ITS #HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!! Last minute costume ideas.

Its Halloween!! The scariest day of the year and the cost of  costumes can send you running in horror out of the stores!!! So you've got parties this weekend and still haven't bought anything!! I've got a few fun creative LOW cost costume you can whip up in a jiffy.

TISSUE BOX

Just find a large shipping box, wrap it in a fun paper of  your choice and use a piece of paper towel or a large napkin for your tissue. 

Just make sure you cut  the eye hole large enough for you to see ;)

 VS Shopping Bag

Another shipping box idea...Duck tape it out with VS stripes and add handles and tissue paper to the top!

Comic Book Character

Invest in a Halloween makeup kit and impress your friends with shockingly cartoonish features for Halloween.( photo credit Popsugar Blog)

My daughters pick this year was Katy Perry---Mod look from her This is How We Do video:

This one did take a little time....hunting down the right jewelry and shoes for the look...but it can easily be put to gether in a few hours and be one groovy costume! 

Do your DIY or BUY??

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE HALLOWEEN!!!!

Braun No touch + forehead thermometer #REVIEW

I received the Braun No touch + forehead thermometer  in a ‪‎VoxBox‬ and ‪FREE‬ for review from Influenster. But really, when your kid is sick

 and you've just rushed to the store to purchase the thermometer (that

 you didn't have before), you want to be able to open it quickly while

 holding a crying sick kid. It is lightweight, not bulky and simple to

 assemble with batteries included.

Happy to add BraunTherms to my fist aid kit so EZ 2 use aim and read! I did

 find that if you take the temps other then directly in the middle of forehead--it

 may be off by about two - five tenths of a degree. But I always take temps

 three + times....with how fast and light weigh this thermometer is that only

 takes a minute. I also like how I can check on my child in the middle of the 

night while they are sleeping and I don't even have to wake them!

: "I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes."

The perfect “healthy #Halloween treats” for all kids.

Halloween is just around the corner. With all the treats collected on the big night, most parents find it tricky to manage kids’ sugar consumption, a major culprit in the childhood cavity epidemic that is consuming the country.
After going through major oral surgery with my little guy last month I'm looking for some creative non-sweet treats for this years school party.

No one wants to be the curmudgeon who puts a damper on all the fun, and now they don't have to.   The keys are moderation, and good oral care!  Thats why I'll be handing out FireFly Toothbrushes. The brushes come in many characters the children love like Angry Birds,Barbie, Marvel Heros, and Hot Wheels. Makes a great party favor that other parents will applaud.

Fun, flashing traffic signal design encourages children to brush for the recommended 2 minutes which help to form healthy brushing habits

Firefly flashing sculpted handled toothbrush with soft bristles and a suction cup bottom

Flashes for 60 seconds and turns off automatically signaling children to stop brushing the top row of teeth and begin brushing the bottom row

Batteries included last the life of the toothbrush and cannot be replaced

 After trick-or-treating, let kids pick 2 pieces of their favorite candy to enjoy, store the rest away,  then I'll get them brushing immediately with the new FireFly Ready Go Light-Up Timer toothbrush. I'm even thinking I'll let them brush in the dark and watch the flashing lights...a spooktacular way to end the day.

#5hourGoesPink The LBBC Toast

I have an Aunt who is three years Cancer Free and lost 2 very close friends to Breast Cancer so I'm always ready to share information about companies that are doing their part in raising awareness. The makers of 5-hour ENERGY products team up with the Living Beyond Breast Cancer organization this breast cancer awareness month.

 LBBC helps to support and educate people about breast cancer.I love that their program is going beyond the month of October too. Now through December 31, 2014, Living Essentials will donate five cents from the sale of every specially marked bottle of Pink Lemonade flavored 5-hour ENERGY to Living Beyond Breast Cancer. LBBC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting people with trusted breast cancer information and a community of support. The minimum guaranteed donation is $200,000.00. Just look for the white 5-hour ENERGY bottle with the pink ribbon and you can help make a difference today!

*Please remember that 5-hour ENERGY® products are for adults, so no children should be in the photo or video.

*5-hour ENERGY® shots should not be mixed with alcohol and no alcohol should be in the photo or video.

 “I’d like to raise my white bottle pink ribbon

 5-hour ENERGY in honor of all the amazing 

people around the world – I want to honor my

Aunt Debbie for showing me how to stay strong 

and keep her sense of humor when things get

 tough. Because of this I toast to 

you! Aunt Debbie. #5hourGoesPink”

Who would you raise your   5-hour ENERGY to?

I received a free product to facilitate my review from Smiley360 but the opinions are 100% my own

Glow Stick Bracelets - 100 Bracelets #Review

With Halloween FAST approaching I was uber happy to have the opportunity to review these glow sticks from Good Stuff. We love using glow sticks as necklaces once the darkness sets in. I decided to challenge my kids to  find a new way to incorporate them into our Halloween fun! I was thrilled when they came up with the thought to decorate their treats bags!!! With 100 sticks the options are endless.  I monitored a little as a hot glue gun was in use, but my daughter is SUPER CAREFUL and she helped my son glue after he laid out his plan.
Here are the results:

 

 


They decided on smiley faces because they were happy about all the treat they could fit into the bags!!



You can find these glow stick on Amazon for under $10 - Each tube contains of 5 colors -- Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Pink. Your order will also contain 100 connectors so you can hook the ends together to make bracelets and necklaces.

Once they start glowing, The Super Glow brand glow bracelets will last you all night. They will glow super bright for 8 - 10 hours. Then, they will start to fade out but may continue to emit some light for up to 36 hours. 

-to see the creativity and also KNOW how safe my kids will be it's SO WORTH the investment!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

First Birthday Gift Guide #Giveaway! Ends 11/28

Celebrating the first year of childs live is always a grand event!
Here are a few ideas for super gifts --and the opportunity to win some!!!

Sponsors:

Kids ii | Freshly Picked | Menucha Jewelry | Austin Lloyd | Funbites | Yummi Pouch | Usborne Consultant Alyssa

Hosted by: Moms and Crafters

Co-hosts: Simply Sherryl, Coupons and Freebies Mom, and Sweepstakes Fanatics

Moms and Crafter's big boy has just turned one! With so many people asking around about the perfect first birthday gift, Moms and Crafters has put together a 1st birthday gift guide, together with the ultimate list of best gifts for a first birthday, from the perspective of a mom. You can check out more of the features of the Year of Parenthood Celebration event, including loads of 1st birthday resources, with more coming soon! To top it off, Moms and Crafters arranged this amazing giveaway! One winner will receive the entire prize pack, valued at approximately $258! Check out the reviews on each of the prizes below, then enter to win.

First Birthday Gift Guide Giveaway Prize List:

Bright Starts Hide n Spin Monkey | ARV $40

This fun, friendly monkey is a favorite! Put the balls in the monkey's hat, and watch them spill out of the barrel. With loads of lights and sounds, baby is sure to be entertained for hours.

Bright Starts 3 in 1 Step n Ride Li0n | ARV $40

Another great toy from Bright Starts! A year is the perfect time to learn new skills such as walking and riding... This versatile convertible toy will save you lots of space as it converts from a ride-on to a walker!

Freshly Picked Moccasins | ARV $60

These fun leather soft shoes are perfect to keep feet warm! They are great for new walkers who do better then they can feel the floor.

Menucha Mommy 'n Me Bracelet Set | ARV $30

A great gift for a little girl, this adorable gift set indulges Mommy as well. Because, isn't she the one who has been investing lots of love this past year?

Austin Lloyd Mystery Box | ARV $50

This subscription box is full of age-appropriate toys. Everything in it is eco-friendly and non-electronic. It features high quality toys that will delight baby again and again.

Funbites | ARV $13

This easy to use food cutter will cut baby's food to bite size pieces in one quick, easy step. It comes with a popper to pop the food out of the holes. Available in 3 shapes and many vivid colors.

Yummi Pouch Brights Set | ARV $15

Reusable food pouches are a great way to do teach baby to self-feed while saving money. You can choose what your baby eats, while doing something good for our earth.

That's Not My Tractor | ARV $10

This fun book is a touchy feely book by Usborne to develop sensory awareness. It's a board book so it's more durable for little ones. (If out of stock, it will be replaced with a different book of similar value.) Open to residents of the US ages 18+. Enter to win using the giveaway tools form below:

Entry-Form


Disclaimer: Sponsors mentioned above are responsible for prize fulfillment. Moms and Crafters and the participating blogs can not be held responsible for sponsors who do not follow through. Moms and Crafters received these items free from the company for review purposes. No compensation monetary or otherwise was received for the running of this giveaway. If you'd like to see your brand featured on Moms and Crafters, contact Menucha at menucha@momsandcrafters.com

Melody Road NEIL DIAMOND #REVIEW

Neil Diamond, one of the world’s premiere recording artists, internationally renowned and record-breaking concert performer and revered songwriter, is set to release his brand new studio album, Melody Road, on October 21st.  The album, marks his first original studio release in six years and first since signing with Capitol Records.  Acclaimed producers Don Was and Jacknife Lee co-produced the album. In addition, there will be a special 36-page lyric book with guitar chords included in the packaging of each album.

Song List

1. "Melody Road"
2. "First Time"
3. "Seongah and Jimmy"
4. "Something Blue"
5. "Nothing But a Heartache"
6. "In Better Days"
7. "Ooo Do I Wanna Be Yours"
8. "Alone at the Ball"
9. "Sunny Disposition"
10. "Marry Me Now"
11. "The Art of Love"
12. "Melody Road (Reprise)"
13. "Remember" (Target Exclusive Bonus Track)
14. "Something" (Target Exclusive Bonus Track)

The whole CD is a joy to listen to . My favorite pick is Track 4 "Something Blue" it's got a classic Neil Diamond sound. If you have a fan on your holiday list --this is a CS you should stuff their stocking with!

Order on Amazon or iTunes

  I participated in the Neil Diamond Melody Road album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own.

My Tea thats just like me #SweetMeetsSpicy!

TAZO Chai began with  signature Chai tea , which brings together classic spices such as ginger, pepper and cardamom for a deliciously distinct taste.Then they developed smooth and creamy latte concentrates, the perfect way to enjoy delightfully unexpected Chai flavors with milk.

Now they are introducing new flavors to Chai – from the sweet creaminess of Vanilla Caramel to the seasonal flavor of Pumpkin Spice, TAZO believes there is truly a Chai for everyone. My pick has to be the chai chocolate DELISH!

Click here to find out where you can find TAZO Chai products near your home

I got to sample this as a member of Smiley360 if you like to sample products and share your opinion check them out!

#WordlessWednesday ~SOCCER

TWO MORE GAMES THEN NO MORE MUDDY SOCCER UNIFORM!!! 

Fun Holiday treats for the Holidays with @BettyCrocker

Time to have a little fun in the kitchen with Betty!!


 Double Desserts


Taking two desserts and mixing and mashing them together is a favorite trends. Things like pie shakes, cookie stuffed cookies, and pie-filled cupcakes deliver a whole new kind of delicious. It´s a 1+1=3 kind of thing.
Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cookies
Pie, meet cookie. Cookie, say hello to pie. When two all-time favorites come together, you get Pumpkin Pie Cookies, the star at your Halloween Party!

Color. Flavor. Fun.


Traditional baked goods are being transformed with bright colors and playful flavors. With a little creativity and imagination, no one can resist this happy, fun food!
Recipe: Cake Batter Cookie Stackers
Take sugar cookies to a whole new level of delicious! Kids and adults will love these cake batter flavored cookies with colorful frosting, and lots of sprinkles! Make cookies with orange frosting for Halloween and For Christmas red and green would jazz up any holiday table!

Food Craft

The kitchen is the new craft room. With food as their medium, clever cooks are making amazing edible food crafts that are as good to look at as they are to eat. This would make an awesome stocking stuffer for everyone on your list!
Recipe: Chocolate Coal Lumps
Naughty or nice, everyone will love these easy cho-coal-late treats. Cocoa Puffs cereal dipped in melted chocolate and marshmallows.

Will you try one or all of these out this holiday???

Music #Review NEW MUSIC FROM MARY LAMBERT:#HeartOnMySleeve

I am so very excited to bring you the music and story of Mary Lambert. You may know Mary from her vocals on Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ “Same Love”
  Her hit “Secrets” is climbing the pop charts. I love her confidence and wit.

 The title song is very catchy many of the others are just as great-Her rendition of Jessie's Girls will touch your soul!!

“Having an actual platform made me think about my motivations and what I want to put out into the world,” Lambert says about creating the songs that appear on her debut full-length album, Heart On My Sleeve. “So I made a list of goals.” They were to: 1. Have fun. 2. Create something catchy. 3. Create something that positively impacts the world. 4. Stay true to yourself. 5. Make money. “Is that okay to say?” she asks. “I want to buy my mom a house. I want to start a charity that offers free mental health treatment. I want to tip brunch waitresses hundred dollar bills! But in all seriousness, I wanted to write a pop album that had profound emotional depth and interesting language, while being accessible and catchy,” she explains. “I wanted the songs to be poignant and raw, but I want to hear them on the radio. I like to describe Heart On My Sleeve as a pop album with a conscience.

Here's the track list

1. Secrets
2. So Far Away
3. Ribcage (feat. Angel Haze & K.Flay)
4. Dear One
5. When You Sleep
6. Chasing the Moon
7. Jessie’s Girl
8. Monochromatic
9. Heart On My Sleeve
10. Wounded Animal
11. Sum of Our Parts

Take a look at the Secrets video.

If you have a music lover in your home buy them this CD TODAY!!! You can order it here  on iTunes and Amazon

  I participated in the Mary Lambert Heart On My Sleeve album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided a free album to review but all opinions are my own.  

#BakingSodaTips for the Fall

Prepare for fall with ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda. #FreeSample http://h5.sml360.com/-/3kza

With gentle yet tough ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda, you can also clean your fridge, microwave, lunch boxes, garbage cans, tile floors, drains, shower curtains, closets, pet bedding, stuffed animals, and much more!

https://sml-prod-smiley.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/description_image/file/1468854/bakingsoda-summer-product_208x208.png

I have tried many of the other ways besides baking--Cleaning has been so much easier with the power of Arm & Hammer! I also must say my car rides home after soccer have been less STINKT too after putting some in my kids cleats and over the shine guards!!





 I hang my pans above the stove and on was VERY BURNT on the bottom sprinkled a little Arm&Hammer and let it sit for a minute the used my scrub brush -SHINES LIKE NEW!!!




Thanks to Smiley360 for the free sample to facilitate this review