How to Build a Sandbox and Blend it into Your Landscaping

Building a sandbox can bring the fun of a playground to your backyard. It’s a relatively easy, affordable project that will provide your children with hours of outdoor activity. Before you get started, here are some tips that will help you with everything from deciding where to build a sandbox to landscaping around it.

How to pick the right spot to build a sandbox

The first step to building a sandbox is to find a good place for it in your backyard. Here are four important factors to take into account when deciding where to build a sandbox:

1. Visibility: Choose a place you can easily see so you can keep an eye on your children while they’re playing.
2. Size: Determine what size sandbox you want to build. Factor in how many children, including your children’s playmates, are likely to be in the sandbox at one time. Make sure you also leave room for toys. A 4-by-4 sandbox should be big enough for one child. For each additional kid, add one to two feet to the length of each side of the sandbox. Once you have decided on a size, select a space in your backyard that will be able to accommodate it.
3. Shade: Find a shaded area so your kids don’t get too much sun. However, keep in mind that if you pick a spot under a tree, you may have to cut roots to clear ground for the sandbox. In addition to being a difficult job, cutting a tree’s roots can harm or kill it. For this reason, it’s best to avoid building a sandbox directly beneath a tree. Instead, try to find a place that is shaded by your house or surrounding trees.
4. Ground: Select a spot on level ground to avoid the hassle of creating a flat space for your sandbox.

How to build a sandbox in five steps

1. Once you’ve decided on a size and location for your sandbox, measure and stake out the area where you are going to build it.
2. Remove the sod from the area the sandbox will cover. Use a shovel to dig a shallow hole, roughly three to six inches deep, and then cover it with landscaping fabric. The fabric will help prevent weeds and grass from growing up through the sand. When it rains, the fabric will allow the water to drain into the ground.
3. Build a sandbox frame using two-inch wide wood boards. Purchase boards with enough length to make four sides. You will probably need to cut them down to the exact length needed for your sandbox. Nail the boards together at the corners.
4. Place the frame into the cleared area, making sure the landscaping fabric blankets the entire bottom of the sandbox.
5. Fill the frame with sand. If you aren’t sure how much sand you’ll need, you can calculate it online using the dimensions of your sandbox.

You should consider purchasing or building a sandbox cover to prevent animals from nesting in it. A cover will also help keep debris like falling leaves from dirtying the sand.

How to landscape around your sandbox

Once you’ve finished building a sandbox, landscaping around it can help naturally blend it into your backyard. Planting child-friendly plants – those that are not poisonous or thorny – around the border of the sandbox is a great way to camouflage it. For example, basil is safe for kids and can also help ward off cats, who don’t like the smell of it.

Before you plant, prepare the soil by tilling around the perimeter of the sandbox. Make sure you are using a quality tiller, like one with Cub Cadet parts. Whatever you choose to plant, ensure your children can easily step over it so it doesn’t get trampled. Also, select plants that will not obstruct your view of your children while they’re playing.

To make your landscaping look its best, be sure you are using quality outdoor power equipment parts. Trimming around the edges of your new planting beds will keep them looking tidy. When your children grow out of playing in the sandbox, you can turn it into a raised flowerbed by replacing the sand with soil.

*Provided as a gust post by Alex Kelly

Love Scroll ScentSational Warmer and Fragrance Cubes Assortment Review & Giveaway {CLOSED}

Winner #138 renee walters

"ScentSationals' wickless wax warmer combines light, fragrance and artistic design to create a personalized ambiance in any room. A soft 25w light bulb nested within a decorative ceramic vessel is the heat source that melts the wax cubes in a dish at the top of the warmer. Our warmer-wax combination creates a relaxing, decorative atmosphere while filling your home or office with a wonderful aroma."

I am a big time candle lover, have been since I was a "tween". There is nothing better than a room filled with delicious scents of melting wax. Well now, we have another option to candles. These options are especially nice for people that don't like the smoke and sulfer smell after you blow candles out.

Candle warmers from ScentSationals are not your average wax warmer because they do not use a candle to burn the wax. Instead they use a 25w light bulb!

I recently received the Love Scroll ScentSational Warmer to test out for my review. One thing that did strike me at first was the difference in color. On the website, it looks like a creamy beige, but in reality had more of a greenish tone to it. It wasn't such a bad thing though since it fits right in my living room with our dark green furniture. It's tone is a much lighter shade of green, so actually blends in nicely without being camouflaged.

The ceramic vessel seems of great quality and isn't too warm to the touch while melting the wax chunks. When you want to change scents, you just pour the wax right into the containers they came in for later use or to discard. The vessel wiped out nicely with some paper towel and is ready for whichever new scent you'd like to try out.

ScentSationals offers a wide assortment of scents to choose from including Fruity, Romantic, Spa and even Masculine. So all of you men out there have no excuses that the scents are "girly"!

I received an assortment of scents to try out with my warmer. They all smelled absolutely delicious and it was so hard to choose a favorite! However, it is the fall harvest season, so my house has often been filled with the invigorating scent of Vanilla Pumpkin Cream. With hints of both vanilla and pumpkin, neither scent is too overwhelming, but instead a perfect delicious balance between the two.

Connect:

You can connect with ScentSationals on Facebook, @Scent_Sationals on Twitter and/or subscribe to their Newsletter!

Buy It!

You can buy the Love Scroll ScentSational Warmer for $17.99 and Fragrance Cube 6-packs for $2.99 each.

Coupon Code!

Use coupon code LUVSCNTS15 to save 15% at checkout {Expires 12/1}



The Giveaway: How would you like to win your own Love Scroll ScentSational Warmer and wax assortment? I have a set to give away to one lucky contestant!

Fitness Friday-Friends

One of the best ways to ensure you will stick with a workout routine is to start one with a friend or group of friends. When you workout in a group you are likely to workout longer, push harder and you are less likely to skip days. By finding friends who share the same workout goals, you instantly create a support system for yourself.

Hubby and I after completing our first Ragnar Relay together

One of my favorite running races is the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay. This race covers almost 190 miles and lasts (for the average team) over 30 hours.  The best part about this race, though, is not the beautiful scenery (although it is amazing in parts), or the freebies and swag provided by the race (actually, I have run local 5K races with better post race food and swag bags). The most amazing part about this event is that you do it with 11 of your good friends. For months you plan your strategy, decide on food, pick who will run which sections of the race. You have to work together, and everyone is dependent on one another. You wouldn't dare not train, because you would be letting your whole team down!

How do you find someone or a group to work out with? Look around, I think you would be surprised at how many people really want to start working out, but just can't seem to get motivated enough to start. You can talk to other moms at the bus stop, church, PTA, etc. Enlist your spouse to be your workout partner; ask your sisters or brothers if they want to start a fitness program. Look around and don't be shy, you might be surprised at who is just waiting for that little push to get started.

Sans Sucre Baking Mixes Review & Giveaway {CLOSED}

Just because you're eating healthy, doesn't mean you have to sacrifice deliciously sweet desserts. We created our Sans Sucre line of mixes for those trying to cut back on their sugar, fat, cholesterol and calorie intake— yet still want to enjoy great tasting desserts. And, since we use Stevia, a natural sweetener, you can feel good about what you're eating.

If you have not caught on yet, I like cooking and baking. Especially baking. Nothing beats a warm chocolate chip cookie out of the oven, when the chips are still gooey and the fresh baked scent still lingers in the air.

That is, until, you over indulge and try to button your pants the next morning. Oh, and that sluggish feeling. Tight pants and sugar with drawl, we've all been there. Yes, even you, shaking your head at me, don't deny it!

Enter Sans Sucre (or without sugar for those of you who did not take french in high school.) These Stevia plant sweetened mixes are produced by Bernard Food Industries, Inc, which is family owned and operated since 1947! Along with Sans Sucre, they offer over a thousand specialty food products, such as beverages, seasonings, soups and much more and 350 of those products are dietary in nature! The four baking mixes are was able to try are sugar-free/no sugar added. Instead, they are naturally sweetened with Stevia.

There are 240 different types of stevia plants, all of which are related to the sunflower family. The Stevia we use is also called sweet leaf and is grown purely for it's sweetness. With it's 300 times sweetness of process sugar and it's negligible effect on blood glucose, it is becoming a more commonly accepted and used sugar substitute.

My mixes arrived safe and snug in their package, along with a few recipes! I allowed Sonshine to pick out two flavors to try and wouldn't you know it, he picked out the Milk Chocolate Brownie and the Chocolate Fudge Brownie mixes. (He must be my child!) The other two mixes are Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake and Classic Brownie Blondie (I cannot wait to try them!).

Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Milk Chocolate Cupcakes

On day one, I made the Chocolate Fudge Brownie mix according to the box. Do you see that picture to the right? It only has three ingredients. Three! The mix, water, and oil. So simple! I whipped these up in under five minutes. And they were so delicious! Chewy and soft with a rich chocolate flavor, they did not disappoint! Even Sonshine wolfed them down! But, like any other substitute sweetener, there was an after taste on the back of our tongues. It was not unpleasant and I was aware that it could happen, so just a heads up! (It's like drinking a diet soda after being a "regular" soda drinker. There's a different taste there, but it does not make the product undesirable.) We waited a few days to enjoy the last bites of our treats and I made the Milk Chocolate Brownie mix into cupcakes, via the recipes the company sent along! Again, only three ingredients! The mix, an egg and some fat free milk! After only twenty minutes cook time, these babies came out of the oven super fluffy! We all enjoyed these, even my husband, who is wary of sugar-free foods.

I'm so glad to see a line of easy to make and delicious to taste baking mixes are available. I have a nasty sweet tooth and have decided to cut back our family's sweet intake. It's nice to know that when I'm craving a treat or want to bake with my son, there is a product line out there keeping our health in mind! And these products are a wonderful alternative for those with diabetes or anyone trying to find an easy way to limit the amount of sugar in their lives!

Connect

To see other products and to learn about the family owned company please visit the Bernard Food Industries, Inc. website (they even have yummy products to buy!)

Buy

To purchase these four Sans Sucre Baking Mixes visit their website Average price is $4.75

Giveaway
How would you like to win a set of four mixes from Sans Sucre? I have one grand prize for a reader!

Another Man's Treasure by James V. O'Connor Review

Another Man's Treasure is a romantic story in the way that we love photographs of different eras. The way we love classic stories and children's books that have touched us magically since childhood and in the way we love old buildings and homes that have stood the test of time. James O'Connor reaches in and grasps that sense of romantic nostalgia and weaves a beautiful story of unexpected love in absence and taps our desire for hidden secrets with a bit of a treasure hunt.

The story begins with Ted, a devoted husband and home organizer, who is struggling with his feelings over a very charming and flirtatious divorced client. Still trying to cope with things that had happened in his past, he resists his desires rationally for the love of his wife who is a career driven woman dealing with her own sense of shame at his choice of work.

In this midst of these personal struggles, Ted is offered an odd job working on a very large manse where he is asked to search for something of great value that may or may not be in it. The house is as eccentric as his Client's deceased Father and is riddled with secret rooms and passages. And while Ted begins to disentangle the mystery of the house, other pieces of his life seem to find themselves fatefully weaved together.

Handsome home organizer Ted has a double dilemma. As a devoted husband, he’s struggling to resist the charm and seductive flirtations of Janet, a divorced client. Circumstances keep bringing her back into his life, fueling his wife’s suspicions and inciting threats from Janet’s jealous ex-husband. Ted must also deal with the ire of James Smith, a demanding client who is convinced his eccentric father died leaving something of great value hidden in his cluttered and mysterious Victorian mansion. Together , Ted and Janet interpret clues that lead to two surprising discoveries—one that captures the imagination of the city, and one that determines their fate.

Had James O'Connor decided to just write Ted's personal story it would have been a beautiful love story, wrought with real difficulties and yet silhouetted with beauty. However, he did something quite unique and expertly and silently brought in a whole other story wrought with mysteries and intrigue. This is why I loved the book. He had found a way to balance each characters personal story with the objects within it. The house, the treasure, the riddles and side characters all representing pieces of each of the main characters. At the end you are simply blown away by how all the small intricacies are actually representations of the larger picture. The characters are very realistic, their ideas not so exaggerated, so you can relate to their struggles and desires. I was absorbed into the book shortly after I began and often thought about it when not reading it; especially the riddles which all relate in some way to Peter Pan.

It is a great book and James O'Connor did an exquisite job writing his first fictional novel after Cuss Control; a Self-Help book that had been featured in Time Magazine, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The New York Times and many other places; which I will be writing a review on soon. It's a great book to have at your bedside or whilst enjoying a day to yourself. It conjures up the dreams of old broken homes and the mysteries that lie in wait within them and in the secrets of ourselves.

Connect:

You can connect with Another Mans Treasure on Facebook and/or @Mans_Treasure on Twitter.


Buy It!

You can buy the Another Man's Treasure for $10.80 on Amazon.

I received samples for the purpose of reviewing. Opinions expressed are my own or my families and are not influenced by any form of compensation. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.

Curamin Review and Giveaway {CLOSED}

Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, EuroPharma specializes in bringing both European-tested, unique natural medicines and proprietary, custom formulations to the American consumer. Currently under the direction of its President and founder, Terry Lemerond, EuroPharma continues to advance the science of natural health with the release of products such as Curamin®, Vectomega®, and AnxioFit-1™. Our Passion Is Your Health! is more than just a motto for us. Our enthusiastic staff is truly passionate about bringing effective, proven, life-changing products to our customers. Terry Lemerond-Founder & President, EuroPharma,Inc.

Curamin is an all-natural formula that enhances the body's natural defense mechanism for the relief of occasional pain. The synergistic blend of four high-powered ingredients :BCM-95 curcumin, boswellia, DLPA and nattokinase, provides powerful results. This fast-acting formula combines ingrediants  

WINNER!! Bill M (confirmed) Congrats!

Ever have pain? Like the kind of pain where you can't really do anything about it? I have the absolute WORST case of TMJ. My dad had it, and as I grew older I remember reading that it may be hereditary and I hoped I wouldn't get it. Well...somewhere in my mid 20's I did- and oh man was it miserable. My jaw would pop out, lock, or click it seemed at any or all times. If I was experiencing any stress in my life- I would grind my teeth at night and wake up in the morning with a locked jaw and full blown flare up of TMJ.

I didn't really know how bad this 'disorder' could be until I experienced a doozy of a flare up several weeks ago. We were in the midst of teething (when aren't we?) and were not getting much sleep. If the twins weren't up, my toddler was- so the few hours I was getting weren't great. I was spending most nights waiting for someone to start squalling. So...one morning I woke up with my jaw locked. LOCKED into position. It took me a while to get it going, but I realized that it wasn't opening like it should. Anyhow..I thought it would go away like it always did...but nope. That was about 6 weeks ago.
I saw my dentist. He gave me some muscle relaxers but there wasn't much he could do because he couldn't open my mouth to get a cast made for an appliance. I was miserable and popping ibuprofen every 6-8 hours around the clock. I was just in constant PAIN.

It was about three weeks ago now that I received a 60 count bottle of Curamin. I had never heard of it before- but I do take vitamins and believe that they can help what ails you, so I thought- why not. For once I am not pregnant or nursing so what's the harm? Well- truth is, that I believe it has helped.

The directions say that you can take up to three pills daily, but I would take one every night. I took it for a couple of weeks, and have taken the last week off just to test it. Because I really think it was helping- I know that sounds sort of flighty- but I do. I thought at first maybe the pain was just going away on its own- which- it very well could have, but then it returned. That's why I feel like Curamin works, and if you are someone who is experiencing pain- you might want to give it a try. Here is some info on the vitamins themselves from the Curamin website:

When pain is the problem, Curamin® is the answer.^*†

Blending four powerful, effective and clinically proven ingredients into one award-winning product provides an unprecedented level of natural relief. ^*†

The Secret of Curamin's Power

What's the secret? Combining the best of the best. Curamin contains a super-absorption curcumin called BCM-95 that can be up to 10 times stronger than plain curcumin products.
Known for its ability to balance the body's natural inflammatory response, BCM-95® has been proven in published clinical studies to provide consistent and long-lasting effects. The impact of BosPure® boswellia is enhanced by removal of pro-inflammatory compounds commonly found in this plant. And DLPA (DL-phenylalanine) has been shown to help maximize the effects of endorphins and enkephalins, the body's own powerful pain relievers. Rounding out the formula is an enzyme, nattokinase, that not only boosts healthy circulation, it has a direct impact on muscle pain via its ability to balance fibrinogen levels in the body.*

BCM-95® and BosPure® are registered trademarks of Dolcas-Biotec.

†Relief of occasional pain and inflammation associated with exercise or overuse

There are also many, many, MANY testimonials you can read here about how Curamin worked for them. There is also a list of the many articles written about Curamin as well, but do your own research- you know your body!

Overall, I recommend it. If my mother, sister, brother, friend, etc was experiencing pain that wasn't going away I would tell them to try this. Obviously you should bring any kind of pain up to your doctor and let them know if you're going to try taking Curamin as well.

Connect: Connect with Curamin on Facebook and Twitter
Buy it: Check out their store locator to see where you can buy it near you for around $34.95-60 count.
Win it: Or- you can try to win a 60 day supply right here!

Topricin Junior Pain Relief and Healing Cream Review!

Topricin Junior is a Pediatrician recommended medicated pain relieving cream specially formulated for children. It targets aches, pains and even bug bites. Which I must admit was the main reason I decided to review Topricin Junor. The Midwestern Autumn comes alive with insects that half the time you can't even see, but are bound to have lots of itches and booboos to heal once the kids come in after playtime. I also have two boys and if one thing is for sure with boys you are going to have lots of scrapes, bumps and bruises.

My youngest and I love to wander through our yard that we have named The Jungle, mainly because I have gotten behind on any weeding that may have been necessary during the Spring. We crawl through bushes, slip between the hedgerows and generally just stomp around a lot. It is a whole lot of fun until you start itching and scratching, or until a branch just happens to scrap your leg whilst you are hunting Jungle Cats (our cat Riley likes to play sometimes too).

I used to use a different type of allergy cream that I found worked for itches, but it did nothing for scraps or scratches, so I was really happy to try Topricin Junior for my little Jungle Partner! (And myself, I had to try it.) IT WORKED. I felt like kissing the bottle after a horridly itchy episode. I put some on Judah and then on myself and waited. After about 2 minutes the itching subsided, roughly in the same amount of time there wasn't any stinging from the scratches from the bushes. I marked this down as the most needed children's medicated cream in my cabinet and actually, it's on my table.

Topricin Junior also has these little kits called BooBoos Happen Kits, perfect for a purse or a backpack. You could even get a few and give them to your school for necessary products at recess, every kid gets booboos!

The Boo Boos Happen first aid kit contains a tube of Topricin Junior and ‘Ouchies’ self adhesive bandages that kids can decorate themselves, with the markers that are included. The handy zippered blue bag is perfect for tucking in other essentials and is recyclable!

And although we Mommies like to think Kissing them make everything better, we sometimes have to resort to actual medicinal means.

It contains 13 safe, natural ingredients that naturally support and assist the body to reduce inflammation, detoxify and stimulate blood flow that increases oxygenation of the skin to speed healing and relieve all aches and pains and boo boos of life. 

Among Topricin Junior’s key active ingredients include arnica for injuries and bruising to the muscles and joints, Echinacea to help reduce inflammation and graphites for most skin conditions. 

Topricin Junior is gentle, soothing and moisturizing and is kind to the skin and effective on such skin conditions as eczema. It has no odor and uses no volatile oils such as camphor or menthol or irritating chemicals.

Winner of the Parent Tested/Parent Approved (PTPA™) Seal of Approval, and designated a Trusted Partner with Healthy Child Healthy World in its continued effort to empower parents in creating healthier, safer environments for children, Topricin Junior is a safe, natural alternative to over-the-counter chemical-based pain pills which can have dangerous side affects. And parents can feel good knowing that Topical BioMedics, makers of Topricin Junior, donate 5% of all sales to pediatric cancer care.

I was able to review a few of the Topricin products and I can say that they were all met with great relief. I'm really looking forward to their Women's Pain page, soon to come, but until then they have medicated creams that help with everyday pains to special issues: Sports Injuries, Shingles, Back Pain, Fibromyalgia, Neuropathy and more. You can even give the gift of pain relief in a Gift Basket! Now that is a gift that we'd all like to have.

Connect:

You can connect with Topricin on Facebook, @Topricin on Twitter and/or follow/subscribe to their blog!

Buy It!

Topricin Junior is available in pharmacies, natural food stores, and other fine retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin World, Fred Meyer, Wegmans, and other retail stores throughout the U.S., as well as direct from the Topical BioMedics’ online store for $12.99. 5% of all sales go to Pediatric Cancer Care!

I received samples for the purpose of reviewing. Opinions expressed are my own or my families and are not influenced by any form of compensation. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.

Time To Play 2011 Holiday Most Wanted List - I Was There!

I had the most amazing opportunity that I have had so far in my blogging career. I had the pleasure of attending the Time to Play Holiday Showcase in New York City on Tuesday! It was an awesome event and I got to check out some super cool toys; many of which are on my holiday list for my own kids now!

Some of the highlights from the event were meeting with the wonderful team at Litzky PR, who handled the event {Kaylie is just the sweetest thing!}. I also got to meet the amazing team from TimetoPlayMag.com and a bunch of PR reps that I've worked with and even more that I haven't. Meeting Stephanie from Spin Master was awesome, because I've worked with her quite a few times over the last year. She is as awesome in person, as she is online!

I had an amazing dinner and was able to hang out with Felicia from Go Graham Go, Ellen from Thrifty and Chic Mom and a handful of other bloggers. The highlight {or not!} of my trip was being stuck at the airport for what seemed an eternity with Robyn from Robyn's Online World, Louise from MomStart and Chris from Dad of Divas. Despite the disappointment of not leaving on time, I think we all had a great time together. I couldn't have asked to be stuck in an overly crowded airport with better company!

So now, without further ado, I'll let you all in on the Time to Play’s 2011 Holiday Most Wanted List {in alphabetical order}!

Angry Birds Knock On Wood Game from Mattel
Beyblade: Metal Fusion from Hasbro
Big Action Construction Site from Fisher-Price
DaGeDar from Cepia, LLC
FyrFlyz from i-Star Entertainment
Hot Wheels Wall Tracks from Mattel
InnoTab from VTech
Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Jewel Sparkles from MGA Entertainment
Lazer Stunt Chaser Dragon Fire from Thinkway Toys
LeapPad Explorer from LeapFrog
LEGO Alien Conquest from LEGO
LEGO Ninjago from LEGO
Lite Sprites from WowWee
The Logo Board Game from Spin Master
Monster High Dead Tired from Mattel
Nerf Vortex from Hasbro
Redakai from Spin Master
Spy Net Stealth Video Glasses from Jakks Pacific
3D BreakThrough Puzzle - Classic Mickey Mouse from MEGA Brands



I'm sure you're wondering which ones are my favorite, aren't you?!? My opinion may be a little biased since I only have boys and don't know a whole lot about all of the girl's toys out there. Perhaps the fact that I played with a lot of boy toys when I was young plays a tiny factor too though!

The following toys from the Time to Play’s 2011 Holiday Most Wanted List are on my "to buy list" for my boys this holiday season!

DaGeDar - These toys are just so much fun! We definitely have to get some tracks and watch these little suckers go because they are a ton of fun!

FyrFlyz -These are the hottest thing since the yo-yos we all had as kids, but so much better! They are a blast and I was lucky enough to bring one home to my kids. Now we just need a few more because everyone in the house loves them!

Hot Wheels Wall Tracks -The greatest invention since Hot Wheels, these tracks don't have to clutter your house, just a nice empty wall!

InnoTab - Perfect for Lil Man to want to learn. He won't even know he's learning while playing, genius idea!

Lazer Stunt Chaser Dragon Fire -This one is definitely in my top 10! If you have all of the ramps and cyclone, this little thing is amazing in action! I'll be fighting the kids over this one for sure!

LeapPad Explorer - Right there with the other tablet, this is sure to stimulate my son's learning abilities!

LEGO - Anything from LEGO rocks in my book!

The Logo Board Game -A perfect game for a bunch of bloggers to play together! How well do we know our brands?!

Nerf Vortex - Nerf guns, bullets ad footballs are all around this house. This disk shooter is the hottest new addition and shoots amazingly far!

Make sure to stop back during the next few weeks as I highlight even more toys from the event! I was able to bring a whole bunch of toys back that my family just swooned over!

*Please excuse the image quality. My camera decided to disfunction and  I had to use my phone for all photos!

A huge thank you goes out to TimetoPlayMag.com and Litzky PR for inviting me to this event! I received samples of some of these toys and an all inclusive trip to this event. Opinions expressed are my own or my families and are not influenced by any form of compensation. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.

SONIC Wacky Pack Kid Meals Include a DinoTots Toy Through October & $20 Gift Card Giveaway {CLOSED}

"For more than 50 years, SONIC Corp. has built a dominant position in the drive-in restaurant business. We did it by sticking to what made drive-ins so popular in the first place: made-to-order American classics, signature menu items, speedy service from friendly Carhops and heaping helpings of fun and personality.

Today, SONIC is the largest chain of drive-in restaurants in America. As a business, we continue to thrive, maintaining strong real sales growth, industry-leading customer frequency and high returns for our stockholders. So take a cruise through to learn more about our company and the people who help make it an American success story."

I am all American and just love that delicious comfort food! One of my favorite places to get that good ole' all-American yumminess is SONIC, the fun old fashioned drive-in. Oh how I do wish those were everywhere!

Sonic has quite a vast menu and their prices are very reasonable. They offer one of the largest selections for kids meals that I've seen, complete with a number of drink options. My kids always choose the yummy slush drinks. Ok I won't lie, I do too pretty often!

During the months of September and October, all of SONIC Wacky Pack Kids Meals will include a fun little DinoTots toy! These are just the cutest little plush toys ever and are sure to please your little growing dinosaur! The only question is, which one{s} will they choose?! With so many adorable little choices, I'd definitely have to collect them all! Lucky for me though, I was able to preview some for my review! Just take a look below and you can see them right in their packages, just the way your child will receive them!

Of course kids meals aren't the only thing that SONIC offers. They have some of the most scrumptious grown up food too! My favorites are the Chilli Cheese Coney and Chili Cheese Tots, although their burgers are nom nom as well! Oh, did I mention that they have breakfast? Well they do!

Connect:

You can connect with SONIC on Facebook, @sonicdrive_in on Twitter and/or check out their You Tube channel!

The Giveaway: How would you like to win a $20 SONIC Gift Card? I have one to give away to one lucky contestant!

Yo! Gabba Gabba! Live Tour - It's Time To Dance!

If you have a toddler or preschooler (and even, sometimes, a college student!), then more than likely, you know what Yo Gabba Gabba! is. Around our house, we refer to it lovingly as just Gabba. For those of you who are living under a rock, I'll "break it down" (as DJ Lance says) for you.

DJ Lance Rock has a magic boombox which houses Toodee, Foofa, Muno, Plex & Brobee! He places them in Gabba land and says the magic words, Yo Gabba Gabba! And tada! The five characters come to life! Through out song, dance, play acting, animation and more, the characters teach toddlers and preschoolers important life lessons on their level, without being patronizing. Brobee has helped my picky eater have dinner on more than one night! Each episode also has a Dancey Dance Time, with a special (famous) guest! The guest teaches the Gabbas and the watchers an easy dance to do before they have to leave. My personal favorite is Elijah Woods 'Puppet Master' dance! We love to dance!

And now, we get to dance with the characters live!

Next week, I have the chance to take Sonshine to see the live tour - It's Time To Dance! in Buffalo. Even as big fans, I did not realize that there was a tour going on and I wanted to make all of our Outnumbered readers aware of it too!

The tour kicked off September 15th but keeps going strong until December 11th! So, there are plenty of dates and chances for y'all to see Yo Gabba Gabba! live!  The best part, there are two shows each day of the tour! We hope we can bump into and have a "dancey dance, dance, dance!" with some of you in Buffalo, but if you're too far away, try to make a location near you!

Connect

To find a show, purchase tickets and more information please visit the live tours website

And keep your eyes out for my review and giveaway next week!

I will attend a show for the purpose of reviewing. Opinions expressed are my own or my families and are not influenced by any form of compensation. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.

10 Tips to Reducing Clutter In Your Kids' Playroom and/or Bedroom

Clutter. One word; one dreaded word. It won't go away. It's around us everywhere we turn. My house is full of it, especially now during all of these remodeling projects. I get it organized and another project begins, Sometimes I honestly wonder if it will ever end. Will de-cluttered tables and counter tops be in my near future? Will my house be ready in time for the holidays?

I don't know the answer to that since I can't see the future, but I can work on certain areas of the house. My boys' room will be the first room I tackle. Right now, they have a few extras in there that an finally come out, such as a dresser and chair for my bedroom {which isn't finished yet} and the ferret's cage. Since we are done hanging/sanding/painting drywall {finally!}, all of these things can go into their appropriate rooms now. Then I can finally de-clutter!

Here are my 10 de-cluttering tips!

• Throw away any broken toys. They will never get played with again. Trust me!
• Donate any toys that haven't been used lately. Your kids can help with this task!
• Find or buy a shelf for all of their books, so they are all in one spot and  easily accessible to stimulate their minds.
• Organize small toys into bins and put them on a shelf or even just stacked on the closet floor.
• Buy {or utilize any that you have on hand} large rubbermaid bins for toy sets. I currently have two for their Zhu-Zhu and HEXBUG collections.
• Designate a spot for video game equipment and games, such as a drawer or bins.
• Put up a pet hammock for all of their stuffed animals so they're not laying around. Maybe you could keep out their favorite 5.
• Organize all art supplies in a little work area such as a desk. If there isn't room for a desk, put them into bins and label them.
• Designate a bin or large duffle bag for costumes.

• If your boys are into race tracks, think about investing in the new Wall Tracks from Hot Wheels. They assemble right to your wall, eliminating floor clutter! I saw these at the Time to Play Holiday Showcase and they are awesome! This hot new toy is definitely on my "to buy" list for this holiday season! TimetoPlayMag.com just announced them as one of the top 16 toys guaranteed to be topping wish lists this holiday season!

One thing to remember when de-cluttering is to keep up with pick up! If you {or they} don't, then the clutter will just return and you'll be doing this all over again in a month or two.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here. I received samples for the purpose of reviewing. Opinions expressed are my own or my families and are not influenced by any form of compensation. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.

Whitepages Neighbors Shares September 28th National Good Neighbors Day With You! + A $25 Amazon GC Giveaway! {CLOSED}

Did you know that tomorrow, September 28th, is National Good Neighbor Day? A day to express our thankfulness to Good Neighbors everywhere and hopefully to be one to someone else.

In the early 1970's, Mrs. Becky Mattson from Lakeside, Montana recognized the importance of good neighbors, and started the effort to make this a National day. With the help of congressman Mike Mansfield, she succeed in getting three presidents (Nixon, Ford, and Carter) to issue proclamations, along with numerous governors.

In 2003, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution, sponsored by Montana Senator Max Baucus, making September 28, National Good Neighbor Day. Previously, this day was celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September.

Could you imagine being Mrs. Becky Mattson's neighbor and knowing that she was pushing for this amazing National Day knowing the importance of you being a good neighbor? What about you? Do you have good neighbors? Are you a good neighbor?

Fewer than half of Americans even know their neighbors, studies show, but 93% of them feel that neighbors should look out for each other. And if half of the Americans also feel that they would like to get together with their neighbors more often (like me) then it seems we should get to know them! And that's where Whitepages Neighbors comes in very handy.

Whitepages Neighbors let's you upload your information and see your neighbors information, with the ability to edit certain parts of course. You can send free postcard invitations for Neighborhood get together's, Garage Sales or even just to say Hello! You are an Amazing Neighbor! Happy Good Neighbor Day! Wouldn't that just make your day if a neighbor sent you something special like that for no reason?

A long time ago Neighbors used to greet each other, talk over their mowed lawns and bring each other pie or casseroles. They used to know when something had happened and could be there, to watch your kids or look over your home or just have a shoulder to cry on. It's kind of sad that we've lost a lot of that compassion we had for each other, but it doesn't have to be that way! We could all be Good Neighbors just by saying "Hello" every once in awhile and opening up our yards to the local children to play or sending over Cookies just because you made a few extra (I do this a lot).

I wrote a review a few months ago about Whitepage Neighbors that shows you how to use the service and also how to set up the ability to send postcards for Neighborhood get together's. You can read that review here or watch the video below that gives instructions.





Some ways you can help in being a good neighbor on National Good Neighbor Day is to:

• Offer Your Assistance - See if your neighbor needs help with anything.
• Say Hello, Smile, Wave - Acknowledge your wonderful neighbors!
• Invite Them Over - Better yet you could use Whitepage Neighbors and work on a big Potluck!
• And Get to Know Them - Be interested.

To Celebrate Good Neighbors everywhere and to say, Thank You Readers for being our Blog Good Neighbors! You can enter for a chance to win a $25 Amazon GC below. It may not be a slice of Apple Pie, but I think it sounds just as good! And because Whitepages Neighbors and Outnumbered 3 to 1 are such wonderful Blog Neighbors, we are going to keep this giveaway very simple!

To enter the giveaway tell us what you can do tomorrow to show you are a good neighbor!

Share this giveaway with your Neighbor Tweeters! Leave the Link as an Extra Comment.

#Win a $25 Amazon GC For Being a Good Neighbor! @Whitepages @OutnumberedMama http://outnumbered3-1.com #Giveaway

Share this giveaway with your Facebook Neighbors! Leave the Link as an Extra Comment.

Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, otherwise it will just be counted as one. Your loss.

This giveaway is open to residents of the US until October 11th at 11:59 pm.

Check out a complete list of giveaway rules.

I received compensation for this promotion. However, these opinions expressed are my own and are not influenced by said compensation. Whitepages Neighbors is a really great service. Take it or leave it. Click here to view my full acknowledgment policy.

CleanWell To-Go Product Review & Giveaway {CLOSED}

We are committed to producing products that really work – and importantly, products that don’t force a tradeoff between being effective and being safe. And when we say work, we’re talking about products that excel in independent laboratory tests and in real life use and abuse.

We’re not just another company that makes stuff you clean with. 

We’re a group of people who set out to find a better way to clean.

We assembled a passionate team – doctors and scientists, entrepreneurs and designers, and some of the most creative minds we could find – to bring CleanWell products and our formulation of natural thyme oil to market.
Now when we look underneath sinks and in countless cupboards that have half-used products containing harmful chemicals – all of which will be used in the home, end up in a landfill or poured down the sink – we know we have a solution.
We believe that once you have experienced clean without compromise, you’ll never look back.

I am a germ freak. I am obsessed with making sure people and things are clean. It was exceptionally gruesome when my son was born. You were not allowed to touch him until you used one of the two bottles of hand sanitizer I had on the living room table. I will not put my son in a shopping cart until it's been wiped and disinfectated.

And I'm not happy about all the products that are out there to accomplish these tasks. I am, however, thrilled to tell you about CleanWell and the To-Go products I was able to try out! I received the disinfectant spray and the disinfectant wipes, just like the picture above. They are small and convenient and I promise you have room in your purse or diaper bag! 

Unlike other surface disinfectants, you don't need to wash or wipe after using CleanWell's To-Go sprays and wipes on hard, non-porous surfaces. Made with the same parented formulation of thyme oil, To-Go sprays and wipes kill 99.99% of germs...--and they are convenient enough for your purse, car, [or] diaper bag.

Made with thyme oil (to kill germs botanically) and only seven other ingredients, I feel safe using these around my kid. I used the wipes at his spot at the table and on his highchair before dinner. They were amazing! Not only did they clean the areas (that highchair has seen better days!), but they disinfected without leaving a sticky residue. They smell great too with a lemony and woodsy scent that does not linger for too long.

On the go, I used the spray. My kid had recently been sick, so I was eager to use the spray on a shopping cart prior to putting his cover on. Per usual, I parked next to a cart return, grabbed a cart and this time, sprayed the heck out of it before finding his cover (time which allowed the spray to dry) and then fumbling to put it on (more drying time!).. Sonshine slipped into the seat and I hear a quiet "mmm"! He liked the scent! In fact, since I started doing this, he hasn't been sick or sniffle-y!

These are also great to wipe down plastic toys and, I have to admit, I used the spray to combat that sticky "kid" smell in my car. (Y'know, that "ohdeargoodnesswhydidIlethimhaveapplejuiceinmycar?" smell.) It worked pretty well. If you're looking for an Eco-friendly and kid-friendly way to clean and disinfect on the go, CleanWell has your answer!


Connect

You can connect with the CleanWell company on their website, Facebook, & Twitter

Buy It

You can purchase products on their website store for $7.99-$35.99 or use the store locator to find a local relator near you!


The Giveaway

How would you like to snag the To-Go disinfectant and wipes just like I did? I have two sets to giveaway to two lucky readers!

Oxy Clinical Solutions Treatment Review & Giveaway! {CLOSED}

You can't have a Teen without Acne it seems. I remember those years of middle to high-school, battling black heads, trying to cover it up with make-up that seemed to just make it worse. I always felt bad for boys since they didn't have the arsenal of colors girls had in their caboodle's, but most of us had the fretted issue so it generally was collectively ignored.

I have a teenage son, just started school almost four weeks ago and dealing with the stress of his last year of middle school had just make his acne flair up worse than usual. Along with all the new hormone changes he's experiencing, he's had a difficult time with it. That's why I was really happy to review Oxy Acne Solutions and so was he, I don't think he could have opened the box fast enough! All he wanted to know was what he had to do and how long it was going to take to work.

The OXY Clinical Acne Solutions pack consists of a Clearing Treatment, Advanced Face Wash and Hydrating Therapy. All OXY Clinical products contain an advanced delivery system technology that helps the product to work continuously over time. And, the OXY® Clinical Clearing Treatment has been proven to kill 99% of acne causing bacteria in 8 hours, so it starts working right away.

The Oxy Clinical Acne Solutions Treatment did wonders for my son. More than helping out with acne, it helps to build self confidence which is necessary for our teens to face the challenges of a new grade and new friends. Some people have seen positive outcomes in as little as 3 days, but have significant results within 4 weeks. It's been close to 3 weeks for Cody and he's doing so much better!

Cody after a few weeks on the Oxy Clinical Solutions

If you have a teenager, or even if you have persistent acne problems, I highly suggest the Oxy Clinical Solutions Treatment. It works. It's very easy to keep up with the routine, kids should wash their face in the morning and night as is so it is just like using a different wash and then applying the clearing treatment or the hydrating cream. We chose to do the clearing treatment until he was cleared up and then switched to the hydrating cream to keep his skin healthy.

The other wonderful thing about this product is it actually produced an honest and generous "Thank You." from my son; feeling good about yourself is priceless and being able to give him that confidence with the help of Oxy Solutions was such a great feeling.

Connect:

You can connect with Oxy Skin Care on Facebook, @oxyskincare on Twitter and/or join their mailing list!

Buy It!

You can buy the Oxy Clinical Solutions Treatment for $11.49 on Amazon.

The Giveaway: How would you like to win your own Oxy Clinical Solutions Treatment Kit? I have one to give away to one lucky contestant!

Tea Collection Review and Giveaway {CLOSED}

As  mom to four boys, finding fun clothing for my sons that don't feature a super hero or comic book character can be quite difficult. I like rich colors on my red headed boys and many boys lines seem to feature bright, primary colors. Enter the Tea collection. Not only do they offer unique, color rich Boy's Clothing (and girl's as well), but their prices will not break the bank ($26 for a darling t-shirt).

Tea started in the year 2002 in San Francisco California. Their inspiration comes from the people and places that they visit traveling the world. Emily Meyer, Co-founder of Tea has this to day about their inspiration, "Travel opens anyone's heart and mind to people and places that we don't know. The clothing we create at Tea transforms the foreign world into a smaller, friendlier and more familiar place. We believe that we bring a little bit of that world home to you." I love their tag line, "For the little citizens of the world."

I received shirts from the new fall line of Children's Clothing for my boys (they make clothing in sizes infant to 12 years). The colors are wonderful and the shirts are soft. No complaining of itchiness from my boys was heard while wearing their Tea collection shirts.  Here is a photo of all four of them sporting some of the items we recieved:

Don't those color just scream Fall?  I love the earthy tones and they look fabulous with my boys red hair! I really love how they truly scream "BOY" without having to have a super hero on the front. And we are soccer fans, so the Chiapas Futbol tee was perfect for my nine year old son!

Here's a close up of my littlest in his tee:

They also each received a darling hoodie shirt or sweater but it was a bit warm for them to wear yet (come on Fall, we are waiting for you!)

If you are looking for fabulous clothing for your children, take a look at the Tea Collection. You can shop their website, while you are there, you can also check out their line for Women as well as their stationary.

Do you want to win a $100 gift certificate to the Tea Collection to try out their wonderful clothing for yourself?

Enter in the Rafflecopter Form below for your chance to be our winner.

Contest TUesday Blog Giveaway LInky 9/26

Thanks for stopping by and linking up! Although it's not a requirement, it would be great if you could help spread the word about this contest linky by posting my button, tweeting, etc.

Don't forget to let me know if you have a contest linky too. Tell me the day you host it or if it's ongoing, as well as the url to your blog and I will post your button or link in this listing of places to list your contests. There's quite a list compiled already, you might want to check it out!

Please enter your contest like this on the linky:

Blog Name - Giveaway Title - End Date

I'm Going to NYC

I am at the airport waiting for my plane to arrive to take me to New York City! I will be attending the Time to Play Holiday Showcase and I could not be more excited (and nervous) than I am right now!

I will only be gone for the day and night, but that's fine by me because I REALLY need a break! The stress of the last 6 months is really taking it's toll and time by myself is much needed; even if just for the day. Make sure to stop back and see how my trip went!

Celebrating 25 Years of Pumpkin Masters Review

Can you believe that in less than a week it will be October? I know that this year has seemed to really fly by for my and my family. But, Autumn is one of my favorite times of year and the month of October seems to usher in that fabulous season. And what is the quintessential October activity? Why the carving of a Jack-O-Lantern! And Pumpkin Masters has some fabulous products to help make your carving experience better than ever. And best yet is that they are all priced within an average range of $2.99 - $4.99!

A History of Pumpkin Masters (from their website):More than 60 years ago, Paul Bardeen invented a pumpkin carving method using patterns and small saws. His children carved intricate pumpkins and carried them door-to-door to show the neighbors their creations. In 1986, as a tribute to their dad, the kids created a pumpkin carving kit to share with other families.

Pumpkin Masters has been helping families enjoy a safer pumpkin carving experience for 25 years now! If you are like me, you can remember trying to carve a pumpkin using a large kitchen knife...eek! I can't imagine allowing my children to use a kitchen knife to carve now that we have products like these from Pumpkin Masters. They not only make carving safer, but so much easier.

The kit featured above, the All in One Carving Kit for Kids (which I received for review), includes everything you need to have a fun and safe pumpkin carving family night.  A carving knife, scraper, crayon, poker, light, foam stickers and fun transparent eyes and teeth are all included along with a book filled with super simple carving patterns. I particularly love that many of the patterns come perforated for easy removal, and they have the holes already punched, guiding exactly where to use the poker in order create the image. The blade makes carving so much easier than a knife, it seems to glide through the pumpkin with little effort!

We also received the Mayhem Light (seen to the right). I love this product! You simply add two AAA batteries and you have the perfect pumpkin light. It flashes and flickers, creating great lighting effects inside the pumpkin. This looks fabulous on the porch. No more messy tea lights that can be blown out by the wind (which we get a lot of our here close to the Great Salt Lake). No more trying to get the candle to stay lit on the way down into the pumpkin, or getting the lighter down in the pumpkin to light the wick!

All lit up :)

I saved the best for last! As a mom, I am always concerned with my kids safety, and on Halloween, especially, safety is a huge concern. It is usually fairly dark by the time we finish Trick-or-Treating with the kids, and consumes are not always bright and reflective. Enter the Pumpkin Masters Reflective Stickers. These are simply sheets of reflective stickers that you can adhere to your children's treat sacks, costumes, hats etc, thereby making them more visible to other trick-or-treaters and vehicles. As a runner, I am planning to save one sheet for an over-night running relay my husband and I will be running next summer. These will be perfect for helping us to be more visible during our night-time runs!



Look no further than Pumpkin Masters for providing your family with a fun and simple pumpkin carving experience this year.  Their safe carving tools and simple patterns are great for parents and children alike.

You can find these, and many more fabulous Pumpkin Masters products at major retailers and grocery stores nationwide all priced at an average of $2.99 to $4.99!

I received the three above listed products free of charge in order to provide a review. My opinion is my own and I was not compensated in any way other than the free products previously mentioned.