The last few days have been beyond hectic. We've been battling colds, flu's, fevers, and every little aggravation that you can think of.

This week has been exceptionally hard because I've been trying to catch up on reviews, writing, and Label Daddy (Pssst... We announced the Full BlogHer Sponsorship Winners and the Conference Pass winner yesterday).

But I've been in this battle for the last few days. I pick up my weapons that consists of Tylenol, Calamine Lotion, Thermometer, and Aveeno Oatmeal bath, but seem to be losing the battle that is:

THE CHICKENPOX!!!!
BOM BOM BOM!!!!!
(You like the sound effects?)





I keep thinking to myself, did the nurse at the Pediatrician's office shoot us blank rounds when we got the Chicken Pox Vaccine? Were we 1 of 50,000 who actually GET the Chicken Pox?! What gives? And WHY are you giving it to us?!

My 2 year old has a severe case of it. The evil spots and bumps cover him from head to toe and I just want to kiss him all over and make it better. Why didn't God give me the power to heal my children with just one kiss? My 5 year old has it too, but it is VERY mild, mainly on the inside of her arms, neck, and stomach.

This is how you know she is the daughter of a blogger:

Mom: (Gets the Camera) Rudy! Abby! Come here so I can take pictures of your Pox!

Rudy: *Claps with Glee* Pox! Pox!

Abby: *Rolls her eyes* Mom! Are you gonna put those on your blog?

Mom: Umm.. Well.. no honey they are for record keeping.

Abby: MOM! You ARE gonna put them on your blog. How EMBAWWASSING!

Mom: No, honey.. I'm not gonna put it on my blog. Really!

Abby: I'm not taking 'em. *crosses her arms*

Umm, I didn't win that battle because I have NO record of her Pox! The score:

Chicken Pox- 2 Mommy- 0

NOTE: Since so many are googling "chicken pox pictures" and finding this post. I needed to add a side note that we discovered later my toddler did NOT have Chicken Pox, but instead had Roseola.

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Our routine is quite simple in the morning.

1.) Wake to a screaming toddler.
2.) Corral all 3 kids to the table for breakfast.
3.) Break up the fight that incurs on the WAY to the table.
4.) Insist I make my coffee BEFORE anyone gets their food.
5.) Explain why I don't want them to have fruit snacks and soda for breakfast.
6.) Gulp my Coffee down like it's water.
7.) Ask them again to sit up in their chair because we aren't monkey's
8.) Pray to God to help me through the day of toddler chaos.
9.) Turn on iPod speakers to drown out loudness at the table.
10.) Pour our ALL time favorite cereal Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

You know those kids you see at the grocery store begging for that sugar filled cereal and the Mom who looks frazzled as she tries to pull him away? Well, we don't have that problem. Without a doubt, my children go STRAIGHT for General Mills Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

The other day I asked them to pick two cereals. My Cute-As-Can-Be daughter brings over the Cinnamon Toast Crunch, freezes for a second to think, slowly grabs a 2nd box and puts it in the basket. "Mom, is that okay? Two of these?"

It's a problem we have. We're compulsive Cinnamon Toast Crunch eaters. There should be a program for that: Cinnamon Toast Crunch Anonymous.

When the Mom Bloggers Club asked if I wanted review General Mills Cereal, I did NOT hesitate to say Yes. I mean, they participate in the Box Tops for Education program and we ALL know how I love me some Box Tops! Besides partnering to help your child's school, they provide an excellent source of Vitamin D. Check out these facts about the importance of Vitamin D:



♥ Are you aware of the recommended amount of calcium and vitamin D your child should get each day? Better yet, did you know the American Academy of Pediatrics recently doubled the vitamin D recommendation for children? Approximately 75% of kids today don’t get the recommended levels of calcium and vitamin D -- two key nutrients for bone growth.

♥ Not to worry though — as a parent, you can easily help your child get more of these two nutrients by looking for calcium and vitamin D fortified cereals, milk and juice. All General Mills Big G kid cereals (including Kix, Lucky Charms, Trix, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and more) offer a good source of BOTH calcium and vitamin D in each serving.

♥ Additionally, a recent report in a leading consumer magazine ranked kid cereals by nutritional content, and all nine General Mills Big G kid cereals included in the report were ranked in the top half. All Big G kid cereals have at least eight grams of whole grain per serving (at least 48 grams are recommended daily), and all have 12 grams or less of sugar per serving.

♥ Cereal is one of the most nutritious breakfast options a kid can eat. Most cereals have about 100 – 130 calories per serving and provide at least 10 key nutrients. And, ready-to-eat cereal is the number one source of whole grain in American diets.

Healthy Minds for Healthy Children is a concept more than understood by our favorite Cereal Manufacture, General Mills. This, however, is only part of the reason we love Cinnamon Toast Crunch. When you get down to the nitty gritty of why families choose the cereal they choose, you discover it's one of two reasons: Nutrition & Taste.

My 5-year-old daughter describes this cereal like this:

"Mom, it's the cereal with the brown sugar, you know... the small squares that are sweet?"

It's very light and sweet, but not an overkill. It's not just a breakfast food either. When I wrote about the New Honey Kix Cereal I mentioned a few ways we like to eat our cereal:

1.) Rudy's way- Eat it right out of the dixie cup, no need for milk.

2.) Zach's way- Mix it in his trail mix, pretzels, or raisins for snack.

3.) Abby's way- Put it in a good ole' fashioned bowl, pour on the cool milk, and drizzle just a little honey on top.

Ah, perfect!

We're a cereal eating family, what can I say?!

Learn More:

Head on over to GrowUpStrong.com to learn more about General Mills, their products, and facts to keep your child healthy with Vitamin D.


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"Your hair is so beautiful! I hate my hair, but yours is gorgeous!"

"SARA! I just had to come over here and play with your hair."

"Sweetie, you are such a beautiful girl."

"Did you know you look so cute sitting over there in the pew?"

This was my day yesterday at Church, from good friends, new friends, and strangers. It's as if SOMEONE told the entire congregation that I was having confidence issues and they needed to lift me up in encouragement.

No, you're not fat.
You're hair isn't frizzy.
You don't look at ALL frazzled.

That's what I'm hearing as I listen to the compliments given to me. It was so comical to me because we were in a rush to get dressed, I got less then 5 hours of sleep, and I had to "hitch" a ride from a family friend because Brian, last minute, had to run over to the office due to a "Break-In" the night before. I. WAS. FRAZZLED.

But, yet, the compliments kept pouring in.

"Turn to someone you don't know and say Hello."

You know that awkward moment some people hate in church? Turn and find someone you don't know and introduce yourself. I, for one, always loved this. I'm the girl who actually GOES to find someone she doesn't know, if my husband isn't blocking my way out. So, as I'm doing just that, an older woman, I barely know, comes to me with another compliment, "My child, you are so gorgeous!"

What did I say?

"Oh, Shut up!"

SHUT UP.

I said "shut up" to a woman 40 years older than me. To begin to describe my embarrassment would only result in me feeling even MORE embarrassed. How could I tell her to shut up?!

There MUST be some sort of conspiracy to make Sara feel better about herself today. There is no other explanation. My mind can't physically wrap itself around the fact that anyone, even multiple people in one day for that matter, might find me to be "gorgeous".

Is it just my church? Is it that they are so welcoming, so loving, and so utterly amazing that I could look like Dog Poop and they'd STILL say I was hotter Penelope Cruz.

Normally, I don't take compliments well, if I think I looked on the nicer side that day or not. Little ole' me on a normal day of craziness & chaos at church doesn't scream beauty queen you know? There is a brain disfunction that makes me want to scream, "NO! I'm not! Quit saying that!"

That sweet Southern saying Bless Your Heart really has underlying intention when said in different situations. THAT is how I take a compliment. I read into it and think What did she REALLY mean? It forces a day of contemplating whether or not everyone felt sorry for me for walking in with the craziness that is Toddlerhood. (My son can't be beat at being the loudest screaming child at drop off).

My question to you: Do you struggle with taking compliments? Does your mind think that the compliment givers have lost their ever-livin mind? If you're good at taking compliments.. How do you do it graciously? Inquiring minds want to know!

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You guys might laugh a little, but I didn't grow up on cereal. My breakfasts usually consisted of eggs, refried beans, chorizo, and tortillas. I am Hispanic and it's just what ya do! I like to think my Mom just loved us so much that she slaved over a hot stove every morning.

My husband introduced me to an array of cereal when we married and we haven't turned back. When my kids were old enough to eat table food that was the end of it! Cereal was and will be a "must" in my house. We have a few brands that we trust, but none like General Mills. Besides all the yummy cereals they produce, they also participate in Box Tops for Education program. If you've followed my blog for awhile, you might remember my description of myself as a BoxTop Nazi?

Well, my friends at General Mills sent over a cool prize pack of the new Honey Kix Cereal. Inside was cool stuff like a ceramic beehive honey jar, a cool container to keep our cereal fresh, and a travel cereal bowl.

I don't know about you guys, but I've loved Kix Cereal from the very first day I discovered it. My husband, on the other hand, has stated there is no flavor. With the arrival of the NEW Honey Kix, we got a whole new perspective on Kix cereal. It's sweet, but not too sweet. The airy, lightness of the cereal really gives it that cool "I'm not eating junky" kinda feel. You know what I mean?

My toddler couldn't get enough of it! The best part is, my 6-year-old asked if I could mix some in his trail mix for his school snack. I sure did! I'll let you in on three ways to eat it:

1.) Rudy's way- Eat it right out of the dixie cup, no need for milk.

2.) Zach's way- Mix it in his trail mix, pretzels, or raisins for snack.

3.) Abby's way- Put it in a good ole' fashioned bowl, pour on the cool milk, and drizzle just a little honey on top.

Ah, perfect!

Win It!

I've got THREE, yes THREE, "Sweet & Simple" prize packs to give away to some cool lucky readers, which will include the following:

- 1 coupon for a free box of Honey Kix cereal
- A honey jar
- 2 Honey Kix cereal bowls
- A milk and cereal travel container
- A cereal storage container (this is my favorite)



All you have to do to enter is tell me how you guys start your morning. Do you have a routine and what is usually the choice of breakfast food?

Extra Entries

1. Blog about this cool contest! Link back to this post and gain 3 extra entries.

2. Follow me on Blogger or Twitter(Sarann). One entry for each you do.

3. Add me to your Technorati Favorites

4. Digg, Stumble, Kirtsy, or Facebook this post.

5. Sign up as an email subscriber.

Contest starts tonight February 19th-28th 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.

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Do you guys know how important Stride Rite is to me? Well, I never shopped there because we're a family on a budget and at the rate these children grow I couldn't fathom paying too much for their shoes. Then, my toddler was born. He has feet wider than a trailer and it's the only store we can shop at for this child. SO, what do you think I did when I heard my friend Karen was running a Promotional contest for a pair of Stride Rite shoes?! Well, my heart just jumped for joy and I just HAD to tell you guys about it!

Head over to:

3 Garnets & Sapphires
Contest starts at Midnight February 20th-24th for your chance at free Stride Rite shoes. Tell her Sara from Momma Findings sent ya! *wink*

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Can I tell you guys something?

I'm 27-years-old
I've been married almost 8 years
I'm a Momma to three little ones 6 and under
I've moved 7 times in 4 different cities/towns

WHOA! I've learned the roads of busy cities such as Charlotte, NC and Memphis, TN, but have enjoyed the small town feel in Orange, TX. In all that moving, discovering, and excitement the one thing on my mind with each move was: I need to find a babysitter!

I was hundreds of miles away from family and trusted friends that I wasn't sure how I could possibly find a sitter I can trust with my precious babies. If only there was a trusted network to find sitters, look up references, see what other people say about that particular babysitter. If only I could post my preferences and family profile on a site where sitters can find ME! Wow. Wouldn't that be amazing?

Check out the SitterCity Facts:

Services- Sittercity.com provides parents and sitters with a central location to find each other quickly, safely and easily. Both parents and sitters create detailed online profiles and can search the site for matches using more than 40 search criteria. Parents can also post unlimited jobs for sitters, obtain references from sitter profiles and follow our four-step screening process to hire a quality caregiver. Both sitters and parents may request background checks, read and post reviews for each other, and use tools like our interactive Rate Calculator to determine fair pay and our Interactive Babysitter Cheat Sheet to prepare their babysitter.

Care Types- Babysitters, nannies, petsitters, dog walkers, housesitters, housekeepers, senior care providers and tutors.

Cost- Sitter registration is FREE. For parents, there are two billing options: $39.99 for the first month and $9.99/month thereafter, or $7.99/month billed in the one time annual sum ($95.88).

As America's first and largest online source for caregivers, Sittercity makes it quick, safe and simple to find babysitters, nannies and petsitters in cities across the country.

Looking for a babysitter? Sign-up to find the perfect sitter today at Sittercity.com!


Win It!

Well, I'm all about helping Mommas, but especially love helping Mommas who read my Blog! Yes, I love me some sweet readers! So, I've teamed up with SitterCity to give one lucky reader a 1 Year Membership! Yes, You can finally go on a date night, feel secure when you have to stay late for that staff meeting, or have a business trip planned.

Head over to the SitterCity Website. Check out all the services they offer and come back here to tell me which you are in need of. Babysitter, Housesitter, PetSitter? That's it!

Extra Entries

1. You guys know I love blogs, right? Well, I especially love companies that run blogs. So, check out the SitterCity Blogs and leave them a comment. Come back here and tell me which post you commented on and you'll receive 6 extra entries. Make me proud girls (and guys)!

2. Grab up an extra 4 entries if you blog about this cool giveaway by linking back to this post AND SitterCity.com.

3. Support my blogging addiction by leaving (new)comments at My Sippy Cup Runneth Over or the Label Daddy Blog.

4. Tweet, Digg, Stumble, Kirtsy, or Facebook this post (one entry for each you do).

Contest starts today February 19th-27th 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.

*Leave EACH entry in separate comments in order for it to count*

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Hubby didn't do too bad with my gifts this year!
Happy Valentine's Day to Me!





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Rounding out my Health & Safety Expo is another thermometer. Before I hear any grumbles from you guys, I've got to add in that thermometers are life saving for us Mommas (and Daddy's) who value the health of our children. There's nothing scarier than a child with a dangerously high fever at 2:00am. Am I right?

So, on to my last product in the expo:

Vicks Fever InSight Comfort Flex Thermometer

Features from the Vicks Website:

-Faster readings; in as fast as eight seconds
-ComfortFlex tip makes temperature taking more comfortable.
-Professional accuracy
-Fever InSight large backlit display changes color to indicate temperature level.
-Oral, rectal, or underarm use
-Memory feature recalls and displays last temperature taken.
-Waterproof for easy, more thorough cleaning
-Automatic shutoff to help extend battery life
-Probe covers and storage case included
-Lifetime warranty under normal use and battery replacement

All these features sound amazing, right?! I agree, but still feel the need to give you my take on this fast reading thermometer.

I found this thermometer to be very easy to use. Ear thermometer's are my best friends these days and I never thought I would like a traditional oral, rectal, or under the arm thermometer. I've always heard these are so hard to use, the temp. isn't accurate, and it takes forever for the temp to even be read. Who has time for that when there is a screaming, feverish, child awake at the crack of dawn?! I know I don't, but I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, I can honestly say this thermometer is my favorite thus far to use with my 5 and 6 year old and I'll tell you why.

The Vicks Fever Insight Comfort Flex Thermometer is the first of it's kind (well the first I've seen or heard of) to SHOW you if your temperature is Ok, Mild, or High. Yes, we can all gauge whether it is by reading the actual temperature, but there is always a doubt in our heads whether or not we should worry. Fever InSight helps you to better understand the meaning of the temperature with the color indicated on the display. Along with the temp the screen will display Green if no fever, Yellow when the temperature is slightly elevated, and Red alert for a fever. Check it out:



Besides, the Fever InSight technology, there are other features that made me just swoon over this thermometer. It really DOES read the temp in 8 seconds or less. I took my temperature and my children's temperature several times and timed it. We're all about fast at this house, so that is a big plus for me. In addition, the screen is large enough for me to read in the middle of the night. It lights up, has large numbers, and a large screen! I can't say how useful this is when I'm struggling to stay awake much less take the temperature of a screaming, cranky, child!

There are some features I didn't get a chance to try out. For example, it's waterproof. This is wonderful in case you ever drop it in water or spill on it, but I didn't want to ACTUALLY do that to test this feature out. I also love that there is a storage case that comes with it. I have about 4 different thermometers, syrups, pills, bandages, and creams in my medicine cabinet. This keeps the thermometer from getting damaged or contaminated. Plus, probe covers come with it so you can use the thermometer over and over again without worrying about cleaning it. It's also light weight man! I love that's it's not big and bulky. It makes it easy to pack when we travel to see Grandparents in Texas. Or I can throw it in my purse on day trips. There is also an auto shut-off feature to save battery life. Oh Vicks! You really DO love us Mom's don't you?!

Alright, now that you've read my "gushing", here are a few Momma Improvements I feel compelled to let you guys in on:

-It only comes with 5 probe covers. I'm sure you can purchase them very easily and for a few bucks, but come on! Even the ear thermometers provide more than that! I'd love to see a bigger pack of probe covers to keep from heading to the pharmacy a day or two after buying the thermometer.

-It's an oral, rectal, & underarm thermometer, which means it's not very toddler friendly. My toddler doesn't know how to keep it underneath his tongue. He squirms if I place it under his arm and forget about using it rectally! This is ideal for older children. My 5 & 6 year old did great with it and I'll probably use it should I get sick.

-It's loud. Yup. It beeps loudly when the temperature is read which doesn't help in the middle of the night. With three children, the last thing we, as Mommas, want to do is wake the other children while dealing with a sick child.

-Last Improvement, the memory. It reads the last fever you took, but doesn't store any more than that. So, if you're dealing with multiple children sick, and the fever is lasting off and on for days (like when my two kids had Pneumonia), you must keep record on paper. You can't rely on the thermometer to keep record for you. This is minor though, because I always keep record on the fridge when we're going through bouts of sickness.

All in all, I really DO love this thermometer! Why do you think I saved it till last?!

Buy It

This thermometer is a STEAL retailing for the average price of 14.99! You can purchase yours from Walgreens, Walmart, or major retailers nation wide.

Win It!

I love letting you guys try out the cool products featured here at Momma Findings! That's why I've got FIVE, yes FIVE, thermometer's up for grabs! Five lucky readers will win a Vicks Fever InSight Comfort Flex Thermometer of your own! All you have to do is head over to the Vicks Website and look at all the other thermometers they have to offer. Come back here and tell me which other you'd like to try or HAVE tried and liked.

Extra Entries

1.) Blog about this giveaway & review by linking back to this post.

2.) Tweet, Digg, Stumble, or Kirtsy this post (1 for each you do)

3.) Follow Momma Findings, My Sippy Cup Runneth Over, or the Label Daddy Blog on Blogger (1 for each you do)

4.) Sign up to become an email subscriber

Contest starts today February 16th-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. **Remember to leave EACH entry in separate comments in order for it to count.


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What do you want at the end of a long day of momma-ness??

Survey says, a good night's sleep!

Getting quality sleep doesn't come easy for everyone, and Dr. Arthur Zuckerman in Manhattan recognized just that.

Dr. Z launched a sleep enhancing toothpaste to give folks a natural alternative to sleeping pills.

"Formulated with Melatonin and organic extracts of Valerian, Balm Mint and Passion Flower, Pearly Dreams uses only the highest quality of natural ingredients to ease stress and enhance sleep."

In using Pearly Dreams, I found the wintergreen flavor to be very pleasing. No hint of the sleep inducing additives.

Did it work? I must say that I'm not a momma who has sleeplessness issues. I am quite tired every night and typically have no trouble sleeping. But when the day comes that I just can't seem to get to sleep, I will get a proper assessment!

The issues I have with the toothpaste are the price and the restrictions to certain would-be users.

A 3.4 oz tube of Pearly Dreams retails for $19.95 plus shipping.

Pearly dreams is not intended for use by pregnant women, individuals with autoimmune conditions, depressive disorders, endocrine disorders, serious illness or other drug use.

And I suppose it should be understood...you won't want to use this toothpaste in the mornings. No one wants you dozing off behind the wheel of your car on the way to the grocery.

If you suffer from chronic sleeplessness, Pearly Dreams may be the answer for you!!

Buy it and Try it: www.pearlydreams.net or by calling 1-800-5-PEARLY

Written by contributing author Tina Golden who also blogs at Golden Goodness and designs blogs at For Goodness Sakes Designs.

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"Mom, what's patience?"

The question took me by surprise mainly because I didn't have an answer. As I racked my brain for the best way to describe what I often fail in, it clicked. I remember a good friend of mine telling me, "Patience is being happy while you wait."

It's a tough virtue and lesson for any child, but it often plagues even the best of adults when we've cleaned yet another apple juice spill in a 24 hour period.

We're are the epitome of a Vege Head here at my house so you can only imagine our delight when we received the opportunity from the Family Review Network to view Veggie Tale's newest DVD, Abe and the Amazing Promise.

Bob the Tomato teaches us the Bible story of Abraham and Sarah as they faithfully waited for a son. In addition to this valuable Biblical lesson, Larry and Bob add in their usual silliness with the Blunders in Boo-Boo-Ville. Who doesn't love all of the silly Veggie Tale Songs?! The Hairbrush Song? The Bunny?. Abe & the Amazing Promise features a new song called Sneeze If You Need To!

After we watched the DVD, my daughter turns to me and says, "Hmmm. You're not the ONLY one who thinks we should be happy while we wait." I'd definitely recommend Abe and the Amazing Promise to any family. They'll not only enjoy the movie, but the bonus features such as: Art Gallery, Sing Alon, Interactive Storybook (this was my daughter's favorite by the way), Video Trivia, and How to Draw. I absolutely love DVD's that involve the entire family other than the watching experience.

Ready to Buy?

You can purchase your very own copy from Amazon.com. Don't forget to check out Abe and the Amazing Promise Fun Stuff by clicking here. You'll find cool IM icons and coloring sheets!

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It's February and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. No longer will I hear the coughs from my children's bedroom down the hall. I'll stop wiping noses and the worry of whether or not my toddler will gag himself from coughing and vomit all over his pjs. Yup, Cold & Flu season will be over soon and I've thanks God that it hasn't hit us too hard.

If you're like me you can't wait for warm weather to appear and the "gunk" of cold's will be long gone till next winter. But wait! Reports this month are confirming a late, hard-hitting cold and flu season, parents enjoying a mild season thus far are not yet in the clear. So, as a Momma please keep your guard up.

We discovered this just a few days ago and our household is going through sinus infections, cold's, ear infections, and stomach viruses. It's not fun at all, but I was grateful for all the research I did on products in my Health & Safety Expo.

Despite the government’s advisory against the use of over-the-counter cold and cough medicine with children under six years old, a recent survey conducted by Kaz Inc. revealed that 74 percent of parents with kids in this age group give their children cold medicine when they are sick. Vicks is a brand I can trust and am happy to let all of you know about two products out there helping us on the last leg of Cold & Flu Season without using cold medicine.

Vicks Germ-Free Humidifier



So, I was cleaning vomit last night, not due to a stomach virus, but due to congestion's in my children's chest. They are suffering from sinus drainage and can't seem to cough the "gunk" up very well. It turns into gagging and ultimately vomiting.

Humidifiers are a must when cough and congestion strike our house. They hydrate mucus membranes, helping the body expel germs more effectively. We had the opportunity to try the Vicks Germ Free Humidifier, which features a patented UV light chamber that kills up to 99.999% of bacteria, mold and spores in the water vapor that enters the air.

I've always been leery of water just sitting there in the humidifier. How can THAT be healthy?! Well, the patented ultraviolet light process eradicates water bred germs leaving my mind at easy and healthful moisture for my entire family. I found it REALLY easy to use compared to other humidifiers I've tried in the past. You simply fill the 2 gallon tanks, lock in place, turn it on and you're done.

Personally, I liked that you don't have to keep refilling the tanks. The 2 gallons on each side have longer run times and can operate for up to 24 hours. You can use it with or without Vicks VapoSteam or Kaz Inhalant, but we like the menthol smell to clear our sinuses. We filled with vaposteam in the small cup on top and we were set for the entire night. One feature I liked that I don't see on many humidifiers is the humidity control. You can adjust to your personal preference by simply turning the knob from low to high.

Vicks has always been a brand I can trust, however, there is one tiny Momma Improvement I'd like to point out. I'm SURE this wouldn't bother you guys, but for me, a light sleeper, the trickling of the water, kept me awake. It's not even that loud, but I'm the type who can hear the ticking of a clock in another room so it was quite bothersome. I must point out that the children slept MUCH better than they had before we used the Humidifier.

There is also matter of cost. The average price for this humidifier is around 100 bucks or 99.99. To me, it's well worth the price in the long run, but with the struggling economy these days, that's a lot of money to shell out when that "Old Wives Tale" of simply sitting in the bathroom with the hot shower running might work just as well. So, yeah, it's pretty expensive, but it did NOT dissapoint me at all.

Vicks Soothing Vapors Waterless Vaporizer & Night Light


I can't even explain how much I absolutely love this vaporizer! It's even easier to use than the Humidifier. You have to be careful with Warm Mist humidifiers because of the hot steam coming out, but with this vaporizer those worries are gone making it safe to use in children's bedrooms.

Small Vapopads are inserted into the vaporizer releasing soothing vicks vapors without the water and lasting up to 8 hours at night. Besides being safe, it also doubles as a nightlight. It's all about convienence for me and that's how I few this vaporizer. There is no messy pouring, filling, etc. Insert Pad --> Plug In --> Relief! It's just plain simple.

I always throw in my little Momma Improvement when I write my reviews. This is no different as I simply advise you keep your door open. We're used to closing our doors because we learned it's safer should there be a fire, but the scent of the vapors can get pretty strong for small children. Make sure you keep an open airy room for those little noses.

Let's talk cost. For less than about 8.00 bucks you're well on your way to a restful night. EIGHT BUCKS people! That is a steal. It also comes with extra VapoPads, but once you run out refills aren't much more with the average price of 5.99.

Buy It

You can find Vicks products at major retailers and pharmacies.

If you're like me, always looking for tips to sooth the cold and flu for our children, go check out the Mommy Doc for more tips and tricks: www.coldandflucentral.com

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God really convicted me today folks. He convicted me and prepared me all at the same time because we live in a such a cruel world where women are just vicious and manipulative. Mean Girls. Did you ever see that movie?

I whispered to my dear friend after the study was over and said, "Hun, every Wednesday I need to leave here and lay down. I am so emotionally overwhelmed and convicted that it's tiring." She kind of giggled and agreed, but I am SO serious!

I see myself in a lot of what she says and I'll be the first person to raise my hand and say I'm imperfect. I sometimes go overboard with beauty (clothes, make-up, etc.) and I definitely lose my temper and end up in a rage of anger. As I sat to write my post tonight, I realized I left my notes in the car so I'll probably come back and write more this weekend, but I had to VLOG it too so check it out:

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Man, I've always loved rockin' to cool music in the car! My children have learned to jam out alongside Momma and we enjoy every second of it. Music is a large part of our lives as it helps us to relax, act silly, and dance, dance, dance! Hey! I didn't say we danced well, but we do it anyway.

So, do you think we were excited when the latest KidzBop album hit our doorstep?! Ummm.. YEAH! My daughter went crazy yelling that she wished to have this CD and now her wish came true. I'm not joking, folks! She is a lover of music just like her Momma and we danced till we couldn't dance anymore.

Check out the tracks that are featured:

1. So What
2. Let It Rock Create a Karaoke Video!
3. When I Grow Up
4. American Boy
5. Forever
6. Hot N Cold
7. Disturbia
8. Burnin Up
9. I’m Yours
10. One Step At A Time
11. 7 Things
12. Better In Time
13. What About Now
14. Love Story
15. Crush
16. Gotta Be Somebody
17. Take A Bow
18. Tell Me Something I Don’t Know

The really cool part about this kids music album is that they take popular songs and relate them to a younger audience. Each song is sung by kids for kids and they even change inappropriate words or phrases which is a BIG plus in my book! On top of the 18 all new songs, KIDZ BOP 15 comes pre-loaded with the “Let It Rock” music video.

Buy It

You can buy your own KidzBop 15 album by visiting their online store here. Right now you can get 2 copies for the price of 1, only $18.98.

Win It!

As always I love to let my readers try some of the cool stuff we review so I've teamed up with KidzBop to offer 1 lucky reader a copy of KidzBop 15. Can you imagine your child's face? All you have to do is head over to the KidzBop website and come back here and tell me which other album you think your kids would like. That's it!

Extra Entries

1. I want to make this FUN so I've got 8 extra entries for you if you post a VLOG (video clip) of yourself, your kids, or family singing one of the songs on this album, on YOUR blog. Link back to this post underneath your clip. C'mon! Let's have some fun!

2. You can grab up 3 more if you simply just want to blog about this contest w/o the video.

3. Don't forget to stumble, tweet, digg, or kirtsy this post for an extra entry (1 for each you do).

4. Of course I love loyal readers so if you leave a NEW comment on any of my other blogs I'll give you an extra entry: My Sippy Cup Runneth Over or Label Daddy Blog.

Contest starts today February 11th-19th 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*

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My little man received a cookie bouquet from my sister in TX for his birthday. He just LOVED it!



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I'd like to thank everyone, once again, for joining me for the Momma Findings Health & Safety Expo. Originally, this would take place for the entire month of January, but it is now February 10th and I still have some AMAZING products to showcase and you guys might even get a chance to win a few by the end of the week.

Next up on my list, is the Braun ThermoScan Ear Thermometer. Now, I feel like I keep repeating myself, but I have three small children all ages 6 and under. Do I have to tell you how threatening the Cold & Flu season is for this family? We constantly bring germs home from School, Church, Playplaces, Parks, etc. It's hard to keep such young children healthy.

Since October, the kids thermometer has been working overtime. So, I was ecstatic to receive the Braun ThermoScan to review. My old Braun was ready to call it quits. I bought it at least 5-6 years ago. Do you see a pattern for me? Braun is a brand we can trust for those "middle of the night" fevers and I haven't felt the need to replace it since we've had no reason to until we discovered the new & updated version.

So, first off check out the difference 5-6 years have makes:

Before



After



Yes, folks, this is what I've been using on my children when they get a fever. I am a little ashamed, but not too ashamed because this Braun Thermometer is still holding strong. I've just upgraded and here's why I feel more confident when another fever arises in any of my children:

From the Braun Website:



More accurate
The unique patented pre-warmed tip and the Guidance System of Braun ThermoScan ear thermometers ensure professional accuracy every time.

Added gentleness
Thanks to infra-red technology, the ThermoScan ear thermometer gently takes a temperature in seconds.

ThermoScan - No. 1 among doctors and mothers
Braun ThermoScan is used by more doctor's offices and mothers than any other infra-red thermometer brand worldwide.

As I said before, I've been using Braun ear thermometer's for years now, but this was really impressed me because there are so many improvements to the updated version.

Aside from the look of the actual thermometer, there is a Pre-warmed tip which will help read temperatures more accurately. It also reads the temperature much more quickly than my old one did and has more of a flexible tip. The really cool new feature, that I just LOVE, was the ExacTemp light on the back of the thermometer. The old version didn't have this light so you're just listening for the beep to say it's done. This version has a light that will flash along with the beep once the temp has been read. Along with the light, the screen and numbers are BIGGER! I know that seem so small, but I don't have to squint my eyes anymore to read it and it makes life a whole lot easier.

With so many improvements to be excited about I'd hate to leave out the tried and true features of the thermometer. You still have the disposable lens filters to prevent cross contamination. The lens filter detector is still there to make sure it is securely in place along with the ejector to help remove it without pulling it off. Again, it comes with a cover to protect it while in storage and stores temps in the 8x memory for future reference.

Braun definitely gives me peace of mind in times of fever & sickness. If you haven't upgraded your thermometer, in I'd say..... 5 years, I think it's worth looking into.

Buy It

To learn more about the Braun Thermoscan please visit their site at: www.braun.com. To make a purchase you can visit your local Walgreens, Target, Walmart, or any major retailer. You can also find them online at Amazon.com. The average price for the Braun Thermoscan is 45.99.

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I don't want to get all sappy or everything, but it seems this is all this blog is about.... being sappy over the blessings God has given to me. SO, since God intended this blog to be sappy... I'll be sappy.

My guy turns two today.

Wait, let me re-phrase that.

My guy turns TWO TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God has given me the job of raising you into more than you think you can be, to raise you to be a Man in Christ. You have taught me the meaning of patience in love. You show me the world through a little boy's eyes and it's refreshing. Rudy, I love you dearly, I pray for you always, and am so happy to be your Mother.

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When I first decided to have children, I had no idea I was choosing to be a maid as well. I'm great at washing dishes, doing laundry, sweeping, but what I'm NOT great at is washing dishes 4 times in a day, doing a never ending pile of laundry, and sweeping every 20 minutes. It gets tiring and I'll be the first person to say, "My house will NEVER be spotless if you stop by unannounced in the middle of the day."

I'm a Momma to three little ones under the age of 6. I could use that as an excuse... okay I DO use that as an excuse to explain the chaos and un-organization of the house. It's difficult. So, if I can't keep the house clean 24 hours a day, I'd really LOVE to have it smelling like it's clean, but even then.... that's not working according to one certain teenager.

Babysitter: You're house smells like kids.

Me: What do you mean it smells like kids?

Babysitter: I don't know, it's a smell that people have that have kids.

Me: Like a bad smell?

Babysitter: It's not bad, it's just the smell of kids. My Aunt's house smells like that a lot.

Me: Umm... ok.



After the conversation with my babysitter, you can imagine this Momma's excitment when the Family Review Network asked if I'd like to review the Newly released Glade Sense & Spray. It features a built-in motion sensor, spraying only when it senses activity in the room to help conserve the refill. I actually really love the concept because I don't need my air fresheners to work overtime when I'm not home or in a room nobody is even in! You can simply place the the base where you like in the room (of course out of reach of toddlers and young children) and it will release the scent every 30 minutes. If you need an extra burst of scent simply press the button on the front. It's THAT easy!

Available scents include:

-Clean Linen
-Apple Cinnamon
-Powder Fresh
-Country Garden

Buy It

Glade products are available in grocery, drug, hardware, and discount stores in the United States and Canada. They may also be available at your favorite online retailer.

Before you head out to buy one, make sure to head to the Glade website for their special offer of Buy 1 Get 1 Free.

Win It!

Thanks to the Family Review Network and Glade, Momma Findings is offering one lucky reader a Glade Sense & Spray of your own! All you have to do is take a look at the listed scents and tell me which one you'd like! Easy as pie!

Extra Entries

1.) As always, you'll receive 2 extra entries if you blog about this cool contest by linking back to this post.

2.) Digg, Stumble, Tweet, or Kirtsy this post. One entry for each that you do.

3.) Sign up as an email subscriber for one more.

4.) Follow me on Blogger or add me to your Technorati Favorites.

Contest starts today February 8th-16th Midnight Central Time and open to US AND Canada 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**

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

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I'm a Momma to three little ones and it seems I never have the time to "glamour up". Yeah, I throw in some concealer to hide the dark circles under my eyes and some bronzer on my cheeks to hide the fact I've been up all night with a coughing child, but there is never an event that calls for that nice black dress in the back of my closet or the need for glamorous make-up.

Now, I don't need a particular event to make me feel glamorous! Kiss My Face has introduced a new line of lip products to offer sparkle and shine! The SOS Sheer Organic shimmers and Sheer Organic shines are mineral based, 91% organic and 100% natural. My favorite thing about this all natural lip gloss line is the minty feeling I got instantly when I put it on. Throw on a little shimmer and shine as you head off on that playdate to the park and, trust me, you'll feel a little glamorous amongst the "Park Moms". You guys know what "Park Moms" I'm talking about!

These come in a wide range of gem stones:

Garnet: warm berry shade perfect for adding a touch of drama to a natural look
Amethyst: edgy blend of mauve and lilac for rock star shine
Topaz: gorgeous bronze with a hint of pink
Ruby: sweet and subtle medium pink to brighten any skin tone
Opal: soft lilac ideal for a natural look
Pearl: ethereal pale pink that can be worn alone or layered for an icy sheen

Man! Was I excited to "spruce" up my lips with these cool colors?! That wasn't the end though because I got to treat my face too with their Brightening Day Creme and Intensive Repair Night Creme! Let me tell you guys, I am ALL about some hydration for this ole' face of mine, especially through these winter months. The heat constantly going is making me wish I was back in Texas with the humidity.


I especially loved the Day Creme because it evens out my skin discolorations and moisturizes at the same time. Did I tell you I have dark circles under my eyes?! Not only that though, I constantly spend time out in the sun with the kids, this creme helps me camouflage different sun spots and has a natural mineral sun protectant! These are amazing hydration treatments any Momma would love to run to after a long day with the kids.

Usually, I try to find the pros and cons of each product I've used, but I didn't find not ONE "con" when I used these! Amazing price, Amazing Product, and makes this Momma smile a little bit bigger just knowing I've pampered myself for the day. Don't believe me? Check it out:



Buy It

To learn more about these cool products head over to KissMyFace.com or check out the Kiss My Face Blog. You know I love me some bloggers! You can also make a purchase at their online store. They are also available at Whole Foods and everywhere fun, natural products are sold. Sheer Organic Shimmers retail for $4.95 and the Sheer Organic Shines retail for 6.95.

Win Kiss My Face for Kids!

You read that right! Kiss My Face also offers a whole line of Kids Bath Products! I've teamed up with them to offer one lucky reader a HUGE gift basket of the following:

Self-Foaming Hand Wash
Toothpaste
Toothpaste with fluoride
2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner
Bubble Wash
Self Foaming Shampoo & Body Wash
Lip Balms
A Whale of a Soap


All you have to do to win is head over to their site and check out all of their organic beauty products. Come back here and tell me which product you'd most like to try other than the products I've showcased. That's it!

Extra Entries

1.) I LOVE supporting blogs, especially companies that RUN blogs! Leave a comment on the Kiss My Face blog and grab up 2 extra entries. Make sure you come back here and tell me which post you commented on.

2.) Grab up 3 extra entries just by blogging about this contest! Make sure you link back to this post AND Kiss My Face.

3.) Speaking of supporting blogs head over to either My Sippy Cup Runneth Over or the Label Daddy Blog and leave me a comment. You'll grab 2 extra entries if you do.

4.) Tweet, Stumble, Digg, or Kirtsy, this post and you'll grab an extra entry for each that you do.

Contest starts today Feb. 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 them to count*Good Luck!

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