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Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000 with SmartGuide Recap

May 20, 2012 by

I feel like we have a pretty good tooth brushing routine in our house for the most part. Are we perfect, no! Do we miss a tooth brushing if we get home late from somewhere, yes! For the most part meaning the other 99.9 percent of the time we are on top of it.

Our nightly routine starts at around 8:15 – 8:30 when we send Shaun and Shae up to brush their teeth. Shaun actually visited an orthodontist on a school trip a few months ago and they gave him what I remember as an old school egg timer. It is filled with sand and you flip it over and once the sand moves from one side to the other they are done with their teeth. Shaun and Shae do a pretty good job and don’t really fight when it comes to brushing their teeth.

I also have a pretty good routine where I floss every single night and brush every morning and night. Up until I received the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000 with SmartGuide I was using a no frills manual toothbrush. I have used a power toothbrush in the past and for some reason I went back to a no frills toothbrush and I have no clue why. I really like the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000 with SmartGuide because it now forces me to brush for a full 2 minutes which I know for a fact after using this new power toothbrush for the last week I wasn’t doing.

Here are a few additional features I don’t want to forget to mention:

• Separate, wireless SmartGuide helps maximize brushing performance
• Deep Clean mode removes up to 99.7% of plaque from hard-to-reach areas
• Pressure sensor stops pulsations when brushing too hard
• Gentle on teeth and gums
• 5 modes: Daily Clean, Sensitive, Whitening, Massage, Deep Clean
• Oral-B is the #1 dentist-recommended toothbrush brand worldwide

I really like the wireless SmartGuide because it tells me every 30 seconds when to move to the next quadrant of my mouth. I also like the ability to choose from one of the five different modes because I use the daily clean mode and Melinda uses the sensitive mode. The pressure sensor is also helpful because it will show a frown face on the wireless SmartGuide as well as flash red on the toothbrush. It seems like every time I switch to a power toothbrush I tend to use too much pressure so the pressure sensor has come in handy.

Overall I am very happy with the Oral-B ProfessionalCare SmartSeries 5000 with SmartGuide. Right now you can take advantage of the mail-in rebate offered by Oral-B (Oral-B is offering a $10 mail-in rebate on select power toothbrushes April 29 through June 16, 2012. Please visit OralB.com for more information). Trust me you won’t be disappointed.

Be sure to also check out Oral-B on Twitter and Facebook!




Tell Her “Mom You Rock” with Skype

May 14, 2012 by

I’ve been picked as a Skype Ambassador. This means I get to show you all the cool features Skype has to offer that you may not have known about already.
Mom You Rock, Skype Facebook App
This weekend was Mother’s Day, you still have the chance to send a “Mom You Rock” message through Facebook for any mom you know. Sending a message through this app will not only show the world your love for that mom but will also donate $1 to the Save the Children’s Global Action Fund in support of the new MomsTheWord.org campaign.

I’m lucky that my mom only lives 5 minutes down the road. We visit each other often, have lunch, go shopping and get together for easy family dinners. There are so many families at are separated by distance though. Think of how you can close that gap with video chatting instead of phone calls and letters. Grandparents don’t have to miss those important milestones like walking, birthdays or 1st time at bat. Skype keeps families connected better than ever.

skype video calling

There are talks of my grandmother getting a computer. I can’t wait to hear the details of it because I want to be able to talk more frequently with her. She lives far, Puerto Rico. We only get to see her every 2 years. I try to send cards and pictures and gifts but it isn’t the same as talking face to face even through a computer screen. Showing her how to use Skype is going to be one of the 1st things we do.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Skype. I received Skype credits to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.




TShirt Tote Bag #ExpressYourself #CBias

May 5, 2012 by

I was recently asked to come up with a craft for the #ExpressYourself campaign using Elmers Painters Paint Markers and fabric. The fabric part got me stumped. I thought I’d make Shae a cute shirt, draw a flower or fun saying on it but what’s so original and creative about that. Then it hit me, go DIY with it. I stood in the middle of my living room at a pile of laundry and I got the idea of making a t-shirt tote bag.

I’ve seen tutorials before and figured this would be easy. I got the kids in the car and headed to Walmart to find the Elmers Painters Paint Markers. It actually took me a little while to find them and I got worried that they didn’t carry them but finally found them with the acrylic paints and stencils.
walmart craft aisle #expressyourself elmers #collectivebias
I chose the Sherbet collection in Medium Point. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to do to the bag but figured medium point was a safe option.  Instead of purchasing a box of set colors all with the same point you can always buy individuals.  Priced @ $1.97 each at your local Walmart it’s a cheap craft supply when you only need one to two for a specific project.  My Walmart didn’t have a ton of bright color choices.  I almost bought the silver and gold Painters Paint Markers but figured I would wait to see how my project came out.  I’ll be getting more colors next visit to Walmart.
walmart painters paint markers #expressyourself elmers #collectivebias
Setting up my project took longer than the actual crafting but wait till you see what I came up with.
I scoured Rob’s t-shirt drawer and found an earthy green tee that he never wore. I grabbed my sewing machine and other tools and set out to get it done early in the morning.  The bag itself literally took minutes. Simply sewing shut the bottom of an inside out tee, cutting off the sleeves and making a larger opening was all it took to get a great bag. The trick here was to give it a unique and fun design with the Elmers Painters Paint Markers.

tshirt tote bag tutorial diy step by step craft project

I figured since the bag already had a “green” feel to it being a neutral color and a recycled/reused item I’d stick with the crunchy theme and go for a tree. I drew out a couple trees on paper to get the right look and size and them totally free-handed it on the bag.

elmers painters paint markers drawing shirt craft

elmers painters paint markers flower craft

A large brown tree with pink and purple flowers on a handmade upcycled tote bag is my final project.

handmade tote from t shirt upcycled recycled craftThese markers were so easy to use I let my 4 year old make her own upcycled tote bag but an old tank top sewn shut on the bottom. She copied mommy’s design and drew a tree with flowers.

painted tote kids craft

As she did her craft I did a quick second craft for myself; a decorated vase. This is the perfect size for thumbtacks, paperclips or even buttons.  It only took minutes and was simple.

painted jar craft project

Elmers Painters Paint Markers can be found at your local Walmart and other retail locations.  At about $10 for a pack of 5 it’s a small investment for tools that can be used for almost any project you may have.  As you can see from above these Painters Paint Markers easily go on fabric and glass but can also be used on wood, plastics, ceramics and more.  They are now a staple in my craft supplies closet since they are a cleaner and easier option than paintbrushes and tubs of paint.  Stay connected with Elmers and all of their other crafty supplies and projects on Facebook and Twitter.

“I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric”




Phineas and Ferb Best Live Tour Ever

January 3, 2012 by

phineas and ferb live tourPhineas and Ferb is one of OUR favorite shows. We watch it as a family, recite lines, sing songs and often discuss the legality of having a pet platypus (it’s illegal by the way). Somehow we managed to squeeze in some fun right before the holidays with the kids; Phineas and Ferb, The Best Live Tour Ever.

The whole family headed down to Baltimore’s Lyric Opera House where we surprised the kids with tickets to Phineas and Ferb: Best Live Tour Ever. We kept it a secret because we knew they would drive us insane with a countdown to the show every 18 minutes. We got there early enough to get the giggles and freak outs out of their system, get our seats and grab some snacks. There was a preshow of trivia and songs which got the entire audience excited for the upcoming show. The Lyric Opera House itself was a fantastic venue, not a bad seat in the house from what I could tell.

Phineas and Ferb; The Best Live Tour Ever was so much fun, more fun that we’ve had all together in a long time. The show is about entire gang’s LAST DAY OF SUMMER and how they are going to spend it. The songs and dancing were energetic and the costumes and props were top notch. I didn’t know what to expect for costumes considering Phineas and Ferb aren’t normal looking kids; the triangle head and purple hair and all. Or course there is another story going on in the background; Agent P and Dr Doofenschmirtz battle again.

The tour itself is still out and I highly suggest getting a show in if it stops in your city.



I Disclose




Mamas & Papas hits the USA

March 16, 2011 by

I started this blog as a way to share cool things for kids and families. The quintessential baby item has come up for review; the stroller. Not just any stroller though; the Mamas & Papas Sola Pushchair from Britain’s #1 luxury stroller brand.

luxury_stroller, stroller_review

mamas and papas sola stroller

I received this stroller smack in the middle of winter, a very snowy and cold winter. Only until a couple weeks back did I get a chance to really test it out in the streets. It plowed over curbs and cracks with little effort partly due to its lightweight frame. This particular model is considered a compact model, aside from weight there was nothing small about it. The frame had a wide stable stance and the seat was definitely big for kids up to preschooler age. Even when it was folded this stroller took up a lot of space. This was 1 of its few drawbacks. When it’s folded it doesn’t stand on it own, it requires a large footprint of trunk or garage floor space to store.

A couple things I didn’t talk about were the adjustable footrest. This feature I find good for when your child is a little older and is sleeping reclined, hanging feet can be uncomfortable. There is an optional carrycot that switches places with the stroller seat that acts as a bassinet. If you get the chance to walk more and drive less this would be a great accessory to have for the littlest babies.

The Sola Pushchair also doubles as an infant stoller. Similar to the Snap ‘n Go there is an option to attach select infant carseat carriers to the Sola frame with an available bracket system. This piece is separate and at a cost of approximately $60.

optional carrycot

optional cupholder

Like most European styled strollers you’ll find very few bells and whistles. Things like cup holders, snack trays and umbrella holders (yea, I had one of those before) aren’t included in the sleek and modern designs. Included with the Sola is the stroller bar and a raincover but everything else comes at an extra price.
I loved the Sola Pushchair. It had a great look, great glide and great features. Like I said, I’m past the baby stage so this stroller found a nice home with my sister in law and her soon to be born little boy Carter. I’ll at least get to visit.

(my apologies for an erratic video, it’s quite hard to do with a kid in the same room)

 




I Disclose




Learn To Play Guitar With Power Gig : Rise of the SixString

December 9, 2010 by

To me playing the guitar would be so freaking awesome and the closest I am able to come is by playing Power Gig : Rise of the SixString.

Power Gig: Rise of the SixString  is the first game to feature a real electric guitar controller and teaches the fundamental skills of guitar playing in the process.  All of its controllers are compatible with Rock Band & Guitar Hero games and peripherals . Go to powergig.com/compatibility for more information.

Right out of the box you get that real guitar feel which is pretty cool in my opinion.  The one thing I really like about this game is the song selection.  I really like that the games features three exclusive artists : Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews Band and Kid Rock.  One of my favorite bands on this game is Disturbed.  LOL, if it wasn’t for this game when else would I have the opportunity to play a Disturbed song.

In a marketplace of violent video games, rest assured that Power Gig’s world of Ohm is a peaceful zone. The ESRB gave the game a T (Teen) rating, listing mild lyrics and mild suggestive themes.  You can buy everything you need in one box! The band kit comes with the game and the SixString guitar controller so you can start playing right away.

Power Gig is available at major retailers like Walmart, Target, Best Buy, GameStop, ToysRUs, BJ’s, QVC, and Amazon.  If you have a gamer on your list who is interested in the guitar be sure to pick this game up.

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Your experiences and reactions may differ from ours.




Cars Toon: Mater’s Tall Tales Wii Game

November 13, 2010 by

Cars from Disney Pixar is one on my favorite kids’ movies.  When it came out I remember watching it non-stop with the kids and my favorite character in the movie is Mater.  What is better than a talking tow truck played by Larry the Cable Guy? Um nothing, LOL.

Game Overview: 

Cars Toon: Mater’s Tall Tales is inspired by Disney/Pixar’s wildly popular animated shorts of the same name. A follow up last year’s successful Wii release, Toy Story Mania!, Cars Toon: Mater’s Tall Tales is part of the Mania! video game franchise, featuring fast-paced, multiplayer, family fun. The game is a frenzied pick-up-and-play experience to be enjoyed by everyone in the room. With up to four players at once, Mania! games reward competitiveness and cooperation among players. The game will bring Mater together with Lightning McQueen and the “Cars” gang for a new set of adventures, capturing the endearing sense of humor of everyone’s favorite tow truck. Players will join Mater and his pals as they relive the wild stories he conjures up about hilariously unpredictable events that may or may not have taken place.

 

Some of the cool game features are four players can play at the same time which is good so all three of my kids plus me or Melinda can play.  You can customize how the cars look with collectibles you earn throughout the game and you can play with or against friends and family depending on your mood.

Shae really loved this game because she is a huge Cars fan and loves how silly Mater is in the movie as well as the game.  She loves how Mater takes on different forms like a Monster truck, Fire Truck and El Materdor and she says he is really silly.  This game is also a good game because Shae can play the Wii just like her brother does but this game is easy enough for her to play without much assistance.

Be sure to pick up Cars Toon: Mater’s Tall Tales this holiday season at most major retailors.




Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? Over Here!!!!

November 7, 2010 by

I know I have written or have at least mentioned before about how much my kids LOVE Scooby Doo but in case you missed it I will tell you again. I’m talking borderline obsessive. For instance Shae loves Scooby Doo so much she dressed up as Velma for Halloween this year. Before I met Melinda I had a ton of Scooby Doo stuff in my apartment like a cookie jar, shower curtain, trash can, etc. Believe it or not Melinda still married me even after see all of that stuff, LOL. Ok, back to my point.

Shae watches Scooby Doo non-stop either on TV or one of the 15 DVD’s we own. I was excited when I heard on November 9th they are releasing Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!: The Complete Series and we were lucky enough to have received a copy for review.

I thought that the DVD’s being stored in the back of the Mystery Machine was really cool and something that would really draw people to this collector set. The one thing I can see as a problem is that the DVD’s come in a cardboard sleeve. I am afraid Shae and Shaun might ruin them but other than that this is an awesome Collector’s Edition that is a must have. This limited edition collector’s set contains three seasons of Scooby Doo, 41 episodes in total spread across 7 discs and an eighth disc will also be included and contains NEW BONUS MATERIALS.

Season 1

1 What a Night for A Knight
2 A Clue for Scooby-Doo
3 Hassle in the Castle
4 Mine Your Own Business
5 Decoy for a Dogknapper
6 What the Hex is Going On?
7 Never Ape and Ape Man
8 Foul Play in Funland
9 The Backstage Rage
10 Bedlam in the Bigtop
11 A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts
12 Scooby-Doo and a Mummy Too!
13 Which Witch is Which?
14 Spooky Space Kook
15 Go Away Ghost Ship
16 A Night of Fright is No Delight
17 That’s Snow Ghost

Season 2

18 Nowhere to Hyde
19 Myster Mask Mix-Up
20 Jeepers It’s the Creeper
21 Scooby’s Night with a Frozen Fright
22 The Haunted House Hang-Up
23 A Tiki Scare is No Fair
24 Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Werewolf?
25 Don’t Fool with a Phantom

Season 3

26 Watch Out the Willawaw!
27 A Creepy Tangle in the Bermuda Triangle
28 A Scary Night with a Snow Beast Fright
29 To Switch a Witch
30 The Tar Monster
31 A Highland Fling with a Monstrous Thing
32 The Creepy Case of Old Iron Face
33 Jeeper’s, It’s the Jaguro
34 Make A Beline Away From That Feline
35 The Creepy Creature of Vulture’s Claw
36 The Diabolical Disc Demon
37 Scooby’s Chinese Fortune Kooky Caper
38 A Menace in Venice
39 Don’t Go Near the Fortress of Fear
40 The Warlock of Wimbledon
41 The Beast is Awake at Bottomless Lake

If you are a Scooby Doo fan at all you need to pick up this DVD set. Not only do you get 41 episodes that run 902 minutes but it comes with the mystery machine. Enough said. I can’t wait until Christmas so I can watch all of these episodes with Shae and Shaun but mostly with Shae since she is the Scooby Doo freak at this present point in time. Rooby Rooby Roo!!!!

This DVD set will be available November 9th with an estimate MSRP of $59.99

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Your experiences and reactions may differ from ours.




New Filtrete Water Station from 3M

September 23, 2010 by
In our house we drink water more then any other beverage so it is important for it to taste good and it is nice to be able to take it on the go. The New Filtrete Water Station from 3M allows us to enjoy high quality H2O at home and on the go.
What I like about the new Filtrete Water Station from 3M is it provides the convenience of bottled water without the cost or waste. Our family is into conservation and recycling but anything we can do to reduce waste is a HUGE plus. With this water station you are reducing about 3,000 plastic water bottles worth of waste per year.

Here are a few cool product features of the New Filtrete water Station from 3M:

  •  Filter lasts longer, filtering two and a half times more water than traditional pitcher filters (up to 100 gallons or for approximately three months)
  • Includes a three month filter change indicator that shows when it’s time to change the filter
  • Reduces sediments and chlorine taste and odor from tap water
  • Includes four, 16.9 ounce bottles that are dishwasher safe, BPA free and include a leak proof cap
  • Filter housing is recyclable with #2 plastics (Check with your local recycler)

I found the Filtrere Water Station from 3M to be very simple and efficient to use. I like how it is faster then traditional filters and how the water is filtered directly from the tap into the four reusable water bottles. Overall I am very pleased with the performance as well as the price. The water station itself retails for $42.99 and is available online as well as at mass merchants. The filter which is what people dread buying the most because they tend to be terribly expensive retails for $12.99 which in my opinion is pretty reasonable. The only thing I recommend is if you are a big water drinker you might want to pick up extra 16.9 ounce water bottles. For a pack of two they retail for $15.99.

So, if you drink a lot of water like my family and want something that is cost effective, simple to use and makes your water taster awesome they run out and pick up the New Filtrete Water Station from 3M.

Be sure to follow on Twitter and Facebook.

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Your experiences and reactions may differ from ours.



MUK LUKS shoes not just for Eskimos

March 10, 2010 by

A muk luk is a soft boot made of reindeer skin or seal skin worn by Eskimos. That’s the traditional meaning anyway, my MUK LUKS are cuter. I was sent a pair of Horizontal Rib lace back boots for review and love the look and feel of them.

I’m not the type to tuck my jeans into my boots but it’s almost necessary with these so you can show off the fun lace-up detail in the back. My boots are also lined with Sherpa, that along with the front sweater section these are uber comfy and warm. The lace up back is great for getting a tight fit around jeans or a snugger fit under jeans. They wear like a slipper, comfortable with no pressure points or heel. These are perfect for my casual lifestyle.

How we started…MUK LUKS® is truly an icon in the footwear industry.
Launched as slipper sox in 1972, these classic comforts immediately became a staple fashion item. Over the years, MUK LUKS® has remained on trend, and now boasts the strongest, most comprehensive line ever. Bold patterns, bright colors, and total comfort define today’s MUK LUKS®— a contemporary cousin of the original. Shoes, slippers, accessories …. All fun! MUK LUKS® offers consumers fashionable, comfortable, affordable footwear that fits into their everyday lives.

Shop Muk Luks at popular retailers like ShoeBuy.com.

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Your experiences and reactions may differ from ours.





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