Ready for Spring?
I’m starting to get spring fever. It’s halfway through February, and March is right around the corner. You know what that means, right? Bright colors, cropped pants, light tees. I think it’s safe to say that DownEast Basics is more than ready and prepared for Spring to come. After previewing their new arrivals this month, and being outfitted in a darling ensemble, I’m ready to give my take on the new line.

Pros: The new line includes lots of bright fresh colors, and is organized into a 28 day style guide. Feminine ruffles, florals, chiffon, and artistic impressions  are what the line is all about. DownEast sent me the Stroke of Art Skirt, and Frosted Flowers Cardigan.

Stroke of Art Skirt
I haven’t ever owned a skirt from DownEast, so I wasn’t sure what size I needed. As mentioned in my denim review, I am tall and usually have to buy my denim in a tall size. I also like a skirt to hit knee length or below. If it is meant to be a shorter skirt, like many that DownEast features, I like it to be right at the knee. When pictured on the model, it does hit right at the knee. I would have normally ordered a small, but decided to order a size medium so I could ensure the length. The skirt is a bit big, so it sits on my hips, but as you can tell from the picture below, it hits the top part of my calf, so it was plenty long. Next time I would order a small, to get more of the length and fit I want.

The detailing and style of the skirt is darling. I like the way that it fits flat on the top 3″ or so of the skirt, and runs into the pleats, which lay nicely.  The inside of the skirt is lined with a slip which I was happy to see. I have owned a white skirt in the past that wasn’t lined, and I felt that you could almost see through it, even with a slip. The material is also nice and it’s not thin like you get sometimes with skirts. It has a zip closure, and is really a comfy skirt. I think the name of the skirt, stroke of art, fits perfectly.  The pattern is beautiful as you can see below.

Frosted Flowers Cardigan
First off, I love this color. It screams spring and summer. In the picture above, you can see the flowers that are appliqued on. They add a fun funky detail and lay better than I thought they would. It is knit cotton, and is lightweight. I feel that it fits true to size.
There are a few different ways to wear cardigans, so I love the versatility of this piece. Buttoned all the way up, or just a few buttons gives you a different look. Plus, it’s casual enough to dress down for day wear.

Cons:
Stroke of Art Skirt
Because this skirt is a cotton poplin it wrinkles a bit easy. It’s not anything that a warm iron won’t get rid of, but it was a bit wrinkly when I was done wearing it at the end of the day. Because it is a cotton, I will also wash it in cold and line dry it. Not sure if it would shrink up or not as I haven’t washed it yet, but I’m not willing to risk it.

Frosted Flowers Cardigan
I got this cardigan in a size medium and wish the length were a bit longer. I’m also going to handle it with TLC when I wash it as I don’t want the adorable flowers to come off!

Another Favorite
I do love this line, and I have my eye on these Heart Throb Shorts. They aren’t in stock in my size right now, but you’d better believe I’m going to watch to see when they are in stock, because I think need a pair of them.

Price: Stroke of Art Skirt – $29.99 Frosted Flowers Cardigan – $34.99

Where to Buy: DownEast Basics

Win It
TWO Babes and Kids readers will win their choice of top, bottom, or accessory from the new line.

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Check out the 28 day style guide and tell me what you would choose if you won.

Additional Entries

• Become a Fan of DownEast Basics on Facebook – 2 entries
• Tweet this giveaway – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me via Google Friend Connect – 2 entries
• Comment on any non giveaway post that you haven’t previously commented on – 2 entries

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on March 1st. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by DownEast Basics.  They are also sponsoring this giveaway. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Sending Comfort
Have you ever wanted to do something for someone that is going through a rough patch and you aren’t quite sure what to do? Flowers die, cards might be thrown away, and so on. Bee Well Wishes is a company that is based around giving something that lasts. After all, the founders have been there. After giving birth to a beautiful baby girl, and dealing with a brain tumor at the same time, the strong woman behind Bee Well Wishes realized just how useful certain items were when others were showing support. You can read more about her story here.
The Bee Well Wishes line includes:

• T-Shirts
• Pillowcases
• Lounge Pants
• Onesies
• Blankets
• Sweatshirt Blankets

Pros: I love the entire concept behind this line. My very sweet cousin lost a full term baby back in December. She gave birth to him, didn’t know anything was wrong, and he passed a few hours later. Being a mom myself, my heart literally broke for her. We grew up a few houses apart and I have countless memories and fun times with her. After coming up to the funeral, I thought about what I could do. I wanted to do something or get something for her that would remind her just how much I cared. Bee Well Wishes sent a t-shirt that I gave to her. I hope every time she puts it on that she will remember she is loved, and remember the Bee Well Wishes I have for her.  The picture below was taken of my two cousins and I at Christmas time.  I’m sure it was a bittersweet Christmas for my cousin after her loss.  She has two other beautiful kids to celebrate with, but she was missing her baby.

As far as the actual product goes, I can’t give too much of an opinion because I didn’t try it out. The fabric of the shirt was very soft though and the print of the bee was super cute.

It’s also very easy to order from the website, and I found it appealing and very easy to navigate. Each order comes with a personalized card, the bee well story, and is wrapped nicely in tissue.

Cons: On their website, it says that all clothing has a very generous fit, or are unisex sizes. When ordering, I was told that they were men’s sizes. I think this would be good clarification for buyers to somewhere let them know that they are mens sizes instead of just a generous fit. I ordered a medium and it still seemed very big. In fact, it looked about the same size as my husbands shirts, and he wears a large. Not sure if it will shrink up though.
Seems like a silly con, but I think it’s important for readers to know. So now that you know, you can order the right size.

Price: $15 and up

Where to Buy: Bee Well Wishes

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win a Bee Well Tshirt

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Tell me who you would like to win this t-shirt for.

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries
• Grab my blinkie or button – 2 entries

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on February 23rd. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Dentyne Gum
At any given time, if you ask me if I have gum, I usually do. I tend to carry some in my purse at all times and usually have some in our candy dish as well. (Having it in the candy dish is a good reminder to grab a piece of gum instead of a high calorie treat.)
Dentyne Gum has teamed up with artist Anthony Yankovic to bring you a limited edition badge edition bottles with his artwork.

Pros: I will be the first to admit that I am a person affected by advertising and packaging. Hubby studied advertising in college, and it really opened my eyes to how I am affected by how a product looks. I am the type that will be at the store and try something new or purchase it just because of the packaging. To some brands, yes I am loyal. To others, packaging is important enough to sway me one way or another. You might wonder where I am going with this, and it comes down to the artwork on the bottles. I think the art done by Anthony Yankovic is different and refreshing and it is exactly the type of product that I would put in my cart at the checkout because the packaging is cool.
I also like that the bottles offer 60 pieces of gum, and have an easy flip top cap. The cap is also strong enough that it doesn’t just come open if you tip the bottle upside down, which lets you knew it won’t spill if you have it in a bag. It also comes in three great flavors; Arctic Chill, Spearmint, and Peppermint.

Cons: Most of the time, I carry gum in my purse. Because of the size of the bottle, I wouldn’t carry it in my purse. Having kids, I have too many other things to carry in there, so a pack is easier to carry than the bottle. The only place that I would put the bottle is in my candy dish as I mentioned above or maybe my car.
I would like to see it offered in a fruit flavor as well. It seems that fruit flavored gum has become increasingly popular, and I think it would be nice to have the choice.

Where to Buy: At a retailer near you. I’ve been in a few different stores and seen these new bottles at the checkout.

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will 3 bottles of Dentyne, one in each flavor. (Arctic Chill, Spearmint, Peppermint.)

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Tell me what you think about the bottle, artwork, or any other feature.

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on February 17th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 1% [?]

My Favorite Things
DownEast Basics is a store that has been a favorite of mine for quite some time. In fact, at almost any given time, you can find me wearing one of their wonder tees under just about every top as an undershirt. I love that the line offers modest clothing, while still giving you that trendy, in style feel. DownEast just introduced some awesome new products into their line this month, and I was more than excited to get to sample a few of them.

Pros: DownEast sent me Sprinkles on Top from their tops line and a pair of denim, Double Take.

Sprinkles on Top
This top comes in two different colors, light blue & white, and black & white. It’s made of a polyester chiffon, and has some super cut detailing at the top where there are two ties. I love the gathering around the neck line and around the bottom of the sleeve as well, it adds a nice feminine touch.  It’s the perfect shirt to dress up with a skirt or to wear casually with a pair of jeans. At 5’9″ and just under 140 lbs, I usually wear a medium top. I felt that this fit true to size, and thought that it lays nicely. It washes up nicely as well, and I didn’t experience any shrinking or fading.  Their tops are also available in sizes xs-xxl.

Double Take Denim
Remember back in the day when it was hard to find denim in a tall length? I definitely do. I was done growing by the end of 8th grade and always had jeans that were way too short which didn’t contribute to my self esteem. Then a company or two started making jeans in a taller length, which I totally appreciate. DownEast offers their denim in 32, 34 and sometimes a 36″ length. I need about a 34 inch inseam, and the Double Take Jean is offered in that. The Double Take is a lowrise bootfit jean, with adorable detailing on the back pockets as you can see below.  Plus they are flattering, which you feel like you need after having babies.

Sometimes I am a bit wary of jeans that are lowrise because sometimes the rise is a little two low in the back and I don’t exactly want my rear end hanging out. I was pleasantly surprised to find more coverage in the back of the jean, without sacrificing the lowrise in the front. These are also lightweight and have spandex in them which gives them a nice stretch. Can you say comfortable? My new favorite jeans, hands down. They also retail for only $54.99, which I think is a great price for a cute pair of denim.

Cons: I always try to look for cons when I’m reviewing different products, because no product is perfect, right? I’m struggling here at this point because I can’t really find anything wrong with the top or the jeans. Fit is true to size, great quality, washes up nice, doesn’t shrink, super trendy. Nope, no cons.

Price: Sprinkles on Top - $24.99 Double Take Denim – $54.99

Where to Buy: DownEast Basics

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win their choice of top, denim, or accesory from the New Arrivals.

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Visit DownEast and tell me what you will pick if you win.

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. (daily entry) – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me via google friend connect – 2 entries
• Comment on any non giveaway post you haven’t previously commented on – 2 entries per post you comment on.

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on February 4th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Oral Health
Oral Health is something that has always been important to me. Maybe it’s because I have the world’s weakest enamel and have to work hard to keep my teeth clean. Or maybe it’s because I wore braces for over 3 years and really learned good dental hygiene at that point in my life. I owned a waterpik once upon a time while living with my parents. I haven’t had one in years, but I don’t especially love flossing, so I was excited to get the chance to review the Ultra Dental Water Jet by Waterpik. I know that a lot of people don’t like to floss, me being one of them. I have all sorts of permanent retainers to work around and it’s a bit of a pain. Did you know that using a waterpik is up to 93% more effective than flossing?

Pros: I feel like Waterpik has come a long way over the last 10 years. They’ve always had exceptional products, but it’s neat to see improvements in design and functionality as well as new accessories.
The waterpik works by shooting streams of water out of a special tip. You aim the water down towards your gums and it cleans in between your teeth and along your gumline. You control the intensity of the water with a small dial that goes from 1 to 10. 1 is the least amount of pressure, 10 is the most. As you become accustomed to using the Waterpik, you can increase pressure on your jet.
The compact design is a huge plus as I have next to no counter space in my bathroom, and I like that the reservoir has a top.
The button on the front of the jet is a pause button, and there is also an eject button if you need to change tips. It’s very simple to use and is very effective.
One more feature that I was really impressed with was the different tips that the jet comes with. To see more about the tips and see the waterpik in action, watch the video below.

Cons: The waterpik is quite loud, but I think this is expected. I really can’t find any other cons, this is a well made product and does it’s job.

Price: $59.99

Where to Buy: Waterpik Store or a retailer near you

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win a Waterpik Ultra Dental Water Jet

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Visit Waterpik and tell me another product they carry.

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me  via google friend connect – 2 entries
• Comment on any non giveaway post that you haven’t previously commented on – 2 entries per post you comment on.

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on Feb 1st. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by Waterpik.  Waterpik also provided the additional product for giveaway. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Clothes That Fit
It’s easy to say that clothing purchased off the rack doesn’t always fit everyone, because everyone isn’t built the same. When it comes to dresses, I have a really hard time buying something off the rack. Because I am tall but only wear a 4/6, everything is usually too short. If I do go up a size where the length is longer, it looks like a bag on me because it is too big everywhere else. Eshakti has an awesome solution for this – custom clothing for women, tailored to fit you.

Pros: I was able to customize this beautiful surplice shirtdress in a black cotton/satin. It retails for only $49.95 and you can get it custom fit for not too much more. I sent all of my measurements over to Eshakti, chose my sleeves and length and they started making it. Shipping was quick and the end product was beautiful as you can see. The fabric is nice and washes up well.

They have a great selection of dresses, jackets, skirts, pants and tops. There is also a nice selection of jewelry and accessories at reasonable prices. I noticed today on my facebook page that they also just came out with a new spring line of dresses. I’m totally wanting this ruffle sleeve cotton print dress. Isn’t it adorable? Sizing is also very versatile and goes from a size 0-26w meaning there is something for someone in every size.

Cons: I think the presentation of the delivery could be improved upon. My dress came in a tiny package and was just in a clear plastic bag. It was really wrinkled as well and needed some TLC with my iron. I always appreciate when companies take time to add extra special touches to packaging.
I also couldn’t find the care instructions at first. I finally found a tiny, and it was quite tiny, tag inside the side of the dress. It would be nice to have them printed a bit bigger.

Price:The dress featured in this review is priced at $49.95

Where to Buy: Eshakti

Win It
Two Babes and Kids readers will win a $20 gift certificate to Eshakti

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries
• Become a fan of Eshakti on Facebook -2 entries
• Follow Eshakti on twitter – 2 entries

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on January 27th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 1% [?]

What’s for Dinner?
It’s dinner time and you aren’t quite sure what to make. You go from the fridge to the pantry, back to the fridge and back to the pantry again. A stupor of thought sets in and you have hungry mouths to feed. What are you going to make for dinner? Does this scenerio I just described sound familiar? It is to me. Making dinner and other meals seems like a chore sometimes and takes more time than needed. What if you could have most of your meal prepared ahead of time? Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms is a cookbook by Jan Doiron that helps you do just that.

Pros: I really do like to cook. When I get a new cookbook, I sit down, leaf through the pages and decide what looks really good. The Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms is a cookbook that not only has great recipes, but gives you tips for preparing most of the meal ahead so that you can either freeze it, or put it in the refrigerator for the next day. I’ve always wanted to cook freezer meals but wasn’t sure where to start. At the front of the cookbook, helpful tips are included when it comes to freezing. A few helpful tips and I was on my way. The book is divided up into 6 different categories including:

• Appetizers
• Breakfast & Brunch
• Dessert
• Main Dishes
• Side Dishes
• Soup

After picking out a few recipes and including a family favorite of our own, I did a small cooking day for freezer meals. I ended up with chicken chimi’s for two meals, two chicken broccoli casseroles and a cream cheese chicken mix for pasta. All in all, I spent around 90 minutes in the kitchen and had 6 meals when I was done. (We ate set of the chimis for lunch that day )

Make Ahead Meals has 140 different recipes to choose from, and also includes a measurement equivalent guide and index. The instructions for each recipe include how to make the recipe a day ahead, cooking directions and freezing instructions for recipes when appropriate. I also felt like the recipes had a lot of everyday ingredients and were simple to prepare.

Cons: I prefer to have cookbooks that are spiral bound and hardback. I feel like they are more durable and will stay open to the recipe I am working on. This particular book is a paperback and isn’t spiral bound. I also like tabs in cookbooks for easy reference.

Price: $17.95

Where to Buy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Make Ahead Meals website for E-book

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win a copy of Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Visit the Make Ahead Meals blog and tell me a recipe that was recently featured there.

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow Make Ahead Meals and Babes and Kids on twitter – 2 entries
• Follow or Subscribe to the Make Ahead Meals blog - 2 entries for each

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on January 25th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Have you ever been out to a restaraunt and had your child start acting out because they are bored? What about a child that resists meal time because they don’t want to eat? I’ve experienced this with both my boys way too many times. Hello Hana Get Set Placemats are perfect for mealtime, whether it be at home or out and about.

Pros: Get Set Placemats are pop up kid’s placemats that can be customized with stickers that they come with. The idea behind this is really great, because it keeps kids entertained while they are waiting for their food and also makes them excited to eat. With the help of his dad, Chandler customized his placemat and even helped set out his plate, silverware and cup.
Each set comes with 8 placemats that are 11×17″ and 8 sticker sheets. The placemats are a heavy uncoated paper stock and are actually quite durable. There are three different varieties of placemats including:
hello robot
hello me
hello jungle

Although these are recommended for kids ages 5+, they were a hit with 4 year old Chandler.

Cons: I’m not sure how many uses these are meant for, but after a few, we would have to throw the placemat away because it got dirty or torn. I think it would be a great improvement if the placemat were laminated and had resuable cling on stickers. It would make for less waste and would last longer. Because this is a product that we would take with us to a restaurant, I’d also like to see these come with a small carrying case.

Price: $14.95 per set (Just under $2 per placemat)

Where to Buy: hello hanna

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win a set of hello hanna get set placemats

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Visit hello hanna and tell me a product that they have coming soon to their line

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. (daily entry) - 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries
• Comment on any non giveaway post that you haven’t previously commented on.

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on January 20th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Earth Friendly Cleaning
Another resolution that I am going to be making this year is staying on top of my house when it comes to cleaning. I’ve been told numerous times by my sisters and mom that if I would just stay on top of it then I don’t have to spend hours one day cleaning. It seems to work for all of them, so I thought I would set a goal for myself this year to keep my house cleaner. And why not do that while keeping the environment in mind? EcoStore USA has a line of products that includes Eco friendly cleaners, and green bath and body and baby care products.

Pros: EcoStore sent me a few of their cleaning products to try out, the Citrus Spray Cleaner and Dishwash Liquid. I always keep an purpose cleaner on hand that I use in my kitchen and other hard surfaces around my house. I try to make sure my boys are not too close by because I know what harsh chemicals a lot of brands use in their cleaners.
The Citrus Spray Cleaner from EcoStore works with a Citrus based solvent to clean even the toughest of messes and contains no nasty chemicals at the same time. All of the ingredients are listed on the website and I knew what they all were which doesn’t happen very often when I read a label in a cleaner.
The smell is nice and fresh without being overpowering, and the packaging is nice too. I like that the spray nozzle has a flip top rather than having to turn it to get it to spray.
The Dishwashing Liquid is also natural and is great at cutting the grease. It’s ultra concentrated so you get the job done with just a tiny bit. I used about a half teaspoon in the picture below and as you can see, it was more than enough for my dishes.

I also felt like this liquid wasn’t over drying. I have very dry and sensitive skin to begin with so doing the dishes always makes my hands feel really dry. My hands still felt a bit dry after doing the dishes but it wasn’t nearly as bad as when I use my normal dishwashing liquid.

Cons: I could see that maybe the price points may be a bit of a con for some. The Citrus Cleaner retails for $9 and the Dishwashing liquid for $8.50. However, the Eco benefits are worth the price and the dishwashing liquid is actually very cost effective when you consider how little you have to use.
You also always get free shipping on orders of $25 or more, and it saves you a trip to the store!

Price: $9 for Citrus based cleaner (17 ounces), $8.50 for the Dishwashing Liquid (17 ounces)

Where to Buy: EcoStore USA, Meijer Grocery Stores

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win a $25 gift certificate to EcoStore USA

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• EcoStore offers many different Earth Friendly products besides what I reviewed here. Visit EcoStore USA and tell me a product that interests you.

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
• Sign up for Ecostore’s Newsletter – 2 entries
• follow babesandkids and ecostoreusa on twitter – 2 entries
• Become a fan of Ecostore on Facebook – 2 entries
• Comment on any non giveaway post that you haven’t previously commented on – 2 entries

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on January 18th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by EcoStore USA. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Dancing with the Stars is another show that I follow. Having dance background myself, it is fun to see what the professionals are able to teach the celebrities in such a short amount of time. Although my dance training is not in ballroom, it’s something that I’ve always thought would be fun to learn. Dancing with the Stars has two new workout videos out, just in time for the new year. They include:

• Dance Body Tone
• Dance off the Pounds

Pros: The way both of these dvds are outlined is pretty much the same. You have a main menu which consists of dances, custom and special features.
Once you choose the dances options, it takes you to a menu where you can choose to learn the dances with music and instruction or just with music. It’s nice to have the instruction when you workout with the dvd for the first time, but becomes more convenient to just choose the music as time goes on.
In Dance Body Tone, Kym, Dmitry and Lacey take you through Latin, Tango and Freestyle. This dvd was definitely about toning and I really liked the part with Kym and the Rumba. It was an awesome ab workout and I can definitely feel how much I worked them.

Dance off the Pounds features the Swing, Jive and Quickstep and seems to be more of a cardio workout. I never realized how much work the Jive especially could be and my heart was pumping after all of that kicking. Each professional teaches you steps and then builds on what you know which contributes to the overall workout. Each section is 15 minutes and definitely burns the calories.

Each dvd is over 51 minutes in length and includes a cool down at the end. There is also a custom preset that you can choose if you only want to do certain dances for your workout. This was nice as there were a few dances I favored doing over the others.

Cons: I found some of the instruction to be confusing at first and had to practice quite a bit before I could get it. Since I spent many of my years dancing, I find that I do pick up on steps somewhat quickly, but it seemed that instruction was rushed at some points which might be hard for those who do not tend to pick up as fast.
Dmitry’s section on the Quickstep felt like it didn’t flow nicely. He would count with his steps and then stop and you were never quite sure when to start. Therefore it was hard to follow. Since I have done the dvd a few times now, it’s easier to follow just because I can predict what he is going to do.

Price: $12.98

Where to Buy: Lionsgate – Dance Body Tone, Dance off the Pounds

Win It
Lionsgate is giving away a Dancing with the Stars dvd away to 2 Babes and Kids Readers

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Tell me how you make your workout fun or how you shake them up.

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries
• Comment on any non giveaway post that you haven’t previously commented on – 2 entries

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on January 16th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 2% [?]

I love reality tv. I have quite a few shows that I record on my dvr and watch faithfully. The Biggest Loser is one of them. I often joke with hubby that it’s a great show to watch while eating a pint of ice cream. Ok, so not really, but I love the show just the same and have followed almost every season. I tend to get teary eyed when a contestant gets voted off and cry almost every week. Yes, I’m a sap.  I also find so many of the stories inspiring and love to watch the contestants transform. I already had a biggest loser dvd workout in my collection, Cardio Max, but now I have two more that are just as good. These two dvds are going to help me with New Year’s Resolution #1 – Get Back Into Shape!

Pros: The two new workouts just released are:

• Last Chance Workout
• 30 Day Jumpstart

I started out with the 30 Day Jumpstart. It has 5 different workouts including 10 minute cardio level 1, 10 minute cardio level 2, 10 minute upper body, 10 minute lower body, and 10 minute abs.
I really love to do cardio, so those segments were my favorite. In level 1, Tara does some great exercises that get your heart pumping. I didn’t think I was too out of shape, but I was breathing hard just 3 minutes into the workout. Tara was a machine in her season and it showed by all of the challenges she won and her perserverence. It’s no difference in this cardio workout.
Level 2 is with Ali, and she ups the intensity even more. After completing both cardio workouts, I feel like I’ve gotten in a good workout.

Last Chance Workout is with Jillian Michaels. If you know Biggest Loser, you know that Jillian is ruthless. She pushes contestants to their limits and beyond. This dvd includes a warm up, a 25 minute last chance workout, upper body sculpt, lower body tone, and a cool down. If you do everything from start to finish, it is a 55 minute workout. It definitely pushes you and you will feel and see results.

Cons: If you don’t have hand weights, the workout dvd’s aren’t as effective. They are recommended, and I definitely feel like you need them. I have 5 lb hand weights and feel like it was a good challenge, but I would like to invest in 7 lb weights in the future to push myself a bit more.
Both dvds also require a bit of navigating if you don’t want to do the entire workout. We lost our dvd remote a while back so I wasn’t able to navigate around at first. After swapping with the boy’s dvd player though it was fine. Definitely a workout series you need your remote for.

All in all, I feel like both workouts are a great new addition to the Biggest Loser dvd collection.

Price: $14.98 on sale for $11.98 right now at Lionsgate

Where to Buy: Lionsgate or a Retailer Near You

Win It
Lionsgate is giving 2 Babes and Kids Readers a Biggest Loser Workout dvd

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Tell me why exercising is important to you.

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on January 12th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Functional Products for Gifts and New Year’s Resolutions
I like to cook and I like to try to be organized. Sometimes I feel like we end up spending more money on groceries when we don’t have an organized budget and meals planned out. Weekly meal planning is something that I have tried to incorporate, but it doesn’t always happen. And what about those pesky lists that you make only to chase all around the store because you don’t have the items in any particular order.
I decided that this year I needed to resolve to be more organized with meal planning and grocery shopping. Knock Knock’s Plan-a-Meal Bundle is going to help me do just that.

Pros: The plan-a-meal bundle includes:

• All Out Of Pad: The essential grocery list—the miracle of checking off depleted items as you go
• What to Eat Pad: Helps you plan, track, and execute household meals with ease
• Takeout Menu Organizer: Unites everything necessary to feed oneself via telephone or Internet, including tipping sheet, helpful ordering advice, frequently called numbers list, and more

The All Out of Pad and What to Eat Pad have a nice strong magnet on the back of each, which means that it stays put on your refrigerator. I really like that the All Out of Pad organizes groceries in categories where you would find them in the grocery store. For example, I marked that we were out of mushrooms and onions which are obviously in the vegetable section, and cold cuts which are in the deli section. This cuts down on your shopping time. Sometimes there are also products that I forget to write down on a list. I can quickly go down the all out of list and it reminds me of things I may have forgotten that we were out of.

The What to Eat pad is so nice. How many times do you open the fridge and it’s full, only to walk away feeling like there’s nothing to eat? You are able to plan meals each day of the week, as well as what there is to eat for breakfast, lunch, and the “grab bag” or snacks. It’s definitely an innovative idea that will help keep me organized.

The Takeout Menu Organizer is also a great idea. It is a 3 ring binder with a pen and pad which helps keep your take out organized. There is a tipping chart, cuisine organizer labels, and folders to keep menus in. There’s also places to keep notes of your experiences with that particular restaurant.

The design of the entire bundle is modern and appealing as well as functional.

Cons: I did find that the All Out of Lists did have areas that I knew I would never use. For example, we don’t have pets and there is an area for Pet Items so obviously we will never use this section.
I also feel like while the Takeout Menu Organizer is a fun idea, I’m not sure how much we will use it. As we are on a tight budget we only eat out maybe once a month as a special treat. I thought of what a good idea this would be for my workplace though and am thinking about taking it there. We often order out food at work so this would be more appropriate there.
Overall, the bundle is well thought out and an awesome idea.

Price: $34.95

Where to Buy: Knock Knock

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win a Plan a Meal Bundle from Knock Knock

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Visit Knock Knock and tell me another product they carry

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries
• Comment on any non giveaway post you haven’t previously commented on – 2 entries per post

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on January 5th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative.  The giveaway product was also provided by the sponsor. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 1% [?]

It’s amazing to think what kind of toys were cool when I was a kid. I remember getting excited over a little keyboard or a baby doll. Then I look at what types of toys kids have to play with today and am in awe. There are toys that are interactive, encourage kids to exercise and even help them learn.   The Vtech Ride & Learn Giraffe is all of that and more. It’s a fun and entertaining toy for kids aged 18-36 months.

Pros: The Ride & Learn Giraffe is so easy to put together. Below are the pieces that it came with. Sometimes I cringe when I see that a toy has a lot of directions or is complicated when it comes to putting it together. It took me less than 10 minutes and was really easy.

Once it was assembled, Rowan hopped on and kept saying, “Wow! Wow!” It was fun to see his reaction as he explored the different functions. The Ride & Learn Giraffe has a lot of fun features such as:

• Five modes of active play
• The more your toddler pedals, the more they learn
• Has an LCD screen
• Adjustable bouncy seat

Although it is recommended for kids aged 18-36 months, it can also accomodate a child up to 42 lbs. Chandler had fun playing on it and even though he just turned 4 he is only about 37 lbs so I was ok with him playing with it. The base is sturdy, overall it’s a pretty fun toy.

Cons: Rowan is 23 months and didn’t quite get the pedaling at this point. I’m sure in a few months or with some practice it will get better.
I also felt like it would be nice if the seat were a big closer to the handle bars. He had to learn forward pretty far to hold on, even with the seat all the way down. It would be nice if the seat could slide forward and back.

Price: $49.99

Where to Buy: Vtech Kids or a Retailer Near You

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win Ride & Learn Giraffe

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Visit Vtech Kids and tell me another product they carry.

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries
• Comment on any non giveaway post – 2 entries

Unlimited Entries
You may enter unlimited times as long as you have completed the mandatory entry and your comments stay centered around Vtech, toys, or Christmas.

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on December 30th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Transformation Memoir
I’m always looking for a good read to take with me to work. Sometimes it gets slow in the middle of the night and it’s nice to have a good book to dive into.
The Imposter is A Transformation Memoir by Kip Kreiling. It’s the story of how he survived the unimaginable as a child and teen. He actually did more than survive though – he became an inspiration.

My Take on the Book
Throughout the book, Kip shares 8 principles of human transformation that will help inspire and uplift.  They help you realize that your goals and aspirations can become a reality.

I admit I’ve read very few self help books in the past. I usually force myself to read them and get bored about halfway through. I do consider this a self help book simply because of how I felt when I was done reading it and the 8 principles that are outlined.
However, it’s so much more than that. The author combines the right amount of story, his story, and then some application and examples towards the end of each chapter. It has such an honest and vulnerable feel; for him to expose the worst times in his life and how he overcame them.

I also love that this book made me reflect on my own life. Sometimes I feel like I am generally very sheltered because quite honestly I had it very good growing up. I’m not saying my childhood or teen years were perfect, but I thrived in a loving home with great parents.  Not everyone has that chance, and this was a real eye openener for me.
The author shares his story of addictions and horrific circumstances and really lets you in on what happened to him – how he felt, what he experienced. Then he gives you hope to overcome, because he did what most people would deem to be impossible in his circumstance, he overcame.

One phrase from The Imposter really struck me, and I wonder if it’s because I fail to take action at times in my life, which in turn could change me for the better. It states: “Victory is achieved by taking action and allowing that action to change us.” It made me analyze where I should be taking action in different areas of my life.

I honestly could go on and on about things that I loved in this book. I mentioned above that I have a hard time reading books that aren’t in story format. There were a few points when I felt like the book was slow and I might be losing interest. I always noticed at those points that the chapter was wrapped up by a profound principle and the author moved onto the next story.

This book has taught me that no matter what you’ve been through, no matter what your circumstances may have been or are, you CAN change.

I would definitely recommend this book to others that I know. It’s a pick me up, it’s self help, it can be life changing if you let it.

Price: $17.77

Where to Buy: Amazon, Kip Kreiling Website

Win It
Five Babes and Kids readers will in a copy of The Imposter

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Tell me why you would like to win

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. (daily entry) – 2 entries
• Become a fan of Kip Kreiling on facebook
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on January 5th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The book reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the author, Kip Kreiling. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Stinky Towels?
A few months back, I had the opportunity to review Smelly Washer, a natural cleaner which claims to get rid of mold and mildew in your washing machine. Smelly Washer is coming out with a new product, Smelly Towel. It does the same thing that Smelly Washer does, but is for your towels. We’ve had all of our towels 5 1/2 years as we got most of them when we got married. I admit, they are super stinky but I don’t exactly have the budget to go and buy all new towels. I notice the mold and mildew smell most after I’ve showered and the towel is wet again. I don’t exactly feel clean using a towel that I think is clean but smells horrible. Towels and clothing can build up mold and mildew from overuse of detergents and softners, washing your clothing in low temperatures, and washing in a washer that already has mold spores.

Pros: I love that this product is all natural and gentle enough to use on clothing and towels. I’ve used it in multiple loads and have to say it is quite gentle. You use it in place of your regular detergent, and only have to use a tablespoon which means the 12 ounce bottle will go a long way.
The smell is a really nice citrus and is not overpowering but makes my towels smell great. I like that it is easy to use and I don’t have to take any extra steps. When I reviewed the Smelly Washer, I noticed that there were directions to get rid of mild and mildew in towels but there was a long soaking process involved where there isn’t with the new Smelly Towel Cleaner,
I think the packaging is fun and innovative, and I’m excited to be using a product that really works.

Cons: The detergent itself is a crystal like powder. I did have clumps at the top of my bottle which didn’t help with measuring it out. They were easy to break up however, so that seems like a minor con.
I also noticed with my towels that were extra stinky that I had to soak and wash them a few times before I noticed the smell was completely gone.

Price: I’m not 100% sure of a price at this point as this is a fairly new product and will be available to buy soon.

Where to Buy: Coming soon to Smelly Washer

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win a bottle of Smelly Towel

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

• Visit Smelly Washer and tell me a FAQ

Additional Entries

• Tweet about this giveaway. – 2 entries
• Subscribe to my feed via e-mail – 2 entries
• Follow me – 2 entries
• Comment on any non giveaway post that you haven’t previously commented on – 2 entries per post

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on December 28th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by Smelly Washer. Smelly Washer did compensate me for my video review.  These views and opinions are my own.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Christmas Card Choices
Oh the choices that you have anymore when it comes to Christmas cards. I feel like there are a lot of companies that offer them, but sometimes I feel like I am looking at the same designs over and over. Paperspring is exactly what their tagline claims to be, fresh ideas on paper.

Pros: Paperspring has a great line of Christmas cards. They have three different types to choose from:

• Photo Holiday Cards
• Digital Name Art Holiday Cards
• Corporate Holiday Cards

I was immediately drawn to the wide assortment of photo cards. There were 100 different designs to choose from and they were all fun and fresh. I went for a folded card with an elegant look as you can see below.

I uploaded my photo easily and painlessly and was even given the option to zoom and crop to make it look nice. It was printed on 100% recycled card stock which made me know that I was doing a bit to help the environment. You initial to approve your design and then it’s off for printing.
They have free shipping on orders which is SO NICE. Sometimes a high shipping cost can turn me off a website, so I love that paperspring does this. They shipped via UPS and came quickly.   I’m excited to start mailing them out to friends and family tomorrow.

Cons: I felt like there were a few things that could be improved upon. You can only buy the cards in multiples of 25′s or 50′s when you order a lot. So you could order 25, 50, 75, etc. The last few years we have sent out around 35 Christmas cards. With this amount, I don’t want to have 15 extra cards lying around, but I also don’t want to have to pick and choose who I send to because I don’t have enough.
I also never received any tracking information or updates of when my order shipped. Although they came quickly and I had no problems with them getting here, I like to be able to know where my order is when I order online. I also was not able to see any progress when I logged into my account.

Price: Designs are as low as $1.29 depending on the style and quantity.

Where to Buy: Paperspring

Discount Code
Now through December 13th, get 20% off any Holiday Cards using promo code HOLIDAYCARD

Win It
One Babes and Kids reader will win a $50 gift certificate to paperspring to create Holiday Cards of your own.

Here’s How to Enter: (This entry is mandatory)

Additional Entries:

Please leave each entry as a separate comment. Contest is open to US residents and will end at 11:59 MST on December 12th. Winner will be drawn via random.org and has 48 hours to respond to winning e-mail or prize will be forfeited and given away in a live giveaway.

The product reviewed in this article was a sample provided to me by the company or PR representative. These views and opinions are my own and I was not compensated by this review.

Popularity: 1% [?]