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The Importance of Always Being a Role Model

May 17, 2011 By 3 Comments

I’m constantly reminded that sponge one and sponge two are ALWAYS watching me. Zoe and Miles absorb everything I do, they absorb everything that everyone does, even their piers which isn’t always such a good thing. Some of my habits are not exactly what I want my children doing so I have to concentrate on being a good role model that they can look up too. IMG_0096

My grandmother was always giving to others. If you gave her a gift more than likely she would find someone that needed it rather than keep it herself. She did Meals on Wheels all the time and showed me the true meaning of giving. It’s because of her that I try to give as much as I can as well. I use my blog as a tool to give to our community, and it helps to teach Miles and Zoe to give too. They see me giving and hopefully they will learn to have a giving heart their entire lives too. I think I’m making some progress because on day Zoe told me, “Mommy, I when I grow up, I want to be a princess blogger”. So she’s got part of it down.

But more than just the giving, I really want to show them how to be strong, independent kind adults. The Milk Mustache Campaign on Facebook understands that moms are central in determining the type of people our children turn out to be as adults. They learn to make nutritious eating decisions, how to treat their friends, and how to make many other complicated decisions just by watching us.  The National Milk Mustache Got Milk campaign is now providing the resources and encouragement to help moms stay the course, Be A Role Model. The new interactive Milk Mustache Facebook page features a customizable ePostcard app that allows you to send a personal greeting to someone you know, and a really cute video with some of my bloggy friends. You’ll also find a many great recipes that include milk, so go check it out.

 

 

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the National Milk Mustache got milk? Campaign and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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My Steps to Living Healthy [Weight Watchers Smart Ones]

April 26, 2011 By 1 Comment

Personally, I’ve been making changes in my life to live more healthy for almost a year now and I’m quite happy with my progress. I’m eating more greens and cooking healthy for the entire family. I’m taking more time in making a meal plan and using lots of veggies as a filler. Any snacking in our house includes fruit and veggies.

As a family, I would say that our road to living healthy is a long one but one we work on a little bit every day. We have quite a bit of rain and colder weather here in the Pacific Northwest. In fact, I would say that personally I’m cold all year round and getting the kids to be more physical takes a lot of effort on my part. I have to get out there, have fun and show them that I’m willing to run and be crazy for them to go out and be crazy. Of course, being wild and crazy for the kids is actually helping my activity level as well so I’m winning two fold. Being an active example to the kids we go from….

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To…..

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I love seeing them work together to have a great time.

We have also decided that as a family we’re going to start walking every night after dinner and on nights that it’s raining outside we’re going to use the trampoline and our Kinect for some indoor exercise. We’re all learning about how healthy dessert can be. Fruit with a fat free whipped topping is quite an exciting thing for all of us.

So My Steps to Living Healthy:

Eat Smaller Meals – use a small plate, include protein, and low fat foods, with extra veggies

Increase your activity – lots of silliness, running, dancing, playing Kinect, take small steps, any activity counts as increased activity

Don’t Give Up!

 

Weight Watchers Smart Ones is making it easier to stay on track with a healthy meal plan without spending time on prep work beforehand. Their products provide a variety of delicious, convenient and portion controlled meals and snacks that contain lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. And now they are offering two new breakfast items – like the new Egg, Sausage & Cheese Wrap and the French Toast with Turkey Sausage. Plus, the packaging tells you the Weight Watchers PointsPlus values in each serving, allowing you to conveniently plan for the day. Visit www.eatyourbest.com for more information.

 

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Weight Watchers Smart Ones and received a promotional item and coupons to facilitate my review.”

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Aloha Old London Sweepstakes and Melba Toast Review

April 16, 2011 By 3 Comments

Aloha from miss Zoe! We received a package of three different types of Old London Melba Toast to try out and inside the box was a cute flower lei. Well of course that belongs to Zoe now…As it should you can see here:

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I had made plans to do something fancy with the toast because Old London also sent us quite a few different recipes to try, but it was Spring Break this week and my daughter has this new ants in her pants has to always be doing something mentality. It has something to do with preschool and growing up I think. Anyways! We were on the go all week and well, the Old London Melba Toast turned out to be the perfect on the go in the van kind of snack for the kids. At 60 calories a serving the kids were able to enjoy the Spicy Cheddar Bagel Chips one day and the Sea Salt Melba Toast another. Now Old London wants to help us fit into our Summer clothing selections, you know those bathing suits. Oh yeah, those! So they are encouraging us to make healthy food choices with simple foods in our everyday meals. The Old London Famous snacks are a great way to satisfy mid-day hunger when paired with light treats like salsa, Greek yogurt and cheese.

Melba Toast

In addition to making great healthy toast to further inspire healthy living, Old London has launched “Aloha Old London sweepstakes” This sweepstakes gives you the chance to be a guest in the beautiful Oahu, Hawaii with an all-expenses paid Hawaiian vacation. The winner will be invited to soak up the sun, enjoy the spa (I wish it was me already) and enjoy the surf. Oh, I would love the chance to visit Hawaii someday. I’m a beach sunshine girl through and through. Oh and did I forget to mention the winner will also be treated to private cooking lessons during the four-day, three-night all expenses-paid trip?

Enter the Aloha Old London Sweepstakes now through June 30th, 2011.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Old London and received product samples and a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

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Create a Ralph Lauren Polo For Your Little One Giveaway

February 16, 2011 By 158 Comments

This is phase four of the Ralph Lauren Ambassador program that I am participating in with Mom Central. We’ve been asked to create a polo for our child and mine arrived yesterday. Zoe loved it so much she ran upstairs with it and I haven’t seen it since. Miles and I opened the box while she was at school and he knew it was for Zoe. Want to know how he knew?

It said…

ZOE on the front of it

and…

It was purple..

Miles was so cute, he laughed and said, Mommy..this for Zoe, it’s my favorite color for her!

At Ralph Lauren, you can customize your own (CYO) polo for your children. First you have to decide if you want a boys shirt or a girls shirt. I chose a boys shirt because they had purple in Zoe’s size in the boys and not the girls. Odd, but it’s true.

Step one..

Choose your shirt!

Choose your shirt

Step Two:

Select your size. I chose a five.

Select your size

 

Step three:

Select your shirt color

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Step Four:

Choose the stitching colorChoose the stiching color

Step Five:

Select your font type and you can choose the letters. Since Zoe’s name was only three letters long, I chose to spell out her name. This is a great way to use all of your children’s initials or spell whatever you want. It’s your shirt.

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Step Six:

Select the quantity and add to your shopping bag. Than after you add to your shopping bag you can continue shopping or check out.Select Quantity and purchase

Girl 2-6The whole process is quick easy and painless and we are quite happy with the results. The CYO line at Ralph Lauren extends to adults in polos and hoodies for men and quite an array of products for women, from dresses, hats to jackets and robes.

Enter to Win:

A Customized Create Your Own Ralph Lauren Polo

To Enter:

Visit Ralph Lauren and tell me which size and if you would want a boy or girl shirt.

Extra Entries:

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

Customize Your Own Ralph Lauren Polo #Giveaway @MomStart http://bit.ly/dI2RrU

Subscribe to my blog
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble (or any of the share options listed below)
Blog About this Giveaway (10 extra entries, linking to the giveaway)
Follow/Like Mom Start on Facebook
Follow me on Google Friend Connect

This giveaway ends March 7th. I received a sample for this post. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

 

I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Ralph Lauren and received a Ralph Lauren CYO shirt to facilitate my review

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Dannon Yogurt Small Steps to a Better You Sweepstakes

February 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I had a New Years Resolution to start eating healthier and we’ve been succeeding. Life long changes take more time to completely fulfill than resolutions that most people quit in the first week, and seeing as how it’s February, most of you have probably given up on your resolutions. Deep Breath! It’s ok.

plasma car funSome of my Tips on changing your lifestyle practices:

Use smaller plates when eating

Fill your plate 3/4 of the way with fruits, veggies, and lots of greens

Take the stairs as often as possible and carry your kids while you’re at it

Walk the Dog

Or even better Run with the dog

Playing active games with the kids, dancing, riding the plasma car, and a healthy game of chase

Park farther away when shopping

Stop the coffee runs (difficult but coffee at home gets the same results and is way cheaper and lower in calories)

 

So, to get to the point of this post……..

Dannon Yogurt feels the same way about resolutions as I do. It’s better to take small steps towards your goal of living a healthier lifestyle. That’s why they have a fun Dannon Small Steps promotional giveaway going on. Take Small Steps to a Better You from January 23 – February 28th.

What you could win:

  • Three (3) Grand Prizes: free groceries for a year, valued at $7,800.
  • Fifty (50) First Prizes: free groceries for a month, valued at $550.
  • One hundred (100) Second Prizes: will win free groceries for a week, valued at $150.

To Enter:

Visit Dannon Small Steps and enter your email address and UPC from any Dannon product.

 

 

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Dannon and received a coupon and gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate

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Ralph Lauren Donation Ralph Lauren Baby Layette

December 15, 2010 By 5 Comments

I’m a Ralph Lauren Ambassador working with Mom Central and as part three of the campaign with both of them, Ralph Lauren sent me a beautiful baby layette. The Ralph Lauren Baby Layette was donated to Treehouse as part of the Seattle Tweet Drive I participated in.

Ralph Lauren Baby Layette

The Layette was absolutely gorgeous. The hat and mittens were so soft and looked like they would keep a baby so warm. I was very honored and humbled by the ability to donate these wonderful items to such a worthy charity as Treehouse. Treehouse is an orphanage, a charity set up to help orphans and families that adopt, or foster them. Children are able to go “shopping” as you will and pick out a Christmas present. I think it’s an amazing place helping so many kids in need. Last year they helped over 5,000 different children.

My son Miles helped me to take photos of all the products that Ralph Lauren sent us to donate.

Ralph Lauren Layette one piece

 

Cotton Cable Hat & Bootie Set

  • Adorable baby’s hat and bootie set knit in soft, hearty cabled cotton.
  • Cable-knit hat with ribbed foldover brim and seamed crown for a snug fit.
  • Cabled booties have a ribbed foldover ankle cuff with a delicate cord woven through and tied at the ankle and textured knit sole.
  • 100% cotton. Machine washable. Imported.
  • Price: $65.00

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Snap-Front Footed Coverall

  • A long-sleeved footed coverall in soft cotton jersey is crafted in an easy snap-front design with essential fold-over cuffs.
  • Ribbed neckline and placket.
  • Full-snap front down to the footed hem for ultra-easy on and off.
  • Long raglan sleeves have turn-back cuffs that fold over your infant’s hands to prevent scratches.
  • Tonal embroidered pony accents the chest.
  • 100% cotton. Machine washable. Imported.
  • Price: $27.50

 

"I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Ralph Lauren and received a Ralph Lauren Baby Layette set to help facilitate my review."

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Lauren by Ralph Lauren and The Sanderson Pants and Samantha Bee

November 16, 2010 By 10 Comments

Samantha Bee group photoSo if someone asked me what I was wearing the day I met Samantha Bee, I would have to say, Lauren by Ralph Lauren! Oh yeah, I was wearing the pants that Ralph Lauren sent me when I filmed a commercial spot with Samantha Bee. Now my shirt that day was blue, and they were using a blue screen so I had to change my shirt and because of the fact that my head would have been dismembered from my body that’s the lovely conversation that I had with Samantha. Umm, yeah we talked about my how cute the commercial would have been with my head floating in the sky next to her in Santa’s Sleigh. Perhaps if I hadn’t been next to hyperventilating over the fact that I was bout to be on camera again, I might have been able to ask her something like what is it like to work on the Daily Show, and how can you be so absolutely hilarious and keep a straight face? Anyways, I’m going to try to get back on topic and actually talk about the pants now. LOL!!

 

I’m a Mombassador for Ralph Lauren which means they send me stuff and then I tell you my honest opinion of them. So these pants they sent me are from their line Lauren by Ralph Lauren. They are soft, and long which means I can wear heals and they still look great on me. So the pants are comfortable. They fit nicely and I was quite surprised that they fit so well, and were even a little on the big side for me. I guess that’s because I’ve lost 15 pounds since August. I need to stop losing weight or I’m going to need to replace my entire wardrobe. What else can I say about the pants? I look great. I don’t like that they say dry clean only and the price is a bit high, but for a really nice pair of pants that will last for a while, I will spend 100.00 on them. Oh and they don’t seem to wrinkle very easily which I do adore!

Sanderson PantsBack of the Sanderson Pants

About Lauren by Ralph Lauren Sanderson Pants
This classic-fitting dress pant exudes tailored sophistication in a sleek stretch construction.

  • Standard-rise waist with belt loops. Zip fly with faux-horn button closure.
  • Sleek hip, straight leg.
  • Angled hand pockets at the hips. No back pockets for a sleek look.
  • 32" inseam.
  • 63% polyester, 32% viscose, 5% elastane. Machine washable. Imported.
  • Price: $109.00

"I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Ralph Lauren and received a pair of Lauren by Ralph Lauren pants to help facilitate my review.” Meeting Samantha Bee was a part of a different campaign with another company that I can’t mention here because this post is actually for Ralph Lauren, I just thought my conversation with Samantha Bee was pretty funny, and I was wearing the pants in the photo so that’s relevant content. Transparency is everything!

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What is on the Barbeque?

June 13, 2010 By 3 Comments

hunts I love eating off the grill and summer time means more opportunities to eat outside. Conagra has the trio of necessities for an outdoor grilling session, mustard, ketchup, and of course hot dogs and they sent me a sample of all three to try out. At family barbeques every summer it seemed like the hotdogs were the hottest of the commodities. Probably because kids usually prefer hotdogs to hamburgers and since I was a kid that’s what I remember there being more of.

The Hebrew National hotdogs are made with premium cuts of beef and no fillers, by-products, artificial flavors or colors. I have two packages of them in my freezer just waiting for the perfect day. I’m looking forward to having them with the Gulden Mustard, and other members of my family will prefer the Hunt’s ketchup. With Hunt’s 100% Natural Ketchup (made with no high fructose corn syrup) or Gulden’s spicy brown mustard, you have all the makings of a classic summer dinner.

Conagra has really earned my support coming out of Blissdom. From there they made a ton of relationships with bloggers and together they did a lot of charity work making donations to food banks across the US. I wasn’t involved in any of this, but I saw it happening and love the teamwork put together for such a great cause. It’s just something small that I want to mention because it means a lot to me when large corporations put forth energy to help local communities.

Conagra makes a ton, I mean a TON of great products and brands.

 

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central  on behalf of ConAgra and received a picnic bag with samples of ConAgra products to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

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Comfortable at Residence Inn Marriott

June 5, 2010 By 14 Comments

It wasn’t that long ago that I stayed at Residence Inn Marriott. We were in Texas and I needed a place that was close to the airport in Dallas. We were driving and I saw the signs for the Residence Inn. I knew that they were part of the Marriott so I expected that they would be nice. They Were!

When I walked into the lobby, I noticed that they had food for sale, they had frozen foods and some other snacks including refrigerated foods. This gave me the idea that my room would have a kitchenette. I was planning on staying at the hotel until I could get a flight out of Dallas, with the snow we were having, I wasn’t sure how long my stay would be.

Having the kitchen, stove, and microwave in the room was really helpful since I had two children. I was able to store some milk and other necessities for my stay. But it wasn’t only the kitchenette that made me feel comfortable. The bed, bathroom, and couch in the open room also made me feel like I was in a very spacious area for three to stay in.

We have a Residence Inn in walking distance of our house. So it’s a possibility when my family comes. Having them close and in a room that feels more like an apartment than a hotel should make their stay nice. It also helps that Marriott has a points program for members and Residence Inn is one of the qualifying hotels. There is more than 600 locations across the U.S. and Canada and include a free hot breakfast daily and free Internet access. WOW, free internet access at a hotel is getting harder and harder to find.

I can honestly recommend Residence Inn Marriott as a comfortable place to stay in your travels this summer. I would say the price is average, but great for what all you get! What that means is that it isn’t going to break the bank, it isn’t the cheapest option, but it is a valuable option! If it has been a while since you’ve been to a Residence Inn, consider popping in one to check out the new renovations.

 

 

 

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central  on behalf of Residence Inn by Marriott and received a chance to win a weekend stay at a Residence Inn to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central also sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate

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Ronzoni Smart Taste Review

June 3, 2010 By 3 Comments

Ronzoni Smart Taste is white pasta that is enriched with Fiber, Calcium and Vitamin D. I was given the challenge to taste it and compare it to another pasta brand.

 

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So I chose some pasta I already had in my pantry. It is Barilla Spaghetti verses Ronzoni Smart Taste spaghetti.

When I placed the pasta side be side the Barilla has more color. You can see that it looks like it has more yellow in it.

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Even after they were both cooked for the same amount of time, the Barilla still looked like it had more color. I’m not saying color is important because it’s not to me. I don’t care what color my pasta is, I like purple pasta, so does Zoe by the way!

 

image Tasting it:

I felt like the Barilla pasta tasted more like flour. The Ronzoni had more flavor to me. I almost want to say that it had a little bit of a nutty taste to it. My husband wasn’t home when I did the test so I don’t have his opinion but I would like to know his thoughts eventually. I like it and since it’s a great way to get more fiber, calcium and vitamin D I’m all for switching. I need more vitamin D in my diet, it helps with depression. (that’s what my doctor tells me, I’m no professional, so don’t take my advice)

 

 

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central  on behalf of Ronzoni and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review and photo contest entry. In addition, I received a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

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