After experiencing the H1N1 Flu Virus, my kitchen counter was over run with Medications. Everything from Children's Acetaminophen to Mucinex, these helped us through a week full of fever, coughs, and runny noses. After the recovery, however, it turned from helpful to dangerous.

My children, ages 7 and under, are old enough that they are apt to grabbing these Meds out of curiosity. Especially susceptible is my 2-year-old son who happens to love the taste of Gummy Vitamins.

What's a Mom to do? Well, we use our Medicine Cabinet in the bathroom, but I also have a safe place to store them in my kitchen cabinets. It still seems necessary to take one more precautionary step to keeping my children safe. The MedSafe, an electronic medicine safe, can help.



About:

In an effort to help parents keep their meds safely secured and their children out of harm’s way, Michael Rebando, a Long Island locksmith of two decades developed an electronic lock-box called MedSafe. Fitting easily into most existing medicine cabinets and holding up to 15 bottles of prescription medicine, the state-of-the-art lock-box features 19,500 changeable combinations and is the perfect tool in keeping potentially harmful meds out of the hands of children. The MedSafe can be easily affixed to the inside of any medicine cabinet with four self-tapping screws included with each unit, and can also be stored in a dresser drawer, kitchen cabinet or closet shelf.

According to a recent report by the CDC, each year in the United States more than 71,000 children age 18 and younger are seen in emergency rooms for unintentional overdoses of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. It also reported that about 1 out of every 180 two-year-olds visits an emergency department for a medication overdose each year.

I'm in shock here folks, 1 out of every 180 2-year-olds is affected by accidental medication overdose. I HAVE a 2-year-old, a very CURIOUS 2-year-old. As a Mother, there is nothing scarier than the potential of overdose. I looked at my kitchen counter, left from the flu, and I knew something needed to change. Meds needed to be locked up and MedSafe could help me to just that.

Let me show you how this "Medicine Lockbox" works:

It looks easy enough, right? It really is! Simply place your Medications into the safe, set your password, and close it up.

What we liked:

Durability: It's made of impact resistant polymer with a state of the art digital lock, so there are no keys for kids to find. It STAYS locked!

Capacity: Holds up to 15 prescription bottles

Easy Installation: It comes with 4 screws to install to a place of your liking or you can simply place it in your kitchen cabinet or dresser, making it easy to take when traveling.

Lock Out Feature: After five incorrect tries, the box locks out for 5 minutes.

Privacy: Now visitors looking in your medicine cabinet won't see what meds you're taking.

Password Combinations: There are 19,500 Changeable Combinations that allow you to easily change and remember your personal password.

Charitable Contribution: A portion of each unit sold will support teen prescription drug abuse awareness programs through non-profits such as D.A.R.E.

The MedSafe, overall, has plenty of positive features that help Mommas, like me, keep their young children safe from medication overdose. Although, we find this product to be exceptional, there are a few Momma Improvements I'd like to point out.

Momma Improvements

Tones: These tones indicate if you've correctly or incorrectly entered the combination, but honestly? They didn't help me. Short beeps, three consecutive beeps, one long beep... it just gets confusing for the user.

Opening the door: The MedSafe comes with a spring loaded door that is supposed to open when the correct password is entered, however, I didn't experience a "spring like" opening. In fact, I had to press the open button really hard in order to open the box.

Inside the box: As I mentioned in my video, there are two compartments that are very short. You can fit your "short" bottles in there, such as prescription drugs, however bigger bottles like cough syrup, known to be abused by teenagers, don't fit as the bottles are too tall.

Malfunction Risk: As with any electronic device, the risk of malfunction always exists. The manufacturer recommends an emergency supply of life saving medication be stored in a separate location. What if you don't have an extra set of meds and it's difficult to get these? I wonder if there could possibly be a "key" function for emergencies such as this?

I've spoken with my 6 and 7-year-old's about the danger of taking medication without Mommy giving it to them and without my consent. My 2-year-old? Well, he doesn't understand, so this is an awesome way to keep him safe and relieve the temptation of my other children wanting to take a few extra vitamins, drink that yummy grape flavored syrup, or see what "Mommy's Medicine" looks like.

Buy It

MedSafe can be purchased "For A Limited Time Only" at the price of $39.95 plus $9.95 Shipping and Handling(Regularly $59.95). Visit www.helpsaveourkids.com to learn more or make a purchase.

This post made possible by MedSafe, who provided us with one MedSafe of our own. Opinions here are solely my own and have not been wavered or compensated by the products I received.

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After recovering from the flu, my family really needs to boost our immune system with healthy foods, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun on Halloween, right??

Let me share this really simple, yet Spooky Halloween Snack idea, courtesy of Disney Family Fun:


Ingredients
Carrots
Cream cheese
Pitted black olives

Instructions
Simply slice carrots into 1-inch-thick chunks, top each with a blob of cream cheese and one half of a pitted olive, and serve.

What are you guys doing for Halloween?
With all the extra candy left over, what do you do with access?

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Today is my VERY first post in my weekly series entitled Sara Say What?! I'll be talking and vlogging about what God is sharing with me about Motherhood, Marriage, and Friendship. Sometimes it'll be full of advice and others... well it might be me asking YOU for advice.

Let's talk Marriage and Travel, yeah?

(And don't ask me why YouTube decided to still shot my face so weird)

Reflections

-Do you travel a lot?
-How do you keep communication open with your spouse?
-Want to share your travel experiences and how they affect your marriage?

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Son. I think you've had a little too much.



For more Wordless Wednesday's head over to A Daily Dose of Toni, 5 Minutes for Mom, Ordinary and Awesome, and 7 Clown Circus.

Let's see your WW:



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You guys know how important Sippy Cups are to me, right? I mean, there is nothing more aggravating than having my toddler's cup leak into the diaper bag, purse, or, better yet, all over the car seat.

I'm almost positive we've tried every drinking cup out there from the Nuby Flip-It Sports Sipper to the First Years Insulated Sipper with my 2 year old son. So, when we discovered the Weil Baby Drinking cup, I was most intrigued to see how it would work out for us.



About Weil Baby Products:

Weil Baby bottles and sippy cups feature the breakthrough AirWave one-piece venting system, which helps eliminate air bubbles ingested by babies and toddlers, reducing the risk of colic, gas and spit-up. The containers are made of both glass and Tritan, a remarkable clear material that contains no bisphenol A, commonly known as BPA, which may disrupt normal estrogenic activity. Extensive laboratory testing has shown that Tritan is completely EA-free, making the Weil Baby line ultra safe.

We had the opportunity to try the Weil Baby Tritan™ Drinking Cup and felt at ease knowing it is BPA free and sturdy as a rock! These are so uniquely designed to withstand even MY toddler's "Rough and Tumble" ways. It's no surprise because Weil Baby products are made, right here, in the USA. They meet a very high standard of quality, making products that meet control standards with lot-number traceability. Very rare!

What my son loves about the cups are the bright colors and the easy to hold handles. Toddlers are so rough and "fly by the seat of your pants" kinda children and need something to grab onto with their little hands. Weil Baby makes it easy for them to keep hold of their cup! I also love that they come with lids/tops. I cringe at the thought of leaving my son's cup in the diaper bag or purse. There is no telling what germs lie beneath and I feel secure knowing it's protected.

What we liked:

-Durable
-Easy Handle Grips
-BPA Free (yeah!)
-Bright/Fun Colors
-Comes with Lid
-Made in the USA

Momma Improvements:

-Price: We're a one income family of five. It's really hard for me to budget in $9.99+tax for one sippy cup. Understanding the quality of the product, makes me understand that it's worth the money for families on a bigger budget than my own.

-Soft Spout: This helps toddler transition from the bottle to the cup easily, however, since we are passed this stage it became a problem. You see, you have to hold your mouth a certain way (almost baby bottle like) to drink from the Tritan Cup. It was almost like pushing him BACK into baby-hood instead of transitioning him into toddlerhood. My 2-year-old has already mastered the sippy cup with a hard spout and does pretty well with regular cups.

All in all, a great line of products at Weil Baby. The Tritan cup wasn't perfect for our stage of toddlerhood, however, I can see it being perfect for younger children (12mo - 24 mo). Plus, Momma Findings is a BIG supporter of Made in the USA companies such as Label Daddy and now Weil Baby. What a perfect pair because we all understand the importance of labeling our sippy cups, especially if your child has allergies.

Buy It

Weil Baby Tritan Cups can be purchased at select Babies R Us stores and online at WeilBaby.com for the suggested retail price of $9.99. As budget savvy as I am, I've GOTTA let you guys know that you can print a $5.00 off a $15.00 purchase coupon when you visit the official Weil Baby website.

This post made possible by Weil Baby products who provided us with two Tritan Drinking Cups. Opinions here are solely my own and have not been wavered or compensated by the products I received.

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If you know me well, you know how I love me some coffee. My children know that as soon as I wake up it's Coffee Time. Before questions are asked, before I help them find their homework, or feed them breakfast, Momma has GOT to have her coffee.

I discovered a unique coffee blend for all you coffee lovers. Now, this is a little different, you might be hesitant, but it's an instant coffee. Simply mix with hot water, and VOILA!



Before I let you guys in on how I, personally, liked these coffee packets, I'm going to let you in on some fun facts about coffee:

Fact: The average U.S. adult drinks 3.4 cups of coffee a day, or about 26 gallons of coffee a year.

Fact: Coffee is the most popular drink worldwide with over 400 billion cups consumed each year.

Fact: The average cup of coffee is $4.00 at a local coffee-house. At three times a week, that's more than $500 annually!

Fact: People who buy coffee primarily at drive through windows on their way to work will spend as much as 45 hours a year waiting in line.

I don't know about you guys, but I don't want to waste my life away waiting in line for a cup of coffee. Imagine how much time (and gas) you could save by making a gourmet cup of coffee at home!

I was asked to try Nescafe Taster's Choice five Gourmet Flavors: Hazelnut, Vanilla, Original, Decaffeinated, and 100% Colombian. The ultimate question being:

What flavor are you today?

Hmmm.... Which flavor shall I choose?


Good question! Today, its rainy, gloomy, and a little cool outside. Coffee is right up my alley and nothing is more comforting than snuggling on the cough with a quilt, a good book, and a hot cup of Hazelnut flavored coffee.

Yup, I said it. Hazelnut is my favorite, mainly for the sheer fact that it is so smooth and the Hazelnut taste isn't overbearing. It gives that perfect hint that makes me feel all warm inside. Now, the Vanilla flavor came in close second because I love my sweetness!

As I mentioned before, I'm a lover of coffee. I like to smell the coffee brewing in the pot, I love to smell it when I open the bag. To be honest? I wasn't sure I would get the full effect by using a single packet of instant coffee. Something about pouring hot water INTO the blend that struck me as .... well nontraditional.

Is that okay?

DEFINITELY!

The taste isn't any more different than if it was brewed out of the pot. With some of the flavors, like the Colombian, you can still enjoy the aroma of brewed coffee in your cup. What I like, is how simple it is. I mean, all you have to do is pick your flavor, pour a hot cup of water, and stir. Well, if you're like me I gotta add in some creamer. It's so simple, convenient, and there aren't messy coffee filters and grounds to deal with.

These are convienent to carry in your purse, diaper bag, or weekend trips! The Holiday's are coming so don't rule out Taster's Choice for your gift giving needs.

Momma Improvement

I've gotta say there is one Momma Improvement I have to mention. The Original flavor took longer to blend than all the others. Not sure the difference in texture or substance that made it this way for me, but it eventually blended fine after a few minutes. All the other flavors blend instantly!

Buy It

Nescafe Taster's Choice Single-Serve Packets are available in the coffee section of supermarkets nationwide for the suggested retail price of $3.49 for a 22 count box. Very Affordable!

For more information head over to TastersChoice.com.

This post made possible by Nescafe Taster's Choice who provided us with a Coffee Break Kit. Opinions here are solely my own and have not been wavered or compensated by the products I received.



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Whew. It's been a rough week......

But it's a new day!!!

I need to share a little something that happened yesterday between my 7-year-old son and I while out grocery shopping.

We're going on little sleep, achy bodies, and our nose won't stop running. As we're going through the grocery aisle, my mind is drifting to the pocketbook. We're borderline broke, bills keeping rushing in, flu just kicked us while we were already down and now I can't figure out something healthy and budget friendly for dinner tonight.

My sweet son helped me decide on hamburgers and as we walked out into the parking lot I felt it.

The crisp Fall air hit my face, my son held my hand, and he says, "Mom, I'm glad we live here in Texas. It's where we belong, you know? It feels good here."

Once we climbed into our SUV, I felt weight had been lifted from my shoulders as I saw the smile from my son's face. Then, the sweetest song came on the radio, in which I KNEW God placed perfectly to ease my fear, stress, and exhaustion. We're in a brand new beginning where everything is different, but one thing remains. Faith. It's a Hope that will never end and never change.




Kutless - What Faith Can Do
Album: It Is Well

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it's more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don't you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You do have a chance
(That's what faith can do)
When the world says you can't
It'll tell you that you can!

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise



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So, you guys have heard about our H1N1 experience. You've also read about my fun times at Sitscation in Vegas. One thing I HAVEN'T told you guys about, is one of my AWESOME roommates, Miss Lori! Do you guys remember her from PBS Kids? My kids LOVE her. Heck, I love her!

Other than being sweet, funny, and downright knowledgeable, she's a great mother. Just listening to her talk to her children on the phone, I could hear how patient and understanding she is.

I was feeling pretty cruddy the last day of the conference and Miss Lori shared with me what she does to keep healthy, especially during Cold & Flu Season. Now, I share her tips with you guys:

For more information about Miss Lori please visit Miss Lori's Campus and Miss Lori TV. Tell her Sara sent ya!

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So, if you follow me on Twitter or are friends with me on Facebook, you're probably tired of hearing me talk about the H1N1 virus. My family, was gracious enough to go through this virus and let you guys in on our experience and the products and/or remedies that have helped us through it. Okay, we weren't very gracious, we were more like "forced" by the H1N1 flu virus that knocked down our door.

This has been a learning experience for all of us, especially my children. I mean, I've told them time and time again about washing their hands and getting enough rest, but they never really understood.... that is until now.

We're on the tail end of the H1N1 flu virus (I refuse to call it Swine Flu. That name just makes it sound gross) and are creating a "Family Health Plan". A few days ago, I told you guys about everything we were doing to get us THROUGH the virus, but today I want to talk about what we do as we recover and how to keep healthy in the coming days when our immune system is at it's weakest.

I actually have a list I'm working with with my 7, 6, and 2-year-old that talks about what we can do to stay healthy and why. Check it out:

Wash Hands- All three of my children have learned to wash their hands after, just about everything. Going to the bathroom? Wash 'Em. Handling Food? Wash 'Em. Out at the grocery store? Wash 'Em. Playing with Toys? Wash 'Em!

Cover Your Cough- This was actually taught to them a few years ago. Cover your cough and/or sneeze with the crook of your elbow or arm. This keeps germs on yourself and not on your hands, keeping the spread of germs limited.

Get Rest- We are usually on a strict schedule during the day, however, we now know that if our body isn't' getting enough rest it weakens our immune system. My daughter says, "It makes our body too tired to fight back against the flu monster."

Eat Healthy- I'm guilty of giving my kids junk food when they ask or splurging on fast food when I'm too tired to cook, but my children really DO love fruits and vegetables. So, I'm on a mission to plan our meals properly to give us all the nutrients we need this Cold & Flu Season.



Take Vitamins- My children have taken vitamins for awhile now, but we got out of the habit with the busy Summer schedule. Fall came in, School started and we really just forgot to take them again. We won't make that mistake again. They usually take Flintstones Vitamins, but if we're out we all take a Vitamin C tablet.

Drink Lots of Water- Again, I can not stand drinking water. I gotta have caffeine, but honestly? I'd rather drink GALLONS and GALLONS of water before going through the H1N1 flu virus again. Want to mix it up? Try mixing Airborne into your water twice a day. Airborne contains a special blend of 17 vitamins, minerals and herbs, including Zinc, Ginger, Echinacea and a blast of Vitamin C!



Disinfect Your House- We are armed with Lysol, Clorox Wipes, and Bleach. Want to get the kids involved with cleaning and disinfecting? Even the youngest can help! While I clean with Clorox Wipes, I give my 2-year-old a Germ-X Soft Wipe (made for hands and face). He wipes along with me without being directly exposed to chemicals from the Clorox wipes or bleach.

Get Vaccinated!- Arm yourself by getting the flu shot. If the H1N1 Vaccine is available don't hesitate to get it. We have had problems getting our shots due to moving, insurance changes, and certain pharmacies not giving them out to children (will let you guys know about that later this week). If it's easily accessible, get vaccinated. This flu strain does NOT play games and even had my husband out of work for about a week.

There are SO many products out there to help us through this rough season. Last year, during my Health & Safety campaign at Momma Findings, I learned about Kids-EEZE Chest Relief, Vicks Humidifiers, Sambucol Formulas, and Emergen-C to name a few. Thanks to the One2One Network, I've learned about another great brand called Boiron to help parents out. I haven't tried their products as of yet, but just reading about it makes me think we could have definitely used them this last week.



New to help parents are Children’s Oscillococcinum to nip flu-like symptoms in the bud and Children’s Coldcalm Pellets, a multi-symptom cold reliever. Along with Children’s Chestal for all types of coughs, these homeopathic medicines work safely and naturally without causing side effects and they won’t interact with other medications. They do not contain any of the ingredients questioned by the FDA for use in young children. All three are sweet-tasting and kid-friendly. All three are from Boiron, world leader in homeopathy and maker of Oscillococcinum®, which has been relied upon by families around the world for more than 65 years.

If you guys want to try Boiron products, head over to your local pharmacy or natural food store. OH! I know, all too well, how all these "Flu Fighting" products can add up. So, make you print out your $1.00 off coupon.

-How are you keeping healthy this Flu Season?
-Do you have an awesome recipe for chicken soup or remedy?
-Have questions on what WE went through with H1N1?

Remember, these are just MY tips and should not be taken as professional medical advice. If you're looking for more products and/or tips to fight off the flu, check out Momma Findings for product reviews on Flu Prevention and Health.

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Yup.

We're THAT family.

The family who has H1N1.

It's actually really tolerable after the first day or so. For tips on how we're handling it head over to My Sippy Cup Runneth Over.

That being said, Momma Findings updates, reviews, and giveaways will be on hold for a few days, possibly an entire week as we get through this. But you guys know me, now I'm on a mission to find all the products that help families, like mine, get through such a virus.

I'm talking Meds, Remedies, Fun Games (to keep kids busy in bed), Recipes, etc. I'm also not ruling out products to help in disinfecting your home afterwards. Any product that fights the flu virus, we want to know about. Be on the lookout for our reviews of these products as soon as we recover.

Until then, keep those hands washed, surfaces cleaned, and coughing in your arm instead of your hands.

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Arriving home from an awesome blogging conference, I expected to come home to lots of hugs, excited smiles, and possibly a clean house. Instead, I was welcomed by the H1N1 Flu Virus, not exactly who I wanted to see after being away for three days.

My 7-yr-old son was vomiting along with a high fever, but it didn't cause us to panic. We usually handle sickness pretty well, so we waited to take him into the Doctor. A few days later we sat in the exam room and listened to those words:

"His results are positive for influenza. Over 95% of people who have the flu in this area have the H1N1 strain, so we're positive this is what your son has. We can do further testing should you need a confirmation."

Wait.

Fuzziness in brain.

Hold On.

Come again?

Later that night, I was literally knocked out: Fever, Chills, Shaking, Body Aches. This virus doesn't play games, because it also took down my husband, a man who laughs at the face of the flu. The Doctor is not releasing him to go back to work for another 5 days of diagnosis.

So, as we go through the virus everyone is deathly afraid of, I have to say, it's tolerable. Of course, I wouldn't have said that yesterday when I was laying face first into my pillow, but we can make it through it.

What have we done?

Well, lots of fluids. We've been living on Pedialyte Freezer Pops, Sprite, Jello, and Gatorade. This year, we live near family so that has been the life saving factor. My Sister, Mom, and Mother-in-Law have stepped up in a big way taking my toddler and daughter, trying to keep them away from the germs. They have brought soup, chicken & dumplings, meds, and goodies to lift our spirits.

My advice to you, if your family gets the H1N1 virus:

STAY CALM

Seriously, if you're calm, your decision making skills along with your Mom instincts will take over. Keep hydrated with clear fluids, jello, and popsicles. We have actually had a bigger appetite eating foods other than soup. Another thing, stick to your Med schedule. Depending on how old your children are, stay on the 4 hour schedule of Motrin and Tylenol even if it seems they are doing better. Mucinex has been the big factor for us. We have, both the adult and children's syrup and it has helped our cough and drainage. Don't rule out the good ole' cough drops either. Yeah, they're gross, but when you're drowsy, exhausted, tired, and up in the middle of the night they definitely help.

So, let's make it simple, k? This is what WE have used to fight the H1N1 Virus:



-Tylenol
-Motrin (alternating)
-Gatorade
-Sprite
-PediaPops
-Vitamin C
-Mucinex
-Kleenex
-Jello
-Halls Cough Drops

We're alive, we're getting through this slowly, and want to help other families going through this.

-Have you gone through H1N1 this year? What was your experience?

-Want to know our symptoms? Leave me a comment. I'm happy to talk with you.

-Have advice for us or any of my readers? Please leave it in the comment section.

Stay tuned for our "After Math" post where we talk Clorox Wipes, Lysol, Dial Soap, and Antibacterial hand wash. Oh yeah! I'm talking how to kill the virus after you're feeling better and how to get your house back!

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I was blessed with an amazing opportunity this weekend. Can you imagine meeting and networking with one of the most encouraging online communities for women?

I can.

Representing a company I love, I packed my bags, kissed my husband and babies goodbye, to jump on a plan to Las Vegas.



First and foremost, I need to tell you how "Over the Moon" I was to see my sweet Toni Girl. This girl has encouraged me with my online endeavors for sometime now, she's let me vent about life, cry when I needed to, and most of all, laugh when it was obvious that's all we could do. She lives miles and miles away from me, yet I feel she's always there when I need her.



At BlogHer '09, I was there as a Label Daddy Representative, but also as a blogger. This time, Label Daddy trusted me to be there as the "Head Honcho". It was odd being there as a company rep only. I had the chance to see the conference in a different light, seeing how bloggers, women, and conferences look to companies for support.



One particular company had all of us "Poken" each other.



Another, set out to talk to us on a personal level. Healthy Choice, took a select few to a beautiful brunch at Bouchon. We talked food, we talked blogs, we talked social media, we talked about how relationships can be effectively developed between companies and bloggers. I got to sit by the Food Scientist. This guys KNOWS his food, quite impressive! Not really knowing the job of a Food Scientist, I wasn't prepared with questions, but this will come soon. (Do you have any? I'm happy to submit them to him.)

Look at these sweet Healthy Choice girls! Thanks for a great brunch and I am looking forward to collaborating with you for future campaigns.



Okay, so I'm KICKING myself for not taking a picture with Tiffany and Heather. I mean, where the hell was I, that I didn't take a pictures with these Rockin' Mommas!? As I kick myself a million times, I'll just let you in on who I DID get pictures with. Check, Check, Che-Check it out:

Melissa is an inspiring Momma who breaths and lives her testimony of Faith. I love this girl. Let me say it again.... I LOVE THIS GIRL.



I had to be coaxed by Toni for this one. Renee, to me, is so confident that I was actually REALLY intimidated to approach her. Seriously. I'm certainly glad that I did because, as Toni said, she is SO sweet.



This girl hit me right away with her smile. Sevi, is new to me. That's what I love about the SITS community, there are always new bloggers to be found, new writings to make us laugh, and new women to meet and remember.



Thoughts of hashtags, #beatcancer #sitscation #vegas #bwe, #tonifail, #bucklostagain, #jackhole, #swoopandsurround, #sugarcougar, and my personal favorite #saraexhaustedandoverwhelmed, drifted in and out of my brain as I passed out the entire flight home. It was shocking that I fell asleep before the plane left the runway and I awoke to, "Passengers you are now arriving in Houston, TX. Weather looks to be mild, high of 77." WHOA! I feel sorry for the person next to me! She probably thought she was sitting next to a zombie.

All in all, great opportunities were had, amazing names were put to faces, and memories were made beyond my day-to-day life as a Mom.

The Secret to Success IS Support, whether you're a blogger, sponsor, company, PR rep, speaker, tech guy, friend or spouse tagging along. Who knew?!



Thanks Tiffany and Heather for a successful conference! Wait, I DID get a picture of them:

You can LITERALLY see Tiffany's confidence. This girl OWNS it! And Heather? Well, she's the "Silent Bob" of the pair, but it works! The words she does speak are powerful and encouraging. And isn't she just so darn cute? I can just put her in my pocket and carry her around all day!



Later this week, come check out how I look married to George Clooney, what Shaq's armpit looks like compared to my face, and how I got to play golf with Tiger Woods. REALLY!

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Yesterday, I told you guys how much I enjoyed playing Hungry, Hungry, Hippo when I was a young girl. Today, more childhood memories creep into my brain with My Little Pony.

There is something magical and dreamy about these sweet Ponies, don't you think? Now you can share that magic with your family with their New DVD My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure.



About the Movie:

All the ponies can’t wait for the Winter Wishes festival where the Wishing Star grants each pony one special wish. But when the Wishing Star disappears, they go on a journey to find it. But will they make it back in time for the festival? Join Pinkie Pie and all her pony friends on their journey as they discover that friendship can make wishes come true!

Features:

-New animated short "Elefun and Friends"
-The "Waiting for the Winter Wishes Festival" prequel
-Six Sing-Along Songs

-My Little Pony Theme Song
-The Thing-A-Ma-Do Song
-Dreams Do Come True
-Somewhere Super new
-That's What Makes a Friend
-A Wonderful Winter Song
-Four Fun Activities

-Coloring Sheet
-Pony Note to Santa
-How to Make a Snowman
-Cut-Out Pony Ornaments

Thanks to Hasbro and SHOUT! Factory, we received a copy of our own Twinkle Wish Adventure! It's really amazing seeing your OWN daughter fall in love with My Little Pony as you did as a little girl.

"Mom! They are SO beautiful!"

I must admit, the movie portrayed those ponies in the same light as I saw them as a child: Colorful, Animated, Fun-Loving, Sweet, and Magical! My 2-year-old son even sat to see what all the "Girly Fun" was all about!

One thing I appreciate is the classic animation of the movie. It's perfect the way it is and really brings out the fact that My Little Pony has been around for years bringing girls, of all ages, smiles time and time again.

Winter and Christmas are right around the corner, why not print out My Little Pony coloring sheets, invite some friends over, and curl up on the couch with Hot Chocolate and some giggle time!?

This post made possible by Hasbro and SHOUT! Factory, who provided us with a copy of My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure. Opinions here are solely my own and have not been wavered or compensated.

Buy It

My Little Pony: Twinkle Wish Adventure hits stores today, October 13th, at stores such as Target and Toys R Us, for the suggested retail price of $14.99. Be on the lookout for a special coupon attached to help you save money on additional Pony purchases.

WIN IT!

I wouldn't brag about how awesome this DVD is, without giving all of you out there a chance to win it, would I?! Hasbro and SHOUT!Factory have given me an extra copy to giveaway to one lucky Momma Findings reader!

How to Enter:

Required Entry

Share a special memory you have with your favorite childhood toy. Lately, my memories have stirred up with Hungry, Hungry Hippo, Snow White, and now My Little Pony. What's yours?

Extra Entry Options

- 3 Extra Entries Blog about how you and your daughter spend quality time together. Do you guys watch movies like Twinkle Wish Adventure?? Link back to this post and MyLittlePony.com.

- Sign up to be an email subscriber right there on the right side

- Follow Momma Findings and My Sippy Cup Runneth Over (my personal blog)

- Follow me on Twitter (@Sarann) and send out a Tweet linking to this contest

- Follow Momma Findings on Facebook

- Add the Momma Findings button to your blog/site sidebar

Contest starts today October 14th - October 24th Midnight Central Time and open to US residents only. Leave each entry in separate comments. You don't have to be a blogger to enter, but please leave a valid email address for contact purposes.

CONTEST HAS NOW ENDED

Congrats Gracie! Please check your inbox on how to claim your prize!

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Skeeball. The things that make a girl happy.



For more Wordless Wednesday's head over to A Daily Dose of Toni, 5 Mins for Mom, Ordinary and Awesome, and 7 Clown Circus.

Celebrate your own Wordless Wednesday, Link Up!



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We're experiencing all the Silliness that Hasbro brings into our home by entering the Silly Kids Photo Contest at 5 Minutes for Mom! Moms are asked to post a picture of their children being super duper silly. My Mr. Potato Head always makes me smile and is the epitome of silliness! Don't ya' think?



Be sure to visit 5 Minutes for Mom to enter to win $1,000 towards your child's education.

Our silly bones came out when we reviewed Hasbro's NEW Games Scatterpillar Scramble and Giraffalaff Limbo at Momma Findings. Head over there and check out what this silly family had to say along with your chance to win an Elefun and Friends Prize Pack. What a great way to have your OWN silly game night!

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We like to have fun at our house.

When I say fun, I mean we play games, we have dance-offs, and we laugh a LOT. My family of five, is always looking to try new games whether that be on the Wii, Nintendo DS, or a good ole' fashion board game.

When I was introduced to the latest additions to the Elefun & Friends collection from Hasbro, I flipped! Right away, I knew my kids, ages 7, 5, and 2 would have a GIRAFFALAFF LIMBO blast being silly on game night.

About the Games

Giraffalaff Limbo


The crazy new game of "how low can you go?" Spin the dial to try one of the 6 limbo styles: classic limbo, crab walk, crawl, giraffe walk, bend forward or backward. The game´s built-in sound will play an encouraging song as preschoolers try not to bump into Giraffalaff. If he´s knocked over, he´ll roll on the floor in laughter. The player that passes under Giraffalaff at the lowest level wins.

Scatterpillar Scramble



Kids will do their best to balance marbles in the hands of one very wiggly caterpillar. Kids will have fun dancing along to the music with Scatterpillar in this fast-paced marble game. The first player to securely place all 8 marbles in Scatterpillar´s hands wins. SCATTERPILLAR SCRAMBLE was named the 2009 Preschool Game of the Year by Creative Child Magazine.

Since I was a young girl, Hungry Hungry Hippo has been a favorite game of mine. There's something about gobbling up those marbles that makes my little heart race! Thanks to My Blog Spark, we had the chance to try out Scatterpillar Scramble and Giraffalaff Limbo!

Right away we had a blast with Giraffalaff Limbo. It reminds me a lot of Chicken Limbo, which we also own. Of course, if you have competitive children, like I do, get ready for fits of frustration when the knock the Giraffalaff. What we really liked about this game, as opposed to Chicken Limbo is the fact that the game makers have taken this to a WHOLE other level. Instead of simply "limbo-ing" underneath you have 6 different "styles" to choose from. Our favorite is the crab walk. I mean, you can't help but laugh when you're trying to walk like a crab! This game definitely brought out the laughter and silliness in us, even my toddler. I love games that everyone can play even the youngest in the group.

Scatterpillar Scramble topped the night off. I told you those little marbles gets my heart racing! Well, it did the same with my daughter as her anxious voice wondered if she could balance as well as her brother.

This game took longer than Giraffalaff Limbo, however, it was good to "slow down" after all that crab walking. This is wonderful to develop hand-eye coordination while having fun. As a Momma tip, use the inside arms of the caterpillar for younger children. My daughter had a hard time with the outside arms. Definitely one to pull out at game night, according to my 7-year-old-son.

Momma Improvements

Although, we had a blast playing these games as a family, I have a few Momma Improvements to point out.

Choking Hazard- I'm all about having fun, but small marbles, in Scatterpillar Scramble, pose a choking hazard for young children. For my family, it's not a problem because my children are not allowed to take games out of the game closet without first asking me. I always make a point to play along with them, however, my fear is my toddler could grab up a marble and mistake it as candy. Keep a watchful eye if you have younger children and small pets.

Pace of the Game- Scatterpillar Scramble is a fairly fast paced game. Now, for my 7 year old that's what makes it fun, but my 5-year-old had a harder time keeping up which led to lots of frustration. Made for a good discussion about what good sportsmanship is and how patience is always key for games such as this. Practice makes perfect.

All in all, we loved getting our silly side out for the night and would definitely recommend these games, especially since Christmas is RIGHT around the corner.

But the fun doesn´t stop with the games! My Blog Spark, informed me that kids can also experience the fantasy world of Elefun & Friends online by visiting www.elefunandfriends.com and entering the special code that can be found inside each Elefun & Friends game box. Once the code is entered, kids can access The Tangled Tale, an Elefun & Friends animated short. This entertaining tale features Elefun on an adventure to untangle a kite string, which ultimately leads him to the true meaning of friendship. The Elefun & Friends online experience also lets kids play games and sing along to songs like "Friends´ til the End" and "Follow that String" that help remind children of the importance of fun and play!

This post made possible by My Blog Spark and Hasbro who provided us with Scatterpillar Scramble and Giraffalaff Limbo. My opinion is solely my own and has not been wavered or compensated.


Buy It

Giraffalaff Limbo retails for $29.99. Scatterpillar Scramble retails for $19.99. Both can be purchased online at the Hasbro Toy Store, Amazon.com, or your local Toy Store.

Click HERE to download a printable coupon for $4 off any Elefun & Friends game! This valuable coupon offer is valid until December 31, but it´s only available for download through October 31, so be sure to encourage your readers to print theirs off today!

WIN IT!

One lucky Momma Findings reader will win an Elefun and Friends Gift pack with the following:

- Scatterpillar Scramble
- Giraffalaff Limbo



How to Enter:

Required Entry

Share a silly, active playtime together moment you've experienced with your family.

Extra Entry Options

- 3 Extra Entries Blog about what kind of games you guys play on Game Night in your house. Link back to this post.

- Sign up to be an email subscriber right there on the right side

- Follow Momma Findings and My Sippy Cup Runneth Over (my personal blog)

- Follow me on Twitter (@Sarann) and send out a Tweet linking to this contest

- Follow Momma Findings on Facebook

- Add the Momma Findings button to your blog/site sidebar

Contest starts today October 13th - October 23rd Midnight Central Time and open to US residents only. Leave each entry in separate comments. You don't have to be a blogger to enter, but please leave a valid email address for contact purposes.

CONTEST HAS NOW ENDED

Congrats Angela C. Please check your inbox on how to claim your prize

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