The one where @MsRandomFamGal & I went to the movies! #Mockingjay2 #awesome

Bestie T and I went to see Mockingjay 2 last night!   We've been waiting an entire year for this one to arrive - since the moment we sat through the credits of part 1 to see if there was a sneak peek of part 2. :)

Naturally I have some thoughts , I will warn you ahead of time that my thoughts are all over the place on this one and I'm too lazy to try to organize them better. lol.

This is a spoiler alert here and now! If you have not read the books, do not read further b/c I will give away major plot points. 


Let's start by saying how in the hell did they film Plutarch's parts when Philip Seymour Hoffman is no longer with us?   His parts are reduced quite a bit but it bugged me throughout the movie.  I did google it afterward and it's just as I figured - they filmed part 1 & 2 back to back.  So most of Philip's scenes were completed prior to his death.  I am very happy that the director elected not to use CGI to put him back into the movie in other areas, but on the other hand -- PEOPLE! They were filmed BACK TO BACK, which means they just sat on the 2nd movie for an entire year to torture us!  Sorry, that bugged me and I had to get it out! lol!

Now back to the movie :

It starts out with us getting a look at Katniss' freshly bruised neck - immediately reminding us how part one ended with Peeta trying to kill her.  Personally, I was thrown back into the whole quandry - who does she end up with?  Gale or Peeta?  I could NOT remember for the life of me.  For this entire series, I've lofted back and forth on who I think Katniss should end up with.  I always had really good reasons for each team but ultimately, the reason she says goodbye to one in the end is right. Katniss could do nothing else.
 

I feel like I was distracted for much of this movie and probably need to see it again for a true review. In the beginning, seeing Philip Seymour Hoffman (why do I have to write all 3 names?? IDK. ) made me wonder how he was in the film. 
Once we started seeing more of Gale & Peeta (who is still hell bent on killing Katniss for much of the film), I was distracted trying to remember who she ends up with.  One kiss with Gale and he says it's like kissing someone who's drunk.  This should be telling, dude..  And then we have Peeta who , when he's not trying to kill her is constantly asking her questions ending with "real or not?"  You love me, real or not?   sigh,  yes we all love you Peeta...

And then we have Finnick & Annie. I love Finnick  - I have since we first met him.  I kinda wished that somehow we could realign things and make Katniss end up with him. Lol.

A wedding in the midst of going to war against the Capitol just screams of romance. A few days (a week?) later and Finnick is in the Capitol with the rest of the crew.  He was prominent enough in this movie that I fell back in love with him and was slowly plotting ways to make him & Katniss be a couple, and then...  then he dies.  A ghastly death.  A ghastly death while he screams for Katniss. Like this isn't going to haunt her forever.  WHY kill him now?  Why??!  

Slip into a depression for the next bit of the movie while we all mourn Finnick :(

The troops rally and move onto the purpose of killing Snow.

I'm not even going to talk about what happens to Prim.  If you've read the books, you know. If you haven't - well you shouldn't be reading this --- Hello SPOILERS!. Let me just say - devastating. Again, why ???   But I know why-  this is what makes Katniss ultimately make that choice between Peeta  & Gale.  How can she forgive this?

I definitely feel that this is one of those movies that you are going to need to watch several times in order to get  a full appreciation for it. As I mentioned, I got distracted by certain ideas & situations which I'm sure lead me to miss smaller details while I was still in shock or mourning.

Many people have asked me how the gore level was.  Is it kid appropriate?  I think that it was definitely less graphic than some of the previous installments.  Would I take my kids to see it? No way! But my kids are stuck strictly in the PG rating area, and PG this isn't.  It definitely is something you have to decide for yourself and your own kids.  Everyone and every kid is different. I personally jumped in my seat 2-3 times and may have made some exclamations as well. Lol.

 Watch the trailer below and then get your butt to the theater and see this movie!  The end of a great series!

Review - WaterWipes a natural, chemical free baby wipe!

“This post was sponsored by WaterWipes as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.”

Whether you're a new mom or one who's been around the block a few times like me, one thing that is almost always on your shopping list is baby wipes. You simply can't have enough of those things!  From wiping bottoms to messy faces (and quite frankly everything in between!), baby wipes are simply a necessity if you are a parent!  

Something we always worry about is putting things to our delicate newborns skin.  We pre-wash everything in special mild baby detergent while sterilizing bottles and pacifiers.  I think most of us with a newborn would prefer to dunk our older kids in sanitizer if we could get away with it!  Clean and mild is what we want for those precious newborns and then we live and learn a bit and aren't quite so picky anymore.  Sterilize a bottle - pshaw, a simple washing with hot water will be just fine! lol!   

One thing I still worry about, even with 6 kids plus multiple other babies I've taken care of, is the chemicals in our baby wipes.  What is the point of the delicate baby detergent only to be wiping their bottoms, hands & faces with harsh chemicals in the wipes?  This is why I was excited to be able to try WaterWipes!   WaterWipes is a European brand (everyone say ooooh, ahhhhh!!) that is completely chemical free!  In fact, it only contains two ingredients - 99.9% purified water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract !    This makes me happy for multiple reasons -

- How many of us have had to deal with diaper rashes?  That cringe when you have to wipe you poor baby's bottom and know it might sting?! No more-- no chemicals = gentle as can be ! 

- If you have a baby like Baby D, you'll know that 95% of the time anything within reach will go directly in their mouths! Not such a big worry when it's only water & a tiny bit of grapefruit seed extract!   A definite plus ! 

I'll be honest, I was a bit skeptical.  99.9% water? How is that going to do any of the zillion things that I do with baby wipes effectively?  But I tested these babies!  Let me say this is one of the sturdiest wipes I've found! There is absolutely nothing worse than being in the middle of a diaper explosion clean up only to have your wipe tear mid-wipe.  *shudder*   I stretched these wipes and was unsuccessful in making them tear - Woohoo!  They cleaned up everything just fine!     

All in all, I'm sold.  They clean great, they smell good, and they are perfect for sensitive skin!  The only con I can think of is the price ($4.99 @ my store) but price is reflected in the quality in what you buy!


A bit about WaterWipes : 

As I said above- 100% chemical free which means they don't contain preservatives.  Each package of wipes is good for up to 15months prior to opening. Once you open your wipes, it is recommended that you use the package within 1 month. If you are anything like me, that won't be a problem!

Unlike many other wipe brands, WaterWipes are not interfolded.  This allows for a sterile environment to be maintained within the package.  For the same reason, they recommend that you do not relocate your wipes into an alternative container.  Quite honestly, their container is perfectly suitable for the diaper bag  or changing table!

Ready to go try a pack of WaterWipes for yourself? I was able to find mine at my local Meijer.  Click here for a store locator !  Just a warning, I had to look closely for the WaterWipes at my local store. There was not a big display and they blended in fairly well with the other brands!   

If you do try them, I'd love to hear what you think !

Review : Hotel Transylvania 2

Hey guys!  We had the amazing opportunity to go to an early screening of Hotel Transylvania 2 !  We are HUGE fans of HT 1 so this was something the entire family was excited about!!

First let's talk about the what Hotel Transylvania 2 is all about.

In part one, Mavis (daughter of Drac) falls in love with a Human! *gasp*   Drac has spent the past 100+ years shielding his only child from the horrible humans.  It ends with Drac and the other monsters realizing that maybe humans aren't so bad after all.

In part two, Mavis and Johnny (the human) have gotten married and had their own little monster.  Or is he? Drac is convinced with such strong dracula lines, Dennis MUST be a monster, while Mavis is happy if he is a monster or human.   Mavis has decided that if Dennis does turn out to be human, perhaps they should move to a more human location. Meanwhile, Drac is determined to bring out Dennis' vampire side no matter what.  Mavis and Johnny go on a vacation to California where Mavis learns the many perks of the human world - Slurpees have SO many flavors!!

Back in Transylvania, Drac and the gang embark on an adventure to force Dennis' fangs to come through.

The entire family loved this movie. The kids even proclaimed that they thought part 2 was better than part 1!  How often do you hear that?! lol!   I loved the story line behind it.  Learning to accept a person (or monster) as they  are.  Drac is determined that Dennis must be a monster but in the end when it looks like he is a human for sure, he realizes that it doesn't matter. Dennis is his grandson and he loves and accepts him as he is.   There were so many funny parts but the top billing (according to the kids) is when a certain vampire bat has a large puff of hair.  They couldn't stop giggling over that! We can't wait to buy this one and add it to our movie collection !

This one is well worth the movie ticket!  I will say that we saw it in 3D and while it was good like that, I didn't feel it had a TON of 3D effects and would be just as good in regular format ;)   So get ready to check it out and be sure to let me know what you thought!

Happy watching,

Momma Chaos

My Review of #HomeRunInn Pizza

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Home Run Inn pizza.

Hi everyone!  I don't know about you, but I'm pretty much always busy.  Supper time can throw me for a loop if I don't have a menu planned out.. Quite honestly, lately I haven't had a menu planned out and I've been running by the seat of my pants when it comes to meals.  I'm not big on frozen dinners and prefer to make things homemade without all the preservatives.   I was thrilled when I was introduced to Home Run Inn pizza!   Not only is it all natural with no preservatives, but it is made with REAL cheese!   I decided it was worth a shot to try something quick and easy !

First we set out to find this new pizza.  I am a huge fan of Chicago style pizza and had my fingers crossed that Home Run Inn would fill that craving for me.   Luckily Home Run Inn Pizza is available at most Kroger, Meijer and Marsh stores so finding one was a quick trip for me!  The only hard part was making the choice on which pizza style and flavors to try!

We choose to try the Classic style Cheese pizza (Dimples will only eat cheese. picky boy!).

As well as the Ultra Thin Sausage & uncured Pepperoni Pizza..

From freezer to table was less than half an hour (note: the classic crust cooked longer than the ultra thin) ..  One of the first things that set this frozen pizza apart from others we've tried is that we could smell the delicious dough as the pizza was cooking.

Everyone was able to try both kinds of pizza and I took a poll of their likes and dislikes.
Actually there were no dislikes but many compliments!

• Classic crust had a lovely buttery taste to it.  No cardboard texture that you get with traditional frozen pizzas. (Note- still following their original family recipe from 1947!  Family tradition at it's best!)
• REAL Mozzarella ! You could taste the flavor of having real cheese unlike many frozen pizzas when you have no clue what they are using because it tastes like plastic.  This cheese was amazing! (Note- It's shredded daily to maximize freshness and never produced with any fillers or dry powered milk.  Just real cheese! Delish!)
• Pepperoni & Sausage had wonderful flavor. (Note - all-natural HOMEMADE Italian sausage is prepared daily and spiced with their unique  old-world family recipe.  Their pepperoni and bacon are all natural - no nitrates  or fillers!)
• Tasted like carryout from a great restaurant vs a frozen pizza.

As you can see, we had nothing but good things to say about the Home Run Inn Pizza.  In fact, we are anxious to try a few more flavors.  I am personally excited to try their ultra thick version!  I love some great Chicago style deep dish!   It's no wonder that when compared to other frozen and delivered pizzas, Home Run Inn is consistently #1 according to Consumer Reports!   As a family of 8 with a few picky eaters in the mix, this was a hit for us!   The fact that it's made with all-natural ingredients makes it even better!  This is definitely a great choice for a quick and easy meal!

Have you tried Home Run Inn Pizzas yet?  If so, what is your favorite flavor?  If not, which do you think you'll want to try first?


Disclaimer :  This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Home Run Inn pizza.

#Review - From Frights to Flaws by @SunaynaPrasad

Hi guys!  I don't do these a ton over here since I have a blog just for reviewing books... But this one is a children's book and with most my readers here being parents, I figured you might enjoy it!

From Frights to Flaws
(Alyssa McCarthy's Magical Missions: Book 1)
by :  Sunayna Prasad

Publication:  FriesenPress (Aug. 2013)
ASIN:  B00EO8U7O8
Length:  176 pages
Genre:  Children's Fiction  - Age : Middle School

Book Description: 

Twelve-year-old Alyssa McCarthy can no longer stand the toughness of her uncle and wants a better life. But one day she discovers not only the existence of magic, but also a villain hunting her down. The villain uses magic and magical technology to kidnap Alyssa to the Fiji Islands. As much as she wants to go home, she has to face some dangerous challenges first. Not only that, the villain himself must also be defeated. Can Alyssa succeed, even with the help of her mentors?

Buy on Amazon

My Thoughts : 

There are so many things I loved about this book! It has a wonderful story line - good vs evil and friendship are main themes.  The author has a great imagination that shines through in this book!  I always wonder how people can dream up such magical things and make them seem so real..

Most likely my favorite thing about this book is the main character.   Alyssa is a typical preteen girl.  She's not super popular, pretty or smart.  She's your every day girl, which I think you can relate to a lot as a kid.  It endears her to your heart and makes you want to root for her to win!  I loved all the challenges that she is presented with and how she manages to overcome them.. Although she can't always listen to her mentors when fear overcomes her (who can!?) she does a good job of facing each challenge bravely.

 I would suggest it for children 11-13 stage, depending on their maturity.  There is some death, lots of plotting by the villian to kill Alyssa and it can be a little scary at times for a younger child.   While I know that both my little girls (8 & 9) could read it, I'm waiting a little longer before I give it to them just for the scare factor.   While they love Harry Potter movies, I would put this one more on the lines of the "Prisoner of Azkaban "(book 3) in regards to an evil wizard out to get you type feel.  I always feel that reading a book is more intense than watching a movie- you can't simply hide behind the pillow if something gets scary.  I will definitely be saving this book back to read together when they are a little older!

If you have children who enjoy fantasy and magic , I suggest you give this one a try (with the age disclaimer above).  It's a quick and fun read !

Ps..  I'm supposed to tell you that I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.  :)

Sunayna Prasad has been writing stories for over thirteen years, starting at the age of six. Now nineteen, she will start her junior year of college this fall, and will study accessory design as well as continue to write for children. Aside from that, Sunayna also likes to cook, watch movies, and draw. She lives on Long Island, New York, with her family.

Follow the author :

 FaceBook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website

Follow the Book Tour

#Review - a #LeapReader "Ready, Set, Read & Write " party courtesy of @LeapFrog

I was thrilled to be chosen to host a party introducing LeapFrog's newest invention- the LeapReader!    I have always been a big fan of LeapFrog who seems to know just how to make learning fun :) 

Let me tell you a little bit about the LeapReader ..

The LeapReader is a complete "learn to read and write" system that combines the three essential literacy skills : Reading, Writing and Listening.   By practicing them together, children can practice the skills they need to help them become confident independent readers.

Learn to Read-  you simply touch the LeapReader to any page to sound out words letter by letter, read sentences in lively character voices and play fun games that build comprehension.  * I have a few kiddos who struggle with comprehension, so I love that fact!

Learn to Write -  Use the LeapReader to trace letters and numbers, and write words stroke-by-stroke with interactive guidance as magic ink appears on special mess-free paper.   * All the moms loved the writing feature- it prompts you on writing letters, notices when you life your pencil and shouldn't and sounds out words when you have finished one!  Love!

Learn through Listening -  Develop listening skills, comprehension and imagination with LeapReader's popular audio books, trivia challenges and learning songs!  * We are big LeapFrog fans and own several (most) of the movies.  When we tried listening to some of the songs- my kids were happy to sing and dance along. 


Now onto the party and some pictures!

Naturally I invited several friends with their kids over to play with the huge box of stuff that LeapFrog provided for us!  *Note, not all were comfortable sharing photos of their children on the internet so you will just see my kids and MsRandom's kiddos.

  Although I received the products well in advance, I didn't open them for my own children to play with until the party because I wanted them to experience it like the rest of the party goers.   I will say that when the kids first got there, I sent them off to play as I was still setting things up.  Several times, different kiddos would come over to ask me what was on the table and if they could please play with it yet! lol!

Finally it was time to begin!  I'm not sure who was more excited, the moms or the kids?!

They all happily donned their 3D glasses.  I think everyone's first choice of books to look at was the 3D Monsters University!   We looked thru the book and then flipped to the back to work on some Nouns / Verbs action!  

The LeapReader would tell the kids to pick nouns or verbs (Nouns were in yellow, verbs in red).  I loved that it had two different levels - level 1 for the little kids reminded them that nouns were on the yellow page vs  verbs on the red page,  level 2 for the older kids would just ask them to pick a noun/verb without prompting.  Everyone loved this game and couldn't wait for their turn!   Dimples only had problems keeping his glasses on.. lol. Momma had to help hold them on for him : )

Next we all sat together and did "Tad's Song".  In this game, there are missing parts to the song along with a box to choose from.  We had to pick a word (Dimple's had control of the LeapReader) and then decide which word rhymed with our word.  At the end, we were able to listen to the song we helped Tad create! :) 

And finally they were all turned loose (taking turns of course) with the LeapReaders to practice some writing.  Dimples & Banana - the youngest of the pictured crew (both being 5) enjoyed tracing words.  The moms all loved that if you stayed on the lines there was a sound - an encouragement that you were doing it right.  If you lifted your pencil up off the paper when you shouldn't (ahem.  Dimples.)  we were alerted to keep our pencil down, don't lift it.  When each letter was finished , the letter was said and at the end of the word- the Leapreader sounded out the word the kids had just traced.   It was beyond amazing! 


Honestly, there was so much more to do- we ran out of time before we could do all we wanted!  One lucky winner took home a LeapReader set, while we kept one set for ourselves (my kids are thrilled!).

I took a poll of Moms & kids and here are what we thought were the pros and cons :

Pros

•  No batteries to buy - you simply plug it in and recharge.
• Large variety of books and even a large variety of stuff to do within each book.
• The Learn to Write books were thick enough that we could easily set the practice paper in it and not worry about messing up anything. 

Cons

• Practice paper-  the only con we could come up with (other than not having one system for each kid.. ha!) was that we wish the practice paper /writing were made differently so that it could be erased vs using once and throwing away (think of it like receipt paper, there is no actual lead but you write by making pressure with the LeapReader).   

When the kids were asked their favorite parts of the party / LeapReader they said :

• Writing
• Listening to the audio books
• Rhyming 
• The T-Rex story  ( which we listened to as an audio book)
• Stories & Writing
• Writing & Telephone game  (we lined everyone up, let one child listen to part of a story with headphones on and then stopped the story.  Then played the old game telephone of having the first child tell the last word they heard and everyone whispering it down the line.  They were all amused at how changed the words became at the end! lol!   Our closest was Dinoko to Diamond..)

All in all , it was a great opportunity!  With a larger group of children in various ages (5 -9), not once did we have anyone wandering off or acting bored!   I'm highly recommending this one if you have any children in need of a little help with reading or writing!   I am definitely putting more books and accessories down on my Christmas list to buy for the kids!


*Disclosure - I received free LeapFrog products in order to host the LeapFrog sponsored MommyParty.  The opinions expressed here are my own. *

A Guest Blog #review of Monsters University

Hi guys!  Today, I wanted to do something a little new!  I have a guest post from a fellow blogger !  I do it on the review blog a lot but thought , what the heck! let's try it here too!   Carolyn offered to review Monsters University for us! You know me, I love anything Disney!  We took the kids to see MU as well and it was a great movie!  I hope you'll enjoy her review : ) 

When I first heard about the Monsters, Inc. prequel, I was ecstatic. The first is one of my all-time favorites (seriously underrated, in my opinion) and I was excited to see more.

But then I got worried. Very worried. What if it failed to live up to the first?

Well, ladies and gents, I am happy to say that Monsters University is a worthy companion to the original. It’s a film jam-packed full of laughs, friendship, and those valuable life lessons we’ve come to associate with Pixar.

The premise of the movie centers on the dynamic between Mike, the studious and determined wannabe-scarer, and Sulley, the cocky natural. The two don’t exactly hit it off at first, but through extenuating circumstances, they find themselves on the same team in a campus-wide competition called the Scare Games. Also on their team, they have a ragtag bunch of members from the loser fraternity, Oozma Kappa, who turn out to be serious scene stealers. From a philosophy major to a former salesman, pay attention to their hilarious one-liners (“I can’t go back to jail!”). What the movie lacks in terms of original plot, it makes up for with strong and likeable characters you can’t help but get emotionally invested in and root for.

Woven throughout the film are valuable lessons of friendship, playing fair, and making the best of your circumstances. You have Mike who studies so hard but simply isn’t scary and Sulley who is scary without any effort but is struggling to live up to his family name. It has surprisingly mature underlying themes: confronting your own limitations and the expectations of others without sacrificing your dreams or losing your integrity. But I suppose that’s what Pixar does best: present older themes in a family-friendly way that makes both you and your children think.

What Monsters University lacks in clichés it makes up for in loveable characters, comedy and heart. The strong friendship between Mike and Sulley is the driving force of the movie and it’s entertaining to see how these two buddies got to where they are in Monsters, Inc.—trust me, it’s not the way you expect.

(An added bonus? Keep your eyes peeled for nods to the original. Old faces, like Randall and Roz, pop up.)

4/5 Pixar lamps!

(Carolyn Heintz is a nutritionist, coffee lover, and Pixar fanatic. She splits her time between working as a nutrition consultant, writing for her blog and freelancing as a staff writer for Life Line. Most of the time, however, she’s just loving life as the mom to two incredible little girls.)

Review : Cascade Platinum Pacs #MyPlatinum #sponsored

Disclosure : I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.



In our large family, everyone has a chore.  When you have 8 people living in a house, Momma isn't going to get it all done.  Delegation is the key.  Naturally, I like to delegate the things I don't like doing.  It's a perk of being at the top of the totem pole :)

Dishes are not my thing.  My 15yo (Attitude King) has been drafted to do dishes.  He's going to make an excellent husband someday!  The only issue I have with his dishwashing abilities, is that he doesn't rinse, he doesn't check the dishes- if the dishwasher says "done" then he puts it away.   I don't know how many times I've found plates or utensils with baked on good- put away in the cupboard.  ARGH!

We actually have a new dishwasher and so I thought that would help.  Brand new dishwasher = clean dishes, right?   Not always.  We've moved thru a few detergents, tried gel packs, liquid & even powered to find something that would help my dishwasher shine like the expensive appliance it is should.  So when I was asked to give Cascade Platinum a try, I was all over it.

A little about it from Cascade , themselves:

What it is :  Cascade Platinum Pacs deliver the most powerful clean available from Cascade while simultaneously helping to maintain the sparking look of your clean dishwasher interior.

How it works:  They feature an advanced triple action recipe that is designed to leave dishware virtually spot-free and help prevent the build- up of hard-water film on dishwasher walls.

Why you need it : They achieve a top-tier clean so powerful that they even help keep your dishwasher machine sparking and deliver a variety of dish care benefits :

• Powers away tough, 24 hour stuck-on food
• Eliminates the need to pre-wash dishes
• Helps maintain the look of new machines and helps prevent additional hard-water film build-up
• Delivers exceptional dishware shine

Reading through those, I immediately saw several things that stuck out to me-  Helps maintain the look of new machines-- Yay! I have a new dishwasher and I would love to keep it looking new as long as possible.  Those things aren't cheap!  Powers away stuck-food and eliminating the need to pre-wash would definitely help the 15yo in his chores!   I mean come on, you can only tell them so many times to rinse it and check that clean is really clean.  Sometimes you just need to rely on the cleaning product to actually work! 

We have been using the Cascade Platinum Pacs for a few weeks now.  I am more than thrilled with how well they have been standing up to what was promised.  The dishes look cleaner than ever.  Food looks better on a sparkling clean plate!   No more grabbing a utensil out of the drawer only to find old stuck on food.  Honestly, we all know teenagers and  I can safely say that this new victory is all about the new detergent not a change on the 15yo's part.  Love his as I do, he's not getting the credit here!   

Now, more than ever, people eat with their eyes.. How many times do you see pictures of food on Facebook or Instagram?  I know, myself, I love taking pictures of awesome meals when I am out at a restaurant. The presentation is so important to a meal!   With that in mind, Top Chef judge and editor of Food + Wine  magazine, Gail Simmons, has partnered with Cascade to talk about why presentation is just as important as prepartion. 

Now for the fun part!  Cascade has a "My Platinum" contest over a four-week period encouraging instagram fans to upload photos related to the weekly contest themes.  Show off how sparkly Cascade makes all your pots, pans and plates!

It's simple to do :

•  First , visit the contest page for information on how to enter & submit images.  You will have to sign up for instagram if you aren't already a member. 
• Each week, two winners will be selected to receive a brand new Whirlpool dishwasher.  Additionally, one very lucky grand prize winner will receive a Platinum kitchen makeover!!  
• To win, users have both register and upload their photo with the #MyPlatinum hashtage and tage @MyCascade.

Here are the weekly  themes : 

• Week 1 : My Platinum Plate (Entry Period: 6/3-6/9)                                                                                 Show us your best dish styled from sparkling plate up!
• Week 2 :  My Platinum Bite (Entry Period 6/10-6/16 )                                                                          Show us your best bite and most creative use of sparkling silverware !
• Week 3 :  My Platinum Clink  (Entry Period 6/17- 6/23)                                                                                Show us how to serve up creative concoctions in sparkling glasses.  Cheers !
• Week 4 :  My Platinum Table (Entry Period 6/24- 6/30)                                                                      Show us your sparkling tablescape for your most special celebrations! 
•  Grand Prize Winner  (Entry : 6/3-6/30)

Remember, for additional contest information and to enter click here, or visit the Cascade Facebook page to keep up-to-date with products and promotions.   Good luck and let's see some Shine!! 

Review & Giveaway -- Robby Wash @OransiLLC

Oh my, oh my!  Do I ever have something to talk to you guys about today!  I was sent a Robby Wash ball to try months ago.  Soo much good in such a little package!    First let me tell you about it  and then read my review (and giveaway!!) below!  

Robby Wash

The practical laundry washing ball

The Robby Wash fuchsia laundry ball pack is formulated to clean colored items and is for use in cooler water temperatures(up to 86F) for 12 months on average.  Does not require any additional detergent to clean clothes or odor removal detergents to get your laundry smelling fresh.  The pack includes the fuchsia washing ball, a stain stick and three extra packets of macro-molecule pellets. For loads that are to be washed in water temperatures above 90F you should use the Blue washing ball.

Top 11 robby wash ball benefits that delight:

1. Save money: it's hard enough to carry all those boxes of laundry detergents much less pay a premium for them that's why we make it affordable for you.  Standard laundry detergents can cost you up to $1 per load whereas the highly efficient robby laundry ball is less than $0.25 per load.

2. Simple.  Just throw it in the washing machine.
   Anyone can now do the laundry! Works in both front and top load washing machines.

3. Targeted cleaning. 
Use the fuschia ball for low temperature loads (32-90ºF) and the blue washing ball for high temperatures (32-180ºF). Maintains softness in your laundry while removing odors and stains.

4. Hypoallergenic.  Since you are not using cups of laundry detergent your laundry is cleaned in a manner that is much easier on your skin while at the same time giving you the performance you expect in a highly efficient laundry cleaner.

5. Baby safe laundry solution.  Formulated to being gentle on your child's clothes but strong enough to remove the stains.

6. Free stain stick included with each washing ball purchase.

7. Fresh scent. Your clothes will have a very light fresh scent for a feeling of freshness.

8. High efficiency laundry.  Each Robby Wash ball pack will clean on average for 12 months.  This includes three refill packets of macromolecules.  If you have an over-sized washing machine, we recommend using two washing balls.

9. Helps the environment.  Just look at what you are not dumping down the pipes (10 ounce ball = 75+ pounds of laundry detergent)!

10. Economical refills.  Simply open the tab on the ball to refill with the macro molecule pellets when they are less than 75% full.  This keeps you from having to throw away the ball.  Each ball should last for 2-3 years.

11. Safety.  Designed in France to meet the strict compliance requirements of the Europe and contains no phosphates or chlorine.  The Robby Wash ball has received safety certifications from REACH, RoHS.  Each ball is made of durable ABS materials.

My Thoughts : 

When I was contacted and offered a chance to review a Robbie Wash Ball from Oransi, I was thrilled a little skeptical.  With 6 kids - I do A LOT of laundry. My kids get really dirty.  But hey, any way to have to buy less laundry detergent sounds good to me so I gave it a try. 

First, I got this package with this cute pink ball in it : 

It also came with a stain stick & extra washing tablets.      Quite honestly, I can't find anything negative to say about the Robbie Washing Ball.  It's super easy- just toss it into your washer with your clothes and press start.  No more measuring, no more spills..  I've even started recruiting some of the kids to help more with laundry b/c I don't have to worry about them overflowing our house with bubbles by putting too much detergent in!

I have used the washing ball for several months and I continue to be amazed.  My husband works in the orthopedic manufacturing industry and frequently comes home with oil stains on his clothes.. Oil stains that don't come out.  He used to be very picky (only T*de detergent was allowed) ..  My Robbie has taken out old set in stains -- Completely gone from his work shirts!  And that was even w/o using the stain stick!!

Despite the numerous advantages- money savings, more green option, less storage.. , my favorite thing about the Robbie Wash ball is the convenience and easy use!  I will be a lifetime user!!

~ Giveaway Time ~ 

Along with sponsoring my review,  Oransi has also graciously agreed to giveaway one Robby Wash Ball to a lucky reader!  Sign up below for your chance at winning!!  Good luck !

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Matched by Ally Condie

I recently had the pleasure of reading Matched by Ally Condie.  It is the first in an epic YA trilogy that will suck in fans of Hunger Games and Twilight !  It is a quick read that sucks you in the moment you begin and doesn't let you set it down until it's completely finished.. Then you are left hungering for more.. MORE!!

Matched is set in the not so distant future where Society has eradicated all choice.  Everything is planned for you- your job, your free time, even your spouse.  In this new society, meals are bland and made specifically for each person's nutritional needs while taste is no longer important.  You are sorted into the job that you will do for the rest of your life, no more trying to decide what you want to be when you grow up! It's all done for you!  Even your death is planned for you.  No more wondering when you'll die- society has done away with all diseases and crime. You know have your final death ceremony when you turn 80 , the optimum time to die.

Cassia lives in this new world and lives by the rules.  She accepts Society and how things are. Although she is sad that her grandfather is reaching his 80th birthday and his Death Ceremony, she accepts it as what happens in her world.   Until everything changes and she begins to question Society and its perfection.

In the year of your 17th birthday, you have your Matching Ceremony.  It's a time of great excitement- real food, a colored dress (that you will get a square back to keep because you aren't allowed to actually keep the dress itself) instead of your normal 'uniform' that you wear, and meeting the Match you will spend the rest of your life with.  As Cassia's name is called, she stands and waits for the boy from another province to show up on the screen.  Instead, something unusual happens.  She is matched with a boy from her own province.  Xander - her best friend !  What could be better?  Although she has one of the few surprises Society allows her (the mystery of a new person), she is happy that she can be with someone that she share so much with.    When Cassia finally views the disc containing Xander's background information, she is shocked to discover that another face appears briefly .  Another face that she recognizes- Ky.   Has Society made a mistake? Which one is her true match?   Can she make the choice to rebel against Society to be with Ky when they have determined that Xander should now be her match?



Check in at the BlogHer Book Club for some great discussions on this awesome book !

*Disclosure: This is a paid review for BlogHer Book Club but the opinions expressed are my own*


 Happy Reading,

Reviewing Graco's new MyRide 65 with Safety Surround

One of the things I love most about being a part of the Graco Nation is learning about all the new technology they come up with for our babies & kids.    We are pretty much Graco all the way.. The girls ride in either the Graco TurboBooster or the Nautilus (depending on which vehicle we are in), Fishing Pole rides in either then Nautilus or the MyRide 65 (again depending on the vehicle-- and yes I have carseats for BOTH vehicles b/c I hate moving them once they are securely installed.. I'm a bit of a safety freak like that..)  and Dimples rides solely in MyRide 65's.

So, when I heard that Graco was planning on coming out with a new improved MyRide 65 I was excited to see what was different.   I was lucky enough to be allowed to do a review and BOY do I love the changes.

Introducing the MyRide 65 w/ Safety Surround :

•Safety Surround™ Side Impact Protection that truly grows with your child at each stage
•Headrest featuring Safety Surround™ Protection moves & removes to grow with child

I love how much more plush and filling the padding is.  Little Miss X is such an itty bitty (barely 12lbs at 5months ) but she actually fits really comfortably in this one.  Plus you can see the new head surround that moves up as your child grows.  LOVE IT! 

•Meets BOTH Graco's Side Impact Testing and Europe's Side Impact standard

- More rigorous testing?  Yes please!!

I'll be one of the first to admit, a MyRide65 (safety surround or not) is a big carseat.  It takes up some space in the vehicle.  That can be a downfall if you have a small car or multiple kids.  However, to me, it's worth the space for a more comfortable fit.  When I first received the new MyRide 65 w/ Safety Surround, I assumed it was just a regular MyRide w/ a little more added padding.  Ha.  Although it takes up basically the same car space as the original MyRide 65, the new version is deeper & taller and kids - little and big seem to fit in in even more comfortably.  Even Dimples (almost 4yrs) if given the choice would prefer to ride in the "new" seat vs his old one.  He just looks more relaxed and sits deeper in it.

Graco MyRide 65

Graco MyRide 65 w/ Safety Surround

**Please note that Dimples is not buckled in the regular MyRide, so that may make a tiny bit of difference but overall you get the point :)

   On top of getting to try out the new seat , I was also able to ask the Graco team a few questions..

   --  Is the only difference between the original MyRide65 and the new MyRide 65 w/ Safety Surround - the safety surround  feature?

This model has its own design to support the Safety Surround Technology and its ability to grow with child, and it also offers an extended weight range.  The My Ride 65 featuring Safety Surround weight range starts at 4lbs.   This seat truly offers best head protection starting at 4lbs.  

Now normally I could never imagine putting a newborn in a convertible seat, maybe that's just me.. But with this one and the way the padding & head support is designed, I actually would do it.  I just love how it really seems to cradle little ones yet still fits as they grow.

-     ---     What made Graco decide to come out with this new safety advancement? 

As reported by NHTSA, side impact collisions are one of the leading risks to infants/children today.  In response to these findings, Graco developed a technology that provides improved protection against these types of collisions.   To validate improved side impact protection, Graco tested its seats in Europe which has a draft side impact standard in place.    We launched Safety Surround Side Impact Technology on My Ride in 2011 and plan to expand the technology to more platforms in 2012.

That's right everyone, you heard it here.. Graco will be expanding the technology into some of their other car seats coming this year! :)

In conclusion, my *expert* Momma advice- if you have the room for a bigger seat, I would 100% go for the new MyRide 65 w/ Safety Surround.  It's only slightly more expensive than the previous MyRide 65 and still a decent price at $179 but the comfort and safety is well worth it! 

Happy Shopping !!


xoxo,