Dial It Back - Fruit2O Mommy Party #gotitfree *

* no compensation was received for this post. I received information and product to share with friends as a host of a Fruit2O MommyParty.

I don't know about where you live, but here in North East Ohio, it was a rather cool Memorial Day weekend. Last year, it was close to 90 every day of the weekend - trust me, I was sweltering at an all weekend baseball tournament. This year, it was closer to 60. In some ways, a cool weekend was nice, but in others it made the weekend more of a challenge. For instance, the kids were asking about setting up the slip'n slide. I'm not sure exactly what they were thinking, wearing jeans and sweatshirts and thinking that it would be warm enough for a swimsuit and water. In addition, we had to move our picnics indoors - leaving us with less place to eat and hang out than we have when we can use picnic tables and the table on our deck. Thankfully, we did all of our picnic-ing and marshmallow roasting on Saturday and Sunday, because Monday turned out to be not only cool, but also wet!

One of the fun features of our weekend gatherings, was the Fruit2O Mommy Party (dads and kids were included!) that we incorporated into our gatherings. In fact, instead of having just one party, it was more like 2 1/2 - spanning Saturday and Sunday. Everyone seemed to enjoy trying the variety of flavors that we received in the party pack, as well as the additional bottles I picked up at the store on Friday evening to make sure that we had plenty on hand for the gatherings. We used some fun temperature sensitive cups to serve up samples (and really all of the beverages over the course of the weekend). It reminded me a little of those Hypercolor t-shirts that were all the rage 25 years ago. The kids thought it was fun to watch them change colors and then to see the track of where they had drank the water.

There were several flavors of the water that we got to experience at the party - Strawberry, Raspberry, Cucumber Lemon, Grape, and Watermelon. Unfortunately, the two new flavors, Cucumber Lemon and Watermelon, I wasn't able to find at my local store, so we only had a little to sample and share for those flavors. I had picked up two 6 packs (on special for only $2.50/6 pk at my grocery store), one each of Strawberry and Raspberry, for the party, anticipating that the samples we had wouldn't be enough. We drank them all, so it was a good decision on my part.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the water. The water has a nice subtle fruit flavor, enough to taste and identify the flavor, but not so much that the flavor was overwhelming. We had some disagreement about whether the cucumber or lemon flavor was more prevalent in the Cucumber Lemon water. We talked about the available flavors and decided that the lemon was the one we were least likely to buy, because you could just as easily get the flavor with a lemon wedge or a bit of lemon juice in your water, but the other flavors really offered a nice change of pace from 'plain' water. Even the little kids enjoyed the water, with one little girl asking for more juice when she finished hers.

The water was a great beverage option for the picnics. It wasn't hot out, but the drinks were still refreshing and a nice accompaniment to our dinners and snacks.

One of the other things that we checked out briefly was the Fruit2O Dial it Back Facebook App. The app 'audits' your Facebook posts and make suggestions on where you might want to dial it back and show a little restraint. You can even check back to see what your progress is in dialing it back.

Above is my report. You can see that I evidently spend my time talking about the kids, the weather and sports. It doesn't surprise me, seeing as how my kids have had lots of spring sports that involved us wearing winter coats and gloves and snow. You can check out the stats on your posts, by heading to www.dialitback.com, clicking on Like and then running the app. While there, be sure to enter to win in their daily prize giveaway, too.

As the guests headed out, I gave them a coupon to pick up their own 6-pack of water to enjoy at home. Luckily, I still have one more for me and I will be on the watch for the Cucumber Lemon or Watermelon to show up at my local stores.

No compensation was received for this post. I received information and product to share with friends as a host of a Fruit2O MommyParty. I was selected to be a host of a MommyParty through my participation in MomSelect. All opinions shared are my own or that of my family.

Safeskin Kids Review & Giveaway

"Kimberly-Clark, the makers of Safeskin , has been a trusted brand of quality medical products for 30 years. Their products are used daily by doctors, dentists, nurses, clinics and hospitals around the world to ensure patients receive the best. Now we are bringing that expertise to your children through Safeskin Kids First Aid products.

SAFESKIN KIDS Antibacterial Gel is a long lasting protective barrier for applying to minor cuts, scrapes, burns and creates a barrier for MRSA — up to 48 hours!"

I don't know about your house, but at our house we seem to go through bandages like they are going out of style. My son is pretty good about only needing a bandage to keep a wound clean, but my daughter seems to need them for everything that hurts - from cuts to scrapes to bruises. When there is a scrape or scratch, I always apply an antibacterial cream/gel to the wound before putting on a bandage. Safeskin Kids Antibacterial Gel is easy to rub in and is a little less greasy than some other antibacterial products. This is good, because I always seem to have a little on the surrounding skin, where the bandage needs to stick and I have had issues in the past with the bandage sort of sliding off. I really like that it provides 48 hour protection. Now, we also seem to take off bandages before 48 hours has passed, so of course, we still need to clean the wound and reapply the cream.

Safeskin Kids Antibacterial Gel is available now at select Walmart stores. Use this $1 Safeskin Kids IP to try it for yourself.

Giveaway!
I have the opportunity to give away to one A Busy Mom of Two Reader a tube of Safeskin Kids Antibacterial Gel.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway will remain open through November 19th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. I received free product and information as part of a promotional program with SAFESKIN* Kids Antibacterial Gel and MomSelect. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Burst.it - review & giveaway

I recently had the chance to check out Burst. What is Burst you ask? Well, according to their FAQ: "Life's Moments - Smartly Shared. Burst is the simple and private way to capture, save and share life's important moments with family and close friends. Burst provides a safe and organized place to access your videos/photos from any internet enabled device. It is easy and mobile- never miss or lose another moment again."

I started exploring Burst, by completing a sign up for a free account on their web page. Then, I downloaded the app to my phone - it's available for both the Droid and the iPhone. Once the app was downloaded, I was able to immediately start capturing pictures and video. I took a few test shots just to check it out and play with the features. Once you take pictures or videos, they are available on your My Moments tab. When you click on the picture, you can choose to view it, which brings it up full screen. You can also select details. The details section allows you to give your image a title and to tag the picture. It has the information on when the pictures was captured, the location and whether it has been shared. It also allows you to delete the moment.

Have something on your calendar? When you go to take a picture, it will ask you if you are at that event. Leave it as yes, and that will be captured in the title for you.

Now, it was time to share.

Using the contact list on my phone, I was able to easily create groups with which I might share different pictures. For each person, you can edit their set up and send it to them by phone (sends a text message) or e-mail, or both. I loved that I didn't have to look anything up, as long as my friends and family are in my phone's contact list I could simply click to add.

Viewing and sharing pictures is simple. When I first started, I was opening the app and taking the pictures/video, but then I noticed this little button at the top of the My Moments page that said Import. This button allows me to select pictures from my camera roll to share with family and friends. Importing was very simple and took almost no time. I will tell you that the captured date for an imported picture is the time when it was imported, not when it was taken.

Once you have pictures that you want to share, simply click on the picture and select share from the menu. Want to share several pictures? There is a button at the top of the screen that when you click it allows you to share several pictures or videos at the same time. You can then select the groups or the individuals you wish to receive the picture or video. When you send, you have the option of adding a message to the picture.

Once you have shared the pictures and videos, your recipients will receive a text message and/or an e-mail with a link that allows them to view the pictures. When they view the pictures, they have the option to leave a comment. You can see them when you click on the picture and select details and then choose the comment tab. Depending on whether you have sent it as an Open or a Closed Burst controls whether others get to see who the picture went to and any comments left by others.

Can't remember if you shared a picture? No problem, as you look in at the pictures in My Moments, there will be a portion of the Burst logo on the bottom right corner of the picture/video. Not sure who you shared it with? Click on the picture and when you look at the details, the second tab tells you who you shared it with - both groups and individuals.

Want to see your pictures online? No problem, the pictures that you take and the pictures that you import are all available online, once synced. You can choose to sync immediately, or to wait until you have a wifi connection.

Want to share your pictures on social media? No problem, from your computer, when you hover over the pictures in your My Moments page, you can select share. From here, you can choose one of the contacts you set up, as well as to share it on Facebook. You will have to log in to Facebook and allow Burst.it to publish to your wall.

My thoughts. Overall, I think this is a great little tool. I like that the pictures are available on my phone and my computer, with no transfer required on my part.

When I talked to my husband about the app and what it could do, he simply said to me Facebook. But, I told him this was different. On Facebook, the pictures are shared with all of your Friends (based on your settings), with this application you can share them with just one person or with a small group of people - allowing for more privacy. In addition, there are people that we know that don't have Facebook or don't use it very often. This allows us to quickly share the pictures with them, too. Since much of our family is not local, this is a great way to let the family 'peek' in on what we are up to.

I like that it allows me to share the pictures/videos through text or through e-mail. There are several people in my life that don't have text messaging on their phone.

I wish there were an easier way to extract the pictures from Burst.It to my computer. So far, the only thing that I have found is to view the picture and then Save As. When I look at the picture properties side by side, the resolution is the same but the size is different. I uploaded one of each version here for comparison, I saved the following image from my phone and from the computer and imported them here as the same size.
From Phone:

From Burst:

I haven't tried to print them to see if there is a difference then.

I like that I can share the pictures with anyone. They don't have to have a smart phone or belong to Burst.It to receive and view the pictures. Of course, they can set up an account if they want to, but it is not required.

I don't like that my imported pictures don't retain their original time stamp. I am sure that is an improvement that can be made.

When you are online, you can only send phone messages to the contacts that you have set up while in the app on your phone. If you haven't set someone up on your phone yet, you can list e-mails to share to. One thing I discovered here is that if you add an e-mail, associated with a contact that you set up on your phone for text message, it will send it to both the e-mail and the phone. On a positive note, if you add an e-mail from your computer, it does become part of your contact list on the app on the phone - you will have to edit it to put a name with it but the e-mail becomes part of your contact list.

Giveaway!
Courtesy of Burst.It through MomSelect, I have the opportunity to give away to one reader a free lifetime storage plan, valued at approximately $60 per year.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through August 9th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. As a participant in this MomSelect program, I received information about the program, as well as a free lifetime storage plan for my use. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

Oral-B Stages & Crest and Oral B Pro-Health FOR ME

My daughter LOVES to shop for new toothbrushes and toothpaste. Every time we go to "our CVS" the first thing she does is head to the toothbrush row to see if any are on sale. She will try to convince me that they are (even if they aren't) and ask if she can check how much they are on the price check machine. When we do get a new toothbrush or new toothpaste, she wants to open them right away and use them, even if we just have been using the current ones for a few days.

And yet, when I ask her some mornings, she will tell me that she already brushed her teeth when she has not. I'm not sure why, it seems like a complete disconnect to me. A little girl that is so enthused about toothbrushes and toothpaste and yet tries to get out of brushing her teeth.

Recently, I had the opportunity to host a MommyParties sponsored by Oral-B Stages III & Crest and Oral-B Pro-Health FOR ME. When the party pack arrived, the kids were pretty excited to check out the contents. The box was filled with toothpaste, toothbrushes, flossers, mouth rinse and more. In addition, it included Cars II DVD, Popcorn and Popcorn boxes for the party, tips/trivia for healthier teeth, balloons and gift bags for everyone to take home their new toothbrushes and more.

As I shared with everyone the products that we had to share, I'm not sure who was more excited, the moms or the kids. The moms were pretty excited to get such a variety of products. One mom mentioned that she hadn't tried the Oral-B Pro-Health FOR ME line, but figured that since her kids loved mint toothpaste, that they would enjoy trying the new toothpaste.

My daughter was certainly excited, amongst the goodies were Flossers featuring Toy Story characters...she couldn't wait to floss her teeth. Now, I remind her that we should brush first and then floss. She hasn't tried to get out of brushing her teeth lately. Maybe, just maybe, it is the power of Buzz Lightyear (flossers) that is inspiring her...I just know that I am glad not to have to ask twice.

No compensation was received for this post. As a host of the MommyParties sponsored by Oral-B Stages III & Crest and Oral-B Pro-Health FOR ME, I received a package of products and information to share. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

LeapFrog “Learn, Create & Share” Party

Recently we had the chance to host a LeapFrog Learn, Create & Share Party through MomSelect and MommyParties.

When the party pack arrived, I was really excited to check out the products that we received.

First was the new LeapPad Explorer Learning Tablet that was just launched in August. The tablet and available apps are targeted for children ages 4 to 9 years.

"LeapPad is the personalized learning tablet just for kids with a built-in camera and video recorder! LeapPad offers limitless learning and endless play through a library of 100+ cartridge games and activities with innovative creativity and reading apps! This tablet is the ultimate combination of high-tech features in a kid-friendly form factor! Touch the screen with a finger, tap it with the stylus or turn, twist and shake it for exciting motion-based gameplay! A broad curriculum includes school basics like reading, mathematics and science, plus geography, art, music, language and culture, health and more. Skill levels adjust automatically so kids can learn at their own pace, and progress is remembered from game to game and book to book. LeapPad also hosts a robust suite of creativity apps to nurture kids' innate curiosity!"

In addition, there was the LeapFrog Tag Reading System and Interactive World Map.

"Tag is the #1 selling reading system and recommended by 99% of teachers to help kids learn to love reading. Tag brings stories to life with each touch of the interactive Reader to the pages of specially printed storybooks. Words talk, pictures come to life and stories live out loud, engaging children's senses to make reading a rich, fulfilling experience. Children can use Tag as they begin their own personal learn-to-read journeys, then continue to enjoy it as their skills grow, from hearing an entire story read aloud to seeking help with individual words. With a library of 40+ books, maps and more, children can also take the fun beyond reading with fun play patterns that broaden curriculum experiences such as exploring other cultures, building skills in life science or even learning how to write!"

We had planned to have a party to have everyone over at once to play with products, but some schedule challenges and illness resulted in us sharing the toys slowly over time with several friends at little mini-parties. Not as much fun as getting together for a big party, but still everyone got the chance to play with everything. I think my daughter probably liked the chance to share her toys multiple times, plus it made for less of a struggle in waiting to take turns!

After we opened the LeapPad Explorer tablet, we spent time together exploring the tablet's features.

The LeapPad comes with a camera and video recorder. Once a picture is taken, you can use the tools to add effects to the picture. Surprisingly, the LeapPad Explorer Tablet will hold up to 30,000 photos or shoot 120 minutes of video. Using the Story Studio experience, the kids can create their own stories to share with us.

My kids recently have decided that making videos is fun. It is great that they have a camera now that they can use to make videos. Just this morning, they pretended to be sword fighting and shot a video of themselves. I like the creative play.

The LeapPad tablet also had Ultra eBooks available in many titles. (I was actually surprised to see the selection on a recent visit to the toy store - considering it was just released in August, I wasn't expecting so many options) The books come with different story levels and modes optimized to support reading development. While reading the books, they can touch the screen to get word-by-word support or definitions.

There are also game apps available for the tablet. They use the microphone and the built in motion sensors to allow the kids to play a variety of interactive games.

For the parents, connecting the LeapPad Explorer Tablet to the computer allows you to see how your child is progressing and to send their artwork and pictures to friends and family.

What everyone thought:

My daughter was so excited to share the LeapPad tablet with everyone, that she even took it to school (unbeknownst to me) to show her friends and play with after nap. I found out when I picked it up and it was in her cubbie in plain sight. I told her that we shouldn't take it to school without asking first, but she was so excited to play with the LeapPad that she tried to slip it into her back pack the next day. I decided to check the bag when I dropped her off and found it (she wasn't happy when I told her that for not listening, not only would she not get to keep it at school, but she also wouldn't get a chance to play it after school either). The teachers commented about the LeapPad Tablet and based on watching her play with it, thought it was a really nice toy to help the kids learn.

One mother that I worked with thought it was great and her girls really loved that they could play games, read books and take pictures on the tablet. She recently purchased a portable game system for them, so she didn't feel that now was the right time for her to buy one. but said that she definitely would recommend this to her sister-in-law that was looking for something for her daughter.

My daughter is still drawn to the LeapPad Tablet. Which is a good thing, as many toys seem to lose their luster quickly. She surprised me the other day when she was sitting at the kitchen table working on her LeapPad Tablet. She paused, looked at me and said "It's helping learn my letters and how to spell words too!" I thought it was pretty neat that she was having fun and learning, and recognized it.

There was also the LeapFrog Tag Reading System to explore and enjoy. We have had other reading systems - including an older reading system from LeapFrog - and all of them have required a book, a cartridge and reader. I was very intrigued by the Tag Reading System. The technology is very impressive (at least to me). As a parent, I love that there aren't any cartridges required. It makes it more portable and easier to store.

The books allow the child to select read the page to hear a single story page. They can also use the Say It, Sound It and Spell It buttons to explore each word on the page. Many of the books also include Games that can be played.

The Interactive World Map for the Tag Reading System is a two-sided interactive map. One side shows the countries and the other has animals and people to allow the child to learn more about the countries. There are games available to encourage the children to explore the map and learn about the countries.

My daughter, who is starting to learn to read at preschool, is really enjoying the Tag Reading System. There are a variety of books available, including familiar characters and stories, as well as Learn to Read Sets. We have been exploring the Learn To Read set focused on short vowels. I like that it gives her the freedom to read books when she wants to and at times where I am busy.

Everyone that has played with both toys has really enjoyed the experience and excited by the options presented.

You can see these toys in action on the LeapFrog YouTube channel. You can find LeapFrog on Facebook.

No compensation was received for this post. I received free LeapFrog products and information from LeapFrog in order to host a Learn, Create and Share Party from LeapFrog through MomSelect. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

Weight Watchers Ice Cream Review

When I am watching what I eat, the one thing that I struggle with is treats. I work hard (at work and at home) and I deserve a treat sometimes. It can be hard to find treats that I don't feel guilty about, or don't make me feel like I am throwing in the towel. Treats come in many forms - but certainly to me there are some characteristic traits to treats - they can be creamy, they can be chocolaty, they can be caramelly. Imagine my surprise when I found out that the new ice cream treats from Weight Watchers met many of these traits and were low enough in calories (& PointsPlus Values) that I didn't have to feel guilty.

Sometimes, we all need a treat, and nothing fulfills that craving better than ice cream! Weight Watchers Ice Cream has great options for snacking and treating yourself wisely during the hectic back-to-school season. Grab a Weight Watchers Snack Size Ice Cream Sandwich for the road - it's the perfect size to satisfy your desire for something cool, sweet and creamy. For a great snack, try a creamy Weight Watchers Strawberry Smoothie Bar or a refreshing Weight Watchers Strawberry Fruit Bar. Both are great for the entire family as they are made with real fruit. And for a treat at the end of the day, indulge in a Weight Watchers Dark Chocolate Dulcé de Leché dessert bar. You cannot go wrong!

Weight Watchers Snack Size Ice Cream Sandwiches - Two brand new flavors of Weight Watchers Ice Cream, low fat Vanilla Bean and Dutch Chocolate, have just 80 calories each. The variety pack includes four sandwiches of both flavors with a PointsPlus® value of 2 per sandwich.

Weight Watchers Dark Chocolate Dulcé de Leché Dessert Bars - A highly indulgent ice cream bar featuring low fat dulcé de leché ice cream with a caramel swirl dipped in dark chocolate. Each bar has a PointsPlus value of 3 per bar and 120 calories.

Weight Watchers Strawberry Fruit Bar - A healthier snack option for adults and kids, this bar is made with real fruit and is an excellent source of vitamin C. Plus, this delightfully fruity bar has 15 percent fewer calories and 30 percent less sugar than other national leading brands of fruit bars. Each has 70 calories and a PointsPlus value of 2 per bar.

Weight Watchers Strawberry Smoothie Bar - A blend of low-fat strawberry frozen yogurt and real strawberries. This bar is a good source of vitamin C and has the creamy goodness of a smoothie with just 60 calories and a PointsPlus value of 2 per bar.

We recently had the opportunity to check out some of the new Weight Watchers Ice Cream treats. I was excited to see a selection of ice cream treats that I could enjoy without too much guilt. I liked that they were all only 2-3 PointsPlus Values - I can usually leave myself with a few PointsPlus Values for a snack at the end of my day and personally, I think that ice cream is a great way to use them (I'm not good at measuring 1/2 cup of ice cream - so these are easier too!).

The Strawberry Smoothie Bar is full of pieces of real strawberries and the yogurt gives the bar a nice creaminess. The Strawberry Fruit Bar is packed full of strawberry flavor. I enjoyed the snack size Ice Cream Sandwiches - although, I must say I prefer the vanilla to the chocolate (surprised me too - but I think I am a traditionalist and ice cream sandwiches were always vanilla). The Dark Chocolate Dulcé de Leché bars were a real treat - that thin but tasty layer of dark chocolate around that caramelly sweet inside.

Even the kids and my husband enjoyed the tasty treats. The portion sizes seem good for the items - I think they might be smaller than similar offerings, but if they are, I wouldn't say that they are much smaller. They are the right size to meet the need for a sweet treat, but not too big that I feel like I overdid it.

I like that these new ice cream treats from Weight Watchers provide me with a way to enjoy a sweet treat with my family, without the guilt. Flavorful and creamy, I can feel like I am indulging without feeling like I'm throwing in the towel.

No compensation was received for this post. I received product samples, coupons and information for the purposes of trying and sharing our experience through MomSelect. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family.

ZhuZhu Pets: Quest for Zhu

On September 27th, a new movie the Quest for Zhu is being released to DVD. My kids have been big fans of the Zhu Zhu pets and their habitats since they first burst onto the scene about 2 years ago. It's hard not to be drawn into those cute, little hamsters. I love how they squeak and make noises as they wander about your floor and when you are holding them close and petting them.

I figured that it would be fun for them to see their favorite little hamsters "live" in their own animated DVD. When our party pack arrived with a copy of the soon to be released DVD, a few figurines, a movie poster that included a number of "Zhugames and Zhuactivities" and a box of Twizzlers movie snack, the kids asked if they could watch the movie.

Since timing didn't work out for having some of their friends over to watch the movie and since we had a 16-hour each way road trip planned (Disney), I waited for our trip to let the kids enjoy the movie. I thought they would both like a break from the same old movies that they normally watch and would like to see something new. Overall the kids really enjoyed the movie. I liked that each hamster was looking for the meaning to their own symbol, in a bit of self discovery. The little toy figurines were nice for the kids because they were easy to play with while strapped into their car seats.

If your kids enjoy the Zhu Zhu Pets, they will enjoy the Quest for Zhu movie. The movie has something for everyone: action, adventure, suspense and lots of laughs. Plus, it is full of familiar "faces" - the movie stars Mr. Squiggles, NumNums, Chunk and Pipsqueak.

The heartwarming tale of four lively young teens (who just happen to be hamsters) on a quest to find the Palace of Zhu, where they believe all their dreams will come true. Join the feisty and lovable Pipsqueak,Mr. Squiggles, Chunk, Num Nums, and Stinker as she gets swept away to the other side of the Zhuniverse.

You can check out the trailer:

As a mom, I like that they enjoyed the toys before the movie. It's not the same, but I consider it similar to reading the book before the movie. By playing with the toys before they were given a character on screen, allows the kid to have their own perspective on "who" each hamster is and "what" they do. It is sort of like reading a book, where you are free to visualize the characters and interpret things in the plot on your own, without being subjected to what another person "sees" and then presents in the movie.

No compensation was received for this post. I received the Quest For Zhu party pack from MommyParties so that I could share this review. All opinions are expressed are mine or that of my family.

FyrFlyz - Review and Giveaway

Fyrflyz is a spinning toy that creates amazing light shows in the palm of your hand! You might recall a few months ago when my son made a video of the cool light effects he could make with FyrFlyz. By spinning the FyrFlyz around at different tightness and speed, they can create light shows from Large Orbits to "Sydwynders" to Shooting Stars to Loop de Loops. For such a simple looking toy, it really is very entertaining and each performance seems to be a little different.

The FyrFlyz are available at Toys 'R Us and other specialty retailers. You can like them on Facebook for opportunities to join in on giveaways and chances to win great prizes.

Giveaway!
Now, I have an opportunity to do a giveaway. One lucky A Busy Mom of Two reader has a chance to win their very own FyrFlyz toy.

To enter: Check out their online galleries of tricks (here and here) and leave a comment sharing which trick you (or your child) hopes to master first.

Additional Entries (Must complete main entry. Please leave a separate comment for each entry):

Follow ABusyMomofTwo on Twitter.

Follow FyrFlyz on Twitter.

Tweet about this giveaway. You may complete this entry once per day. (You may use the following or write your own: Enter to win a @FyrFlyz Spinning Toy and create an amazing light show. #giveaway Ends 9/29 http://bit.ly/qR0uPy)

Follow A Busy Mom of Two. Subscribe to updates in your feed reader or in e-mail. Leave me a comment letting me know that you signed up, or that you already subscribe.

Like A Busy Mom of Two on Facebook.

Like FyrFlyz on Facebook.

Share this giveaway with friends - on your blog, on Facebook or by posting it on a giveaway link-up. Leave me a comment letting me know how you shared or leave a link to the giveaway link-up. You may have one additional entry for each giveaway linky that you submit it on.

Leave a comment with a link to your blog where you have either my button or have a link to A Busy Mom of Two in your blog roll.

Giveaway will remain open until September 29th at 6 pm. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected using a random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (be sure to leave one!) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. We received two FyrFlyz through MomSelect & BSM Media. In addition, they are providing the FyrFlyz for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

DaGeDar - a Review and Giveaway

Have you heard of this new toy - DaGeDar? I hadn't heard of it until a few weeks ago, when we were invited to check it out. "A game of speed, challenge, and above all racing, DaGeDar is unlike any toy you’ve ever seen before. Each DaGeDar is made from a weighted ball bearing, and has a character face and code."

The story behind DaGeDar and Dimension 33 was sort of interesting to read - I never new so many things were tied to the number 33.

When the box arrived and I told my son that I had a new game for him, he was excited to open everything. He had everything stacked and ready to open, as soon as we gave him the okay to open them after dinner. (My daughter, of course, wanted in on the fun too - "it's not fair" is one of her favorite expressions. Funny how she doesn't seem to find it unfair when she gets something and he doesn't.)

We assembled the High Speed Score Zone Raceway and some of the balls. You release the balls down the ramp, they do a loop and then jump from the track to the scoring zone. The technique and skill of the "Ballers" come into play as they adjust the ramp position. We soon learned that too steep or too flat weren't good options - once you found the right angle, the ball had the right speed to complete the inverted loop and to jump into the 100 point score box. At first, the unsupported ramp seemed a little awkward, but we soon positioned it against the couch in our basement. This way, it doesn't topple over between turns.

The kids seemed to really enjoy the High Speed Score Zone Raceway. Next, we opened the Rapid Fire Power Launcher, which can be played on it's own or hooked onto the Raceway in place of the ramp. I found that my kids had a little trouble releasing the ball with any force. I was able to do it, but for my 4 and 7 year old, they weren't getting the right pull and release to make it happen. We quickly returned to the ramp on our Raceway.

There are some features that I really like about the toy. First, NO BATTERIES! Second, I like that there are several series of DaGeDar balls, that the kids can collect and trade. They even sell carrying cases that will allow you to easily transport up to three balls. Third, I like to believe that playing with the ramp and seeing when the ball will and won't make the inverted loop and the way the speed impacts where the ball lands in the scoring zone will make physics touchable - certainly, I'm not suggesting that kids will fully understand the physics behind it, but much like the displays at the science center, the hands on experience still builds a seed in their brain that someday will make the Physics and Calculus seem more relatable.

Here is what my son has to say:

"I like DaGeDar because it is a good toy to play with when you are bored DaGeDar is fun too. I like how the DaGeDar balls can race to the finish! I like the dragon ball I want the skeleton horned fire ball and the mummy one too with another ball case as well. And two more tracks called stunt jump track and battle jump raceway."

I think that he was missing some punctuation and sentence structure, but it is summer and he is still only 7 (even if he does point out that he will be 8 soon).

I feel that DaGeDar is one of those toys that the kids will have interest in for a while, lose interest in and then find again. I have seen this happen with other toys - including a car track that my son got when he was much younger. So far, I have found that they will play with it for a little while and then be done - it won't fill an afternoon the way some toys will. I do wonder though, when my son's friends come over if it will have a renewed and extended interest. Sharing the track with his sister certainly isn't as much fun as competing against a buddy. Also, as his friends learn about DaGeDar and if they start to get their own Balls, I think that it will further heighten his interest in the toy.

The DaGeDar website features a whole section on how to play with the DaGeDar - including an elimination tournament for up to 15 friends. I think it could be fun to have a few of the tracks and have competitions to see who could master each one.

Giveaway!
One lucky A Busy Mom of Two reader will receive a DaGeDar basic ball set and a spinner or carrying case to enjoy with their family.

To enter: Leave a comment sharing who would get to play with the DaGeDar.

Additional Entries (please leave a separate comment for each entry):

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Tweet about this giveaway. You may complete this entry once per day. (You may use the following or write your own: Enter to win a DaGeDar Basic Ball Set. @ABusyMomofTwo. Ends 8/11 http://bit.ly/qRMDHt)

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Leave a comment with a link to your blog where you have either my button or have a link to A Busy Mom of Two in your blog roll.

Giveaway will remain open until August 11th at 6 pm. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected using a random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (be sure to leave one!) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. We received DaGeDar balls, raceway and accessories through MomSelect and BSM Media. The DaGeDar Basic Ball Set and Spinner or Carrying Case is being provided for the Giveaway. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family.

FyrFlyz

Recently, we had the opportunity to check out a new toy called FyrFlyz.

When you look at the toy, sitting on the counter,

it doesn't seem like there is much to it. But, when you turn on the two LED lights and head into a darkened space, you can create quite a light show.

You can check out the cool light show my 8-year old did with one FyrFlyz:


Both of my kids have really enjoyed playing with these toys. I am sure there is a "technique" to create each of the many tricks that they share on the package and on their website, but we mostly just played with them and probably never did the same thing twice. That was okay with us, we had a great time just playing.

The toy is being released this summer and should retail for under $10. Select Toys'R Us are carrying them currently, but the toy is planned for national release in August.

No compensation was received for this post. We received two FlyrFlyz through MomSelect & BSM Media. In addition, my son will receive a gift card for submitting a video. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family.

Zhu-niverse Ice Cream Party

What will they think of next? The group behind ZhuZhu pets sure have my children hooked. When the party box arrived a couple of weeks ago, my daughter was so excited to see more ZhuZhu Pets, an ice cream parlor and an ice cream truck. She was ready to open it all up and start playing. When I told her she would have to wait for the party, she started asking daily, when will we have a party?

Finally (from my daughter's perspective), this past weekend we hosted a Zhu-niverse Ice Cream Party. Okay, I guess maybe we didn't technically host since we weren't at our house, but we brought the party with us! I had planned to host at our house, , but things got busy and my daughter couldn't wait, so since we were off to a party with my nieces and nephew, we decided this would be a good time to have a Zhu-niverse Ice Cream Party.

The newest ZhuZhu Pets (at least that I know of, seems that they are always coming up with something new) are very colorful - I would describe the ones that we received as bright pastels - I know, it seems a bit like an oxymoron, but they came in pink, purple, blue and green. They were light shades like pastels, but very vivid colors at the same time. My son was quickly drawn to blue (it was the most "boy" color in the set) and my daughter, of course, liked them all. She eventually selected the pink one as the one that she would claim after the party.

The ice cream parlor came with many accessories, including a picnic table, "tubs" that looked like a variety of ice cream flavors, an ice cream scoop, sundaes, shakes and scoops of ice cream. It has an awning and serving window on one side and a slide open "Zhu-m" up window on the other side (that was bad, wasn't it?). I will say that if you have younger kids, this is one item where the accessories will need to be stored out of the way.

The hit of the party though was the ice cream truck. My video doesn't capture the sound but you can see the truck driving along with the ZhuZhu Pet wearing his ice cream driver hat. The kids kept wanting to be the next to drive the ice cream truck. They loved the music it played, sounds just like you would expect the ice cream truck to sound. They would stop the truck to push the button. When they did, sometimes the hamster would keep trying to push it along and other times, it would simply back out of the truck and go on it's merry way.


My kids are enamored with ZhuZhu Pets. As they continue to evolve, they are still very much intrigued by the toy and very excited to play with them when we get new ZhuZhus or accessories.

These new bright color one's were definitely more appealing to my daughter and nieces than to my son and nephew. When we wrapped up the party, we left two of them with my nieces to play with. We already have a "horde" of hamsters (although in trying to find the name for a group of hamsters, I learned that they don't usually live in groups - which made me think, do you still find hamsters in the wild?) at home anyways.

Myself, I think it has been an interesting evolution. The first ZhuZhu Pets that we played with - they were the colors of hamsters, their habitat, although having "room" stickers to enhance them felt like hamster stuff complete with a hamster wheel and ball. The first ZhuZhus felt to me a little like a pet without the responsibilities of a pet. Somewhere in the middle we had the KungZhu Pets, which came with battle armor and were ready to fight. Now, here we are with these new brightly colored ZhuZhus that have an ice cream parlor. The good news is that the rooms/shops are all modular and can connect to build an extensive habitat for the hamsters (especially since most of our play space is carpeted, if it weren't for the habitat, they would only be able to play with them in my kitchen. Which, is where things like the ice cream truck have to be played with - a bit of a disconnect with the rest of the toy in the basement. Another challenge (one that make my husband says "enough!") is that when all of the pieces hook together to form an elaborate and complex habitat, it's not compact and if all the rooms are used, it can take up a lot of space on the floor.

They are still fun to watch as they wander around "free" on the floor.

No compensation was received for this post. Through MomSelect and MommyParties, I received the ZhuZhu Pets and Ice Cream Parlor and Truck, for the purpose of hosting a party and sharing the experience with my readers. All opinions expressed are my own and those of my family.

Primrose Schools Family Dance-Off

Primrose Schools has launched a national campaign to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices by encouraging families across the country to boogie on down! From February 1st through March 26th, capture a 30 second family dance video and enter it in the Family Dance-off for a chance to win a grand prize of $5000 and a $30,000 donation to your local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. There are also prizes for second and third place, plus all 14 finalists will receive a Flip camcorder.

With their second annual Family Dance-off, Primrose Schools, the leader in educational child care, is helping to fight the childhood obesity epidemic. They are partnering with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals® to promote physical activity, healthy lifestyle choices and quality family time, things all Moms can get behind!

Here's how you and your family can enter the Primrose Family Dance-off competition:

1. Record a 30-second video of your family's best dance moves. Don't be afraid to let loose and be silly!

2. Visit The Family Dance-off site and upload your best take by March 19.

3. Share your video with your friends via email, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

4. View and vote daily (you can place five votes per day) for your favorite family dance video!

Not only is dancing a fun, easy way to incorporate more activity into your routine, but when you do it as a family, you can enjoy some quality time together.

The Family Dance-off supports Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals, which collectively treat 17 million children annually for every illness and injury imaginable.

I was selected to host an in-home Primrose Family Dance-off Party. So, this past weekend, when we got together with 4 other families for a pre-Valentine's Day party, we made it into a Primrose Family Dance-off party. Since the party was at my friends house, I made sure that she was good with this. She said it sounded like a great idea. She mentioned that they had recently picked up the Just Dance and Just Dance Kids for the Wii, and had hoped to play them at the party. It sounded like a great fit to me. I grabbed the CD that had come with the party kit and we "warmed up" singing and dancing to the hits (I had to smile as I listened to what were obvious clean-ups of the songs that I knew to make them family friendly). After some visiting, snacking on some wonderful fresh fruit and dip and some veggie pizza, and a little arts and crafts (included cookie decorating - not healthy, but its good to learn to enjoy sweets and treats in moderation), we put in the games and started to play. Initially, the parents were playing the kids version, trying to learn the game so we could teach the kids. Watching the parents figure out the game was cause enough for a few giggles. The kids were glad to get their chance to dance once we knew enough to show them how to follow along with the on-screen dancers. It was fun watching the kids who ranged in age from 3 to 9 try to follow along with the on-screen dance. We captured the fun on video and showed them how they looked dancing. I guess my perspective of 30s was off, because none of them are long enough clips to submit and we will have to have more fun dancing on another occasion to get a 30 second family video to submit to the Primrose Schools Family Dance-off.

I had planned to insert one of my videos here, but when I played them back, I realized how many side conversations I picked up and they were noisy!! Plus, since I was standing off to the side, the quality wasn't so great. Yet another reason that I need to capture new video so that I can enter!

No compensation was received for this post. As a Primrose Schools Family Dance-off home party host, I received a party kit that included a CD, a couple of t-shirts for the kids, a gift card for party supplies, and a FLIP Camcorder to record the fun. In addition, I was entered for a chance to win a gift card in exchange for this post.

Toy Story Action Links

A while back, I had the opportunity to host an in-home party featuring the Toy Story Action Links. We had some friends over for the evening and while the adults all hung out and played games and visited, the kids spent their evening in the family room playing with the action links.

The toys are each set up to have a "trigger" that when activated, sets off the action of that toy. When linked together, the action of one piece serves to activate the trigger of the next piece. We had a number of units and we set them up in series. The kids had a lot of fun rearranging the sequence of the action units and seeing how they still worked in series. They tried to link them up in a circle, but they couldn't stay ahead of the action and it didn't keep going - like I think that they wanted it to do.

As part of each unit, one or more Toy Story figures were used. We had Woody, Buzz, Jessie, the aliens, Lotso, and more. My daughter is a huge a Toy Story fan and plays with the figures outside of playing with the Action Links.


No compensation was received for this post. As part of the MomSelect HomeParty, I received a kit that included a number of Action Links toys. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

WaterPik SinuSense

I recently was given the opportunity to check out the WaterPik SinuSense line of products. I was very familiar with WaterPik as an oral health brand, but had not known that they also had a sinus health brand. You can learn more about Sinus Wash and its benefits on their Sinus Wash Q&A page.

This is what MomSelect had to say about this new product:

Well we've recently been introduced to a great new product that provides a deep clean to an area that probably doesn't get as much attention as it deserves- your nose! Just as hand-washing is an important everyday routine, Ear Nose and Throat specialists (ENT) recommend a sinus wash for every day. In fact, 4 out of 5 ENTs have provided sinus wash samples to clients and 1 in 4 personally use it.

That's why we're happy to introduce you to SinuSense™ from Waterpik®. Putting water to work in a whole new way, Waterpik® is bringing a "breath of fresh air" to the sinus wash category with a completely new line of sinus wash products called SinuSense™. The Waterpik SinuSense™ line provides an offering for everyone, even kids, depending on their specific symptoms and needs. Just like washing your hands and brushing your teeth, sinus wash becomes part of your daily routine!

Even better, all SinuSense™ products are BPA free, dishwasher and microwave safe and safe for everyday use, even for children ages 4 and up. Now everyone in your family can breathe easier- and cleaner!

Outside of colds, I don't generally have sinus issues, so I have little experience with irrigation, Neti Bottles, Neti Pots and the like. Actually, I have no experience, outside of knowing about them through my husband. He seems to regularly have sinus issues and has been using a squeeze style sinus wash product on a regular basis for a while now. So, I decided that it would be best to let him use the WaterPik SinuSense products and provide feedback. (Although, from what MomSelect shared, it sounds like maybe I should be more familiar with these products myself.)

Here is what he had to say:

"I have used the WaterPik SinuSense Neti bottle for about a week now. Comparing the neti bottle to the squeeze bottle I currently use, I prefer the neti bottle because:
1. There is no pressure – gravity does all the work.
2. It feels better – no water is being forced into my sinuses.

The squeeze bottle is still great when I am in a rush (or when I don’t have time to let gravity work its magic).

The WaterPik Neti bottle does not appear to be much different from other neti bottles / neti pots on the market.

If the neti bottle and salt mixture packets were available at a very reasonable price, I would tend to use the WaterPik SinuSense neti bottle more than my current squeeze bottle."

No compensation was received for this post. The WaterPik SinuSense product was received through MomSelect.

Hexbug Nano In Home Party

Through MomSelect, I was lucky to have the opportunity to host a Hexbug Nano In Home Party. Now, if you are like me, you have never heard of these Hexbug Nano toys. They are these little bugs that come in test tubes. They are battery powered and scamper about when you turn them on. You can build a habitat for them and watch them scurry about. We received a habitat starter kit, as well as a Battle Bridge. Plus lots of habitat pieces and tracks to share with our guests. Our guest bags:
The kids and I built the track a few days before our party, on our dining room table. We were planning to have some younger guests at the parties and wanted the track up and out of the way. The habitat was super easy to assemble. The thing that was hardest for me was the ramp - I'm an engineer, so perhaps I shouldn't admit this, but I could tell it was a ramp to move between levels, but it didn't occur to me for a few minutes that it was supposed to be a spiral - once I realized that, it was way easier to assemble. I like that the Hex Cells come with their own built in "doors". After you assemble the track, in any unused "doorways" simply flip the orange pieces in place and the bugs can't exit through them. This is better than some other sets we have had where you have to insert other pieces for the doorway (one more thing to be lost, at least at our house).

My husband liked the compact size of the habitat. Some of the other toys we have that include habitats take up a lot more space (probably because the "animals" are bigger) and seem to be in the way. Those other sets also seem harder to put together. This set is really easy to connect the bridges and the Hex cells to set up the habitat and since it doesn't take much space and isn't in the way it is also easy to leave it set up.

We started with a small habitat and turned one bug on and set it loose. The kids of course, wanted more. We expanded the habitat and opened up three bugs to watch them scurry about in our multi-level habitat. The kids were really very excited about the Hexbugs. Every night it seems, when we get home from work and school, my daughter asks if we can watch the bugs. She even chooses them when we tell her that we only have time to watch the bugs or an episode - that I like.
So, Sunday, after we had our fill of Macaroni and Cheese, the kids found themselves in the dining room and the parents soon followed. The kids really enjoyed the bugs. They kept wanting them to fight on the battle bridge and would pick them up and set them all on the bridge to fight. The way we had our track set up, about 1/2 the time it seemed they would fall onto a track and even if they were upside down, would soon right themselves and scurry on. The other times, one of the kids would grab them and set them back up on the bridge. The one little boy, not quite 3, loved them. He would pick them up and hold them - the look on his face when the bug was vibrating in his hand was cute. We kept encouraging him to watch, not touch...but you know how it can be with little boys.

I have seen the Hex Nano Bugs at Target and was pleasantly surprised by their pricing - the starter set is only $17.99 (MSRP). The habitat set is $29.99 (MSRP) and comes with 3 Hex Cells, 7 bridges (track pieces) and 2 Hexbugs. They also have a case for storing your Hexbugs, which might be something I will pick up.

There is also a full online experience, that we have yet to check out. It looks intriguing to me. "The Hexbug Nano is built around an ancient, fabled society called Hands & Stars, dedicated to human progress through science." The site is built on this and geared to children 7 to 14. Based on the descriptions, it seems like it could be an educational experience including challenges and quizes. The website is www.handsandstars.com.

The kids were happy when they found out that they got to take some bugs and pieces to build a small habitat home with them. Then, we moved onto the Healthy Home Party (okay, not really, we talked about it while we watched the kids play with bugs...but it's easier to write one at a time!).

Kung Zhu

As a mom, there are just some toys that I would never think to pick up off the shelf at the store. It's not that there is anything wrong with a toy, it's just that sometimes I wonder would my kids actually like that or play with that? One such toy is the new Kung Zhu line from Zhu Zhu pets. If I had seen it on shelf, I'm not sure I would have picked it out. My kids are lucky though that through MomSelect, I recently had the opportunity to check out Kung Zhu Pets. They LOVE them.

What are Kung Zhu Pets?

"With eight original characters split into two battling groups called Special Forces and Ninja Warriors, Kung Zhu Pet owners will have the thrill of training each character to transform fighting, battling warriors. While these Kung Zhu hamsters may start of as "cute" and "mild-mannered" once they are sent into their main training grounds, smart chip technology will actually allow you to hear a distinct personality transformation of fighting ninja and warriors."

Deck your Special Forces or Ninja pet in their armor and they are ready to achieve their goal of "justice in the zhu-niverse".

We came home from school one afternoon last week to a large box sitting in the kitchen. They were excited and couldn't wait to know what was inside. When I opened it, they immediately started pulling things out and wanting to know if we could open them.

I allowed them to each select a hamster and a set of battle armor for their hamster. These Kung Zhu pets are very similar to regular Zhu Zhu pets, but they have some special features that make them even more fun. They can be played with in "discover" mode like the original Zhu Zhu pets, in which they just tool around, making cute noises and bumping into things, or in "battle" mode where they make cute little warrior noises and do some special tricks (spins, wheelies, etc). Their armor set comes with a shield that has a track to run them across to "charge up their armor". Even before we opened anything else, the kids were having fun with their Kung Zhu hamsters.

After getting our hamsters out, suited up and running, we finally opened and set up a Battle Arena, where the two hamsters can duel it out a couple at a time, pushing each other around, doing spins, and trying to "win" by knocking the other Zhu Zhu over. We set up a Ninja training set and a Special Forces training set on either side of the arena. There also were some battle accessories for the arena (or for use on their own). We built and connected all of the pieces. The hamsters were ready for battle. (We only connected one training set to each side and added two battle accessories, but there are all kinds of accessories that you can hook onto the battle arena to make it more intricate and fun, too!)

The kids were a bit disappointed that when the hamsters were wearing their armor that they couldn't fit through the training set. This did seem somewhat odd, since the training sets attach to the "tunnels" leading to the battle arena. The kids quickly got over this and just let their hamsters train and upon reaching the battle arena, they would pick them up and pop on their armor. The battle accessories and the armor both have some "action" pieces that when bumped into fire or drop or swing a weapon into the arena. Of course, mostly these just serve as obstacles to the hamsters, leading to one or the other to flip over and "lose". That's okay, once they lose the kids switch sides and let their hamsters run on the other training set and return to battle again.

Generally, I am not a big fan of "fighting" or "battle" toys, but this one features cute hamsters and really makes the kids giggle - so it feels less violent than a "battle toy" sounds. In addition, the arena and the accessories can really start to take up a lot of space. We are fortunately enough to have a basement, but we first set it up in our family room which quickly was overrun in Kung Zhu. Once we moved it to the basement, there was plenty of room.

I have been impressed by the amount of time the kids spend playing with the Kung Zhu pets. Most of the time, hasn't even been in battle. As they were downstairs playing, my son came up and asked if he could recycle the boxes that the pets and toys had come in. Recycling makes sense to me, so I said sure. Turns out he meant reuse. They took to opening boxes and using the cardboard inside to create houses for their Kung Zhu hamsters. It was really great to see them spend time playing and being creative together. To me, a toy that inspires them to be creative is a good thing. Of course, all of their play has not been without squabbles. They both want to use the same set of armor - it fires off missiles when it gets bumped and my daughter struggles with letting her brother's Kung Zhu train on "her" training set (the one she helped me open and set up), but they have worked through both and now take turns.

Overall I would give these pets a great review...my kids have enjoyed playing with them all weekend! I love that you can play with just the pets alone or add in any number of accessories to mix it up.

Giveaway:

Kung Zhu giveaway! Thanks to MomSelect, I have a HUGE package of Kung Zhu fun to give to one lucky reader. Here is what the winner will get:

Two Kung Zhu pets
Two Sets of Kung Zhu armor
One Battle Arena
Three Accessories

To enter - check out the Kung Zhu hamster bios (here) and then leave a comment sharing which Kung Zhu hamster you could best relate to.

Additional entries:
· Follow @ABusyMomofTwo on Twitter. Tweet about this giveaway. Leave a comment with a link to your tweet. (this can be done daily)
· Follow this blog or sign up to receive e-mail updates (upper side bar). Leave a comment letting me know that you follow or subscribe (or if you already have been).
· Include my button on your side bar or a link to A Busy Mom of Two in your blog roll. Leave a comment with a link to your site.
· Share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook.
· Write a post about this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment with a link to your post.

Giveaway will remain open until July 5th at 6pm. Winner will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. I did receive through Mom Select a pair of Kung Zhu hamsters, armor, battle arena and some accessories for my family, that we could play with them and share our experience. In addition, a set was provided for a giveaway.

Water! Water! Water!

One of the things that I have always known (at least I don't recall not knowing it), is how important hydration is for you. Especially, when you are trying to lose weight and when you are maintaining an active life and working out.

You know, one struggle that many people have is that they sometimes mistake thirst for hunger. I know, it sounds crazy, but it is true. I once was told that if you are trying to lose weight and you feel like you are constantly hungry, try drinking a glass of water when you feel hungry, wait 1/2 an hour and if you are still hungry, then you likely do need to eat, but if the hunger goes away, it likely was dehydration. I'm not sure of the science behind this, but I do know that there have been times where a glass of water has helped me no longer feel hungry. (Here is a mention of this on LiveStrong)

As a member of Weight Watchers, I know that they have made changes over time to what counts towards your 8 glasses of water a day, but the reality to me is that even if I can count milk, juice, coffee or whatever as part of my water, but I still have to count those points. So, I have a tendency to rely on good old water to fulfill a majority of my glasses of water each day.

Experience has showed me that when I am drinking my water, I have more success in my weight loss. I strive hard to drink the 8 glasses a day. I love water. I can drink it straight from the faucet, it doesn't need to be ice cold or anything. But, as with many things, variety is the spice of life and without it, things get old. I do need to mix it up occasionally to help maintain that target of 8 glasses per day.

But, there are times where I really want some flavor. I kind of like having something fruity to drink with my breakfast and I need a flavored beverage with pizza and with popcorn. I used to have a glass of orange juice to start my day and a can of soda every time I had pizza and popcorn. I'm not a big fan of alternative sweeteners for my soda (perhaps they are better with some of the new sweetener options out there, but from my childhood I just remember the terrible after taste that diet/low calorie sodas had) and have always been a full calorie soda drinker. Being on a weight loss journey, this simply doesn't work for me (although, an occasional splurge does happen - at 3 points, it's not awful but certainly not something worth it on a regular basis).

I have found alternatives that have helped me. A while back I started using many of the different drink sticks to help me flavor my water. They work really well and I keep a few in my purse just in case. My challenge here is that I have really only found two flavors that I like and well, honestly, I feel like sometimes I need a little variety in my life.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to try Fruit2O Essentials. "Fruit2O Essentials is a simple, refreshing beverage choice that promotes a healthy lifestyle because it combines several nutrients found in two servings of fruit, with the hydrating benefits of zero calorie water." Fruit2O Essentials come in six different flavors - Cranberry Raspberry, Strawberry Kiwi, Peach Mango, Citrus, Blueberry Pomegranate, and Cherry Acai. Each variety has it's own set of vitamins and minerals. I like that it is ready to serve and that it is fortified with nutrients and fiber (1 g per serving) that I need in my diet.

Would you like to learn more? You can check out the Fruit2O Essentials webpage or become a fan of Fruit2O on Facebook to find tips, share small changes that have made a big impact on your health and to learn more about upcoming tours and product coupons. Fruit2O Essentials are available as single bottles and as 15-packs at club stores.



Would you like to try Fruit2O Essentials? Courtesy of Fruit2O and MomSelect, I have the opportunity to giveaway a one month supply of Fruit2O Essentials to one reader of A Busy Mom of Two.

How to enter: Leave a comment sharing a small change that you are making to live a healthier life.

The giveaway will remain open until April 21st at 6pm. The winner will be selected using a random number generator and once posted, will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected. It helps if you leave an e-mail (or include it in your profile), so that I can send you a notification in addition to simply posting it on A Busy Mom of Two.

Getting my recommended daily water intake, mixing it up with variety in water flavor, works for me on my weight loss journey. This post was shared at Works For Me Wednesday.

No compensation was received for this post. I was provided with bottles of Fruit2O Essentials to try so that I could share my experience, courtesy of MomSelect and Fruit2O.

Zhu Zhu Pets

A while back, I was offered the opportunity through MomSelect to receive some Zhu Zhu pets and a habitat in order that I might host a party and share the Zhu Zhu pets with friends. "Zhu Zhu Pets are the world’s first innovative, realistic, interactive, plush, and artificially intelligent hamsters that talk and move around in their own playsets."

Zhu Zhu pets come with a complete set of accessories that allow you to build a complete habitat for them. When the package arrived, I was surprised by the number of pieces that there were to build the habitat with. There are hamster wheels and balls. There is a car and surf board. There are rooms and slides. The possibilities are endless and you can connect them all. The kit was delayed in arriving and actually arrived after my planned date for my party, so we did a bunch of mini-play dates. All of the kids really loved them. Our neighbor girl asks daily if she can come in and play Zhu Zhu pets.

The hamsters run on 2-AAA batteries and come with their first set, which is nice because you can start playing right away with no need to find batteries. The Zhu Zhu pets come in a variety of colors and each seem to have a bit of their own personality.

The first weekend after the package arrived, I decided to open one of the Zhu Zhu pets and start playing. My daughter called them her "little kitties", which I thought was really cute. My cat, on the other hand was not very fond of the "little kitties". He pretty much steered clear of them as they wandered down the hallway and around the kitchen making little chirpy type noises. It is really amazing, they use their nose to sense when they run into things and turn around, but they also will, while heading down a given path, stop and change directions. No two adventures are alike. After playing with one in the hallway and nearly having it take a tumble down the stairs, we decided to start putting their habitat together to keep them in a safe surrounding.

The kids and I built the habitat over the next couple of days, one connection at a time. Speaking of connections, getting them to fit is important, we had one piece that was slightly warped and the hamsters kept getting caught on it. The connection tubes come with flip open lids and we quickly learned to leave that door open so that we could encourage the hamster past the hang up. I think of the habitat my favorite piece is the hamster wheel. Watching the little guy get himself onto the wheel and positioned and then taking off. It really was like playing with a real hamster only no food to feed them and no mess to clean up. (Plus, when the kids lose interest for a while, there is not a neglected pet to worry about.) The hamster ball is kind of fun too, as the little guys run off in one direction and then decide to head another way.

My kids really enjoy this toy. I was a little skeptical at first, but they really are kind of fun to watch scamper about the room or their habitat. The Zhu Zhu pets were originally only released in a test market, but are to be on shelves this fall. The toys are reasonably priced at $6.99 for each hamster and playsets beginning at $14.99. The playsets are modular and you can add as many or few as you want. Toys'R Us is currently out of stock on the items that they carry and the stores who list on Amazon appear to be taking advantage of the current limited availability and are selling them at a significant premium.

I can say that I will likely have to buy a second hamster ball when they become available so that both hamsters can play in them at the same time. I might also grab a couple more habitrail pieces. I think the room and the u-turn might be a good piece to extend the set.

The kids have maintained their interest in the toys, which is a good thing. At some point though, I think that we might donate the hamsters and habitat to our daycare. I think the kids there would get a kick out of watching the "animals" explore their environment.

Have you played with Zhu Zhu pets? What did you think? Leave a comment or link to your blog.