DiamondEarrings.org Review and Giveaway

Jewelry is a Girl's Best Friend... Who wants Bling?


DiamondEarrings.org is a site that is providing free simulated diamond earrings to anyone who posts about their site. You can post about it anywhere on the web, like on Twitter, Facebook, your blog,etc. and then you can receive a free pair of earrings, only having to pay $3.77 shipping. What a Great Deal!!!

I was lucky enough to try these earrings out. I actually received a pair of these really nice earrings. They arrived in a little velvet jewelry case(already prefect for gift giving). The earrings are simulated diamond earrings, cubic zirconia and .925 sterling silver. They have a 5 mm stud. They are really beautiful earrings, kind of square shaped. I loved how they felt and they look great!! They are a very pretty small studded earring, great to wear daily. These would be great for kids and would make a Great gift. Hint: the Holiday's are coming.

Great Deal!!!! As mentioned above, you can receive a pair of these earrings for just mentioning them on the web, you only pay the shipping fee,a low cost of $3.77. Anyone can receive a pair but You are limited to only one pair per household.

Or Win it!!! One of my lucky readers can win a pair of Diamond Earrings (including free shipping)

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit DiamondEarrings.org, and let me know what you like best about these earrings.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Follow me via Google Friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on October 10th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.


(Disclosure: This is a MamaBuzz Review. Check out what the others are saying. I received a pair of simulated diamond earrings, free of charge, from DiamondEarrings.org, for the purposes of this review.)

Winner Announcement

Drum Roll Please...

JC... is the Totino's Prize Pack Winner

The Winner of the EcoSmart Picnic Value Bundle is... Mary

Congrats!! An email has been sent.

Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week

Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week is September 19-25,2010.
This is very important to me!!! My niece, Kennedy has been affected and suffers from Mitochondrial encenphalomyopathy. This causes her to have many severe medical problems but she is still full of smiles. (You can read more about Kennedy here)


Until my niece was diagnosed with having Mitochondrial Disease, I had never even heard of it. This disease has no cure!! It can affect children and adults differently. Some of the affected children and adults are living fairly normal lives with mitochondrial disease, while many are severely affected, and some children do not survive their teenage years.

For more information about Mitochondrial Disease or to make a donation, please visit UMDF


Honor those affected or who have lost their battle by Lighting a Candle. *I lit a candle for Kennedy and the others affected.*

She Essential Beauty's Sore Muscle Balm Review & Giveaway

Are you suffering from sore muscles or have body aches from over doing it? Maybe you just started playing a new sport or you are getting back into working out again?

If you anwered yes to any of these questions (like me)-- You may be getting more physical exercise this week and your body's paying for it. Don't Worry...I've found a Great Product that will help you out!



She Essential Beauty's Sore Muscle Balm will help you out!!
This balm is designed to cure sore muscles by boosting the body’s natural immune response to treat pain. This is loaded with therapeutic essiential oils, herbal extraxts and soothing oils to get you back into the game. This 100%-natural remedy is a blend of eucalyptus and lemongrass (to stimulate the mind and release endorphins) and exotic elements of frankincense, myrrh, and ginger (to warm the muscles and increase blood flow), coupled with extracts such as St. John‘s wart, arnica, and rosemary.

Meet...Natural and Organic Skin Care for the Mind, Body and Home...

Shē Essential Beauty is a company, started by two women who are licensed acupuncturists and Chinese herbalists,offering luxurious line of organic skin care, bath/body and home products. They are dedicated to creating natural and organic beauty products, by applying principles and techniques that have existed for thousands of years in Chinese Medicine. By combining lush blends of aromatic herbs with certified organic ingredients, their products have the ability to stimulate the mind, while calming and nourishing the body naturally, inside and out.

Since, I have been working out more this past week--I've been experiencing some extra sore muscles. I had the opportunity to try out She Essential Beauty's Sore Muscle Balm and it has really worked Great!! First of all, I love that it is loaded with therapeutic essential oils and herbal extracts and is a 100% natural remedy. Truly a dynamic product that utilizes the philosophy of eastern medicine to heal your pain quickly. This balm, is not greasy and I like the light scent. I can smell the frankincense in it but it has more a lemon(y)kind of scent. It does not have a strong bad odor.(like most sore muscle cremes do). It works pretty quickly too and gives you a calming feeling. When you rub the balm with pressure for about a minute or so, the product really heats up!- which feels good and is effective. I used this the other night on my sore calve muscles and it seemed to ease the aching feeling. I would recommend this product!!! This is just what you need, especially when you have aching, sore muscles from over doing it.


You can purchase She Essential Beauty's Sore Muscle Balm (4oz)for $40
Good news...You can receive 20% off purchases over $50 from September 23 through Oct. 1st. Just use the coupon code "Fall2010" at checkout.

OR Win it!!! One of my lucky readers can Win She Essential Beauty's Sore Muscle Balm (4oz $40 value)

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit She Essential Beauty, and let me know which product interested you the most or you would like to try

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Follow me via Google Friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Like She Essential Beauty on Facebook (2 extra entries)
■Sign up for the She Essential Newsletter (2 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on October 7th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.


*Disclosure: This is a Mama Buzz review. I received She Essential Beauty's Sore Muscle Balm free of charge for the purposes of this review. Check out what the other Mama Buzz Reviewers have to say about this product .*

National Preparedness Month & "Go Bag" Giveaway

Giveaway closed. Congrats to Benita!!!
September is National Preparedness Month. Before a disaster turns your world upside- Get Prepared!!!

This month, OEM and The Advertising Council team up to encourage New Yorkers to take some time and be ready for all types of emergencies.
Develop a disaster plan and decide where you and your family will meet in the event of an emergency. Gather emergency supplies - some to keep in your home and others to keep in backpacks in case you must leave your home in a hurry. Finally, learn how to keep informed about the hazards you may face in New York City.

Today, everyone can take three steps to prepare for all types of emergencies!

1. Make a plan
2. Get a kit
3. Be informed

The main goal of the Ready New York City campaign is to encourage parents to prepare in the case of an emergency, both small and large, partially by staying informed through OEM’s Facebook page. September 2nd was the Launch of the Get Ready NYC: My Meeting Place Facebook application, which allows users to take the first step in making a plan by selecting and sharing your own meeting place with others.

Make a Plan:
Develope a Disaster Plan with your Family. Prepare for what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in an emergency. Disuss a meeting place and emergency exits. It's always helpful to go over this information and practice your plan.

Get a Kit:
Gather Supplies! It's important to keep at least 3 days worth of supplies.
Important items include:
- Water (one gallon of water per day/per person)
-Non-Perishable,ready to eat food (& Can Opener)
-First aid kit
-Flashlight
-Battery-operated AM/FM radio & extra batteries (you can also buy wind-up radios that do not require batteries)
-Personal hygiene items:like soap,feminine hygiene products,toothbrush & toothpaste
-Phone that does not rely on electricity
-Child care supplies or other special care items(like Baby formula or medicine)

Be Informed!
OEM is branching out and sharing information with New Yorkers in more ways than ever before. In addition to getting emergency alerts and updates through radio or television news, you can sign up for Notify NYC to receive emergency messages through the telephone or by text message. OEM also offers a variety of e-mail alerts- Find one that's right for you here.

Please be ready!! We never know when an emergency is going to happen. Let's be prepared!!! Every household should pack a Go Bag - a collection of items you may need in the event of an evacuation. A Go Bag should be packed in a sturdy and easy-to-carry container(such as a backpack or suitcase on wheels). A Go Bag should be easily accessible for if and when you have to leave your home in a hurry. Besides your other important supplies you should have a few more items like:
-Copies of your important documents (in a waterproof and portable container) like your insurance cards, photo IDs, proof of address, etc.
Extra set of car and house keys
-Credit Card or ATM cards & cash( especially in small denominations. It's recommended to keep at least $50-$100 on hand.)
-Keep a list of the medications each member of your household takes, why they take them, and their dosages. Medication information and other essential personal items are very important!(If you store extra medication in your Go Bag, make sure you refill them before they expire.)
-First-aid kit

Are you ready? Get your Go Bag Ready now!!!
Win it!!!One of my lucky readers can win a Disaster Preparedness Starter kit (The "Go Bag")



MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit www.readynyc.org and check out the guides for tips & information. Leave a Comment telling me a tip you found most useful.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Leave a comment telling me how you would personalize your Go Bag (if you won)(1 extra entry)
■Follow me via Google Friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Add @NYC OEM to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (2 extra entries)
■Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Like the NYC Office of Emergency Management Facebook Page (3 extra entries)
■Use the Get Ready NYC: My Meeting Place Facebook application (3 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)

This giveaway will end on October 6th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.


*Disclosure: I am helping to spread awareness to prepare families for emergency situations. This information and giveaway was provided by the Ready NYCity Campaign*

Please visit OEM-New York City Office of Emergency Management for Important information.

I had a HEXBUG Nano In-Home Party!

Usually when I hear the word "bug(s)" it creeps me out!! But... I've found a Bug that Parents and children will both Love!



The HEXBUG Nano is a teeny tiny, micro robotic bug that crawls around, can flip to its feet when turned on its back and find its way through any maze. These life-like bugs come packaged in a sleek, scientific test tube which fits easily into jean pockets or backpacks, great for travel or play dates.



A Special Thank You to my friends at MomSelect and HEXBUG Nano, for providing me with this great opportunity to host a HEXBUG Nano In-House Party. They sent me so much!!! My HEXBUG Nano In-Home Party Kit included all the tools I needed to create an unforgettable experience for my children and their friends. We received the HEXBUG Nano test tubes,the HEXBUG Nano Habitat Set, the HEXBUG Nano Bridge Battle Habitat Set and more. They also included recipes and game ideas that made our party a Huge Success!!

The HEXBUG Nanos are so Cool!!! My children just love these!! These are great for both boys and girls. Even the Adults can have fun watching and playing with these industrious critters. I let my children each invite over a few friends for our party, our guests ranged from 7 yrs old to 13 yrs. Everyone had a great time. These HEXBUGS even interested my Mom and myself. Adults will like watching these little creatures move around,they are really neat. Just turn them on and they go!( Batteries included). They come in a variety of colors. Hold them in your hand and you will feel the vibration. It is super cool putting them on their backs and watching them flip over to their feet. The kids even watched them fall off the stairs and they keep moving. We were able to the test these out by creating a customizable playground for these critters to traverse through! The kids had fun building their own Nano habit set and Nano bridge battle habitat set. These HEXBUGS are fun to play with, the kids enjoyed watching them move around and race each other. We played some games and the kids were entertained for hours. They were so excited when they each got to take their HEXBUGS home for more fun and play. I haven't had a chance to try this out yet, but each HEXBUG Nano comes with a unique code that you can register online, track your HEXBUG Nano collection, play games and learn about real science. I really think that these are going to be the next Hot item!! I know that my children want more.


I had one of my friends call me and say that her son's HEXBUG Nano went through the Washing mashine and dryer and amazingly still worked. WOW!!! (I really wouldn't recommend this though.)

Also, her daughter had shown a few friends these Cool HEXBUGS and they all want them!! I was really surprised by the price!! These HEXBUG Nanos sell for less than $10.00 each. They can be purchased online and I just seen them advertised on sale in the Toys R'US ad. These may be the "Must Have Item" for Christmas. I would get them now, if you can. I know I will be buying more!


These are the Kids who attended this great party!! They are proudly showing off their Bugs!



HEXBUG Nanos in action!!
The Boys had fun watching them crawl around their habitat! And the girls made a barrier with their legs so the little creatures couldn't escape.

Mamavation Monday

Well, I have to admit that I'm a Loser!!! I really need some help getting motivated!! I was all excited and ready to get back into my workouts with the Mama Gun's Challenge. I started the week off to a good start and then I fizzled out. Let me make no excuses- I'm just plain lazy- I really need to make the time to get my workouts in. I will feel much better about myself and I really want to get back into the groove. I AM Going to do better this Week- I promise!!! So... Today, I am going to kick the old bad habits and make some new ones. I am going to make sure that I have time to exercise, do my workouts and strength training. I am going to Lose weight and look great by the end of this challenge!! I will be Buff'Tuff!!

Rock 'N Learn Phonics DVD Review & Giveaway

Rock'N Learn,Inc., owned and operated by its founders, Richard and Brad Caudle, began as an idea that would help children learn by putting educational material to music with a current sound—the kind of music that kids enjoy and find motivating.

As documented in hundreds of testimonials received each year, Rock'N Learn programs work!!. No wonder, they have received numerous awards such as Dr. Toy, Parents’ Choice, iParenting, National Parenting Publications, Learning Magazine Teachers’ Choice, Early Childhood News, National Parenting Center, and Parent's Guide to Children’s Media.

Rock'N Learn Phonics DVD and audio CD programs provide an easy and fun way to learn the phonics skills that lead to reading and spelling success. Catchy songs and rhymes help students remember basic phonics rules, vowels, consonants, blends, digraphs, silent e, and much more. Delayed answers and the on-screen mouth (Phonics videos) allow learners to check their progress and use these programs independently.

Check out these Phonics DVDs!!!!



Practicing the phonics skills that lead to reading and spelling success is more fun than ever. Rock'N Learn has turbocharged their best-selling Phonics video program with new, enhanced animation along with sentence and story practice Catchy rhymes make rules easy to remember. Delayed answers and our “on-screen mouth” let students check their reading and pronunciation. Read-along stories and fun songs provide practice with rules and build reading fluency. Context clues help students develop multiple strategies to read for meaning.
(Ages 6 & up. Approx. 70 minutes)

Busy parents and teachers love the way Rock'N Learn Phonics captures kids' attention. Cool songs and humorous characters take the struggle out of learning to read. Students control the pace, advancing as they master each new skill, so they can practice on their own and feel proud of their accomplishments. Learners spend as much time as they need on each section before going to new sections. They can always review previous material; it’s fun with this highly-entertaining phonics DVD.

Contents Phonics Volume 1 covers:Introduction • Vowels • Short Vowel Sounds • Beginning Consonants With Vowels • Practice • c, g, qu, x • Find the Sounds (phonemic segmentation) • Sound It Out (oral blending) • Putting It All Together • Simple Phrases/ Rhyming Words • Double Consonants (words ending in ll, ss, ff) • Plural s and Ending s • Story: “Pip Gets a Pat” • Song: “Pip Gets a Pat” • Ending Blends • Practice • Beginning Blends • Three-Letter Blends • Sentence Practice • Consonant Digraphs and Trigraphs • Sentence Practice • Introduction to Silent e • Silent e Makes the Long Vowel Sound • Silent e Practice • Sentence Practice • Fun Quiz and Review • Story: “Hiss and Run” • Song: “Hiss and Run”



Volume 2 builds on Volume 1, with catchy rhymes to make rules easy to remember. Delayed answers and our “on-screen mouth” let students check their reading and pronunciation. Read-along stories and fun songs provide practice applying the rules and building reading fluency. Context clues help students develop multiple strategies to read for meaning.
(Ages 6 & up. Approx. 78 minutes.)

Rock'N Learn Phonics Volume 2 DVD is perfect for students after they’ve mastered the material on Volume 1. With Phonics Volume 2, students discover other ways besides “silent e” to make long vowels, such as: ai, ay, ee, and ie. They practice long vowel patterns and apply phonics rules by reading sentences with words that feature long vowel sounds.

Students also practice reading words and sentences with r-controlled vowels, diphthongs, the schwa sound, syllables, ending sounds, and more. Eventually, students read stories that proceed from simple to complex. By also singing along with songs about the stories, students build reading fluency and have lots of fun.

Contents Phonics Volume 2 covers:
Introduction • Long a • Long e • Long i • Long o • Long u • Sentence Practice • ar • er, ir, ur • or • ire, are, air • Story: “Fruit on the Beach” • Song: “Fruit on the Beach” • Diphthongs (oi, oy, ou, ow) • au, aw, all, al • Sentence Practice • Break It Down (syllables) • Schwa Sound • How Many Syllables? (phonemic segmentation) • Ending Sounds • Endings: y and le • Sentence Practice • Rule Breakers • ph and gh • Memory Words • Read-Along: “The Dog Days of Summer” • Silent Consonants • Story: “The Zany Rainy Bread Lady” • Song: “The Zany Rainy Bread Lady” • Read-Along: “Jade and Chip’s Amazing Snow Dance”

My thougths:
I love Rock'N Learn!!! They have products that are great for children of all ages. I love the way Rock'N Learn Phonics capture kids' attention and keeps them interested. Children are having fun watching the DVDs and they hardly realize they are learning at the same time. Cool songs and humorous characters take the struggle out of learning to read by making it much easier and fun. Busy parents appreciate this approach! These DVDs are easy for the kids to use on their own, they don't require alot of time or supervision from the parents. You won’t find a phonics video program more thorough and entertaining than Rock'N Learn Phonics DVDs. I would highly recommend them!!

Many of Rock'N Learn’s DVDs are available nationwide in Barnes & Noble superstores (those locations having a DVD section) or you can Buy Rock'N Learn Phonics Volume 1 for $19.99 here
Save $5 and purchase Volume 1 & 2 for $34.99

Or You Can Win it!!! One of My lucky readers can win the Rock'N Learn Phonics Volume 1 & Volume 2 DVDs


MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit Rock'N Learn.com and Leave a Comment telling what DVD,CD,Book or Program you would like the most.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Follow me via Google Friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US and Canada residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on October 4th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.


*Disclosure: I received the Rock'N Learn Phonics DVDs for review purposes. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

Pink Digital Photo Keychain Review & Giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com


I just reviewed the Pink Digital Photo Keychain, and I like many things about it...This digital photo keychain is very useful, I love the fact that you don't need to carry a "Brag Book" or photos with You, you can show off your pictures anywhere you carry your keys. It's small and light weight and best of holds up to 72 pictures. This has a rechargeable battery and comes with it's own USB cord. You can download photos easily and you can even crop and rotate photos. This has a large lcd display screen great for You to have a slideshow going and this even will display the time. The quality is pretty good. Some pictures will come out better than others, but thats to be expected. I only had one problem, the directions are very tiny and I had a hard time reading them. Once I fiqured it out though, it was very easy to use. (Just plug it in to the computer, download your pictures and go). I received the pink one, but I also like that it comes in a variety of colors and types, and can be engraved for a low additional fee. For $9.99...It is definitely worth it! These digital photo keychains make great gifts!!
You can purchase them here

Or Win it!!! One of my lucky readers can win a Pink Digital Photo Keychain.

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit WholesaleKeychains.com and Leave a Comment telling what you like best about these digital photo keychains.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Follow me via Google Friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on October 3rd at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.


*Disclosure: I received a Pink Digital Photo Keychain free of charge for review purposes. This is my honest thoughts and opinion.*

This Product Was a Free Giveaway

Winner Announcement

Drum Roll Please...

The Winner of the Smelly Towel Cleaner is... Elizabeth

The Striking Skin Care Giveaway Winner is... Amber

Congrats ladies!! You will be getting an email from me.

Cystex ~Product Information & Giveaway ~

Consider Yourself Lucky... if You haven't experienced a UTI (Urinary tract infection). For those of us who have, you know that they can be painful and annoying.
Cranberries have long played a role in helping many women, particularly those with recurring urinary tract infections (UTIs), to promote better bladder health. In fact, some 50 percent of women report drinking a lot of cranberry juice when they suspect they have a UTI, according to a survey conducted for Cystex. However, the bitterness of pure cranberry juice can make it intolerable for most to drink on a daily basis, and cranberry juice cocktail, which has less health impact than pure cranberry juice, can be loaded with sugar and calories, offsetting any potential bladder health benefits.
Check out Cystex!! Cystex Helps Manage UTIs...and Now Promotes Urinary Health! Cystex is the trusted urinary health brand that has helped millions of women manage the pain and discomfort of urinary tract infections. While anyone at any age can get a urinary tract infection (UTI), women are more prone to them (60% of women will experience a UTI), and of those women who experience this infection, 40% will have another....millions of women will have multiple infections!

Those most prone to recurring UTIs now have a great, new option to help with infection prevention and boosting urinary tract health* without needing to drink all that cranberry juice!



New Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex with Proantinox is Safe and effective, and clinically-proven to help prevent urinary tract infections from recurring. New Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex with Proantinox provides powerful urinary tract protection in just one tablespoon daily - more than cranberry pills or cranberry juice! This pleasant-tasting, unique blend is more than just cranberry concentrate - its proprietary formula also contains D-Mannose, inulin, bromelain and vitamin C - a combination designed to boost bladder health. Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex with Proantinox also has a higher absorption rate than cranberry tablets, provides 17 times more proanthocyanidins (PACS), is lactose-, gluten- and sugar-free, and is just one calorie per tablespoon.

In fact, just one tablespoon of Cystex Liquid Cranberry is equal to 8 glasses of cranberry juice with much less sugar and calories!

Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex with Proantinox is available at drug and mass-market stores nationwide including Walmart and Rite Aid and via online retailers for $9.99.

Win it!!! One of my lucky readers can win a Bottle of Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex with Proantinox.

To enter this giveaway: Please visit Cystex and leave me a comment with something you learned about this product or UTIs.

To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■ Follow me via Google Friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■ Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■ Follow @Shawnmh on Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■ Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■ Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)This giveaway will end on September 29th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.


*Disclosure: I received a bottle of this Cystex Liquid Cranberry Complex with Proantinox for review purposes, but I have not tried this product yet. All of this product information comes from the Cystex website.*

Lose For Good- Join Lose-A-Palooza Today and Weight Watchers Will Donate Money

As part of the Lose For Good campaign , Weight Watchers will donate $1, up to a maximum of $60,000, to Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger for each approved mention, acknowledgment or action related to “Lose For Good” made on September 14th through blogs, Twitter, Facebook and check-in via foursquare.



Join In!!! It's So EASY!!! All You have to do is use the #LoseForGood Hastag today in your tweets and/or mention "Lose For Good" on your blog or facebook.



Lose-A-Palooza is a one-day social media event created to encourage participation in the Lose For Good campaign** to benefit Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger.

Mamavation Monday

Monday morning again. Weigh in time! Oh... the scale doesn't like me!!! It should be going down but.. its been going up. I know... I can't blame the scale only myself. I have been on vacation alittle too long. I've been enjoying too much food and doing little to no exercise. But... I'm Back!!! Just in time!!!
I'm signing up for the Mama Gun's Challenge and I'm going to get Buff’n'Tough!!



By signing up for this challenge, I'm committing to strength training 3-4 days per week for 30-45 minutes. This is in addition to Cardio Training and Eating Healthy.
So... I better get started!!! My goal is to Tone Up and I want to Lose 12 Pounds. Now, According to the WiiFit-my weight is in the higher part of Normal-- I'm not Overweight but My ideal BMI is 22.00 - for that I need to lose around 12 pounds.

So, Here's my picture. (9/13/10 Week 1)



Not too Bad!! I have Guns- only because I'm a Gymnastics Coach and I'm always spotting and lifting Kids.
I wouldn't say that my problem area isn't my arms- for me it's my stomach,legs and butt. Ok... it's my whole body!

I'm starting Today!! I'm going to get in some good workouts, eat healthy- I would like to try Chef Requested steaks,and I'm eating my fruits and veggies and going to drink lots of Water!!!

Winner Announcement

Drum Roll Please...

The Winners of the Book: The Glamour of Grammar are...Nicole, Susan and Jenn

The Winner of the Dryel Starter Kit is... Amber

Congrats!!! An email has been sent

Happy Birthday Kennedy

Today's my Niece Kennedy's 9th Birthday. Happy Birthday Kennedy. We all Love and Miss You. Wish we could be there to celebrate with you. Hope You have a Beary Good Day!!

Remembering 9/11

...
Today we Remember 9/11... back 9 years ago. We all have our own memories, some may be better than others. I remember being at work and hearing about what had happened. I think it was an awful day for many of us. I would like to send my prayers and thoughts out to all of you who lost a loved one on that day. I was almost 8 months pregnant with my second child and already emotional. I didn't know anyone personally who we lost that day but I remember everyone wondering if their loved ones were okay. It was a horrible feeling just watching the tv and listening to the news. Thank you to all of those heroes that day.
Then that evening my mother drove to Wisconsin to be with my sister who was having her baby 7 weeks premature. I couldn't go(because of being pregnant & stuff) and my mom had to get there fast. No flights out and she had to drive almost 15 hours. What a crazy trip for her. Luckily, my Aunt went with her. They both left in such a hurry- they both even forgot their purses. Good thing my Mom had money and a credit card in her pocket. What a night... I worried the whole time. My niece was born on Sept. 12, 2001- not that horrible day 9 years ago.

Ecosmart Technologies ~Giveaway~

My children and I love spending alot of time outside doing many activities. This time of year, my son is playing soccer and the mosquitos have been awful. But, no worries. I have been using Ecosmart's insect repellent, it smells good and works great. I am happy to have found EcoSmart Technologies.

Discover EcoSmart!!! Products that are SAFE!!!! Non-Toxic. Safe around our children, Safe around our Pets and Safe for the environment. You'll want to keep them on hand all year long. Use EcoSmart products instead of insect bombs.

Check out these great products...


EcoSmart's Safe Picnic Package!Only $23.00, Save Over 23%
Bundle Includes:
•Home Pest Control (24 oz spray bottle)
•Flying Insect Killer (14 oz can)
•Insect Repellent (Two 6 oz bottles)

HOME PEST CONTROL:Product Description
Kills and repels over 100 home invading pests: Ants (including Carpenter, Red Harvester, Pavement and Argentine), Beetles, Centipedes, Cockroaches, Crickets, Earwigs, Fleas, Millipedes, Pantry Pests, Pillbugs, Silverfish, Spiders, Sowbugs, Ticks and other crawling insect pests.
Unlike other insecticides, it is made from organic plant oils and kills bugs naturally to better protect your family. Plus, there’s no pesticide residue.

FLYING INSECT KILLER:Product Description
Kills flies, gnats, mosquitoes, moths, wasps, and other flying insect pests on contact.
Unlike other insecticides, it is made from organic plant oils and kills bugs naturally to better protect your family. Plus, there’s no pesticide residue.

INSECT REPELLENT:Product Description
Keeps bugs away for hours and is safe for the
entire family. They don’t use DEET or other synthetic chemicals -this powerful, all-natural formula is made from organic plant oils, and repels mosquitoes, ticks, gnats and other annoying pests for hours.

These products can be purchased online and at some retailers including Home Depot, Walmart and Price Chopper.

Win it!! One of my lucky readers can win EcoSmart's Safe Picnic Value Bundle ($30 value)

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Share why You want or need EcoSmart's Safe Picnic Value Bundle.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Follow me via Google Friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on September 24th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.

*Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to share these great products with my readers by hosting this giveaway. Ecosmart will mail the winner their prize. I have had the opportunity to try these products out before and I have had great results. I love that EcoSmart products are Safe. *

Weight Watchers-Lose-A-Palooza -1 Day Event - 9/14-

Wouldn’t it be great if you could help Fight Hunger?

Well... On September 14, 2010, you can!



Lose-A-Palooza is a one-day social media event created to encourage participation in the Lose For Good campaign** to benefit Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger.


As part of the Lose For Good campaign , Weight Watchers will donate $1, up to a maximum of $60,000, to Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger for each approved mention, acknowledgment or action related to “Lose For Good” made on September 14th through blogs, Twitter, Facebook and check-in via foursquare.



It's that Easy!!! Weight Watchers will be donating all the money and tracking the event, I know I'll be tweeting with the #LoseForGood hastag on September 14th! Please join in!!! Help make a difference!!!


*Disclosure: As a member of the One2One Network, I may be eligible to win prizes for this post and for helping to share this information. Although this is not the reason-for me posting this information.*

Raising Awareness to Prepare Families for Emergency Situations

Are You ready?
Before a disaster turns your world upside- Get Prepared!!!
September is National Preparedness Month. Everyone can prepare for emergencies by taking three steps.

This month, OEM and The Advertising Council team up to encourage New Yorkers to take some time and be ready for all types of emergencies. Develop a disaster plan and decide where you and your family will meet in the event of an emergency. Gather emergency supplies - some to keep in your home and others to keep in backpacks in case you must leave your home in a hurry. Finally, learn how to keep informed about the hazards you may face in New York City.

Today, everyone can take three steps to prepare for all types of emergencies:

1. Make a plan
2. Get a kit
3. Be informed

The main goal of the Ready New York City campaign is to encourage parents to prepare in the case of an emergency, both small and large, partially by staying informed through OEM’s Facebook page. September 2nd was the Launch of the Get Ready NYC: My Meeting Place Facebook application, which allows users to take the first step in making a plan by selecting and sharing your own meeting place with others.

Stay tuned for more information.

Totino’s Box Tops for Education Prize Pack ~Giveaway~

As you jot down pencils and notebooks on your shopping list, remember to include Totino’s Party Pizza and Pizza Rolls Snacks – kids’ most favorite thing for your freezer!

My kids love Totino's Pizza Rolls!! They are one of their favorite snacks. I love them too- they are easy to make and taste great! Visit Totino's and click for a tasty savings. ($1 coupon)

This fall, Totino’s is also helping to support your child’s school. Totino’s Party Pizzas will now carry Box Tops for Education! Now through September 15, Totino’s is offering two Box Tops for Education on every Totino’s product. Totino’s is also giving away 10,000 Bonus Box Tops, school supplies and free Totino’s snacks to eight lucky schools through the “Make School a Better Place Sweepstakes!” Check it out!! Enter daily for even more chances to win!

Now for my giveaway...

Win it!!! One of my lucky readers can win a Prize Pack including a backpack and school supplies, a coupon for Totino’s® Party Pizza® and Pizza Rolls® Snacks, as well as 25 Bonus Box Tops.

To enter this giveaway: Please leave me a comment with What tips you have to make surviving the back to school season easier?

To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■ Tell me What is your child’s favorite thing to do while snacking on Totino’s after school? (1 extra entry)
■ Follow me via Google Friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■ Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■ Follow @Shawnmh on Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■ Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■ Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■ Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)This giveaway will end on September 23rd at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.



*Disclosure: General Mills provided me with this information,prize pack for myself and one for a giveaway through MyBlogSpark*

Winner Announcement

Drum Roll Please...

The Winner of the Sweet Paper Lane $25 Gift Certificate is... Courtney

The Winners of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Runners Book are... MamaHill, Susan and Mail4Rosey

Congrats to all. An email has been sent.

First Day Back to School

The kids were Excited!!! Today was their First Day Back to School. They got up pretty easy and got ready without any problems. Kylee was too cool -but I did sneak a few pictures. Connor liked me waiting for the Bus with him and taking pictures.
I have a busy day planned too- Lots of running around and Lunch and a Business Seminar with the hubby. I will have more time tomorrow and will get some pictures up. I'm hoping the Kids are having a Good Day.

The Boy that Changed the World -Book Review

Did you know that-- what you do today can change the world forever?
Everything You Do Matters!!!



The Boy Who Changed the World
By Author: Andy Andrews
Illustrated by: Philip Hurst

Book Description
The Boy Who Changed the World opens with a young Norman Borlaug playing in his family’s cornfields with his sisters. One day, Norman would grow up and use his knowledge of agriculture to save the lives of two billion people. Two billion! Norman changed the world! Or was it Henry Wallace who changed the world? Or maybe it was George Washington Carver?

This engaging story reveals the incredible truth that everything we do matters! Based on The Butterfly Effect, Andy’s timeless tale shows children that even the smallest of our actions can affect all of humanity. The book is beautifully illustrated and shares the stories of Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug, Vice President Henry Wallace, Inventor George Washington Carver, and Farmer Moses Carver. Through the stories of each, a different butterfly will appear. The book will end with a flourish of butterflies and a charge to the child that they, too, can be the boy or girl who changes the world.


No wonder, that Andy Andrews is a best selling author, he writes such great books. This engaging tale, teaches children that their actions can set off a spark that in turn can influence others. This story is based on Andy Andrew's popular book, The Butterfly Effect, just written so children can better understand it. This book has beautiful illustrations. The pictures are bright and very colorful. On just about every page, you will see butterflies, ending with abunch of butterflies. The Boy Who Changed the World reveals the incredible truth that everything You do matters-what you did yesterday,what you did today, and what you will do tomorrow. Every Choice you make(good or bad)can make a difference. In this great book, Andy Andrews, shows children that everything they do, every action (big or small) can have a ripple effect around the world. (The Butterfly Effect).

After reading this book, I think that children will have a better understanding of the Butterfly Effect and may even get the desire to be the boy or girl that changes the world, or at least they may think more about their actions. Everything You do Matters!!

This book would be a good one to read at school and/or religious education. Teachers can even download school circulum on The Boy Who Changed the World by visiting AndyAndrews.com/Education.

If you would like to read this book, you can purchase it from ThomasNelson.com or from Amazon or ChristianBook.com

*Diclosure: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.*

National Preparedness Month Events-Get Ready NYC

Giveaway Announcement

Drum Roll Please...

The Winner of Jennifer Swanson's Newest Penny & Rio Book- The Diamond Collar Adventure is... AstarrA

The Winner of the Healthy Odor Control is... Jessica

Congrats!!!

Striking Skin Care Review & Giveaway

Are you concerned about aging ? Are you looking for results from your skin care regimen? These questions being asked- may have different answers for some--and the answer may depend on your age.

Whether you've diligently cared for your skin all along or have ignored it until now, Striking Skin Care with SmartPeptides can help You. They nurture, protect and revitalize your complexion. This simple yet effective group of products is the result of years of scientific research in developing peptides so precise they target anti-aging concerns, such as fine lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness and signs of hormonal aging.

Striking Skin Care products have been specifically formulated and tested to provide proven results. In test studies- 94% said they had firmer skin in 14 days after using the Striking Multi-Peptide Serum and 84% said that the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles were reduced in 14 days.


Striking Skin Care System includes all 4 of the products in one set to easily use as part of your daily regimen.

Set includes - 4 full size products:
•Striking Multi-Vitamin Cleanser, 8 oz bottle
•Striking Multi-Peptide Serum, 1.13 oz bottle
•Striking Rejuvenating Eye Creme, 0.5 oz jar
•Striking Restorative Moisture Creme, 1 oz jar

Wash face morning and evening with Striking Multi-Vitamin Cleanser. Rinse with tepid water and dry skin before applying Striking Multi-Peptide Serum. Allow product to dry and follow with Striking Rejuvenating Eye Creme and Striking Restorative Moisture Creme.

I was lucky enough to receive these products and give them a try. My results have been pretty good so far, but I have only been using these products for almost two weeks. I'm sure that with longer use time, I would have even better results.

These Striking Skin Care products are easy to use. They contain natural ingredients and vitamins that restore your skin's natural moisture balance , brighten your complexion and protect against radical damage.

The Striking Multi-Vitamin Cleanser comes in an 8 oz bottle. It has a soft smell and is very creamy. It gently cleanses your skin of makeup and impurities while the age-fighting vitamins protect and help maintain your skin's moisture barrier. I noticed that after using this product my face is not dried out and feels softer.

The Striking Multi-Peptide Serum made my skin feel firmer and look better. I really don't have too many wrinkles yet, so I have noticed any reduction in wrinkles and fine lines. This serum is fast absorbing and contains Humectants that provide moisture to protect dehydrated skin.

The Striking Rejuvenating Eye Creme helped to hydrate the delicate skin around my eyes. This has Helped to reduce the puffiness and dark circles around my eyes and gave me smoother skin.

The Striking Restorative Moisture Creme also provided extra moisture and helped to replenish my skin while combating the signs of aging. This also made my skin feel firmer after use.

These Striking Skin Care products are free of parabens, fragrance, artificial colors,pore-clogging ingredients and formaldehyde-releasing ingredients.

These can be purchased online for $149.95 (which includes over 10% savings)

Or Win it!!!! One of my lucky readers can win the Striking Daily Duo.(Value $77.00)


Replenish skin with moisture and bring back firmness to your skin with the Daily Duo Product Set. Integrate these two products into your daily routine and see the results. Patented SmartPeptide(tm) technology and natural ingredients in both of these products stimulate skin's repair processes, restore moisture and boost collagen to reduce wrinkles, increase firmness and leave skin feeling, looking fresh.
Set includes - 2 products:
*Striking Rejuvenating Eye Creme, 0.5 oz jar
*Striking Restorative Moisture Creme, 1 oz jar

MANDATORY/REQUIRED ENTRY:
Visit StrikingSkinCare.com and leave me a Comment telling me which product you would want to try.
EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry. But in addition you can:

■Follow me via Google Friend Connect (1 extra entry)
■Subscribe via e-mail (1 extra entry)
■Add @Shawnmh to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Add @strikingskin to your Twitter -Leave me your twitter ID (1 extra entry)
■Tweet this giveaway on Twitter. Be sure to include a link to this contest page (Leave me the link)(1 extra entry/this may be done daily)
■Add my button to your site AND/OR add me to your blog roll.(1 entry for each)
■Like Striking Skin Care on a Facebook (2 extra entries)
■Blog about this contest: Add a link to this post (5 extra entries)

This giveaway is open to US residents only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.(Please make sure if you are anonymous you leave your email address with your comments.)
This giveaway will end on September 16th at 11:59 pm Est. The winner will be notified and have 48 hours to respond to my email or another winner will be chosen.


*Disclosure: This is a Mama Buzz review. I received the Striking Skin Care System, free of charge, from Striking Skin Care/Helix BioMedix, for the purposes of this review. Check out what the other Mama Buzz Reviewers have to say about this product .*