Ziploc Making Lunch Time Easier: Review and Giveaway

Every day it is a mad scramble to get my girls out the door, organized, and fully packed for school. Part of our daily routine is making sure that lunch is packed qd ready to go. Lucky for me the girl's school cafeteria has microwaves for them to use. I can't tell you how much easier this makes my life. This morning the girls were loaded up with leftovers of last night's pork and rice casserole, salad, and fruit. The perfect transport for each of these items? Ziploc of course.

So what did I pack this nutritious healthy lunch in? First the casserole and the salad were placed in the Ziploc® Fresh Shield® Twist 'n Loc® Containers. They are made to lock in freshness, and the lids twist on and have a leak-resistant seal—-so you don't have to worry about spills or leaks. Perfect for leftovers that need to be nuked. For snacks and sandwiches I turn to the ever useful sandwich bags. Regan's was full of Craisins this morning her newest favorite snack.

Want to test out Ziploc for yourself to see how well their products work in your household? I am thrilled that Ziploc is allowing me to run a giveaway along with my review for one box of Ziploc sandwich bags and one group of storage conatsiners like those reviewed. This is open To US residents only, and will close October 12, 2009 midnight CST.

1. First Mandatory Entry: Tell me a great use for Ziploc Fresh Shield® Twist 'n Loc® containers.
2. 2nd entry: Become a Google Follower of my site.
3. Become a Twitter Follower of my site.
4. Stumble this Post using Stumbleupon
5. Tweet this post, and leave me a copy of the tweet in the comment.

This post was written as part of a program for Family Review Network and SC Johnson, who provided the item for review."

Baby Einstein World Animal Adventure Review

Of course anytime I can post gratuitous pictures of my super cute niece I will, but I promise this time it has purpose. My girls (Regan and Rebecca that is) were wondering why shows like baby einstein were of any use to babies at all. I explained to my children who are now way to old to remember when these shows were important to their child development, that this was an interactive way for babies to learn about the world aorund them. Particularly for their cousin Claire to learn more about animals in the new Baby Einstein DVD World Animal Adventure.

The girls and I watched the video and were entranced with the animals from all the continents, the mixture of music from all corners of the globe played upon native instruments, and the way that culture and nature were introduced at a level that  their baby cousin would love. It has gotten the seal of approval from my girls, and we can't wait until we get to see Claire to give it to her.

I recomend this to children from the ages of 1-4 yrs. Any child who loves animals and music will lose themselves in the real life videos and of course the fun puppet show which was my personal favorite. I can't wait to garner favorite aunt status with this video for my niece.

A special thank you to Mom Central and baby einstein World Animal Adventure for providing the video to review.

Substitite Teaching Giggles

Today will be my third day in a row to substitute teach at my girls' school. Honestly the money is nice, but I really miss my blog and I feel like I am neglecting my work. I am running on "E" as I gear up for another day subbing. I know now why I was never cut out to actually teach school....just volunteer and sub from time to time. I could really use some R&R (maybe check in at destin fl hotels for a few days). Still I thought you would enjoy some of the things said to me over the last few days.

Geography Class:
student: What are cardinal directions?
me: That means the four main directions on a map North South East West
student: so nothing to do with birds at all? (while quickly erasing whatever he wrote)

Journal writing:
student: Can You buy lions at a pet shop?
me: No, that is considered an exotic wildlife and really just for zoos and wildlife preserves.
student: my grandma makes preserves all the time not with animals though.

Math:
me: 4th graders! I know your hot from P.E. but if you will sit still for a moment it will get cooler in here.
student: (mumbling to himself) still not as hot as Rebecca

ewww, were just talking about my daughter you little perv!!!!!

Smuckers Uncrustables: Review

I'll be the first to admit, I had tried Smuckers Uncrustables several years ago, and personally did not care for them at all. As a 37 year old woman it was not up my alley. But the girls!!!!! Regan  especially, is an Uncrustable fiend.

It actually makes a great after-school snack for me to keep at the gym. Monday-Wednesday we head straight from school to the gymnastics gym so that Regan, Rebecca, and I can be  there for classes and work. Needless to say they are so hungry right after school and they both need enough energy and protein to make it through sometimes several hours of gymnastics and cheerleading.

This is where Smuckers Uncrustables (especially the new wheat bread variety) is the ideal after school snack. It is chock full of protein, fiber, and gives enough energy to last both the girls through the afternoon. Their favorite flavor is PB & Honey on Wheat variety, and they just pull them out of the freezer at the gym and defrost it for a few minutes. Then they have their tasty snack that lasts them though dinner.

Even if your not the biggest fan of them yourself  (like me) it is a  wonderful option for lunch or snack that is now a healthier choice in the wheat bread varieties, and your kids might just be fans like mine. A special Thank You to MOM Central  who provided the product for review.

The Scenic Route Sometimes Sucks!

All last night and well into the morning we have had torrential downpours. Honestly, they are welcome and badly needed in South Texas do to our continuing drought conditions. To hear all that rain and have the thunder and lightening put on a show is music to my ears. Well, that is until I learned of the flash flooding that had come with it.

You see last night Rebecca had spent the night with one of her best friends in a neighboring town. A town that is fifteen minutes from me....and normally no big deal.

Today it was a big freaking deal!

Today I spent well over an hour trying to get to the next town over, but kept getting stopped my water flowing over the road. Because we live in a rural commuity most of the highway department hadn't even gotten to all the farm to market roads that needed closing signs up.

So I left the house on route A....and seven miles out had to turn around. I took an alternate route to get to one highway (route B).... and ten miles down I had to turn around because the road is closed. Then went a back farm to market road "Route C" that leads to another highway to neighboring town and nearly ten miles down I had to turn around again (although I did brave my minivan through one very low water crossing that was as slick as a skateboard ramps). It is a good thing I really now the area because then I remembered a county road or "route D" that also detours to the highway and finally managed to make it.

Wouldn't you know it then my gas light comes on and I get a call from Rebecca wondering where the heck I am, because she was expecting me. I am so lucky that that section of highway had no water problems, and I was able to slip into a gas station at the edge of town, and then gather my child up.

On the way home we drove about 15 miles out of the way to go the dryest and safest route home.

Right now it is raining again....the girls are hoping it goes through the night and school is closed tomorrow.

Review: ConFEETi Socks by Zooni

Here is my mathematical equation:

Take one super cute niece names Claire

Add a pair of Zooni's new ConFEETi  Panda Monium socks






And of course you get the chicest cutie around!
Zooni has the cutest new socks they added to their already popular children's accessoires line.  The new socks are called ConFEETi and come in such cute characters as Chunkee Monkee, Sock Hop, Teddy B, Tabby Toes, and Puppy Love.  Each pair has a uniqe 3-D animal that seems to jump off the sock as a truly talked about look. These socks are sold as individual pairs or in boy/girl gift sets, which come in an interactive circus-themed box.

A special thank you to Parent Reviewers for the opportunity.

Texan's Pride, we are "All That".....right?

A while back I was watching a reality TV show where a young man was doing his one on one interview with the camera and was talking about meeting these girls at a bar in Mexico. The gist of the conversation was he could barely tolerate them because they were obnoxious Texas girls, and never would he be caught dead with a Texas girl.

It of course got me to thinking....Why? Aren't we Wonderful? Aren't all Texans "Da Bomb"? It's because we live in the greatest state. I was raised to think this and honestly always have. But, I realized that maybe this propaganda that had been drilled into my head was possibly annoying to other residents of other not so fabulous locations.

Now I am beyond curious. Doesn't every state instill this kind of pride in it's residents? I have seen the I "Heart" NY t-shirts. I have traveled extensively in the United States, and just assumed everyone else made a big deal over their place as well. But, beyond New York I couldn't think of another state that I have seen the propaganda and products out their to support that passion.

Do other states spend an entire year devoted to their state history? Here in Texas 7th grade history is only about our state and how it came to be. Does Ford Motor Company target each state with commercials and slogans like we have "Ford, is the best in Texas"? Other companies often target our state pride in their commercials, and our flag is featured everywhere....almost more often than the United States Flag. When you take a tour of the state capital in Austin they are proud to tell you about us being our own country before we went to Statehood. That our Capital is actually taller that the one in Washington DC. That our state flag is the only one that can fly at the same level as a US flag, all other states must fly below.

See what I mean about the Propaganda. It is no wonder that when I listen to talk radio out of San Antonio in the mornings that it never fails to surprise me when they are unhappy with what is going on in Washington DC, you always have callers who recommend succession (yes they really do).

Please satisfy my curiosity and let me know is our pride in the way, or is every state just like that?