Oompa Toys: HABA award-winning toys

{To read my earlier posts on Oompa Toys, please click here and here}

I've mentioned it before, but I'll say it again: we're so lucky to live only minutes away from the one and only Oompa Retail Store. The building itself is modern with clean lines and the surrounding shops and restaurants are also inviting and open.

But one glimpse in the windows of Oompa and you're immediately drawn inside. The combination of the bright colors, natural light and friendly atmosphere makes you feel like you could browse, shop and play for hours. It's big enough that their selection is wonderful but not so huge that you feel like you're in a warehouse and need to stop and rest after viewing aisles of generic toys.

Plus, every Oompa employee that I've ever encountered is warm and genuine and seems to know if you want help or just to peruse on your own (I hate stores with staff that are pushy). Even if you regularly visit just so that your kids can have fun touching and trying out everything (ahem), you'll never feel unwelcome. Sounds like a pretty great place, doesn't it?

On our most recent visit to the Oompa Retail Store, after taking in all of the new changes and displays, Big Sister E and Little Sister B headed straight for one of their favorite sections, the "grocery store" of beautiful and natural HABA toy foods.

If you've never seen HABA toys, you're missing out. A family-owned German company, the attention to detail and high quality is evident in every item they produce. Instead of the vast array of cheap plastic that is on the market, HABA is dedicated to creating educational and enriching products that will entertain and last a lifetime.

HABA's play food is no exception to their standards of constructing toys that are well-made and fun. Using smooth wood or soft fabric, they take children beyond just toy apples and bread (although they have those, too). How often does your child play with a realistic cucumber? Or pretend crepes or grilled chicken or wiener schnitzel with french fries? Not regularly, right? Even my husband had to admit that being able to attach and detach the legs on the chicken was pretty cool.

Not enough to just "buy" the food when playing with it, Big Sister E was only too happy to spend some time in the HABA Mini Shop as well. This little wooden market has everything that a child needs to enjoy imagining in their own little store. The accompanying produce, money, shopping bags... it even has a barcode scanner that squeaks! It doesn't get much cuter.

The great connection between HABA and Oompa Toys is easily seen throughout the rest of the store (and on their website) as well. There are HABA baby toys galore that would make perfect shower gifts, HABA jewelry that Big Sister E very carefully and thoroughly examined, beautiful HABA rugs that would brighten up any child's room or playroom, and HABA games for all ages and abilities. Everywhere I looked there was something else to culture young minds while providing entertainment and amazement.

(Click on this picture to see its full size. This is just a taste of the great HABA displays that fill the Oompa Retail Store)

Before we left, Big Sister E and Little Sister B had to make sure to spend some time with one of HABA's crowd-pleasing toys, the Ball Track Roll 'N Roll 'N Roll. Every time we have been in the Oompa Retail Store when children are around, this toy draws attention. For ages 18 months and up, they love to watch the colorful balls wind their way down and listen to the varying noises that they make along the way. For independent or group play, this truly is a lot of fun for everyone.

Whether we're visiting the store, browsing online or enjoying our purchases, our experiences with Oompa have always left my family smiling and happy. And, without fail, as we were walking out after this visit, Big Sister E turned to me and asked, "We go there again, Mommy?" I took her hand and nodded. Of course we'll be back.

Be sure to sign up for the Oompa Toys newsletter, connect with them on Twitter and Facebook and check out their blog for more information. And while you're reading their blog, don't miss their post with a great video tutorial on how to purchase from or create a wishlist on Oompa's website. I think the hardest part of making your own or shopping off of someone else's wishlist would be deciding which amazing Oompa product is your favorite!

(This post is part of a series highlighting Oompa Toys. In exchange, they are helping sponsor me to attend the BlogHer '10 conference in August. However, that partnership has not influenced my opinion of Oompa in any way - I was a complete and utter fan long before that.)

Friendly Friday: May 28th

Welcome to Friendly Friday!

Thanks for joining the Friendly Friday celebration hosted by Xenia at Thanks, Mail Carrier, Christi at Frugal Novice and Charla at Healthy Home Blog! We invite you to join us every Friday to make more friends in blogville, get more blog followers and follow other great blogs out there.

To join in the Friendly Friday celebration, include your link in our list, follow the hostesses in the first 3 spots and then start blog hopping! Visit other blogs on the list and comment to give them some blog love. Then take a minute to follow them through Google Friend Connect - this is a good way to keep up with other blogs, but also lets us show support to each other!

When people comment on your blog and let you know they're a part of Friendly Friday, return the favor and follow them back. This way everyone gets traffic and followers out of participating, and it's a win-win situation. We would love for you to also grab our Friendly Friday button and post it on your blog and/or in a post - the more bloggers that find out about Friendly Friday and participate, the better!

Spotlight on Friendly Friday Followers!

We love your participation and want to show it! In addition to gaining followers, each week we'll select three blogs at random and will feature links and a write-up for those blogs in the content of next week's Friendly Friday post. There are so many seriously wonderful blogs out there, and this will be a great way to highlight some of those each week. Say hello to the lucky chosen 3 for this week (and feel free to stop by and give them a little extra love)...

Who doesn't love to read about delicious food, find new recipes to try and drool over their pictures? At One Crazy Cookie, Tiffanee offers ideas for every meal, from appetizers to freezer meals to desserts, with a dose of money-saving tips thrown in and a menu plan every Monday for inspiration. You can't go wrong and you'll love her warm writing style! Now, please excuse me while I go back to yearning for those Cream Cheese Brownie Bites...

Niky at Design It Chic loves everything pretty and chic and fills her blog with an assortment of thoughts and questions, some of which are both humorous but still thought-provoking. I mean, what do you do when your socks rip? Each week Niky shares a little about herself in her answer and you'll have a great time getting to know her this way. Plus, she's right - no one wants neighbors who shovel at 5:45 am!

With the motto "One life = 1000 things left to try," Mayra at In Lovely Heels provides a place to find inspiration. Whether it be for your home, family, sweet tooth or life, she encourages readers to pursue their dreams and surround themselves with happiness. You'll find great ideas for home decor and fashion, as well as be able to follow Mayra's wonderful journey to discover her passion for baking. When do I get a Pink Crafty Room?

Now that you know about these 3 wonderful blogs, it's time for you to join in! Add your link below and we'll see you back here every Friday!

Special note: After last week's first Friendly Friday, we have decided to extend the hours to make it easier for more people to participate - and besides, who doesn't want a little extra time to be friendly? The linky will stay open until 1 pm EST/noon CST starting this week and, beginning next week, Friendly Friday will be posted at 11 pm EST/10 pm CST. See you then!

Winners!

Hard to know what to choose as your favorite item from all of the CSN Stores, wasn't it? There were so many great things that you all listed and I got a good laugh from a few of them when people were surprised that they couldn't come up with something that wasn't available. Whatever it is you're looking for, CSN has it! And the lucky person who will get to have a $60 shopping spree to pick out the perfect item of choice is...

Congratulations, Tylerpants!

Usually I'm not a huge fan of baby showers, but browsing over at Sophisticated Baby Gifts made me want to show up at one and knock everyone's socks off with an amazing gift! There are so many options that are all just so cute... the hardest part is deciding which one to choose. The lucky person that will have $40 to spend on something fun and adorable is...

Congratulations, amweeks!

I wish everyone could see the Ceramic Keepsake Prints from By Baby in person, it's really hard to pull your eyes away from them. For yourself or as a present, these end up being a work of art at the same time as capturing a memory of your children being so small. Definitely something to be cherished! The lucky person who will create their own Double Keepsake Print is...

Congratulations, cari!

Are you a big fan of yoga? Ever since our Aurorae Yoga Mat and Slip Free Accessories arrived, Big Sister E will randomly reach down for the ground or way up in the air and declare that, "I do yoga, Mama." Well of course you do, Honey. I think she really just likes how comfortable the Yoga Mat is, it's like a soft purple cushion for her to play and stretch on. The lucky person who will get to do a little more than just playing with these great Aurorae items is...

Congratulations, FDP 4 Life!

Just in time for Father's Day, how about a Digital Photo Keychain with Stand from WholesaleKeychain.com? It can even be engraved on the back to say I Love Daddy or My Favorite Grandpa or any number of other things... or just kept for yourself. Who would want to be caught without pictures of their kids if the opportunity arose to show them off? The lucky person who will have this to bring around or display on the stand is...

Congratulations, Emily Robison!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered these giveaways, have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Activeion ionator HOM {Review & Giveaway & Coupon Code} Clean and sanitize with just water!

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

Last December I reviewed a product that didn't only impress me, it absolutely amazed me. The innovative technology used by Activeion Cleaning Solutions to create machines that are able to clean and sanitize your home or business using water, just water, and eliminate the need for chemicals... why, here it is months later and I'm still shaking my head.

As a huge bonus to doing that review, not only did I get to learn about and use the incredible Activeion Pro, but when Activeion debuted their newest product, the ionator HOM, at Natural Products Expo West in March in Anaheim, CA they needed someone to come along to talk about it. A "real" person, if you will, to chat about how a product like this works and fits into everyday lives.

You really can't imagine how far down my jaw dropped when I heard they wanted that real person to be me.

I wouldn't even know where to start in describing how large and awe-inducing the Expo was, how fun it was to meet Bill Nye "The Science Guy," how incredibly warm and friendly everyone at Activeion was and how great it was to talk about and promote a product and company that I really believe in. It was an experience, to say the very least.

So, when Activeion contacted me recently and asked if I would like to actually review the ionator HOM, it was a no-brainer for me. Did I want to try a multi-surface cleaner that kills more than 99.9% of the most harmful bacteria and the H1N1 virus and can literally revolutionize the way that you clean your home? Absolutely.

To really understand how the ionator HOM works, you have to have had a few lessons in science (not one of my favorite subjects). But basically what happens when you press the trigger button is that the water traveling through the machine gets electrically charged so that it can attract and break down dirt. The water actually takes on the characteristics of a cleaner and sanitizer and makes it able to clean as well or better than general purpose and specialized chemical cleaners.

And does it work? Does it really work? There will always be skeptics, and that's okay, but the answer truly is YES. I can pick up the ionator HOM and move throughout my entire house with only this light-weight, easy-to-hold machine and any sort of rag, cloth or paper towel. Everything from countertops to glass to tile to plastic to carpet has been cleaned chemical-free here, thanks to Activeion.

Whatever it is that you want to clean, this machine will help you do it naturally in three easy steps. Step 1: Dirty surface. I really don't have to look all that far to find one, particularly in our kitchen. The stovetop constantly looks grimy and do I really want to clean it with something toxic when I'm going to be making my family's food on it?

Step 2: Spray. In less than 1 minute after having taken the ionator HOM out of the box, I had it filled with tap water and aimed at the stove. I love the green light that glows through the tank to let you know that it is working when you squeeze the button.
Step 3: Clean. Wipe the dirt away just like you would with any cleaner except without any worries of what is being left lingering behind that could potentially harm your family. You have a full 30 - 45 seconds to wipe away the activated water that has come out of the ionator HOM before it will turn back into... well, regular water.

When I'm using the ionator HOM, I don't miss the chemical smells or the filmy texture left behind from what I used to use to clean. Instead, I know that everything has been sanitized safely and whether my daughters pick up toys, run their hands on the table or eat a piece of food off of the high chair, I've kept that surface (and the environment) a little cleaner by using Activeion's products. You'll be hard-pressed to find any other cleaning products anywhere in the world that don't have chemical-related health warning labels!

If you have children, you need this (they can even help clean with it, it's never too early)! If you have pets, you need this. If you just care about doing something good for the earth while, in the long run, saving yourself money from having to ever buy another cleaning product again, you need this. Activeion has even generously offered a discount for your purchase: Through June 30, enter the coupon/promo code mailcarrier2 at checkout and receive $20 off of the retail price of the ionator HOM. With their 30-day money-back guarantee, you've got nothing to lose!

The results really do speak for themselves when using the ionator HOM. One person will even have the opportunity to ditch the chemicals and make their home and the environment a little cleaner with Activeion, because...

One lucky person will win an ionator HOM from Activeion! ARV $179.99!

To enter to win: Visit Activeion and tell me something that you learned about their products or technology or why you would like to try the ionator HOM.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry (per method) if you follow Activeion on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook and 1 more Extra Entry if you leave a message on their wall filling in the blank with how an ionator HOM would help you clean up your messes: An ionator HOM would help me ____________. I just entered to win one at Thanks, Mail Carrier! You can too: http://bit.ly/a62WuC
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

I want to WIN an Activeion ionator HOM ($180) @thxmailcarrier from @active_ion to sanitize w/ TAP WATER! http://bit.ly/a62WuC #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or Like me on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Activeion. Please leave an address where it can be found.


Giveaway will end on June 17th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A giant thank you to Activeion for everything, but most recently for providing an ionator HOM for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

So, there's this thing called Facebook. Maybe you've heard of it?

I wouldn't say that I'm a trendsetter, but I wouldn't say that I'm too out of touch with what's going on in the world, either. I mean, I know how to work my DVR, what has happened recently with Bret Michaels, how to waste time on Twitter and I can even tell you who just won American Idol.

But where have I been lacking? It's time for me to admit it. If you were wondering if there was a person left on earth who wasn't on Facebook, it was me. My own mother even joined and that wasn't enough to convince me. I figured until hours 25 and 26 were added to each day, it just wasn't going to happen. However, push came to shove and even though I held out as long as I could, the time came and now Thanks, Mail Carrier has a fan page.

I'm still completely clueless about it all and wouldn't have even gotten it set up had it not been for the absolute fabulousness of the wonderful and amazing Nicole, aka The Wannabe WAHM and Chic & Cheap Nursery. Considering I couldn't even figure out how to upload a picture, she completely came to my rescue and pulled the page together and hopefully she knows that I will be forever grateful (actually, this is just one on the list of many things that I am forever grateful to Nicole for. She's really just that awesome).

Up next? You! I need your instructions, tips, advice and all the knowledge that you can pass on... because right now I can barely leave a comment on my own wall. Tell me, experts, what do I need to know? And please don't leave me there looking so lonely! Thanks, Mail Carrier needs some Likes and since that is already extra entries into my giveaways, you might as well, right?

Next, who is going to come over and show me how to send a text on my cell phone? Because apparently that's something that you all know how to do as well? At the rate I'm going, my 3-year-old is going to be much more hip than I am in a few years.

Burn Cream MD {Review & Giveaway} Immediate pain relief for burns

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

In the apartment that my husband and I lived in prior to buying our house, I remember always being annoyed by having to clean underneath the burners on the stove. Why did everything we cooked have to drip down in there? So, when we came to tour this house, I was happy to see that the stove top was the kind that is completely smooth and flat, no separate pieces to deal with.

The downfall, however, is that once you remove a pot or pan from the stove, it is difficult to tell on the black top where it is still hot. And unfortunately, my husband has been taught this lesson more than once by laying his hand down on a still-toasty burner and feeling the pain of being burnt.

The last time it happened, it was pretty bad. We were slightly clueless as to what to do, so he ended up standing with his hand under cold water while I called the emergency number for our health clinic... and, since it wasn't that drastic of an emergency, it was at least an hour later before they called back.

In the future, the first thing I will reach for (while shaking my head that my husband doesn't ever learn), will be Burn Cream MD.

Created by Dr. Diane Madfes, a dermatologist who witnessed multiple burns occur in her family's restaurant, Burn Cream MD effectively treats burns and minimizes scars caused by burns. After being extensively tested in professional kitchens for two years, this product is now backed by well-known chefs such as Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse.

How does it work? By containing only the highest quality and most effective ingredients, Burn Cream MD provides multiple components when it is needed most, the first being immediate relief. The high percentage (the highest available without a prescription) of lidocaine quickly relieves the stinging, blocks the pain and disinfects the wound all at once. Whether using this product on adults or children, in my opinion being able to stop the hurting right away is the most important.

As well as lidocaine for relief, Burn Cream MD also contains natural ingredients such as aloe vera, chamomile and vitamin E to optimize and shorten the healing time after a burn. I have at least one permanent mark on my hands from bumping against the side or rack in the oven, so being able to use a product like this in the future for more scar prevention just makes sense.

With summer quickly approaching, cookouts and grilling are on the forefront of families' minds and the number of accidents that occur in those situations is unfortunately pretty high. As well as the pump bottle, retailing for $29.99, Burn Cream MD can also be purchased in packs of 10 travel sachets for $17.99 to keep with your barbecue, camping or outdoor equipment to always be prepared with this innovative, pain-numbing cream.

In fact, thanks to the generosity of Burn Cream MD, one person will be ready for any scorching moments, because...

One lucky person will win a box of Burn Cream MD to Go!

To enter to win: Visit Burn Cream MD and tell me something interesting you found or learned there.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you tell me a time that Burn Cream MD would have come in handy for you or a time you foresee needing this in the future.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Ouch, that's hot! I want to WIN Burn Cream MD to provide burn relief and heal faster @thxmailcarrier! http://bit.ly/dzt0cQ #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or Like me on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to Thanks, Mail Carrier and Burn Cream MD. Please leave an address where it can be found.


Giveaway will end on June 17th at 11:59pm CST. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

A big thank you to Healing Skin for providing samples of Burn Cream MD for me to review as well as a box of Burn Cream MD to Go for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

How do contact lenses work?

When I began wearing glasses when I was a kid, the world all of a sudden became much clearer. Without squinting, I could read the blackboard, see the television or read street signs with ease, which was great. However, even though you couldn't tell now, I was extremely athletic and involved with various sports all the way from my childhood through high school (and a little in college, until my laziness gene must have really kicked in).

Wearing glasses isn't really the most favorable option when you're upside down in gymnastics or in the air spiking a volleyball, so it was time to move on to the better solution: contact lenses.

But... they're just a thin, transparent, plastic disc that sits right on the cornea of your eye. So today I set out to answer my own question: How the heck do contact lenses work?

There is a whole lot of interesting information that I found online to answer my query and it all comes down to the way light enters into your eye. If you have normal vision (is there anyone left out there that doesn't need some sort of vision correction anymore?), light enters your cornea in the front of the eye and is directed right to the retina in the back of the eye. It then turns into images and heads to your brain so that you can understand them, simple as that.

But, if your eyeball is a slightly different shape, it causes the light to not be directed on the retina and then the resulting images are blurry. If you are nearsighted, like me, your eyeball is a little too long and the light is focused in front of the retina. I can see things clearly up close, but not far away. Therefore, contact lenses work by being thin in the center and spreading the light rays away, moving the focal point up to the retina.

If you are farsighted, then it is the opposite and your eyeball is too short. On its own, light is focused behind the retina and close-up vision is blurry. To help, these contact lenses are thinner at the edges so that the light will be moved toward the center and redirect the focal point backwards onto the retina.

Got all that? The other factor that I found I had to deal with was astigmatism (an irregularly-shaped cornea that causes light to focus at several points, distorting it) and it wasn't until a few years after I began wearing contact lenses that I discovered there were options out there to correct this.

Instead of wearing contacts that have their power correction the same all throughout, lenses for astigmatism (called toric lenses) have various different angles and thicknesses in them that work for each individual and the level of correction that they need. There are various brands available (I'm sure you've seen the commercials for Acuvue Oasys for Astigmatism contacts with the cute, peppy teenagers) and if you have never tried contact lenses due to your astigmatism, I highly recommend it. The world can be a beautiful place when it is in focus!

What do you think about contact lenses? Do you wear them? Are you still baffled (like me) that a tiny piece of plastic can make such a difference in your vision?

(I was compensated for writing this post by BuyMoreContacts.com but the rambling about how contact lenses work was my idea - aren't you lucky?)

Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice {Review}

When it came time to feed her solid foods, Big Sister E started out as a pretty good eater. Pretty much anything that we put on her tray made her happy, so we were able to give her a wide variety of healthy and nutritious foods without any problem.

Fast forward to our now-3.5-year-old who would probably live on plain noodles with cheese and peanut butter sandwiches day in and day out if we let her. There are times now and again when she will declare, "I'm going to try something NEW!" and take a nibble of the latest item on her plate. But, as it usually it is pretty difficult to even get her to look at different foods, I will always be on the lookout for ways to make what she currently likes a little more nourishing.

Enter Uncle Ben's and their new Whole Grain White Rice.

When Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice arrived, I was impressed that it not only cooked in 10 minutes but was such a good source of fiber and whole grains. But would it pass the Big Sister E test? It claimed to have the same taste and texture of regular white rice, which she loved, but I knew that if it wasn't the same, she wouldn't eat it.

Even though both girls will eat rice plain (Big Sister E likes a sprinkling of soy sauce on hers), I decided to make a tofu and vegetable stir fry to complete the meal. It worked out great that by following the easy directions on the Uncle Ben's box (boil water and the rice and then reduce the heat and simmer), the rice cooked while I prepared and made the stir fry.

When it was done, I put the two together, added a makeshift sweet-and-sour sauce that I made and was rewarded with this:

Yum! I was really excited not only about how my stir fry turned out, but on how well it was complimented by the rice. It didn't taste grainy or mushy and the flavor was just right on its own or with the meal. As for my picky eater and her little sister?

I left my tangy sauce off of their meals and watched as they devoured their bowls. "Is it good?" I asked Big Sister E, between bites. She nodded and continued alternating putting forkfuls of rice and vegetables into her mouth. Success! Both she and Little Sister B couldn't tell the difference between the white rice that we normally eat and Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice.

For a tasty and nutritious alternative to plain white rice, I was really happy with this product. Why not take a food that my girls enjoy and make it better for them? Look for Uncle Ben's rice at your local grocery store and make sure to take along a coupon to save some money while you're browsing their yummy varieties!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Uncle Ben's and received samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer {Review & Giveaway} Minimize Morning Madness $40 gift basket

{This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to those who entered!}

If you asked me five years ago the first thought that slowly made its way into my head when I woke up on a Saturday morning (after I realized it was indeed the weekend), it would have centered around wondering what in the world my husband and I were going to do to fill the day. We would most likely have slept in late, the only things on our agenda being possible grocery shopping, a stroll around Target or catching up on the week's TV shows.

Nowadays, before my eyes are even open there are at least a dozen things that have popped into my mind and are racing around. Instead of my once-relaxed mornings and leisurely afternoons, I can't seem to find enough hours in the day to barely take a shower... let alone clean it. Fortunately, Scrubbing Bubbles has found a way for all of us busy moms (and dads) out there to cut down on the time we spend cleaning the bathroom with their new Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer.

This innovative, one-touch continuous sprayer utilizes an advanced formula of active cleaners, meaning they stay on your bathroom surfaces and continue to clean for up to 4 days after the initial spray. Without leaving any visible residue, a protective barrier stays behind that inhibits the buildup of dirt and works to keep your sink, shower, counter, etc. clean without you having to lift a finger.

Any product that allows me to clean without having to actually clean was truly designed for me. I liked the way that the Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer provided good coverage along my shower door and across my sink, as well as the pleasant citrus scent (it's strong, so if you don't like citrus, be prepared). Plus, even though I never really had an issue with any previous pump sprays, the feeling of power when using the continuous sprayer was pretty cool as well, even if it did make a sort of odd motorized noise when using it.

Although slightly difficult to tell from the pictures, the before and after of my bathroom sink really does show a marked difference when all I did was spray, wipe and rinse.

The shower doors were an even bigger improvement, as before I could barely see through them due to the soap scum and after they were shining and clear. Knowing that the Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer was going to help keep them that way longer made the extremely short amount of time I spent cleaning them even more worth it.

Now that Scrubbing Bubbles has helped "Minimize Morning Madness" by reducing the amount of time I might spend cleaning, they wanted to help out in a few other aspects as well. Wasn't that thoughtful of them?


This great prize basket includes the Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Power Sprayer, Starbucks Via coffee with a really cute Reinvent mug made from recycled clay, travel alarm clock and AquaNotes, a waterproof notepad. This really is a fun collection to help with multiple aspects of a crazy, multitasking morning. I mean really, have you ever written down your agenda while still in the shower? Now you can with AquaNotes!

Thanks to the generosity of SC Johnson, one lucky person will also get to Minimize Morning Madness with this great gift basket! ARV $40!

To enter to win: Tell me what part of your morning routine is the most hectic for you and why.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

1 Extra Entry if you tell me one of the other Scrubbing Bubbles products that you would like to try.
1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.
1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Minimize Morning Madness w/ Scrubbing Bubbles prizes (Extend-A-Clean, clock, mug, etc) @thxmailcarrier! http://bit.ly/cJeyCN #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect (see sidebar), subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or Like me on Facebook.
3 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.
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Eden Home {Review} Where Organic Style Comes Naturally

If you asked the average person on the street to name something organic, my guess is that they would most likely give you a list of foods. Would you tell them what they're missing out on?

Unfortunately, there are many people still missing out on the wide world of organic items and haven't experienced the truly beautiful and natural options in clothing, home, cookware, toys and so much more. What they need to do is begin browsing the amazing selection over at Eden Home and they'll never want to go back.

With products ranging from organic baby products to natural cookware to organic bedding sets (and everything in between), Eden Home is on a mission to offer the purity of organic without losing its beauty. Their website offers a wonderful selection of organic, all natural and eco-friendly products for your home and life that won't cause you to compromise your sense of style.

When it came time to browse the baby and kids' sections of Eden Home, I almost didn't know where to begin. The organic baby clothes were sweet and cuddly... but my girls are too big for them. I loved many of the wooden toys... but how in the world would I choose between them? It was then that I saw the kids clothing from Kate Quinn Organics and knew that the Belted A Line Girls Jacket would be perfect for my daughters to each get to wear.


With summertime quickly approaching, I purposely ordered this jacket in a larger size so that Big Sister E will have grown into it by the time it gets cold again. But even though the sleeves are a little long and the shoulders are a tiny bit wide, this is still the most luxurious coat she has ever worn. The small details like the bubble sleeves, yoke detailing and generous hood are great additions to the super soft, very cozy 100% SKAL certified organic cotton.

The construction of this jacket is beautifully done, as the lining and each seam and snap are meticulously perfect. I love the Tidepool color that we chose (it is also available in Pom Red) with the light blue on the inside and how the calm shades go so well with the plush feeling of the fabric. I know this coat will last through multiple seasons with both of my daughters and still look beautiful each time they put it on.

Big Sister E is definitely already excited about her future with this Belted A Line Girls Jacket:


When it came time to choose something that my kids could enjoy year-round, I knew that due to the number of times that we pack food or snacks to bring with us places, we would get a lot of use out of the extremely versatile OOTS BPA Free Containers.


Eden Home has so many great BPA Free Products for Kids, but these containers are perfect for our needs. Food safe and kid-friendly, these OOTS BPA Free Containers are safe for both the dishwasher and the microwave and the larger size (2.5" x 6.75" x 3.5") can hold everything from sandwiches to fruit to crackers and more. When it is time to picnic, I simply fill them up and we're ready to go.


Eden Home also sells the colorful OOTS Deluxe BPA Free Lunch Box that is made to hold these containers, which would be a lot of fun for our future outings or school lunches. For now though, the containers have been easily transported with us and have kept our meals fresh and tasty throughout the day.

Whether you are shopping for yourself or as a gift, Eden Home has a wide range of organic products for the whole family. They also offer a Gift Registry for expectant parents who want to provide their baby the safest natural items from the very beginning. There is even a Baby Gift Registry Contest going on through June 30, 2010 with a grand prize of over $2,000 in prizes. If you're pregnant or know someone who is, head over there and sign up! Who wouldn't love to win a collection of incredible Eden Home prizes?

Keep up with news, information and deals from Eden Home by subscribing to their newsletter, liking them on Facebook and following on Twitter. Once you begin browsing, you'll be glad you did!

(Other than information and gift certificate that I was provided by Eden Home and FuelMyBlog, I was not provided with anything or enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this website and its wonderful products)