On the Docket

Here are some of the things I'm working on or have written and need to post:

- At the end of June, I set a goal of visiting one new park (to the boys, anyway) a week.  This means I'm also going to start The Playground Series up again!

- Finally highlight Curly's birthday party and show how all my Pinterest party planning ideas came to fruition.

- A really real look into depression from my perspective.

- Tracking my fitness and weight loss progress as I prepare for my second half marathon.  Accountability, people!

- One of the things I questioned was getting involved in product reviews again.  I decided that I wanted to do book reviews of some of the great children's books we take out at the library (purely for selfish reasons, so that I can remember them!) and other reviews of products I choose that I like, recommend and really use.

- More Curly and Slim fun and funny moments that I want to document. 

Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Product Review

Despite being part of a load of BzzCampaigns with BzzAgent, I've understandably been preoccupied with the move and haven't been bzzing quite as often as I should.

I want to share my thoughts on Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition.  But first,  let me tell you about my hair and then do a photo retrospective!

You know how schools do class superlatives, like Most Likely to Succeed and Best Dressed?  Well, in eighth grade I was selected for the Prettiest Hair award.  Friends, amongst other nicknames, called me Pantene Girl.

Sure, I haven't always liked how I look (and I have a post coming on that, after the move) but I've almost always liked my hair.

I'm blonde, naturally.  Up until I was in middle school, my hair turned platinum blonde in the Summer sun.  Now, my hair is an ashy blonde that borders on dishwater.  Since I first discovered Sun-In when I was twelve or so, I've been lightening or otherwise coloring my hair.  The only time I see the natural color is when I let it grow long enough for the roots to show.  For instance, now.  I haven't had my hair cut or highlighted in months.  I'm accidentally working the ombre hair look when all I've been trying to do is become more low maintenance.

Ultimately, I've always been of the opinion that it's only hair and it will grow back.  This is why I'm not afraid to experiment.  In the last ten years alone, I've had short hair three times, sported several styled of bangs, gone without, attempted to be platinum blonde, went dark on my own and at a salon, and decided that certain styles aren't worth repeating.  Which isn't to say I won't!

August 2011

May 2012

April 2010

September 2012

You can see how in less than one year's time, from August 2011 to May 2012, how quickly my hair grows.  Between those months, I have only had my hair cut and highlighted once.  The May picture was taken at Slim's school during the Mother's Day Tea event.  You'll notice my tongue sticking out and him making a silly pout.  I was in the midst of saying, "smile" when another mom snapped the picture.  I included it so that you can see how my hair looks when using Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition.

Here's some facts:

• Works best on dry or damaged hair
• Nourishes hair to the core so it shines from within
• Formulated with Fortified Fruit Science – three weightless nutritive fruit oils (olive, avocado and shea)
• Packed with ultra-rich and nourishing conditioners that rinse clean — we dare you to find something that treats your dry damaged hair better
• Part of a larger Triple Nutrition line that includes Nutrient Spray and 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment
• Have a suggested retail price of $3.99 (13 oz.) and $6.99 (25.4 oz.)
• Available at grocery stores, drug stores and mass retailers like Target and Wal-Mart

Green living is important to me, but I am nowhere near the level I'd like to be.  It pleases me that the packaging is more eco-friendly: the bottles are made containing PET  and 30% recycled plastic. They're also 10% lighter, which saves over 125 tons of plastic annually. 

I have been using it in conjunction with a clarifying shampoo and conditioner and a charcoal scalp treatment. I don't wash my hair every day - I've, on average, used Garnier Fructis two times a week. But I feel that the regimen I put together helps my hair look fabulous.

Quaker Oatmeal Squares Product Review

Anticpate lots of BzzAgent product reviews coming up!  I have been fortunate to receive a wide variety of things to try and tell lately. 

One of those items was Quaker Oatmeal Squares.

I'm a big believer in easy, healthy breakfasts.  I love oatmeal, when it is cooked right.  Although I'm working on reducing packaged and processed foods from the family diet, I admit instant oatmeal does make mornings easier and they are mostly pretty healthy choices.  Quaker Instant Oatmeal in the Maple & Brown Sugar flavor or Quaker Quick Oats with fruit, honey, or peanut butter mixed in is a frequent breakfast of mine ... and my kids.

We received a full sized box and sample sized boxes to share of the Brown Sugar and I went on to buy boxes of Golden Maple.  It wasn't surprising that Slim and Curly enjoyed both the Brown Sugar and Golden Maple flavors of Quaker Oatmeal Squares.  They liked the taste.  I appreciated the whole grain, fiber and calcium as necessities and benefits to their diet.

My kids are like me - weird.  I don't like much, if any milk on my cereal.  Neither do they.  I think they preferred Quaker Oatmeal Squares as a snack more than a breakfast.  It worked as a chance to give them something sweet that was between fruit (my choice) and a cookie (theirs)!

Compromise is key when it comes to eating in my household.  I don't think it's feasible for me to expect a completely whole foods diet.  My lifestyle is busy and I will always require convenience foods in some capacity.  Foods from Quaker are a way to combine heart healthy, delicious and generally nutritious, and fast in a way with which I'm happy!

Remember, like I've mentioned in all my product reviews - my opinions are my own.  I received samples and coupons in exchange for sharing my real thoughts.

Hill's Science Diet Ideal Balance Cat food

It's been a few months since I've had the chance to try any products with BzzAgent.  To catch everyone up to speed, I'm a BzzAgent, which means I share information, receive products or test services, and provide my opinion, good, bad, or indifferent.

R and I often joke that we are the proud and crazy owners of a zoo.  We have two kids, two dogs, and three cats.

How sad that the only decent picture we've managed to get of all three is from a camera phone!
Atticus, Finn (Finnegan), Livvy (Olivia)

Every single one of our pets were from a rescue and they are all spayed or neutered.  We adopted Finn and Atticus as kittens in late Spring of 2008.  Olivia was an impulse rescue - R has always wanted a Siamese cat.  She was estimated to be one years old when we adopted her in Spring of 2011; she had been abandoned in a trailer and left to fend for herself.  That gets important later.

Although I admit that we are indeed over the top to have so many animals in our home, I wouldn't change a thing.  Take the cats (and no, I don't mean that like, "take the cats ... please") for instance:  Atticus is my cat.  He shies from the boys and guests, but no matter when I set my head on my pillow or hop on the computer, he comes out of hiding to curl next to me.  Finn is the ideal cat for someone who only ever had dogs before.  Like me.  He is such a dogcat and something of an attention whore.  It doesn't matter who walks in the door, he wants on their lap and to lick them.  My sweet Livvy girl can be occasionally aloof, but is the best with children of all three.  As the smallest of the cats and the one who not only tolerates but seemingly loves Slim and Curly, she is the only one I allow them to carry (after having taught the appropriate way to pick her up, of course.)  I love watching the kids interact with our pets and how the animals all take to them in different ways (sometimes just snuggling together in bed, as the children sleep.)  My life is richer for having so many, with fur and without, with which to share.

Before I get to the review, pictures. 

Very newly home.

About a week into having them and they already looked so much older.  From the time they were brought into the shelter, they had nasty ear stuff going which, thankfully, never recurred once we got it cleared up.

Poor thing was so skinny when we adopted her.

 Finn has grown to be a big boy. 

Atticus thinks the tops of kitchen cabinets and underneath beds make the best out of the way, hiding spots.

Livvy, with her bright blue eyes, usually has this weird cat shiny laser eye/red eye effect in pictures, making this one, where it didn't happen, my favorite by default.

When last I reviewed a pet food for BzzAgent, I questioned the price and ingredients.  Those remain my concerns this round too.

I started the Hill's Science Diet Ideal Balance BzzCampaign about two weeks after R was laid off.  I felt incredibly thankful to have the cats try out a 3.5 pound free bag of cat food.

There have been some fantastic benefits in the pro list:

• In the time I've been feeding them Hill's Science Diet Ideal Balance cat food, there have been no hair ball incidents.  Correlation does not imply causation, but if they are related, that's stellar in my books.
• The first ingredient is chicken, which is important because a "cat cannot sustain its life unless it consumes meat in some form"
• No corn or artificial colors in the bag I received, though there were whole grains. There is also a Hill's Science Diet Ideal Balance Grain Free cat food. 

The drawbacks however:

• Price. Petfooddirect.com sells the 15 pound bag for $43.99.
• Whole grains are an ingredient; they serve as filler and are not suitable for a cat's dietary needs.
• Goodguide.com ranks most of the ingredients as desirable, but the fruits and veggies Science Diet touts are listed as less desirable.  This makes sense given that cats are primarily carnivorous.
• It is supposed to be an easy open, resealable bag.  I felt like a moron, but I could not open this bag.  I wound up having to cut it with a knife, negating the reseal.

What did the cats think?

Finn, Atticus, and Livvy loved the food.  Frankly though, this is unsurprising knowing them.  Olivia, from her time as a stray, has eaten off our plates before (NOT with our permission, but sneakily stealing bites) and will pretty much eat anything.  We have fed them wet food, dry food and a combination thereof.  They have never had issues switching to a new food, as far as finding it repellent.  There have been occasions that they ate a new food too quickly or it disagreed with them and we had to deal with some cat throw up.  None of those issues occurred with the Science Diet. 

Will we feed it to them again?

I'm not sure.  R has a new job now, so our money concerns aren't like they were when he was unemployed, but we do have three cats to feed and the price adds up.  I'd love to find a pet food with an ingredient list I approve at a price point my budget can handle.  As it is, I prefer not to compromise the quality the humans in our family eat, whereas I'm okay to compromise on what the animals eat.

If you are wondering what to feed your feline friend, About.com has a helpful article with tips for choosing a cat food.

MommyParties Hosted by Oral-B Stages

All of the great items before getting packed in goodie bags!

Recently, I held a Pajama Party and a Morning Movie at my home through my mothers' group.  It was all thanks to Mommy Parties and hosted by Oral-B Stages.  Mommy Parties are a mashup of social media and playdate.  Companies utilize Mommy Parties for the power of reaching moms and spreading word of mouth in a natural and engaging way. 

Attendance was lower than we'd hoped; December sure is a bustling month, plus illnesses and a sudden visit from out of town family dwindled the expected numbers.  We ended up having five children ranging in age from 9 months to five years and three moms.  Interestingly enough, all the kids were boys!  I don't recall the last time having a get-together without it being mixed gender. 

A closer look at our guests' gifts

Toothbrushes, toothpaste, and child body wash

My Oral B Stages party kit included:

• 11 Oral-B Stage I Brushes
• 11 Oral-B Stage II Brushes
• 11 Oral-B Stages Pastes
• 11 Bottles of Disney Lavender Wash
• Disney's Winnie the Pooh Movie DVD
• Recipe & Activity Ideas (that would be the flash cards featuring the happy kid and toothpaste with Pooh Bear above)
• Balloons
• Popcorn for guests
• Guest Gift Bags

Slim and Curly were super eager to have friends over - from the time they woke on the morning of the event, they were jumping up and down asking if it was pajama party time!  Because I'm weird, I changed them out of their actual pjs after breakfast and into a fresh pair.  Then, it was time to set up.

The boys wanted to decorate with the bears they made at the previous week's bear themed storytime & craft we hosted.

Our menu directly tied in to the film we'd be viewing, 2011's Winnie the Pooh.  We served:

•  Winnie the Pooh popcorn
• Rabbit gummies
• Kanga cookies
• Hundred Acre Wood trail mix
• Backson (a key part and character of the movie) box juice
• And for the moms, coffee or tea with hunny

Table set up to welcome our friends

Goodie bags were stocked, balloons were blown up, and my personal favorite,

the giant toothbrush and plastic dental teeth model were displayed so that everyone could practice their toothbrushing skills.

Curly making a comfy, cozy spot for himself

Our guests arrived, and given everyone's mood, we started off by playing the movie.  However, the lure of toys not theirs called the other guys and we soon headed downstairs to the playroom.  I will say, as the photos below attest, that what was watched was greatly enjoyed!

While the kids played, the moms socialized.  We talked about our child(ren)'s sleep patterns, how differently we handle a second or later kid, and past and upcoming events of the mothers' group.  Of course, we also discussed Disney's Winnie the Pooh, Oral-B Stages and taking care of our sons' dental health.  I have often argued that I don't understand why movies geared towards kids have to have such incredibly scary and dramatic moments or such evil bad guys.  Frankly, Slim does not care for movies that scare him.  So, even though he is five and likely aging out of the Winnie the Pooh targeted age group, their innocence and mild scares are much more up his alley.  My mother-in-law took him to see Winnie the Pooh in the theaters this Summer and the Zooey Deschanel song, "So Long" has been an oft requested one ever since.

 

One of the other moms said that Winnie the Pooh was her two year old's first going to the movies experience and he loved it!  She was amazed at how easily it captured his attention for the entire film.  At this point, we started talking about how things like character toothbrushes help our children get more into wanting to brush their teeth.  We agreed that anything that could aid the process along (some of our kids have or still do fight brushing teeth) was a plus.

Taking the playroom from immaculate to well-played in and many rounds of jousting in which, surprisingly, no one was hurt, the boys worked up a big appetite.

Despite the varied menu, the Rabbit gummies (from Annie's) were the runaway hit snack.

Before our friends went on their way, we gave each child a goodie bag and I allowed the moms to select a toothbrush appropriate for their son's age.  Even though Slim and Curly knew what was in each bag, they took items out with great anticipation.  Just goes to show, that dental hygiene can equal fun!

Root Candles Product Review

A few months ago, I wrote a blog post as a way to attract BzzAgent's attention and earn a spot in the Root Candles BzzCampaign.  They liked what I had to say and I received three candles in exchange.  Since then, I have been declaring my (already existent, but further deepened) love for them and suggesting Root Candles as a perfect holiday gift in person, on Facebook and Twitter.

Adding both visual and olfactory appeal to the season

The three scents that arrived on my doorstep were:

I Tweeted right away that the box smelled so good and I hadn't even opened it yet.  Seriously, so good.  All three are great, but my favorite is the Lemon Frosted Scone.  R and I jokingly call scents flavors and it is apt in this case because it smells mouthwatering.  Even reading their description, "Sour-sugared, fresh-bright lemon, clove and subtle lavender melded together with buttery bakery notes, caramelized sugar and creamy whipped vanilla." makes me say, "Yum.  I want that flavor candle."  I didn't care for the scent of the unlit Pinot Noir at first.  It was thisclose to being cloyingly sweet.  However, burning it made all the difference in the world.  I am a wine loving gal and the way they tell you about the candle feels like a wine aficionado recording their tasting notes, "Bright effervescent red-grape notes drop down to touches of raspberry and currant as strong tannin notes mix with dry, woodsy oak and cedarwood."  Much like how I don't taste the subtleties of apricot in my current star Chardonnay, my nose doesn't pick up on all this either, though I would certainly explain it as a rich, berry scent.  If Lemon Frosted Scone was good enough to eat, then Pumpkin Spice Latte is good enough to drink.  It was ideal for those crisp, Fall days.  I adore the way they utilize scent memory by listing the ingredients, "Espresso blended with sweet notes of creamy milk mix with nutmeg, cinnamon and the traditional spiced-blend of warm baked pumpkin. Notes of rich butter and vanilla sugar warm the deep, black coffee notes." - change the words a bit and you could imagine this written on a cafe menu.

I won't rehash all the history of Root Candles, as I had posted about that before.  But I do want to address their logo, the BEST candle in America.  I can tell you several reasons why they deserve that title.  Their stunning, inspiring flagship store in Medina, OH.  When I lived there, the staff was darling and helpful.  They are an American company.  I have never, ever been a gung ho buy American person.  I likely never will be.  But I have absolute respect for products that are made in the USA.  I also must direct you to the Root Candles blog.  Love.  The blog writer also handles the company's Twitter (and Facebook and other social media I think too, but definitely Twitter).  And her name's Meghan.  Spelled with an "h" like me.  It's the little things sometimes.  Her blog post, a picture tour, showcases Medina in a way that, to me, demonstrates how the town and the company are uniquely and perfectly linked in awesomeness.

If you're encouraged to go and get some Root Candles for your home, as a present, for me *hint hint*, through 12/12 using Promo Code (now expired) you can spend just $5 standard shipping on any order.  Or use the store locator to find a retailer that carries their fragrances near you.  Seeking suggestions aside from the three above? Now that we're swiftly approaching Winter, I tend towards scents that evoke Christmas and Victorian Fantasy does just that and  is available at a 25% reduced price because it is the fragrance of the month .

Green Mountain Coffee Fair Trade Review

BzzAgent has been good to me the last few months.  At one point, I was in six active BzzCampaigns simultaneously.  And while it's true that they "reward [the] most active and influential BzzAgents with access to even more campaigns", entry into a campaign is also dependent upon demographics.  BzzAgent courts companies with the promise of accelerating sales via word of mouth and sometimes those companies want people of a certain age, gender, income level, or location.  Thankfully, I was selected for the Green Mountain Coffee Fair Trade BzzCampaign.

I don't remember when I first started drinking coffee.  Before I liked coffee as a drink, I loved coffee ice cream.  Mmmmmm, Springer Chip!  Basically, I liked stuff that tasted like coffee to be incredibly sweet.  Even today, R jokes with me, "Want some coffee with your sugar?"

Oh, but now.  Now I would fight anyone threatening to take away my Keurig.  I rely heavily on my two cups of coffee in the morning to help get me through the day.

And what better way to start your day than knowing you're making a positive difference?  Green Mountain Coffee features the most Fair Trade Certified coffees in the United States.  People say that life isn't fair.  But those committed to Fair Trade goods and products are trying to ensure that adage doesn't apply.   Just as so many of us are removed several generations from thinking about where the meat we eat comes from, we also don't really ponder the people and communities making the gifts we buy and harvesting the coffee we consume.  We can't take for granted that the workers receive a living wage, that the workers aren't children as young as Slim (age 5), that the companies aren't abusing the resources of the land the workers call home without regard to how it impacts the environment.  As it states in the embedded Fair Trade: Every Purchase Matters YouTube video, "When you buy Fair Trade Certified Goods, you're making a choice that means quality products, improved lives, and protection of the environment."  Receiving fair trade certification means adherence to environmental, labor, and developmental standards.  The goal?  That with fair trade, they get a fair deal.  Green Mountain puts it simply, "Coffee is more than just something to drink. It connects us to each other, and to the rest of the world."

Look for the symbol to the left to ensure you're buying a Fair Trade Certified product. 

Green Mountain offers a wide selection of Fair Trade coffees.  Amongst my favorites are Vermont Country Blend, available year round and Pumpkin Spice, a coffee that embodies Fall, which is a limited edition only available in the, you guessed it, Fall.  Perfect for the upcoming holidays and snowy Winter days are their limited edition Gingerbread and Spicy Eggnog flavors.  Start your day with a cup and help brew a better world.

Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions Review

I'm pretty darn loyal when it comes to products that I love.

When I buy cosmetics, the place I turn to most often is Clinique. Why? That's where my mom and my bff's (or bfts anyway - best friend that summer) mom took us to welcome us to the world of makeup before we started sixth grade.

Other favorite companies include Aveda, Origins, and Burt's Bees.

I was invited to be part of the BzzAgent Burt's Bees Natural Skin Solutions for Sensitive Skin BzzCampaign. Obviously, I was super excited.  If you're not familiar with Burt's Bees, please go to your local grocery store and pick something to test out - in different stores across the country, I've noticed they're ordinarily placed at an endcap by the pharmacy. Some of the reasons that I'm such a fan are because Burt's Bees takes social responsibility, the environment, and as they put it, the Greater Good seriously. Admirable.  Plus, they make things for me and the kids that I vastly prefer over the competition.  Their Beeswax Lip Balm Tube beats Chapstick and the Baby Bee Diaper Ointment is one of the best smelling (as in, I would totally wear a lotion that smelled like it - hint, hint Burt's Bees!) and fast healing "heinie creams" (what we call it in our house) I've tried on the kiddos.

The haul from BzzAgent was pretty impressive - I received a full size Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream, a full size  Sensitive Facial Cleanser, product samples of the moisturizer with a coupon, and regular coupons. 

After using these almost exclusively for more than a month, I can say that I mostly love them, but would totally love them with some minor tweaks.  The moisturizer lives up to its name!  I used it before sitting down to write and just now, as I was typing, I rubbed my cheeks.  I want to say they feel silky and smooth, but then my brain automatically starts reciting the Adam Sandler bit where he fights with himself about shampoo and conditioner.  So, instead I'll use a cliche - they feel as soft as a baby's bottom.  I wish there was SPF included though.  I'm also not gung ho over pump dispensers because I feel that there's always stuff left at the bottom that won't pump up.  However, their Web site states their "packages are designed to hold just enough product for you to use up before it expires, so you don't end up throwing out half used tubes and jars."  I haven't finished the container yet, so I can't verify that claim.  The cleanser is a soap-free creamy cleanser and makes a complements the cream well.  I've attempted to eliminate Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, which is a lather producer that is never on Burt's Bees ingredient list.  Even without lather or soap, it removed my makeup and any dirt accrued through my day, but I don't know that it cleansed away oil, as I had some pimples that required enlisting other products.  Perhaps I'm spoiled by the Burt's Bees mirace worker Natural Acne Solutions Targeted Spot Treatment and expected the same results.

Each product deserves a trial, particularly if you have sensitive skin.  The Sensitive Facial Cleanser retails for $10.00 and the Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream lists for $15.00.  They can be purchased online or check the locator for nearby stores.

Bil-Jac Review and Coupon Giveaway

First, the standard disclaimer - I'm a BzzAgent, which means that I test products for free and give companies my honest feedback, all while spreading buzz because word of mouth marketing is super effective!  Proof that my input is honest and not just false hype is right here in this review, which is rather negative.

I am a part of the Bil-Jac Dry Dog Food BzzCampaign.

Price is my first concern when it comes to food, then quality, then whether it will be eaten by our ten year old mutt (any guesses on her breed(s)?  the best guess I've heard yet is Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, or Toller) Hannah.

Let's address the first and third of those.

For me, and those that I talked to about this BzzCampaign, the price is unappealing.  Bil-Jac does claim that because the food is higher quality, dogs get fuller on less, which means a bag of food would stretch out for longer and hopefully stretch dollars further.  However, with prices ranging from $16.99 for a six pound bag to $46.99 for a thirty pound bag at your local PetSmart, that's a fair amount of money to spend out of my pet food budget on faith alone.

As to whether Hannah will eat Bil-Jac? The Two Bowl Challenge video below answers that question!  She has never been picky about her food.  However, ordinarily we put food in her bowl and she grazes throughout the day.  With Bil-Jac, she gobbles her bowls right up!  The Bil-Jac Dry Dog Food she is eating is the Reduced Fat version because since she's become a senior dog, she has a tendency to gain weight.

But here's the rub - upon research, I've found the ingredient list has potential health hazards for your pet.  When Bzzing about this dog food, friends of mine who raw feed their animals had nothing but bad things to say about Bil-Jac and expressed concerns about me exposing Hannah to the carcinogen BHA.  I'll admit that despite making it a priority to feed my family healthy foods with an emphasis on those that are not processed, are organic, and/or local as much as possible, I don't extend that courtesy to our four pets.  As mentioned above, the first factor in the pet food I buy is price.  I don't usually peruse the ingredient lists on bags of dog or cat food.  When I say that quality is a concern, mostly it means that I'd like to avoid foods on the recall list.  So, what's in Bil-Jac, aside from the ""4 lbs. of fresh chicken used to make a 6 lb bag"?  Chicken by-products are first on the list, with the advisement that those by-products are organs only.  It does contain BHA like my friends warned.  BHA is a chemical preservative that is potentially carcinogenic.

Bil-Jac is also not rated highly by the independent canine nutrition review site Dog Food Advisor.

Between the cost and the concerns about the ingredient list, I don't see us buying Bil-Jac again.  I also don't know that I'll follow the rule for the fur members of our family that I've instituted for the humans: "eat from pronounceable ingredients with the most frequency."  I can see adopting another rule of mixing a high quality food with a low quality food so that they still get the necessary nutrients.  After all, I don't always make healthy food choices!  Hannah does like it, so I'll let her finish the bag we got with the free coupon in the meantime.

Perhaps you feel differently than I do and have more of an affinity for Bil-Jac.  If so, I still have coupons to save $10 on any size Bil-Jac Puppy, Select, Reduced Fat, Senior, Large Breed, Small Breed or Sensitive Solutions Dry Dog Food that I'd be happy to send your way.  Just comment if you're interested.

Root Candles

BzzAgent is a word-of-mouth marketing firm and they "love helping awesome people try awesome products and share their awesome opinions about them."  They've launched a new feature called The Daily Bzz, in which you prove you deserve a spot in an upcoming campaign by doing something, well, awesome!  Today's Daily Bzz is one I'd love to be in on: Root Candles

"Since 1869, Root Candles of Medina, Ohio, has been an industry-leading, family-owned company renowned for innovative ideas, aesthetic enhancements and the highest standards of quality. Now in its fifth generation, the Root family continues to extol the virtues of honesty, integrity, and diligent craftsmanship. These qualities were exemplified by Root Candles founding father and American original, Amos Ives Root.
His tradition of excellence, along with a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction and service, defines and fuels Root’s strong brand loyalty today. Root Candles devotion to purity, honesty and quality is renowned. Each Root candle is carefully handcrafted using processes mastered through five generations of craftsmanship combined with the latest in manufacturing technologies. The results are pure and simple: Root Candles are highly regarded for complex bouquets of subtle fragrances and sophisticated color palettes, important factors for discerning candle lovers.

Today, Root Candles can confidently lay claim to making 'The Best Candles in America, Made in America Since 1869.' " - Root Candles History

I'm jonesing for the Root Candles campaign because for a little while I lived in Medina, Ohio, where Root Candles are made. Their flagship store and factory outlet are spectacular! In fact, if you received a present from me in 2008, odds are it came from either the flagship store or factory outlet.  I take great pride in whatever town I've been able to call home, even if it is only temporarily, and the town and people of Medina are still held fondly in my heart.  While I can find Root products in area stores, it's not quite the same.  Earning a spot would be like a little piece of my old home delivered right to my door. I have yet to attain a Daily Bzz campaign, so my fingers are crossed for this one!

Amos Ives (A.I.) Root, the founder of Root Candles, left an indelible print on Earth.  The Medina City School District's mascot is the Battling Bees, in honor of A.I. Root's affinity for bee keeping and subsequent moniker in fifteen languages, "the bee man."  Were we still living there when the boys reached middle school age, they would have walked to a school named after him.  The company continues to promote the science of bee keeping via Bee Culture.  Given concerns like colony collapse disorder, such a resource is incredibly important.  I was surprised to learn that A.I. Root influenced people from the history books, like Helen Keller and the Wright Brothers.  As quoted above, starting with the company's founding father, Root Candles is still a family-owned and operated American business, in its fifth generation!

As one can see straight from their What's New page, Bzz Agent and Root Candles go hand in hand: "We love our Social Media Busy Bees, and we show that love by letting you know about new innovations first!"

What makes your current or previous town special?  Are there any products you associate with the place you call or called home?

There is no Us and Them. There is only we.

Can you remember when your innocence was shattered?  I don't know if I do, because, for most people, I think it happens piecemeal as you advance towards adulthood.  But there are moments in life, like September 11, 2001, that may not shatter innocence, but rip away false notions of what the world is like as swiftly and shockingly as pulling off a band-aid.

When I was in middle school and high school, my family lived in a townhouse.  I hated it there; I missed my old home.  I called it, "The Townhouse", perhaps so that qualifier in its name would signify that it was less of a house, that it wasn't my home.  I may have been determined to loath the place, but I cannot deny the memories built there.  One such memory came when I was in the downstairs family room, alone, watching TV.  I happened upon a documentary about the Civil Rights Movement.  Of course, I knew about it.  Every Black History Month, it was a part of the curriculum.  The text of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's "I Have a Dream" speech was printed on a poster displayed near the circle time area in my Kindergarten or first grade class, I can't recall which.  So, yes I had learned about the Civil Right Movement, taught facts about inequality and Rosa Parks and peaceful protest by many teachers over the years.  But their lessons never captured my attention or emotions the way this documentary did.  That's the thing about facts - they have the tendency to be cold and hard and yet somehow, not feel real.  Sometimes it takes pictures and video and hearing individual experiences to "get it."

Charles Moore's "They Fight a Fire That Won't Go Out" appeared in Life

Watching the water hoses turned on protesters ( the water pressure strong enough to "peel bark off a tree or separate bricks from mortar") horrified me.  The victims were protesters, innocent bystanders, children ... our fellow human beings for God's sake!  It took being witness, about forty years later, to understand how Americans were capable of relegating people to Other, second-class status.  It wasn't just to an intangible them or in other parts of the world that this happened.  I don't know why I was surprised, but I know that I was naive deluded to think that those things didn't happen here.  See: slavery, the Trail of Tears, Japanese internment ...  America, while beautiful, isn't perfect.  The United States and her people and government are not separate from Tank Man in Tiananmen Square or the Egyptian protesters earlier this year, nor so far removed from the perpetrators of the Holocaust or the Khmer Rouge regime.  All humans have the capacity to want the world to change and be a better place and to commit evil.  There is no Us and Them. There is only we.

Similar to my epiphany, Kathryn Stockett's The Help, set during the Civil Rights era and evoking reprehensible acts of racism, has opened others' eyes to injustice.  The novel has been a runaway hit, popular with book clubs and given readers, especially those who haven't experienced that time in our nation's history firsthand, "access to a more personal, intimate look inside race relations than could ever be gleaned from most history texts." I adore historical fiction.  From the books I gobbled up as a girl, like Number the Stars, The Devil's Arithmetic, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Sign of the Beaver, and oh! how I could go on and on, to what I'm reading now, The Historian, historical fiction comprised/s a significant chunk of my reading history.  Today's Daily Bzz, is The Help.  It has been on my "to read" list, but frequently checked out at the local library.  Regardless of whether BzzAgent selects me to spread word of mouth about the book, I will eventually read it to fulfill Gran's legacy.

Have you read or seen The Help?  What do you think about the divisive book and movie?  I'd also love if you shared the events that eroded your innocence.

Gran's Legacy

Gran loved (her) babies!

My grandmother was and is my hero.

She died nine years ago today, September 7, 2002 and I miss her.  But I've decided to make sure that I honor my memory of her. 

You might ask yourself how could a woman with no famous outstanding achievments or feats of skill and courage be a hero?  Yet she is; she was a champion of reading.  As Fred Rogers remarked, "Anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me." Gran's my hero because she instilled in me a love of books and to honor her, I've been reigniting that passion.

Gran was a very dedicated woman who loved her family.  Her love was evident in her giving nature and all she did.  She always wanted to be helpful (in many ways because she couldn't keep still!) and was incredibly generous with her time.  My sister became deathly ill in her first year and spent a fair amount of time in the hospital recuperating.  During this period, my grandmother took me in so that my Mom could devote her time to my sister.  Unfortunately, there was a wave of chicken pox going around and I had to be kept virtually quarantined so that no illnesses could be passed on to my immunocompromised sibling via my Mom in the snippets of togetherness we had when she wasn't at the hospital.  The only time Gran and I left the house was to go to the local library, where we would check out ten books at a time.  Lather, rinse, repeat.  Cuddling up with a good book as a favored pastime was a natural progression from cuddling up with one of my favorite people as she read me stories.

In the last several years, I went from being an avid reader who would devour every word available, from the back of a cereal box to a classic novel, to being lucky to leaf through a magazine at the doctor's office.  Thanks to marrying a man who prefers watching tv to fall asleep and two young boys who keep me so busy that I seldom had time to myself, reading fell by the wayside.  However, in the last two months I've read four books!  I think I can officially call myself a reader again.

BzzAgent, a product testing network I've mentioned before, has launched a new feature called The Daily Bzz, in which you prove you deserve a spot in an upcoming campaign by doing something cool.  They are opening a campaign for the Kindle 3.  "The Kindle 3 is ingeniously designed to be everything the iPad will never be: small, light and inexpensive… Now, the Kindle is almost ridiculously lightweight; at 8.5 ounces, it’s a third the weight of the iPad.  And with a wi-fi connection you’re just seconds away from close to a million books. It’s like having access to an entire library from the comforts of your couch"  Sounds nice to me!

I don't own an e-book reader.  Until this past summer, I was convinced I'd never own one!  As a bibliophile, I cherish the smell of libraries and used book stores and turned my nose up at the notion of reading without actually cracking open a book.  But when my cousin's husband showed me his Barnes & Noble Nook, I thought to myself, "Someday ..."  I filled in that sentence with, "... when I'm reading enough to justify the expense" and "... maybe I'll receive one as a gift."

My grandmother taught me an invaluable lesson.  And I'm eager to get back to applying that lesson, no matter what form the books come in.

The last picture of me and Gran together.

For the record, this blog was ready to go today without the information about BzzAgent and the Kindle.  But when the opportunity to apply for the campaign came out this morning, the timing was too perfect and I had to tweak it!

Children's Claritin Chewables Review and Coupon Giveaway

I have more bzz to spread!  As I stated yesterday, I presently have four BzzCampaigns with BzzAgent - the awesome word of mouth marketing program!  And again, I encourage you to check them out because as a BzzAgent, you are given the opportunity to try out different products and then share the feedback, coupons, and sometimes even product samples with friends and family. 

I am part of the Children's Claritin Chewables BzzCampaign.  The freebies I received this time were several coupons and two product samples - a 2 oz bottle of liquid Children's Claritin  and a pack of the chewable version containing 10 tablets, both grape flavored.

I have many friends whose children have allergies, ranging from relatively mild (runny nose, watery eyes) reactions to pollen to severe (anaphylaxis) reactions to peanuts and tree nuts.  Children's Claritin is not intended for food allergies, but rather indoor and outdoor allergies.

Slim has recently exhibited signs of seasonal allergies to pollen (just like me :( )  Allergies can be absolutely miserable.  The symptoms come and go with the pollination seasons of certain trees, grasses or weeds. Pollen levels from these plants can vary day to day, depending upon several factors, including the weather. High pollen levels can, in turn, affect the severity of symptoms.

I am generally rather anxious about using medicine for myself and the kids.  I think it's great that their website lists alternative methods to manage allergy symptoms that don't require medication.  That said, sometimes the symptoms are so life disrupting, that medicine is a necessity.  Children's Claritin combats the allergy fog with powerful, 24 hour non-drowsy relief and is the #1 Pediatrician recommended non-drowsy allergy brand.  And Children's Claritin, in the Chewable and Syrup form, can be taken by children ages two and older.

I have never given the kids something without at least tasting it myself.  Grape taste isn't my choice when it comes to a medicine flavor, but it sure is kid friendly!

Before Slim tried Children's Claritin Chewables, he was suffering from:

- itchy nose
- runny nose
- itchy eyes

During and after getting a dose:

- no fighting over getting him to take it because it was easily chewable and
- he liked the flavor
- felt better
- recognized claritin on a commercial while watching Sesame Streeton PBS at 7:55 on 4/23 and stated, "I had that last night!"

I gave away the syrup sample to a friend and handed out most of the coupons.  My friend said her daughter experienced immense relief from her indoor allergies and was even able to go over to a house that had a cat for a little bit without her throat automatically getting scratchy.  Another feature she likes is one that I always try to look for with liquid medicines - it's dye-free, sugar-free, and alcohol-free. 

I have coupons that I'd love to share with you!  I have two $3.00 off Children's Claritin allergy products (either 4 oz syrup or 10 count or larger chewables) left.  Just be the first two to comment and they're yours!

If you've ever used Children's Claritin to alleviate your kid's allergy symptoms, I'm curious as to your opinion.  Did you like it?  Why or why not?