Your Baby Can Read giveaway on Pink Lemonade

Ok, I can't let this one go without sharing with you ladies. This giveaway ends tomorrow night and I am still the only person who has entered. I have been curious about this program, and would love to win it for a chance to check it out, and I am sure some of you would also like that chance! Head on over to Pink Lemonade of Life and enter for your chance to win! But HURRY, this giveaway ends Sunday November 1st at 11:59 PDST!

Halls Refresh review and GIVEAWAY

As a contributor at Pink Lemonade of Life, I was given the opportunity to review a new product from Halls called Halls Refresh. Halls describes this product as "A new mouth watering hard candy specially formulated to help moisten your mouth." This product is available in three flavors: Juicy Strawberry, Tropical Wave and Refreshing Mint and are available in twenty piece resealable packages and nine count sticks.

Dry mouth is not something that I deal with regularly, so it is hard for me to determine it's effectiveness in this situation, however I did notice an increase of moisture while sucking on one. The feeling did not last beyond the time it was in my mouth, but it was pleasant, and I can see how they would be very nice if you did deal with dry mouth on a constant basis. I plan to carry some in a small pocket next time I go out running (I have been very bad about this lately, and need to kick my rear in gear and hit the trail. I am out of shape again and the holiday sweets are soon to be upon us!) as that is when I do tend to experience dryness.

I was was sent both the Juicy Strawberry and Tropical Wave flavors. While both have a pleasant, slightly medicinal taste (very mild, similar to a medicated cough drop, but much less potent), my preference is for the Tropical Wave. I find the medicinal taste to be a little less noticeable in the Tropical Wave, but mainly this is a personal preference. I wish that I had been able to sample the Refreshing Mint flavor, as this sounds most appealing to me.

I do find these to be a good cough drop or lozenge option while dealing with the cold and flu season. (The product is not designed as a cough drop, it's purpose is as a mouth moisturizer, I just found that these worked well for me in this function)The increased moisture seems to help calm a dry, scratchy throat (as I have been experiencing over the past week) without resorting to using the stronger, medicated drops. (I honestly usually resort to simply buying regular hard candy because I have a hard time with the strong flavor of regular cough drops).

All in all, I have a positive opinion of this product. It is not one that I will purchase often, as it does not fulfill an everyday need in my house, but will buy then on occasion.

Don't want to take my word for it? Read more reviews by contributors at Pink Lemonade of Life.

* HALLS® products may be used by adults and children 5 years and over. For children under 5 years, ask a doctor.


Would you like a chance to sample the all new Halls Refresh hard candies? Halls would like to send three of my readers samples of the product and a T-shirt!

Entry Options:
-Leave a comment on this post with a fun Fall activity (required first entry)
-Become a Fan of Halls on Facebook (leave a comment saying you did with your user name)
-follow my blog (or already following :))
-Head on over to Pink Lemonade of Life and leave a comment on a non-giveaway post. Come back and let me know which one you chose!

That's it this time :) Please remember to leave your email address so I can contact you if you are my winner. If you do not respond within 72 hours of email a new winner will be chosen.

Sorry, US addresses only

Contest closes November 10th at 11:59 PM Mountain Time

I received samples of this product in order to provide this review. No other compensation was provided. I related my honest experience with this product.

A country girl at heart

The cooler weather of fall brings with it sweaters, scarves, hoodies and jeans. And what better to wear with a nice pair of boot cut jeans (my favorite style) but a comfy pair of boots. I have been dreaming of owning a pair of these boots by FRYE. But at their price tag of just under $280, I will have to satisfy myself with my Kohls boots...sure they aren't even close to as cute as these beauties, and don't bring me back to my country roots the way these puppies do, but my Kohls boots are already in my closet (and only cost $30 on clearance at the end of the season a couple years ago). So while I am wearing my brown boots this fall, will you please imagine that I am wearing FRYE boots instead? I would really appreciate it (and if you happen to want to buy yourself a pair, you can click on the link above, make your purchase through Amazon.com and as an Amazon associate, I will get paid a percentage..and maybe, just maybe...ok yeah, really I am dreaming again, but really what does it hurt to dream?)

An un-sponsored post, but purchases made through links to Amazon.com do result in compensation. This has no bearing on my opinion.

Wordless Wednesday..Do ya really wanna know?

So you really want to know what my handsome husband is running through?

huh?

It might gross ya out if I tell ya...

OK

Ok

ok

you're gonna drag it out of me anyway, so I'll tell ya!

Brine Flies

I warned you!

So a month or so ago we went out to a State Park out at The Great Salt Lake and decided we wanted to trek out to the lake...then we discovered that the part we trekked to was NOT the best location... All over the beach were swarms of brine flies. They were really interesting though..when you ran through them they looked like clouds moving away from you, all flying together in an organized fashion. It was beautiful and disgusting at the same time!

Check out more Wordless Wednesday Posts by going here (sorry, I can't seem to get thier site to load this morning, but this is the right link when it is working properly)

Candy Savings Just in Time for Halloween

Head to Nestle Family Celebrations and you can print coupons for $1 off a bag of Nestle candy (11.5 oz or larger) and another for $1 off any Wonka Candy (11.5 oz or larger). This is a great coupon to help with the Halloween Candy budget. I don't know about you, but we go through a lot of candy every year!

Here's what you need to do:

-Head to Nestle Family Celebrations

-Register for free

-Click on the image on the side bar that looks like the one shown here

-Click on "select all" and click "print coupons"

-you may need to download their coupon printer if you haven't used one before, you will be prompted if this is necessary.

-don't forget to click the back button and print again, as each person can print twice!

I received no compensation for this post, monetary or otherwise.

Tell Me A Story Tuesday...The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and THE BIG HUNGRY BEAR

This weeks Tell Me a Story Tuesday is a book that is, sadly, no longer in our family library; not because it is no longer loved, but quite the opposite. Back when my oldest child was a toddler, we purchased a super sized version of this adorable story at Sam's Club. When I say super sized, I mean super sized...about 3 feet tall by 2 feet wide. I can't tell you how many evenings this story was our bedtime story of choice, and not just because of its unusual size. But unfortunately this book was so well loved that is simply fell apart (helped along by #4, who is quite destructive, who decided that it was very fun to tear out the pages).

This story follows a cute little mouse who just wants to eat this big, juice strawberry. The narrator warns the little mouse that a Big Hungry Bear who LOVES red ripe strawberries, will be arriving soon to steal the juicy fruit. Mouse tries many ways to protect his treasure. Will the big hungry bear get the strawberry, or will mouse find the secret to protecting his treat?

Find out when you get your copy of The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear (unfortunately, you will have to purchase a normal sized version of this book, as I have been unsuccessful in finding the supersized one). Available at Amazon.com

I recieved no compensation for this review monetary or otherwise. However, I am an Amazon associate, and any purchases made through links will result in compensation. The opinion stated is completly honest and my own.

A Super Cute Halloween Printable!

I know, I know, I said that you wouldn't be seeing me much this week, but in my blog stalking I found a link to this adorable printable (Thanks for Sharing Linda @ My Trendy Tikes). It is posted here at babalisme. Seriously, could this be any cuter? And if you have a little boy who wants to play too, she has made a boy version too! Have fun!

The flu has invaded our home!

I knew it was coming...reports of sightings in surrounding towns were coming in daily...then one day it happened. It started with a cough, followed by a fever and I knew...the dreaded, much talked about flu had found its way into the walls of my home.

It started a week ago with my oldest son. As he started to show signs of being on the mend, my daughter spiked a fever of 103. Today I am feeling the tightness in my chest and headache that seems to accompany this infiltrator. Hopefully he will be finished with us soon and move on. Anyone want to take this visitor off of our hands?

You may see a lull in posts this week as I wage war against the flu, but please do not loose heart...We will win and you will be back to reading my inspiring posts soon :). Tell Me A Story Tuesday will appear as planned, but other, unscheduled posts may be a bit scarce.

Amazing deal at IKEA!

Remember this post about my love of IKEA? Well my love affair with this mega store continues! Why, do you ask? Well, I'll tell you! From now through October 25, 2009 kids under 12 eat FREE in the IKEA Restaurant! And the best part: no adult meal purchase is required (but seriously, can YOU resist a steaming plate of meatballs with mashed potatoes and lingonberry sauce?)!

Each child gets to pick three child sized menu items which include: meatballs, mashed potatoes, PB&J, yogurt, cookies, soda, milk, veggies and MORE!

This deal is NOT available at IKEA Hicksville, IKEA Houston and IKEA Direct, but appears to be available at all other US IKEA locations. Please check for availability by checking the IKEA site for your local store.

Last night we made the trek our local IKEA (it takes us about an hour to get there) on a mission to find birthday gifts for #5 (see yesterday's post). He is child number five, so finding gifts for him that we don't already have, or won't make a disaster of the house, is a daunting task. But this kid likes having his own kid sized chair, so my mom picked up one of these cuties for him:

He is gonna love it! My sister also picked up a super cute rocking toy that we could hardly peel him from to get him in his car seat!

After deciding on birthday gifts, we hit the restaurant for our free kids meals (and YES, I got a plate of meatballs too!). Hurry, get to your local IKEA before this deal is over!

This is not a sponsored post. Just sharing a great deal!

My Baby is 2 today!

Two years ago today my baby (#5) made his way into the world. After a week of hospital bedrest and still six weeks early, he was too anxious to join our family to wait any longer. And now, he is a rambunctious, typical two year old (albiet a bit on the tiny side)! I can't beleive that my baby days are behind me. We are definitely leaving the baby days behind us and moving on...to toddlers and preschoolers and grade schoolers...it is a whole new world. Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

I LOVE Bounce Dryer Bars!

Growing up we never used dryer sheets. Living in California, the weather was not what you would call humid but not so dry that static cling was a major problem. Everything change when we moved to Utah. The dry, desert climate brings with it a great deal of static. (It is kinda fun when you turn out the lights and wiggle in your blankets...you see LOTS of sparks!). This meant an addition to my laundry regimen, namely dryer sheets. While I love the results, the littering of my laundry room floor of little white sheets gets old quickly. They always seem to fall out as I am grabbing the clothes from the dryer, landing on the floor right infront. I usually grab them and get them to the trash, but there are times when they fall and I don't notice.

Then, along came the Bounce Dryer Bar. The solution to my laundry room mess! I purchased my first bar last month using a coupon I recieved from Vocalpoint. It was super simple to install, just peel and stick (making sure you install on the rotating drum) and you are done! Months (for the normal family...for our family of seven the two month bar is just about gone within one month, but that is about what I expected) of static free, soft fabric!

The 2-month bar is just a little more than your average box of name brand dryer sheets, and if you can find coupons, you can get these for a very reasonable price at your local grocery store or Super Center.

For more information about the Bounce Dryer Bar, you can watch videos with instructions on installation and answers to other frequently asked questions at bounceeverywhere.com.

I recieved no compensation for this post. I did recieve a discount coupon as a member of Vocalpoint, but was under no obligation to post in exchange for the coupon. I simply enjoyed my Bounce Dryer Bar and wanted to share this great product with you!

Tell Me a Story Tuesday! How Do Dinosaurs Count to Ten?

Starting today I am adding a new weekly feature! Each Tuesday I will be sharing some of our favorite bedtime stories with you! From board books to young reader novels, I will be sharing fun, entertaining books for all ages! Please join me each Tuesday as I share Tell Me a Story Tuesday with you.

This week I am sharing our bedtime story from last night (and honestly, many nights). With four boys (ages two to almost eight) dinosaurs are a huge hit in our house. The How Do Dinosaurs books by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague are perfect for my dino-crazy boys! This one in particular is great for boys who are learning to count. These lovable (seriously, how can you be afraid of an Anklyosaurus with two balloons tied to his bed?) dinosaurs count objects loved by boys the world over: bouncing balls, toy trucks and and train cars. This book is in board book format, helping to avoid torn pages with toddlers and babies in the house. Definitely a plus in our house where I have both a two and a three year old.

You can purchase your copy of <How Do Dinosaurs Count To Ten? at Amazon.com for $6.99 or at your local book store!

I received no compensation in order to provide this review. This is a book from our family library of children's books that we enjoy. However; I am an Amazon.com associate, and any purchases through the links above will result in compensation. This has no bearing on my opinion. The purpose of this review is simply to share a family favorite book.

Plain Promise by Beth Wiseman REVIEW

Sadie Fisher lives a simple live in Lancaster County Pennsylvania. An Amish widow, she supports herself by selling handmade goods in a small shop and occasionally renting out a small cottage on her property. She seems to have found another chance for love and companionship through letters with a good Amish man living in Texas. They hope to eventually marry and start a life together near his family, but their courtship has been a slow one and they have never met in person. Everything changes when a rich Englisher rents her cottage for a few months. He is single with a young autistic son, and is seeking answers to life’s difficult questions. Sadie is instantly drawn to this man and his young son. What will become of their friendship? You will have to read Plain Promise by Beth Wiseman to find out more.

I truly enjoyed this sweet story of love and friendship. The characters were likeable and well developed and the plot was well developed making aspects of the story that might seem a bit unlikely, believable. I am finding that I enjoy books about the Amish, and hope to find more at my local bookstore, particularly by this author. I recommend this book to those looking for a quick, enjoyable, uplifting story filled with love, friendship and faith.

You can read more about Beth Wiseman by visiting her website at http://www.bethwiseman.net/

I received one copy of this book from Thomas Nelson in order to read it and provide this review for you. I received no further compensation and the opinion expressed above is honest and completely my own.

Joshua Bell At Home with Friends REVIEW

The weather is turning colder and that has me thinking of hot, steamy mugs of cider, a fire in the fire place, and some relaxing music playing on the stereo. Lucky for me, One2One Network sent me a copy of the recently released CD Joshua Bell At Home With Friends! The light yet amazingly rich selections on this album are perfect for a relaxing night at home, or playing softly in the background during a dinner party.

Joshua Bell, a Grammy Award-winning violinist (who has been recording since he was 14 years old!!!) has gathered a start studded group of musicians for this collaborative album. The album cover says this about the inspiration for the album:

"At Home With Friends is inspired by Joshua Bell’s fondness for hosting informal musicales in his Manhattan home. Join Joshua as he celebrates the many musical friendships he has made over the years- a diverse group of artists sharing their love of music in an intimate setting. "

Wow, to be a fly on the wall at those “informal musicales” would be an experience to remember! While you cannot gain admittance to one of these musicales, you can experience the beauty of these musical collaborations by purchasing a copy of Joshua Bell At Home with Friends at local and online music retailers.

I know you will be amazed when you read this Track List:

I Loves You Porgy featuring Chris Botti, trumpet
Come Again featuring Sting, vocals
Oblivion featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
Cinema Paradiso featuring Josh Groban, vocals
Para Tí featuring Tiempo Libre, various
My Funny Valentine featuring Kristin Chenoweth, vocals
Maybe So featuring Edgar Meyer Sam Bush and Mike Marshall, strings
Grieg: Sonata No. 3 featuring Sergei Rachmaninoff (Zenph re-performance)
Eleanor Rigby featuring Frankie Moreno, piano & vocals
O, Cease Thy Maiden Fair featuring Nathan Gunn, baritone
Il Postino featuring Carel Kraayenhof, bandoneon
Left Hand Song featuring Regina Spektor, piano & vocals
Chovendo Na Roseira featuring Dave Grusin, piano
Look Away featuring Edgar Meyer, bass and Chris Thile, mandolin
Variant Moods: Duet for Sitar & Violin featuring Anoushka Shankar, sitar
I'll Take Manhattan featuring Marvin Hamlisch, piano

Read more about Joshua Bell by visiting his website at http://www.joshuabell.com/

I received one copy of this album and information about the musician and album from One2One Network in order to provide my opinion. No other compensation was provided. The opinion expressed in entirely my own and completely honest.

Scrapbookers, here's your chance to win an awesome Halloween Kit

I love to scrapbook, and finding unique supplies can be tough. While I love my local stores (mostly big box style stores) I can't always find the products that I want locally. One of my favorite online sources for scrapbooking supplies is Scrap Attack Scrapbooking. You will always find the best in paper and embellishments!

Each month the site offers one amazing kit filled to the brim with amazing papers and embellishments, all co-ordinating and ready to be scrapped. There is no subscription required, but they are first come first served, so you have to act fast if you see one that you love!

This month you can have a chance to win one of the super fun kits featured above. What do you have to do you ask...head to their blog, become a follower and leave a comment on the kit debut post with the best Halloween costume you have ever seen. Super simple! What are you doing, still reading this? You should be off entering to win this amazing kit...now go :)

I received no compensation for creating this post. I personally enjoy this site and wanted to share a great opportunity with you :)

Disclosure Policy

With new regulations regarding blogs, I wanted to include a Disclosure post. Each individual post also includes information regarding any compensation or influence in the information in that specific post. The following is a general Disclosure Statement, you can get your own at DisclosurePolicy.org:
This policy is valid from 09 October 2009
This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact reviewsbychris.blogspot.com.
This blog accepts forms of cash advertising (Google Ads), sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.
This blogger is an Amazon Associate. Product related links to Amazon.com are associated with this program.
The compensation received (usually free product, and always disclosed) will never influence the content, topics or posts made in this blog. All advertising is in the form of advertisements generated by a third party ad network (Google Ads). Those advertisements will be identified as paid advertisements.
The owner(s) of this blog is compensated (usually free product) to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.
This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.
To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org