Potty Training Tips and Tricks

I can honestly say that potty training is something that makes me a little anxious to begin. Although I long for the diaper days to be over, I also dread potty training.

I am currently potty training Madelyn and I have realized a few things this time around while potty training:

• It is not easy. It cannot be done in a day. Did I mention that it isn't easy?

• Try to plan when to start potty training in advance. Going on a vacation? Wait until you are home to start potty training. Do not start potty training the month of said vacation.

• Have patience. There WILL be accidents. You will feel defeated. It's okay to feel defeated. Just keep pushing through it and have a plan.

• Don't start too early. I have heard many parents brag that they are potty training their one year old. Sure, introduce them to the potty. Have them sit on the potty while you are in the bathroom. But don't have your heart set on your child being "ready" to start. 

• Look for "signs" that your child is approaching the potty training age. 

• Have a reward system! Stickers, lollipops, buying their own underwear--potty training should be fun and exciting for your little one! 

• Be consistent with the timing of taking a potty break. Pull-Ups has a timer that you set as a fun reminder to your little one that it's potty time. Being consistent with potty breaks and following the guidance from Pull-Ups has helped me tremendously with potty training. 

• Staying home was helpful in the beginning with each of my girls. I tried to let my husband do the errands and running around. If it was necessary that we leave I would utilize Pull-Ups in case of an accident.

• I learned that Pull-Ups are GREAT for naps, bedtime, car trips. While at home my girls were in their underwear. Try out different methods and find what works best for your child.

• Make potty training a fun time for your child. It can turn very stressful for a little one very quickly. Come up with a fun plan. Talk about potty time and be excited! This should be a very fun and exciting time. If you feel like your child isn't ready? That's okay! Wait until you think they are ready and it will be a much more pleasant experience for everyone.

Pull-Ups are a great way to begin potty training. Not only do they have fun designs that your child will love, but they have a great community of tips, hints, tricks. One of my favorite things that Pull-Ups offers is the phone call from a Disney character! We had Cinderella give Madelyn a call and she LOVED it:

Below is a great way to get started with potty training. Remember, it may not be easy, but you will get through it. Good luck!

Browse more data visualizations.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Pull-Ups. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating. 

Fun With Band-Aid and The Muppets

Show of hands: whose children absolutely despise getting their scrapes and cuts cleaned up? My daughters try to wager with Leo or me if they know they have a cut that needs to be cleaned up. Isabella will promise that she doesn't need it to be cleaned-as blood is dripping down her leg and dirt is stuck in her injury. Madelyn will be beg for a juice box, her blankie, or anything besides getting her boo-boo cleaned up.

When I think about what is all under my cabinet to help clean up their scrapes and cuts, one brand automatically comes to mind: Band-Aid. Band-Aid has been around for nearly 100 years and has helped out many parents when it comes up to patching up those cuts. With so many fun Band-Aid options on the market our kids have it so lucky!

Band-Aid has teamed up with Disney's The Muppets in creating an interactive app for your iPad 2, new iPad,  iPhone 4, and/or iPhone 4S. The Band-Aid Magic Vision app is a perfect concept to take your child's mind off of getting their cut cleaned and bandaged up.


The Magic Vision app is incredibly easy to use:

* Download the free app in your App Store

* Once downloaded open up the Magic Vision app

* Scan the Muppets Band-Aid box or bandage and watch The Muppets come to life


I put the Band-Aid Magic Vision app to the test with Isabella. We opened up the app and scanned the bandage. While I cleaned her up she had a blast helping Grover become unstuck from my iPhone screen, taking pictures of Miss Piggy, and helping Kermit swing side to side on his swing. Her favorite by far was Miss Piggy. Taking the snapshots was a fun way for her to not even realize that I was cleaning up a small scrape.

Band-Aid definitely has family in mind when coming up with fun concepts for our children during a moment that could be defined as not so fun. I recommend all of my readers who own one of the devices above to download the interactive app. It is a must have for my family!


I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandages and received a promotion item to thank me for my participation. 

Huggies: Making Life Easier for Moms & Dads

Being a mom of three daughters I have had plenty of chances to try out a variety of baby diapers and wipes. You name it I have tried it and either loved it or hated it--and I am one of those moms who will tell you every horrific diaper story that I have encountered.

Diapers have been in my life for over 4 years now. And hands down my favorite brand? Huggies. For me there is no comparison. I have loved Huggies wipes for years. They are thick, absorbent, and I don't need a handful of them to clean up what should be a one to two wipe situation.

The same goes for Huggies and their diapers. They absorb wonderfully and I know when I have a Huggies on my child that I won't be suffering from overnight leaks. Which, in my opinion, is one of the worst ways to be woken up. Who actually likes to start loads of laundry before they can even pour a mug of coffee?

Huggies has now made improvements to both their diapers and wipes. What could be more wonderful than what they currently produce? The Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers are now equipped with a leak lock feature. What this does is leak wetness in and keep your baby, their bed and what they come in contact with, dry. Brynlie has eczema and I try very hard to put her in diapers that won't cause a breakout. The Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers have done a great job at locking moisture in. She is rash free and has yet to leak through the diapers!

The new One & Done Wipes are in a word, wonderful. They are thick and live up to their name of One & Done. With other wipes I have to use so many to clean up a diaper blow out. As much as I wish those days were over, there are still times when I open Brynlie's diaper and am amazed that someone so tiny can make such a mess. I use so many less wipes now. The absorbency and thickness does a lot to clean up a messy situation--whether at diaper changing time or meal time, they rock!

Bottom line is this: test out the new Huggies Snug & Dry Diapers and their One & Done Wipes. They're absorbent and have impressed me enough to make the switch.

Want to stay in the loop with Huggies? You can find them here:

Facebook
Twitter

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central for Huggies. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating. 

Shoppers in a Panic--JCPenney to the Rescue!

By a raise of hands who still has at least one gift left to buy? Maybe it is for that impossible to buy for person, the one who has everything, the one who is too picky or the one that you honestly have no clue what to buy him or her.

This is where one of my favorite stores, JCPenney, comes to our rescue! They have an amazing gift guide out there for all of us shoppers who need help and are finding ourselves in a panic with only days to go until the holidays officially arrive.

Here are a few of my favorite gifts that you can find from jcpenney--no need to panic when you have such amazing finds right at your fingertips:

Do you know a coffee lover? This Keurig coffee maker is sure to be a hit!

This Makeup Studio Blockbuster by Sephora is the mecca of makeup for beauty lovers. So fun!

The Liz Claiborne Clear and Rose Gold Resin Watch is perfect to tuck away in the woman of your life's stocking. Loving the rose gold trend!

These Stafford flannel pants are so cozy and warm--perfect for the cold winter nights ahead.

If you need more gift ideas check out the JCPenney gift guide--there is something for everyone on it! There is no need to panic this year when you can find a special gift for everyone at JCPenney. Make sure that you order by December 20th for standard delivery to arrive by Christmas Eve!

JCPenney Don't Panic Last Minute Shopping Guide



I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of jcpenney and received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Infantino Test Drive Mom!

I am honored to tell you that I have been chosen by Mom Central as an Infantino Test Drive Mom! As a lover of Infantino products I am more than honored to have been chosen for this campaign.

Having three little ones at home with one being just over two months old, I am always searching for great toys and original products. These products aren't just for my girls, but it also helps when a friend or family member finds out that they are expecting. One brand that I have grown to love is Infantino. Their products are well loved by me, a mom, and children alike. Soft, colorful, original--all of these points have helped me fall in love with their variety of products time and time again.

Infantino has launched their Comforting Play Collection and it is very different--in a great way--than other Infantino products that I have purchased in the past. Their Comforting Play line incorporates both fun and quiet alertness, an important part of infant development. Brynlie (as well as my other girls) can get overstimulated very quickly. I am sure other moms out there can agree that there are times when nothing in particular can cause their child to go into complete meltdown mode which is where Comforting Play comes into terms.

Included in this collection are teethers, wrist and ankle buddies, crib toys, soothing hand squeezies, crib toys, tag along chimes and much more. I highly recommend this entire line if you are expecting or know someone who is expecting or adopting an infant. The Comforting Play Collection is definitely soothing and has a very calm effect. Brynlie and I love the entire collection!

It's hard to pick a top favorite, but I'm really loving the Soothing Hand Squeezies. Leo called them Brynlie's little boxing gloves, ha! These are a brilliant idea. You place them on the baby's hands and in our case it was within a minute or so that Brynlie calmed down as you can see in the picture below.

 

If you are looking for a great gift for your baby or for a friend's little one, be sure to check out Infantino. You can "Like" Infantino on Facebook, follow Infantino on Twitter and/or subscribe to Infantino on YouTube to keep up to date with all of their fabulous products!

A huge thank you to Infantino and Mom Central--I'm really looking forward to sharing my next favorite product with you!


I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products as part of my participation.

Period Talk: Heavy Periods the 411

I don't know about you, but I don't sit around talking about my period with my girlfriends. It's not a topic that I would want to bring up over drinks while trying to escape the daily grind and have a few moments of peace with my girlfriends. When I got the opportunity to read and share with you information about heavy periods from Healthy Women, I was happy to see a site that women with heavy periods could go to for support and information.


Have you ever wondered if you have heavy periods and if this is normal or not? There are a few key points to take into consideration when wondering if you do. Here are some factors to understand heavy monthly bleeding:

• If your period interferes with daily activities

• You soak through one or more pads/tampons an hour for several hours

• Or causes you to use a pad and tampon at the same time

• Waking up in the night to change your pad and/or tampon

•  You miss school or work due to your period

• You find that you schedule your social, leisure and physical activities around your period

If you found yourself nodding to any of the key points mentioned above, please talk to your health care provider about your period and possible treatment that you could seek. When speaking to your provider answer these questions ahead of time and take them in so you won't feel like you're making a sudden decision:

• Would you consider contraception as a form of reducing your flow?

• Would you rather take a pill every day or only during the week of your period?

• Would you prefer hormonal or non-hormonal treatment?

• Does your provider recommend hormonal therapy? Why or why not?

• Do you want to preserve your fertility?

• Are you willing to have a surgical procedure?

There are many factors that can contribute to having a heavy period. Uterine fibroids; conditions in which pieces of the lining of the uterus grow outside the uterus or into the muscle of the uterus; hormonal imbalance; certain birth control methods such as an IUD or pills; uterine, cervical or vaginal cancers; chronic liver, kidney or thyroid conditions; certain medications such as anti-inflammatory, anticoagulants and some hormones.


While at the time you may feel like there isn't anything that you can do to make your self feel a little better, there are things that can be done to help. In fact there are many treatment options for heavy monthly bleeding. Check out the list to get an idea of which ones you would be open to and discuss further with your health care provider. No woman should have to suffer from a heavy monthly period and your provider is there to help and assist you in your treatment.


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Ferring Pharmaceuticals and received a promotional item to facilitate my review.

Healhty Choice Steaming Entrees

Lunchtime is always difficult for me--both when I had a job outside of my home and now that I am a full time stay at home mom. A lot of times I will make the girls both something to eat and by the time I am done preparing their meals, getting their drinks, cleaning spills, cleaning up the lunch mess I have no time for myself to think about what I should eat.

Healthy Choice meals has a new line of entrees that are making it easier and less complicated for us all--perfect for those of us who do not have a lot of time to try and guess all of the ingredients in a frozen entree. The all new Healthy Choice Steaming Entrees have cut out the guess work for us all. They include fewer ingredients in their all new entrees--and the ingredients that are included are easily identifiable. Perfect! How many times have you popped a meal into the microwave only to take it out to find out that you can't recognize all of the ingredients--and a majority of the ingredients that you do see are wilted and don't taste well?


What sets the Healthy Choice Steaming Entrees apart from others is that they use steam to cook your meal. For my Rosemary Chicken & Sweet Potatoes meal I didn't have to slit the cover, peel the back of the cover back or anything. I simply popped into my microwave for the allotted time, let it sit for a minute or two and then I could eat. It was really, really good, too! The vegetables were crispy, the food all tasted fresh. And the best part? The ingredients were all recognizable and no hidden ingredients greeted me upon me opening the meal. Yay!


You can purchase your own Healthy Choice Steaming Entrees meal at your local grocery store for the low cost of $2.50. Also be sure to go and check out the Healthy Choice Facebook page to learn more about their products, tips on losing weight and more!


I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Healthy Choice and received samples of their new steaming entrées to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Corn Refiners Association

It seems like there has been a lot of scrutiny against sugars lately--and one that comes to mind immediately is HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup). Have you heard of HFCS? If so, what is your thought or what are your thoughts? Have you been researching it?


I ask this because as a parent I find it very important to be knowledgeable about what our children are consuming. It's not a secret that our country has an obesity problem. I constantly see headlines about sugar foods and where they come from has been under a lot of pressure lately. But the key to all of this is how much sugar we're consuming--not the origin. It's our consumption amount that is so high.


I grabbed a few items from my pantry: a box of cereal (an unsweetened, non-sugary coated), a box of muffin mix and a jar of creamy peanut butter, marinara sauce and ketchup.


For the box of cereal I found that there were 4 gm per serving. Not as low as I had thought originally, but okay. My peanut butter for one serving had 3 gm. I thought for sure my peanut butter would be higher than my healthy cereal choice. And then for the muffins. Growing up I assumed muffins were healthy--well, in my opinion now I call them a breakfast cake. Anyway, they have a whopping 14 gm per serving! The marinara sauce contains 7 gm per serving and finally the ketchup contains 4gm in a serving--so it looks like my peanut butter was the winner in the lowest amount of sugar per serving--definitely not what I had thought would win!


When preparing meals and reading the ingredients, be on a lookout for words that don't come out and say "sugar". There are a lot of different words that could mean sugar such as agave, stevia, dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose--and many more. Just remember to read your labels to know what you are consuming and what you are feeding your family.


I also have found out some interesting science based facts about HFCS:

• Studies conducted with abnormally high levels of pure fructose have been inappropriately applied to high fructose corn syrups. HFCS and table sugar are equally sweet, contain the same amount of calories and are handled similarly by the body.
• Calories: Both HFCS and sucrose contain the same amount of calories (which is 4 cal per gram) equal parts fructose and glucose. Once absorbed into our bloodstream, the two sugars are indistinguishable. American Dietetic Association, Hot Topics Paper on HFCS, Dec 2008
• Read the complete pages of facts on high fructose corn syrup to see what the professionals are saying on this sugar that has grabbed a lot of media attention.

Want to see how your foods stack up? Be sure to check out  http://www.sugarstacks.com/. It's a neat site to visit and I recommend that all of my readers check it out!


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of the Corn Refiners Association. I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Infantino Flip Carrier Review

Having two little ones can be extremely difficult to maneuver when about and about running errands, grabbing a bite to eat or attending a play date with friends. There are times that I don't mind bringing the double stroller, but it's so heavy and big that I try to only bring when absolutely necessary!

One of the items that I love using with Madelyn is my Infantino Flip Carrier. It's a huge lifesaver--and so comfortable! The Flip Carrier can be worn in a variety of different ways. Forward facing, outward facing or you can use it as a backpack carrier. Made for babies weighing 8 lbs all the way to 32 lbs. I'm disappointed that Madelyn is getting close to the max weight, but happy that we still have a few months ahead of use, especially with Leo leaving for his deployment soon.

The fabric that the Flip Carrier is made out of is very comfortable. It's made out of a soft mesh material and is padded to provided extra comfort. The flap can be buttoned down which I love for Madelyn to be able to look out of. It comes with an attachable bib to use if you have a drooler or a baby that is still in the spit up stage. As Infantino says the Flip Carrier "is a flippable, flexible, breathable little wonder" which I agree with 100%!

It's also a great carrier for Dads, too, being a neutral color and not too frilly or cutesy. You can find the Flip Carrier available at Target and Babies R Us for $29.99 - $33.99.

***Discount***

I also want to share a great discount with my readers for two of the other Infantino baby carriers, the Balance and the EcoSash. Right now through September 21 you can receive $10 off at Babies R Us!

***Giveaway***

Infantino is having a giveaway right now on the Infantino Facebook page for FIVE lucky winners! They will be giving away FIVE bouncers through September 1st.

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products as part of my participation.

Returning to School

One of the main reasons that I joined the Air Force when I was 21 was due to me not graduating college. I quit college for a few reasons, the main being that I just had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew older. Sure, I had always wanted to be a teacher, but did I really want to do that for the rest of my life?

The other part of me quitting school was due to me just not being ready to go. I went to a local school and lived with my parents. That definitely wasn't a "fun" college experience. They still had me come home at a curfew and I honestly felt like it was all too much.

In hindsight I realize a lot of the choices I made back then weren't the "best" choices, but when I was 18 I wasn't ready. Plain and simple.

While I was in the Air Force I did enroll myself in a few online courses to a university of choice. I loved online learning! It was a great choice while living in Turkey and I loved the aspect of us all being in different parts of the world while learning. My professors were beyond amazing. I loved them and thought the world of them. They were there anytime I had a question about anything and they were always involved with my classes.

Have you thought about returning to school, but wondering how it will be possible? Maybe you don't have the time to travel to a local school or maybe there is no local college or university close by. Or maybe you are a Mom and just don't know how you will have time in your life for one more thing.

American Public University (APU) offers quality courses that are both flexible with you and affordable--two major key points for me when choosing online courses. APU courses are 100% online, so no matter where you are in the world--like when I took online courses from Turkey--you can learn! And with the affordability factor, the cost for a 3-credit course (undergrad course)  is $750. For a 3-credit course with their grad program it is $900.

APU has not raised tuition fees in over 10 years--and provides degree seeking undergrads with their course materials through a Book Grant program. We all know how expensive books can be for college--it's insane sometimes how much they can be!

Interested in learning more about APU? Be sure to check out their live chats with other Moms--the first chat session will be on Tuesday August 17th @ 8pm EST.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of American Public University. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

The Moment I Knew...

Leo and I tried for almost two years before we successfully conceived our Isabella. I can remember the day that I found out I was pregnant like it happened yesterday...

I was lying on my couch and had a ham sandwich on the coffee table. I swear I could smell the ham and it made me so sick. I decided to take a pregnancy test right then and there. I'll never forget seeing the big positive staring back at me--it was the miracle that I had prayed for for so, so long.

When I showed the test {okay, I think I took somewhere around six tests--I may have a pregnancy test addiction...} he asked me if that's what we wanted--he was so shocked that it had finally happened!

With Madelyn we conceived fairly quickly to say the least. With Madelyn I felt nauseated for a few nights as I would be trying to fall asleep. It reminded me of the beginning of morning sickness with Isabella--not a high point during pregnancy.

I ran to Wal-Mart, picked up a pack of e.p.t pregnancy tests and called my Mom. Sure enough, pregnant. I taped the pregnancy tests {I took two that time just to make sure. And I may or may not have gone back to the store and picked more up the next day. Told you I had a problem...} up on our door--they were the first things that Leo saw when he got home that day.

He walked in and smiled and was in shock again. I still giggle about his reactions--he was just so adorable and happy--definitely a beautiful moment for our marriage.

I still have pictures of my pregnancy tests as well as a few of my test stashed away in my sock drawer--they're pushed waaaay in the back and occasionally I'll take them out, smile and look over at how big my girls are getting. Those were two of the most special days of my life and I never want to forget them--I want to remember the joy that I felt when I got the positive tests forever.

e.p.t has now come up with a great way for women to always remember and store their pregnancy memories--they now offer a commemorative Keepsake Case and scrapbook card to mark the life-changing occasion (available with a mail-in proof-of-purchase). I think that it's a fabulous way for women to have that on hand--much better than my sock drawer if I do say so myself.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of e.p.t and received an e.p.t. keepsake case and a $20 gift card to JustGive.org to facilitate my review.

KinderCare Blog Tour

Now that Isabella is almost three years old I have been debating whether or not to enroll her in preschool or have our own home preschool at home.

There are so many choices and decisions when it comes to preschool and school for your child or children. Class size, tuition, location, what programs will be taught, curriculum...it honestly is a dizzying time in my life. I want the best for Isabella and Madelyn--and when it comes to who is going to teach them and help them learn I simply want the best {don't we all?!}.

I was recently introduced to KinderCare and what they have to offer. Right away hearing the name KinderCare put me at ease--one of my cousins attended KinderCare many years ago. I love the fact that they're still up and running so many years later.

KinderCare provides low teacher to student ratios, strong and open communication between teachers and families as well as a safe and nurturing environment. Their projects are tailored to excite a child's imagination and they provide a stimulating learning environment for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary aged children.

What do you look for when choosing a preschool for your child? Are you planning on enrolling them somewhere or are you leaning towards a homeschooling program? Can't wait to hear your thoughts!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of KinderCare Learning Centers and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.
 

Tree Top Blog Tour!

 With summer being in full effect here in Mississippi I have been trying to think of creative and healthy ideas for the girls. There always seems to be an abundance of ice cream treats thrown at us left and right--which isn't bad on occasion, but I do like to have healthy alternatives that are just as much fun.

One great idea that I tried out for the girls is freezing Tree Top 100% Apple Juice in ice cube trays. You can add these to any drink that your child is drinking and it makes for a yummier version of ice. Especially if we are at the park or outside playing, regular ice seems to water down the drink. My girls LOVE this--especially Isabella! And Madelyn doesn't mind adding a little flavor to her water, either.

Right now Tree Top is offering the America's Secret Ingredient contest! Simply share your apple themed recipe for your chance to win a trip for two to the Big Apple, attend the Food Network NY Wine & Food Festival and you will meet a Food Network celebrity! If you have a fabulous recipe that incorporates apples, I say go for it--you never know, you could win!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Tree Top and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Infantino Jumbo Wheel Play Space

It's always such a hit and miss with toys for babies. They either play with them nonstop every day and us Moms {and Dads!} must remember said toy anytime we travel. If we accidentally forget the beloved toy? Uh oh...talk about a trip gone bad. Then there are the toys that they look at, but don't really care for. Usually those toys are the ones that collect the most dust around the house and sit in toy boxes and bins long forgotten about.

Infantino toys and baby products is a brand that both of my girls have loved since day one. Their colors, textures and designs are exactly what I as a Mom want for my children. The girls have always loved all of their Infantino toys--they are amazing! Seriously, the girls can actually sit and play with this brand for a long time--which is nice for me, too. It allows me to wash up some dishes or move the laundry along...you know, all of that fun stuff.

I recently got the opportunity to try out the Infantino Jumbo Wheel Play Space. Holy cow, it is amazingness. Seriously--it is not a tiny mat that once your baby is mobile and they roll or crawl they are off the mat. Madelyn, who is a crawler, can move all along the mat. She can turn, sit up and crawl to another side. It's awesome!

It has crinkly spots, teethers which are GREAT right now that Madelyn is teething, musical flowers, mirror--which Madelyn loves to look at herself in, and so many different textures and patterns. Your little one will love it! And if you're out of the baby stage, this will be a huge hit for a baby shower gift or a gift for a little one for any holiday or special occasion. We're thrilled with ours--and Isabella loves to roll around on it, too. It's a huge hit! I recommend this for anyone that has or knows a baby, seriously, it's that awesome.


I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products to as part of my participation.

Splenda--The No Calorie Sweetener! {A Winey Mommy Review}

At the beginning of the year I vowed to myself and my family that I would stop making so many baked goods for us at home. I noticed that I wasn't losing weight--and then it hit me. Look at the cookies, the brownies, banana or pumpkin bread that are constantly filling up my home. While I have gotten much, much better at baking less, there are still occasions that we want something sweet to eat.

Insert Splenda and their granulated no calorie sweetener. Not only can you now use it to bake with, but they have an online Splenda Tastebook I consider this a genius idea for a couple of reasons--I can now use their sweetener to bake with thus saving me hundreds of calories and I can also browse for delicious recipes to try out. Their recipes are also rated--so if you're interested in trying one out you can read the reviews and ratings first. I hate trying a new recipe only to find out that I hated it after it's been baked.

The Splenda Tastebook is filled with many different recipes to satisfy what craving you are having--pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, vegetarian chili, cream cheese stuffed apple bread...I could go on and on an on with the variety of recipes that they have on there!

Celebrity mom chef Katie Brown has teamed up with Splenda  to give America healthy eating tips, tips on leading a healthier life and also shares her favorite recipes that she uses Splenda for. I love getting tips and tricks for healthier eating--anything that makes a healthy meal taste delicious is a winner in my book.

Next time you're having a craving check out the Splenda Tastebook and try to find a delicious recipe. There are 100's to choose from!

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Splenda and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review. In addition, a donation was made in my name to the Meals on Wheel organization to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

What's on The View: March 8-12

We're off for another fun week on The View! Here's the schedule for this week's episodes:

• Monday: {my personal fave} Day of Hot Topics--plus Oscar talk--who wore what, winners, etc
• Tuesday: Andy Garcia and his daughter are on discussing their new film City Island
• Wednesday: Forest Whitaker and Jesse Ventura 
• Thursday: Both Elton John & Eric McCormack!! I cannot wait for this episode!
• Friday: Fashion Friday with Carolina Herrera--her inspirations & her designs

So there you have it! Another fun week with some of my favorite ladies.

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.

I'm an Ambassador for Tropicana's Juicy Rewards!

I recently got selected to be a Juicy Rewards Inside Ambassador for Tropicana! I'm very excited for this opportunity. I LOVE Tropicana and their orange juice. It's delicious and I have now gotten Isabella loving it. This year especially it's been a staple in our home with how many colds and the swine flu we've caught.

Did you know that Tropicana has their own Juicy Rewards program? You drink a carton of their orange juice and on the inside of the cap their is a code. You simply create an account, enter the code and start earning points. You can redeem your points for rewards and even enter sweepstakes. The rewards are different from state to state--click on your state and see what's available. I also click on my surrounding states of Alabama and Louisiana to see what's available on the coast for us. There are zoos, clothing discounts, spas, outdoors--seriously, there are a ton of choices for you to choose from.

I can't wait to start earning points and redeeming them for great rewards! We already drink the orange juice--why not get rewarded for being healthy?

I wrote this review while participating in the Tropicana Juicy Insiders Ambassador program by Mom Central on behalf of Tropicana. I received 12 free Juicy Rewards points and a $50 Visa gift card to use in redemption of the points and to facilitate my review.

American Greetings PhotoWorks Blog Tour! {A Winey Mommy Review}

Since becoming a mom one of the most important things to me is capturing the moment. Whether it's a special occasion, a vacation or just here at home I want to remember that moment forever. I bought myself a Nikon 2 years ago and I love it. The only problem is that I don't always get every photo printed out and framed. I mean well, but sometimes I just plain forget.

When I was offered to review an American Greetings PhotoWorks Studio Book that was baby themed, I was ecstatic. I jumped at the chance and started working on my book right away. The site is so easy to navigate. I found the baby book section and started hunting down for the perfect choice. I decided to make one for Madelyn {and I plan on creating one for Isabella soon, too} and picked out this one:

One of my favorite pictures of Maddie

It took me approximately one hour from start to finish. I had a hard time finding pictures to use! If you are interested in buying one I suggest keeping a folder of your favorite pictures. That definitely would have sped up my speed--which is my own fault! The PhotoWorks site is set up perfectly and just how I like business sites to be set up--everything is self explainable and detailed. You're not just thrown in to create your photo book...they actually walk you through each step. There are spots for you to personalize your book--including the front/back cover and spine. There are pages that you can personalize as well.

A sample of the inside 

I loved my experience with PhotoWorks and their new Studio Books.  I have already told my mom about it and how happy I am with how it all came out. I recommend their site to anyone who wants to create something special to keep your memories alive. These would make excellent books for grandparents on their birthday, Mother's Day, Father's Day or holidays.

Thank you to Mom Central and American Greetings PhotoWorks for allowing me to order my book for Madelyn--I love it and will keep it up on the shelves in my home to show our loved ones. It's so special!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of American Greetings PhotoWorks and received a free photo book to facilitate my review.

The View: What's On This Week

Did you watch The View   last week? They had some great guests--ranging from Octomom, Jersey Shore and Regis. As always I was entertained, laughing and in awe of what some of the guests had to talk about.

Here is what you can catch on The View this week:

Monday: Day of Hot Topics--one of my personal faves. I love the debates and the topics that they discuss...never a disappointment there!

Tuesday: Robert Pattinson! He'll be making his debut on The View and will be discussing his new film Remember Me which {from what I hear} got great reviews.

Wednesday: Lisa Kudrow will be talking to the hosts about her new series Who Do You Think You Are. I love Lisa Kudrow and cannot wait to see this show.

Thursday: Valerie Bertinelli will be the celebrity co-host. They'll be talking about Alice in Wonderland--which looks like an excellent movie.

Friday: Both Wesley Snipes and Don Cheadle will be appearing--which sounds good to me. I love them both!

There you have it! And if you're on Twitter you can tweet along with us while The View is on. Just search for the hashtag #theviewmoms and tweet away. You will find us there tweeting about the show, what we think of the topics and personal experiences if we can relate to the guests.

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for ABC Daytime and will receive a tote bag or other The View branded items to facilitate my review.

Banquet Thanks a Million Blog Tour {A Winey Mommy Review}

Banquet is a brand of food that I remember eating as I was growing up. Quick, easy and tasty it was a good go to meal in case we were in a hurry or just wanted something with very little mess to clean up. Now that I am a wife and a mom myself I find these types of dinners the easiest and most pleasing for my family. Isabella loves their food--which is a good thing because that little girl? Can be extremely picky--as many parents of little ones can understand. They have such a huge variety of meals to pick from. Macaroni & cheese {Isabella's personal favorite}, chicken fingers, sweet & sour chicken and many, many more.

Being a frozen meal that takes minutes to heat up is another plus--because living in my small town it can be somewhat of a pain to find an affordable and well balanced takeout meal in a hurry. That usually involves Leo picking up something after work which puts him behind another 1/2 hour in getting home. Which to many moms that 1/2 hour or so is not worth it. I know I am ready for Leo to be home and give me a few minutes for a quiet break to myself.

Banquet is currently having a 'Thanks a Million' program--which is a way for Banquet to thank their loyal customers that have bought their foods for over the past 50 years. What is 'Thanks a Million'? Banquet is giving away more than $1 million in cash prizes from February through April. Beginning on February 8th you can look for specially marked packages that say 'Thanks a Million'. Each package that is marked with that logo will contain a game piece. There will be over 16,000 redeemable cash prizes valuing from $10 to $100,000 or a chance to win a Banquet coupon!

Next time you are at your supermarket check out the Banquet meals and pick one out for a great and easy meal for yourself or your family. Enjoy and good luck to you all who purchase a meal--I hope you win a great prize!


I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Banquet and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.