mommy's reviews

Being laid up with a sore foot this week has basically set me back in my couponing trips to the store. I seriously could not do any walking whatsoever this week and today was my first day without people coming over to help me keep up with the children and housework. What a blessing though to have people who are willing to help out when you need it and believe me...I NEEDED it badly. So, today I ventured out to several stores and nailed some pretty sweet deals. Thrilled I was to get out again. :) On the other hand, I am beat tonight. Hee hee. Here are some of my favorite deals from today's trip. Ok, so this wasn't a HUGE shopping trip. I had some coupons expiring soon and had to use them...thankfully the items they were for were on sale. In the above picture, here is what I saved: Almond Breeze Iced Coffee:  Normally $4.99 - on sale for $3.99. I used two coupons for $1 off each and only paid $2.99 per carton. Colgate Toothpaste: Normally $2.99/tube - on sale for 2/$5. I ...

I love fun apps for my children. It is hard to snag them for free and I just found out that today is Free App Friday at Smart Apps for Kids . Check it out...they have Cut The Rope, Frosby's Bouncy Castle and more! Check it out today and hope you find something useful for your children! **Some of these apps are only free until 10 pm CDT so hurry and check them out before they are not free anymore!

I am a huge fan of teaching my children the basics about road safety as soon as they are able to grasp the concept of danger...which is typically when they are still very young. When our first child was a toddler, she was very much an explorer and she loved to wander. I didn't let her out of my sight when we were outside because she could take off in a heartbeat and if I wasn't paying attention, she would disappear. At the time, we had a very short, black-topped driveway but lived on a very quiet street. She loved to go outside and play so most nice days, that is exactly where we would be...out in the front yard playing on all the riding toys. I remember one day like it was yesterday. She was playing on the driveway and I was sitting there watching her. In the blink of an eye, she was racing towards the street as fast as her little legs could carry her and no matter how loud I yelled, she wasn't stopping. I finally caught up with her and carefully and FIRMLY explained tha...

My daughter has been actively and seriously brushing her teeth for over a year now. When she was really young, I would help brush her teeth but it wasn't a priority at the time. Now that she is bigger, she has officially had her very first dental appointment this past spring and is brushing all the time. Her teeth are beautiful, but she will need braces when she is older due to a huge overbite. Her little brother has been brushing his teeth right along side of her for over a year and as much as he dislikes it, I know it is important for him. Making teeth brushing fun has always been my goal...I go out of my way to buy fun toothbrushes and toothpaste for them and I always try and keep the experience positive. FireFly is a company that has really dedicated their entire existence to kids and to keeping teeth brushing FUN. I was made aware of this company a while back, but somehow didn't follow through and investigate more. Until today. :) FireFly makes fun toothbrushes and t...

It’s often a nice gesture to give your neighbor, co-worker, teacher, or boss a goodie basket. It lets that person know he or she is appreciated and gives them something yummy to munch on. Cookies by Design gift baskets and other cookie baskets are something a whole family can enjoy. Cookies are small, subtle, and sweet, so unless you’re diabetic or on a diet, you can enjoy them to your heart’s content. You can order a gift basket of cookies, or you can make cookies to put in a basket you decorate yourself. Displaying the Cookies First, make your cookies. You can buy cookies, but homemade treats often taste better and add a more personal touch. Cater your recipe to the tastes of your recipient, or go with a popular recipe if you’re unsure what he or she likes. Then take out a basket that you are sure will accommodate all the cookies you wish to store. Wrap each cookie or a set of cookies in cellophane or plastic baggies. Next, add to the basket filler paper made out of shredded con...

Getting a website to rank high in the search engines for a keyword that results in enough of the right kind of traffic to convert into sales requires a lot of information. Professional Internet marketers using search engine marketing tools gather this information. There are many tools that do many different things. From determining potential keywords and their search volumes to seeing what kind of links a competitor has, it is all gathered using tools designed specifically for Internet marketing. The Role of Keywords in Internet Marketing Internet marketing is done in many different ways. Whether through search engine optimization, pay-per-click marketing, or banner advertising, they are all based around keywords. The first step in any Internet marketing campaign is to find the best potential keywords. Different Internet marketing professionals have different viewpoints on which kind of keywords are the best to go after, but they all agree that the process begins with keywords. I...

My babies have always struggled with Baby Eczema . The tell-tale signs are always there...dry, flaky skin - redness and irritation - itching that seems to bother them more than anything else. It is so heart-wrenching to watch your child suffer with any ailment and I have certainly watched my little ones deal with more than their fair share of Eczema. My daughter was my first one to have it and it was pitiful. Bathing her and applying lotion seemed to make it worse and come to find out, water is NOT good for Eczema. Finally, after tubes, tubs and bottles of different lotions, I found something that worked. Cortisone. I HATE USING CORTISONE. It works but is steroid based and I don't like putting that on my baby's sensitive skin. On really bad days though I was forced to use it and although it relieved the itching, the Eczema was still there. My search for the ultimate Eczema remedy has taken me down many roads. I have learned so much about skin and what happens when babies ...

This has been one tough weekend. On Friday night, my family and I went out. We had just loaded the  children into the stroller and were headed down a sidewalk. As we were walking, I suddenly had shooting pain in my right foot. I looked down only to see a small board stuck on my shoe. I tried to remove my shoe but very quickly realized that it was nailed to my foot. I had stepped on a board with  four nails sticking out of it. :( We notified a nearby police officer and he called an ambulance. My only concern was that I had not had a Tetanus shot in the past 10+ years and because the nails were rusty, I feared for infection. The paramedics came and cleaned the four holes and bandaged my foot and my husband took me to an Urgent Care center as it would be quicker than going to an ER.  After a Tetanus shot, x-rays and the doctor examining my foot, I was sent home to recover. And that is where I have been ever since. Not being able to put any pressure on my foot has been bother...

I have never struggled with Acne, although I have always struggled with oily skin and problematic blemishes. Skin imperfections can really make me feel self-conscious and I have been searching for solutions for my skin issues. For you ladies out there...it seems that around "that time of the month", our skin can look especially scary and rough so I always dread that. When you have teenagers, it seems that having a clear complexion is almost as important as popularity because, after all, acne can be a real turn off when it comes to having friends. Because I was home schooled, I never felt the hurt and inconsideration of peers when it came to my skin so it never really effected me like it can effect some teens. However, there will be many teens and young adults returning to school this fall with acne and if not treated, it could lead to a devastating and lonely year for them. Well, as usual, Mary Kay has thought through the Acne issue and has come up with a fantastic line...

You recently moved into a new home. You are excited to begin your new life in your house, but there is a lot of work to do. The home was very cheap, but this is because it requires a lot of work. The home is older, and it hasn't been fully renovated. It may take time to make it the home of your dreams, but you and your husband are willing to put the effort into it. As soon as you moved in, you renovated the kitchen and main bathroom. The bedrooms will be next, and then you want to work on the yard. You are the most excited to fix up your yard, since you are fascinated by landscape design. You've thought about planting a beautiful garden, but you are also considering building a nice fence around the yard. Here are some ways that Riverside fencing can add to your home. Keep Things In A fence can improve your yard by keeping things safe. Practically, this applies mostly to children and pets. Without a fence, it can be difficult to have a pet, as you have to take it in and ou...

I just requested this Facebook Freebie and wanted to share it with all of you! I know many of you have Keurig Brewer Systems and so this would be a great freebie for you. Get a FREE Brew Over Ice Snapple K-Cup Pack Sampler Box...this is a Facebook freebie so you have to "Like" Brew Over Ice on Facebook, watch a short video and put your contact information in the form. That is it!! :)  (If you have issues, try a different browser) Could it be any easier??? So, head on over to Brew Over Ice on Facebook and get your sample box on it's way to YOU! :) Enjoy.

Have you ever found yourself looking at your child saying, "WHAT were they thinking???" Or, maybe you have seen your child struggle with simple reading activities or games. Since my daughter is still young, she really hasn't begun reading or writing to the fullest extent but I have noticed a few things that are slightly concerning. First of all, she tends to look at a three letter word (very VERY early reading stage) and will read it backwards. This happens very rarely but when it does, I am perplexed. Also, she can swap out letters and add letters that are not there to begin with. She is a smart girl and is really sharp but what is the reason for these small issues? This makes me wonder just what a child's brain development should be and at what pace it should be developing properly. Today, I am going to introduce you to the Family Hope Center and their DVD,  Understanding Child Brain Development . To order the DVD, you can call 610-397-1737 or you can order U...