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!