Full Time Mama

A Blogtastic Extravaganza is HERE! Enter to #win a Diono RadianRXT car seat and a Pearl Tree Designs blog design!

2012-01-29T00:01:00.005-07:00

*This is a sticky post and will remain at the top of the blog until Sunday morning at 12:01am EST* Scroll down for new posts!

Hello and welcome to the start of A Blogtastic Extravaganza, hosted by Jessica at My Silly Monkeys!! I am so excited to give share these awesome sponsors with you, give you the chance to win these amazing prizes, as well as enter to win tons more on other great blogs!

You have until Sunday January 29th at 12:01 am EST to enter all A Blogtastic Extravaganza giveaways. With over 50 blogs and thousands of dollars in prizes to be won, you do NOT want to miss entering everyone's giveaways! To see what other blogs are giving away, click on the blog links at the end of this post.

Here are the prizes available to win here on Full Time Mama. Please be sure to visit the sponsors and see the awesome products they have to offer. You won't be disappointed!

Prize #1: Diono RadianRXT car seat, your choice of color based on availability (7 to choose from). A $339.99 value!

Prize #2: Pearl Tree Designs Blog Design: Ultimate Pearl Package A $50 value Includes: 2 or 3 column layout custom header coordinating background, custom font and coordinating colors, full installation PLUS:
18 a la carte points: see this page for the extras you can choose!
(Before and after pics to come!)

Alright, so let's get to it! Entering is easy... Follow the directions in the Rafflecopter form below! Then when you're done, go check out the other blogs and the amazing packages they're offering too!! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Final week of the $20 Fast Cash Flash Giveaway!!

2012-01-26T21:59:00.001-07:00

It's the final week of the $20 Fast Cash Flash Giveaway! $20 to your PayPal account sounds pretty great, huh? Hurry and enter, it's only 24 hours! Giveaway ends on 1/28 at 12:01 EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The laundry won't fold itself...?

2012-01-26T13:45:00.000-07:00

<-----See that picture? That is NOT my face when I fold laundry. Turn that smile to a frown and it's much more accurate.

If there's one chore I ~~hate~~ despise, it's folding laundry. I'll sort it, wash it, dry it and put it away with no qualms, but folding... Yeah, that's a different story. You can imagine how much laundry we have with a family of 6. It never ends. Yet I've been known to leave the clean clothes in the hamper(s) IN the garage (our "laundry room") for a week or more trying to avoid the inevitable, meanwhile the dirty ones are piling up on the floor of our closet, spilling over everything. If someone needs something clean, I go to the clean hamper of clothes (yes, in the garage) to get it. My mom says the key is to fold them the second you pull them out of the dryer. So, what if I just leave 'em in the dryer? Yes, I'm guilty of that too.

Why, oh why, hasn't someone invented something that will fold the clothes for me? My daughter does a pretty awesome job of folding the laundry, but still not good enough that I am willing to let her do it with everyone's clothes. Am I crazy, not letting her when she wants to? Wait, don't answer that...

What is your least favorite chore?

Wordless Wednesday- I promise I feed him...

2012-01-24T22:24:00.000-07:00

The one of him in the trash can is our recycle trash can, which was empty (and is clean as it's mostly for boxes and cans). Just so you don't think I'd really let him climb in a dirty trash can. Lol!

For more WW visit We Don't Have It All, Go Graham Go and the WW HQ.

Don't forget to like my new page on Facebook, and be sure to get the new button as well (left sidebar)!!

AND, be sure and enter to win one of the awesome ABE prizes!!

ABE Sponsor Spotlight: Diono RadianRXT car seat!

2012-01-24T17:41:00.000-07:00

When it comes to our kids, there's nothing we won't do to keep them safe. We do our research and buy items that will protect them best.

Purchasing a car seat can be an overwhelming task. There are so many brands available, so many styles and types. Sure, they all have to meet the required safety standards, but what if we want better than that? What if we want safety that surpasses the 'others', plus comfort and style? With Diono, you can have it all!

We currently have (and are in love with) the Diono Radian RXT car seat!

Diono, previously Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products, has been creating amazing, award-winning products for over a decade. They currently offer more than 100 products from car seats to storage solutions to travel and stroller accessories, and are available in 54 countries worldwide.

Personally, I've always preferred a convertible car seat. While infant car seats can be convenient to carry baby around in, inevitably you will have to purchase another car seat when your baby outgrows the infant seat (often within the first 6-8 months depending on baby's size), and then later a booster seat, causing you to spend quite a bit of money!

The Radian RXT fits children from 5lbs up to 120lbs. Yes, you heard me right! This car seat will take your child from newborn all the way to booster, eliminating the need to purchase additional car seats as your child grows. And while other car seats only have a 5 year life (car seats DO expire), this has a 10 year life which- in most cases- should take your child through the car seat years!

Less than one year ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics changed their recommendation on rear-facing car seats, advising that parents keep their toddlers rear-facing until age 2. The RadianRXT offers the highest rear-facing car seat available in the industry -up to 45 pounds- meaning even the largest child can remain rear-facing to the recommended age.

Another very appealing feature is that the RadianRXT fits 3 across in most cars! When we found out we were expecting our 3rd child, we knew we were going to have to get a bigger vehicle. There was no way we would be able to fit 3 car seats in our car. Now we have 4 kids and need the bigger vehicle anyway, BUT if we ever have another baby I know we can fit him or her in and not have to worry about getting yet another larger vehicle!

Assembling and installing the RadianRXT was super easy. Because Connor is still just 16 months old, he is rear facing. I had to add the detachable base to the bottom so the seat would be angled properly, and that was easy as pie! The LATCH system makes installation super easy too! The buckle design on this system is so much easier than the other LATCH systems I've experienced. Diono developed the SuperLATCH™, making Radian the first car seat to allow forward-facing LATCH use above 48 lbs and rear-facing LATCH use above 40 lbs!

I also appreciate the additional safety features that the Radian offers. We can never be too safe when it comes to our kids. The RadianRXT is NCAP crash tested, the industry benchmark for verifying child seat performance in severe accident conditions, and the only car seat rated for LATCH use with a child up to 80 lbs. It has a steel alloy frame and aluminum reinforced sides, Energy-absorbing EPS foam panels on all sides, and adjustable head support, reinforced for complete side impact safety (to name a few).

We love love LOVE this seat. My husband got to where he was beginning to hate our other car seat. It was hard to get Connor buckled in. The Radian is a breeze. I can tell Connor likes it too. He was getting to where he'd arch his back and pitch a fit to be put in the old car seat, and now he literally climbs into the new one, ready and waiting to be buckled in. Maybe it's because it's so comfy with the memory foam and support pillows? Wish my seat had that!

Buy It: Diono products are available nationwide in stores and online, such as Amazon, Walmart and Target. The Diono RadianRXT is available for $339.99 (SRP), and is sold in 7 stylish colors to suit any taste!

Keep up to date on products, deals and additional information on the Diono Facebook page and the Diono Twitter page, and the Diono website.

Diono sent me the aforementioned item free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the product. Please see my terms of use for more information. A big thank you to Diono for allowing us to review this amazing car seat!

Delicious Dish Tuesday: Meatball Sub Casserole

2012-01-23T23:53:00.001-07:00

Welcome to another Delicious Dish Tuesday, a blog hop for and about delicious food!

My favorite dish after visiting last week’s contributors to Delicious Dish Tuesday is: Healthy Homemade Pizza from A Restful Place blog!

I've made homemade pizza once before, and calzones a few times. We love it, but when I saw this recipe- which includes coconut oil- I thought it looked SO good! I am going to buy some coconut oil and make this!

Please link a post that is Delicious! If you are new, read the Original Post which includes the rules for linking up. If you have any questions please email me at thefulltimemama(at)gmail(d0t)com.

~Please include a link back to one/any of the host sites (through worded link or badge). The Delicious Dish Tuesday hosts include:
Amanda of Coping with Frugality
Johanna of Mama Chocolate
and me, Alesha of Full Time Mama

This week I am sharing my recipe for an amazing dish; Meatball Sub Casserole! This is a delicious, easy to make dish (especially if you use the prepackaged meatballs like I do rather than making your own). I made it again this week and it was tasty as usual!

Don’t forget to leave a comment after you link up your post and add the above button to your blog post as well! Thanks so much! Can't wait to see what you share!

Blog redeisgn in process...

2012-01-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

For previous readers, you can see that the blog redesign is here... mostly.
For new readers, here is a pic of the old design:

The new design is not all done yet, but should be totally complete in the next day or 2. I LOVE IT!!

Isn't it awesome already?! Remember, you can enter to win your own fabulous blog redesign RIGHT NOW during ABE! Head over to the designers blog, Mother of Pearl It Is, for another chance to win!

In the meantime, if things look a bit wonky, don't worry, they'll be "normal" soon!

ABE Sponsor Spotlight: Pearl Tree Designs

2012-01-22T22:15:00.002-07:00

As my blog has grown, so has my desire for a more professional, clean look. I searched and searched for a blog designer I felt I could afford that did quality work that I loved, and had a hard time finding one! I could find great designers, but would have to pay much more than I felt I could afford, but when I found affordable designers I wasn't always thrilled with their style of design. I finally gave up and decided to wait for something to fall into my lap.

Ironically, I met Tree, mama behind Pearl Tree Designs, when I signed up to participate in A Blogtastic Extravaganza! I got to know her a bit, and found out she was willing to sponsor a blogger for A Blogtastic Extravaganza. I looked at her blog and was thrilled! I loved her blog design, and knew I'd love her work. And after seeing other designs she'd done, I was beyond excited.

So, who is Tree?

My name is Tree (short for Teresa). I’ve been with the love of my life for almost 24 years. We are blessed to have 5 beautiful children, a lovely daughter-in-law, and 2 adorable granddaughters. My home life is very full, and I also work outside the home in Social Services for our local Veterans Home. You can also find me working hard at my mom review blog, Mother of Pearl It Is.
I also love…
the beach. blogging. web designing. computers. parties. family barbeques. amusement and water parks. date night with the hubby. family fun night. movies. any time with the family.

And how did she learn how to design?

I am a self-taught designer… started many years ago searching the web to learn skinning for my mommy forum. I started offering skin designs, buttons, photo signatures, etc. for message board forums, and then caught the “blogging bug.” I tried my hand at blog designing using the html/css knowledge I already had from years of forum designing, and began offering blog designs to close friends. From there, Pearl Tree Designs was born. My goal is to offer quality, affordable designs to everyone, so they too can enjoy having a beautiful blog they can be proud of.

Over the past few months I've gotten to know Tree even better, and I can tell you she's an all around awesome person! She has made this process very easy. I admit I am not the most knowledgeable about the ins and outs of design and html codes and such. I know I must have had ridiculous questions, yet Tree was always patient and answered them for me so I could understand and choose what was best and what I envisioned for my blog.

~~I am thrilled to see the final result of her work!~~ It's DONE! Isn't it amazing?! She did an amazing job and I almost wish I had another blog to see what new design she'd come up with!

Buy It: You can get the same package I'm receiving- the Ultimate Pearl Package- for just $50! See other packages and prices available here.

Pearl Tree Designs provided me the aforementioned item free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the product. Please see my terms of use for more information. A big thank you to Tree for giving me this AWESOME blog design!

I need recipe help!!

2012-01-21T03:59:00.000-07:00

So this may make you laugh, but I have a boneless flat cut beef brisket and have no idea how to cook it or what to make with it. So I'm enlisting your help!

I'd love it if you'd share your favorite beef brisket recipe with me! I'd be eternally grateful!

Better yet, I'd REALLY love it if you would take a picture, post the recipe to your blog and share it with me and my friends for Delicious Dish Tuesday, the new recipe blog hop I'm hosting with my friends Amanda at Coping With Frugality and Johanna from Mama Chocolate!

If you'd prefer not to blog and just share with me, I'll still be thrilled! Feel free to shoot me an email or link to your recipe in a comment below!

ABE sponsor sneak peek!

2012-01-21T02:07:00.001-07:00

Wow, I cannot believe A Blogtastic Extravaganza starts in just 2 days!! I have 2 amazing sponsors I am so excited to share with you!

If you're looking for a fantastic car seat that offers superior safety, you're in luck!

How about an amazing blog designer at an affordable price?!

In the coming days I'll be posting more information on them, as well as my reviews of their products. Be sure and check back in on the 23rd (MONDAY!) to enter to win a Diono RadianRXT car seat (a $339 value!) and a blog redesign (valued at $50)!

Ready for more CASH?! Round 3 of the $20 Fast Cash Flash Giveaway!!

2012-01-19T21:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, another cash giveaway! This one is 24 hours only, so hurry up and enter! Ends on 1/21 at 12:01 am EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Learn N Turn winner!

2012-01-18T20:53:00.000-07:00

Hey all! We have another winner! The winner of the awesome Learn N Turn is:

Congrats! I have sent you an email, you have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen!

Thanks so much for entering! The new year has started off slowly and relaxed (!), but there is definitely more to come! A Blogtastic Extravaganza starts next Monday, and I've got 2 amazing sponsors you won't want to miss! Great prizes to be won!! AH!

BTW, go like my new FB page would ya?! The Full Time Mama!

Delicious Dish Tuesday!

2012-01-17T00:00:00.014-07:00

Welcome to the first week of Delicious Dish Tuesday, a weekly recipe link up. Join Full Tima Mama, Coping with Frugality, and Mama Chocolate each week as we share our favorite recipes and give you the chance to share yours!

Right now, the Delicious Dish Tuesday Team is joining up to share the Blog Hop with their audiences. This means you get exposure to many different blog audiences for the price of one link, so it is like linking up to many different blog hops with one single link! If you haven't been to their blogs before, then you certainly should, as they are tremendously creative women and moms who also make some pretty kickin’ recipes.

So, please link a recipe using the linky tools below and your link will be shared over many different blogs and many different blog audiences. Please link to your article only and not directly to your blog front page. You will also be asked to place a link back to the blog host, which means, adding in the URL of the blog hop post which you can copy from your browser address bar and insert at the bottom of your post. You could also choose to place a blog badge into your post, in which case use the widget below.

*A team host will visit each link and read and comment on your post before the next linky period opens, because this is personal for us…we want you to know that we appreciate that you’ve taken the time to create a post, add a link back to the hop, and add your link! We’ll be sure to acknowledge this with a comment and a tweet on Twitter (using hashtag #TuesDish).

Please only link up one post per week. The Linky will stay open from midnight Monday to 11:59 pm Saturday (Pacific time).

Each week we will each share our favorite recipes that were linked up the prior week as well as share one of our own Delicious Dishes. This week I would love for you to check out my recipe for the BEST Potato Cheese Soup! This is an oldie-but-goodie! I love a good soup in the wintertime, and this is my absolute favorite- hands down!

Don’t forget to leave a comment after you link up your post!

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CHA-CHING! $125 Paypal GIVEAWAY!! Social Media Spotlight

2012-01-15T22:04:00.001-07:00

Hostessed by Mama to 4 Blessings and Home Grown Families with the help of several other fantastic group of bloggers we bring you Social Media Spotlight "Facebook"! This giveaway runs from 12:01 AM on Monday 1/16 and will run until Monday, 1/22 at 11:59 PM (all Eastern times). One winner will receive $125.00 Cash into their paypal!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Perks of Pregnancy

2012-01-14T20:10:00.000-07:00

You may wonder why I am talking about pregnancy. Rest assured, we are NOT expecting again, (and I can say without hesitation I don't anticipate ever having another pregnancy to announce). However, many of my friends are expecting, and it's got me thinking...

Sure, pregnancy comes with some downsides:
-morning sickness (for some)
-fatigue (at times)
-Pregnancy brain
-Odd cravings (dirt, perhaps?)
-Sleep issues (try getting comfy when you have a basketball for a stomach, or try sleeping when baby decides your cervix is a trampoline)

But reminiscing on my own pregnancies, I realized there are so many perks I would love to enjoy now! For instance:

-Being told you're "glowing". Either that, or you have a really great excuse for looking exhausted without feeling bad! Even when chasing around a toddler (or 2 or 3), I was still "glowing" when pregnant. So nice to feel (and surely look) exhausted, yet still look good (or have people tell me that)!

-Elastic pants. I know, I know, by the end of pregnancy I couldn't wait to be able to wear normal pants again, but there are days now when the thought of comfy, elastic waisted pants (especially after the recent holiday meals) sounds wonderful!

-Speaking of meals; eating for 2. If I wanted to eat 2 donuts (or cookies or sandwiches or handfuls of chips, etc), there were no questions asked, no raised eyebrows, no guilt. Some for mama, some for baby.

-An excuse for gaining weight! Not only is it expected, it's insisted! Ah, to step on the scale and actually not freak out to see the numbers up... Or to have the doctor applaud you for a bigger number on the scale when you go for your check up.

-Bigger boobs. I realize this is not always a perk (pun intended) for everyone, but after having (and nursing) 4 kids... Well, I think it speaks for itself.

-Preferred seating. I have no idea how many venues follow this, but when calling to purchase tickets to see our Major League Baseball Team play (go D-Backs!), we were offered preferred seating at a discounted price because I was expecting. And let me tell you, these seats were pretty fabulous, especially on our budget. (On a side note, kick me for not taking advantage of this with every pregnancy that followed!)

-Hair growth, or lack of. With each of my pregnancies, the hair on my head grew fast and was healthy. And the hair on my legs hardly grew at all. Shaving once a week (or less) was plenty, and it was fabulous! Especially near the end when I could hardly reach far enough to shave them anyway!

-Pampering. Be it manicures, pedicures, massages, what have you, being pregnant is a good excuse to be pampered... regularly. A pedicure is always a welcome treat, and even the ladies at the spa take a little extra time to give the pregnant lady the attention she needs!

-Nesting. Oh, to have that burst of energy (and desire!) to clean the house top to bottom, organize every drawer or rearrange the furniture.

Those are the perks that came to my mind right away. Any perks I didn't mention that come to your mind?

Fun with Food Friday: Stuffed French Toast!

2012-01-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

I've decided to join my friend Johanna from Mama Chocolate for Fun with Food Friday post this week! Check out her blog for the featured recipe this week, as well as other Fun with Food Friday posts!

French Toast is my very favorite breakfast food ever. However, the thought of eating breakfast in the morning makes my stomach turn (I'm so not a morning person, let alone a morning cook), so we often have breakfast for dinner.

When we go out for breakfast foods, I can't help but get french toast, and especially love the stuffed french toast. I've never thought I could make it though (?), but after seeing a few recipes for it online, I decided I HAD to try it.

So here's what I found and did, and it was SO good! I felt like I was eating dessert for dinner. That can't be bad AT ALL, can it? ;) Not to mention, the kids loved it!!

I decided to use this Rachael Ray recipe, but modified it to fit my liking. Here's what I did:
Ingredients

Batter:
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
I also added 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Filling:
1 1/2 cups cream cheese
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (I didn't add this to mine, rather saved it and sprinkled some on the top)
1/2 cup medium-diced banana
1/8 cup orange juice
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
We also did chopped fresh strawberries and blueberries

1 loaf french bread, cut into 2 in slices.

Directions

Batter:

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, mixing well until incorporated. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

Filling:
Fold all ingredients together in a bowl until well incorporated but not completely smooth.

Cut a slit in the center of the bread to form your 'pocket'... I cut mine about 3/4 of the way down, a bit more maybe.

Add a tablespoon or more (I did WAY more) of the filling to the pocket of the bread, then press together to 'seal' it a bit and prevent it from oozing out. Set aside and do that to the remaining pieces of bread.

Heat a large skillet and then add butter. Dredge the bread in the batter (do only the bread you will be cooking first to prevent it from getting too soggy). Fry each slice for about 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Remove from heat. Top with powdered sugar and fresh fruit (and maybe a few chocolate chips...)! SO good!

Another $20 Fast Cash Flash Giveaway!

2012-01-12T21:59:00.000-07:00

Yay, another cash giveaway!!

Want a chance to win a quick, easy $20 to your PayPal account?! Then I've got good news for you!
There are still 3 more Fridays to enter the 24 hour long $20 Fast Cash Flash Giveaway!!

Entering is easy- Just complete the Rafflecopter form below. Remember, this is a 24 hour long giveaway, so it will be over on 1/14 at 12:01 EST.!!

Make sure to come back every Friday this month for another chance to win!
Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Random Acts of Cuteness: Are you Cereal?!

2012-01-11T23:17:00.002-07:00

We had a few members of my large family over last week for dinner.

My Uncle Joel was giving 4 year old Erik a hard time. After Erik kept talking on and on about something, Uncle Joel asked, "Are you cereal?!"(serious).

Erik says, "No, YOU'RE cereal!"
Uncle Joel asks, "Really?! What kind of cereal am I?"
Erik replies, "FRUIT LOOPS!"

Wordless Wednesday- Then and Now

2012-01-10T23:33:00.001-07:00

Alright, I'm about to embarrass myself here, but I couldn't resist posting these then and now pics...

These are 2 of my very best friends in the world. We are all within a month of each other in age, and grew up together from day 1 in the same church. We even had the Best Friends Forever necklaces (split 3 ways)!

The first photo was taken in the late 80's (that's me in the middle with my crazy hair... don't ask), and the second was taken a month or so ago at church. We can still giggle and laugh like we did back then, and I feel SO blessed to have such amazing friends in my life... I love you girls! Please don't kill me for posting this picture! ;)

For more WW visit We Don't Have It All, Go Graham Go and the WW HQ.

Don't forget to like my new page on Facebook, and be sure to get the new button as well (left sidebar)!!

Fun on a fire truck...

2012-01-06T22:19:00.000-07:00

My uncle is a fireman, and we are often able to enjoy the perks of this. Tours of the fire station, rides on the firetruck, even a firetruck and firemen at your birthday party!! Super cool!

Recently we were able to go up in the ladder truck at the station. Brooke had spent the day with her cousin and was already at the fire station, up in the air when we got there.

It was interesting to see/hear my kids' reactions about it all. This particular truck goes up 100 feet in the air. Brooke was loving it, and wanted to go higher, higher, higher! Around 1/2 way up, Uncle Joel asked Logan and Erik if they wanted to go higher. Logan says, "Um, I think this is good", and Erik says, "Yeah, this is good"! Of course Brooke says, "Take it up all the way!"

I was on the ground with Connor, taking pictures and watching the kids all take their turns. Connor has been asleep when we got there, and while he didn't react much, he seemed very fascinated with it all. He kept pointing at the ladder and bucket. We decided he and I would take a ride up in it and see how he would react.

Here is the view looking down, about 1/2 way up...

Connor was in awe. No laughing or smiling, just in total awe of it all. I got quite a few pictures while we were up there, though it was a bit rough holding him and keeping my balance while taking pictures (the basket does rock a bit). This was his expression most of the time we were at the station...

It was super cool to be able to see all around, but sad that the pollution in the air was bad enough that we had trouble seeing the mountains all around. Just on the horizon was a brown haze... Yuck.

Connor was so fascinated he wanted Uncle Joel after that. If Uncle Joel was on the truck, Connor wanted him...
Here he is waiting patiently with Aunt Jenn. She handed him off a few minutes after this.

And while he's happy to be with Uncle Joel, he still has that same expression...

Despite the haze, we all had a great time! Before we left, Uncle Joel got a call and so we got to watch the firemen jump into the truck and drive away with lights and sirens. Very cool. The kids can't wait to visit Uncle Joel at the fire station again!!

#Win $20! 24 hour Fast Cash Flash #Giveaway!!

2012-01-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

Want a chance to win a quick, easy $20 to your PayPal account?! Then I've got good news for you!

Every Friday for the next 4 weeks there will be a 24 hour long Fast Cash Flash Giveaway where you can enter to win $20.00!!

Entering is easy- Just complete the Rafflecopter form below. Remember, this is a 24 hour long giveaway, so it will be over at 11:59pm EST on 1/7!!

Make sure to come back every Friday this month for another chance to win!
Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wordless Wednesday- My CUTE kids!

2012-01-03T22:18:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've done a WW post! I've missed it! Please leave me a comment with your link so I can visit you and see your WW!!

So, since I shared a post a few days ago with pictures of my kids at their less-than-cute moment in life, I must share some recent pics of them so you can see just how adorable they really are! :)

Like I said, ADORABLE!!

For more WW visit We Don't Have It All, Go Graham Go and the WW HQ.

Last round of holiday winners!!

2012-01-03T21:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, the holidays are over, and the last giveaways from the Holiday Gift Guide are over as well! Here are the last winners!

OCDaisy nap bag:

GreenSmart laptop sleeve:

Scentsy:

Congrats to you all! I have sent you each an email, you have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen!

Thanks so much for entering! There is one giveaway currently running, more to come!

And go like my new FB page: The Full Time Mama!

Love is blind, especially a mother's love!

2011-12-31T16:35:00.000-07:00

Ever noticed how we, as mothers, think there is NO cuter kid on Earth than our own? It's true, and it's as it should be!

I have had this conversation with friends over and over again, how we always think our kid is cute. I always say this is the case for me, but there are times when I look back at photos of my kids (especially as infants) and realize my mommy "blinders" were on at that point in time of my kids' life. Of course, at that very moment, my kids were ADORABLE! But looking back at photos I am sometimes in awe at just how freaky my kids looked at certain times in their lives. I know this sounds harsh, but I gotta be honest here!
For example, here are some pictures of my 4 kids:

Terrifying, isn't it? Throw in the 'Psycho' music while you look at this and imagine... It's scary, right?!

Yes, it's true. A mother's love is blind!

Have you looked back at your kids' pictures and been a little freaked out too? Or am I just a mean crazy mom?

The Looney Tunes Show: Season one Volume 2 DVD Review

2011-12-30T22:43:00.000-07:00

The Looney Tunes Show has been around practically forever, bringing fun and entertainment to kids (and adults) generation after generation. I have many fond memories of watching Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Taz and the rest of the crew in their silly and crazy antics. My very favorite, however, was watching Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote! I loved seeing what crazy new ideas Wile E. Coyote would come up with in his attempts to catch Roadrunner!

Now my kids are able to enjoy all the fun that Looney Tunes offers in the newest DVD release: The Looney Tunes Show, Season One Volume 2!

This new DVD features 4 episodes and almost 90 minutes of fun and laughter.

The laughs start when Bugs and Daffy teach the neighborhood monster Gossamer how to make friends in Monster Talent. The high jinks continue when Daffy attends his high school Reunion and shows off his greatest talent: stealing the spotlight. Then, a relaxing getaway in Casa de Calma pits Daffy against Bugs vying for the attention of a gorgeous movie star. Finally, Daffy learns that pet ownership isn't as easy as it seems when Bugs welcomes the Devil Dog Taz into their home. There are more attention-grabbing antics in each episode with Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote!

My kids and I sat down together to watch this new DVD. It was fun to see them laughing at the characters I always loved growing up, and seeing their faces when one episode was over and they realized yet another episode was coming on. They also loved Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote. I think it's safe to say we could watch those two all day and never tire of it.

Here is a clip of my favorite episode on this DVD:

This DVD has a new home on our favorites list, and I foresee many additional Looney Tunes DVDs being added to our DVD collection.

Buy It: Purchase this new DVD online from Warner Brothers for just $9.95!!

Warner Brothers sent me the aforementioned item free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the product. Please see my terms of use for more information. A big thank you to Warner Brothers for allowing us to review this fun DVD!

Make learning to eat easier for your toddler with Learn and Turn! Review and Giveaway!

2011-12-30T21:08:00.001-07:00

For each of my 4 children, learning to eat with a fork or spoon was always an interesting experience. It took them quite a bit of practice before they finally figured out how to turn their hand enough to get the fork or spoon in there, and in the meantime they were frustrated and food was everywhere; all over their face, clothes, high chair...

It hasn't been long since Connor, my 15 month old, started trying to eat with utensils, so when I saw the new Learn 'N' Turn I was eager to try it with him!

The Learn ‘N’ Turn utensil’s patent pending, award winning design allows you to adjust the angle of the spoon to help babies and toddlers feed themselves easily.
The spoon or fork attachment can rotate to various positions, creating the proper angle so food can be easily placed into his or her mouth . As your child’s wrists and hands develop, and their dexterity improves, you can adjust the angle of the spoon or fork accordingly.

It is so easy to adjust! Just simply rotate the fork or spoon gently from side to side! This utensil is especially great because it can accommodate right or left handed children. The spoon and fork attachments don't just fall off either. The only way to remove or insert the attachments is to rotate the attachment to a 90 degree angle, aligning both arrows on the handle and the attachment.

The Learn 'N' Turn is dishwasher safe (top rack)! It comes with the spoon and fork attachment, but you can purchase additional spoon and fork attachments, as well as additional handles, from the Learn 'N' Turn website. It comes in 4 fun colors!

And, the “Learn’N’Turn” has even received the Parent Tested Parent Approved award!

It's been fun watching Connor eat with the Learn 'N' Turn. He looked a bit confused at first, but it didn't take him long to get the hang of it. He still resorts to using his hands to eat from time to time, or- if the food is really good- he'll use both to maximize intake, but overall he is doing great! Every few days I've been able to adjust the spoon/fork a little more to make it like the "normal" spoons and forks, and I know it won't be long before he'll be a pro!

And yes, it's still a learning process and he is still a mess when he's done, but he's having fun!

Buy It: Purchase a Learn 'N' Turn from the Learn 'N' Turn website for $9.95.

Win It: Learn 'N' Turn has generously offered one winner a Learn 'N' Turn for the toddler in your life!

To Enter: Please wait for the Rafflecopter form below to load completely, then complete the mandatory entries. Additional entries are optional. Be sure to click "I Did This" once you've completed each entry!

This giveaway will be open until 01/15 at 12:01AM (EST). Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Learn 'N' Turn (via Tomoson.com) sent me the aforementioned item free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the product. Please see my terms of use for more information. A big thank you to Learn 'N' Turn for allowing us to review this wonderful product!

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Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Holiday winners!

2011-12-30T05:00:00.001-07:00

I took some time off for the holidays, so that's why these are being announced late. So sorry!! Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Green Toys winner:

BOX4BLOX winner:

Groovy Girls doll winner:

Congrats to you all! I have sent you each an email, you have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen!

Thanks so much for entering! There are a few more Holiday Gift Guide giveaways currently running, but they'll be ending soon so go enter now!

And go like my new FB page: Full Time Mama !

If everything looks weird, DONT FREAK OUT (like I will)!

2011-12-29T22:39:00.000-07:00

OK all, remember how I said there would be some changes? Well, here's one of them! You may notice now, or in the next few days, that "The Jacobsen Family Reviews" is now "Full Time Mama" and we're a dot com! Yippee!!

Please head over and like the new Facebook page! Current entries for FB likes will have to be for the new page. Entries already submitted will be accepted though! Also, I'm getting to changing the tweet links to my new twitter handle, @TheFullTimeMama, so please fix this in your future tweets!

AND, if you have my button, please grab the new one!

SO, all that's left is the redesign! Yay!

Remember to check this post and comment on your favorite scrap kit for extra entries into the ABE "Mama Loves" package!

Merry Christmas everyone!

2011-12-25T00:01:00.002-07:00

I've been so busy with the Holiday Gift Guide I realized I failed to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Of course I can't let Christmas pass without giving you all my best wishes, and now that the gift guide is officially completed, my brain may be back in order as well. Haha.

So, may the blessing of Christmas be yours today, and may you never forget the TRUE meaning of Christmas!

Blessings to you each!

K'NEX Building Kits- Fun for all ages! Review {2011 Holiday Gift Guide}

2011-12-24T23:33:00.000-07:00

Building toys are always a great gift for kids. They inspire creativity, create endless possibilities, and give a great opportunity for interaction between parents and their children.

K'NEX construction sets are awesome! There are so many different K'NEX sets to choose from, for kids of all ages and interests including Sesame Street, NASCAR and Thrill Rides!

We were sent 2 kits to review. The Monster Jam Grave Digger vs Son-Uva Digger set and the Talking Pirate Elmo building set. My boys couldn't wait to open up the boxes and get building with these, anxious to see what they'd be creating!

First we opened the Talking Pirate Elmo set. This is a fun set for children ages 2+. It features 16 large pieces. The coolest thing about this set is that it has a piece that allows Elmo to talk! Elmo speaks 2 phrases: "Elmo is pretending to be a pirate!" and "What kind of treasure can we find?". The sheet with the assembly directions also features activity ideas for you and your child while playing with Talking Pirate Elmo, as well as fun facts about pirates and their gear.

My 4 year old Erik was eager to try to build this on his own, with no help from anyone. I knew as soon as I saw the photo directions he'd be able to do it on his own just fine! The photo directions are large and clear. Within 5 minutes Erik had Elmo built!

A few minutes later he took it apart and built it again, and since then has played with it and made different creations as well!

Logan, my 7 year old, was also eager to create the cool monster truck kit! This kit has over 100 pieces, and comes with 2 K'NEXmen drivers for the finished monster trucks. It is recommended for ages 5+.

Logan followed the photo directions pretty well, but expressed that he wished it had written directions or larger photos to be able to better understand how some of the pieces go on (especially the smaller ones). He did a pretty good job, but after building for a bit decided he was ready for a break. He decided to wait until the next morning when his dad could help him (it's way more fun to do it with dad anyway)!

It was great for the two of them to have time to spend together! One-on-one time is always great, but being the oldest of 4 kids, Logan especially loves the one-on-one time with his dad. Logan and dad had a great time building together!

They were both impressed with the finished product, and had a great time crashing them into each other and driving over the ramps and graveyard, demolishing them!

Buy It: You can purchase the Talking Pirate Elmo building set online for $16.99 and the Monster Jam Grave Digger vs Son-Uva Digger set online for $25.99!

K'NEX sent me the aforementioned items free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the products. Please see my terms of use for more information. A huge thank you to K'NEX for allowing us to review these fun building toys!

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Star Wars Light Saber room light from Uncle Milton: Review {2011 Holiday Gift Guide}

2011-12-24T02:34:00.002-07:00

Educational toys are always a great gift for kids, but it's even better when the toy is so much fun that the kids don't even realize it's educational! As a homeschooling family, I'm always happy to find a toy that is made specifically to teach my child while playing with it, and my kids are thrilled to have new fun toys to play with.

Uncle Milton creates these super-fun educational toys! I'm sure most of you have heard of- or even 'played' with- the Ant Farm. This product was created by Uncle Milton in 1956, and is a universally recognized icon of American pop culture. Even our homeschool Kindergarten curriculum recommends purchasing and using the Ant Farm live ant habitat!

I recently had an opportunity to review an Uncle Milton toy. I've mentioned before how much my boys, especially my 7 year old son Logan, love Star Wars. So when Uncle Milton offered to send us a Star Wars LightSaber room light to review, I was ecstatic! They could not have picked a better review item for our family!

My son was beside himself when he saw this! A lightsaber room light is just the best thing ever when you're a kid who loves Star Wars; but being able to build it yourself...? The.coolest!

I was pleased when I opened the box and checked out it's contents; Not too many pieces, not too complicated, and the directions were very clear for Logan to understand and follow. One side of the directions features information for kids to learn about the electronics that make a lightsaber work, like the power cell and focusing crystal. More detailed information on different types of focusing crystals, crystal colors, and the lightsaber blade is provided.

Additionally, Uncle Milton ties in the fantasy of Star Wars crystals with real life crystals on Earth, as well as colored LED's (which create the light for the lightsaber). Information is provided on LED's, helping to teach your child about what LED's are and how they're created.

Constructing the lightsaber by following the directions was so much fun for my son. He was happy to have not only photo directions, but written directions to follow as well. Within minutes, his lightsaber was completed and ready to be mounted on the wall! All he needed to do was to decide where to put it.

But not before playing and posing with it, of course! The lightsaber features cool sound effects and a wireless remote control that turns the light on and off; what kid can resist that?!

It is also able to be removed from the wall mount in order to play with or replace batteries. I don't anticipate this coming off the wall, however. Having a lightsaber night light to fall asleep to is just way too fabulous! And even if Logan falls asleep with the lightsaber light on, I don't have to worry about the batteries running out; the light automatically shuts off after 15 minutes to prevent draining the batteries!

If you have a child who loves Star Wars and loves to construct things, this is the perfect toy for them! They'll love you for getting them such a cool toy, and you'll love knowing they'll learn while creating it! Recommended for children ages 6+.

Buy It: You can purchase a Star Wars Remote Control LightSaber room light- Obi-Wan Kenobi edition like we reviewed online from Uncle Milton for $26.99!

Head over to Arizona Mama and read Nancy's review of Uncle Milton's Tarantula Planet Scurry and Scare Bugs!

Uncle Milton sent me the aforementioned items free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the products. Please see my terms of use for more information. A huge thank you to Uncle Milton for allowing us to review this amazing educational toy!

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Make your own soda at home with SodaStream: Review {2011 Holiday Gift Guide}

2011-12-24T00:32:00.000-07:00

When I say my husband and I love soda, that's a total understatement. Many times we've cut down, and honestly, we are better now than we used to be. But we can't completely cut out this habit of ours! We purchase a lot of soda at the store, so when I heard I could make my own soda at home for less, I had to find out how!

SodaStream is the world's largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer of Home Carbonation Systems and is sold in over 50,000 retail stores in 42 countries! They sell a variety of drinks makers- 9 in all- as well as over 100 flavors to choose from, including regular, diet and caffeine-free options.

The SodaStream drinks makers doesn't use electricity or batteries, making them energy efficient. They work great not only for at home, but for your boat or RV! Many of the SodaStream products are recyclable. The price of the bottles of syrup are very reasonable-you'll spend the much less on soda using your SodaStream than you would on 2 liters at the grocery store! AND, you're reusing the bottle when you make your own soda, so no added waste to the environment!

We were sent the Fountain Jet SodaStream drinks maker with a huge variety of flavors to choose from, including sodas, teas, and even flavors for sparkling water! Being cola lovers, we tried the cola first. We had some friends over who were anxious to see how the SodaStream worked, so we put it to the test...

I was immediately impressed with how easy it was. My friend, who was testing it while I snapped pictures, did the typical guy thing and didn't read the directions. I had the directions in my hand though, ready to use if he couldn't figure something out. But there was no need to, as it was pretty easy to figure out. Just screw the carbonator in to the back, add cold water to the bottle and screw onto the machine, then press the button until you hear the buzz (average is 3 times to properly carbonate, but for the cola it said 6).

Afterward, remove the bottle and slowly pour a cap-full of the drink syrup into the bottle. When they say slowly, they mean it; Go too fast and it'll fizz over! Then screw on the cap, give a few gentle shakes to mix the syrup, and you're ready to enjoy it!

So how did the cola taste? I thought it tasted good! I personally prefer Dr Pepper over Coca-Cola, so I thought this tasted pretty close to Coca-Cola. My husband, who is a Coca-Cola guy, told me it wasn't the same as Coke, but not bad. Our guests thought it tasted pretty good as well, and our final determination was it was tasty! Not quite as good as real Coke, but far better than the generic colas you can buy.

Since then, we've tried the Green Tea and the Root Beer. The tea was pretty good, but I over-carbonated it and didn't like it as well. Next time I'll follow the 3 buzz suggestion. The Root Beer was really good, and my kids were especially thrilled with it! Again, it didn't taste exactly like the brand Root Beer we buy, but was still good and my kids wanted more!

We LOVE our SodaStream and I'm so exited to be saving money by making yummy soda at home!

Buy It: You can purchase the Fountain Jet Soda starter kit online for $99.95, or search for a local retailer to purchase SodaStream products!

Soda Stream sent me the aforementioned items free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the products. Please see my terms of use for more information. A huge thank you to Soda Stream for allowing me to review this awesome home soda maker!

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Fashionable, comfortable camera straps from Capturing Couture: Review {2011 Holiday Gift Guide}

2011-12-22T21:56:00.000-07:00

When I got my new DSLR camera it came with a camera strap and camera bag. It didn't take me long to realize the standard strap and bag it came with-while functional- just wouldn't do. I wanted something more comfortable, and better looking than plain ol' black leather!!

So I went searching for a company that would offer something better, and that's when I found Capturing Couture!

Capturing Couture was founded by two working moms,with obsessive creative passion, spirited ambition,and a fearless hands on work ethic to make magic happen…
Combining our talents of photography and fashion we’ve created a product collection fulfilling a market niche that has been, to this point, completely monochromatic. Our partnership celebrates our similarities and our differences, each piece in the collection an extension of ourselves…both *girly glam* and 'urban chic'. It’s time for the fashion and photography markets to merge, with the creation of the finest ‘ultra chic, totally couture accessory’ for anyone with a camera!
Our Camera Straps and Accessories are the perfect marriage of *fashion & function*, using only the finest materials, custom made trims and highly functional hardware. Our clear vision for innovation allows us to keep a pulse on macro trends and offer a strong stylish point-of-view from color to print & pattern, along with high value our customers appreciate.

Capturing Couture sells camera straps, camera bags and guitar straps. They offer so many different styles, perfect for anyone on your list.

I love these camera bags!

These DSLR camera straps are awesome!

There are even camera straps for the guys!

And check out these awesome guitar straps!

Don't have a DSLR camera? Capturing Couture also sells wristlet camera straps for your digital point & shoot camera!

I was sent the Penelope Rose Camera Strap to review. It came packed beautifully, which always makes me appreciate a gift even more. And the strap...? It.is.gorgeous! I love the red and cream floral design on it!

However, no matter how gorgeous it is, it's the comfort factor that's most important, right?! A DSLR camera can be heavy, so it's important to have a comfortable neckpad. With my old camera strap, just a few minutes wearing it and my neck was uncomfortable from the strap. The strap it came with has a pleather-like material that would stick to my neck. Odd and lame, right? The Capturing Couture camera strap is definitely comfortable! The neckpad is a plush velvet material- so soft! I no longer worry about the strap sticking to my neck, or causing discomfort from wearing it.

Additional features of this camera strap include customized metal logo rivets (neat!), nylon webbing (very durable!), and adjustable features for preferred positioning! I found the strap to be plenty long, which would make it perfect for even a very tall person. I am 5'8'' tall, and at it's longest position, this strap went down to my mid-thigh!

I have a lot to learn about my new DSLR camera, but now I know I'll look good doing it! I've gotten compliments on how pretty the strap is, and am eager to share this company with others!

Buy It: You can purchase the Penelope Rose camera strap like I reviewed from Capturing Couture for $35. While you're there, buy the matching camera bag!

Capturing Couture sent me the aforementioned item free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the product. Please see my terms of use for more information. A huge thank you to Capturing Couture for allowing me to review this lovely camera strap!

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Tom and Jerry: Fur Flying Adventures Volume 3 DVD {2011 Holiday Gift Guide}

2011-12-22T15:21:00.002-07:00

When I think back on the cartoons I watched as a child, Tom and Jerry comes to mind. I always loved watching cute Tom and adorable little Jerry and their crazy wild antics. It always made me laugh hysterically!

I was so excited to have the opportunity to review a new DVD from Warner Brothers; Tom and Jerry: Fur Flying Adventures volume 3! I was anxious to introduce my kids to the cartoon I loved growing up, and see what they thought of it.

Take one blue-and-white domestic cat. Add one small brown house mouse. Mix in a handful of chases, stir in a few falling anvils and top off with one brutish bulldog named Spike. Yields 14 delightful cartoons! This fast and funny collection rises to the occasion with a crazy camping trip (Sasquashed), a chase through a carnival's haunted house (Spook House Mouse), an Alaskan adventure (Norther Light Fish Fight) and an encounter with an abominable snow rodent (Snow Mouse). But the most outrageous moment of all comes when Tom and Jerry set aside their differences and join forces against beach muscleheads Spike and Butch in Beach Bully Bingo. Endless fun is the main course served up in this new all-family feast of animated fun.

Each of these short films is around 5 minutes long, some longer, so the entire film is action packed. My kids love this movie and want to watch it often. I love hearing the choruses of laughter every few minutes.

I also like that through most of the movie, there is no talking. Just noises and music. Sometimes I get on noise overload, and the talking and sounds from movies gets obnoxious. This is a movie they can put in that doesn't drive me crazy with talking and yelling, etc. A minor detail to some, but to me, huge. Love it!

So now the kids love Tom and Jerry as much as I did, and honestly, I still enjoy it myself!

Buy It: Purchase Tom and Jerry: Fur Flying Adventures Volume 3 on DVD now for $9.95.

Warner Brothers sent me the aforementioned item free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the product. Please see my terms of use for more information. A huge thank you to Warner Brothers for allowing us to review this fun DVD!

Wait!! Have you entered all of my Holiday giveaways?

I've got more Holiday Gift Guide winners!

2011-12-21T13:24:00.000-07:00

3 more winners! YAY!

Funrise Tonka truck winner:

Original Sprout winner:

Kidz Med winner:

Congrats to you all! I have sent you each an email, you have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen!

Thanks so much for entering! There are more Holiday Gift Guide giveaways running, go enter now!

Unique gifts for men from Uncommon Goods: Review {2011 Holiday Gift Guide}

2011-12-19T21:19:00.002-07:00

Shopping for my husband has proved very difficult for me. I want to get my him something he wants or needs, but often those things are much more expensive than I can afford all at once- especially during the holidays- or I feel like I get the same ol' boring gifts because I know he wants or needs them and I can't think of anything else.

Uncommon Goods has tons of gift ideas for men and women alike that are unique, but not weird. You know what I mean; Sometimes unique gifts are just plain weird. Uncommon Goods offers tons of products that are unique and neat, and also in my budget! Plus, Uncommon Goods strives to offer environmentally friendly gifts!

I love this Remote Control T-rex kit!

And check out gifts for women, including these bracelets, made out of fruit and vegetable parchment!

What a neat idea! Aren't they gorgeous?! Definitely one-of-a-kind!

So-thanks to Uncommon Goods- this year I got my husband two things I am very excited about. I opted to get one gift he needs and I'd call "the same-ol-boring-gift", except this isn't boring by any means! The other is something I've never seen before and was thrilled to find, knowing it would be perfect for him!

First, I got him a tie, but not your ordinary plain and boring tie. The Baseball Signature tie is made of silk, and features signatures from all-stars like Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb! For a baseball lover like my husband, this tie is a huge hit {no pun intended}!

Next, I found the perfect unique gift for him that is totally different than anything I've ever gotten him before. The Mobile Foodie Survival Kit is a stack of containers stocked with organic herbs and spices, complete with Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Cayenne, Onion, Basil, Conventional Wasabi, Cinnamon, Oregano, Garlic, Thyme, Curry, Ginger, Dill! Why is this perfect for my husband? He is a great cook, and we love to camp. Taking tons of spices and herbs to cook with on a camping trip isn't practical, so this handy little kit is the perfect solution! This kit would be great not only for camping, but for dorms, tiny kitchens with little room for racks of spices, vacation rentals... even the office to help liven up a bland and boring lunch!

I am so happy I've found Uncommon Goods! I love all of these awesome, unique products, and now have a place to shop for even those hard-to-buy-for people on my list. Even better, as part of their Better To Give program, when I make a purchase Uncommon Goods will donate $1 to my choice of one of these non-profit organizations: American Forests, AmeriCares, City Harvest, and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Not only can you give to those you love, but you can give to those in need as well. It's a win-win!

Head over now and see what items Uncommon Goods recommends for those on your list, including Stocking Stuffers Ideas, (Unique Stocking Stuffers of course), and Gifts for Geeks!

Buy It: You can purchase the Baseball Signatures Tie from Uncommon Goods for $28, and the Mobile Foodie Survival Kit for $26!

Uncommon Goods sent me the aforementioned items free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the products. Please see my terms of use for more information. A huge thank you to Uncommon Goods for allowing us to review these awesome and unique products!

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Blog redesign coming! I need your help! extra giveaway entries

2011-12-15T13:57:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned before, very soon The Jacobsen Family Reviews will be undergoing huge changes! There will be a name change (so excited!) as well as switching to a dot com, AND we'll be getting a new look! That's right, a blog design from Pearl Tree Designs!

So what do I need your help with? Well, I have a few scrap kits picked out that I LOVE, but I cant decide on one. I'd love to know which you like best!

But there's also something in this for you (of course)! Leave a comment here with which kit you like best and it'll earn you 3 extra entries into the Mama Loves ABE giveaway package, which will include a blog design from Pearl Tree Designs. Tree is offering a winner the Ultimate Pearl Package: ($50) includes Deluxe Pearl Package PLUS navigation menu bar, up to 10 sidebar titles, full installation, custom background, custom header, blog button with grab code, signature, post divider!

OK, so here are the ones I like:
After The Rain
Fiddle Dee Dee
Pomegranate Twist
New Beginnings
You

Which do YOU like best? Remember, leave a comment below and you'll earn 3 extra entries into the Mama Loves ABE package!

Thanks so much!!

Ceramic Knives from Miyako: Review {2011 Holiday Gift Guide}

2011-12-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

When we got married, Gary and I used some of the money from our wedding to buy a knife set. We picked one that, price-wise, was middle of the road. I was shocked at how much they cost, but figured you get what you pay for.

Those knives were horrible. Later we paid much less for a set of steak knives, and used those as our main 'cutting knives' for everything since. Pretty sad huh? At least they worked much better than those worthless expensive ones (a wonderful oxymoron). One day my husband and I were watching a cooking show and saw the chef using a ceramic knife, and decided I had to find and try one. I needed a good cutting knife!

Enter Miyako. Miyako makes ceramic knives, but not your ordinary ceramic knives...

Ceramic material all come from similar raw materials, but that is where the similarities end. Miyako Ceramics uses zirconium oxide with grain sizes less than 0.6 µm. When these tiny ceramic grains are heated and pressed together, the result is a material that is denser and harder than other ceramic knives in the industry. We press the ceramic material to pressures upwards of 300 tons, creating a blade that approaches the hardness of diamonds. The denser and harder the blade, the better its durability and edge retention.

I couldn't wait to try out one of these knives! We were sent the 6 inch ceramic chefs knife. The moment I picked it up I was surprised with how light it was. The handle is soft and comfortable to use; it just felt natural in my hands. And Miyako knives are made so they're comfortable for both right and left handed users.

So how did this bad boy cut? Amazing. That's all I can say. It definitely has the sharp cutting edge Miyako has worked hard to perfect: "over 10x the edge retention of a metal knife and a sharpness exclusive to Miyako." It's so sharp, in fact, that I have to be honest and say I've cut myself... a few times. I'm just not used to such a sharp edged knife! I should have known to be more careful, since it cut through most everything we tried with such ease. Fruits, vegetables, meat... It cut through them all.

One of the things I have found most frustrating with cutting knives over the years is how poorly they cut through raw meat. Most often I found myself leaving the meat slightly frozen when cutting it, as that seemed to make cutting it a bit easier with my dull knives. The Miyako chef's knife cut through fully thawed, raw chicken like butter. I was so pleased! My husband also used it to cut grilled chicken breast, and it cut just as easily.

Clearly I'm impressed, but my husband has been impressed too. He uses it as often as I do, so when we cook together I always try to get to the Miyako knife first.

Miyako ceramic knives would make a fabulous gift for anyone who cooks. I am not one who really "enjoys" cooking. With my new ceramic chef's knife, cooking is more enjoyable and much easier! It takes half the time and effort to cut everything for our meals, which is fabulous for a busy mom like me!

Read Arizona Mama's review of the Miyako ceramic knives!

Buy It: Purchase the 6 inch ceramic chef's knife like the one we reviewed from Miyako for a special price of $39.99!

Miyako sent me the aforementioned items free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the products. Please see my terms of use for more information. A huge thank you to Miyako for allowing us to review this awesome ceramic chef's knife!

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Ollie the Elephant Scentsy Buddy: Review and Giveaway {2011 Holiday Gift Guide}

2011-12-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

It wasn't until recently that I was introduced to Scentsy products. I love so many of the products available, but immediately fell in love with the Scentsy Buddy, adorable animal friends with a zippered pocket to hold a yummy Scentsy fragrance!

We were sent Ollie the Elephant to review. I cannot get over how adorable he is! I also chose the Christmas Cottage scent pak for him. Knowing this was for Christmas, I wanted a scent that made me think of Christmas. This does! It smells amazing, with a blend of Valencia oranges, raspberries, cloves, and spices. The scent pak smelled very strong coming out of the package, so I was curious to see how well it would smell up the room once I placed it in Ollie.

Putting in the scent pak was easy. Simply unzip the pocket in the back and stuff it in!

Connor loves Ollie, and couldn't resist giving him a few kisses and squeezes.

I really really wanted to keep him here for Connor and Erik's room, but decided to try him out in the baby room at my church first. You see, with multiple babies using this room, you can imagine- though there is a diaper pail- that the room can get to smelling rather unpleasant at times. I really wanted to see if the scent pak would help with the smell in the room (not to mention I knew Ollie would cutesy up the room a bit)! I placed him on the shelf (then gave him a friend since he looked lonely) and left the room, waiting a bit before checking to see how long it would be before I could smell the yumminess.

After a bit, I went back and checked the room. I was surprised that I could already smell the scent pak! A few days later, when we went back to church, the room was smelling like Christmas Cottage! I was so happy, and very impressed!

So now I'm struggling to decide whether to leave Ollie in the baby room at church, where he's clearly doing a lot of good, or whether to bring him home so Connor (and his room) can enjoy the benefits of Ollie. I'm thinking I just can't resist his cuteness, and he'll be coming home with us on Sunday!

Buy It: You can purchase one of these adorable Scentsy Buddies online for $25 (10 to choose from), and a scent pak for $7 (there are 36 yummy scents to choose from)!

Win It: Stacy from Scentsy has generously offered one winner a Scentsy Buddy and 1 scent pak of your choice! (Open to US only please)

To Enter: Please wait for the Rafflecopter form below to load completely, then complete the mandatory entries. Additional entries are optional. Be sure to click "I Did This" once you've completed each entry!
This giveaway will be open until 01/02 at 12:01AM (EST). Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stacy, independent Scentsy consultant, sent me the aforementioned items free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the products. Please see my terms of use for more information. A huge thank you to Stacy for allowing us to review this adorable Scentsy Buddy and yummy scent pak!

Wait!! Have you entered all of my Holiday giveaways?

More Holiday Gift Guide winners to announce!

2011-12-14T02:56:00.000-07:00

I love announcing winners! Here are the latest:

HearthSong winner:

Paper Scissors Rock winner:

Alexa's Angels winner:

Happy Kid Fun Fort winner:

Crane winner:

Adorable Nap Bags from OCDaisy: Review and Giveaway {2011 Holiday Gift Guide}

2011-12-14T00:13:00.001-07:00

My kids love their pillows and blankets, and not a day goes by that they aren't dragging them into the living room with them the moment they get out of bed in the morning. They love to snuggle on the couch with them, lay on the floor and watch movies with them, and they frequently play "the sleeping game", where they find a spot somewhere in the house (usually each others' rooms), set up a "bed" with their blankets and pillows and pretend to sleep and read books. They also insist on dragging their blankets and pillows with them when they stay over at their Grammy's house (even though they have their own room at her house, complete with a bed, blankets and pillows-if you can believe that)!

OCDaisy has an adorable napbag that has made all this sleeping play much more fun for my 4 year old, and has made cleaning up the mess much easier too!

OCDaisy napbags include an attached carrying bag, pillow and an inside pocket perfect for holding your child's sleeping essentials! The napbag easily rolls up and folds into the carrying bag. The carrying bag is a good size to hold the bag plus a few essentials, yet not too large that your child can't carry it themselves. There are 16 different adorable styles to choose from.

We were sent the Camouflage Blue Skateboard Napbag to review. My son was so excited to see that this neat bag was for him, and couldn't wait to try it out.

I was pleased to see that the napbag was a very generous size for him. It measures 30" wide by 50" long when opened up, which isn't overly big, but gives him room to lay in and roll over when he wants.

It is made of soft minky fabric, with a satin pillowcase and trim. There is a cute cap applique on the outside of the bag, and once the bag is opened up there is a neat skateboard applique on the top. The inside applique is designed to face the child as they lay in the bag, making it more fun for them. Erik loves how soft the material is, and I'll admit I like it too, and wish I had a blanket and pillowcase like it!

At first Erik just wanted to lay in the bag and relax. Later I found him in it reading books. He has dragged that bag around the house non-stop since, using it to keep warm in the morning when he comes out to the living room, using it for their "sleeping game", and just last weekend he was able to take it with him to his Grammy's house when he slept over. The inside pocket fit his socks, underwear, toothbrush and pajamas nicely, and I was able to fit other clothes around the napbag inside the carrying bag. This made sleeping over at Grammy's so much easier, since we didn't have to pack a bag for all of his clothes, plus a pillow, plus a blanket. Just one bag was all we needed this time!

And, since Erik drags this bag around everywhere, it's nice to know that it is machine washable. The pillow easily removes from the case, and the rest can be thrown into the wash on a gentle cycle. Perfect!

Buy It: You can purchase one of these adorable napbags from OCDaisy for $70 - $75 (depending on style chosen).

Win It: OCDaisy has generously offered one winner a Napbag of their own! (Open to US only please)

To Enter: Please wait for the Rafflecopter form below to load completely, then complete the mandatory entries. Additional entries are optional. Be sure to click "I Did This" once you've completed each entry!
This giveaway will be open until 01/02 at 12:01AM (EST). Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

OCDaisy sent me the aforementioned item free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the product. Please see my terms of use for more information. A huge thank you to OCDaisy for allowing us to review this adorable nap bag!

Wait!! Have you entered all of my Holiday giveaways?

Green Laptop Sleeve from GreenSmart: Review and Giveaway {2011 Holiday Gift Guide}

2011-12-13T22:54:00.001-07:00

GreenSmart is a company that creates environmentally friendly bags, made from plastic bottles. They make laptop and Macbook sleeves, backpacks, messenger bags, and wine and water bottle bags. I love the selection of styles and colors!

Our mission is to offer bags that make you feel good. Any brand can make attractive bags and be indifferent to the resources it takes to make them. GreenSmart is different. GreenSmart cares. Using eco-friendly materials and socially responsible labor are two of the most significant ways we have to embed thoughtfulness into the design of a bag. Who doesn’t want to see recyclable materials (plastic bottles) turned into something functional and beautiful?

I've been trying to find a laptop sleeve for my laptop. I was thrilled to find GreenSmart! Not only did they have laptop sleeves that I liked, but I was happy to know I'd found another green company! All of their bags are derived from certified 100% post-consumer recycled PET water and soda bottles. GreenSmart also names many of their products after endangered animals, and donates 10% of their profits to non-profit organizations helping to create a greensmart planet!

I have a 17 inch laptop, so my options are always very limited. For this reason, I've had a hard time finding one I like. I was able to find one I loved from GreenSmart: The 17" Akepa laptop sleeve.

The inside has a super soft, fuzzy liner to help protect your laptop. And that liner... It's made from recycled plastic bottles too! I don't know about you, but I had no idea you could take recycled plastic bottles and make a fuzzy liner with them. Amazing!

Another cool thing about this sleeve; It has a specially designed gusset so your laptop will breathe. My laptop gets very hot (I think most do after they've been on for a while). Ever think about putting your hot laptop in an insulated sleeve? Now your laptop will cool down that much faster. AND, the outside of the sleeve is waterproof, too, so no worrying if you spill! With 4 kids, that is a HUGE relief for me!

GreenSmart is also great in that they stand behind their product. If there is ever a defect in materials or workmanship, GreenSmart will repair or replace the bag!

Buy It: You can purchase a 17" Akepa laptop sleeve like the one I reviewed from GreenSmart. It's currently on sale for $35.96!

Win It: GreenSmart has generously offered one winner an Akepa laptop sleeve, winner's choice of size and color! (Open to US only, no PO Boxes please)

This giveaway will be open until 01/02 at 12:01AM (EST). Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GreenSmart sent me the aforementioned item free of charge to help facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. These are my honest opinions on the product. Please see my terms of use for more information. A huge thank you to GreenSmart for allowing us to review this wonderful laptop sleeve!

Wait!! Have you entered all of the Holiday giveaways? Almost over!