RSS Email

Where have all the spoons gone?

Breakfast time on a school day is a hectic. 3 kids trying to eat all the food within reach require lots of cups, bowls, napkins and SPOONS. This 1 meal leaves 10 dirty spoons. How is this possible you ask? It’s because my kids refuse to reuse a spoon for 2 different food types. There has to be a spoon for yogurt, then a separate one for fruit then a whole new one for cereal. Then I need one for my coffee or tea then sometimes my yogurt requires a new spoon because I don’t eat while getting my making my morning beverage.

The dishwasher usually gets emptied in the morning and by 8:30 am the teaspoon slot is ½ empty. Thank goodness we have 2 sets of silverware, they don’t match but that’s a different story for a different day




Xtrema Cookware Recap

My family is my world and I would do anything to protect them and that is why we use Xtrema Cookware in our home. Xtrema Ceramic Cookware will leave no trace metals in your food and won’t leach chemicals from the cooking surface.

In 2004 Rich Bergstrom received an e-mail from Peter Hsu a ceramics research engineer/scientist in Taiwan asking if he was interested in a new high temperature ceramic material that could go on top of the stove and under the broiler. After that initial email three additional years of research, testing and product development took place. In February of 2007 Ceramcor, LLC was officially established in Toms River, New Jersey.

Xtrema Cookware currently has three product lines: cookware, teaware and bakeware. These products are so durable the cooking surface can’t be scratched even with metal utensils. If you are anything like me I always scratch our pots and pans because I use a metal spoon or item that I shouldn’t which then ruins the cookware. With Xtrema you no longer have to worry about that happening. Xtrema is also very versatile as it can be used on the stove then can go right into the oven and when done right to the kitchen table to be served but be sure you have something on the table to protect it from the heat. The cookware can withstand 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit so make sure you protect your hands and table.

We were really excited when we received our 10” Braiser and 6 pc Steamer set. I am first going to start by saying if you are looking for cookware that heats up in two seconds Xtrema is not for you. Xtrema is a cookware that you start on medium heat then turn down to low heat to maintain.  This cookware takes time to heat up but let me tell you this it is worth the wait. We have used our braiser and steamer set over a dozen times to make meals like tacos, rice and beans, Italian sausage with onions and red peppers, eggs and breakfast links and they have all turned out terrific. When we first used our braiser and steamer set we had a slight problem. The problem was finding the right heat setting to keep our stove on since it is electric that would maintain the braisers and steamers heat. On the second meal we had it down pat and ever since then no problems at all.

All in all I am extremely impressed with Xtrema cookware. It is durable, looks great and really makes a great meal and maintains the meals heat while eating so you will never have cold seconds. If you are looking for new cookware or to replace your current cookware with an awesome green alternative you need to get Xtrema. You will be happy you did.

Xtrema is awesome and is offering one Look What Mom Found…and Dad too! reader a chance to win a 10″ Open Skillet of their own.  All you have to do it go to Xtrema and tell me one thing you found on their website that was not mentioned in this article.

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. I will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway Family Story or Article; let me know where to find your comment.
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Follow Mom and Dad and XtremaCookware on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway 1 time per day, please leave your twitter link, copy and paste this message: Want to start cooking Green? Enter to win an @xtremacookware 10″open skillet from @lkwhtmomfound…@and_dad_too! http://bit.ly/aJhBnq
  • Become a fan of LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! and Xtrema on Facebook
  • Join Xtrema’s E-Newsletter
  • Follow LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via Google Friend Connect (bottom of page)

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Thursday, March 18, 2010. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

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.




Panasonic 360 Quick Steam/Dry Iron made me a better housewife

One of my resolutions this year was to be a better housewife. Don’t laugh, I know it sounds silly but I’ve never been a fan of cleaning and other domestic duties. One thing I did used to do was iron Rob’s dress shirts. This was a day long process and I hated it but it saved us money at the dry-cleaners. I stopped doing it, ironing is just a horrible horrible chore.


I was given  a Panasonic 360 Quick iron to review and I have contemplated taking on that chore again. Ok no I won’t but I have been ironing other things, things I haven’t attempted in years. To tell you the truth I haven’t ironed anything in years.. The Panasonic 360 has actually brought me back to the ironing board many times over the last couple weeks, working out collars, smoothing wrinkles and pressing seams out of jeans and I’m excited to say they were all done easily and quickly.

The New Concept 360 Quick Steam/Dry irons have an innovative design that allows multi-directional movement without shifting materials around. Go from collar to cuff with one smooth snag-free pass of the titanium or ceramic soleplates. Auto shut-off is also a great feature for frantic moments when irons get tipped over or left one to tend to something else in the household. Iron, steam, press or freshen up your clothing, drapery and bedding with the multiple functions like steam, spray mist or dry ironing.

Ironing still isn’t my favorite chore but it has come up a few notches from the bottom with the new Panasonic 360 Quick. This is the coolest kid in that section of the department store.  One additional improvement I would personally love is CORDLESS.

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.




Dyson DC25 Animal Ball Recap

With a home daycare and three kids of our own our rugs get pretty dirty from all of the traffic. We had an upright vacuum that we have used for the last three years that cost under $100 but it never really cleaned the rugs like I would have liked. In comes Dyson to the rescue.

I know I am a guy but I was excited when we received the Dyson DC25 Animal Ball for analysis. The Dyson DC25 Animal is designed for pet hair pickup but is also great even if you don’t have pets in the house. Currently we do not have pets but are planning on it in the future so this vacuum is going to be perfect once we get a cat or dog.
The ball technology that is part of the Dyson DC25 Animal Ball is a feature that is new to me and took me a few times to get used to since I have used fixed uprights my whole life. The ball allows you to maneuver the vacuum really easy around corners and furniture but I must admit the first few times I used the vacuum I hit the wall and furniture a few times but thankfully nothing was damaged. I also like the root cyclone technology that is patented by Dyson because you don’t lose suction power while you vacuum. Lose of suction was the number one problem with our old vacuum which really caused a lot of frustration.

All Dyson upright and canister vacuums are bagless which is awesome because there is no need to buy pricey replacements bags and the filters are also washable so no need to replace those either. Another cool thing is all upright and canister vacuums come with a 5 year warranty which covers parts and labor. All uprights, canisters, handhelds and fans bought online from Dyson.com are shipped for free.

Sabreena does most of the vacuuming in our house but since we have received the Dyson I have been doing my part in keeping the rugs clean. So far I am really impressed with the Dyson DC25 Animal Ball vacuum. The ball technology is really easy to get use to and the Quick-draw Telescope Reach wand with the mini turbine head makes it really easy to clean our two sets of stairs. The bin capacity is .31 gallons which allows you to vacuum for about a week without having to empty the dirt. The power cord wraps around the back of the vacuum but the one thing that would make this vacuum that much better would be a retractable power cord. Other than that small suggestion I have zero complaints about the Dyson DC25 Animal Ball. To tell you the truth this is the best vacuum that I have ever owned. I always wondered why Dyson vacuums were so expensive but after using one for the last few weeks this Dyson is worth every penny of its retail price of $549.00.

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.




Eden Home Organic, Study and In-home Spa Treatment

Where do you turn to shop for natural and eco-friendly bedding, clothing, baby products and everything else for your home?

Eden Home is the one place to find a complete selection of organic, all-natural and eco-friendly products for your home and life that won’t have you compromising your sense of style. Many of the so-called “organic” and “natural” products sold today are either not pure or not beautiful. So Eden Home was started to offer healthy choices ranging from organic clothes for baby to natural bath towels, from organic cookware to all natural shampoos.

When I was approached by Eden Home I was 1st pleased by the lovely design and easy to navigate site. Next I was amazed at the large selection of everything under the sun. I really enjoyed the variety of kids and baby gear: from organic clothes to natural toys to natural skincare to BPA-free feeding tools. Bedding and Clothing is where I made my first stops. Bamboo sheets are my new favorite indulgence in the bedroom but bamboo clothing is my new favorite personal indulgence. There is something special about the feel of organic bamboo and cotton, the result is silkiness against the skin with no pilling, snags or misshaping.

I was able to ANALYSE a pair of comfy Blue Canoe easy style pants. Easy is a perfect word for these stretchy wide-legged lounge pants. I got the Cognac color thinking it would be brown, I was wrong it had a warm cocoa/rust color, different from what I was expecting but still a pretty.
I would love to try out the unique cooking tools available. The La Chamba Clay Pot collection is truly one-of-a-kind. Made in Colombia not very differently than previous centuries these clay pots are hand formed and free of glazes and lead.

Look around Eden Home for yourself and tell me what green changes you want to make for your home for your chance to win a Bath/Spa Treatment gift basket for a natural destress in your own home.

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. I will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway  Family Story or Article; let me know where to find your comment
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Follow Mom and Dad and EdenHome on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway DAILY for an additional entry each day, copy and paste this message, Leave your Twitter LinkWin a “green” bath spa treament gift basket from @edenhomeorganic @lkwhtmomfound @and_dad_too http://bit.ly/4zUyss
  • Become a fan of LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! and EdenHome on Facebook
  • Join our Chat with Mom and Dad group on Savvy Source
  • Follow LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via Google Friend Connect
Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Monday, February 8, 2010. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too!




Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System

Being as anal as I am I always worry about the house when we are away for any length of time. Thank goodness for Logitech because my fears are now calmed with the Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System.

Logitech was nice enough to send me the Indoor Video Security Master System for analysis. I am grateful they did because I received it before Christmas and was able to set the camera up in the living room. The camera was setup so it would capture any activity in the living room which is where our Christmas tree and presents were.
Setup was simple and in less than 15 minutes my camera was up and running. All I had to do was run the setup wizard to install the software on my computer, plug in the USB receiver module and then setup and plug in the camera and that was about it. The Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System uses Homeplug connectivity which means you’ll be up and running in no time—no new wires to run, no network configuration. It transmits encrypted video over your existing electrical wires straight to your PC. It’s really that easy.

Once I was done with these steps the next thing I did was go to the WiLife Command Center and got myself familiar with how the command center works. The WiLife Command Center is where you can playback recorded video or watch live video.

What I think is really cool about the Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System is that when the camera detects motion WiLife automatically records video and saves them as .wmv files on your pc’s hard drive. Once recorded on your hard drive you can go back and watch the video segments via the playback screen.

The Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System also allows you to receive email and cell phone alerts when a camera detects motion. You have the option to receive one of three message types: simple text only, text and one frame of video or a video clip. You also have the ability to remotely watch video while away from home via a computer or Windows Mobile enabled wireless PDAs or cell phones. Log into WiLife Online at online.wilife.com and you can access live video from your cameras anywhere in the world, at any time.


Watch CBS News Videos Online

The Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System supports up to six cameras so if you need to add additional cameras you have the option to. Logitech also has an outdoor camera you can add in addition to the indoor cameras if you need to record what is going on outside of the home. If you need additional features other then what I have listed or system requirements click HERE.

I have been using the Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System for about two months and am really impressed with how easy the system was to setup and use. I am also impressed with the cameras video quality. If you need piece of mind while away from the home I would recommend picking up the Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System.

Want to win your own Logitech Indoor Video Security Master System ? Visit Logitech and tell me what you like most about the indoor or outdoor security system.

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. I will not search through About Me/Contact Me links.

  • Subscribe to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via email or RSS feed
  • Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway Family Story or Article; let me know where to find your comment
  • Enter any other current Giveaway for an extra entry for each one entered
  • Follow Mom and Dad and Logitech on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway DAILY for an additional entry each day, copy and paste this message, Leave your Twitter LinkLooking for piece of mind? Enter to win an indoor security system from @logitech and @lkwhtmomfound @and_dad_too http://bit.ly/4ytLOv
  • Become a fan of LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! on Facebook
  • Join our Chat with Mom and Dad group on Savvy Source
  • Follow LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too! via Google Friend Connect

Your entries must follow the rules or they won’t be eligible for prizes. This contest ends 11:59 pm, Monday, February 8, 2010. The winners will be emailed and will have 48 hours to claim their prize. This contest is open to US residents only. For complete rules please read our contest rules page.

This is a sponsored post but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too!




Flair 4 All Removable Wall Decals

Make a mark without leaving a mark. This is what you can do with Flair4All Removable Wall Decals with Flair.
Flair4All is a design and product development company that’s all about home décor. Everyone needs a little style, or flair, in the space they call their own. They are about helping their customers realize the untapped potential of using walls, dorms, lockers and bookshelves–almost any surface– as a place for risk-free self-expression and creativity.

Shae is too little to let express herself in the décor area. So I took I upon myself to decorate her room with the vibrant Whimsy Flowers in Raspberry Truffle color that was sent to me. The colors and overall flower design complemented her existing bedding and wall mural while adding that pop the room needed. I arranged the flowers around her bed and a bit along the floor. The design was random but in my opinion came out very pretty. I wish I had 1 more sheet to do the other side of her bed or even her closet door but $20 for 3 sheets is an extremely reasonable price to transform a room.


The application was simple, peel and stick, rub a little and your done. A couple times I changed my mind on the position or grouping so I had to peel and move around, it was simple and there was no threat of tearing to pulling paint. Shae has been attempting to peel a couple leaves off but stops when I remind her that they are so pretty now she just tries to sniff them. I haven’t peeled any of them off since the initial application a couple weeks back so I can’t attest to the Smart Release claim. They are staying put, no lifting that I’ve noticed, so far so good.

Flair4All wall decals come in over 70 styles and 7 color palettes, this gives customers the opportunity to choose just the right design for their project. Shae’s Whimsy Flowers are girly bedroom appropriate but they have selections for all over the house and beyond. Boys aren’t left behind either with choices like Rocker Tats and Vintage Vinyl.

Dad’s Perspective: The application was easy, easy enough for the kids to even do. Maybe we’ll get Shaun his own Sports or Extreme Sports and he can put them where he wants in his room. He’s getting to the age where he has an opinion about everything; this is definitely where he can express himself.

This is a sponsored review but the opinions and descriptions presented belong solely to LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too!




Mabel’s Labels, where everything has a label

Schools in! For lost of families this means lost umbrellas, jackets, hats, backpacks, pencils and even shoes. Luckily we don’t suffer from this too much except for umbrellas. Mabel’s Labels has come up a solution to the “kids stuff black hole”. Sticky labels and clothing labels, which are dishwasher, microwave and laundry safe, are not only practical, but also designed to be very special to each child. The labels are customized with a child’s name, favorite mix of colors and an icon (animal, symbol, etc.). Mabel’s Labels have also expanded their product line to include personalized stationery products, ID wristbands and household labels.

Sabreena was able to try out their personalized stationery. We live in an age of technology she’s still at an age where handwritten notes are appropriate. Personalized stationery allows her to send quick notes to long-distance grandparents or friends where we used to live. The paper is printed with a fun swirl design in pretty blue & green hues with coordinated return address labels, envelope closures and “from the desk of” stickers for the included notepad or even any other piece of paper.


Mabels Labels are just for kids stuff though; they carry great organization solutions for the entire home. Personally I like the cord control labels. We have a drawer full of cables and chargers for phones, cameras, PDAs, hard drives and more; each time we need something we have to dig and examine for just the right one. The Custom Canister and Spice Labels are great to keep your baking and cooking ingredients neatly organized in the cabinet or countertop.

Mabel’s Labels strive to continuously design innovative labels for babies, kids and grown-ups alike. You’ll be amazed at what you can label!

This is a sponsored post and the sole opinion of Look What Mom Found…and Dad too! Opinions and expereinces may differ by others.