Mommatudes

Winner of the Silk Pure Almond Giveaway!

2010-07-30T07:41:00.000-04:00

And the winner of the Silk Pure Almond Giveaway is....

Congrats to Checkers! Thank you to everyone who participated! And a big thank you to the makers of Silk Pure Almond for sponsoring this terrific giveaway!! :)

Skin Free/Blue Ridge Gypsy Studio Review & Giveaway!

2010-07-28T11:14:00.002-04:00

Recently, Skin Free/Blue Ridge Gypsy Studio sent me two of their products for review! Before we get into the products, I want to introduce you to their company. Here is a little information provided by Blue Ridge Gypsy Studio regarding their company:

All products distributed by Blue Ridge Gypsy Studio� are designed and formulated by owner and practicing pharmacist, Julie Hilton, who has over 30 years experience in compounding and natural skin care. �I started the Studio in 2000 when my husband and I moved to the Blue Ridge of Virginia. Our friends were calling us �gypsies�, so the name evolved naturally.�
�Working in a typical retail pharmacy setting, I was constantly frustrated when asked to recommend products for patients with difficult skin problems, especially those with fragrance allergies. I recognized a void in the market and knew that I could offer effective and affordable products to fill it. Atopic dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis are life-long conditions and need to be addressed for the long term. Patients with diabetes or renal disease, pregnant women, babies, the elderly, and patients treated with radiation therapy can all benefit from quality natural products. Even people who just have dry, sensitive skin can appreciate wholesome natural skincare products.�
�Since I personally suffer from chronic allergies and eczema, I understand that it is very important for people with these conditions to maintain the integrity of their skin and reduce their exposure to antigens to help prevent acute outbreaks. These diseases can be quite debilitating and cause increase depression, work loss, and pain."
Naturally occurring vegetable oils and butters contain indigenous nutrients, antioxidants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and antibacterial agents that petroleum-based oils just don�t have. Natural oils absorb into the skin and do not feel greasy. They also come from replenishable sources, which is a great environmental concern.

I was really impressed with their use of natural ingredients. Being someone with really problematic skin, I am typically afraid to try a lot of products on my face and body. So Julie sent me the Skin Free Extra Moisturizing Soap and Shampoo Bar and the Nutritional and Antioxidant Synergy for Face.

I love the way these products made my skin feel. Right away I could tell the difference between their products and the harsh over-the-counter products I was using on my face. The Extra Moisturizing Soap did not break out my skin or cause irritation in the least. I really used it as an all over body bar. My skin felt replenished without feeling greasy. And absolutely no redness or irritation. - Which is a big plus for me. A lot of soaps really irritate my skin and this soap did not. It was fragrance free and despite my worrying that it would break my facial skin out due to it being a 'moisturizing' bar, it didn't!

The Nutritional and Antioxidant Synergy for Face really felt amazing. After 2 wks my skin felt really smooth. The only drawback to this product was that with my skin undertones, my skin tended to look a bit orange. So I decided to use this product at night. It really did make a difference in the overall appearance of my skin. I have oily, lack-luster skin. And to add injury to insult, I've got definite signs of aging. So, this product did provide a more youthful, healthy appearance to my skin.

If you have problem skin or just prefer to use skin care products that don't use harmful chemicals, please visit Skin Free and give their products a whirl. I really think you're going to love the way your skin feels after using them! I know I do!

But hey - that's not the end of this story. Skin Free/Blue Ridge Gypsy Studio is offering a giveaway to ONE lucky Momma'Tudes Reader! That's right! One lucky reader will receive a $30 gift card to Skin Free.net!!

Giveaway Details/Rules:

Giveaway runs from July 28, 2010 - August 11, 2010. (1) winner will be drawn at random and announced on Aug, 12, 2010
Giveaway is open to US residents, age 18 or older.
All those who enter must include an email address in order to be contacted in the event he/she should win. Email addresses will not be used for solicitation purposes.

Required Entry:

Visit Skin Free.net and let me know which product you'd be interested in trying!

Optional, Additional Entries:

Follow my blog. Come back and leave me a comment to let me know that you are a follower for an additional entry.
Follow me on Twitter. Come back and let me know that you are a follower for an additional entry.
Grab my blog button and pop it in the sidebar of your blog. Come back and leave me a comment with the link to your blog in the comment for an additional entry.
Tweet about it! You may tweet as often as you like. Each tweet may count as an additional entry as long as you come back and leave the link for each tweet in a separate comment.
Blog about it! Write a blog post about the giveaway on your blog. Be sure to link this post in your blog post. Come back and leave 5 comments with your blog link in comment #1 for FIVE additional entries!!

Disclosure: Momma'Tudes was given the Skin Free Extra Moisturizing Soap and Shampoo Bar AND the Nutritional and Antioxidant Synergy for Face products free for review. All opinions expressed in this post are those of the blog author. This is an unpaid review.

Winner of the Finish Quantumatic & Jet Dry Turbo-Dry!

2010-07-28T08:58:00.001-04:00

The winner of the Finish Quantumatic & Jet Dry Turbo-Dry is:

Congrats to FDP 4 Life!!!

Thank you to all who participated and a special thanks to the gracious people of Finish for providing Momma'Tudes with this great giveaway!!

Wordless Wednesday: Our Family

2010-07-28T08:08:00.000-04:00

All the Rage: eReaders

2010-07-27T18:37:00.000-04:00

So unless you've been under a rock, you've likely noticed an increase in the number of your friends who own an eReader. eReaders like Amazon's Kindle or Barnes & Noble's Nook are taking a reader's library portable. But I have a few consumer questions and I want your opinions!!! I am interested in an eReader, but am discovering that people have a definite preference as to what they want in an eReader.

So please - answer any questions applicable to you and let your voice be heard!!!!

Do you own an eReader. If so, what brand?
If you do not own an eReader, would you like to purchase one in the near future? If so, what brand? If not, why not?
What features are most important to you in an eReader?
If you have an eReader, are you going to upgrade to another brand or a newer eReader soon?
What do you love most about your eReader? (Pls mention brand)
What do you most dislike about your eReader? (Pls mention brand)
How much are you willing to spend on an eReader? Or how much have you spent on an eReader?

Thanks, all! I can't wait to read all of your opinions!!

Zoku Quick Pop Maker Product Review & Giveaway

2010-07-23T15:21:00.002-04:00

Would you like to win one of these terrific Zoku Quick Pop Makers for your family? Here's your chance!

Giveaway Details/Rules:

Giveaway runs from July 23, 2010 - Aug. 6, 2010. One random winner will be selected and announced on Aug 7, 2010
Giveaway is open to US residents, age 18 or older
All those who enter must provide their email address in order to be contacted should he/she win. Email addresses will not be used for solicitation purposes

Required Entry:

Visit Zoku and come back and leave a comment to let me know a fact about the Quick Pop Maker or a recipe you'd like to try!

Optional, Additional Entries:

Follow Zoku on Twitter! Come back and leave a comment to let me know for an additional entry!!
Visit Zoku's Facebook Page & "like" it. Come back and leave me a comment for an additional entry!!
Follow my blog. Leave me a comment to let me know for an additional entry!
Follow me on Twitter. Leave me a comment to let me know for an additional entry!
Grab my blog button and put it in the sidebar of your blog. Come back and leave me a comment with a link to your blog for an additional entry!
Tweet about it! You may tweet as often as you like and each tweet may be counted as a separate entry as long as you come back and leave a separate comment with a link to each tweet!
Blog about it. Blog about the giveaway on your blog with a link to this post for FIVE additional entries. Come back and leave 5 separate comments (1 for each entry) with the link to your blog post in comment no.1!

Disclosure: Momma'Tudes was given a Zoku Quick Pop Maker free of charge for review. All opinions expressed in this post are that of the blog author. This is an unpaid review.

Kid Pleaser: Veggie Stuffed Red Peppers

2010-07-22T14:12:00.002-04:00

If your kids are like my kids, they are a little hesitant to eat stuffed peppers. They don't quite dig the bitter taste of the green peppers. But they LOVE Veggie Stuffed Red Peppers and eat them right up! What I love about this dish is that it is a meatless dish (I'm not a vegetarian - but some meatless meals during the week are fantastic and healthy!) and it's jam-packed with nutritional goodness. PLUS - it's low in fat!

I use canned ingredients during the winter. But during the summer, I like to add as many fresh ingredients as possible. You can really modify this dish to include any number of fresh veggies your family enjoys. For instance, in the summer zucchini is plentiful. Grate it up (like you would cheese) and add to the simmering mixture. I bet your kids won't even know it's there! You could also add a little cheese to the top. Enjoy!! :)

Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients:

4 large red bell peppers (halved & seeded)
1 onion chopped
1 tsp. minced garlic
(1 1/2) 10 ounce cans Rotel Tomatoes & Green Chilies (I like the chunky style - do NOT drain)
(1) 14 1/2 ounce can corn (drained)
(1) 14 1/2 ounce can light or dark kidney beans (drained & rinsed)
(1) 14 1/2 ounce can pinto beans (or black beans, but I find that kids will eat the pinto beans more readily - drained & rinsed)
Mexican Chili Powder to taste (start with 1/2 tsp and work up)
Salt to taste (start with 1/2 tsp & work up)
Pepper to taste (start with 1/4 tsp & work up)
1 cup cooked brown rice

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a large pot, bring water to boil. Add the halved peppers into pot and boil for approx.4-5 minutes until semi-tender. Drain. Put peppers in 9x13 baking pan, cut halves up.
Cook rice according to package directions. Set aside.
Spray a large, non-stick skillet with no-calorie cooking spray and set on medium heat. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook, stirring frequently. WATCH it carefully or it will burn. Cook for about 5 minutes or until onions are soft. Stir in tomatoes, corn, beans, chili powder, salt, & pepper - bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally. Stir in rice. Simmer another 10-15 minutes, until all flavors are well blended. (Keep tasting to check if more salt, pepper, & chili powder are needed.)
Spoon the filling into each half pepper. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 25 minutes.
Serve hot.

Some of the nutritional benefits of this dish are:

Red Peppers - Vit. C, Thiamine, Vit. B6, beta carotene, folic acid, phytochemicals that have a lot of antioxidant activity, lycopene
Tomatoes - beta carotene, Vit. C, Vit. K, lycopene, biotin, Vit. B6, niacin, folic acid, fiber, pantothenic acid
Corn - Vit.B1, Vit. B5, Vit. C, Vit. E, folic acid, magnesium, phosphorus, complex carb, healthful essential fatty acids, flavonoids, carotenes
Chilies - Vit. C, capsaicin
Kidney Beans & Pinto Beans - essential B vitamins, fiber, protein, iron
Brown Rice - fibrous hull rich in oil, protein, B vitamins, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, iron, phosphorus, potassium (This is only true if you do not use the quick cooking rice where the hulls have been removed)
Garlic - Vit. B6, Vit. C, manganese, selenium, calcium, copper, phosphorus, iron, potassium, sulfur containing compounds, high concentration of trace minerals
Onion - Vit. B6, chromium, biotin, fiber, folic acid, Vit. B1, Vit. K, organic sulfur compounds, flavonoids, phenolic acids, pectin, sterols, saponins, volatile oils

Credits: I modified this recipe from the WeightWatchers TurnAround Program Cookbook (Veggie Stuffed Peppers, p.130). The nutritional information was found at EveryNutrient.com.

Wordless Wednesday: You Talkin' To Me?

2010-07-21T15:34:00.000-04:00

Product Review & Giveaway: Silk Pure Almond Milk

2010-07-21T12:04:00.005-04:00

Like I said, Silk Pure Almond Milk has a smooth, fantastic flavor. It's great for your morning glass of milk to baking & cooking. We use it for everything we'd use cow's milk for. Brian likes the vanilla flavored milk for drinking. And I use the Original Flavor Silk Pure Almond, which I think is delish on it's own, to make pancakes, baked goods, and sauces. We have a half gallon of each in the fridge right now. (The Original Flavor Silk Pure Almond Milk only has 60 calories pure serving!!)

Wanna know where you can pick up a half-gallon of smooth, delicious Silk Pure Almond Milk? Check the product locator today! And be sure to visit Silk Pure Almond to register for a $0.75 off coupon!

The gracious people of Silk are going to give ONE lucky Momma'Tudes Reader a coupon for a FREE 1/2 gallon of Silk Pure Almond Milk AND a ChicoBag!

Giveaway Details/Rules:

Giveaway runs from July 21, 2010 - July 28, 2010. One randomly selected winner will be announced on July 29, 2010
Giveaway is open to US Residents, age 18 or older
All who enter must include an email address so he/she may be contacted in the event of winning the giveaway. Email addresses will not be used for solicitation purposes.

Required Entry:

Visit Silk Pure Almond's website and leave a comment to let me know either a fact you learned about the product or a recipe you'd like to try.

Optional, Additional Entries:

Visit Silk's Facebook Page and "Like" it. Come back and leave me a comment for an additional entry.
Follow my blog! Leave me a comment to let me know you follow for an additional entry.
Follow me on Twitter. Come back and leave me a comment to let me know for an additional entry!
Grab my blog button. Place it in the sidebar of your blog. Come back and leave me a comment with a link to your blog for an additional entry!
Tweet about it! You may tweet about it as often as you wish. Each tweet may be considered an additional entry as long as you leave a separate comment for each tweet with the link to that tweet in the comment!
Blog about it! Write a blog post about the giveaway with a link in your post to the giveaway post. Come back and leave me a comment with a link to your blog post for FIVE additional entries. (Please leave 1 comment for each of the 5 entries.)

Disclosure: Momma'Tudes was given (2) coupons for (2) free half-gallons of Silk Pure Almond milk for review purposes. All opinions in this post are that of the blog author. This is an unpaid review.

Review & Giveaway: Finish Quantumatic & Jet-Dry Turbo Dry

2010-07-20T14:04:00.003-04:00

Guess what, gal-pals (& guy-pals - don't mean to be sexist)? Remember when Finish (formerly Electrosol) came out with those dishwashing tablets? How simple and nice it was to pop one in and turn on the dishwasher.. THEN, they added the little powerball in the center and the dishes got virtually spotless. Now Finish has created a dishwashing duo the likes of which you've never seen!

Finish Quantumatic is a NEW way to effortlessly powerwash your dishes! I admit I was a bit skeptical when I received the product. I mean, what could be easier than those tablets? THIS IS! It's a plastic dispenser that holds refill cartridges. You place the cylindrical cartridge into the dispenser, clip the dispenser onto the top rack of your dishwasher and VOILA! You're good for 12, count 'em - 12 LOADS without refilling! Now team that up with Finish Jet-Dry Turbo Dry Rinse Agent and your dishes are effortlessly clean and spot free!

I really loved the convenience of using this product! After the initial 12 load cartridge that came with the product, I purchased refill packs and refilled the dispenser in less than 30 seconds. It's SO handy that I even trust my kidlets to start the dishwasher because I know the detergent is already ready already! ;p

I'm sold on the ease and quality of the Finish Quantumatic and I know you will be too! But guess what? You don't have to take my word for it. The gracious people of Finish are going to give ONE lucky Momma'Tudes reader a combo pack of the Finish Quantumatic and Jet-Dry Turbo Dry to try for themselves!

Giveaway Details:

Giveaway runs July 20, 2010 - July 27, 2010. A winner will be randomly selected and announced on July 28, 2010.
This giveaway is open to US residents, age 18 and older.
All those who enter the giveaway must provide an email address so he/she may be contacted should he/she win. Email addresses will not be used for solicitation purposes.

Required Entry:

Tell me why you'd like to give Finish Quantumatic a spin!

Optional, Additional Entries:

Follow my blog. Leave me a comment to let me know for an additional entry.
Follow me on Twitter. Leave me a comment to let me know for an additional entry.
Grab my blog button and put it in the sidebar of your blog. Come back and leave me a comment with your blog link for an additional entry.
Tweet about the giveaway! You may tweet about the giveaway as often as you like. Each tweet may be counted as an additional entry as long as you come back and leave a comment with the link to your tweet in the comment. Please leave a separate comment for each tweet.
Blog about the giveaway! Write a blog post with a link to this post. Come back and leave me a comment with a link to your blog post for an additional FIVE entries. Please leave 5 separate comments, 1 for each entry.
Visit http://www.finishdishwashing.com/ and read a little about the NEW Finish Quantumatic. Come back and leave a comment to let me know a fact about it for an additional entry. If you'd like to gain additional entries, leave a separate comment with a different fact for each entry!

Disclosure: Momma'Tudes was given (1) Finish Quantumatic dispenser and cartridge as well as (1) full sized Jet-Dry Turbo Dry Rinse Agent product free of charge for review. The opinions expressed here are of the blog author. This is an unpaid review.

Almost Dun Movin'

2010-07-20T12:56:00.002-04:00

So many of you have noticed my mini-hiatus. Well, we've been in the process of moving all of our things from our apartment in PA and our house in OH to our new house in PA. It's been CRAZY BUSY! So I just wanted to let y'all know that I will be getting back to a normal blogging cadence shortly.

This week's happenings:

Product Review for Silk Almond Milk
Product Review & Giveaway for Finish Dishwasher Detergent
Product Review & Giveaway for Zoku Quick Pop Maker
Product Review for Rustic Crust Pizza

Stay tuned! The fun starts later today!!

Lou & Luna

2010-07-15T09:55:00.002-04:00

Video Review: RubberMaid Premier Storage Set

2010-07-14T13:55:00.002-04:00

Wordless Wednesday: Pug Luv

2010-07-14T09:50:00.000-04:00

Meet Ms. Luna - Our brand new fur-baby. We just adopted her from a rescue center!

Sometimes a Good Cry is All You Need

2010-07-02T11:17:00.001-04:00

This morning I felt so overwhelmed. Spending the last month+ in our apartment ALL DAY, EVERY DAY has not been easy. I used to be very social. However, not being able to drive has really limited my ability to be social. I've had to rely on a terrific friend to cart my bum all around, which just is NOT fair to her. And it gets old to have to drive someone everywhere they need to go. And it feels awful to have to always ask for favors from others.

To top it off, hubby is frustrated because we have a ton of things to move and unpack and if I could drive, I could be of more use. He's been very supportive and has never made me feel as though it is my fault, but I know he's worried about our deadline.

So this morning, I got up and took my usual spot on the couch with my cup of coffee and cried. I cried and cried. I guess I didn't realize how awful I felt until I let it all out. And it wasn't an attempt to be all 'woe is me.' I just really needed to let it all out: the loneliness, the isolation, the sadness, the frustration.. I just needed to let it all go. And I did. I cried like a complete baby. But it really did help to let it out. Sometimes all you need is a good cry to make you feel better.

Beauty Review: got2b Smooth Operator Smoothing Lustre Lotion

2010-07-01T18:35:00.004-04:00

As a member of BzzAgent, I get to try out all sorts of neat products. And this product is one of them: got2b Smooth Operator Smoothing Lustre Lotion. It is FAB! First off, I noticed it had a really fresh, fruity scent - which surprised me. Most beauty and hair products I try have a perfume-y scent. This smells fresh and like summer to me. Second, it really DOES have the consistency of lotion. Third, a little goes a LONG way. When BzzAgent sent me the free sample, I thought - 'Geez, how chincy. This sample is tres bitty.' But I only needed a dime size amount for my nearly shoulder-length hair. So this sample will last me a while.

My hair feels GREAT! After blow drying with my ionic brush blower, my hair was shiny and super soft. It just felt so amazing! And it retained that fresh, fruity scent. According to got2b this product helps to protect hair from damage from heat styling and contains a UV protectant - even better! It's also infused with cashmere and helps manage those dreaded fly-aways.

I thoroughly enjoyed this product. My hair didn't feel weighted down. It looks really healthy and shiny and feels amazing! I think I may have to check out the entire Smooth Operator line!

Disclosure: I'm a BzzAgent. I received this product free of charge for review. This is an unpaid review and all opinions reflect that of the blog author.

Wordless Wednesday: Sleeping Teenager

2010-06-30T08:30:00.000-04:00

The last weekend in our old house - the teenager camped out in the kitchen. This is what I found when I got up to make coffee. ;p

Personal Book Review: Angelology

2010-06-29T20:42:00.001-04:00

This is not the ordinary review I do here on Momma'Tudes. Typically, I review products that were given to me to review and share my experience. However this time, I read an amazing book and decided I MUST share it.

Angelology by Danielle Trussoni is a smart, well-written book steeped in Christian Mythology. Many reviewers are comparing this to Dan Brown's The Divinci Code. I can understand the semi-connection. However, Angelology is rooted in Biblical texts and books (such as Enoch) that were not included in the Bible. Trussoni obviously did her homework: giving life to a subject she obviously researched a great deal.

The story is about a group of Angelologists who are privy to the world of the Nephilim (a half human, half angel breed). The Nephilim are the offspring of the Watchers, angels who took human women and created children. The Watchers, having been sentenced to remain in a prison on earth, are pitied by Gabriel, who gives them a Lyre. This Lyre has the power to destroy humankind and/or strengthen the Nephilim. As the story goes on, you learn of the expeditions to find the Lyre. Once it's been retrieved, the story takes on a momentum that sucks the reader into the story.

The story, spanning thousands of years, draws the reader in. Complex detail and rich storyline keep the reader hooked. I literally did not want to put this book down! It's suspenseful, thrilling, and interesting. So nab yourself a copy and get reading! This book is already slated to become a major motion picture and a 2nd book in the series is in the works! You won't be disappointed!

We're Home-less!!!

2010-06-28T17:42:00.001-04:00

We're officially NO LONGER homeowners!!!! Our house in OH was officially recorded by the county as sold to the new owners today! I'm so thrilled! It's been a long two years of trying to sell our home with the horrific economy. But the Lord has blessed us and the past 6 wks have been utter proof of His intervention! We sold our home, bought a home, and the new school district is going to pay to keep our son at his private school for children with neuro-developmental disabilities!!!!

Thanks to all of my readers who've offered words of encouragement and prayers! Not only does it feel amazing to finally be out from under our house in OH, but it feels wonderful to be a part of such a warm and supportive community: from my readers to my fellow bloggers to the companies I work with!!!

Thanks!!!! And now that things aren't so hairy and I won't be gone half of every week - please check back for GREAT reviews & giveaways from Silk, Rubbermaid, CoverGirl, and many more!!

Wordless Wednesday: The Boyz

2010-06-23T09:41:00.000-04:00

My brother and his gorgeous l'il men (my nephews)

Out of Town

2010-06-18T11:11:00.000-04:00

I am currently out of town as we prepare for our move. All inquiries will be addressed when I return late next week. Thank you!

Social Media Stalkers

2010-06-16T19:17:00.000-04:00

I absolutely adore social media. I have grown my blogs, twitter following, and web show into an enjoyable career. I love blogging and micro-blogging. And like anyone else in social media, obviously I don't mind sharing my thoughts, opinions, and world with readers. But I have to say that blog stalkers are creeping me out a bit. Not just any blog stalkers, people I actually KNOW IRL. They bounce from my blog to my other blog to my Twitter account over and over again. I was able to trace over 20 instances within 24 hours recently. It's creepy. And the reason these people stalk my blog? To see if I am writing anything about them. So here you go, stalkers: GET A LIFE. YOUR CONSTANT NEED TO KEEP TABS ON MY LIFE IS NOT ONLY PATHETIC BUT RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. Not only is your stalking my blogs in poor taste, (TACKY) but I also consider it a form of harassment. If I am not talking to you IRL, get the hint and move on.

To my loyal readers and new readers - the preceeding message was not aimed at you but rather a group of people I know in real life who can't seem to get a life of their own.

Wordless Wednesday - Tractors 'N Tutus

2010-06-16T10:25:00.000-04:00

DD & DS pose with our old Farmall Tractor as it leaves to live out it's life on a new farm. And yes, DD is dressed in a pink tutu & tennis shoes. LOL!

Wordless Wednesday: Backyard Serenity

2010-06-09T08:43:00.000-04:00

A view of the tranquil water feature in my new backyard.

Winner of the Cascadian Farm Live Green Prize Pack!

2010-06-04T13:38:00.002-04:00

And the winner of the amazing Cascadian Farm Live Green Prize pack (via random number generator) is:

Congrats to carolpie!

Thank you to all who participated in this giveaway! And a very special THANK YOU to Cascadian Farm and MyBlogSpark for providing Momma'Tudes and it's readers with this AMAZING giveaway!!