Frigidaire affinity Washer and Dryer have arrived! (bring on the laundry)

They are red.
They are large.
They are high-tech.
They are freakin' beautiful and I don't care if people read this and feel sorry for me because I'm so pathetically excited about a new washer and dryer.

Frigidaire is in 'da house!

Here is the whrrl.com story I did to document D-day...delivery day.


Off to sort and wash,
Janine

Product provided by
Mom Central and
Frigidiaire

How will the Frigidaire affinity washer and dryer measure up?

Everyone has a lot of laundry, I know that.
But we have the dreaded ladybug.
The thing may look cute on the outside but it's a huge, bottomless pit of dirty, stinky, moldy, icky, bacteria-thriving laundry.

The ladybug is what we use for the girls' laundry and they fill it up 1-2 times a week. It measures 21 inches high by 17 inches wide. When filled it weighs about 25 lbs.

Here's a quick video showing how much laundry fits in the ladybug and how much of the ladybug fits into my current washing machine.

Please ignore my messy laundry room. I'd like to see yours!

I weighed and measured what was left after shooting the video and I measured another 10 inches (high) of laundry weighing approximately 12 lbs (I lost my helper so this is an approximation).

I can only say, I hope the Frigidaire affinity washer and dryer can hold more!
What do you think - how much more of the ladybug will the affinity hold?

Janine

Product will be provided by:
Mom Central and
Frigidaire

Mamapedia.com is like an Encyclopedia for Moms

Who do you turn to when you have questions and concerns relating to parenting? Most of us ask other parents – whether it’s our own mothers, or friends that have kids.

Now what do you do when you have a question at 4:00 am? Some us still call our moms and best friends and wake them up. Another resource to try is Mamapedia.com.

This site contains a wealth of information for moms, from moms. I tested it out recently with this question: What are good books for first graders?
Someone had recently asked that question (in April) and there were over 40 answers that I read through!
Some of the books mentioned were:
1. Cam Jansen
2. Henry & Mudge
3. Magic Treehouse series

Mamapedia.com was developed from the responses collected on Mamasource.com that were categorized and organized and made into a searchable database. Questions range from parenting questions about newborns to health-related topics, and even house and garden questions!

What I like is the range and number of responses. For medical questions, you aren’t weeding through too much medical jargon that may scare you. The most comforting thing is that it’s other moms simply sharing from their personal experiences.

Check out Mamapedia.com and then let me know what question you asked!

Janine

This post sponsored

Why you should care about the Frigidaire Mother Load Index

Did you know according to the Frigidaire Motherload Index* moms spend on average 28 hours per month washing dishes, and only 7 hours a month showering!

You moms with newborns get a break here, but people, come on! We are living in our own stench while the dishes are sparkling clean?!?!?!

How about this:
Moms spend an average of 18 hours a month doing laundry vs. just 9 hours a month exercising.

Or this one:
We moms spend an average of 52 hours a month on meal prep vs. just 12 hours a month cuddling with our spouses.
No wonder we're so cranky!

And this one breaks my cold, dishpan, laundry-working, meal-prepping heart!
Moms spend an average of 7 more hours a month getting kids together to get out the door than playing with them.

As my friend Linda would say, {le sigh}. It's downright depressing.

This is why Frigidaire created their new line of time-saving appliances.
Just some of the features include:

• Quick Preheat means you're good to go in less than 6 minutes.
• Effortless Dry means no more towel drying after the dishwasher.
• Effortless Reheat means reheating almost anything at the touch of a button.
• Time Wise Technology means the washer and dryer end at the same time.

Enter to win an Entire Suite of New Frigidaire appliances!
Go to The Frigidaire Motherload site and register.
Click on the 5 Things tab and list the 5 things you would do with an extra hour.
You can also tell 5 friends for another chance to win! Contest ends June 30, 2009.


*The Frigidaire Motherload Index is based on an online consumer index fielded nationwide to 1170 US females, ages 25 - 50, who are married and have 2+ children in the household by NPD.

And I want to know....who showers only 7 hours a month? C'mon, own it like a Mother!
Janine

Sponsored by:

The Frigidaire More Me-Time Guarantee (aka: What I fumbled saying in that WUSA interivew)

Y'all saw the interview I did on WUSA 9 morning news, right?
Y'all saw how I sortof hijacked the segment rambling on about the Frigidaire time-saving guarantee? (My apologies to Liz from Washington Family Magazine and Peggy Fox - I blame my nerves for not being able to spit it out!)

Anyway, I thought I should take a minute to actually explain The More Me-Time Guarantee.

Here it is straight from Frigidaire:
"When you purchase three or more select Frigidaire appliances , you can qualify for the Frigidaire "More Me-Time" Guarantee by signing up at time of purchase. If you feel your "me-time" hasn't increased by at least eight hours a month, you can return the appliances to their place of purchase within 30 days and get your money back."

So you see, I got a few things right. I got that you need to purchase 3 Frigidaire appliances and I think I had that number '8' in there somewhere.

But my point about the More Me-Time Guarantee was this:

Frigidaire is so confident in the new Affinity Washer and Dryer that yes, they are giving mouthy me one to test drive for free. I will be reporting to you what really happens (weights, measures, etc.) and how the Frigidaire washer and dryer work including all the time-saving features.
What's more, Frigidaire is soooo confident in their new line of time-saving appliances that they are offering a guarantee! So you see, they are giving you something too!

Want the chance to win your own Frigidaire Affinity Washer and Dryer?

Take the Frigidaire Daily Dare to find a little more Me-Time everyday.
These are fun and you can see others are already enjoying more me time! (At least enough Me-Time to hit the Frigidaire site, log in and hit take the dare!) Each time you take a dare (once a day) you'll be entered to win your own Affinity Washer and Dryer.

Other Frigidaire Posts:
I'm a Frigidaire Test Drive mom!

Up Next:
The Motherload Survey and how they came up with that guarantee
Enter to win and Entire Suite of Frigidaire time-saving appliances!
Who else is on the Mom Test Drive team?

Janine

Sponsored by:

Here's the BIG NEWS...I'm a Frigidaire Test Drive Mom!

I have been sitting on this little secret for a few weeks now and am SO excited to start talking and blogging about it!

What does 'Frigidaire Test Drive Mom' really mean?

Well, thanks to Mom Central I was given the opportunity to submit an entry explaining why I should be chosen to test drive appliances in the new Frigidaire line. Test Drive means I get NEW and I get to KEEP (squee!) in return for the time I put into documenting my REAL experience using these appliances.

The new Frigidaire line has incredible time-saving features for your kitchen and laundry room. So what am I getting?

The new Red Frigidaire^® Affinity Laundry collection!

I know, I KNOW! I just peed a little too I'm so excited! Hubs is not thrilled with the red and all that but he'll get used to it because, um it's freakin awesome!! Plus, the basement is his. He has his wall of TVs, I get my RED, super cool washer and dryer. These are going to really spice up my boring laundry room and will hopefully help detract from the litter box filled with cat poop too!

How I'm going to share my Frigidaire experience with you?

Apparently the new Affinity Laundry collection includes the Fits-More™ Dryer that will allow me to dry the whole family’s clothes at once. You can bet I will be testing out, weighing, and measuring the laundry piles and taking video and photos so you can see first-hand.

Plus, the Affinity Laundry collection has TimeWise™ technology to make the dryer and washing cycle equal. Finally a real breakthrough for laundry machines! The most annoying part of doing laundry is having a second load of wash that's ready to be dried while the dryer isn't done with the first...or second, or third load.

Bottom line, I hope to be on the good side of the Frigidaire Motherload Index so I can get a little More Me Time which I will explain in my next post!


UP NEXT:

• What the Frigidaire Motherload Survey revealed
• The Frigidaire “More Me-Time” Guarantee
• Enter to win an entire suite of NEW Frigidaire appliances!

Who are the other Frigidaire Test Drive Moms?

I don't know, yet. But I do know you can find out and follow along on this journey with us in 2 ways.
1) go to search.twitter.com and use #FrigidaireTeam
2) join the Frigidaire Facebook fan page!

I can't believe I'm going to sign off with this but...

Looking forward to doing laundry,
Janine

Sponsored by:

This. Is. Cool. KaBOOM! mapping 100,000 play spaces in 100 days

Imagine you are on vacation at your inlaws and just really need to find a great playground for your 2 and 4 year olds...nothing too big, shade preferred.

You go to KaBOOM! 's playspace finder and BOOM! There's the perfect park not 5 miles from where you are.

But KaBOOM! needs your help.

KaBOOM! wants to map 100,000 playspaces in just 100 days. I'm helping the Mom Central team add play spaces because for every space we add, $1 will be donated to Jumpstart, a non-profit that brings at-risk preschool children and caring adults together to improve literacy.

What is considered a playspace for KaBOOM?

a playground
field
skate park
roller hockey rink
lake
dog park
community center
basketball court
ice rink

or any place where kids can engage in unstructured play for free or a nominal fee.

A playspace listing on KaBOOM! consists of an address or cross street and a description, one photo and one rating.

Join KaBoom! (registration takes 1 min.) then join the Mom Central team. Be sure to log your playspaces. Look up the ones you frequent on the internet and when you are there take a quick picture with your phone - you can upload it to twitpic! Then be sure to add a rating and any other information you think parents might want to know.

Boom! You just earned a dollar for Jumpstart.

But hurry - as of today there are just 68 days to go!

I thank you, Mom Central thanks you, and all the kids and parents looking for places to play thank you.
Janine

Haagen-Dazs Five ice cream is cool. Dry ice is too!

It's no secret that some of the perks of being a blogger is getting free product. But sometimes you get a little something extra too.

Last week I received 4 containers of the new Haagen-Dazs Five ice cream from Mom Central to taste and then review. But this freebie came with an BIG extra bonus...a cooler FULL of dry ice!

Ice cream on dry ice is COOL!

The 'coolness' quotient is then doubled by the fact that the package came with a warning.

How exciting...I had to use special gear for this one.

And then the dry ice experiment.

I looked up a few experiments online but only one I was brave enough to try was this:
1. Use safety gear (do NOT touch dry-ice or it will burn you) and put materials in your kitchen sink.

2. Take a piece of dry ice and place it into a cup of water...watch it smoke.

3.Then add dish soap and watch...it was like a volcano of bubbles!

No pictures as I was busy making sure no one knocked over the ice and caused major damage to themselves. But it was fun, and made me feel like I was back in that chemistry lab in high school fiddling with all kinds of things that could explode. Cool.

For the full review head on over to Twofer Thumbs Up (including video of the Twofer tasting exotic flavors like passion fruit and ginger!) AND for a chance to win 3 FREE containers of HDFive ice cream for yourself!

Janine

Ringling Brothers Circus is "Over the Top"

Wow.
Wait, WOW!

That's how we felt leaving the Over the Top show of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus last week.

First, we were invited by Mom Central and Feld Entertainment to join them for a meet & greet with performers before the circus.

The girls loved meeting some of the circus stars....

The Twoer with Pepe & Royo

and I loved meeting some of my blogging stars (now friends)!

Jill (Musingsfromme), Jodi (Jodifur), Me, Erin (CouponCravings)

Blog Idol Jessica (APISS), Me, and L (who was more hungry than impressed)

Then we headed over to the floor of the circus for the All Access Pre-Show event which I highly recommend. It does not cost extra AND you get up close and personal with some of the performers (Mr. swears the stilt walker nearly tripped over him but I'm thinking it's all part of the act), their costumes, and the crowd please...getting to see on of the elephants paint.

Stilt guy had a bone to pick with Mr.

The Main Event itself was incredible! From the motorcycle cage to the lions to the Bounce guys...we left feeling completely WoW'd and wanting more!

Bounce guys...waaaay cool

Did you miss the DC show?
Don't worry, tickets are still available for the Baltimore and Fairfax, VA shows!

Baltimore: 1st Mariner Arena –> March 25th – April 5th
Wednesday March 25th at 7:30 pm
Thursday March 26th at 7:30 pm
Friday March 27th at 10:30 am and 7:30 pm
Saturday March 28th at 11:30 am, 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday March 29th at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm
Wednesday April 1st at 7:30 pm
Thursday April 2nd at 10:30 am and 7:30 pm
Friday April 3rd at 7:30 pm
Saturday April 4th at 11:30 am, 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday April 5th at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm

Fairfax: Patriot Center -> April 8th – 19th
Wednesday April 8th at 7:00 pm
Thursday April 9th at 7:00 pm Friday April 10th at 1:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Saturday April 11th at 11:30 am, 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday April 12th at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm
Thursday April 16th at 7:00 pm
Friday April 17th at 10:30 am and 7:00 pm
Saturday April 18th at 11:30 am, 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday April 19th at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm

Use DISCOUNT code: MOM when ordering on www.ticketmaster.com to get 4 tickets for just $44!

Bonus:
Pepe and Royo turned the camera on us and snapped a really cute photo of our family!


Janine

Spring is coming and that means...scraped knees for twins

This past weekend we had a taste of Spring. The twins were so happy to toss their heavy winter coats to the side, climb a tree, ride their bikes, and then come running inside because one had scraped her knee and the other had cut her finger.

This time, thanks to Mom Central and Johnson's, I was prepared! I had just received my samples of Neosporin + Pain Relief ointment and cream and was excited to try it out. I grew up with Neosporin so of course it is what I stock in my own house. But this Neosporin + Pain Relief is different because it helped stop the crying while it helped to prevent infection.


Did you know that even minor cuts and scrapes can become contaminated with dirt and germs, which may cause infection? Did you know that Neosporin is suitable for ages 2 and up?

After I received these samples I looked through my medicine cabinet and noticed a few expired tubes. Those have been tossed but I encourage you to check your own!

Then pick up tubes of Neosporin + Pain Relief ointment, cream (great for minor burns) and the Neo to Go spray (perfect for trips to the playground) so that you are well stocked for the spring and summer months.

Replacing our boo-boo buddy,
Janine

I Don't Want to Miss a Concert with Brooke White!

As parents of young kids it's a no-brainer that I get them flu shots. But what about parents of teens? Last year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded its flu recommendations to include teenagers.

The "I Don't Want to Miss" campaign is a national contest that puts teens in the spotlight to talk about flu education and prevention.

The challenge?
Teenagers are invited to create a 45-60 second video PSA on cold and flu education and prevention and how it can help make sure they don't miss out on fun events like prom. Videos have to be uploaded to SchoolTube.com (subcategory under PE & Health) by Mar 11, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. EST

The Grand Prize
One first place winner will have singer/songwriter and former American Idol finalist, Brooke White, perform an acoustic concert at their school!

Visit http://www.idontwanttomiss.com for information for parents, teens, and teachers. Then let your teen borrow your video camera, and I bet they'll let you see Brooke White if they win! But hurry, video have to be up my March 11th!

I wish they had contests like this for moms but probably my video would be about how I don't want to miss out on dinner with my friends, or a good night's sleep. I guess this contest is better left to the teenagers.

Janine
This post sponsored by

Seeing a certain Mouse for just $44

The D Word. I think you all know what I'm talking about. It's the word we have been whispering around here because the minute it is said aloud we are barraged with questions.

I am, of course, talking about Disney. And I mean that in a good way.

My girls are aching to see, visit, and participate in ANYTHING Disney.
The minute they hear the word Disney they start asking, "Who's going to Disney? Are we going to Disney? When can we meet Mickey and Minnie, Mommy?"

This is why I am so happy to find out that Feld Entertainment (along with Mom Central) has the same promotion for Disney on Ice as they are offering for the Ringling Bros. Circus! That means that our family can see Disney on Ice this year for the first time ever and for just $44. Finally the girls can see Mickey and Minnie and we don't have to fly to Florida...yet.

And you can too.
Just go to www.ticketmaster.com and use the code "MOM" when you purchase a minimum of 4 tickets.
Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Gold Circle Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers. Other restrictions may apply.

If you want to upgrade to Front Row or VIP seats, a select number of these seats have been reserved before they go on sale to the public. Use code "MOM" when purchasing those seats.

Dates and cities where families can use the national "MOM" code are as follows: Houston
Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey
April 15-April 19

Dallas/Ft Worth
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey
March 18-March 29

Sunrise/Miami
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
March 26-April 5

Toronto
Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy
March 18-March 22

Kansas City
Disney On Ice presents Mickey & Minnie's Magical Journey
April 1-April 5

Denver
Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure
March 12-March 15

Phoenix
Disney On Ice presents a Disneyland® Adventure
April 9-April 12

Chicago/Rosemont
Disney On Ice celebrates 100 Years of Magic
Sept 8-Sept 13

To learn more about Disney On Ice shows touring the country this year, visit http://disney.go.com/disneyonice.

Picking out my Mouse ears,
Janine

Johnson's is 50 Years of No More Tears

I can still remember visiting my grandma and having to take a bath at her house. At the age of eight I was way beyond the baby stage, but there was something about that yellow bottle of Johnson's Shampoo that made me smile when she would pull it out from under the sink. I knew I could be a little kid and play in the bath instead of being rushed through a shower.

At my shower for the Twofer I remember I received a baby bathtub filled with goodies including a number of bottles of Johnson's baby wash, shampoo, and lotion. For me Johnson's IS that baby smell, you know, the one you get when you rub their little head under your chin?

Here are some pics of the Twofer in those chubby baby days getting a bath...

M on left L on right, cheeks on both!

Um....excuse me for a minute.

OK, better.

Rarely do I get the urge for another baby but those pictures get me sometimes!

Where was I? Oh, so to celebrate their 50th Anniversary Johnson's has a few new products and thanks to Mom Central we were able to try them out.

I'm not sure I would have bought them otherwise because my twins are now almost six. And yet I found the JOHNSON'S® HEAD-TO-TOE® Foaming Wash great for my girls.

They are at that age where they can shower themselves but the soap keeps slipping out of their hands. The foaming wash comes in a pump which is perfect for them!

The JOHNSON'S® Baby Bubble Bath & Wash comes in a blue bottle and while it's not as great at getting the tangles out, it does give them that baby smell.

Johnson's has a great channel on YouTube where you can watch and submit videos, get special offers, and more.

What's your favorite bath photo? Post a link if you have one online! I'd love to check it out.

Janine

Seeing the Circus on a Budget

We have been working really hard this year to reduce our expenses, and increase our income wherever possible. One area we have done well is entertainment like eating out, going to the movies, and seeing shows.

Which is why I was thrilled to learn from Mom Central of a very special code* to use so to get 4 tickets to The Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus for just $44.00!

I know!
I am freaking out too!
When are we going??!!?!

The Circus is just one of those annual shows we like to see with the girls. Last year my mom said she had not been to the circus since she was little and so we brought her too. Every year the show changes a little bit. Every year we enjoy it more and more. At $11 a person, I know we can swing it this year!

Below is the Very Special Code and 2 ways to use it.

The very special code: MOM

1) Use it to purchase 4 tickets for $44

• Go to www.ticketmaster.com
• Purchase a minimum of 4 tickets
• Enter the code MOM
• You pay on $44!

Fine print: Offer good on all performances, minimum purchase of 4 tickets required; additional tickets above 4 can be purchased at $11 each. Offer not valid on Circus Celebrity Seating, Front Row and VIP seating or combinable with other offers. Other Restrictions May Apply.

2) Want Front Row or VIP?

A select amount of Front Row and VIP seats have been reserved for people with the special code "MOM"! Just enter the code "MOM" when purchasing those seats.


Don't forget about ***Baby's First Circus***

OK, so I might have mentioned this last year but I have a few more readers now and some who have had babies or are going to have them soon. If you are one of them, listen up! If you have a baby under 12 months old and you live in the continental US....
Go to www.Ringling.com and sign up for Baby's First Circus to get

• A free ticket voucher that can be exchanged for a free ticket to any Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey performance, anytime, anywhere. No expiration date!
• A very special personalized baby certificate, printable online!

Dates and cities where families can use the national MOM discount code this spring are as follows:

Newark/East Rutherford/Uniondale/NYC
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
March 5 - April 13
Offer not valid on performances from April 10 - 13 at Madison Square Garden

Washington D.C./ Fairfax, VA/ Baltimore, MD
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
March 18-April 19

Philadelphia
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
May 13-May 25

Phoenix
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
June 24-June 28

Houston
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
July 15-July 26

Anaheim/LA/Ontario
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
July 8-August 2

San Francisco
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
August 12-August 23

Dallas/Ft Worth
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
July 29-August 16

Sacramento
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM
August 27-August 30

Kansas City
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® proudly presents Over The Top
September 16-September 20

I can smell the cotton candy from here!
Janine

Plant a seed, grow a field of dreams **UPDATE**

**update**

Vote for the Plant a Seed Super Bowl commercial!



Click HERE to vote and look for the image with the green grass and fence.

.....Original post......
I am so proud to be chosen to help Mom Central and Kelloggs spread the word about the Frosted Flakes Plant a Seed campaign that helps communities maintain their playing fields.

Kelloggs Frosted Flakes realizes that important things happen to kids on playing fields. Kids gain self-esteem, make new friends, learn about teamwork, and stay healthy. Through the program, people can nominate a field, show support for fields around the country, and start their own "seed packs".

Visit the Frosted Flakes Plant a Seed site now and get a preview of tonight's Super Bowl commercial before it airs!

And check out Robin's success story too. It will inspire you to nominate a field in your area that needs some work.

And now I'm off to inspect the fields in my town,
Janine

The last time I went to Park City

Image via Hifispin on Flickr

The last time I went to Park City, Utah....
1. I did not have kids.
2. I was out there for a business conference.
3. It was one of those annual company-wide conferences where everyone drinks too much at night, and then has to get up for a day of sessions that start at 8:00am.
4. It was summer.

I had a friend who was living in Park City at the time and she gave me 1/2 day tour to show me what the Land of Sundance was all about. I was amazed at the number of restaurants and shops packed in to that Main Street. We took a tram up the mountain and hiked around. I was surprised that there were so many cool things to do in the summer, I could just imagine how fun it would be in the winter.

Fast forward to today and Mom Central gives me the opportunity to explore Park City Mountain with a different set of eyes. I just spent an hour on the website and I'm itching to get back there...this time, with my family and my skis.

This place looks like the perfect family vacation with tons of fun for all different ages. Of course there is skiiing with over 3,000 acres of trails that vary from beginner to crazy (I mean expert). The Kids Signature 5 program means there will never be more than 5 kids in each ski and snowboard class.

Adult lessons and clinics are great for newbies and experienced skiiers because there's always room for improvement or to learn something new (like snowboarding or telemark).

Off the mountain choose from lift-served tubing at Gorgoza Park, the incredible Alpine Coaster, plus snowmobiling, and horse-drawn sleigh rides. Of course, that doesn't even begin to cover the quaint (but hopping) historic Main Street that is easy to disover by taking one of two ski runs or the lift service that drops you off in the middle of it all.

Definitely check out the Park City Mountain site and the interactive vacation planner, as well as the Adventure Blog where local moms give you the inside scoop on getting the most of your family vacation.

Then enter to win a 3-night, 4-day family vacation (includes 2 adults and 2 kids) to Park City. Be sure enter before January 30th to be eligible!

Have you 'rediscovered' a vacation place with your kids? Was it better the second time around as a family or did it make you miss the 'old days'?

Janine
this post sponsored by

Play games with your kids and lose weight?

All over Twitter I read about people playing video games like Wii Fit, My Fitness Coach or Dance, Dance Revolution for exercise. It's hard to ignore the groups popping up like this Wii Fit Moms Group. It's also hard to ignore the fact that a lot of these people are getting in shape while they are playing games with their family.


Now GameStop is giving those of us who haven't joined this craze the chance to find the games that that are right for us and our families. While games like Brain Age or Crosswords DS give your brain a workout, the new fitness games really do give you a workout. GameStop stores are now offering a "Sharpen the Mind, Shape the Body" initiative so you can stop by a local store and demo a range of titles that match your interests and skill level.

As a special incentive, all GameStop shoppers who spend $35 or more on designated products will receive a free 12-month trial subscription to their choice of Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Redbook, Good Housekeeping or Esquire.

Plus, the freezing temperatures make the idea of working out in the comfort of my own, cozy living room very appealing.

Janine
this post sponsored by

A natural calorie-free sweetener? My coffee just got better for me!

I just received my sample of Truvia sweetener and I'm in LOVE.
I've gone through the pink stuff, the blue stuff, and thought I'd found bliss with the yellow stuff until I realized what was in it. Eventually I went back to old-fashioned raw sugar.

Now enter Truvia - the green stuff.
Truvia is made with rebiana, the best part of the stevia leaf. The stevia plant, a member of the chrysanthemum family, has been used for hundreds of years as a sweetener for food and beverages.
Truvia is made by taking the leaves of the stevia plant, drying them and steeping them like tea to extract the sweetest part.

Video



Things to know about Truvia

• great for people with diabetes
• kosher certified
• 1 packet = 2 tespoons of sugar
• I'm giving it a Twofer Thumbs Up

The taste?
I loved it in my coffee - not too sweet, and no aftertaste.
I put a little straight on my tongue and while there's a little 'cold' sensation (almost like mint), the granular texture felt like real sugar and I still didn't experience an aftertaste.
Go here to see how people in the Truvia Greenhouse thought about the taste. Or read what others are saying on the community boards.

While my sample came compliments of Truvia and Mom Central, I did look up where to buy and found lots of local grocery stores listed under my locations.

I'm excited to bake with it and serve it to my family, knowing that it's natural and not filled with chemicals.

Have you tried Truvia yet? If so, leave me a comment with your thoughts & tastes.

And now back to my coffee,
Janine

Holidays are the time to be thankful, merry, and Fire Smart

Now I'm not sure if this counts as a neuroses because fire is a legitimate concern.
What makes me neurotic is that I've been known to go through periods where I lose sleep over it. I have weeks where I unplug the toaster, the coffee maker, and anything else I can get my hands on before leaving the house.

After talking with some friends it seems I'm not alone.
I remember in school, a hundred years ago, I had to go home and make a fire plan with my family. But for some reason I was a lot smarter as a kid because I haven't a clue how to do that now.

Good thing Liberty Mutual has created a Be Fire Smart website (www.BeFireSmart.com) with all kinds of cool games, check lists, and fun stuff for kids to remind everyone about fire safety.

I just played the "How fast can you spot trouble game" (look in the right column) and I didn't spot everything. I didn't know you shouldn't leave clothes on a dryer!

I also played the "Dress a fireman" game which is terrific because it explains what each piece of equipment does and reminds kids that if they ever see someone in a suit like that, it's not a monster, just a fireman inside.

I'm going to print out 2 copies of the fire fighter coloring book for the girls to work on as we drive to my mom's this week.

Then I'm going to print out the Hazards Checklist and the Fire Escape Plan and work on that during the 6-hour drive. As with everything, I'm a control freak and having a plan will simply make me feel a whole lot better.

Here's my own quick quiz for you.
Which of these is TRUE?
a) Never leave heavy objects on the bed when an electric blanket is in use
b) You should vacuum your smoke alarms every six months.
c) Exhaust vents covered with snow can cause a fire
d) Don't leave your dryer running while you are not in the house

I'm going to pass along the BeFireSmart.com website to family, friends, teachers, and everyone else I care about, including you dear reader.

Leave me a comment if you decide to do your own plan, or if you blog about this post to your own readers. I'd love to see what others are doing.

Happy planning...
and the ANSWER: all of the above.

Janine
Thank you to Mom Central and Liberty Mutual for making me
Fire Smart!

The best Sunday snack

As I've posted before, we have a wall of TVs that exist solely for football Sundays. The TVs bring much more than football into our house...they draw guests.

And with guests, comes food - or really the need for food.
Thanks to Mom Central I recently discovered Ultimate Party Meatballs!



Just 3 ingredients plus 20 minutes, and I have a filling little snack.

Here's all you need:
1. 2lb bag of frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs
2. 16 ounce can Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce
3. 12 ounce bottle Heinz Chili Sauce

Put the cranberry sauce and chili sauce in a large pan on med-low heat and stir until smooth (about 5 mi.)
Add the meatballs, cover and cook for 15 min. (stirring occasionally) or until meatballs are heated through.

That's it! They taste tangy yet sweet. The Twofer LOVED them and took the leftovers to school the next day in a thermos for lunch! My husband LOVED them and ate more later that night. I LOVED them because not only did they taste great - they were quick and easy to make! (Plus, anything that is accepted as lunch the next day get extra points in my book.)

And now for the obligatory football reference joke... The Ultimate Party Meatballs scored a touchdown and were a real crowd-pleaser!

I will definitely stock these ingredients for future Sundays.
Visit UltimatePartyMeatballs for more recipes, entertaining tips, and the chance to win a $3000 Ultimate Party*! *sweepstakes ends. Jan 31, 2009

Then if you win, invite me to the party :). Or maybe I'll offer to host it in my basement and my wall of TVs.

Now back to the game,
Janine
Thanks again to Mom Central for the opportunity to review this item!