Emily — MomStart

Have You Ever Wondered What It Is Like to Raise an Olympian?

May 12, 2012 By Momstart 18 Comments

By Emily:

As part of Procter & Gamble’s “Thank you Mom” campaign, I was given a special opportunity find out for myself and join a roundtable discussion with U.S. Olympians, Team USA hopefuls and their moms. This great opportunity came just hours after P&G, the world’s largest consumer products maker, made the announcement on the Today show that it would be giving each of the moms of all U.S. Olympians and Paralympians a $1,000 Visa reward card to use for their travels to London for the 2012 Olympic games. What an amazing Mother’s Day gift! Here’s a clip of the fantastic announcement:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Following this exciting news, I was able to join these Olympians and their moms during a roundtable discussion via phone. Some of the amazing athletes included:

· Shawn Johnson, 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in gymnastics and her mom, Teri Johnson

· Ashton Eaton, World record holder in Heptathlon and mom, Roslyn Eaton

· Diana Lopez, Tae Kwon Do Olympian and her mother, Ondina Lopez

· Sarah Robles, 2012 Olympian Weightlifter and her mom, Joy Robles

· Jordyn Wieber, 2011 World Champion in gymnastics and mom, Rita Wieber.

· Margie Walsh, mother to Kerri Walsh, Team USA Volleyball Champion.

· Barbara Rogers, adoptive mom to Lopez Lomong, a member of the 2008 Summer Olympic team.

· Marlene Shirley, adoptive mother of Marlon Shirley – Gold medalist and world record holding Paralympian.

Both the athletes and their moms recounted some inspiring and heartwarming stories. To start out the discussion the athletes were asked the all-important question: What was the best advice your mother ever gave you?

Ashton replied that his mom always told him that with whatever he wanted to do, to do it to the best of his ability. She also explained the importance of being respectful and not stepping on others along the way.

Sarah Roble’s mom has told her to do her best, have fun and give it one hundred percent. Sometimes that one hundred percent won’t be enough, but give it your all, and you can have no regrets.

A fellow blogger, and mother of a 9 year old sports player, asked, “How much do you let them do? How do you ensure their well-being and balance family with sports?”

Teri Johnson replied, “Know your child and what they can take. Not every child can do it…know their limits”.

Margie Walsh added, “Do other things. Be a normal kid. You don’t want to burn out at a young age. Do the parties. Do the sleepovers. As they get older they can make those choices between social activities and sports.”

Caroline, from smartypantsmom.com asked the question, “What was that wow moment when you thought ‘this kid has talent’?”

Barbara Rogers commented on her adoptive son Lopez Lomong, “Lopez was one of the lost boys of Sudan, and when he came to us everyone thought he was a soccer player, but the local soccer team was rowdy and we suggested the cross country team. Once he realized he could do good and believed in himself, he had so much support from the team and other parents.” An inspiring fact about Lopez Lomong was that just one year after gaining US citizenship, he carried the flag for the US at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Marlene Shirley, mom to Marlon Shirley added, “Marlon was at a crossroads in his life and was on crutches. We were living in Utah and he wanted to go up to Idaho and do high jump. He was an amputee competing in the high jump, and when he went to do with it with a prosthetic device he broke the record. His coach then told us about the Paralympics. We had never heard of the Paralympics. It was a wow moment.”

In the spirit of Mother’s Day and in anticipation of the 2012 Olympics in London, P&G has released a moving commercial that reflects on the same commitment, sacrifice, joy and pain that the moms of Olympians all over the world share. I advise viewers to have the Kleenex ready!

Momstart wishes Team USA athletes and their families all the best at 2012 Olympic Game in London!

To learn more about P&G’s “Thank you Mom” campaign, please visit http://www.facebook.com/thankyoumom

Disclosure – Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Emily:

Emily is also very active in the local MOMS CLUB. She raises chickens and has 2 shih tzus. Her daughter Caitlyn attends Montessori school and she hates housecleaning, loves wine and enjoys dining out. She would love to find a cure for the depression and anxiety she has dealt with on and off over the past 10 years, just like me. She is an amazing mom and friend.

Filed Under: Emily Tagged With: Olympian, olympics, P&G, Procter & Gamble, thank you mom

Disney’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie Review

February 13, 2012 By Momstart 155 Comments

By Emily:

Valentine’s Day is almost here! Time for red and roses, hearts and chocolates, and little gifts and greetings. We love to celebrate this holiday as a family by baking special pink treats, decorating with hearts, and making special valentines for each other. This year, as an extra special treat for my little sweethearts, we gave them an early Valentine’s Day gift: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie on DVD. Who better to help celebrate the day of love with America’s sweetest cartoon couple: Mickey and Minnie Mouse!

Releasing for the first time on DVD and Digital Copy, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie has been packaged to include five, fun-filled episodes – each underlining the themes of friendship, teamwork, sharing and problem solving – and an all new bonus feature “You’re Invited to Minnie’s Birthday Party,” as well as two complimentary Best Friend necklaces to keep as mementos and/or to share with a very special someone this Valentine’s Day.

The five classic episodes include:

· Minnie & Daisy’s Flower Shower (All-New, Never-Before-Seen) - The botanical highlight of the year is in trouble, unless Minnie and Daisy can get their flowers to bloom! Together, they board the glove balloon to help coax the clouds to sprinkle much needed rain.

· Daisy’s Dance – Clap your hands and tap your feet! Join Daisy, as she gets ready for one of the most important events of her life––performing in the big talent show!

· Daisy’s Pet Project – The Pet Parade is almost here and Daisy needs to find the perfect animal for which she can love and care. But it’s not as easy as she thinks and soon she has three new friends: an elephant named Bubbles, a giraffe called Longfellow and a bunny called Captain Jumps-a-lot!

· Minnie’s Rainbow – After a brightly colored rainbow appears over the clubhouse, Minnie searches for the pot of gold that’s supposed to be at its end. Along the way, she meets a leprechaun and discovers that not all treasure turns out to be as she expected!

· Minnie’s Birthday – Today is Minnie’s birthday, but the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse friends need to set up her birthday party.

As big fans of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on Disney Junior, my girls couldn’t wait to watch all five episodes featured on this DVD. Especially Minnie & Daisy’s Flower Shower which of course, they had never seen before. I asked them what their favorite part was and without a doubt, it was the opening theme song! With five episodes, they got parade around and sing along five times. But to be more specific to this DVD, my oldest daughter loved it when the birthday cake came out at Minnie’s party. My daughter’s birthday is just around the corner so I think I understand why this really appealed to her. My younger daughter liked the rainbows and calling out the colors, and I love the way Mickey Mouse Clubhouse incorporates learning into the fun.

In celebration of the February 7th release of Disney’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie on DVD and just in time for Valentine’s Day, Disney has created a special Valentine’s Day Fun Pack! This fun pack includes a Cookie Recipe, Mailbag Craft, and Sharing Cards! No need for me to buy our classroom Valentines this year; we’ll be using these super sweet printables instead!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie ($19.99) can be purchased online or at your favorite retailer.

Disclosure – This product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Patricia C.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

About Emily:

Filed Under: Emily, giveaway, Movie review, review Tagged With: Disney, giveaway, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I Heart Minnie on DVD, Minnie

The Amazing Mat Keep Your Floors Clean and Germ Free

February 11, 2012 By Momstart 11 Comments

My kids fully understand that the first rule upon entering our house is “shoes off!” It’s like second nature to them now and it helps put my germ-phobic mind at ease. However, one thing that still makes me cringe is the thought of what is on my dogs’ paws when they come inside after doing their business outside. I feel like I’m constantly floor cleaning, especially around the doggie door, which is no fun and time consuming. But just recently the simple solution to my problems was introduced to me: The Amazing Mat!

The Amazing Mat is not an ordinary rubber, fabric or grass door mat. It is constructed of separate layers of specially designed clear "sticky" sheets that collect dirt and germs when stepped on. The anti-bacterial adhesive traps 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria. After the top sheet of the mat is dirty from capturing mud, dirt, allergens, fungus, mold and even feces – simply peel away the recyclable sheet to reveal 29 more underneath. The mat is safe and easy to walk on for adults, children and pets.

A few reasons why The Amazing Mat is so amazing:

· Save your health – provides a cleaner, more sanitary environment for your entire family
· Save time – less dust means less vacuuming, mopping and cleaning!
· Satisfaction Guaranteed – cut your cleaning time in half, or your money back
· Save the environment – recycle used sheets with your other plastics

I’ve been able to see firsthand exactly what would be tracked through my laundry room if we did not have the Amazing Mat in front of the doggie door. Yikes, it isn’t pretty. Each Amazing Mat sheet usually lasts 3 – 7 days, and with my dogs, I seem to be using new sheets twice a week. I have been able to cut back on my time spent cleaning as well, which is priceless.

Some of its versatile uses:

· Place it at the door to your garage to prevent harmful chemicals from being tracked into your home
· Place it at the entrance of the baby’s nursery to keep the room sanitary and your baby safe
· Place it at the front door to reduce pollen for allergy sufferers
· Place it at the front of a doggie door to remove dirt and bacteria from pet paws or next to a kitty litter box

The Amazing Mat comes in a six different designs to go with every décor! Each mat is 25"x31" and has a non-skid backing so it can be placed on hard surfaces or carpet. The sticky sheets attach easily on top and create a cost-effective means of keeping your home clean and sanitary.

The Amazing Mat ($29.95) is available in six different designs and can be purchased at www.theamazingmat.com. For Phone Orders Call: (855) 426-9628.

About Emily:

Filed Under: Emily, review Tagged With: "sticky" sheets that collect dirt and germs, stomp out the germs, The Amazing Mat

Wuggle Pets Build ‘Em With Love & Care Review

January 30, 2012 By Momstart 2 Comments

By Emily,

I think there is some unwritten formula that when you have children, you will own no less than 20 stuffed animals per child by the time they are 2. By the time they are 4, you double that, and by 6 years of age that number will equal more than you can count! So once you have a couple dozen stuffed animals, what’s a couple dozen more? The latest and greatest stuffed animals that my kids have been dying to check out are Wuggle Pets. Yes, they saw them on TV and instantly fell in love. So when I was given the opportunity to review a Wuggle Pets starter kit, I had to say yes!

If you aren’t familiar with Wuggle Pets, they are unique baby animals that kids get to assemble, choose personalities for and name themselves. Add a little magic dust, and their new stuffed animals are brought to life as they turn the handle on their special animal making gadget (a.k.a. Wuggle Fun Fill Factory). The 12 piece starter kit ($19.99) includes the Wuggle Fun Fill factory and everything you need to create two pets. Additional pets can be purchased for $7.99 if your kids want to add more to their collection.

Just opening the package and recognizing the colorful box, made my girls go nuts. When I tried to take a moment to read the directions, my 5 year old informed me she already knew how to do it from the commercial. And crazy enough, she did, it’s super simple:

Just place half the stuffing into the Wuggle Fun Fill Factory, sprinkle a little magic dust (star confetti) in it and top off with the other half of the stuffing.

Place the cap on the Wuggle Fun Fill Factory and attach your Wuggle Pet to the front of it.

Turn the handle about a couple dozen times and watch the cute little pet plump up.

As if that wasn’t fun enough for my kids, they then get to pick personality charms to put inside their Wuggle Pet. My older daughter liked the sassy and brave charms. My younger like the sweet and loving charms. No surprise to me, their wobble pets were taking on characteristics similar to themselves!

The final step required a helping hand from me to fully zip and fasten the pet. I was actually impressed that these stuffed animals are nicely constructed and quite soft. Not some cheap-o favor toy, I know our Wuggle Pets will put up with a lot of love from my kids. And so far their Wuggle Pets are getting lots of love. These little pets are the perfect size to travel with and the attached clip keeps them secure on coats and bags without the worry of losing them.

For more information or to place an order you can visit Wuggle Pets. Be sure to check out the Party Pack Set which includes all eight of the current Wuggle Pets. This set would be the perfect activity for both boys and girls at a birthday party or special playdate. For an additional $7.99 each (includes shipping and handling) you can also give your Wuggle Pet its very own voice with a Magical Voice Box that allows you to add a personalized message to your pet! For the next Wuggle Pet set we create, I’m planning to record a loving message for each of my girls so that they have an extra special comfort toy wherever they go.

SAVE MONEY

Special Tip (as of 1/27/12): Save $5 on your order by visiting wugglepets.com and following the pop up when you try to close the main page.

Disclosure – These products were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Emily:

Filed Under: Emily, review Tagged With: build 'em with love & care, children's toy review, kids toy, review, toy review, wuggle pets

A Kids Exclusive Shopping Spree Experience

January 29, 2012 By Momstart 3 Comments

By Emily:

Since I became a mom nearly six years ago, online shopping has become a godsend for me. I love that my shopping can be completed on my computer while my littlest one naps and I can skip running around to various stores toting along snacks, diapers, sippy cups, toys, etc. Our home has become a regular stop on the FedEx, UPS and Postal Services delivery routes! Even if my package contains only baby stuff or cleaning supplies, it always feels a bit like Christmas to open up something that has been delivered to your door.

When it comes to shopping online for clothing, particularly kids clothing, I am always looking for a great deal since I know my girls will outgrow them in no time. I love the new daily deal shops that carry specialty designers because they will have something unique and quality made. The only trouble with these shopping sites is that 1. Many items really aren’t discounted that deeply and 2. The shipping can take nearly 3 – 5 weeks. Who knows if that outfit is still going to fit my kid by the time it arrives?!

A new shopping site, Kidsexclusive.com, is truly the latest and GREATEST place to find super cute clothes for kids 0 – 9 at amazing prices and with quick shipping!

From the creators of KidsExclusive.com:

KidsExclusive.com is the smart solution for the busier-than-ever mom, allowing you to get AMAZING BRANDS for INCREDIBLE PRICES so your family can look stylish without making you broke!

KidsExclusive.com was born from our frustration with existing deal sites which have a snobbish attitude (you have to be a member to see the deals) combined with bad customer service (extremely slow delivery, no return policy).

When we shared our feelings with other moms, we found out they shared the same views. We then decided to create something completely different – a FRIENDLY DEAL SITE!

A site that is easy to navigate, that would show the deals to all moms, that would SHIP QUICKLY (so mom gets them when she needs them) and that will take back the merchandise- no questions asked- if mom doesn’t like them.

Being friendly is our approach to life and that’s exactly we want our site to be!

What is special about KidsExclusive.com?

Being friendly is not just a tagline. It is an attitude that you can experience while working with us:

No need to be invited or to subscribe to enjoy our deals
A robust variety of Premium Brands, usually found in exclusive department stores.
Real Discounts - everything is 30% to 90% off retail price!
Speedy Delivery – within 24 hours of you placing the order the product leaves our facility. That’s what we call fast service!
A No Hassle Return Policy. Don’t like the product? Send it back! We’ll take it, no questions asked.

My recent experience with KidsExclusive.com was wonderful. There were so many great brands to shop and the deals were incredible, I ended up searching through just about every page to make sure I wouldn’t miss out anything. I was excited that so many of the items were perfect for spring and summer and not just winter closeouts like other sites offer. My only problem was narrowing down my shopping basket! I loved so many of the items but did have a budget to stick to. I ended up purchasing two super cute Jelly the Pug dresses, one Jelly the Pug skirt, a pair of super skinny distressed IT Jeans, a Ragdoll and Rocket tunic, and a colorful blouse from Pink Tangerine. My total, including the flat $5.95 shipping, was $118! If I had purchased these items at full price my total would have been $249 for the entire lot.

You can take advantage of these same savings by visiting KidsExclusive.com. Be sure to check out the “Under $10” section for even more amazing deals. Right now you can earn a $20 credit for every new member you invite, just as soon as their first order ships. All these details can be found on the KidsExclusive.com homepage.

About Emily:

Filed Under: Emily, review Tagged With: clothing review, deal site, flash site, kids clothing, kids fashion, kidsexclusive, review, Shopping Spree

My BFF (best friend forever) Doll Is Fabulous! Review

December 17, 2011 By Momstart 4 Comments

By Emily,

I’ve been looking for an extra special doll for my oldest daughter. One that’s a step up from her plastic baby dolls and one she might keep forever, perhaps pass on down to her daughter one day. Thanks to My BFF Dolls, and the wonderful opportunity to review their new line of dolls, I think I may have found that special doll. My BFF Dolls are extra special because they are a fun line of create-your-own dolls that you and your child design together. From the creators of MyTwinn Dolls, My BFF (best friend forever) doll, gives girls the opportunity to become virtual “doll makers,” right at their own computer. The process is quite simple too:

1. Log onto www.MyBFFDoll.com and click “Start” to begin designing your own doll.

2. Create! Customizable features include: six face shape options, four skin tone options, nine eye color options, 12 hair style options, 5 hair color options, the option of adding earrings and eyeglasses and 10 clothing options.

The design step was so much fun for both my daughter and I. We enjoyed mixing up the features and creating a few different dolls. Finally, my daughter chose a doll that was most similar to her, short blonde hair, blue eyes and selected a sweet pink tee and jeans. Oh, and sunglasses, a girl can’t forget those accessories! You also get to pick out a name so we named our doll Clare, which is my daughter’s middle name.

3. If you need to, you can save your doll to complete it later as well as share your completed images with friends and family.

4.When you’re ready, place your order! Because My BFF dolls are hand-crafted one doll at a time, it takes about 2 – 3 weeks to arrive, but believe me, the wait is well worth it!

Two weeks after placing our order, the My BFF doll arrived in a carefully packaged box. This is, with all honesty, the most stunning doll I’ve ever seen. My husband was quite impressed as well! It’s not just all the wonderful hand painted details and quality materials that I adore, but the uniqueness of this doll and the fact that is was designed with love by my daughter and I.

The first feature that caught my attention was her eyes! They truly sparkle and have the most amazing lashes. Her hair, which is super soft and shiny, is also thick and easy to manage. I know that sounds like a shampoo commercial, but it’s the truth, the materials are high quality and I have no fear that it will last many rounds of hair salon play with my daughter.

Included with our package was a Doll Care Guide that provides cleaning and care tips. If there is an unfortunate event and your doll needs repair, there is also a Doll Hospital Admissions Form with various services you can select and their prices. These services include: Doll Makeovers, Heirloom Restoration, replacing eyelashes, new hair (just in case there is that accidental hair cutting episode) and you can even get your doll’s ears pierced.

My BFF dolls are 23 inches tall and can stand on their own. Each doll features 18 joints along the body and can pose in hundreds of positions. My BFF Dolls are compatible with My Twinn clothing and accessories for optimal playtime fun. Each doll retails for $149 and more information, including special bonus offers, can be found at www.myBFFDoll.com or www.mytwinn.com.

I heart our new BFF Doll!

About Emily:

Filed Under: Emily, review Tagged With: Doll review, My Best Friend Forever Doll, MYBFF Doll, toy review

NCircle Entertainment Halloween DVD Review Kooky Spooky Halloween & Tricks and Treats

October 16, 2011 By Momstart 4 Comments

By Reviewer Emily:

When October rolls around, I get my TIVO ready to search out all sorts of Halloween programs on television. There are plenty that I can watch after the kids go to bed: Horror movies, creepy ghost documentaries, Halloween themed cooking and decorating shows, etc. However, there isn’t much for my 2 and 5 year old to choose from. At these ages, many of the kid shows are still too scary or they are just a bunch of garbage. When I was given the opportunity to review NCircle Entertainment’s PBS Halloween DVD Line, I was thrilled since my kids and I both love PBS programming. The two DVDs, Kooky Spooky Halloween and Tricks and Treats, feature two of our favorite PBS Kids’ shows, WordWorld and The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That.

In Kooky Spooky Halloween, the WordFriends get their share of scares the night before Halloween, when Pig sleep walks and everyone thinks he’s a ghost. Then, Sheep is making herself a super special fairy costume to wear for the big Halloween Party. But what will she do when her WordFriends need pieces of her costume for their own use?

Tricks and Treats features The Cat (voice by Martin Short) and his friends Nick, Sally, Fish and the Things. Meet the eeriest critters you have ever seen, arrived just in time for this Halloween! There’ll be lots of tricks and, of course lots of treats, to share with the animal friends you will meet! There’s a coconut crab, spider monkeys and bats, and plenty more fun with The Cat in the Hat!

Each DVD is 30 minutes long and are not only fun for getting into the Halloween spirit, but pretty educational as well. The Emmy award-winning WordWorld, uses rhyming, phonetics and spelling in each episode as well as colorful motion graphics to keep both kids and parents entertained. The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That series is just plain fun with the use of classic Dr. Seuss rhyming and silliness. The animation looks like it jumped right from the pages of the well-known books. Both Kooky Spooky Halloween and Tricks and Treats are big hits in our home and two DVDs I don’t mind watching over and over (and over and over) again!

Kooky Spooky Halloween and Tricks and Treats can be found at your local retailer or online, including www.NcircleEntertainment.com. They typically retail for about $6.99 each (but I recently visited NCircle Entertainment’s website and both DVD’s were on sale for $5.99 each). Be sure to also visit NCircle Entertainment on Facebook for a chance to win in their DVD Giveaway.

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Emily:

Filed Under: Emily, review Tagged With: Children's DVD, NCircle, ncircle entertainment, PBS, review, Tricks and Treats, Word World, WordWorld

Tastefully Simple Cozy Comfort Kit Review

October 15, 2011 By Momstart 16 Comments

By Emily:

I love fall. I have always looked forward to the change in the season from summer to fall. As a kid, perhaps having an autumn birthday had something to do with it; but now I love it for the cooler temperatures, the warm red, orange and gold colors outdoors, and the comforting seasonal food we serve in our home. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy the carefree days of summer without alarm clocks and schools schedules, but I can only take so much of the summer salads, sandwiches and grilled meat. By September, I am ready to pull out my slow cooker and put my casserole dishes to good use.

However, I can’t always put together that warm comforting meal from scratch every single day. To help, I’ve discovered a great line of food products from Tastefully Simple that make it easy to prepare a delicious, comforting meal. I had the opportunity to try out Tastefully Simple’s Cozy Comfort Kit which included their Perfectly Potato Cheddar Soup, Bountiful Beer Bread Mix and Nana’s Apple Cake Mix. All were tasty and simple to prepare!

The bread directions called for 12 oz. of beer or carbonated beverage (we used club soda) and 3T melted butter (optional). Once the oven was preheated, we popped it in the oven for 55 minutes.

Now what could be easier? Well, the soup! The Perfectly Potato Cheddar Soup requires 6 Cups water, a pot, spoon and 30 minutes on the stove.

Nana’s Apple Cake Mix required a little more prep: 2 cups chopped apples and 2 eggs, but I could hardly call that complicated. I put this in the oven for 45 minutes while we enjoyed dinner and served it warm out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

I can certainly say that Tastefully Simple’s Cozy Comfort Kit is easy to prepare, but before I began cooking, I was a little suspicious what it would end up tasting like. After cooking, I was pleasantly surprised at how good the entire meal was! The soup smelled amazing while it cooked, and tasted just about as close as you can get to homemade. It had the perfect consistency, not too runny, not too thick and it was so yummy soaked up in the bread.

So onto the bread, let me tell you about this bread! The loaf had a slightly toasted crust and the inside was soft and warm. It is dense bread, but the carbonated beverage made it taste much lighter than other quick breads. There was a hint of sweetness to it, which made it slightly addicting to me. Our family managed to finish off two-thirds of the loaf at dinner. As for the other half, err…well I’m not proud, let’s leave it at that.

Tastefully Simple’s Cozy Comfort Kit was a convenient way to warm our bellies on a rainy fall day. The Perfectly Potato Cheddar Soup was enjoyed by the whole family and the Bountiful Beer Bread made the made the perfect accompaniment to these warm bowls of soup. Nana’s Apple Cake was a real treat for dessert, but I must admit it is great for breakfast too!

A couple other things that impressed me:

1. The kit arrived in a lovely blue canvas bag which would make it a great “Under $20” gift idea.

2. Tastefully Simple’s website, www.tastefullysimple.com, includes many recipes you can use to further enhance your product or create something new to enjoy!

3. I can reorder these items with ease from their website or through independent Tastefully Simple consultants. Now if they only sold the Bountiful Beer Bread by the case!

About Tastefully Simple from www.tastefullysimple.com:

“We offer a wide selection of convenient, easy-to-prepare foods designed to help people spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the rest of their lives. Our products are available through independent Tastefully Simple consultants primarily at home taste-testing parties nationwide.”

About Emily:

Filed Under: Emily, review Tagged With: Cozy Comfort Kit, Nana’s Apple Cake Mix, review, Tastefully Simple

Stanley Home GrimeGuard™ Glass Cleaner Foaming Spray

October 1, 2011 By Momstart 28 Comments

From MomStart Reviewer Emily!

It’s nearly impossible to childproof your windows and doors from little bitty fingerprints. There seems to be some magnetic force in my household that attracts them to the glass on a daily basis. This means I am using a window cleaner just as often. So when I was given the opportunity to review Stanley Home’s new GrimeGuard™ Glass Cleaner Foaming Spray I looked forward to checking it out. What makes this product unique is its protective shield that keeps surfaces cleaner, longer.

From the manufacturer:

The effective, dual-action foam combines powerful cleaning action of ammonia, plus GrimeGuard™!
GrimeGuard™ provides an invisible shield to guard against accumulated dirt and repel water spot build-up. This protective shield keeps surfaces cleaner longer and makes on-going cleaning, quick, and easy. Plus, the foaming spray is non-streaking and quick drying! Just spray surface lightly and wipe to a streak-free shine. 17 oz.

I thought the best place to try this out would be in our dining room. The eating area is more or less a wall of windows and a set a French doors. It really provides a lovely view of our deck and tall trees, but add mealtime and two small children, and our view becomes distorted with food splatters and finger prints. My youngest created this lovely finger painting with honey, so I figure this would be a great opportunity to try out the GrimeGuard™ Glass Cleaner.

My first impressions: The product sprays cleanly and the scent isn’t very strong. The foam allows you to apply the cleaner and wipe without racing to catch any drips. I can happily say there were no streaks (I used a microfiber cloth) and it didn’t take too much extra effort to clean up my daughter’s artwork. I had hoped to provide an “after” picture, but unfortunately, my camera does not do it justice.

As for the GrimeGuard, I am pleasantly surprised to see it does repel the dust. As I said before, there is no way to childproof the glass in a household with kids, but I would have to say that GrimeGuard™ Glass Cleaner Foaming Spray is a decent defense.

Oh, and as a bonus, you can use it for more than just windows. Use it to also clean: mirrors, chrome, ceramic tile, porcelain, car windows, and TV screens. You can find this product and other cleaning, home, and personal care products by Stanley Home.

More about Stanley Home and At Home Business Opportunities:

For 70 years, Stanley Home has been offering quality cleaning, home, and personal care products to North American homes and families. Stanley Home representatives are the heart of the company, helping sell great products at a great price, while enjoying the at-home business opportunities that come with being an independent Customer Representative.

About Emily:

Emily is also very active in the local MOMS CLUB. She raises chickens and has 2 shih tzus. Her daughter Caitlyn attends Montessori school and she hates housecleaning, she loves wine and dining out, and would love to find a cure for the depression and anxiety. She has dealt with on and off over the past 10 years just like me. She is an amazing mom and friend.

Filed Under: Emily, review Tagged With: cleaning, glass cleaner, Grimeguard, Home, product, review, Stanley Home