[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VfzkcllC8c&feature=player_profilepage[/youtube]

It’s an obsession, really. I’ve now made quite a healthy investment into fake hair. This particular piece is synthetic hair. It was on a clip and I removed the hair wefts from the clip and they are 3 separate elastic-y bands that fit almost perfectly around a bun type ponytail as you will see in the video.

I did end up using a few bobby pins to make sure they stay securely in place.

More detailed and full review coming but in less than 3 minutes or so I had a nice lil casual look to go to a neighbors house for dinner

This is literally a raw, unedited account of my experience with these Luxy 1b 20″ hair extensions

I will try a few other methods and styles with them…including cutting them but, they weren’t exactly “inexpensive” so I am a tad hesitant to just chop away at them. I will report with more

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxSAR7z02x4&sns=em[/youtube]

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announces today the launch of Sesame Street: Ready, Set, Grover!, a new video game for preschoolers that encourages the development of healthy habits for life. Based on “Sesame Street,” the award-winning children’s television series, the learning game is available for Wii™ and Nintendo DS™.

“While kids will get a huge kick out of playing with their favorite Sesame Street characters, parents will love the gameplay in Sesame Street: Ready, Set, Grover! because it demonstrates simple, age-appropriate ways for young kids to grow healthy and strong,” said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Production and Development, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Designed around Sesame Workshop’s ‘Healthy Habits for Life’ curriculum, the game helps instill healthy behaviors in children while being fun to play.”

“Building lifelong healthy habits starts in early childhood,” said Rosemarie Truglio, Ph.D., Vice President of Education & Research at Sesame Workshop. “Ready, Set, Grover! gets kids up and moving though stretching, jumping and dancing, models good hygiene practices and highlights the benefits of healthy food choices through fun and active game play.”

In the game, Grover sets out to create a series of challenges designed to help his Sesame Street friends get up and go! Through the course of the game, Elmo and Abby jump over obstacles, row a boat, and play “Grover Says,” all while learning important life lessons on healthy habits to grow with. Through their adventures, the game promotes physical activity, good nutrition, personal hygiene, and even the importance of rest and relaxation.

In Sesame Street: Ready, Set, Grover!, accessibility for preschoolers is enhanced with Grover-themed gameplay helpers, available for Wii and Nintendo DS at no additional charge. On Wii, the gameplay helper is a soft and furry character cover with special grips that slips over the Wii Remote™, minimizing unnecessary buttons and making it easier and more fun to hold. For Nintendo DS, there is a jumbo click stylus designed for smaller hands, simplifying interaction with the touch screen.

Developed by Griptonite Games, Inc., the games are entertaining and intuitive, enabling preschoolers to play by themselves with minimal involvement while offering ways for parents to help. The game features a “Parent’s Page” where parents can review games their child has played, and review curriculum goals. Parents can also customize up to three profiles, set limits for number of games played and more.

My kids were so excited to receive the game and have been playing it and I noticed that it does get the kids movin’ which is nice. The images in the game are very colorful and lively and kept the attention of my 17 month old. Once they really get going, I will update this post after the weekend. I am sure they will play it more

Disclosure: We received a copy of the game for free in order to review the game. No other compensation was provided.

Pampers is celebrating its 50^th birthday and rededicating itself to celebrate, support and protect every little miracle for the next 50 years. Within these past five decades, there has been a tremendous cultural shift that has changed the way people become parents. The Pampers Miracles Campaign helps continue Pampers never-ending celebration and support of babies and their families no matter what the circumstances.

Also,

Photo Credit: BusinessWire.com

Did you know that…

-Nearly 60% of U.S. parents of children ages 3-17 admit that their child skips breakfast, with more than half of U.S. Moms wishing their child ate a more nutritious breakfast.
-58% of U.S. Moms say they skip breakfast regularly. 46% of Moms who skip breakfast say they do so because they do not have enough time to prepare or eat it.
-57% of single adults say the number one reason they skip breakfast is that they don’t have enough time to prepare it.
-While 71% of U.S. adults agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, 67% of those admit to skipping breakfast.
*Results of 2011 Children’s Nutrition Survey, conducted by Harris Interactive for Seneca Farms

I will admit, and if you know me in real life then you already know this; I am not a breakfast eater. I usually don’t eat anything until way past noon and its usually because by then my stomach is growling and I am getting a headache. BAD MOMMY! When I received this pitch from Seneca it came at the perfect time because I had just had a discussion with a few friends about my weight loss sorta hitting a plateau and they asked how often I was eating and I had to admit that I still was not a breakfast person. So, something small and simple like the Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit cups sounded appealing.

I received some Oatmeal & Apple Cinnamon and Oatmeal & Vanilla Peach. Those are the two inital flavors they are offering right now at Walmart. They come in packages that can be heated–45 seconds; stir and enjoy! Easy peasy for me and I could not longer use the excuse that it takes too long to make something in the morning for myself after I make the kids something to eat. Well, I have to tell you that my 1 year old and I shared the Apple & Cinnamon one– my husband stole another one and my other 2 kids stole the other two that were left! So, when we opened the Vanilla Peach ones I hid the others from the rest of my family LOL. My fav? Ummmm the Vanilla Peach one! It smelled and tasted like Peach Cobbler!

I did run to Walmart this weekend to grab some more and didn’t find any available which I was bummed about but they said they might be getting them stocked this week so I will be back because the Vanilla Peach is calling my name… The kids preferred the Apple Cinnamon which also makes the kitchen smell divine.

Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit can be found at Walmart and in a wide variety of retail grocery stores. For a detailed store list, visit www.seneca-farms.com.

From the Company:
In less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee, heat the six-ounce microwaveable cup – no milk or water necessary – in the microwave for 45 seconds. Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit has no trans fats or cholesterol, and is a great source of Vitamin C. Two initial flavors are being introduced – Apple Cinnamon and Vanilla Peach. More flavors will be added in the coming months. Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit is a quick and healthy breakfast option for the entire family, a satisfying after-school snack for kids and even works as part of a healthy weight loss plan for those looking to lose or maintain weight loss.

You can find them on Facebook and “Like” their page for access to Seneca Farms Oatmeal & Fruit coupons and more!

This post is a product review for Seneca Farms. I was provided with samples in order to bring you a firsthand experience with the product. Opinions were not swayed by samples provided.

Offer ends April 15th 2011

PASS is a convenient and safe way for teens/young adults to spend without carrying a lot of cash.  The PASS card from American Express is the perfect way to teach tweens and teens about responsible budgeting, money and financing.  For teens and young adults, PASS will be a new way to pay for things without using cash, a debit or credit card. PASS has built-in controls so that both parents and teens can manage spending responsibly. There is no risk of overdraft fees or impact to the Cardmember’s credit.

My daughter is nearly 9 and with all her friends having cell phones and their own wallets now, I figured it was a perfect time to teach her the responsibility of monitoring her cash. She is an avid saver– she always has a small wad of cash in her pocket. I gave her one of my old wallets  and she has been carrying around her cash for weeks just waiting for the perfect moment to blow it all. Well, when this opportunity to get her a card came along– a card that she could use instead of that wad of 1 dollar bills– I thought to myself YES, perfect!

I feel that it is so important to teach our children at a young age about the responsibilities that come with money. My kids know that mommy can use her “plastic card” when we really want to buy something special or big but, they know better than to ask me to use it for a candy bar or a toy. They have been taught that before we even go into the store we talk about what IS being purchased and what is NOT being purchased. The 4 year old might not quite get it yet {hence his constant whining for more Matchbox cars even though he has thousands} but, at least they are learning.

The PASS card is even perfect for someone like me– a WAHM with a small business. I need boundaries LOL and, with my credit card, I always feel like I shouldn’t be using it– I’d rather spend the cash I actually have but I hate to carry actual cash. This card can be used without any guilt because you will always know how much is on there. Be sure to get your $25 bonus before the offer expires on April 15th 2011! Use code SS25 to get your PASS card from American Express

Disclosure: I was engaged by SheSpeaks to participate in this promotion for PASS by American Express. I was compensated for my time and this post was not mandatory.

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays and no, it’s not for the gifts. It’s because ever since I have had children, I have made Valentine’s Day a day to celebrate LOVE and not just man/woman love but the love of a family.

The older we get, the wiser– and, where as gifts like chocolate hearts and flowers are typical and traditional gifts, I like to buy unique Valentine’s Day gifts for my family.

RedEnvelope.com has been the premier destination for my online shopping for a few years now. I found myself always window shopping on the site when  I would “Google” for something unique or special or personalized for a loved one. They make Valentine’s Day a cinch. Once you’ve picked out the perfect gift, choose delivery dates (including day-of shipping), select gift wrap, add a personalized card, and you’re set. No more trips to the mall for tired greeting cards and tacky ties!

I was offered a very generous gift– the gift of a review of the site for Valentine’s Day. SO, off I went to indulge in some shopping for my loved ones.

As I mentioned already, I spend my Puffy Heart Day with my hubby and kids so, the perfect valentine’s day gift for a family , a chocolate mousse torte, was purchased as a group gift. OH MY! This was such a no-brainer! We actually already dug into this puppy because WHOA the smell of the chocolate had our mouths watering.

Since I still had some cash to spend, I figured why not get something for the husbter and I to share? I found the perfect couples gift – a Red Wine Aerator. Hubby and I have become quite distinguished in our old age {hee hee} and love red wines. The aerator acts as an enhancer for the flavors and the smoothness of the wine. We will be giving this handy tool a whirl once the lil ones go to bed.

And, how could I forget MOI? Well, you know mama has to get a lil something special for all her hard work Of course, a fabulous valentine’s day gift for mom –a gorgeous semiprecious bracelet. It features clusters of polished semiprecious peridot, amethyst and pale-blue topaz stones all mixed in with silver beads and pink and white freshwater pearls. It closes with a classic lobster claw and features a dainty sterling-silver heart centerpiece.

So, this should be quite a wonderful Valentine’s Day yet again and with unique gifts that can please even the most spoiled children and husband {lol} I am certain you can find something to make a loved one feel extra special too. In fact, I am so certain that you can do it for under $100 that  thanks to RedEnvelope, I am giving away a $100 gift code for the site!

To Enter:

-Post in a comment how you usually spend your Valentine’s Day –ONE entry

-Tweet it and/or FB it– ONCE DAILY

-Post a blog about LOVE and link to this giveaway– WORTH 5 entries

-Tell me you love me ONE entry

****Contest Ends WEDNESDAY February 9th 12 EST *******

*Disclosure: I was provided with a gift code in order to review the sites products and services. All opinions are my own and are in no way a reflection of the gift code received.

It’s hard to imagine a worse place to be a woman than Afghanistan right now, where girls are thrown in hideous jails for “moral crimes” such as leaving a violent husband.

You can read Karen Day’s piece in Marie Claire’s February issue — Marie Claire designed this “Not Guilty” T-shirt ($25) to raise money to help the women in her story.

The Afghan Women’s Justice Project will send proceeds to non-profit groups that are working to improve imprisoned women’s lives. One shirt purchase buys a child’s milk for a month or school supplies for 10 prisoners.

You can buy the shirt  or enter to win a shirt HERE on MomTV.

It’s mind boggling to think of how little we appreciate our freedoms in the United States not only as Americans but as women. I know that my big mouth could get me into a lot of trouble and reading about the terrible way of life these women have makes me stop and think about my words before they just come spewing out of my mouth.

My 8 year old daughter is thee hardest kid to shop for. She’s the oldest grandchild, my oldest child so you can imagine the spoiling that goes on here… At 8 years old I am lucky that she still loves her bears and dolls so, when I was provided an oppotunity to work with Build-A-Bear Workshops again this year I was excited and eager to see what they had this year!

Mikayla is a music lover, she’s a dancer and she is a fashionista. The perfect bear is actually a new bear to the Build-A-Bear family this year!

Speaker Starz Bear  is a rockin’ new friend from Build-A-Bear Workshop that serves as a speaker for MP3 players.  A Velcro opening in the bear’s side hides a wire that plugs into the MP3 device of choice.  The speaker is in the bear’s left paw.  Available in pink or black beginning Dec. 10, the pink version features stars and musical notes and the black version has guitar picks on the fur and sports a Mohawk (MP3 player not included).

We had to get her all dolled up so we bought “Sarah” the Guitar Star Dress and som ecute heels.

Sarah, the Speaker Starz bear works with my IPhone, IPod and even her regular ole MP3 player that we got her last year. Not only does the bear work with any MP3 player, the sound is pretty impressive. Best of all, Build-A-Bear Workshops are located all over! Find a Build-a-Bear location near you and head on over– it’s so easy to make these awesome friends in so little time that these are the perfect last-minute gifts!

Looking for stocking stuffers? Another great addition to the family are the cutest “SmallFrys”  which are a steal at $5 and come with their own collection of clothing as well!

So, would you like to WIN a Build-A-Bear gift card? Here is how you can win!

-Subscribe to my blog– over on the right sidebar there is an icon in Orange–click to enter your email.

-Link to this post on Facebook– share with your friends

-Visit Build A Bear and let me know which animal is your fav!

For ALL of these entries all you have to do is leave a comment here with your link or screenshot! Contest ends Dec. 21st 2010 at midnight EST!

Disclosure: I was engaged by Build-A-Bear to participate in a review of their product and was provided with a gift card for my purchase item to review.