31 May 2012

Join StyleUnited.com For A New View On You!

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If you have never had the pleasure of heading over to www.StyleUnited.com, I highly recommend this is one website you don't miss out on!  With StyleUnited.com you can have a whole new view on a new you with great site features such as a complete Style 360  (where you get fun head to toe style recommendations), an opportunity to utilize a beauty 1 on 1 consultation with an expert to get the best advice tailored just to you, as well as plenty of fun articles and quizzes to get you on track with your own unique style!

One of my favorite features of this website is the Tips and Trends section!  I'm a busy mom and am not always up on the latest trends I do admit.  With StyleUnited.com, I can see what's hot in fashion so that I don't miss out on the current season's hottest new looks!  There are also plenty of tips from how to accessorize to how to combine colors and patterns.  Love it!

If there's one feature though that you must visit, it's the Style 360 head to toe personal style coordinator.  You start by entering the basics like your skin type/color, your preferences for makeup coverage, your hair color, and age range.  During this process you will notice fun tips all along the way to bring out the best in your unique features!  At the end of inputting your unique information you get a personalized makeup guide that will work the best for your skin, hair and eye color, and more!  It's like having your own personal stylist, without paying for one!  I love the recommendations I received and have already purchased some makeup products that I had never tried before that work best for me.  So give StyleUnited.com a try, it's worth it!



Disclosure:  This blog post was written as a member of SheSpeaks and on behalf of StyleUnited.com and P&G in the chance to receive a free product for compensation.  All opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and are not a result of any outside influence.


17 May 2012

Aerobie AeroSpin Yo-Yo Review And Giveaway



I have yet another exciting Aerobie product to share with you.  It's called the Aerobie AeroSpin Yo-Yo and it is the ultimate yo-yo for any age!  The AeroSpin comes with a patented soft grip for comfort, easily adjustable string, a super long sleep time that is great for even the beginner's out there, and a fun book full of tricks.  Aerobie is known for it's high quality products, and the AeroSpin continues with those standards.  Aerobie products are also proudly made in the U.S.A.


{ A Trick From The Book! }


The Yo-Yo is a staple children's toy, and with four girls we have had plenty of them around our house over the years.  What makes this yo-yo so unique and different than the others we have owned is that it really is user friendly, especially for beginner's!  My girls have never had good luck with trying to get the yo-yo's to do tricks.  With the Aerobie AeroSpin they were able to make it sleep for long periods of time within minutes of trying it out!  Even my husband who hasn't touched a yo-yo in many years was able to start doing tricks with it right away.  I think the AeroSpin is perfect for all ages and I think this item would particularly make a fantastic gift!  You can click here to find out where to buy the Aerobie AeroSpin Yo-Yo in your area.


{ My Husband Doing The "Rock The Baby" Trick From The Book! }



Connect With Aerobie:



How Would You Like To Win Your Own Aerobie AeroSpin Yo-Yo?

Thank to the wonderful folks at Aerobie, (1) lucky reader of Textbook Mommy will receive their very own Aerobie AeroSpin Yo-Yo!

Details:  Open to U.S. Residents, 18 years of age and over.  One person entering per household please.  Please be honest with your entries. I do verify!  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email or an alternate winner will be selected.

Giveaway Ends:  May 25, 2012 at Midnight EST. 
Good Luck!

14 May 2012

Filippo Berio Olive Oil Review



Did you know that using olive oil as a replacement to butter and vegetable oil will help you lead a healthier lifestyle?  For nearly 150 years Filippo Berio has maintained a classic Italian flavor and quality that you would expect from a good olive oil.  Olive oil is a healthy addition to your diet and is what is known as a "good fat".  Olive oil reduces the risk of heart disease and helps to control blood pressure and blood sugar levels.  Filippo Berio contains no trans fat or cholesterol, as well as never any sugar, salt, or gluten. 

Kick The Butter With These Handy Olive Oil Substitutions:

1 teaspoon butter or margarine replaced with 3/4 teaspoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of butter or margarine replaced with 2 1/4 teaspoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of butter or margarine replaced with 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil
1/4 cup of butter or margarine replaced with 3 tablespoons of olive oil
1/3 cup of butter or margarine replaced with 1/4 cup of olive oil
1/2 cup of butter or margarine replaced with 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons of olive oil
2/3 cup of butter or margarine replaced with 1/2 cup of olive oil
3/4 cup of butter or margarine replaced with 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 cup of butter or margarine replaced with 3/4 cup of olive oil



Broken Spaghetti with Shrimp Recipe:

  • 1 teaspoon (or more) dried hot red pepper flakes
  • 1 large garlic clove, peeled
  • 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 pound frozen medium-size cooked shrimp, defrosted
  • 2 tablespoons Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 cup frozen chopped broccoli or spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
  • 6 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 1 pound spaghetti or other long pasta, broken in half
  • ¼ cup reserved cooking water
  • Coarse black pepper to taste
 
 
  1. Mince the red pepper flakes, garlic, parsley, and mint together. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Stir in the zest and lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Toss the shrimp in the mixture and allow it to stand for 5 minutes.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan. When the oil is hot, stir in the shrimp and cook 2 minutes. Stir in the broccoli or spinach and cook 1 minute more. Stir in the tomatoes and cook 1 minute longer. Keep the mixture warm.
  3. Cook the spaghetti according to the directions. After draining the spaghetti, add it to the shrimp along with the reserved water and reheat quickly until everything is hot. Correct the seasoning with salt and pepper and serve.

* Recipe Provided by Chef Mary Ann Esposito




* Disclosure:  I was provided a sample product from the above named company in partnership as my association with BzzAgent.com in exchange for my honest opinion.  All opinions are 100% my own and are not a result of any outside influence.

11 May 2012

Dawn Power Clean Challenge



If you haven't heard of the new Dawn Power Clean dish soap yet, you will want to hear all the details! If you're like me it can be a dreaded chore to scrub those casserole and baked on messy remains from your precious pots and pans after meal time.  With the new Dawn Power Clean dish soap, five minutes is all you need to get that baked off mess ready to easily remove!  Dawn Power Clean is revolutionary because it provides the power of an overnight soak, in just 5 minutes!  Dawn wants to challenge you to take the 5 minute challenge with their new Power Clean product.  5 minutes to soak those dreaded dishes of yours and see the difference compared to your regular dish soap. 

For me personally, casseroles and dessert remnants are the worst for me when it comes to washing my dishes by hand.  Excited to take the five minute challenge, I put it to the ultimate test, pasta night!  I wondered how Dawn Power Clean would hold up to all the pasta sauce covered dishes.  Would it really provide the effects of an overnight soak in just 5 minutes?  The results were fantastic!  Dawn Power Clean went to work right away and left the baked on pasta sauce easily manageable after just five minutes of soaking time.  This is one product that every home must have!

Saving time in the kitchen is so important, especially for us busy moms!  For me, I always have the hubby and kids scrape off their plates before putting them in the sink.  A big thing I like to do to save time while actually cooking meals is to clean as I go along!  I put away each ingredient as I go, whether it be back on the spice rack or putting trash in the trash can.  That way when I pop my meal in the oven or get ready to serve it up, everything's already been put away and wiped down.  This leaves just the dishes afterwards and gives me more time with my family.  What's your tips for saving time in the kitchen?

Dawn Power Clean can be found at retailers nationwide and comes in the scents Refreshing Rain and Vibrant Fresh!


Make sure to stop by the Dawn Facebook page to get more information on this product plus others, as well as more handy tips!





* Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Dawn blogging program, to earn My SocialMoms Rewards Points, and I received free product for participating. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. To read more posts on this topic, click here

10 May 2012

Nature's Hand Granola Review And Giveaway



Founded in 1971 by Hans Sadlak, a German born immigrant in Burnsville, Minnesota, Nature's Hand granola has become a regular tradition here in America for it's well known taste.   What's great about Nature's Hand granola is not only the fact that it's good for you, but also because Nature's Hand granola uses all natural, premium ingredients with never any artificial colors or flavors, no preservatives, sodium, or trans fat!

You can experience the taste of Nature's Hand granola in six different unique blends that include Vanilla Almond, Cranberry Delight, Wild Blueberry, Raisin Hazelnut, Cinnamon Apple, and Maple Pecan.  Each 13 oz. bag retails for $4.99 and can be found at supermarkets, specialty grocery stores, and online across the country.


Different Ways To Eat And Experience Granola:

* Find A Recipe To Make Some Tasty Granola Bars
* Use Granola As An Addition To Your Cereal
* Add Granola To Your Yogurt
* Use Granola As An Ice Cream Topping
* Use Granola To Add A Yummy Topping To Your Muffins Or Baked Desserts
* Try It Plain!


{ Granola With Vanilla Yogurt...So Good! )

I had the great opportunity to review two of Nature's Hand tasty granolas.  I received the Vanilla Almond and the Cinnamon Apple varieties.  One of my favorite things to snack on is yogurt, particularly vanilla coconut flavored yogurt.  I tried the Vanilla Almond flavor by Nature's Hand on my vanilla coconut yogurt and it was so good!  The Cinnamon Apple flavor goes great sprinkled on my breakfast cereal.  I'm actually looking forward to going out and purchasing the Raisin Hazelnut and Wild Blueberry to try.  I think these two would taste great sprinkled on top of muffins!  Not only was the taste good, I like that eating granola goes hand in hand with my healthy eating choices.  Each serving of the two varieties I reviewed contained just over 100 calories and were low in fat.  Guilt free snacking at it's best!


Connect With Nature's Hand:


Want To Win Some Nature's Hand Granola?

(1) lucky reader of Textbook Mommy is going to win two packages of granola in the two flavors of their choosing!


Details:  One person entering per household please.  Open to U.S. residents, 18 years of age and older.  Giveaway ends:  May 17, 2012 at Midnight EST.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email or an alternate winner will be selected.  Good luck!









* Disclosure:  This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. All prizing for MSM giveaways is handled by a third party unless otherwise noted. For this reason prize fulfillment can take up to 90 days after the winners information is received. 

04 May 2012

Beat Tough Stains With Shout® Trigger!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Triad Retail Media for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Stains.  We all experience them and they're no walk in the park.  As a mom of four girls, stains seem to always weasle their way into clothes around here!  You got grass stains, grease stains, popsicle liquid stains, you name it!  Even if you don't have children, stains can be pesky and hard to remove.  It seems like I can never find a single stain remover that truly gets rid of all different kinds of stains.  Not being able to get rid of them all can get expensive when you have to throw out your favorite ruined garmets due to not having a good stain treater.  That's where the Shout® Trigger comes in!  Shout® Trigger's triple action formula clings, penetrates, and lifts away stains and leaves your clothes looking fresh again.

Shout® Trigger is safe on all colors and works on all washer temperature settings.  This product works different from your average stain fighters in that it is jam packed with stain fighting ingredients and enzymes that quickly penetrate those pesky stains to wash them clean away!  Interested in where you can find some of this great new stain treater to try for yourself? Shout® Trigger is available to purchase at Walmart stores nationwide.

Let's here what you other moms out there struggle with when it comes to stains!  Feel free to comment and share by leaving a blog post comment here on what kinds of stains you deal with on a regular basis and if you plan on trying the new Shout® Trigger!

Visit Sponsor's Site

01 May 2012

Wahl Has You Covered For Mother's Day!



This Mother's Day give your mom a gift that will provide her with the relaxation she deserves!  Wahl is well known for their wide variety of high quality household products.  While you may recognize Wahl for their grooming products, this company offers much more, including their wonderful Deep Tissue Massager, Deluxe Therapy Massager, Flex Therapy Massager, and the Deluxe Heat Therapy Massage product!

The Deluxe Heat Therapy Massager has two different heat settings, can be dialed in for all levels of intensity, and comes with nine different attachments to ensure the perfect relaxing massage.  These attachments include a heat attachment, facial attachment, muscle kneading attachment, scalp attachment, knuckle and joint attachment, deep muscle attachment, spot attachment, general body attachment, and a triad attachment.


{ Here's A Photo Of All The Great Attachments! }


Thanks to Wahl I had the amazing opportunity to review the Deluxe Heat Therapy Massager!  First off, this product is great for storing and on the go.  Everything comes in a zippered case, perfect for traveling as well!  As someone who suffers from occasional lower back pain, I was excited to try this product not just for the massage effect, but for the heat as well.  My husband has back and shoulder problems, so I wasn't surprised that he wanted in on reviewing this product too!

What's nice is that the Deluxe Heat Therapy Massager provides just the right amount of heat.  I didn't know how hot this product would get, but it never got hot enough to be uncomfortable, which I loved.  While my husband preferred the maximum massage setting, I actually found the lower settings to be just enough to provide a quality massage.  This is one product that is going to get a lot of use around our home for a long time to come!  I would recommend this product for any mom on your Mother's Day gift list.


Nominate The Mom In Your Life To Win A Prize Pack From Wahl!

From April 26-May13 you can go to Wahl's Facebook page and nominate the mom in your life to win a Mom Relief Package from Wahl.  You can nominate a mom, grandmother, daughter, sister, wife, friend, or even yourself!  All you have to do is leave a comment describing why the mom in your life deserves a Mom Relief Package.  Entries will be judged on uniqueness and sincerity. 





*Disclosure:  I received a sample product from the above named company, in partnership with MamaBuzz Media in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and are not a result of any outside influence.

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