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Toothpaste Spread Heads Recapitulation

We recently welcomed 2 new members to our family, named Pete the dog and Oscar the cat. They are fun, the kids love them and I love that they require no maintenance. I’m not talking pets I’m talking the adorable new Toothpaste Spread Heads. Pete the Dog and Oscar the Cat add a bit of fun to the ordinary task of brushing.


I actually really like these, they are cuter than the vomiting Mustard Marvin and they CLOSE. The fact that they close is a big plus for me. If toothpaste is left open it gets all hard and rubbery, it’s just downright gross. This revised design lets us keep Pete on all the time and not just when company comes over. Even better Shaun doesn’t fight the issue of oral hygiene as much and Shae will volunteer to brush her teeth 10 times a day now. These simple little guys bring a smile to their face.

Make a kid you know by winning your own set of Toothpaste Spreadheads right here at LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Become a Fan of Spreadheads on Facebook or Follow them on Twitter, let me know which one you did.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above and please be sure your email in your comment, attached to you blogger dashboard or easily seen on your website/blog. We will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email
  • Fave this blog on Technorati
  • Stumble Upon this BLOG not post
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway Article; let me know where to find your comment
  • Follow Mom and Dad on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway DAILY for an additional entry each day, copy and paste this message: let the kids have fun brushing their teeth with Toothpaste Spreadheads win a set @lkwhtmomfound …andDadtoo! http://tinyurl.com/nrugxb
  • Become a fan of LookWhatMomFound on Facebook
  • Blog about this contest with links to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! and Spread Heads for 3 extra entries

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Wednesday, September 16, 2009. Winners will be announced and emailed and will have 48 hours to claim prize. This contest is open to US residents.




Fit Factor Kids, Exercise for Kids by Kids Recapitulation

Growing up I remember having physical education at 3 times a week in elementary school. In High School it went down to 2 times a week. Today Shaun only gets it one day a week plus a short recess after lunch. Why the drastic changes? What happened over the years that made school officials think physical activity wasn’t important in children’s lives. What happened to the days of tag, hopscotch, jumprope and relay races? Does your child’s school have a field day to bring in the warm weather?

We’ve all been guilty of allowing lazy behavior from our kids, I’m probably the guiltiest. You all know Shaun loves the television, video games and computer. Sabreena is a bookworm and loves the computer too and Shae follows whatever they do. This doesn’t mean they never leave the house but they could’ve been much more active than they were. This summer was especially lazy; we’ve had really high heat, little rain and a bad attitude about exercise.

Fit Factor Kids is helping to change that bad behavior. Using an exercise video may sound extreme for kids but not when it’s done by kids for kids. The movements start out simple and varied to keep the younger ones motivated and as it progresses they become more focused on aerobics and endurance training. Using kids as the instructors Fit Factor is a series of 6 routines designed to improve children’s fitness. Children use their imaginations and learn how to take care of their bodies as their energetic hosts provide informative tips and instruction. These children’s fitness workouts include creative animal movements, mimic recess activities such as jumping rope, playing four-square and shooting baskets. And our children’s fitness hosts walk you through simple stretching, strengthening and aerobic activities.

 
As you can see Shae is right in there. While she doesn’t the movements exactly right she loves the silliness of the animal movements so she keeps at it. Sabreena is playing right along but as the exercise gets a little more complex she has to work harder, this is usually where Shaun drops to the floor. He’s gonna get his stamina back up soon, soccer starts next week with weekly practice and a game.

Using three elements, ease of use, repetition, fun, Fit Factor was developed to encourage kids to get moving not discourage them with tricky footwork. Coach O, a physical education teacher of 15 years, created the DVD using “peer pressure” in a positive way. The Fit Kid hosts, Lizzy and Dean, are exceptional athletes and great role models and motivating throughout the routines. Fit Factor Kids is not about bulking up muscle and losing weight and getting 6-pack abs, it’s about building a strong, healthy kid. Improving your child’s fitness level can have lot of benefits.

  • Build stronger bones and muscles
  • Control body fat for a leaner build
  • Gain self-confidence and build higher self-esteem
  • Improve academic performance
  • Decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer
  • Raise HDL or “good” cholesterol
  • Reduce blood pressure
  • Lessen chances of becoming overweight

Fit Factor isn’t just for the home either. Do you know your child’s school PE educator? Let them know what Fit Factor is all about. Send them the link, show them the YouTube video or send them HERE. It’s an inexpensive program that can have phenomenal results. A single DVD is $19.95; purchase more than one for discounts.

Give it a chance, let your kids workout with the Fit Factor kids. LookWhatMomFound..and Dad too! is giving our readers the chance to win their own Fit Factor Kids DVD. Visit Fit Factor Kids and sign up for their e-newsletter, come back and tell me you did.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above and please be sure your email in your comment, attached to you blogger dashboard or easily seen on your website/blog. We will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email
  • Fave this blog on Technorati
  • Follow this blog
  • Stumble Upon this BLOG not post
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway Article; let me know where to find your comment
  • Follow Mom and Dad and FitFactorKids on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway DAILY for an additional entry each day, copy and paste this message: exercise for kids by kids with @fitfactorkids WIN a kids exercise DVD @lkwhtmomfound …and Dad too!http://tinyurl.com/ldxyrd
  • Become a fan of LookWhatMomFound and Fit Factor Kids on Facebook
  • Blog about this contest with links to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! and Fit Factor Kids for 3 extra entries

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Wednesday, September 16, 2009. Winners will be chosen using Random.org then announced and emailed . Winners will have 48 hours to claim prize. This contest is open to US residents only.




Contigo, REAL spill-proof mugs and cups

I’m like most parents out there, BUSY, and not just busy but always moving. This means that my morning coffee is ALWAYS in a travel mug, this makes it easier to get out the door if we have to go somewhere to just move room to room without spilling. Maybe because I used it so much my previous travel much didn’t quite work anymore. The lid didn’t click so it wasn’t spill proof anymore and if I didn’t thread it just right coffee ended up down the front of my clothes, often on my seatbelt in the car.

Contigo is offers a collection of stylish 100% leak proof and spill proof drink ware. These products aren’t just for coffee either, with a Hydration line that includes a BPA free 32-ounce co-polyester bottle the simplest of tasks, drinking water, can be done safely with less mess. The kiddos also have a selection of BPA-free big kid sippy mugs. Using the same patented AUTOSEAL technology as the adult cups, they are also spill and leak-proof in-between each sip. Just press the AUTOSEAL button to sip and release to automatically seal. Made for children aged 4-12. I recommend this age bracket. Shae can understand to press the button but her timing is a bit off plus her little fingers don’t fit all the way around to the button with the way she holds it.

I’ve been using the AUTOSEAL Stainless Steel Mug DAILY for a couple weeks now and I love it. It keeps my coffee hot for hours and the few times Shae has grabbed my mug there was no threat of her burning herself. The double walled structure keeps the outer layer normal temperatures while my coffee inside stays HOT. It’s contoured shape also makes the mug easy to hold especially with its 16-ounce capacity making it a bit on the large side.

If you are in the market for a true spill proof on the go mug then Contigo is definitely a safe choice. Not just because of the no-spill technology but also for the safe materials used in their construction.




LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics for the whole family

I came across my new favorite body and bath products company 2 ways. I needed a new shampoo to help rid of the itchy dry scalp but balance the oil hair. It’s been a problem of mine for YEARS and poor Sabreena has inherited it. I was also interested in ridding our bathroom of the bazillion plastic bottles of product. I mean seriously we have about 20 bottles of different things for the 5 of us.

On a particularly boring run to the mall this summer LUSH slapped me in the face with wafts of fruity, leafy, smoky and spicy scents. While the smell was a bit overpowering I persevered and headed to the solid shampoo section. I explained to the extremely helpful sales rep my hair situation and she handed me 2 products. The first almost knocked me on my butt, think campfire smell but the other one had a fresh herbal smell with a touch of mint. I bought Squeaky Green and have been using it faithfully since. I even have Sabreena using it and have noticed a HUGE difference in the way her scalp looks. Flakes are GONE for both of us.


The solid shampoo bar is such a great idea. No bottle equals No waste. The optional tin is a must have unless you have a non-humid spot in your bathroom to store it. Our bar is stored outside the shower on a shelf just because it’s easier to open when it’s dry. Because it just takes a couple rubs to my head to get enough and now that Sabreena’s hair is shorter this shampoo bar is lasting a long time. It’s been at least a month since I bought it and we’ve put a small dent in it; there is still about 75% left in the tin. Bye Bye numerous plastic bottles and hello healthy clean hair. I’ve achieved exactly what I wanted with one tiny shampoo bar!

Lush was so kind to send us some more goodies to try out for the rest of the family. The Bubble Bars are a LUSH exclusive. Think movie quality bubbles with heavenly scents like berries plus silky softness from the quality natural ingredients like bergamot oil from The Comforter. Unlike liquid bubble bath, bubble bars need to be crumbled under running water. For Shae’s and Shaun’s bath I only need to break off a small piece to achieve the luxurious foam they love. This HUGE bubble bar will easily last us 10-15 baths for the kids. If I had a big soaker tub I would definitely indulge and use at least half.

Back to Sabreena’s hair, it’s super super thick, heavy and wavy. She requires a conditioner just to maintain flyaways and control frizz. LUSH recommended Veganese, a vegan conditioner made with agar seaweed, lemon, lavender and rosemary. Her hair is shiny and soft without being weighed down or greasy. Hooray again for clean healthy hair.

From hair to body to bath to face LUSH has you covered head to toe and not just for women. Rob uses Razorantium Shaving Cream, Cosmetic Lad moisturizer (smells good enough to lick) and has switched to Seanik solid shampoo. LUSH is my new addiction and it’s a good thing since they believe in using natural and organic ingredients when possible plus real fruits and vegetables with no preservatives and little packaging.

LUSH is very unusual in that the founders of the company are also the inventors of the 100% vegetarian (70% vegan) bath, hair and body products. Mo Constantine first patented the solid shampoo bar in 1986. Helen Ambrosen and Mark Constantine often work together, crafting skin and hair care products full of natural ingredients with little or no preservative. Say Yes to LUSH FRESH HANDMADE COSMETICS.




Sunday MckLinky Edition #6

Every Sunday we will be hosting a Sunday edition of Linky’s. Please list your awesome posts and giveaways that you want others to read and know about. We love Linky’s because it gives us a chance to read other blogs and enter giveaways that we might have missed out on. So please enter your permalink below so everyone can check out what you have. Don’t forget to come back every Sunday for our Sunday edition of Linky’s.





New Balance Kids 571 Recapitulation

Back to school sneaker shopping got you down? Not sure what sneakers would be good for daily wear or gym class. If you are looking for a very nice sneaker that won’t break the bank check out the New Balance 571’s.

The New Balance 571’s have a very sporty look but are a rugged and durable trail running shoe that features N-FUSE technology which provides superior cushioning for all outdoor activities. The 571’s are avaialbe for boys or girls and come in preschool size (shoe size 10.5-3) and grade school size (3.5-7).

 

 

Here are some feature’s of the 571’s:

    • N-FUSE® Midsole technology joins together foam of two different densities. The top foam is less dense for soft cushioning, while the denser bottom foam provides support and compression set resistance.

 

    • IMEVA (injection-molded EVA foam) midsole for firm yet flexible cushioning

 

    • Aggressive Lugged Outsole gives maximum traction for off-road activities

 

  • Synthetic/Mesh upper provides lightweight comfort and support

Shaun often complains that his feet hurt when he’s running around outside or walking alot. He’s been wearing these for about a week now and I’ve heard no complaints. They must be offering proper cushioning and support. Their lightweight structure is also a plus for running and climbing reducing leg fatigue, making for a more energetic kid. New Balance is a family favorite in our house. Rob wears them to go to the gym, I wear them to walk and workout and they were Shae’s first real sneaker.

New Balance got their start in the early 1900’s. Having grown leaps and bounds since then they are a leader in athletic products including shoes, apparel and sports accessories. Giving back to the community has always been an important part of their mission. New Balance will contribute 15% of wholesale sales from the Lace Up for the Cure Apparel & Footwear Collection with a guaranteed minimum donation of $500,000 up to a maximum of $1 million to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. New Balance is a proud sponsor of Girls on the Run, a program that encourages pre-teen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. New Balance provides shoes for 500 needy girls each year, as well as a pair of running shoes for each council director.

New Balance wants to give LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! readers the chance to win 1 of 3 pairs of kids size New Balance 571 sneakers (either boys or girls), pictured above. Tell me what your favorite pair of New Balance are OR something about the positive efforts New Balance is making to better communities all around the United States. (If you do both enteries leave 2 seperate comments)

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above and please be sure your email in your comment, attached to you blogger dashboard or easily seen on your website/blog. We will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email
  • Fave this blog on Technorati
  • Follow this blog
  • Stumble Upon this BLOG not post
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway Article; let me know where to find your comment
  • Follow Mom and Dad on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway DAILY for an additional entry each day, copy and paste this message: NewBalance Sneakers just in time for Back to School, WIN 1 of 3 pairs for kids @pbandsdad @lkwhtmomfound http://tinyurl.com/kswpgq
  • Become a fan of LookWhatMomFound and New Balance on Facebook
  • Blog about this contest with links to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! and NewBalance for 3 extra entries

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Friday, September 18, 2009. Winners will be chosen using Random.org then announced and emailed . Winners will have 48 hours to claim prize. This contest is open to US residents only.




NewWaveEnviro Eco-friendly Evaluation

So of course we started back to school shopping. Notebooks, pencils, crayons, binders and so much more were needed. Luckily the kids didn’t need backpacks but they did need lunch bags. Shaun actually went through 2 last year just from being so rough. Sabreena went the green route and used one of my compact reusable bags. It worked fine but everything was rolling around loose in the bag.

New Wave Enviro sent Sabreena a great alternative, a 100% bamboo lunch bag and stainless steel water bottle. Not only will she keep it green she do it a little easier too. This super soft expandable lunch bag is going to hold not just her lunch but the snack she needs after school while doing extra-curriculars plus the goodies she brings to share with her friends. Because it’s bamboo it’s naturally anti-bacterial, strong as steel and soft as silk.

New Wave Enviro provides a full line of eco-friendly products like a 1 liter stainless steel water bottle, corn-based reusable water bottles, water filtration products and other green living goods. Petroleum based plastic is filling up our landfills, sewers and streets plus releasing toxins into our water systems. New Wave Enviro has designed a complete line of reusable water bottles made from recyclable Eastar resin and biodegradable corn-based plastic.
Water filtration is where New Wave Enviro is got its green living start.

Chlorine gas was used extensively in WW1 as a chemical warfare agent. Today it is used in municipal water supplies to deliver water to our homes free of microscopic contaminants. However it serves no useful purpose on or in our bodies. New Wave designs, patents and manufactures water filters that remove harmful chlorine & other contaminants from shower, bath and drinking water at home and away from home.

New Wave Enviro manufactures drinking water filters, shower filters, bathtub filters and “on the go” filters for theirp corn-based reusable water bottle.

Win your own Bamboo lunch bag and 1 liter stainless steel water bottle from New Wave Enviro and LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! Visit New Wave Enviro and tell me anther product you would like to try out for a greener, cleaner lifestyle.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above and please be sure your email in your comment, attached to you blogger dashboard or easily seen on your website/blog. We will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email
  • Fave this blog on Technorati
  • Stumble Upon this BLOG not post
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway Article; let me know where to find your comment
  • Follow Mom and Dad on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway DAILY for an additional entry each day, copy and paste this message: GREEN your lunchtime with a Bamboo lunchbag and stainless steel waterbottle @lkwhtmomfound…andDadtoo! http://tinyurl.com/n3xo7q
  • Become a fan of LookWhatMomFound on Facebook
  • Blog about this contest with links to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! and New Wave Enviro Products for 3 extra entries

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Friday, September 11, 2009. Winners will be announced and emailed and will have 48 hours to claim prize. This contest is open to US residents.




Klutz Activites Recapitulation

Summer is winding down and the kids are getting bored. They’ve plFayed and played till this isn’t anything left to play. So they are sitting in the house sofa surfing with nothing to do. Well I have stuff for them to do. Klutz creates wonderful activities, crafts, games and projects for kids ages 4 to teen. Started in 1977 by three college friends, Klutz got its beginning with sidewalk juggling lessons. With the first weeks earnings topping off at $35, John Cassidy, Darrell Lorentzen and B.C. Rimbeaux knew they could only go up from there.

Today Klutz offers a wide variety of fun things for kids within their collections Klutz Toys, Klutz Kits, Klutz Buckets and Klutz Guides. Klutz is a fixture in book stores, toys stores, book bestseller list and craft and project stores not just in the United States but throughout the world. With a hands-on approach children are able to learn while having fun working on unique projects and games. Tricky Videos, A Complete Guide to Moviemaking Magic is one of their newest additions. A how to collection of video tricks, gags and gimmicks that older kids can do with a video camera.
Here is an example of the cool tricks you can do with Tricky Video.


Sabreena is working on an Adventures in Giant Land video with the neighborhood kids. It’s been hysterical to watch and edit.

Klutz has selections for little kids too. Preschool age is a perfect time to get kids involved in crafts and building and working with their hands. Chicken Socks is a collection for ages 4-6, since most of these activites contain small parts adult supervision is strongly advised. Totally Tape is a a simple idea but one that would capture Shae’s attention in a second. Let kids go wild with colorful paper tape (no scissors required) on activity pages. Let them stick away to their hearts content.
Become a Klutz insider to received their newsletter and received 25% off your purchase. This is a great deal to stock up on cool games and activities for the holidays and cold winter months when the weather doesn’t allow for outdoor play.
Klutz wants to give a LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! reader 2 activity books to add to their boredom buster arsenal of fun. The winner will receive Tricky Videos and a Chicken Socks selection. Please visit Klutz and tell me another product you would love to try out the kids in your life.

EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED entry above and please be sure your email in your comment, attached to you blogger dashboard or easily seen on your website/blog. We will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email
  • Fave this blog on Technorati
  • Stumble Upon this BLOG not post
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway Article; let me know where to find your comment
  • Follow Mom and Dad on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway DAILY for an additional entry each day, copy and paste this message: win boredom busters Klutz games/activites @lkwhtmomfound…andDadtoo! http://tinyurl.com/mmekxl
  • Become a fan of LookWhatMomFound on Facebook
  • Blog about this contest with links to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! and Klutz for 3 extra entries

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Winners will be announced and emailed and will have 48 hours to claim prize. This contest is open to US residents.




BankFox – Get A Better Bank

In today’s economy when every penny matters there is a new site called BankFox that helps you stretch your penny. BankFox is a free service that lets you compare banks based on rates, fees, health, online tools and more.

If you are looking to open a new Savings Account or Checking Account BankFox has a really easy to use comparison tool. First you click on what type of account you are looking to open. I clicked on the checking accounts option and then was taken to a page where I could narrow banks down based on account type, bank location, bank size, minimum balance, features and much more. After I chose criteria that were important to me it listed all of the banks that fit my specifications. I was able to drill down even more into each bank listed based on additional options like opening and monthly fees, account details, bank profile and health report. I especially like the health report which is based on a 1 to 5 score assigned by BankFox. The score is based on an analysis of the bank’s financials from the report date which is listed at the top of the screen as reported by the FDIC and other public sources.

The comparison tool really helps you narrow down banks based on your individual needs and BankFox takes all of the guess work out of choosing the bank that is right for you.





LobotoME Planners and Organizational tools

I like lists! Grocery lists, to-do lists, packing lists, meal planning lists, lists of all kinds are my friends. My lists make me feel organized, useful and on track with what’s going on in life. LobotoME is a collection of organizational & planning tools to get you through the busy day.

Jenny Newcomer created the momME weekly planner out of pure necessity. A list maker like me Jenny realized that having so many lists in different places for different reasons was just causing more stress and an eventual catastrophe waiting to happen. She combined all of her favorite things about list making in one handy dandy sheet for the week. She wants you to know that the momME planner is not for us that hate lists or refuse to be organized it’s for us moms that need to cram a whole lot of stuff in a short 24-hour window.

Lobotome also has a full line of individual list pads that have specific duties. Since a lot of my lists are on the computer I needed something that could come with me room to room during the day, upstairs at bedtime and in my purse when I need to leave the house. I’ve been using the List Me…Doodle Me pad and have to say it’s perfect. There is enough list space to write and plenty of doodle space for unrelated notes or swirlys and triangles when I’m talking on the phone. Other choices for your lifestyle are

  • Check Me: Sanity-Inducing Shopping List
  • Fit Me-Stay Healthy Stay Sane, fitness routine
  • Sit Me- Welcome to the Nut House, for the baby/house/pet sitter
  • Pack Me-On the road again
  • Help Me-honey do list
  • Feed Me-meal-planning 101
  • Save Me-weekly to do list

LobotoME isn’t just saving your sanity they are saving the world. They strive to create products that are eco-friendly by using recycled materials and soy based inks. Plus they are made in the USA to reduce shipping and transportation costs, emissions and fuel usage.

LobotoME pads can be found at The Container Store or bought online. Right now for purchases over $20 get FREE SHIPPING.