to a great relationship.

My Thoughts

Much Ado About Loving is a fun combo of relationship advice and a book about romance in books. Many of the relationship issues people have nowadays have been around forever. It's helpful and amusing to see how romance writers have resolved the romantic struggles of their characters. Personally, I'd rather read the originals. If you don't have the time or the inclination, Much Ado About Loving is your book. It's well written, funny, and smart, combining the advice and point of view of a literature expert and a relationships columnist.

Much Ado About Loving: What Our Favorite Novels Can Teach You About Date Expectations, Not So-Great Gatsbys, and Love in the Time of Internet Personals came out last month, published by Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book with no obligation for a positive review. No compensation was obtained for this post. Cover art and book description courtesy of the publisher.

Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away, I Want a Pretty Rain Chain

2012-02-14T09:15:00.001-05:00

It's a wet and rainy Valentine's Day around here. We have barely seen a snowflake this year, although temps were in the 20s over the past few days. Today, it's in the high 30s and the weather service is forecasting rain, rain, and more rain over the next few days.

We certainly need the rain but I can't help feeling a tad melancholic when it's raining. It's not the thunder and lightning storm that puts me in a pensive mood. It's the slow, constant, steady drip drip drip from the sky. Sometimes it rains harder and I like to watch the water rushing through the downspouts. It makes me think of a beautiful rain chain I saw in a magazine recently.

When I first heard of rain chains, I vaguely thought it was something like snow chains - except for rain. I looked it up online and discovered I could not have been more wrong. Rain chains hail from Japan where they call them kusari doi, literally "chain-gutter". Their purpose is mostly decorative. According to Wikipedia, the Japanese rain chain transports rainwater from the gutters downwards to a drain or a storage container. Sometimes the industrious Japanese collect rainwater for household usage. Rain chains can be found on temples.

Rain chains are typically either a series of metal cups, chained together with a hole in the bottom of each, or chain links that span vertically. My favorite ones are made of copper and look like a string of metal tulips. So pretty! Our downspouts do the job well but are quite ordinary. I would love to replace them with these beautiful copper flowers. Then I'll sit by the window on rainy days and just watch the rainwater trickle down from one flower to the next. Maybe into a barrel to use for watering later. That's one gorgeous green idea.

Disclosure / Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by our friendly advertisers. Photo credit RainChainLink.com. The opinions and experiences are all mine.

Wholly Guacamole Challenge: Check Your Choice and Win Prizes!

2012-02-13T16:10:00.000-05:00

My entire family LOVES Wholly Guacamole guac, salsa and queso. The people who make this great guac know that small changes can make a big difference. Drop by drop, dip by dip, and all that.

See what happens when you make a few small changes in your daily routine - and see how these choices can make a big difference. Wholly Guacamole will give your one challenge per week for the next eight weeks. Weekly prizes will be given! You can also find recipes, tips, fun facts and games. Get the scoop here.

I am in! Are you?

Wholly Guacamole product information is available on EatWholly.com. Connect with Wholly Guacamole via Twitter @EatWholly and on Facebook.

Disclaimer / Disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. I just love to blog and talk about Wholly Guacamole!