We're Jammin' Out to Guitar Hero DS!

There's a small little device that's, literally, music to my ears. It comes in multiple colors, entertains my kids for hours, and leaves this Momma full of smiles:

The Nintendo DS.

Yup.

We have it in Red and Pink and it's been a life saver on long trips, rainy days, and restaurant outings. Recently, I had the chance to shower my children with the new Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits & Decades thanks to Mom Central.


"This game is TOTALLY wicked!"

This coming from my 7 year old, who fell in love with Guitar Hero for the Wii just 6 months ago.



About the Game

Handheld guitar gods can now choose how they raise-up their band from the underground music scene to worldwide rock stardom in Guitar Hero® On Tour: Modern Hits. Featuring a set list comprised of 28 master tracks from influential artists including Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, Tenacious D, The Strokes and Weezer, Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits expands on the innovative Guitar Hero® gameplay on the Nintendo DS by introducing an all-new Fan Request system that challenges players to jam like never before.

Fret board fanatics can once again unleash their inner rock stars anytime, anywhere as they hone their shredding skills and jam to face-melting modern rock tracks from the last five years in Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits. Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades lets you rock out to 70's, 80's, and 90's hits! Way cool for an 80's girl like me!

-Rock out to today’s hottest tracks – Shred along to 28 master tracks, all modern rock hits from some of the hottest bands including Coldplay, Fall Out Boy, Tenacious D, Weezer, The Strokes and more. Players will tour through five all-new venues that are as extreme as the tunes played in them.

-Choose your path to stardom – For the first time ever, players can choose how they take their band from the underground music scene to worldwide rock stardom with the exciting non-linear gameplay progression in Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits.

-Do it for the fans – Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits delivers an all-new gameplay experience with Fan Requests. By completing Fan Requests players build their fan base and open up new challenges to rock-out like never before including jamming to an entire song in Hyperspeed, battling it out in a Guitar Duel with active Bomb Notes or whammying every single hold note in a song.

-Rock out anytime, anywhere – Fans can take the Guitar Hero experience wherever they go with Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits. The Guitar Hero™ Guitar Grip™ mimics a guitar fret board and fits seamlessly in people’s hands to deliver the same core gameplay that defines Guitar Hero.

-The party never stops – Song streaming features allow players of Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits and its predecessors, Guitar Hero: On Tour and Guitar Hero On Tour: Decades, to share songs via local wireless connectivity. Players can rock out together in multiplayer modes, jamming to tracks from all three versions of the game.

I must admit, I am horrible at ANY Guitar Hero game. It's as if I just don't have the coordination to do it. Go figure! My son, brother, and husband, however, rock it and thoroughly enjoyed the fact that you can play against eachother via Wi-Fi! It's really cool, when you don't have room to unpack all three guitars for the Wii.

Another really cool feature with these two games is, simply put, the cool songs! These are up to date songs that I grew up with (on Decades) and modern songs even my children know!

Momma Improvements

I asked the guys in my life what they thought needed improvement and my 7 year old did NOT hesitate to say, "Mom, there's no beginner mode like on the Wii." It's true, we have the On Tour version for the Wii and he learned to play the drums using the Beginner mode. He feels as if the DS needs a beginner mode for young musicians such as himself and his 5 year old sister.

Another mention was the arm strap. My husband has really big hands and he just couldn't get to fit his hand for it to be comfortable. Hubby proudly says, "It's not like the Big Guitar, but it'll do if my hands were smaller."

Buy It

Ready to grab it up? You can find this cool game at Stores nationwide, like Gamestop, Target, etc. for an average price of 49.99

Thanks again to Mom Central for allowing us to review this "Totally Wicked" game!

Making Life Better this Spring

I've got Spring Fever! I love seeing the flowers bloom, the weather turn warmer, and the family time it brings. We've played outside more this last week than we have in a long time. Then comes one of the biggest celebrated Holidays at my house: Easter.

Although we are hundreds of miles away from family, we are surrounded with our Church Family and neighbors that make it that much more special. This year, I've discovered a really and helpful website, to help me in preparation:

MakingLifeBetter.com has great holiday and everyday meal ideas. With a combination of trusted brands that offer great quality at affordable prices, as well as plenty of recipes and tips to help make everyday life better. Moms now have an easily available resource to help with meal prep any day of the year.

For a great holiday meal offer, check your April 5th Sunday newspaper! You can get up to $20 back on your ham or turkey purchase by mail when you buy $40 in Unilever products during the month of April. Some of the brands included in this offer are: Bertolli®, Breyers®, Country Crock®, Good Humor®, Hellmann’s®/Best Foods®, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!®, Knorr®, Lipton® Recipe Secrets®, Lipton® Tea, Ragú®, and much, much more!

Check out some of these easy and tasty Easter Meal Ideas using Unilever products you probably have in your fridge already:

Easter Dinner




Shedd's Spread Country Crock- Make your Easter main course a D-light, with this super-simple recipe for Country-Style Glazed Ham made with Shedd's Spread Country Crock Calcium plus Vitamin D.

Bertolli Sauce- If you usually dine out for your Easter meal, but are trying to save money this year, serve a restaurant quality feast at your own table with Bertolli Premium Pasta Sauce. A delicious recipe for Lamb Chops a la Pizzaiola from top chef Rocco DiSpirito will have your family wondering if it came from an Italian restaurant.

Recipe Secrets- Creating a Country-Style Pot Roast is as simple as combining a few ingredients in the Dutch oven to roast , including Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix, which provides the perfect blend of seasonings to create delicious, affordable meals and great recipes for every occasion. Yummo! This is my favorite recipe!

Breyers- Bring a sweet ending to your Seder with a classic Hot Fudge Sundae using delicious Breyers All Natural Vanilla Ice Cream - a family-favorite made easily (and more affordably) at home!

Now, that you got a head start on your recipes from MakingLifeBetter.com, you can browse everything else on their site! Not only can you find Food & Recipes, but Beauty & Styling Advice, Home & Family Information, Health Tips, & More!

This post made possible by Mom Central

Listerine Total Care Review

Every morning I wake three small children. I feed them, dress them, and make remind them to brush their teeth. They have a special mouthwash they use that's formulated just for kids. It's definitely a big job to make sure they are taking good care of their teeth, but feel I'm "on it" as best I can.

The crazy thing is I sometimes forget to take care of MY teeth! I mean, I brush every day, but the order of the day ahead makes me forget to use my OWN mouthwash. So, I was really excited when Mom Central sent me the New Listerine Total Care Antiseptic Mouthwash!

First things first, Listerine can be super intense. That's probably why I "forget" to use mouthwash. My husband was the first to try it and he said, "It really really burned!" I wasn't sure if I would put my sweet gums through that, but, nevertheless, I tried it. The funny thing is, it didn't burn MY mouth!

Estimated time to rinse is about two minutes and I didn't have any trouble at all! It's perfect because LISTERINE TOTAL CARE, Anti-cavity Fluoride Mouthwash, now available, is the only fluoride mouthwash that contains six benefits in one:

· Helping to prevent cavities
· Restoring enamel
· Strengthening teeth
· Killing bad breath germs
· Freshening breath
· Fighting unsightly plaque above the gum line

With our ever growing to-do lists it can be so easy to neglect our personal oral health, but with 92% of adults ages 20 to 64 experiencing dental decay in our permanent teeth at some point in our lives, proper oral care routines and preventive dental care visits prove more essential than ever for achieving a cleaner, healthier mouth. We need to take notes from what we tell our kids - by doing simple things regularly including brushing, flossing and rinsing twice daily and visiting your dentist twice a year for preventative care, you can avoid bigger problems down the line that require painful oral procedures and may cost thousands of dollars. An alarming recent survey by Cigna indicates that 41 percent of Americans are taking worse care of their health because of the economy.

Eek! I definitely don't want to be part of that 41%! Although, we have definitely been affected by the failing economy, I vow to take better care of my family's teeth!

Buy It

You can purchase Listerine products at major pharmacy and grocery stores nationwide. Don't forget to print out your 2.00 coupon by clicking here.

This post made possible by Mom Central

"Welcome, Little One" Book Release Giveaway!

As most of you guys know, I'm a Momma to three little ones. The youngest is 2 years old, but I remember the pregnancy and birth like it was yesterday. An amazing time to celebrate bringing a little one into this world, don't you think?

Welcome, Little One is a deluxe interactive novelty book celebrating the magic and joy that come with the arrival of a new baby - an irresistibly sweet gift!

About the book:

In this special interactive gift book, beloved author and artist Sandra Magsamen celebrates the miracle of baby's arrival. With soothing, lulling text and a wide variety of novelty elements, including touch-and-feels, pull-tabs, lift-the-flaps, a musical sound chip, pop-ups and more, readers are invited to remember all of the special moments that are experienced when baby arrives.

I had the opportunity to review Welcome, Little One and was more than impressed. Although, we are not expecting a baby, it definitely speaks loudly to my 2 year old. The front cover has a big puffy heart and is big enough for little hands to help turn the pages. Open it up and you'll find beautifully illustrated pages with pop-ups, lift flaps, touch & feels, and a cool surprise I wasn't expecting... a song! What an amazing gift for expectant mothers!

Want a sneak peek of what's inside?





About the Author:

Sandra Magsamen is an artist, mom, author of Living Artfully and creator of the Messages From The Heart brand. She designs gifts and ideas that encourage us to live with heart. Sandra Magsamen lives artfully with her family in the Maryland town in which she grew up. Visit her Web site at www.sandramagsamen.com.

Welcome, Little One is sold online and bookstores nation wide. For specific locations click here.

Win it!



One (1) Grand Prize winner receives a Grand Prize Pack ($149.88 Value) including:

2 Baby Outfits from Sandra’s clothing line “Messages from the Heart”
1 copy of Welcome, Little One
1 copy of Peek-a-boo, I Love You
1 copy of Baby Love
1 copy of My Blanket
1 copy of Little Blossom
1 copy of Goodnight, Little One
1 copy of Butterfly Kisses
1 copy of Love Bug
1 copy of Bedtime Bunny
1 copy of Little Angel

Four (4) runner-up winners receive a copy of the new book:

Welcome, Little One

How to Enter:

All you have to do is tell me your favorite childhood book. Do you read it to your children now? What do you like about it?

Extra Entries:

1.) Grab up 4 entries if you add our Giveaway button to your sidebar! I've included the html code for easy copy/paste.

<a href="http://www.mommafindings.com/2009/04/welcome-little-one-book-release_03.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Momma Findings" src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a93/SPatterson/WelcomeLittleOne_EnterToWin_150x150.jpg" /></a>

2.) Blog about this cool giveaway by linking back to this post.

3.) Tweet, Stumble, Kirtsy, of Facebook this post (1 for each you do).

4.) Follow me on blogger or become an email subscriber.

Contest starts today April 3rd - 24th Midnight Central Time and open to US residents only. You don't have to be a blogger to enter, but please leave a valid email address for contact purposes.

Windex Outdoor All-In-One Review & Giveaway

With three little ones, all under the age of six, I have a really hard time keeping my windows free from handprints. I'm constantly wiping and cleaning only to see those sneaky handprints right back there five minutes later.

The worst, for me, is when I finally get those windows clean, but see the grime, dust, and pollen that has collected on the OUTSIDE of the window. It seems impossible for me to stop during the day, go outside, grab the ladder, and clean the windows. It's never ending, but I know I'm preaching to the choir, right?

Well, thanks to the Family Review Network, I found a really easy way to clean outside windows WITHOUT lugging that heavy ladder around the house! I mean, who has time for that when your toddler is haning on to your leg screaming, "Swing me! Swing me!"

Windex outdoor All-in-One glass cleaning tool provides a faster way to cure headaches clean outdoor windows. There are three very simple steps to using this tool:

1.) SPRAY window and cleaning pad with garden hose.
2.) WIPE window with cleaning pad.
3.) RINSE window with garden hose. No need to hand dry.

As I said before, I was lucky enough to try this baby out and it really IS that easy! But BEFORE I tried I had to put it together. You see, the glass cleaning tool comes in a very small box packed full with the following:

1 cleaning head
1 handle
4 pole sections
1 cleaning pad which cleans 20 windows

So, it looked like this on my kitchen counter:



I have to admit, that I'm not one to read directions, so I had a tad bit of a problem assembling the tool, but after I got one bar in, the others were easy. The Windex Pad attaches easy like velcro and stayed in place the entire time I washed my windows. Now on to the actual result: The outside of the windows really WERE streak free and shiny after I followed the three easy steps.

There is one, tiny Momma Improvement I'd like to throw in. The Windex starter kit only comes with one pad. Granted, you CAN wash up to 20 windows with one single pad. I don't happen to HAVE 20 windows and would have preferred that a few extras come in the starter kit. You can purchase refills, but again only two come in each pack.

All in all, Windex Out door All-in-One provides a quick, easy, and effective way to wash your outdoor windows.

Buy It

Windex Outdoor All-in-One can be found throughout the U.S. in grocery stores, drug stores, and discount stores. To download and print a Buy a Starter Kit, Get a Refill Pack Free Coupon click here.

Win it!

One lucky Momma Findings reader will win a Windex Outdoor All-in-One starter kit of your very own! You needing some streak free windows?! Go ahead and enter to win! All you need to do is tell me what area of your home do you struggle the most when cleaning windows or glass? That's it!

Extra Entries

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4. Add my cute ladybug button to your sidebar.

Contest starts today March 30th-April 7th Midnight Central Time and open to US Residents only. You don't have to be a blogger to enter, but please leave a valid email address for contact purposes. Good Luck!

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program by SC Johnson, who also supplied the product for review and give away.

Neosporin +Pain Relief Review

This week we had a bout of beautiful weather. We loaded up the SUV with our scooters, playground balls, and bikes for a fun day at the park. Daddy EVEN joined us! It literally took about 10 minutes before someone came crying with a scrape on their knee. Why is it always the knee?!!

Well, this Momma was prepared, due in large part, to Mom Central and Johnson's. I was asked to review Neosporin +Pain Relief Cream, Ointment and Neo To Go Spray. I quickly accepted because we go through First Aid Antiseptic/Pain products like water around here!



Neosporin is definitely a name I can trust, but was surprised that they added +Pain Relief. Just those words and added ingredients help this Momma to feel relieved when bandaging up my little one after a hard fall.

A few days ago, I was glad to have, on hand, Neo to Go.



This tiny little thing is so easy to carry. It's small enough to fit in your pocket, purse, or diaper bag. My children particularly liked the spray because they said it didn't sting and I didn't have to touch them to put it on. When a product helps relieve the pain of my children with no fits, fusses, or cries, well... it's a winner in my book!

The ointment and cream are just as great, but you still have to actually touch the infected area in order to put it on. I've never used the cream until this week and I was pleasantly surprised to see how easy it was to spread. It vanished quickly and went on smoothly.

From the Neosporin Website:

NEOSPORIN® + Pain Relief Ointment & Cream
NEOSPORIN® + Pain Relief First Aid Antibiotic/Pain Relieving Ointment and Cream help prevent infection and provides temporary relief of pain or discomfort in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.

-From the #1 Doctor Recommended Brand.
-Soothes painful cuts.
-Soothes the pain of burns.
-Suitable for ages 2 and up.
-Available sizes: Plus Pain Ointment: 1/2 ounce tube, 1 ounce tube; Plus Pain Cream: 1/2 ounce tube.


Buy It

Neosporin can be found nationwide in food & drug stores and mass merchandisers from 4.00-10.00.

This post made possible by Mom Central and Johnson's

Pantene Nature Fusion Shampoo & Conditioner Review

I know you guys have seen how long, curly, and thick my hair is, right? If you haven't you should definitely browse around my site OR My Sippy Cup Runneth Over to see pictures, heck.... Add me on Facebook and you'll see how crazy my hair is. It takes a lot of shampoo, but it's the conditioner I go through so quickly!

I'm very, VERY picky about my hair products, but due to hard economic times, I have decided to try other hair care products that fit our family budget. My friends at Pantene knew EXACTLY what to send.

Pantene Nature Fusion Hair Care Line



From the Pantene Website:

This shampoo and conditioner system moisturizes hair for touchable softness. The new Moisture Balance Collection with a blend of cassia, ginger, calendula and aloe vera, helps to strengthen and protect hair against damage while leaving it naturally radiant.

I love the idea behind these natural hair products! There are a lot of women who want to stick with all natural products and I don't blame them. Pantene has mixed cassia, ginger, and other natural ingredients which I REALLY loved. My hair smelled amazing, even the day AFTER!

My hair "situation" is a little different than most though. Being that I have so much hair the full bottle of conditioner didn't last long for me. My hair was still a bit tangled and hard to comb through. Luckily, I always keep leave in conditioner for such moments.

Although, the conditioner wasn't up to my standards, I think it COULD be if my hair wasn't so long and thick. I would definitely recommend this product line to anyone with short, straight, or more tamed hair.

Buy It

Nature Fusion comes in two varieties: Moisture Balance shampoos and conditioners and Smooth Vitality. Both retail for $3.99. A leave-in Fusion Smoothing Crème is also part of the collection and sells for $5.99. You can purchase yours anywhere Pantene products are sold.

Big Bang Mini Nintendo DS Game Review

Back In January, I let you guys know about a cool new Nintendo DS game released by SouthPeak Games.

Big Bang Mini
For Nintendo DS



We got to try it out ourselves and we want to let YOU guys know what we thought! My son took this game hostage in his room and I had to coerce him with ice cream to come out and let us see. This game is a "Big Burst" of fun, especially for a 6 year old boy. What am I saying? My 5 year old daughter loved it too. I was a little nervous about the violence in this game due to my kids being so young, but it really isn't bad at all.

Big Bang Mini definitely captures your imagination with it's bright vivid colors and animations of the fireworks. You're on a quest to protect your ship at the bottom of the screen by launching bursts of fireworks at the enemies at the top of the screen. By collecting stars that fall from your enemy you'll advance the next level! Creating firework displays on this Nintendo DS game really brought a smile on my son's face!

Buy It

You can find Big Bang Mini at Mass Merchandisers nationwide or your local game store for the suggested retail price of 19.99. To learn more, check out pictures, trailers, and downloads visit: www.bigbangmini.com

SoftLips on a Budget

I mentioned yesterday that we have been struggling during these horrible economic times. With a 30% salary cut, our family really needs to budget our money and concentrate on putting EVERY penny to good use.

I'm a Mom with three kids, but I'm also a woman who likes looking pretty. I like make-up. I like nice perfume. I like cute trendy clothes. How do I keep up my appearances and watch my budget at the same time? High maintenance hardly describes me, but I like to have just a smidge of tint and moisturizer on my lips. Well, my friends at Softlips had JUST the product for me:



Honeydew is my ABSOLUTE favorite! I EVEN have honeydew candles throughout the house.

From the Softlips Website:

New Softlips® Pure is 100% natural and USDA certified 95% organic. Your lips will thank you for nourishing them with plant extracts and vitamin E, and they’ll just drink up the hydrating benefits of the essential organic oils, shea butter and beeswax. Softlips® Pure comes in two all-natural flavors—pomegranate and honeydew. And, you’ll be happy to know that Softlips® Pure is produced without pesticides or other harmful chemical ingredients. Plus, it’s paraben-free, gluten-free and cruelty-free!

I especially liked it because it's really small, light, and easy to carry. I can just throw it in my purse or diaper bag and voila! My lips are soft, have a smidge of tint, and I don't feel like I'm scrimping on my looks. The really cool part is how easy it glides on my lips. It's really hard to describe, but seriously, it glides on so easy!

Not only that though! I got to try the ever popular Softlips Raspberry with SPF 20. The weather will be turning warm soon and with lip protectant sunscreen I won't have to worry when out with the kids at the park.



Buy It:

I told you you we're on a budget right, well for only $3.69 Softlips won't hurt your pocketbook! Purchase at drugstores nationwide.

Win It!

I've got one value pack of Softlips Raspberry for one lucky reader! All you have to do is tell me if you've ever used SoftLips and what you thought of it. Is it a staple in your make-up bag? That's it!

Extra Entries

1. I've got a new side bar button! Isn't it snazzy?! Well, Tina made it for me and I want to make her proud. So, if you add my NEW button to your sidebar you'll get 3 extra entries.

2. Blog It! Link back to this post and you'll gain 2 extras.

3. Tweet, Stumble, Kirtsy, or Facebook this post and you'll receive one entry for each that you do.

4. Become an email subscriber to receive one more entry! You can just enter you address right there on the sidebar.

Contest starts today March 6th-15th Midnight central time and open to US residents only. You don't have to be a blogger to enter, but please leave a valid email address for contact purposes. Remember to leave EACH entry in SEPARATE comments in order for it to count. Good Luck!

Experience the Magic of Disney On Ice

The other night, my husband and I were looking over our budget: Groceries, Bills, Tithe, Insurance, and Gas. Then there it was, gone. We couldn't squeeze one more dime for a dinner out together or movies with the kids. Times are tough right now. When we moved from North Carolina to Tennessee we voluntarily took a 20% pay cut just so we can be in the city we loved and close to our church family. This last week we found out his company is cutting everyone’s pay by 10%. That’s a 30% cut in our income! Economic times make it frightening and I know we’re looking at every penny that comes in AND out of this house.

As a Work at Home Mom, my income doesn’t add up to much, but it’s enough to make time for fun entertainment with the whole family. Last week, we planned a night out, but it started snowing. It didn’t stop us from getting out and being the ONLY ones sitting in McDonald’s together.

I really value our fun times we spend together, even if it’s just a small meal out. That’s why I was ecstatic to find out Mom Central is teaming up with Disney On Ice Tours to offer families like me a really great discount!

Offer #1: Get 4 tickets for just $44 by entering the code "MOM" at select ticketing channels*. Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Gold Circle Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers. Other restrictions may apply.

Offer #2: A select amount of Front Row and VIP seats have been reserved for you to buy before they go on sale to the public - just enter the code "MOM" when purchasing those seats.
Dates and cities where families can use the national MOM code are as follows:

Houston
Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey
April 15-April 19

Dallas/Ft Worth
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey
March 18-March 29

Sunrise/Miami
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
March 26-April

Toronto
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
March 18-March 22

Kansas City
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey
April 1-April 5

Denver
Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure
March 12-March 15

Phoenix
Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure
April 9-April 12

Chicago/Rosemont
Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic
Sept 8-Sept 13

Ready to Buy?

To learn more about Disney On Ice shows touring the country this year, visit http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/ and visit ticketmaster.com to use the 4 tickets for $44 code, MOM. Feel free to let all your friends know about this cool discount as well!

This post made possible by Mom Central

Bella Sara Miniatures and Treasures Review

There is something about the world of fantasy that makes you smile. As an adult, it brings a smile to my face because it symbolizes a way out of reality, but for a child it's a world where anything is possible, happiness is ever present, and the world is all yours for the taking.

Bella Sara captures that world and brings it into the light of your computer and the warmth of your daughters heart. Thanks to Team Mom, my daughter and I had the opportunity to review Bella Sara Miniatures and Treasures. Being a Mother never felt so great when her and I opened the box and saw this:



Bella Sara Treasures:

1. Treasures is the eight series in the Bella Sara line, which has sold more than 55 million cards to date.

2. Treasure brings a new element to BellaSara.com with more printable activities including bonus codes, coloring pages, wallpapers, a poster and jigsaw puzzles.

3. This series features rare jewels, amazing natural wonders, historical artifacts, and fantastic magical items, to explore and cherish.

4. Starting Feb. 27th-April 30th, the website www.bellasara.com is giving fans a chance to win an exciting Treasure Hunt Party of their very own.

You know what surprised me? That this is the EIGHTH series, but only OUR first series to review! These cards can be described as a mixture of Webkinz & Pokemon with an inspiring message.

First and foremost I have to say how much we love the price. The suggested retail price is only 2.99! With economic times as rough as they are, it's a perfect gift for any special girl. There are so many fun activities to play online AND they come with fun stickers and temporary tattoos to boot! I have to say, as a Mother, it's incredibly rewarding to see my daughter so passionate and excited to collect these cards and share her inspiring thoughts & fun with other girls in the neighborhood. They are keepsakes for childhood and that's what I'm so impressed with!

Bella Sara Miniatures Series 1 Collection:



1. Bella Sara, the most successful trading card product ever created for girls, features horse themed fantasy cards that offer positive, inspirational messages.

2. Miniatures introduces a brand-new product line of 20 velvety horses from the land of North of North for you to collect, trade, display, and cherish.

3. Miniatures brings a tangible third dimension to the magical horses of Bella Sara that can also be experienced through trading cards and in online and video game worlds.

4. Included in each Miniature pack are one random velvety horse, a random bonus code redeemable online, and a full-color checklist.


These are a wonderful concept to add in with the trading cards, however, we weren't AS impressed as we were initially with the cards. These horses are really tiny. I mean, if you get it mixed in with the toy box junk, it'll take you a good long while to find it. I, especially, had issues because I have a toddler who is still putting items in this mouth. Talk about a choking hazard! That seems drastic because they aren't THAT tiny, but for a mother who has had a child choke on a small toy before, I can never be too cautious.

Other than the size, we really like that they are "velvety". It kind of brings that whole fantasy imagination to life when you "feel" the horse in your palm. OH, and the price AGAIN is wonderful at only 1.99. Yes! I love me a deal and this definitely brings you fun, but doesn't hurt the pocketbook.

When your purchase a miniature you don't know which you are receiving. I have mixed feelings about this because it's exciting NOT knowing and then receiving one you don't have, but it could be disappointing if you keep getting repeats.

All in all, my daughter and I loved exploring the Bella Sara world of fantasy! The cards and miniature horses bring it all to life at our computer desk and it created a wonderful Mother/Daughter moment.

Ready to Buy?

You can purchase Bella Sara products at their online store or your local Target. Don't forget to download their 15% off coupon before though!

This post made possible by Team Mom

My Carpet is Carpet Fresh

I know I mentioned a gazillion times that I just moved from North Carolina BACK to Memphis, TN, right? Well, I have to mention it again, because in that transition we moved from a 4 bedroom house with ALL hardwood to a 3 bedroom house with carpet. Can I tell you how bad my carpet tends to smell with three small children? I don't even think I NEED to!

I'm in SERIOUS need of a new vacuum (Hoover Platinum Collection, maybe?), but I found that Carpet Fresh products, by the WD-40 Company, offer one way to help me restore my homes' carpets' to a fresh and clean smell that even, I, can feel good about. There have been several play dates where I think in my head Please don't judge me because my carpets smell bad, please, oh pretty please. It's not that bad considering I do have hard wood in the living room, but the bedrooms are a different story!

A little about the product:

Carpet Fresh Carpet and Room Odor Eliminator permanently neutralizes carpet odors and helps keep entire rooms smelling fresh by delivering odor-fighting agents deep into carpet fibers and reaching places air fresheners can't and leaving a long lasting fragrance. Additionally, the Carpet Fresh Quick-Dry Foam format allows you to simply spray your carpets and walk away without scrubbing or vacuuming. It dries in minutes, leaves no residue, and is safe for use around your family when used as directed. (Carpet Fresh is a great resource for drapes and car interiors as well.)

Thanks to Mom Central, my discovery of Carpet Fresh has turned into a "Must Have". I tried the Country Potpourri Quick Dry Foam and it was VERY easy to use. I simply shook the can, sprayed onto the carpet, and let it dry. It's safe to spray around pets and children, which is a BIG plus in my book. It took about 10-15 minutes to dry completely, but I think I sprayed more than I should have. It smelled so goooood, I couldn't help it!! There is no need to vacuum either! Can I say how cool and convenient that is?! Carpet Deodorizers have become my biggest helper in the chaos the is toddlerhood.

Buy It

To learn more about Carpet Fresh products check out their website at: CarpetFresh.com. Carpet Fresh is sold nationally through most grocery, drug, home improvement (e.g., Lowes), mass merchandiser, and other retail outlets. It is also available at their online shop. Don't forget to download their 1.50 coupon to save you a little extra cash!

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