Ozeri Artesio Electric Pepper Grinder - Review

This event will take place from April Fool's Day (April 1st) 
at 12:01am est through April 7th at 11:59pm est. No foolin'!

It's April Fool's time and we want to have a little fun with our readers. Over 30 bloggers have prizes valued at $25+ - some silly and bizarre; others just plain fun! So take a break from playing pranks and enter to win with us! There is also an awesome $100 GC to ThinkGeek Grand Prize which is open to the US and Canada. The participating bloggers helped fund this great prize, so in order to win it - you need to enter some of their giveaways! Thinkgeek has all kinds of fun and bizarre products from zombie slippers to unicorn meat, so we thought this was fitting!

I'm giving away the Ozeri Artesio Electric Pepper Grinder
(ARV $29.99)

I love to use freshly ground pepper. I always bought the ones at the store that have the lid that grinds the pepper, but now I'm stylin' with my new Artesio. This ultra-chic soft-touch electric pepper grinder is awesome. It comes apart in three pieces...the pepper cup at the bottom, the inner motor with battery compartment and the handle cover. 

I bought a jar of peppercorn (though it also works with salt and spices), popped four AA batteries in the electric pepper mill, and twisted it together. There are even little arrows to ensure it's put together correctly. I held it over a plate and pushed the silver grinder button with my thumb. Much to my surprise, it also lights up the peppercorn cup for a bit of ambiance! Its sleek design is easy to hold and looks great on my table. It works perfectly and I love the smell of freshly ground pepper.

Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review. 

To win your own Artesio Electric Pepper Grinder, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below! Good luck!

Fanbration Celebration - Mom Blog Society / Mom Does Reviews

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Book Review: How to Spread Sanity on a Cracker by Jackie Hennessey

Being a mom is no easy task, especially when you're feeling alone. Jackie Hennessey realized how valuable girl friends can be in the grand scheme of parenting, because all moms need time to get together to eat and vent together. She began compiling stories from others and of her own, and the result is a wonderfully humorous collection of reality-bites from moms, called "How to Spread Sanity on a Cracker: Mom-to-Mom  Whines, Cheese, Rants, and Recipes."

I really enjoyed reading through this book. It's light-hearted and real, full of great stories that nearly every mom can relate to. I laughed out loud at several of the stories. There are also awesome recipes that are easy to make, and impressive to serve at a candle party or play date. Jackie manages to capture both the joy and the anguish of being a mom, and the necessity of having someone that can listen, relate, and empathize with both. This book is so much fun to read and would make a wonderful Mother's Day Gift!

Disclosure: I received this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Calgon Is Helping Women Stay Young and Sexy

I've used Calgon products all my life to help "take me away" from the stress and noise of life to relax in a bath full of wonderful scents. I'm so excited about their new bath collections! It's never to early or too late to do things that help us women to stay young and sexy. Need a Mother's Day Gift? You can never go wrong with bath products that not only help her relax, but help improve her skin as well.

The Ageless Bath Collection is an anti-aging line of bath pearls, body scrub and milk bath. I received a 16oz container of the Luminous Bath Pearls. A handful of bath pearls tossed into warm running water will brighten your skin with an exclusive Vita-Pearl blend of Vitamin E, Pearl Powder, and Collagen. And yes, the wonderful aroma will still "take me away." I love this new collection!

Calgon is also helping me stay sexy with their new Sensual Collection. From fragrance mists to silkening double mists, to shimmering moisture mists, to luminous body creams, Calgon's new products will help you unleash your wild side. There are three different fragrances so you can match it to your personality type - Femme Inferno, Angelic Kiss, and Flirty Tease. I sprayed this shimmering moisture mist onto my arms and rubbed it in. It left a light sparkly glow of softness on my skin, with a seductive blend of lily of the valley, pink pepper and vivid bergamot. I will definitely be checking out the other products in this line!

Disclosure: I received these products at  no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Tattooed by Inky Fragrances for Teens and Tweens

If your tweens and teens are getting too old for stuffed bunnies and plastic eggs, here's something to put in their Easter baskets that won't make them gain weight, get pimples, or look like a kid. Tattooed by Inky has launched a great new line of lightly-fragranced body sprays for the young and trendy generation. Available at Target for just $5.99, there are five difference scents - two for females, two for males, and one that appeals to both.

I received a bottle of the Koi (unisex scent) and the Sudden Freedom (for females) and I really like the distinctiveness of the them. I was impressed that the fragrance lasted a long time on me because body sprays usually fade pretty quickly. Young adults will love the colors and art on the bottle, as well as the wonderful blends of citrus, florals, spices and woods. I personally will be wearing both these scents because I like them so much and sometimes I even still feel like a teenager. This Easter, you can show them you're "hipper" than they think about what their generation wants!
Disclosure: I received these products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Wikki Stix and Autism Awareness Month

April is National Autism Awareness Month. Autism has no cause and no cure. It affects at least 3 in every 1000 children. Wikki Stix products are a wonderful tool that works very well for children with autism and other special needs. These non-toxic thin Wikki Stix are moldable, flexible, and stickable.

They kind of look like a tiny piece of licorice and feel a bit like wax. They won't dry out, they won't break, and they won't stiffen. They can be used again and again. These open-ended Wikki Stix provide hours of creative exploration, with no pressure to do it "right." Children with special needs will love the feel of them, and will be pleased at how easily the pieces stick together and come back apart.

They can be used for making letters, shapes, numbers, pictures, and more. Children will twist them and tie them, stick them and stack them, building their skills, their finger strength, and their self-esteem. I have some children with special needs in my group and they've responded very positively to Wikki Stix, as have all the children!

These times of quiet, focused play are like gold in a busy classroom. They have asked to use Wikki Stix every day since I have introduced them to these creatables. We've also used them to practice color recognition, counting, sorting, and letter formation.

Wikki Stix comes in all kinds of packs and kits for all ocassions and ages. Plus, they are made right here in the USA. This multi-sensory creative toy is sure to captivate not just those with Autism, but all children. You can purchase Wikki Stix here http://www.wikkistix.com/ plus you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter to be first to know about promotions and new releases.

Disclosure: I received these products at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Meet Marv, My New 2010 Avenger

I'm very excited that we've finally purchased a family car. We've been a one-vehicle family for almost two years. My husband has an extended cab Dodge Dakota, so my tall teenagers have to fold themselves in half to ride with us. Today we purchased Marv, my new 2010 Avenger, a silver Dodge sedan with leather seats. I am so blessed!

20 Week Update on Nutrisystem #NSNation

Wow, twenty weeks on Nutrisystem. I'm so proud that I've stayed on the plan.

I'm still stuck at a 21 pound weight loss, but I'm not complaining.

I look better, feel better, and fit in my clothes better.

I know if I stick to it, I will continue to be successful at losing weight.

Want to lose weight and get healthy too? 

 Join Nutrisystem today by calling 1-888-853-4689 

 or by visiting http://www.nutrisystem.com/nsblog.

Blogger Opportunity: Magical Mother's Day Giveaway Hop - FREE EVENT

Magical Mother's Day Giveaway Hop

Sign up HERE for this FREE Event!

When you add your name to the linky, you are agreeing to post the Magical Mother's Day button linked to http://www.weidknecht.com/p/weidknecht-events-and-support-for.html on your sidebar, you are agreeing to post a giveaway on your blog from May 7-14 (linked to both hosts), and to find a sponsor or self-sponsor a prize worth at least $25.00. Hosted by Planet Weidknecht and Going Crazy!! Wanna Go??!!  Please also join the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/WeidknechtEvents/, where you will be able to interact with our group members and have access to all the coding necessary for this hop. You will also receive an email shortly before the giveaway hop begins with all the information. Thank you!

Planet Weidknecht Weekend Hop

Hosted by Planet Weidknecht

and Beck Valley Books

Thank you for coming by my blog today!

Please link up your Blog, Facebook,

Twitter, and Google+

then hop around and meet some new friends!

Check out my giveaways HERE.

March Into April Giveaway Hop - $150 Prize Package

Welcome to the

March Into April Giveaway Hop

hosted by Planet Weidknecht and

Going Crazy!! Wanna Go??!!

All the bloggers participating in this hop are giving away prizes

worth at least $20 on their blogs. After you enter my giveaway,

be sure to hop around to all the blogs on the list below

to enter more awesome giveaways!

I'm giving away a huge prize package worth 
over $150.00 including all this:

Lust Cosmetics (ARV $57+)

Read my review HERE.

Hydraluxe Cooling Gel Pillow (ARV $79+)

Read my review HERE.

Living Fully By Rinpoche ($13+)

Read my review HERE.

To enter my giveaway, just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

You must be at least 18 years old, have a US addresss, and

follow Planet Weidknecht in at least one way.

Good luck!

The New Empire Road CD - Review

I just spent the last half-hour listening to the CD from the New York based rock band called Empire Road. I like their sound. It's kind of reminiscent of late 80s rock, which is about the time I was in high school. I was quite the melancholy teenager and the lyrics in their songs will definitely reach an audience from teens to late twenties. The instrumentals are solid, with really good guitar solos. The vocals are good and I can actually understand the lyrics, which isn't always the case in rock music. There is an element of sadness and longing in their music and lyrics, that will draw young adults who are searching for answers. Of the five songs, I would put them in this order, with the most liked song first: Lost in California, then Cyberstar, then Hollywood Sober, then Wasted Away, then No Need to Remember. Overall I think it's a sound that will probably be well-received. They don't remind me of any particular band, which is a good thing because a unique sound is important if you want to stand out. Check out their website at http://www.empireroadband.com/ to learn more about Empire Road. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Purchase it now from Amazon.
Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Easy Ways to Pet-Proof Your Home

To truly pet-proof your home, you should start by getting down on the floor to see the world the way your pet sees it. This is the best way to spot potential hazards.

• Treat your Pet like you would a Child: Active puppies and kittens can easily get into dangerous situations. Consider investing in child-proof locks for cabinets. Use child-safety gates in areas with valuables to prevent your pet from getting into trouble.
• Take the Bite out of the Chew: Dogs have the tendency to chew on furniture and shoes. Spray pet-friendly lemon or bitter apple scents on items to avoid further chewing problems.
• Take Caution with Wires: Pets can easily injure themselves or destroy delicate electronics. Consider installing electric cord shorteners on television, phone, and computer cords, outlet covers in wall sockets and window cord safety locks.
• Keep Curtains in Check: Tie curtains and be wary of blinds - they can easily strangle a pet.
• Avoid Household plants: Believe it or not, plants can be poisonous for pets. Some species of cats are allergic to lilies.
• Utilize a Sofa Cover: To avoid fur on your loveseat, use a seat cover. SureFit offers pet covers that are great for the home and car.
• Hide the Trash Can: A hyper puppy can easily knock over a trash can and spread garbage and bacteria throughout your home.
• Be Careful with the Fruit Basket: Even though fruits are an important part of the human diet, grapes (and raisins) are actually deadly for dogs.

Courtesy of Heidi Ganahl and Camp Bow Wow

Tips to Help Protect Kids from Sexting

According to recent national surveys, approximately one out of five teenagers has sent or posted nude or semi-nude pictures of themselves, and two out of five have sent or posted sexually suggestive messages. Nearly half of all teenagers claim to have received such messages. Unfortunately, most parents do not know this activity is occurring, and worse yet, they do not know how to manage a sexting incident after the fact.

Today, uKnow.com, the leading provider of Parental Intelligence Systems including uKnowKids, is providing parents five tips to help prevent or manage a sexting incident. According to Tim Woda, an Internet and child safety expert and co-founder of uKnow.com: “Sexting does not only affect the reputation of the person involved, it also comes with legal ramifications. In fact, the same minor that sends photos of himself can become both a victim and a perpetrator of child pornography laws. Forwarding such messages to friends or mobile contacts can also come with serious ramifications. There is only a limited number of things a parent can control after a sexting incident, so the best time to engage in this conversation is before you allow them to have a mobile phone or social networking account. When it comes to sexting, being proactive is being safe.”

Here are some important tips to help parents prevent and deal with sexting issues:

• Consequences: Talk about the consequences of taking, sending, or forwarding a sexual picture of someone underage, including yourself. You could get expelled, humiliated by your peers, lose educational opportunities or possibly face serious legal consequences.
• Control: Once an image leaves your phone or computer, you have lost control of it. Phones get lost, computers get stolen, and social networking accounts get hacked. Never take an image of yourself that you wouldn’t want everyone - your family, friends, and teachers - to see.
• Don’t forward: You may find someone else’s photo funny; however, if you forward a sexual picture of someone underage, you are as responsible for this image as the original sender. You could face child pornography charges, go to jail, or have to register as a sex offender.
• Report: Nude photos should be reported immediately to the parents/guardians of the originator, as well as school counselors, so that they can manage the situation.
• Prevent it: As parents, we know that spying does not equal trust. Obviously, going behind your kid’s back to see what they are doing does not help you build a trusting relationship with your child. Stealing a phone at night when your child is asleep, or checking their social media accounts is not the only way to understand what they are doing.

There is a difference between spying and being held accountable. A child who is accountable knows they are being monitored, which is why parents of tweens should leverage a parental monitoring service from the minute their child gets a social network account or mobile phone. If it’s part of the initial set up, it is easier for kids to accept for the long run.

Tim is an Internet and Child Safety Advocate, public speaker, author, and co-founder of uKnow.com. He has made protecting kids from digital dangers his life mission after his own child was targeted online by a child predator. You can read his blog for more useful tips at www.timwoda.com or follow him on twitter at @TimWoda.

Guidecraft's Pin To Win in April

Click HERE to Pin to Win!

Guidecraft is on Pinterest

Don't Miss This Great Event!

Set some time aside this weekend as we 

March Into April 

with a Fabulous Giveaway Hop!

Over 80 blogs have  joined up

to provide you with great prizes!

Starts Tonight at 12:01am ET.

DiaperPods Review

The makers of DiaperPods know that sometimes changing your child's diaper is messy. When you're out and about, running errands and toting a toddler, it can be even messier. Taking a cue from the kangaroo who keeps important things in her pocket, DiaperPods has created the diaper with the built-in disposal bag!

On the back of the diaper, there is a tiny little pod, or pouch, that contains a little plastic bag that is convenient, sanitary and odor-containing. It is safely out of reach of baby.

You can pull out the little bag while the diaper is still on baby, or you can roll up the diaper with all the yucky stuff inside, and then pull out the bag. It's versatile depending on the situation and your needs.

As a home daycare provider who changes diapers on a regular basis, I think this is an absolutely fabulous idea. You can help get DiaperPods on the shelf at Walmart by voting here:
http://www.getontheshelf.com/product/546/Diaperpods

You can get more information at http://www.diaperpods.com/ and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. Hopefully this technology will soon be coming to a diaper near you!

Custom Made Personalized Photo Bracelet for Mom

If you are looking for a Mother's Day Gift that is a true keepsake, I've got something absolutely amazing to show you. Mimi and Moi Handcrafted Photo Jewelry is a gift your mom will cherish forever. I got all choked up opening this package and I was already expecting it to arrive. Imagine the surprised and blessed look on your mom's face when she opens a custom made personalized photo charm bracelet.

Melisa will work one on one with you to create a beautiful gift made just for mom (or for you!). You send her six photos you want on the bracelet. She will crop, resize, even recolor, the photos exactly the way you want. Each photo charm holds two photos, one on each side. You can select the colors of beads you want and the charms you want for your art jewelry.

I sent Melisa photos of my husband, my three children and my mom and dad. I received a beautiful, high quality photo charm bracelet that will surely be one of the things my kids, grandkids and great-grandkids will fight over when I'm dead. Or maybe I'll have it buried with me.

This bracelet is so personalized that I even told her the size of my wrist and when I put it on, it fit absolutely perfectly. I absolutely love this bracelet and Melisa is fantastic to work with. I sent her color photos and asked her to make them black and white, to give the bracelet a more vintage look and I couldn't be happier with my photo jewelry.

Made of eco-chic materials, Melisa's glass and wire creations make a true fashion statement. My one of a kind bracelet has already gotten tons of compliments from friends and family. Be sure to visit her estore at http://www.mimiandmoi.com, and at www.mimiandmoi4519.etsy.com. Plus, you can follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Her Safari by Lisa Mikitarian

Her Safari: Snapshots Along the Way by Lisa Mikitarian is such a delight to read. This collection of unrelated short stories about the experiences of women of all ages and all walks of life is sure to strike a chord with any woman. From stories about the struggles of being young and single to the challenges of being married for years, Lisa reaches into all women and connects us. She has the wonderful talent of telling a huge story in just a few pages.

I found it easy to relate to each story, in one way or another, either because the story connected personally to me in ways that I've felt or because when I read the stories, I could say, "Hey I know someone just like that." With my busy lifestyle, it was really nice to have the flexibility to read just one story or a dozen at a time. You will love this book. It would make an excellent Mother's Day gift!

Disclosure: I received this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Wedne$day Wealth Giveaway Link Up

Thank you for stopping by today!

I'm so glad you're here!

Link up your giveaways and enter to win!

Here are mine! I hope YOU win!

• Oogie's Gourmet Popcorn Party Pack - Ends Mar 31
• Kindle Fire or Cash, Plus a Book - Ends Mar 31
• Ozeri Digital Kitchen Scale - Ends Mar 31
• Flirty Diva Tees - Ends Mar 31
• Thermos Nissan Travel Tumbler - Ends Mar 31
• Jordan Dene Apron - Ends Mar 31
• Enjoy Life Bread Basket Blessings Unlimited - Ends Mar 31
• NutritionPossible.com/Centrum - Ends Mar 31
• Mrs. Field's Cracked Egg Candy Dish - Ends Apr 2
• Nightmare Nibbler plush for children- Ends Apr 5
• Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler - Ends Apr 5
• $15 Gift Code Mill Fudge Factory - Three Winners - Ends Apr 7
• A Year of Tide Detergent - Ends Apr 9
• Care4Hire.com 1 Month Access - Ends Apr 11
• The Call of Sedona by Lee - Ends Apr 11

Kid's Labels from Oliver's Labels - Review

The kids' labels from Oliver's Labels are fantastic! They can be personalized in so many different ways. I decided to use them to label things that I sometimes send home with daycare families, such as books, extra clothing, even the occasional toy. That way I can make sure my items come back. I love having the different sizes of labels depending on what I'm putting the sticker on. The Stick-eez Clothing Labels stick right to the tag of the daycare shirts. I have a stack of white t-shirts here because sometimes when the kids have accidents there aren't extra clothes in their cubbies.

There are even Shoe Labels in this pack. These will be great to teach the kids right and left! The adhesive is permanent and will firmly bond to any smooth, clean surface. Oliver's Labels can even be put on cups and will stay stuck on, even through the dishwasher. They have a great selection of styles and colors. I choose the Color Palette B, but they also offer labels with animals, vehicles, butterflies and more. I love the food allergy labels too! Check out Oliver's Labels at http://www.oliverslabels.com.

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.

Baby and Toddler Costumes Review

My group of preschoolers loves to play dress-ups. Since there are eight kids, I'm constantly buying costumes and dress-up clothes. The concept of "be gentle" doesn't always apply, so I keep my eyes open for quality products. Lately they've really been into superheroes. They are always asking me to tie the baby blankets around their necks like capes. The only rules we have about superhero play in my daycare is that they must always be rescuers and must never shoot each other. 

I received this Batgirl toddler costume in size 2-4 and am really impressed at the quality of the construction. The dress part of the costume has velcro tabs on the shoulders to attach the cape, so there are no worries about having strings tied around their necks.

There is a great mask with an elastic band to ensure a good fit. It even comes with two wristbands and two shoe covers that look like shiny black gogo boots. The bat on the dress is stitched on and made of fabric, while the belt is a molded foam that is fused to the material. The fabric of the black pieces is very shiny and soft.

When I opened the package I was surprised to find everything folded up around a piece of cardboard, then wrapped in tissue paper. Usually baby and toddler costumes come stuffed in the bag with no special attention and I really appreciated all the extra details. There are so many cute costumes at wholesalehalloweencostumes.com, from fuzzy animal costumes to beautiful princess costumes. Check them out today!

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.