Uniforms: good, bad or just ugly?

The word uniform has different meanings for different people. While one person might have negative memories of a lack of individuality in school, another person might be proud of the firefighter, police officer, soldier or, dare I say, mail carrier that they know and what displaying that uniform represents.

What pops into your mind when you think of uniforms?

But when it comes to actual uniforms, it seems that they can usually be classified into good, bad or just ugly. The four that I mentioned above? Good. They're practical, effective and not all that hard on the eyes.

As for the other end of the spectrum, just about anyone that has ever worked in any sort of restaurant most likely can tell you about the bad uniform that they had to wear at some point. Take me, for example. When I was in college, I took a job as a waitress at a chain family restaurant to help pay the bills and ended up spending four long years squarely in the ugly uniform category (although not nearly as ugly as some fast food uniforms, as seen as right).

Picture black polyester pants that were long enough to drag on the ground accompanied by a thick, non-fitted button up bright blue shirt. Top it off with a mangy apron and I was set to feed the masses. Even better, after I had worked there for a certain amount of time, I was allowed the option of swapping out my much-too-warm unflattering shirt for an embroidered polo instead.

Sounds like a good idea, right? That's because you're thinking of a normal polo shirt, not an in-your-face red, wide-enough-to-share-with-a-friend, just-try-to-tuck-this-amount-of-extra-fabric-in polo shirt. Adding that to the pants that now were ripped and torn along the bottom and I was clearly not making my way out of the ugly category anytime soon.

On the contrary to the ugly outfits that I had to wear, one uniform that I wouldn't mind putting on every day would be nursing scrubs. From the various colors and prints to some of the new, flattering silhouettes to the plain comfort of how they fit, I don't see why I would ever want to change my clothes.

Not ever having worked in a profession where scrubs were necessary, I never really realized the wide selection of styles available. Who knew that there were designer nursing scrubs? Brands like Katherine Heigl, Izzy Scrubs and Peaches Uniforms ensure that the wearer will not only be comfortable, but fashionable as well.

Keeping in mind the various uniforms that I have worn over the years, I would consider myself lucky to have worn scrubs instead. With the way that they look professional while still being functional and chic, I think would consider scrubs in the category of good uniforms. What do you think?

So, do you wear a uniform? Did you in the past? Was it good, bad or just ugly?

(Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/3)

Yoreganics Laundry Products {Review & Giveaway} Revisit Simple

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

There are quite a few modern conveniences that I'm not sure I could live without. Indoor plumbing, for example. And electricity. Cars, microwaves, cell phones - where would I be without them? I can barely even remember the days before the internet... and I'm pretty sure I don't want to.

But with all of the advancements our society has made in the past years, are there places where we've gone too far? There are now chemicals in parts of our food and our clothing and our lives that can potentially be harmful to our health as well as the environment. Maybe things were better in some aspects back when they were a little simpler.

However, let's be honest. It's one thing to plant a garden or buy organic food, but it's quite another to think that I'm going to wash my family's laundry in a river with a rock, right? Instead, the company that knows how to keep ourselves, our homes and our clothes fresh and clean while ditching the toxins is none other than one that is based on life being simple and cleaning being natural: Yoreganics.

It's not often that a website of cleaning products can list that their items are USDA certified organic or biodegradable or non-toxic, but that's exactly what Yoreganics does. Whether you're looking to make small or large changes in your lifestyle, there is something for everyone - and even sample sizes so that you can try them out for yourself before committing to a larger purchase. That just goes to show how confident they are that you will love their products as soon as you have used them!

Around here, just like any household with kids, we do a lot of laundry. As I'm always on the lookout for products to make things easier in that department, I was pretty interested in the three that Yoreganics includes in their Laundry Trio. First up, were their natural and organic Soap Nuts.

Not actually a nut, Soap Nuts are dried fruit that fall from the soapberry trees found in Northern India and Nepal. As they get wet and agitated in water, the saponin (a natural cleanser) is released and your clothes are left clean, soft and free of odors without any detergents or fabric softeners. Whether you are washing cloth diapers or delicate fabrics, have allergies, sensitive skin or just want a natural way to safely clean your clothes, Soap Nuts are gentle enough to do it all.

Extremely easy to use, I simply placed the Soap Nuts into their included reusable bag, tied it closed and tossed it in the washing machine along with our dirty clothes. The only hard part was remembering to pull the little bag out when moving the clothes to the dryer!

The results? The Soap Nuts themselves had a slight vinegar smell to them but every article of clothing was completely fresh and clean, no dirt or even a hint of odor. Plus, since the Soap Nuts naturally don't produce a large amount of suds (that's usually an added chemical in our detergent), they were great in my high efficiency washing machine. After a few more washes (they average 4 - 6 loads), they will be 100% biodegradable as well. Good for my family, good for the earth.

Also, for the dirt and stains that really plague our clothes, Yoreganics included the other two items in their Laundry Trio: Stain Remover and Brightens & Whitens.

Using the Stain Remover couldn't have been easier - spray the citrus-scented liquid as soon as possible right on the ink, dirt, grass, chocolate, diaper leaks, spaghetti sauce or many more and let it sit. After a gentle scrub, wash as usual. I loved having this available for the many, many times that Little Sister B dropped her food in her lap or Big Sister E skidded across the grass. No more stains!

To either go along with the Stain Remover or great to use on its own, I thought the Brightens & Whitens was a great alternative to traditional bleach. I tried this product both in a load of laundry (and found it did a great job brightening up some items that had been a little dingy) and as a soak prior to washing. In fact, I put it to the test on an item that really needed to be brightened up: Big Sister E's precious bear, aptly named Bear. Here he is before:

I'm not sure the pictures do justice as to just how mangy Bear truly looked. Or smelled.

After dissolving some of the Brightens & Whitens powder in hot water, I used a cloth to give Bear a good rubdown, in hopes of getting off some of the set-in... love that he has endured. He doesn't usually get this type of pampered treatment, since I don't want him to end up with a layer of bleach or chemicals tangled in his fur. Instead, after a brief time with Brightens & Whitens, he looked like this:

Brighter, whiter, more vibrant and with a much better scent. Yay!

In all, I was really impressed with Yoreganics and how well their laundry products worked. Even better, I was also able to try their USDA certified organic Simplement Lip Balm (I'm a lip balm-aholic) and not only did it smell and taste great, it left my lips tingling and hydrated for much longer than others that I own.

When I saw that all of the ingredients were natural, recognizable and actually listed on the balm itself (after looking at others and finding no ingredients, I'm wondering what I've been rubbing on my lips all these years), the Simplement Lip Balm is a clear winner.

There's no better time than now to see what Yoreganics can do for you! It doesn't matter if you are a veteran of using organic and non-toxic products or if you're just starting out. You'll be making the healthy choice for you, your family and the environment - what more could you ask for? Thanks to the generosity of Yoreganics, one person will get to try all four of the products that I did and experience the naturalness of the days of yore, because...

One lucky person will win a Yoreganics Laundry Trio & Lip Balm Sampler!

To enter to win: Visit Yoreganics and tell me another of their products (not mentioned above) that you would like to try.

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 Yoreganics on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave this message on their wall: I just entered to win a Yoreganics Laundry Trio & Lip Balm at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/91rMWA
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!

WIN a natural @Yoreganics Laundry Trio (soap nuts, stain remover, whitener) & lip balm! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/91rMWA #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan 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 Yoreganics. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on July 22nd 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 residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

A big thank you to Yoreganics for providing a Trio & Balm Deal 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.

SmartShield Sunscreen {Review & Giveaway & Coupon Code} All Natural Eco-Friendly Sunscreen

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

The first official day of summer around here was actually pretty rainy. And then so was the next day. And the next. Meaning we spent quite a bit of time inside, watching the raindrops roll down the windows.

But lately, the weather forecast has been looking much more like this:

And with beautiful weeks ahead of us (and lots of rain hopefully behind us), that only means our time spent outdoors enjoying the sunshine will increase tremendously. My girls love to play outside, whether going for a walk, hanging out at the park or just coloring with chalk on the driveway.

One of the first things we do to prepare for heading out to enjoy the fresh air and warm weather? Apply sunscreen, of course. For me, I want a lotion that absorbs easily, feels light on my skin and can be worn all day without being greasy. So, for serious sun protection that is good for me and the environment, I turn to SmartShield.

I was introduced to SmartShield in March through a review of their Self Tanner with SPF 15. As well as enjoying the ability to have a nice, natural glow while protecting my skin, I was really impressed to learn about SmartShield as a whole and their entire line of safe, eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-approved sunscreens.

Unlike oil-based sunscreens that can clog pores, sting your eyes and leave you feeling slimy, the formula for SmartShield SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion is fast-absorbing and contains aloe vera and vitamin A, C and E to keep your skin protected, soft and smooth for hours. Combine that with the fact that this sunscreen features UVA and UVB protection and is waterproof and rubs on clean and evenly and I have no problem using it to keep myself safe from the sun's rays.

With a wide variety of products to make your times outdoors more enjoyable, SmartShield has a suncare product to fit any lifestyle. For people who prefer spray sunscreens instead of lotions, the sunscreen I tried also comes as a SPF 30 Sunscreen Spray for a quick, fast-drying application.

Or, for all-around protection, I love the idea of the SPF 30 Spray with Insect Repellent to combine everything you need to stay protected from both the sun and the bugs. The convenience of having both products combined into one handy spray just makes sense!

On top of being innovative, SmartShield's products are also eco-friendly, something that is not necessarily true of most sunscreens that I've seen before. Approved for use in natural marine habitats, their sunscreen is bio-degradable and won't contaminate the water. Simply apply and continue fishing, swimming, snorkeling or diving without transferring any oily residue - how great!

This summer, protect yourself, your family and the environment with any one of SmartShield's all natural sunscreens. To enjoy a discount while doing it, enter Sun2 to receive $2.00 off any online order from SmartShield's website. Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will be prepared to have fun in the sun the eco-friendly way, because...

One lucky person will win a 4.5 oz bottle of SmartShield SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion!

To enter to win: Visit SmartShield and tell me another of their products (not mentioned above) that you would like to try.

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 SmartShield on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook. 1 more Extra Entry if you leave this message on their wall: I want to stay safe and protected from the sun with SmartShield by winning a bottle at Thanks, Mail Carrier! http://bit.ly/cBI3TR
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!

WIN SmartShield sunscreen for serious sun protection! Stay safe with @smartshield! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/cBI3TR #win #giveaway

2 Extra Entries (per follow method) if you follow me publicly with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email or become a fan 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 SmartShield. Please leave an address where it can be found.


Giveaway will end on July 22nd 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 SmartShield for providing a bottle of SPF 30 Sunscreen Lotion 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.

Oompa Toys: Setting high standards for quality

{To read my earlier posts on how much we love Oompa Toys, please click here, here or here}

On our recent trip to visit the Oompa Toys Retail Store, something became much more apparent to me than it had before. Of course I had always noticed the incredible selection of high quality, natural toys and gear offered by Oompa (they are, after all, one of the leading online specialty toy retailers), but what I hadn't truly appreciated before were the... high standards behind them.

Oompa Toys strongly believes that "baby toys should be natural, safe, eco-friendly, non-violent and from manufacturers who provide safe and nurturing environments for their employees." Forget cartoon characters and flashing lights and loud noises, for an item to be chosen by Oompa, it has to meet and surpass the high expectations that they hold for themselves and their brands.

Do you ever wonder where your child's toys actually came from? I'll admit that in the past, I really didn't. As long as my kids were having fun, what did it matter? But with all of the information out there about child labor and inhumane working conditions, it really does make a difference to think about about the environment that each toy was made in.

I love that Oompa Toys not only cares that their products are well-made, but that any and all of them come from somewhere that is safe for their employees. And they don't just take a company's word for it, Oompa conducts tours and interviews to make sure. I feel like their caring makes it much easier to decide what website (or store, since I'm lucky to live nearby) to shop from for the next toy we might need for ourselves or as a gift.

But that's not all. Browsing around Oompa, I noticed many of their toys were from companies that take things a step further and can be classified as fair trade (a movement in developing countries to obtain better trading conditions and promote sustainability). In fact, if you search for fair trade on Oompa's website, you'll find pages of results. And quite a few of those toys are the ones that my kids gravitated to looking at and playing with:

Big Sister E is shown here first hugging the Knitted City Food Assortment from Yellow Label Kids and then, later on, attempting to eat their Knitted Donut Assortment.

Finally, there are the items themselves. Everything found at Oompa is "No batteries. No blinking lights. No cartoon-themed toys. Period." There have been times when I'm unsure if my kids realize toys that aren't plastic are indeed toys. So how great would it be to fill their lives with products that are natural and wonderful? Toys crafted out of wood or handmade or maybe even organic. Ones that are non-toxic and eco-friendly and in general work towards making the world a better place, one child at a time.

As usual, everywhere I look when I visit Oompa Toys, I'm more and more impressed by the selection and the commitment to what they stand for. My kids definitely are too.

Just a few of our favorites: the Surfin' Kids Easel by Ecotots, My Professional Tool Set from Educo, Walker Wagon from Haba, really fun Rocking Donkey (in store only) and adorable organic Foundlings animals.

With an ever-expanding collection of high quality toys and gear for children of all ages, Oompa Toys is the place to shop online or in-store and know that you will always be 100% satisfied. Not only will your purchase be entertaining and fun, but you can rest assured that it will be safe for your child and have come from a quality brand. What more can you ask for?

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 by all means, if you're ever in town, DEFINITELY visit the Oompa Retail Store. Just be warned that it's hard to leave!

(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.)

Patriotic My Pillow Pets {Giveaway}

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

A few months ago Big Sister E and Little Sister B were introduced to a new friend, one who has provided a great deal of entertainment, laughs and general merriment around our house: Puffy Duck. Both girls were more than eager to participate in a Pillow Pets review, because let's be honest, who wouldn't love a plush, comfortable, lovable pal to play with?

Available in over 25 different animals, including jungle animals, farm critters and sea creatures, My Pillow Pets has now introduced a new friend just in time for the 4th of July. Perfect for celebrating patriotism and America while still including the great features of My Pillow Pets that children love, it's time to meet Patriotic Pup.

Made of ultra-soft chenille, My Pillow Pets have an innovative strap across the bottom that allows them to be folded and closed to transform back and forth between being a plush stuffed animal and a snuggly pillow. Whether cuddled with at home during playtime or naptime or used as a traveling companion in the car or airplane, My Pillow Pets are a fun, machine washable friend for all ages.

Featuring America's red, white and blue, Patriotic Pup does more than just show off our stars and stripes (although I think the stars on the underside are really cute). To really honor those that are serving or have served our country, for every purchase of one of these special, limited edition My Pillow Pets, $5.00 of the cost will be donated to Scholarships for Military Children - a great organization that provides scholarships for the children of military personnel.

Supporting our country and troops while providing your child or grandchild with a cuddly buddy to sleep and play with? What a great July 4th combination! Unfortunately this giveaway won't end until after Independence Day, but that doesn't mean that you can't order a patriotic My Pillow Pets friend today. There are only 3,000 of the limited edition Patriotic Pup available (for $24.95 plus $6.95 shipping & handling), so head over to their website to reserve one before they're gone!

However, I know that one child will be happy to celebrate America all year long with their own lovable red, white and blue pal, because...

One lucky person will win a Patriotic Pup from My Pillow Pets! ARV $24.95!

To enter to win: My Pillow Pets would like to know the name of a family member or friend who serves/served in the military that you are honoring this 4th of July OR what the 4th of July means to you and the freedoms and independence that we enjoy.

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 which of the original My Pillow Pets is your favorite.
1 Extra Entry if you become a fan of My Pillow Pets on Facebook.
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!

WIN an adorable Patriotic My Pillow Pet to celebrate America's red, white and blue! @thxmailcarrier http://bit.ly/cBxG5D #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 become a fan 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 My Pillow Pets Gives. Please leave an address where it can be found.

Giveaway will end on July 22nd 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 My Pillow Pets for providing a Patriotic Pup for one lucky giveaway winner. I have not yet received mine to review, however, I will be posting my thoughts on it once it arrives. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Fashion Playtes {Review} Where girls are fashion designers

Growing up, I didn't realize how much of an advantage it was to have a mom who could sew. Halloween costumes? Whichever ones we wanted. Leotards for my short-lived gymnastics career? In whatever patterns I chose. Distinct and incredible prom dress? Oh man, I was so stylish. Thanks, Mom!

So when I was introduced to a website where girls are able to be their own fashion designers and choose every aspect of their shirt, pants, dress, skirt, jacket and much more... I knew that this was a way that I could provide Big Sister E with an opportunity to enjoy personalizing her clothing almost like I when I was young. It may not be Mom-made, but Fashion Playtes still provides a truly unique experience.
Sitting down at the computer with Big Sister E, she was immediately drawn to the images of the stylish tweens on the screen. Even though she was a little on the young side, together we were able to have a great time selecting each option to make her apparel completely her own.

There are so many Fashion Playtes garments to choose from! "Do you want a t-shirt? How about a tank top? Look at these cute dresses!" I told Big Sister E. Each item has a different base price (with accessories like belts and headbands at $5 and going up to a denim jacket at $25) and I considered them all quite reasonable.

As I scrolled through the options, Big Sister E's face lit up when we arrived on The Hannah Hoodie (starting at $20). This slightly oversized signature look is definitely one that my daughter is a fan of and I agreed that it was a good choice. For anytime that it is a little cooler this summer or for all fall and winter, hoodies are a go-to item in her closet.

If I thought that there were a large number of clothing options, I wasn't prepared for all of the one-of-a-kind additions that were available to customize them. There were solid color options like Plum and Geranium and patterned choices like Pink Paisley and Sky Flowers and, my personal favorite, Dip Dye options that start lighter at the top and darken as you reach the bottom.

Strongly choosing Blue Moon for her hoodie, Big Sister E and I moved on to the many, many additions that can be added for each girl's own personal style. Big Sister E is a huge fan of pockets, so we added one to the front (for $4) and moved on to the nine other possibilities.

I really liked the way that Fashion Playtes showed us exactly where items like the ruffles or rosettes would be placed and how we just clicked, dragged and dropped them onto the hoodie to see how they would look. It was easy to remove any that we didn't like or replace one with the next if it turned out that we liked an appliqué more than the rhinestones. Which, it turned out, Big Sister E did. As soon as she saw the Little Brown Monkey appliqué (for $2.50), she was sold.

Not being overly girly, Big Sister E didn't opt for any of the other add-ons, but it was really fun to see them all and I'm sure that slightly older girls would have a great time selecting just the right one for their look. There is even an option to personalize a tag to show off their creativity as fashion designers!

Instead, we decided that what is a shirt without pants? The Phaedra Flared Capri Leggings (with matching monkey appliqué, of course) completed Big Sister E's time being a designer and finished her ensemble.

A few weeks later, Big Sister E's package arrived. Wrapped in cute flower paper, she wasn't sure what was inside but she was pretty excited to open it up and see. And as she pulled each garment out and I reminded her of designing her "blue monkey clothes" she couldn't stop grinning.

As seen in her modeling picture above, Big Sister E is quite proud of her fashion skills. Both her shirt and pants are a nice cotton and spandex blend that feel soft and comfortable on her skin. It turned out that the Blue Moon shades ended up being slightly different (the pants are lighter than the hoodie) but it isn't hugely noticeable... and the cuteness does overshadow that.

Because Fashion Playtes is recommended for ages 5 - 12 (sizes run from 6 - 14), Big Sister E's are slightly large on her, which just means that these will last through even more seasons of wear. And when she does finally outgrow them, she'll be able to head back and create an entirely new outfit tailored just for her. What a great idea for a special occasion (a custom birthday party outfit, perhaps?) or in gift certificate form for a present that is sure to please.

Keep up with Fashion Playtes news and information by subscribing to their newsletter, reading their blog and becoming a Facebook fan. The young girl in your life will thank you!

(I was provided with a gift certificate from Fashion Playtes to facilitate my review, however I was not enticed to do this review in any way. This review is solely my opinion of this website and its fun fashion possibilities)

Uncle Ben's Whole Grain Brown Rice {Review}

Last month my family had the opportunity to review Uncle Ben's Whole Grain White Rice and, as I knew would happen, we all really enjoyed it. Whole grains with the same great taste of white rice that we were used to? Well, of course we liked it!

So when I was presented with the opportunity to sample a few of Uncle Ben's selections of brown rice, I thought it was a wonderful way to bring in its numerous health benefits to our table as well. Plus, along with their traditional brown rice, I was interested to see that Uncle Ben's now has options that cook in less time (I never plan meals far enough ahead to factor in 30 - 40 minutes for rice).

Enter in Uncle Ben's Natural Whole Grain Brown Rice, Fast & Natural Instant Brown Rice and Boil-In-Bag Whole Grain Brown Rice.

With one cup of brown rice meeting 100% of our daily grain requirement, supporting a healthy heart and providing large amounts of iron and fiber, it is a great item to serve (whether as part of the main meal or as a side dish). And now that Uncle Ben's has made it possible to decide which type of brown rice works best for your family, it's easy to include it much more often.

Around here, we love our stir fry. So, in a great way to test out how well Uncle Ben's brown rice compares to their white rice, I made a similar meal as I did last month. With both the Fast & Natural Instant Brown Rice and the Boil-In-Bag Whole Grain Brown Rice, I loved being able to toss the rice in the water and know that in 10 minutes (the length of time it took me to prepare the rest of the meal) it would be ready to eat. Can't beat convenience!

When my family sat down at the table, my husband's first comment was on how fluffy the rice was. After taking a few bites, his next comment was on the "restaurant quality" of the dish as a whole and, whether or not he was just trying to flatter me, I agreed. Uncle Ben's brown rice was a perfect accompaniment and its light texture and delicious taste made the everyone happy to dig right in:

Not necessarily happy to have their pictures taken while eating, though.

Uncle Ben's also offers a wide variety of recipes to suit your family's tastes, not to mention to showcase the versatility of using rice in your meals. Just in time for summer, they've even included some new ones utilizing their Whole Grain Brown Rice (that could be followed as-is or adapted for individual preferences), such as Chicken & Brown Rice Sloppy Joes, Chicken, Apple and Walnut Brown Rice Salad or Mediterranean Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms.

For a convenient, well-balanced meal that is low in fat but still delicious enough that your whole family can enjoy it, Uncle Ben's Whole Grain Brown Rice varieties are a great addition to your kitchen. They're sure staying in ours! And why not take advantage of a discount when buying them? Head over to Uncle Ben's and print off a coupon to save a little money on any of their great selection of rice products today.

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.

Friendly Friday: June 25th

Welcome to Friendly Friday!

Remember, YOU can host the link list on your blog, too! Just click "Get the code here..." at the bottom of the list. Hosting the list is a great way to get even more traffic to your blog and make Friendly Friday more beneficial for everyone.

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! Please DO NOT list your giveaways here, links must be to either your homepage or your Friday posting. All others will be deleted.

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)...

Do you have Blogmania? Ally at The Mommy Diaries does! She's hosting an event in September called Blogmania, filled with lots of giveaways. Ally is the mom to an adorable little girl that she shares photos of from time to time. She also posts product reviews and giveaways on a regular basis. If you visit her blog, you'll see that it looks like a desk any one of us might sit at - nice and cozy!

Danelle at Mom Outnumbered is the mom to three boys and is the only female in her house - she's definitely outnumbered! Her blog is a fun look into her always-eventful life - from getting glasses, to hiking, to cooking together, to finding fun things to do as a family. Her posts are always filled with vibrant photos and are fun to read.

Krysta at Learning Coupons is a 22-year-old college student with a love of coupons. After all, who appreciates the need for saving money better than a college student? She has learned to use coupons and sales to get food for free - something I'd love to get better at. Krysta shares her grocery store bargain finds with us and also provides helpful links to resources for samples and coupons.

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! And don't forget, you can grab the code to share the link list on your blog, too.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin {Review}

With June quickly coming to an end already, when I look back at this month there aren't too many exciting things that happened around our house. Big Sister E started summer "camp" and loves it, as I knew she would. Little Sister B went in for her 18-month checkup... which made me wonder how in the world 18 months have passed since she was born.

And, also high up there on the list of fun events, our house got a smell makeover thanks to Mom Central. Being notified that I was able to be a part of their Diaper Pail Test Team meant that the system we had been using went directly out into the garage, taking all of its annoyances and odors with it.

Instead, we rotated back and forth between the Playtex Diaper Genie II Elite and the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin to check out the features and highlights of each one. Sounds easy enough, right? From reading my Diaper Genie II Elite review, you know that I was pretty happy with many of the changes that Playtex made from their older diaper pails to get to their current one, so from the first time I opened the box, Munchkin already had a fairly tough act to follow.

However, I immediately had to give the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail an extra point due to the fact that I pulled it out of the box fully assembled. Not that the Diaper Genie II Elite took more than a few minutes to put together, but it was great to not even have to deal with that. Right under the lid I found the baking soda cartridge waiting to be slid into place and then we were ready to go.

I found that opening the lid to Munchkin's diaper pail could be done one-handed, simply by pushing down on the easy lever and lifting up the lid. To use the pail, push the diaper down through the seal into the bag and close the top. When that occurs, two things happen to make sure the odors of dirty diapers aren't wafting through your home.

First, this diaper pail is equipped with a self-sealing system, meaning that every time the lid is closed, the bag twists shut, keeping any smells tightly inside. Second, just to make sure that any lingering scents don't escape, the Arm & Hammer baking soda dispenser sprinkles a dusting down every time to absorb any odors whether the diaper pail is being used or not. After approximately 90 days, simply refill the cartridge with more baking soda and it will keep on doing its job.

Not having to hold my breath every time I opened Munchkin's diaper pail was easily another point in their column. Whether during use or just sitting in Little Sister B's room, it really did completely eliminate the dirty diaper unpleasantness, which is something that the Diaper Genie II Elite couldn't fully claim.

Also, for their third point, when it came time to change the bag in the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail, I don't think that Munchkin could have made it any easier than their Snap, Seal and Toss design.

Due to the convenient door on the front of this diaper pail, all that is required to empty it is to snap the bag shut, pull it down through the seal and remove the whole thing out the front. No hassle, no cutting, no tying or trying to determine how to get the next portion of the bag started... just pop in a new refill bag (it comes with three) and you're done.

Unfortunately, the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail also loses a point due to its innovative front door based on its flimsy quality. Even though it has a locking mechanism, just by putting your fingers in the opening, you (or an older child) are able to pull the door right open. I don't know about you, but giving my toddler access to dirty diapers is just not all that great of an idea. In my opinion, the inadequate locking of the door is a major flaw in the design that wouldn't be all that difficult for Munchkin to fix with a little ingenuity and higher quality materials.

So in the end, which diaper pail reigns supreme?

Around our house, the votes are split. I prefer the Diaper Genie II Elite due to its higher quality, taller height, foot pedal and that it can be fully used incredibly quickly with only one hand (remember, you can see more about its great features in my review). However, I do admit that it doesn't contain the odors as well when it is open and changing the bag requires slightly more work.

As for my husband, according to his own words, "I'm all about odor prevention." The Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin provides almost complete odor-elimination before, during and after using it. The Snap, Seal and Toss bags that twist close with each use not only keep the smells away but make disposal a breeze. However, I'm not a fan of the lower quality of the diaper pail as a whole, the door that opens too easily and having to squish the diaper in through the seal (especially when the diaper is full. Eww).

As more innovations come along, I'm sure both Playtex and Munchkin will make improvements to their diaper pails and hopefully in the future one will exist that combines the best features from both of these. Until then, thanks so much to Mom Central for giving us all the opportunity to breath a little deeper around here and actually like what we smell!

I am a member of the Mom Central community and I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central, sponsored by Diaper Genie, and received a free Diaper Genie diaper pail and a free Munchkin Arm & Hammer diaper pail to facilitate my review.