Soft Scrub Advanced Surface Review and Giveaway!- 3 Winners!

New Soft Scrub Advanced Surface is the rinse-free gel that cleans and polishes granite and marble countertops, glass cooktops, and stainless steel. It is both tough on stains and gentle on even more most delicate surfaces. Just apply to the surface and wipe away with a sponge, cloth or paper towel. This is my kind of kitchen cleaner!

Review: So, how did it measure up? Take a look for yourself below! I am always a bit embarrassed to show "before" pictures because, yes, my house can get that dirty. As a working mother, I don't have a lot of time to clean so this is exactly the type of product I desire. I squirted the Soft Scrub on my stove, allowed it to sit for a couple of minutes and then was able to get some really squeaky-clean results with very minimal scrubbing.  All that was left was a nice, clean shine! 

Soft Scrub Don't Worry, Be Happy Sweepstakes: In addition to the giveaway listed here on Cake Mom, you can also enter to win some great prizes from from Soft Scrub. There will be one (1) grand prize of $1,000 and a year's supply of Soft Scrub coupons equal to an amount of 10 (ten) coupons, and two hundred and fifty (250) 2nd place prizes of a coupon for any Soft Scrub product!  Click here to enter!

Win it here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was provided with the above mentioned product as a Purex Insider. All views expressed are my own.

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Happy Easter!

My husband and I are so lucky to have both of our families in town so we had great food and wonderful visits all day. My kids had a blast and we now have WAY too much candy in the house! I hope you had a great holiday as well! 

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Shutterfly - 101 FREE Prints, FREE Greeting Card and MORE!

You may have taken a bunch of Easter pictures - or perhaps you still have Christmas pictures on your memory card! Now is the time to get those pics developed because you can  Get 101 free prints from Shutterfly.com with promo code 101PRINTS. Offer valid 3.31-4.2!!

Check out these additional awesome deals:

• Sitewide sale up to 50% off Photo Books from Shutterfly.com. Offer ends 4.2
• Get a free greeting card from Shutterfly.com with promo code CARD4U. Offer valid 3.28 through 4.2
• Receive free shipping on all Shutterfly.com orders of $30+ with promo code SHIP30 offer valid through 4.2

Shutterfly Affiliate

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Coppertone Travel Size Review

I am counting down the days until summer - how about you! Obviously, the presence of sunshine is one of the benefits of the season, but regardless of the time of year it is very important that you protect your skin from the sun's rays. Coppertone, my #1 choice for sunscreen, has expanded their travel size options to now include Coppertone Sport, Water Babies, Coppertone Kids, and Tanning Lines.  The 3 oz. lotions provide broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection and are made specifically for convenience and comply with TSA travel size restrictions.

Don't forget to protect your lips as well! Coppertone Sport Lip Balm provides SPF 30 protection. The product helps smooth lips and provides broad spectrum protection against UVA and UVB rays. It is also is water resistant for up to 80 minutes.

Review:  I must say that I am thrilled with the travel size options. We use tons of sunscreen in the spring and summer but I don't like having half of my purse space being taken up by sunblock! I was given several great products to review.  

I actually like using Water Babies on myself. I am acne prone and I have found that Water Babies does a great job of protecting me from sunburn without causing an acne breakout. Although it is too early to swim, we have had great success with it being waterproof this past summer. The Coppertone Kids product is also waterproof which will make it a popular sunblock since my kids spend a lot of time in the pool. I also really love the Coppertone Sport products.  It does a great job of keeping you and your kids protected even through sweat and I love that it is available in different SPF strengths. Last but not least, you must not forget to protect your lips!  Coppertone offers a Sport Lip Balm that serves as sun screen but also keeps your lips kissably smooth and soft! 

Buy it here: You can find Coppertone products at you local mass merchant and drug store. The travel-size products have a suggested retail price of $3.99.  The Lip Balm has a suggested retail price of $2.99.

I was provided with the above mentioned products for the purpose of facilitating this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Chocolate-Strawberry Shortcake Whoopie Pies Recipe

I made these yummy whoopie pies for Easter dessert tomorrow. They were a bit time consuming to make but they are pretty delicious! The recipe comes from Kraft.

Ingredients
1 package chocolate cake mix (don't use one that is too moist or has pudding in the mix, I used Duncan Hines)
3/4 cups water
1/2 cup oil
3 eggs
1 package cream cheese, softened
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme
8 oz whipped topping
3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

Instructions
Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat first 4 ingredients with mixer until well blended. Drop 2 Tbsp batter, 2 inches apart, into 32 mounds on baking sheets sprayed with cooking spray or on wax paper. Bake 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out almost clean. Cool on baking sheets 3 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

Beat cream cheese and marshmallow creme in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add whipped topping; beat on low speed just until blended.

Spread about 2 Tbsp whipped topping mixture onto bottom side of each of 16 cookies. Top with strawberries, add some whipped topping to the underside of the other cookie, and place cookie on top.

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Stephanie Meyer Twilight/Host Books $2.99 or Less - Today Only!

I am a huge fan of Stephanie Meyers and have read the Twilight series a couple of times and also really liked The Host. If you have been putting off buying the books then today you should take advantage of this awesome deal from Amazon. You can get each of her books for only $2.99 or less (Kindle Edition). Happy Reading!! 

Shop Now

Amazon Affiliate

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Carmex Review and Giveaway

Carmex believes in keeping your skin and lips nourished. This time of year, it can be extra difficult so Carmex has two great products to offer: Carmex Healing Cream and Hydrating Lotion. Both products are specially formulated to heal and repair even the driest of skin. With increased levels of lanolin, their Healing Cream mimics your skin's natural lipid layer to maximize healing, while petroleum and allantoin soften rough skin and aid in moisturization.  Carmex Hydrating Lotion is loaded with vitamin E and ultra-concentrated aloe vera to soothe skin and deliver hydration, without greasiness.

Review: Carmex Healing Cream absorbed quickly and was non-greasy. It is designed to be used on very dry skin so I tried it on my feet. It worked great and they felt really smooth afterward. It has a faint, neutral scent, which I prefer over stronger scents because of my allergies. It was pretty thick so a little bit of the cream really went a long way. The Hydrating Lotion did exactly what the name promises - it hydrates. After application my skin felt immediately softened and smooth. It also has a very faint scent and rubbed very easily into the skin. Like the Healing Cream, it comes in a self-standing tube that makes it easy to store. The lotion (and the cream for that matter) are easily dispensed from the tube which is quite sturdy.  I am quite happy with both products and know it will help me get my skin ready for warmer weather! 

Win it here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was provided with the above mentioned products for the purpose of facilitating this review. All views expressed here are my own.

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The Hunt is Coming - Good Cook Giveaway!

I am so excited to be working with Good Cook and there will be some AMAZING things in store for you! For one, there is a Good Cook Touch Treasure Hunt coming which means some seriously awesome prizes!! 

What is the Good Cook Touch Treasure Hunt?

The Good Cook Touch Treasure Hunt is for our customers and select blog readers.  Participates will search goodcook.com to find random Touch icons that have been posted on select products.  Participates will visit Cake Mom along with the other blogger’s site to find more Touch icons. Participates who find the more or all of the 112 codes will be entered to win one of three Good Cook Touch grand prize gifts.   

To get you excited about the Treasure Hunt, Good Cook is offering a pre-giveaway of Good Cook Touch products for two winners...and this is just the beginning!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will be provided with products from Good Cook for participating in the event.

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Milk Unleashed Review

With all of the unhealthy cafeteria options and hectic schedules, it can be difficult for kids and teens to get their daily recommended servings of protein, calcium and Vitamin D. Fortunately, milk is a great source of all these nutrients and it has been unleashed for the convenience of moms and their children everywhere. What is “Milk Unleashed?” It is just Grade A, nutritious real milk that is ultra pasteurized and packaged in a Tetra Pak milk box (similar to a juice box or carton of soup).  It’s safe in the pantry for up to 6 months.  Then simply chill or freeze and toss into a lunch box or sports bag, without worrying about spoilage. Moms now have a convenient way to help their kids get their daily recommended milk servings.

Shelf Safe Milk?

It seems like it can't be true, but believe it! The milk box does not require refrigeration until it's opened and it preserves all the wholesome goodness of milk and helps provide kids the protein, vitamins, and nutrients of milk without the restrictions of refrigeration.  This means you can stock-up on milk without worrying about refrigerator space and also pack milk for your kids without worrying about it spoiling before lunch. Of course you can refrigerate before serving but it is not required.  Shelf safe milk is also eco-friendly since it does not require refrigeration for distribution or storage. The cartons are made from 70 percent paper from selectively harvested, regrown trees and are recyclable, helping preserve resources for future generations. 

Review:  
We received a variety of Tetra Pak shelf-safe milk to review.  The milk came in brand names (like Horizon and Hershey) that I have come to trust and love.  The cartons are great. I remember hating drinking out of traditional milk cartons when I was young because I hated the feel of the wet cardboard on my mouth. These come with tough straws and drinking them is similar to drinking from a juice box.  My daughter is a big milk drinker and she has been so excited about the shelf safe milk that she has refused to buy lunch from school for the past week and a half just so she could pack a milk box a day in her lunch box!  I had some of the white milk and it was just as good as regular milk. My daughter drank the chocolate and strawberry milks and absolutely loved them. She was not, however, a fan of the Cow Wow Fruity Trudy Cereal Milk which tasted like, you guessed it, the milk that is left over in a fruity bowl of cereal. Neither of us are fans of drinking post-cereal milk but someone who likes this practice may really enjoy this beverage. The only downside to the milk unleashed products is the cost which is more expensive than traditional milk (and my state does not accept milk coupons).

Buy it here: You can find shelf safe milk, you guessed it, on the shelves at your local grocer. While some stores place them near the refrigerator section, most don't.  It might be alongside non-milk beverages in Tetra Pak cartons like soy, almond, or rice milks or perhaps in the section with cereal and canned and powdered milks. You can also purchase some brands through Amazon. 

I was provided with the above mentioned products for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own. 

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Mymo's Adventures DVD Giveaway (US and Canada) + Fit & Health Family Contest Info!

My Gym is celebrating 30 years of family fitness and fun! With their unique, innovative and ever-changing fitness program for kids, My Gym has been at the forefront of providing the best fun place for kids to remain active, while successfully combating frightening obesity statistics among children.

The “Mymo’s Adventures” DVD features the gym’s irresistibly cute mascot, Mymo, as he engages children and leads them on six awesome, interactive adventures. The DVD combines animated fun, live action workouts and a wisecracking puppet named Alphonzo Bartholomew III. “Mymo’s Adventures” is created to educate, entertain and motivate children to be active and helps them to develop their coordination, balance, flexibility, strength and fine/gross motor skills.

My Gym’s Fit and Healthy Family Contest:

On April 1, My Gym will be announcing their “My Gym's Fit and Healthy Family” Contest on their Facebook page! In celebration of My Gym’s 30^th anniversary, they are searching for the fittest family in North America.

In order to enter the contest, participants would need to visit My Gym’s Facebook page and follow the instructions, which will include submitting a photo and essay. Thirty families with the most votes will receive a prize package (that will include a certificate from the President’s Council of Physical Fitness Sports and Nutrition and a gift package from BabyGanics and free MyGym and Chuggington DVDs).

The thirty families will then have an opportunity to submit a homemade fitness video – and one lucky family will win the grand prize! The package includes top items from Little Tikes, one free year at My Gym, including classes and a birthday party!

Win it here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. All information was provided by the company. 

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Spooners Review

Did you know March is Nutrition Month? It is a good opportunity to introduce you to MOM Brands' newest addition to its ever-expanding portfolio of cereal brands: Spooners® ready-to-eat brand cereal! They have left out artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils so there's more room for what you really want in your breakfast bowl - nutritious, delicious, wholesome ingredients, all tastily bundled in 100% whole grain shredded wheat biscuits.

Whole grain wheat is just the beginning. The line includes five delicious new varieties with flavored morsels baked into the middle for even more taste:

• Mixed Berry Multigrain Spooners:
  Made with blueberry morsels baked inside and a just-sweet-enough raspberry frosting
• Cinnamon Multigrain Spooners:
  Made with 43 grams of whole grains per serving and cinnamon morsels baked inside
• Original Multigrain Spooners:
  Each serving has 55 grams of whole grains and 7 grams of fiber for a no-nonsense breakfast
• Frosted Multigrain Spooners:
  A 12-layer biscuit with a touch of sweetness baked inside, along with 44 grams of whole grains
• Chocolate Spooners with Chocolate Chips:
  For the kid in all of us... a chocolate fix that’s good for you

Packaged in an innovative stand-up bag, Spooners contain 75% less consumer packaging waste than comparably sized bag in box ready-to-eat cereals. With Earth Month right around the corner, what better time to introduce your readers to a brand new, more wholesome, earth-friendly breakfast? It's a win-win-win.

Review: I have really been changing my lifestyle lately. As I get older, I am becoming more motivated to be healthy so I was instantly attracted to Spooners which seems like a more nutritious cereal than many of the other varieties I have in my cupboard. I was given samples of the Mixed Berry, Cinnamon Multigrain, and Chocolate Spooners to review.  I have tried a lot of shredded wheat cereals before but I was always underwhelmed by the taste. Regardless of the flavor varieties, the actual shredded wheat was all I could taste. This was not the case, however, with Spooners.

My husband, who does not typically eat cereal, was a huge fan of the Cinnamon Spooners. He was nice enough to give me one bite of his cereal once and then completely devoured the rest of the bag over the remainder of the week.  From what I could taste, it was quite good and would be a real hit among cinnamon lovers.  I really liked the Chocolate Spooners as well. It is a great choice when you have a sweet craving and is a much better choice than a candy bar or other overly sugary cereal.  My favorite was the Mixed Berry. I actually took it to work and ate it dry as a mid-morning snack. The fruit bits baked into the middle of cereal was so tasty! Plus, it is so much easier to fit the bags into the cupboards than boxes. I would definitely recommend Spooners and will be replacing my old shredded wheat cereals with Spooners!

Buy it here: You can find Spooners at a store near you using their store locator tool.  You can also find a coupon on their website!

I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

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CVS Gold Emblem Review

When you think of CVS you may think of medications, vitamins, personal care items, or photos.  However, they have a delicious line of Gold Emblem snacks that will make you think of delicious foods next time you hit the store! The Gold Emblem line is available exclusively at CVS and has been recently revamped with improved logos, packaging, and taste!  The line boasts new ingredient guidelines to exclude MSG and trans fats wherever possible and key nutritional information on the front of the package to enable you to make a more informed purchase decision.

Review: I was given the opportunity to review a  few of the Gold Emblem products. I have been trying really hard to change my overall diet habits so I was excited to give some of these snacks a try.

Gold Emblem Sour Neon Crawlers - These sour gummies were a hit with my kids. I am not a huge fan of this type of candy; however, these were much better than a lot of other brands I have tried. They were softer and had quite a bit of flavor packed into the tiny gummy! 

Gold Emblem Gummy Bears - Again, these were a little more of a child's candy but they were good nonetheless. They were a bit harder than the worms but had quite a lot of flavor. 

Gold Emblem Pistachios - My husband had been telling me for about a week that he wanted to get some pistachios to keep in his truck so he did not go too long through the day without eating so he just about jumped up and tackled me when I pulled a bag out of the package!  He was so thrilled with the taste and I have to admit that I was not a huge fan of pistachios before receiving this bag but Gold Emblem has totally changed my mind. They were really tasty and my husband has already put these on my CVS shopping list! 

Gold Emblem Chocolate Chip Cookies - Okay, these are not exactly a healthy snack; however, they came just in the nick of time (i.e., I had PMS). I have really been avoiding commercially prepared cookies, pies, etc. but these cookies are a must to keep around for PMS emergencies. They were SO GOOD. There were tons of chocolate chips and the chocolate was of a higher quality than I expected. They were definitely a great sweet snack and one cookie is only 75 calories. 

Gold Emblem Whole Almonds Raw - For some reason, I was convinced that I did not like almonds. I can't remember if I have had a bad experience with them in the past but I reluctantly gave these a try and was pleasantly surprised at how delicious they taste. I have been doing a lot of research on healthy foods and kept coming across almonds as a great snack food and I am certain that I will always keep a bag of these at work. Just a small 1/4 cup is all I need to satisfy my hunger

Gold Emblem Cinnamon Honey Almonds  - When I realized my aversion to almonds was unfounded, I excitedly dug in to this amazing variety. These were the perfect solution to a craving for something sweet! The mixture of the cinnamon ad honey made these already tasty almonds incredibly delicious.  

Gold Emblem Fancy Whole Cashews - Cashews are one of my all-time favorite nuts. They have such a distinct flavor and these were definitely some of the better cashews I have tasted. They were extremely fresh! 

I was happy with each of the different foods I sampled and would never have guessed by taste alone that these are store brand. I would not hesitate to buy any of these snacks and really encourage you to give Gold Emblem a try!

Buy it here: You can purchase Gold Emblem products at your local CVS.

I was provided with the above mentioned products for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own. 

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Gorton's Seafood Challenge Review and Giveaway!

I have been changing my eating habits recently and am trying to not only lose weight, but also permanently change my lifestyle to a healthier one. If I could eat shrimp everyday, I would. It is one of my favorite foods. Unfortunately, going out for shrimp dinner can get expensive and cooking from scratch is just not something I do very often. Gorton's Seafood has been in business since 1849 and sells frozen seafood which can be easily prepared.  

Encouraging Americans to "eat seafood twice a week", they have an amazing collection of recipes and 20 products that are 200 calories or less. Did you know the following benefits of eating fish thanks to the omega-3 fatty acids:
Promote heart health
Decrease blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels
Improve arthritis and joint pain
Lessen symptoms of depression and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Support eye health
Enhance brain growth and development
Aid brain growth in unborn babies, infants and kids
Decrease the risk for certain cancers
Reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

Gorton's has a great selection of recipes to choose from and I have made some in the past and have never been disappointed. This time, I decided to try the following super-easy recipe:

Scampi Shrimp with Broccoli & Linguine
Ingredients
12 oz Gorton's Scampi Sauced Shrimp
8 oz broccoli florets, frozen
8 oz linguine, prepared

Instructions
Combine Gorton's Sauced Shrimp in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, cook 10-14 minutes, stirring occasionally, serve over linguine & enjoy!

Results:  This was definitely a great quick weekday meal and it sure beats hot dogs and macaroni and cheese or whatever else gag-me-but-quick-to-make-meals that we tend to subject ourselves to when we don't have the time or energy to make a decent meal.  It was a bit blander than I expected so if I make this dish again I think I will saute a clove of garlic in with the shrimp and broccoli and I think this would make a real difference with the taste. You could also add just about any vegetable you want. I used a whole grain pasta for the added health benefit. I also got some of the butterfly breaded shrimp for my kids to eat since I was not sure they would go for the Scampi Shrimp with Broccoli Linguine and it was an instant hit. They both love shrimp and were fighting over who got more!

Buy it here: Gorton's products can be found in your local grocer's freezer section. 

Connect here: Gorton's can be found on Facebook (where they offer weekly Gorton's products up for giveaway), Twitter, and Pinterest. Plus, check out the Gorton's website for an updated look! 

Win it here: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
I was provided with the above mentioned products for the purpose of facilitating this review. All views expressed are my own. 

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Live Q&A Find Out If Your Student Athlete Is At Risk for Sudden Heart Failure

DID YOU KNOW?
If defibrillation is administered within one minute of collapse, the survival rate for sudden heart failure goes up 90 percent. “Timing is key to survival. Waiting even 10 minutes to defibrillate drops the chances of survival to 10 percent,” says John Lynn Jefferies, MD.

There is a free, live, on-line Q and A where you and your readers can ask questions in real time.  It’s a chance to talk to knowledgeable and experienced doctors and get answers right on the spot.  I know you may think that you may never need this (and let's hope you won't) but as a parent with two children in sports, I definitely want to learn more! 

The Q and A takes place April 9th from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. EST with Jeffrey Towbin, MD and John Lynn Jefferies, MD. Check out the link below for more information!

RSVP Here! : http://liveevent.cincinnatichildrensblog.org/events/heart-failure-athletes

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Vicks DayQuil & NyQuil Review #spon

I work in a medical center so I am around germs all the time and try my best to keep myself from bringing illness home to my family.  I wash my hands frequently, get my flu shot every year, and try to eat healthy to keep my immune system as strong as possible.  Despite my best efforts, I still get sick quite frequently during cold and flu season. The problem is, when you are a mom you can't exactly take a sick day from your mommy duties when you are under the weather.  

When I do get sick, I do my best to balance rest with the necessity of keeping up with the demands of my family. Just recently I came down with a nasty cold and was thrilled when one day into my cold the mailman brought me some Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil - it was like a divine intervention. Ok,  I was expecting it thanks to this campaign but it still could not have come at a better time.  

Vicks DayQuil Cold & Flu Relief is a non-drowsy formula made to ease five symptoms of a cold - aches, fever, sore throat, stuffy head, and cough - so you can get on with your day.   The active ingredients in the formula work to suppress the impulse to cough and help clear nasal congestion for easier breathing.  I received LiquiCaps to try and they worked great on my cold. Aside from allowing myself to sleep in one day during my week-long cold, I was able to get through a full week of work and still attend to my family.  It did a great job of suppressing my cough and, although the cold decreased my energy, I was not drowsy at all taking it.  

Vicks NyQuil Cold & Flu Relief is formulated to relieve nighttime sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, and fever for a restful night's sleep when suffering from a cough, cold, or flu.  I did not use any medicine the first 24 hours of my cold and I had the worst night's sleep ever. It seemed liked every time I dosed off, I would start coughing uncontrollably and wake again. Once I used the NyQuil, I slept like a baby! I did not wake up at all and the next morning I had no "hangover effect" and felt well rested.  I received the liquid form and it took effect - at least with the cough suppression - fast. I took it about 30 minutes before I went to sleep and was able to fall asleep pretty easily.

If you get sick and want to try Vicks, please consider the following:

• Remember before trying any new medication make sure to check with your doctor & follow the proper recommended course of treatment.
• DayQuil & Nyquil is not recommended for children younger than 12. Please be sure to consult your physician before giving DayQuil & NyQuil to children.
• When using DayQuil/NyQuil, be sure to follow the usage guidelines for warnings and dosage directions or visit http://www.vicks.com for more information.

Buy it here:  Vicks DayQuil and NyQuil products are available nationwide at drug stores, grocery stores, and mass merchants.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Vicks DayQuil & NyQuil. I received product samples and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

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Zupers Everyday Activewear Review

It is almost time to put those winter clothes away and pull out the shorts and tank tops! My 7-year old daughter, Bella, loves fashion but it is more important to her that she feels good in what she wears and that it does not hold back her active lifestyle. Zupers offers a line of shorts that are multifunctional. They can be paired with dresses and shirts, can be worn with a nicer top, or can be used for play. They are made from rip-resistant, yet soft and silky fabric. Plus, they offer UV protection and are moisture wicking to keep your little one looking and feeling cool.  Plus, they have a secret treasure pocket! The US-made shorts are available in a variety of colors and designs and are available in sizes 6 months to 14 years.

Review: Unfortunately, the weather is still pretty frightful in Pennsylvania but I was able to get Bella to try them on and move around a bit in her Zupers shorts.  She was immediately smitten with the bright pink color and was very happy with how they felt. They fit close to the skin but, since they are really stretchy, they did not feel tight at all. She was able to bend, twist, jump and more in the shorts without any resistance from the fabric or design.  They are true to size and fit her really well.  She loved them so much that she begged me to let her wear them for the day. Since it was only 32 degrees outside I had to offer her a raincheck but it was nice to see her so comfortable!  I am certain these shorts will get worn often this summer!



Buy it here: You can shop for a nice selection of girl's clothes on the Zupers website.




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.

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Students Go Gourmet Review and Giveaway

When I first moved out of my parent's house I was totally clueless when it came to cooking. Seriously - my husband had to teach me how to make scrambled eggs! Getting out on your own has numerous challenges, and for some that means learning how to cook. Students Go Gourmet: Simple Gourmet for Every Day by Sophia Khan and Ellen Bass is a collection of fresh, healthy, and easy recipes that are designed to fit a student's budget.  It was created to allow students (or really anyone on a budget) the chance to make delicious meals with readily available ingredients. It contains 16 chapters with recipes inspired by the author's studies abroad in Italy, England, Scotland, and China.

With the recipes from find foods/appetizers to "4-star" meals, the author's aim to have the readers learn:

• How simple it is to cook healthy and fresh recipes on a limited budget
• The necessary ingredients and tools to stock a pantry for ready-to-use ease
• How to curb the late night munchies with unique finger foods designed to give you some energy
• How to prepare a full meal for guests inspired by eclectic cities around the world 
• How to cook through a complimentary video and user-friendly, easily referenced directory which categorizes the food, explains cooking terms, and equipment needed

Review: There is a very nice selection of recipes in this book and there are so many features that I love:

• There is a cost estimate for each recipes
• There are pictures for every recipe
• The authors list not only the ingredients necessary, but also the kitchen tools and equipment up front
• There is a great selection of recipes - some more "gourmet" than others but most looking really delicious
• It comes with a how-to DVD so even the most inexperienced of cooks can enjoy some really delicious recipes
• The instructions were very easy to follow
• There is a really nice "Culinary Lingo" section - I even learned a thing or two!

The dishes looked amazing to me but they were not generally kid-friendly. I do look forward to cooking a few different dishes when my kids won't be home for dinner (the Artichoke Bruschetta is first on my list).  There were some family-friendly desserts so I decided to make Mint Fudge Brownies to help celebrate Saint Patrick's Day last week.

Recipe: Mint Fudge Brownies

Ingredients:

10 Mint Creme Sandwich Cookies, crushed

Fudge brownie mix from the box

1 tablespoon peppermint extract

1 cup sour cream

Vegetable oil, water, and eggs as per package directions

Equipment:

Mixing bowl

8x8 baking dish

Measuring cupes and spoons

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients. You can use your hands (your best cooking tools!) to crush the cookies into the batter. Mix vigorously until everything is blended.

3. For thick, moist brownies, pour into an 8x8 cooking dish and bake as per package directions.

Results: Mmmmmm.....these were really tasty! I was worried that them mint flavor would be overpowering but it was just the right amount of mint/chocolate mixture. They were really moist and super-thick. They were a perfect, easy dessert for Saint Patty's Day but I have a feeling I will be making this recipe year-around.

Buy it here: You can purchase Students Go Gourmet from Barnes&Noble.com and from Amazon. A portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to sustainable post-hurricane redevelopment efforts in the Ninth Ward in New Orleans.

Win it here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was provided with a copy of this cookbook in order to facilitate the review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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nuNAAT Hair Care GIVEAWAY!!!

This is seriously, I mean seriously, the BEST hair care products I have ever used. My hair looks amazing after use and now you have the chance to win a set of Brazilian Keratin products for you AND a friend!! 

 The winner will receive the following products with an estimated retail value of $65:

• 2 NAAT Brazilian Keratin Daily Care Shampoo
• 2 NAAT Brazilian Keratin Daily Care Conditioner
• 2 NAAT Brazilian Keratin Intensive Hair Mask
• 2 NAAT Brazilian Keratin Liquid Keratin Leave-In Reconstructor
• 2 NAAT Brazilian Keratin Serum Ultra Shine

TO ENTER: Visit the  nuNAAT Facebook Page 
When entering, be sure to select CAKE MOM from the drop-down menu so they know who sent you!! 

Rules:
CONTEST DATES: March 23, 2013 - April 13, 2013
Only ONE entry PER PERSON, PER DAY will be accepted.
Winner will be announced April 15, 2013 by e-mail. If response from winner is not received within 24 hours, a new winner will be chosen.
PRIVACY: Your email will not be shown and will be kept private.
ELIGIBILITY: Giveaways are open to readers 18 years or older with U.S. or Canada shipping addresses only (no PO boxes).

No purchase necessary to enter or win

I am being entered into a blogger contest for posting this contest.

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Sign Up for Exclusive Purex Savings

In April, Purex will be releasing not just one but TWO exclusive coupons to their e-newsletter subscribers. In order to have access to these digital coupons, consumers not already signed up for the Purex e-Newsletter must opt-in by next Friday, March 29.

You can add themselves to the newsletter via this link: www.purex.com/newsletter

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Piczzle Picture Puzzle Review & Giveaway!

Mother's Day Gift Idea - Create a Picture Puzzle! 

I am always looking for unique gifts for Christmas and birthdays and personalized ones are really the best to give. Piczzle Photo Puzzles is an internet-based retail and manufacturing service of custom jigsaw photo puzzles. They are constructed of a premium grade cardboard that has been laminated with a glossy finish. They are precision press cut so all pieces will perfectly match one another and they are printed using an advanced digital printing technique. 

Review: I was given the opportunity to review a medium cardboard puzzle.  We took our first Disney trip last year so I figured this would be a great way to commemorate the vacation. The ordering process was so simple and I was very pleased with how easy it was to upload the photo and customize.  I ordered the puzzle on March 13th and received it on March 18th - WOW! 

The puzzle came in a very nice little box with a picture of the puzzle on the outside.  The puzzle pieces themselves were enclosed in a resealable bag. It is the often the little things that impress me but I must say I wish all puzzles came with resealable bags! My daughter loses pieces so easily so this is a nice touch.  The photo quality was not as sharp as I was hoping. The colors were a bit off and you could see pixels. I am not sure, however, if this was really the fault of the company. I did use a cropped photo and since I did not complete the order process from my home computer I used a Facebook picture so the quality may have been my fault.  I have used other photo companies in the past that will alert you if the picture you submitted was low resolution so, if this was the case, then this would be a suggestion I would have for the company.  I would still be willing to try the company out again in the future and would love to order a bigger and more challenging puzzle that would keep my daughter and I busy. 

Connect here: You can find out more about this company through Piczzle Photo Puzzles on Facebook and Piczzle Photo Puzzles on YouTube. 

Buy it here: Piczzle Photo Puzzles are available in a variety of sizes and with a variety of customization options.   They are available in 6 to 2,00 pieces and start at $14.95.

Win it here:

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.

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