Reviews

Note: I received a Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid Mattress & box springs to facilitate my review. I was not compensated monetarily. All opinions in this post are honest and are my own.

We just moved to a new house a few weeks ago, after finally selling our house that had been on the market on and off for a year. Brian and I have moved several times since getting married about 10 years ago, but the last time we moved was over 5 years ago and J was just 6 months old, so it was much easier! With this move, we had many (MANY) interruptions with packing. We were so thankful that we had family and friends to help us watch the kids, pack, and move things.

Of course, even (especially) with day to day life it’s so crucial to have support of people who love you. It means a lot to us to know we have lots of family who care deeply about us and our kids, and who are there to lean on if we need it! And I learned a long time ago that we’ve also been blessed with a “family” of friends who are a support network too.

Now that we’re getting settled into our new house, we’re starting to slowly shape it into feeling like home. And already, one of my favorite places in the house to retreat to is our room. It’s still a mess of boxes, don’t get me wrong, but we have a cozy, comfy place to relax with our Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid mattress.

I’ve always been one to like a soft, cushy mattress to sink into when I sleep, so when we received our mattress I was hopeful it would live up to my standards… and it exceeded them. I love this mattress. The level of craftsmanship is evident even at first glance. It’s well-made and a beautiful product, too.

The memory foam on the top half is soft and forms around us as we sleep, and the springs below provide needed stability and strength. It’s a perfect blend of comfort and support.

We sleep SO well on this mattress, even when both of our boys climb up in bed with us. I don’t know if you’re like me, but it’s very rare that I get as much sleep as I truly need – the same is true for Brian. So it’s even more vital that the sleep we do get is good sleep… and we definitely get that with this mattress. And with the Sealy brand level of quality, I am confident this will be a mattress we’ll sleep on for years to come.

Here are a few facts about the Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid Mattress that give insight as to how Sealy has really gone all out with these mattresses:

• Half Foam/Half Springs Hybrid Construction*

The all-new Sealy Posturepedic® Hybrid combines our two best sleep technologies into one luxurious night’s sleep. The cooling comfort of gel memory foam on top. The deep support of titanium-alloy springs underneath.
*Available in select Hybrid Series models only.

• OptiCool™ Gel Memory Foam

OptiCool™ is the only memory foam on the market to be fused with Outlast™ which is more effective at removing excess heat than standard gel memory foam alone. Mattresses with OptiCool™ gel memory foam are designed to promote a temperature range that provides deep, relaxing sleep.

• SolidEdge™ HD System

The new SolidEdge™ HD System gives you a solid seating edge so you can use the full surface of the bed without rolling off the side of the bed. With an improved design to enhance side-to-side stability, it increases usable sleeping space. Now you can stretch to the edge for longer, uninterrupted sleep.

• CoreSupport Center™

Sealy Posturepedic® mattresses feature the exclusive CoreSupport Center™, which provides additional support where you need it most. The center third of the mattress (the area that holds the heaviest part of your body) is power-packed to maximize support and enhance durability for the life of the mattress.

• Apex™ HS Coil Design

The proprietary titanium alloy Apex™ HS Coil is designed to provide the just-right support we are famous for. The coils are individually encased to minimize motion transfer, so when you move, your partner doesn’t have to.

• ForeverFlex™ Fabric

The all-new Hybrid delivers with an all-new, lightweight, ForeverFlex™ fabric that is stunning in contemporary styling and has best-in-class stretch properties. The result is a more enveloped, body hugging feel that is second to none.

• StayTight™ Foundation

A rubberized foundation cover holds sheets in place and stops the mattress from shifting.

• Designed & Built in the USA

This combination of support and technology comes with every Sealy Posturepedic because every Sealy Posturepedic is designed and built in the USA, so you know you’re getting a quality product.

Note: I received a Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid Mattress & box springs to facilitate my review. I was not compensated monetarily. All opinions in this post are honest and are my own.

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

With three children, our dishwasher is pretty much always full, and is a vital component of our kitchen. I remember when Brian and I were newlyweds living in our first house with – GASP – no dishwasher! We were thrilled when we moved and finally had one, and now it’s a must-have for whatever home we’re in.

Of course, even with a dishwasher you can still end up with dishes that aren’t as clean as you’d like, if you’re not using the right detergent. We’ve used some in the past that have left a film on our dishes, which particularly shows up on our cobalt blue Fiesta Ware. Not the most appealing look, especially when we’re entertaining friends!

I was thrilled to learn about Cascade Platinum Pacs, which have a triple action “recipe” that will leave my dishes pretty much spot-free. The unique liquid-top dual surfactant system delivers exceptional shine for dishes AND helps keep your dishwasher sparkling – that’s a huge thing for me, too (no one wants a dingy dishwasher)! The Platinum Pacs also:

• Power away tough, 24 hour stuck-on food
• Eliminate the need to pre-wash dishes
• Help maintain the look of new machines and help prevent additional hard-water film build-up
• Deliver exceptional dishware shine

Just stick one in the detergent area of your dishwasher, close the lid, start your dishwasher, and voila! Easy, clean, sparkling dishes.

I’m thrilled to have Cascade Platinum Pacs to use in our dishwasher. We’ll be moving soon to a new construction home, and I love the idea of starting off the use of the dishwasher with these pacs to keep my dishes AND my dishwasher fresh. And of course, when you move to a new house part of the fun is having friends over for dinner, and I’ll look forward to serving them on sparkling plates, with ice cold sweet tea in crystal-clear glasses. After all, people eat not just with their mouths, but with their eyes too – if something doesn’t look appealing, it’s a whole lot harder to enjoy it!

Top Chef judge, and editor of Food + Wine magazine Gail Simmons has partnered with Cascade to discuss why presentation is just as important as preparation. She says, “The easiest recipes pop with unexpected, gourmet presentations. Drizzle bright sauces on sparkling white plates or layer desserts in crystal-clean glassware. Keep your presentation sparkling with Cascade Platinum, which keeps dishes perfect for anytime entertaining and impromptu guests.”

Check out some plating tips from Gail in this video:

Also, I’m sure you noticed the word “contest” in my post title above – this is a fun, easy Instagram contest you should definitely enter! Visit the contest landing page for info on how to enter and submit images. Each week, two contestants will be selected to receive a brand new Whirlpool dishwasher. Awesome, right? Additionally, one lucky grand prize winner will receive a Platinum kitchen makeover! To win, be sure you register and that your photos are tagged with #MyPlatinum and @MyCascade. Week 1’s theme was “My Platinum Plate” – here are the remaining themes so you can get to brainstorming!

• Week 2: My Platinum Bite – Show your best bite and most creative use of sparkling silverware! (June 10-16)
  
• Week 3: My Platinum Clink – Show how you serve up creative concoctions in sparkling glasses. Cheers! (June 17-23)
• Week 4: My Platinum Table – Show your sparkling tablescape for your most special celebrations! (June 24-30)

Again, click here to get to the Instagram contest details. Be sure and keep up with Cascade on Facebook, too!

Note: We received a gift card to acquire clothing to facilitate this review. All opinions are honest and are my own.

If you’re the parent of children, it’s likely that you’ve heard of Gymboree. Their clothing for babies and kids is high quality, affordable, and OH-so-cute! As much as I love shopping for my boys, I had an absolute field day shopping for E from the Gymboree site. The hardest part was honestly just whittling down my huge list of what I wanted!

I ended up getting several outfits for E, including a flower girl dress for my brother’s upcoming wedding (stay tuned for pics of that in early July!). Check out my absolutely adorable finds:

LOVE this sweet shirt and shorts set. The polka dots, the bow, the embroidery – need I say more? It’s a great breezy outfit for the Texas summer heat.

This seersucker shirt and coordinating chambray shorts are another favorite. The materials are light and I love how the pieces are tied together with the buttons.

I can’t tell you how many compliments we’ve gotten on this little shirt and jeans set – the coordinating details Gymboree thinks of just go above and beyond what you find at other places. And aren’t the shoes just perfect? They’re still a little big, but soon she’ll be able to wear them with this outfit, the one above, and other outfits too.

This last outfit is one I’d totally want if they made it grown-up size. Soooo cute, right? She can wear both pieces separately, too, which adds to the versatility of them both.

Have you been to the Gymboree site lately? If not, I’d hightail it over there… I’m already eyeing new items, like this great zebra-print set:

Or, just in time for summer, this patriotic set (so perfect for 4th of July, isn’t it?):

And don’t forget, I’ll be back with another post after my brother’s wedding to show you the flower girl dress I got for E – it is so sweet!

Note: This is a compensated post. All opinions within this post are honest and are my own. 

We’re in the process of selling our home (which, by the way, is an exhausting process – but I’ll save that for another post) and have been looking at homes to move to. It’s fun thinking about where we’re going to live, but then of course there are a lot of other things to plan for – we’ll have to get utilities set up and figure out our TV and internet choices.

Thankfully, there’s a service that can help us find out the cheapest options – ConnectYourHome.com. Since we’re planning to move to a bigger house, we’re wanting to save money where we can.

First I looked for deals on cable TV service providers. All I had to do was type in the address and zip code of the home we’re interested in buying, and then I was provided with a list of  deals available in my area – some as low as just $29.99/month, which is WAY lower than we’re paying at our current house! And when you add up the savings each month to consider how much you’re saving over a year, that’s a huge savings.

Next I looked at bundling TV and DISH high-speed internet. Brian and I both do freelance at home, and of course, I blog, so having a great internet connection is really important to us too. Bundling can often save money, so I definitely wanted to look into that.

Again, it was really easy – I just entered a few details and was able to get an instant quote on what the cost would be for us to bundle TV with high-speed internet from dishNET. Someone calls within minutes to let you know what your offers are.

So, whether you’re just looking to save some money from your current costs, or you’re like us and will need to start up service at a new home, be sure and check out what the cheapest choice is for your family – your pocketbook will thank you!

Note: We received a WummelBox through Child’s Play Communications to facilitate our review. We were not compensated monetarily for our post. All opinions are honest and are our own.

Our boys have gotten more into arts and crafts as they’ve gotten older – which I love! We do a TON of coloring at our house, and one of my favorite things is to wake up in the morning and walk in the living room to find them both drawing in their sketchbooks. Of course, with how busy we are, we have a hard time putting the forethought into doing any sort of actual hands-on craft beyond drawing or painting. So, of course, I LOVE the idea behind WummelBox, a subscription service that delivers ready-to-make crafts right to your doorstep.

A few things to know about the company, first of all, that made me like them right off the bat:

• The high-quality materials in the sets are eco-friendly! Each box includes materials like cork, sand and reforested wood. Even the box is re-useable, becoming a part of each craft!
• Each craft is designed to be used not once but over and over again (e.g. a car, a cashbox, a windchime, etc.)!
• Each high-quality WummelBox contains 3-4 themed-based projects (Nutrition, Sound, etc) and is designed to inspire children age 3-8 to learn and explore the world around them.
• Straight from Berlin, projects are developed by experts, refined by parents andapproved by kids!
• Each WummelBox contains everything needed to immediately begin crafting.

We got a box that focused on music, and for a FULL WEEK all I heard was, “When can we make our instruments?” They were thrilled that we got to work on them this weekend, and I have to admit I bribed them for good behavior at soccer games by promising we’d do our WummelBox when we got home.

The box itself is cute, with a print all over it. And, like I mentioned above, you even use the box as part of one of your crafts, so it’s not wasted – LOVE that (plus, moms, these boxes would be great for storing kids’ artwork and other papers, just FYI).

Everything is packed neatly in the box and is organized as separate crafts wrapped in tissue paper. As you can see the boys were eager to scope out what was inside, and C (on the left) was thrilled that there was a hedgehog (his favorite animal right now) on the instructions!

First we made a drum. This was SO easy for the kids to do, and they thought it was a blast. You can see how the instructions make it really clear what to do.

We also made chimes, which was a more time-consuming activity – I had to thread the string through the wooden bar and through each chime, which took me a good 10-15 minutes. Once they were done, though, I thought it was very cool how the chimes could attach to the box. And as you can see, J loved playing the chimes. We were quite a musical household on Saturday between the drum and the chimes!

Another fun activity in the box was a Sound Memory game – we put different items in film canisters (both the items and canisters were provided) and the idea of the game is to shake the containers and find matching pairs. VERY fun, and perfect for our kids’ age range (C just turned 4, and J will be 6 in August).

The WummelBox has a retail value of $35.95. You can get a box for as low as $19.95 if you sign up for a year’s subscription – or you can do a 3-month subscription for $24.95/month, or just get one box for $34.95. Regardless of what plan you pick, your kids will have a lot of fun when their package arrives!

If you want to try WummelBox, visit their site to find out more. I hope you and your kiddos have as much fun with this as we did!

Note: We received a Vera Bradley baby item for review. We were not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions are honest and are our own.

If you remember, back last summer I reviewed a Vera Bradley diaper bag. This bag is my favorite diaper bag we’ve had – it’s stylish and we get compliments on it, but it also is great for organizing baby gear, and it’s held up the best of any diaper bag we’ve owned. Well, now Vera Bradley has expanded their line to include baby clothes and more accessories, and these pieces are just as great!

The new pieces include blankets, booties, layette sets, onesies and even oh-so-adorable socks… and more!

We got to review one of the new Vera Bradley baby dress & bloomer sets – in Tutti Frutti. When it arrived and I saw the packaging, I knew this was a perfect gift idea for a special baby in your life. Isn’t this absolutely adorable??

We LOVE this dress. It’s soft and well-made, and the pattern is just perfect. E has gotten so many compliments on this dress! We think she looks pretty cute in it, too – what do you think?

You can find the Vera Bradley baby clothes and items on their site. Be forewarned – you’ll want to get one of everything!

Note: We received an MLB stroller from Kolcraft to review. We were not compensated monetarily for this post. All opinions are honest and are our own.

If you live in Texas, you hear about the Rangers. A lot. And you see Rangers gear pretty much everywhere, too. Our boys both have Rangers shirts & caps, and we got J his first Rangers cap when he was just 6 months old! Now we have another way to show some Rangers love, with our awesome official Rangers stroller from the MLB line at Kolcraft.

From the Kolcraft site: “Now your little one can be a part of the team with this Officially Licensed MLB stroller! These umbrella strollers are perfect for quick trips or outings to the game, and kids will love riding along with their favorite team.”

The boys thought it was SO cool that we now have a Rangers stroller, and when we first brought it into the house it turned into quite the popular item to sit in. They were even eager to have their photo taken with it, which is saying something! We decked them out in their Rangers gear as a preview for what we’ll look like at the next Rangers game we attend:

This stroller is lightweight, easy to maneuver, and is sturdy, too. We love the built-in sunshade (which so many umbrella strollers don’t have). But of course the awesome red and blue design is the best part of it! The stroller  retails for $39.99 and comes completely assembled, so all you have to do is take it out of the box and you’re ready to use it! It has a lock that keeps the stroller shut when you’re not using it, so it does not come undone (really important for when you’re carrying the stroller around, or storing it someplace). The stroller also features locks on their wheels, so you don’t have to worry about the stroller rolling off with your baby inside.

Doesn’t E look ready for her first Rangers game?

The MLB strollers are perfect to add to your baseball gear. In addition to the Rangers, these other teams have strollers available:

• Chicago Cubs
• Boston Red Sox
• San Francisco Giants
• New York Yankees
• Chicago White Sox
• St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies

You can also get potty seats and step stools in the MLB designs – keep an eye out for an upcoming post on our great Rangers step stool – hand washing and teeth brushing has never been so exciting in our house!

Note: We received these Octonauts items from Child’s Play Communications to facilitate our review. We were not compensated monetarily. All opinions are honest and are our own.

My boys have liked the Octonauts show for a while now, and they were THRILLED when a box of Octonauts goodies arrived! We received the Octonauts Octopod Playset, Octonauts Gup-C and Shellington, Rescue Assortment  Action Figure Rescue 2-Pack – Kwazii & the Slime Eel, and the Octonauts Octo-Compass. The compass was a hit right off the bat – the boys used it to do all sorts of exploring around the house, and they thought the fact that it makes noises and talks was SO cool.

The Octopod Playset is downright awesome. It’s sturdy and well-made, it’s right on par with images kids will have seen from the show, it’s colorful, and the four pods make this an easy toy for kids to share (which is a pretty big feat in itself). It promotes creativity, for sure – the boys were acting out all sorts of different scenarios and had so much fun with it! The extra toys with the GUP-C and then Kwazii were a great addition to the Octopod and allowed for even more fun. We were all really impressed with the Octonauts toys! They’re a lot of fun to have out during or after the Octonauts show airs, too, because then it allows for the kids to actually get involved and actively play along with the storylines.

Be sure to visit the Octonauts site or the Octonauts Facebook Page to get more information. These toys are made by Fisher Price, and can be found at Toys R Us, Amazon, and other retailers.

I don’t know if you’re like me, but I think fresh flowers are an instant mood-brightener. I love looking over and seeing a pop of color on my desk at work, or on our dining table at home. And as Spring is right around the corner, it only makes sense that flowers are a perfect addition to add some cheer for you or your loved ones.

ProFlowers.com has a ton of options perfect for Spring and for Easter. I love their bouquets, wreaths, and gift sets – so fun! I got the chance to receive one of their bouquets – the Deluxe Shower of Flowers.

You know it’s going to be a good day when this box shows up at your desk!

Everything comes packed really well so that your flowers are kept safe and sound!

My flowers on the day I received them. I will say the bouquet was quite a bit darker than I realized it would be, but everyone commented on how pretty the flowers were. Even more impressive? The flowers just get prettier as the days go by. Check out how the bouquet looked 5 days after I received it:

So, be sure and check out ProFlowers for amazing Easter decor – and not just bouquets! Click the link above and you can see the variety of great items they have available. And don’t forget, they always have great coupon codes available!

Note: I received a bouquet to facilitate my review. I was not compensated monetarily for my post. All opinions are honest and are my own.

I am one of those that LOVES Valentine’s Day. It can be hard to come up with a good gift idea, especially for someone who has everything… and guys don’t really want a bouquet of flowers, so it can be difficult for girls to find gift ideas for the men in their lives.

Are you needing an idea too? Well, I’ve got one… check out the boxes in this photo and there’s your solution – Shari’s Berries! They have a ton of different items from chocolate covered strawberries, wine, nuts, cookies, cake, and more.

Edible Valentine’s gifts are a perfect choice, in my opinion. Who’s got room for a giant stuffed bear? Delicious treats from Shari’s Berries are something everyone can enjoy. I can imagine everyone from my kids to my grandma liking something from their site.

I got a chance to review some chocolate covered strawberries from Shari’s Berries, and I had them delivered to my office. Let me tell you, they were a hit with everyone! They came with a variety of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate – and there are some you can also select that have nuts and other toppings – yum!

The berries came well-packed and were in perfect condition. Doesn’t this photo make you want to dive right in?

We were all impressed with how juicy the strawberries were, especially for this time of year. And the strawberries are big, so they definitely feel like a decadent indulgence! I had two dozen strawberries, and they were gone within a matter of minutes – it just goes to show how much everyone – men and women alike – loved them!

If you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day gift this year, be sure and check out Shari’s Berries for all of their many delicious choices. AND they have coupons very often – just click here to take a look!

Note: I received chocolate-covered strawberries to facilitate my review. I was not compensated monetarily. All opinions in this post are honest and my own.

I have always been a fan of Valentine’s Day. I think it’s great to have a day especially for showering love on people you care most about! It’s easier for me to think of things to give the kids, but sometimes it can be a challenge thinking of something for Brian. For one thing, he’a got specific interests and hobbies that might be hard to find gifts to fit! Thankfully Cafe Press has a ton of Valentine’s gift options available (and I can make something completely custom, too)!

I took a look at all the gifts for guys – they have everything from phone cases to messenger bags to cups and more!

My husband is a big gamer, so it’d be fun to find something that relates to video games for him! He’d love that a whole lot more than some generic box of chocolate from the store, for sure. I think everyone would prefer a personalized gift – it means more, don’t you think? I had fun looking through the “gifts for her” page – I’d love a custom necklace or bag!

I think it would be fun to pick something for the kids from CafePress too – a personalized stuffed animal would be really special! What would you get for your loved ones from CafePress?

Note: I received a promotional item as thanks for this post. All opinions are honest and are my own.

 I’m not the coffee drinker in the house, so when I got an offer to review Barista Prima K-Cups, I knew Brian would be the one for the job. He loves coffee and is the official owner of our Keurig, so he’s a natural fit. He especially likes dark (REALLY dark) roasts, so I was curious what he’d think of this Italian Roast flavor. Here are his notes:

• Pleasant aroma, not too strong or acrid, right amount of strength
• Medium-dark color
• Bold, but not bitter at all, very balanced and a clean finish to it. Not harsh at all compared to other k-cups for the Keurig, no taste of the plastic cup or chemicals, just coffee beans.
• Great cup of coffee to sip on after dinner or later at night for those kind of coffee drinkers. Strong but smooth, hearty and flavorful!
• Here is the link to the k-cup on their site: http://www.baristaprima.com/K-Cup%20Coffees/Italian%20Roast

He said it’s his favorite kind he’s tried so far, and we’re planning on purchasing more for him when we run out of what we’ve got. We would definitely recommend Barista Prima K-Cups!

Note: We received K-Cups to facilitate this review. We did not receive monetary compensation. All opinions are honest and are our own.