Thomas, Barney, and Fireman Sam: New to DVD

There are three new DVD's from HIT Entertainment with some of our favorite characters: Thomas & Friends: Team Up With Thomas, Barney: Let's Go On Vacation, and Fireman Sam: Hero Next Door.

The Thomas & Friends: Team Up With Thomas DVD can be purchased with or without a toy train. If you don't already have a Thomas engine, it is quite a bargain to get the combo set (you pay about $5 more for the DVD with engine). Too bad there aren't a variety of engines from which to choose.

In this latest installment of the Thomas DVD's, we are introduced to a new host, Mr. Arkwright. He is the live host of the show and the newest driver on the Island of Sodor. Throughout the DVD, he introduces children to the stories and shows us how to make a cardboard model of Thomas.

We also make another new friend on this DVD, a new engine named Daisy. (Yes! Another female engine!)

In Barney: Let's Go On Vacation, the dinosaurs and playground friends travel to Mexico and meet two new amigos. They learn about Mexican food and even have a pinata party.

The stories on the DVD are brand new and have never aired on television.

The DVD includes three Spanish language singalongs.



Fireman Sam: Hero Next Door is a British show that airs on PBS Sprout here in the states. This DVD features five episodes about fire safety and water conservation (and more).

Of course where you find Norman, you'll also find trouble!

Fireman Sam is the only preschool show featuring firefighters, which a lot of young children are fascinated with.

Thomas & Friends: Team Up with Thomas (with engine) or (DVD only), Barney: Let's Go on Vacation, and Fireman Sam: Hero Next Door are available from HIT Entertainment beginning May 19, 2009.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Please read our disclosure statement. DVDs were supplied by Lionsgate/HIT Entertainment and I was not paid for my review.

FIT2BMOM Headbands

The Full Mommy has been bringing you news and reviews about skincare products this week. So you've got your sunscreen all ready, your moisturizers? Now it's time to get out in the fresh air and get some exercise.

FIT2BMOM is a maker of maternity active wear. I know from experience that you don't have to be pregnant to enjoy maternity active wear. Sometimes maternity active wear is the most comfortable thing you can put on during that fourth trimester.

FIT2BMOM makes a headband (shown above). I received one to try out since I recently started up my exercise routine again. Made of 92% Supplex® and 8% Lycra, this headband was tight without being constricting, did a good job of keeping the sweat away, managed to keep my hair out of my face and from looking like I'd just gone for a run.

They are available in five colors and are offered at a reasonable price. Visit the FIT2BMOM site for more information.

Say Yes to Carrots

The people of Yes to Carrots sent me almost a whole garden's worth of products to try, and yes they were delicious:

• Lip Butters in Carrot and Citrus: I am a lip-balm junkie and these meet all my meticulous standards. They are moisturizing without being too slick or greasy; nice scent and flavor--the carrot has this spicy tang that I love; twist-up tube applicator (I don't like those little pots, since they're messy and don't fit well in my pocket). My husband snagged the citrus one and liked its smooth texture.
  
  
• C Me Shine Lip Gloss in Flirty Pink: This is perfect for summer, providing moisture along with a nice hint of color (the YTC site says "rich color" but I think that's a stretch--at least it is for the Flirty Pink. But I wasn't expecting a strong color in a gloss anyway.)
  
  
• C Through the Dry Spell Deliciously Rich Body Butter: This contains Dead Sea minerals lots of beta carotenes (via carrot seed oil, carrot juice, pumpkin, and sweet potato). I was a little afraid it would turn my skin orange. But no--it just left my skin nice and soft and its usual (totally pale) shade. It's marked "for very dry skin," which mine isn't, at the moment--I'll be interested to try it again in midwinter when I am desperate for more moisture.
  
  
• Cleansing Cucumber Shower Gel: This big bottle is almost too tall for my shower caddy, but the good news is it's something my husband and I can share. We both like the clean, not-perfumey scent, so it takes the place of his-and-hers shower gels. I think it will feel really good on a super-hot day. Um, if we ever get one of those here in the upper Midwest.

All YTC products are paraben- and phthalate-free, and all of the produce is sourced from organic farms (in Israel--so take note if local sources are important to you). They are not tested on animals, and the honey and beeswax found in some products come from organic, cruelty-free beekeepers.

A percentage of YTC proceeds is donated to The Seed Fund to assist underserved communities in creating a self-sustaining organic food source. The fund helps provide equipment, seeds, irrigation advice, and technical support.

Cathy, aka Mayberry Mom, likes eating vegetables as well as wearing them on her lips and skin.

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

We've all heard the news that a daily sunscreen is the way to go, moms, but the thought of putting on yet another lotion makes me tired. Not to mention all the chemicals that go into that necessary sunscreen.

Skin MD has taken the worry out of everyday sunscreen use with their Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion + Sunscreen SPF 15. This lotion is meant as an all-over application for face, hands and body. It is a great product for parents, as we deal daily with different moisture-robbing materials, environmental irritants, household chemistry and wash hands frequently. The lotion provides protection to the skin, keeping it deeply hydrated, and prevents irritation and dryness.

I replaced my regular lotion with a sample of Skin MD + SPF and was very pleased with the results. I did not use it on my face, though you can. What I immediately noticed was the lack of "sunscreen smell". I didn't spend the rest of the day smelling like I'd just come from the pool, which is a very good thing. And the formula is gentle enough for children over 6 months of age, though I did not share my sample with my kids. The lotion's consistency is creamy without being too thick or too watered down.

Skin MD does not test on animals (another bonus in my book), nor does the lotion contain any animal products. Another plus in Skin MD's favor is that the lotion contains many natural ingredients like Aloe, Comfrey, Chamomile, and Yarrow. It's also dermatologist tested, fragrance and colorant free, paraben free, and hypoallergenic.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: SKIN MD + SPF
Prize: 1, 4 oz. sample bottle of Skin MD + SPF
Number of Winners: 1
Entry Question: What's your favorite summer activity?
Enter By: June 1.
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail.
Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.


This was written by Missy who can be read at Misc. & Co. .

Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. I know that when we went to the zoo this weekend, we definitely were feeling the heat.

What cools me down on a hot summer day? Ice cream.

I've long been a fan of Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches. I don't know how they do it, but they manage to pack quite a bit of deliciousness into a lower calorie snack. My favorite is mint, but they are all good.

Really. I don't feel guilty when I indulge in Skinny Cow treats. In fact, the huge (and I mean HUGE) ice cream sandwiches are only three points on Weight Watchers. They are also Best Life Approved. So even if you are watching your waistline, there is still room for a treat now and then.

My daughter loves the Skinny Dippers (which I call "heaven on a stick"). I don't want her eating mass quantities of ice cream and these smaller pops are very satisfying.

I also recently bought the Truffle Bars. OMG! They were so creamy and rich. I will. not. share. them.

Check out the full line of Skinny Cow products on their website. Or better yet, head to the freezer section of your grocer and throw some in your cart.

(Mom Central allowed me to try a couple of boxes of Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches. But trust me, they didn't have to twist my arm. I'm a long time fan.)

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

Neutrogena Sunblock

Swim suits for me and the kids? Check.

Sunscreen? Check.

I used to work in the sun eight hours a day. My first line of defense was sun protective clothing. The second was a good sunscreen.

Having to wear sunscreen all day and working in the summer heat made me pretty picky about the sunscreen that I used.

I am fair skinned and burn easily, so a high SPF is a must. I also don't want my pores to clog and I hate anything too greasy.

I was so happy when I found the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock. I've been using it religiously and exclusively for years.

I usually grab the highest SPF I can find. That's why I am thrilled that the Neutrogena sunblock now comes in different formulations ranging from 55 to 100. That's right, 100!

The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock 100+ SPF with Helioplex is probably one of the highest SPF sunblocks on the market.

As with the other Neutrogena sunscreen I have been purchasing for a while now, this new formulation is dry to the touch, not sticky like some other brands, and feels a lot better on my face.

New to the Neutrogena sun care lineup is the Pure & Free Baby Sunblock lotion and stick and the Watergaurd Kids lotion and mist.

(Note, read the labels on any suncare product that you purchase. Some people are sensitive to certain ingredients. The baby and kid formulations may contain parabens, something that some parents are avoiding.)

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more!

One Step Ahead Sun Smarties Clothing and Swimwear

Kids can absorb 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before turning 18 and getting as few as two sunburns can increase the risk of sun cancer later in life. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents first step in reducing sun exposure is to cover up their kids.

That's why I am particularly fond of clothing that provides sun protection. I'm fair skinned and so are my children.

One Step Ahead has a line of clothing, swimwear, and accessories called Sun Smarties, which is UPF 50+. And it's all cute and it's mix and match! The line includes t-shirts, swimwear, sunglasses, hats, and even shoes.

I really like the reusable swim diaper. Did you know that those expensive disposable swim diapers do nothing other than keep the poop from floating around the pool? Seriously, they don't absorb pee, they just keep solids contained. And they are crazy expensive. With the Sun Smarties Adjustable Swim Diaper, you don't have to keep buying expensive disposables. I like them because I am cheap, but also because they are better for the environment.

I also like the Stay-Put Adjustable Swim Shoes because they help protect tender feet from scrapes and hot cement.

I swear by the Rubber Frame Sunglasses. We bought several pairs for my daughter and they were indestructible. She could twist them and they wouldn't break. One pair even survived being trampled at the farmer's market. So it wasn't a question that we would get some for our second child as well.

Not only can you clothe your child for going to the pool or beach, but this line has clothing and accessories for an afternoon at the park or in the backyard.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Soy is the New Black. She has too many freckles to count.

Lands' End Swimwear for this Greek Goddess

Last year I was thrilled when I was spared the humiliation of going store to store searching for an acceptable swimsuit. I took my measurements and picked out a suit from the Lands' End website. When it arrived, it fit! Seriously, it couldn't have been better. (Read my review of the suit that I gush over.)

This year, Lands' End makes it even easier to find a great suit. You can shop by anxiety zone or body shape. Once again I took my measurements and ordered my size accordingly. I wanted something with support for my girls and one that would suck in my post-baby mom-of-two-kids tummy.

I chose the Grecian swimsuit in blackberry. I love the deep purple color. It also comes in black, berry, dark teal blue, deep teal, merlot, and rich brown. It is an all-over control swimsuit with soft cups for support. It comes in sizes 6 to 18.

Once again, I was skeptical that it would fit based solely on taking measurements. But you know what? It did. It fits perfectly. Lands' End amazed me again. It pulls me together and keeps my girls where they need to be.

Lands' End also has some great sales on swimsuits right now. Definitely check them out.

Watch this video about the features and fit of Lands' End swimwear:



WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: Lands' End Swim
Prize: $100 gift certificate to Land's End
Number of Winners: one
Entry Question: What is your problem area or which Lands' End swimsuit do you love?
Enter By: May 30, 2009
Entry Form: Click here to fill out the entry form AND leave a comment below telling us your problem area or which suit you love. (You must fill out the form and leave a comment.)
Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Soy is the New Black. She loves the reliability of Land's End.

Mallybibs

Quick-Let's say you have an almost one year old. Not counting diapers or wipes, what's the one thing you are always scrambling to find?

Bibs.

I recently received a mallybibs leather bib to review. Blue-guitar, to be exact (like the one shown here). mallybibs let me choose the design of the bib I received and I have to say, it was not easy. Go look for yourself. These are some of the most clever, catching and cute bibs I've seen. Each one is made of soft leather, has two sides (picture on one, a pocket on the other) and can be easily wiped down with a warm cloth after use.

I took this one out with us to dinner last night. I got a lot of compliments on how adorable it was. (Of course, my baby's beautiful blue eyes didn't hurt the cause.) I would say the pocket flap could be a little bit bigger. It didn't seem to catch all the scraps, but maybe my boy takes after his mama and is particularly messy.

Pocket flap aside, this bib could be used for everyday but I'm going to keep it packed in the diaper bag. I like the idea that people will see it and think I'm one of those totally put together moms with uber cute kid AND the cool bib.

(snort, don't tell them, 'kay?)

Nowali Moccasins

Now wait a second. I know you are looking out your window and picturing bare feet and sandals but hold on a minute. It's not actually summer yet and mother nature, well, she's not the most predictable lady I know.

So you might want to go ahead a pick up a pair of these Nowali Mocasins.

I received a pair of these to review. My older son had a pair of moc's that he rocked all winter long so I thought the baby deserved the same.

I tried out a pair of the cars moccasins (shown above). If you are not familiar, moccasins are basically slipper socks, only the are warmer than slippers because they come up higher and if you get a good pair with a leather sole, are usually way more long lasting. Nowali's are made in Sweeden, can be machine washed and come in adorable patterns. I keep mine in the baby stroller so I can slip them on if it gets a little chilly during a night time stroll.

I would have to say the stitching around the foot is not as seamless as it appears in the picture, but this doesn't seem to bother the baby or affect the quality in any way. There are no gaps between the leather and the fabric, the leather just bunches up a little instead of laying flat. The baby could have cared less.

Definitely a must have for colder weather months and would make a great gift. But don't wait- Here's a a coupon code to help our readers buy them: HAPPYFEET gives you 10% off + free shipping for orders over $40. This is good through 12/31.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: HAPPYFEET
Prize: A pair of moccasins
Number of Winners: 1
Entry Question: How many colors do the block stripes come in?
Enter By: 5/29/09
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail.

Delta's Disney Umbrella Stroller Collection

With two kids I have the big, tandem double stroller for big outings. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but sometimes I want to run in and out of a store quickly when I have one or the other. What's a mom to do? Turn to the umbrella stroller.
I love umbrella strollers because they are small and compact enough to leave in my trunk for an undetermined amount of time. They are quick and easy to get in and out of and the tall hooks at the top are great for hanging gear like shopping bags, diaper bags or miscellaneous goods. They are also quick to dry and easy to wipe down after a messy outing at the park or on a walk.

I also have a soft spot for umbrella strollers for when my oldest was just learning to walk, one of his favorite activities was pushing his umbrella stroller up and down the block, again and again and again.

For all these reasons and more, I can't turn away an umbrella stroller. So when Delta Children's products offered me a Disney Umbrella Stroller to sample, I couldn't say no.

You should have seen my son's face when the Disney Stroller arrived with none other than Lightening McQueen on it. With the bright red color I can be sure to spot it easily in my cluttered garage, the umbrella is attached in a flip style so it can be raised or lowered easily and it's just as lightweight as you would imagine it to be. It's also a little larger than your standard umbrella stroller height wise, which is nice.

I have no complaints, it's not the strongest most durable stroller I've ever seen, but it's just right for what umbrella strollers are designed for- that quick trip to the grocery store or playground.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: Umbrella
Prize: A Disney Umbrella Stroller
Number of Winners: 1
Entry Question: None
Enter By: 5/18/09
Entry Form: Click here

Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

Mickey's Big Splash & Imagination Movers: Warehouse Mouse DVD's

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, Inc. has two new DVD releases you may want to check out. They sent me these two to review:

Just in time for summer fun, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Big Splash is a fun video complete with 4 episodes and a bonus feature. ( I love the bonus features.)

I also love Mickey and the Gang- All of them show up in this DVD: Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie, Daisy and Pluto. I struggle sometimes with the DVD's that are out for pre-schoolers, sometimes they are too mature in theme, but Mickey always entertains.

This DVD is available for U.S. $19.99 (SRP), Canada$24.99 (SRP).

Now for the DVD I'm really excited about: IMAGINATION MOVERS, Warehouse Mouse Edition.

This DVD features four episodes and an exclusive bonus episode of the upcoming animated Playhouse Disney series Special Agent Oso. (Already a hit in my house.) Did you know the Imagination Movers were from New Orleans? I didn't until now. Makes sense. These guys are funny and talented and the episodes involve problem solving, dancing and music. A great combo.

Suggested retail price: U.S. $19.99, Canada $24.99.

Both are available now!

Filtrete and Indoor Air Quality

I've heard over and over that indoor air quality is worse than that outside. It always puts me in the conundrum of opening windows to allow fresh air (and pollen) in or keeping the house in lock down mode.

To help keep our indoor air quality as good as it can be, I ask that my husband always replace the air filter with one that reduces circulating allergens in the home.

Filtrete, who makes air filters, air purifiers, and water filters, has teamed up with Dr. Neil Schachter to give tips to make your home healthier. Some of his tips are to:

• Avoid cleaning products with ammonia and chlorine which can irritate the respiratory tract in people who are sensitive to these chemicals.
• Houseplants...a clean air ally. A six-inch potted green plant can clean a room of excess carbon dioxide in eight hours .
• Lay area rugs instead of wall-to-wall carpeting. Wall-to-wall carpeting can attract and hold indoor dirt, pollen, pet hair and mold spores and many contain chemicals. Area rugs are best since they can be picked up and cleaned thoroughly.
• Use high performance air filters to help capture particles such as pollen, smoke, dust mite debris and pet dander from the air that passes through the filter. Be sure to change your filter at the start of every season.

You can test your knowledge of indoor air quality facts and blow away some fictions by playing Clean Air Fact or Fiction.

The Filtrete Clean Air Club will not only give you great tips for improving indoor air quality, but they will also remind you with the change of each season to change your air filter. And they even give away a bamboo plant to the first 50 people to sign up each week. (Bamboo is a plant that cleans the air.)

This was written for Mom Central by Leighann who can be read at Soy is the New Black. She can often be heard sneezing as her seasonal allergies flare.

Plain Tales Audio CD's Are Anything But

We’re big audio book fans at my house, especially of fairy tales. We have many different takes on the old standards but my kids have requested PlainTales’ First Tales #1 and PlainTales Explorers’ Animal Tales: Raccoon, Bear and Coyote over and over and over. I am not allowed to remove either disc from the car.

So what makes these stories that desirable? A variety of things: Tavia Gilbert reads “The Gingerbread Man” and the four other tales retold by Melody Warnick on First Tales #1 with warmth and humor - like your favorite story reader at the library; the stories use simple yet rich and engaging language and they are entertaining, even for grown-ups.

First Tales #1 starts off with a retelling of “The Gingerbread Man”. Ms. Gilbert differentiates between characters by using a variety of voices. My five-year-old daughter loves this particular version of the timeless classic. The first time I played it, there was dead silence in the car. Both kids, my 5-year-old and her 8-year-old brother, were riveted. The only sound that came from them was the occasional giggle at a funny bit. At the end of the story my daughter piped up with, “Man, that is one tricky fox. Play it again, Mom.” The following tales, “The Little Red Hen”, “The Bremen Town Musicians”, “The Frog Prince”, and “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” offer the same wit, intelligence and warmth exuded in “The Gingerbread Man.” The disc runs approximately 48 minutes and is perfect for the youngest of listeners, but big kids will love it, too.

The Animal Tales disc has a decidedly older bent that my 8-year-old son greatly appreciated. The three stories on this 48 minute disc are packed with actual scientific fact. As with the First Tales disc, the stories offer the same excellent use of language. From the PlainTales press release: “Finally on his own, a young raccoon named Lotor needs to find a new home before a predator finds him. Osa the brown bear builds a perfect winter den - with less-than-perfect results. And to survive a bleak winter, Hazard the coyote must find food for his pack, even if it puts him in grave danger. These stories about fictional friends are rich with detail about real animal behaviors.” My science-craving son loved the true animal facts and the way they were presented over the course of the purely fictional story. Tavia Gilbert, narrator of the First Tales disc, reads the story of Osa the bear while Stephen McLaughlin does an excellent job of telling the tales of Lotor the raccoon and Hazard the coyote. Like Ms. Gilbert, Mr. McLaughlin’s voice resonates with warmth and enjoyment of the material he’s reading. All three stories are finely written by Melody Warnick.

PlainTales was started with the mission of providing great audio stories for children and their parents with the belief that hearing the world’s best stories read aloud is a great way for children to develop language and thinking skills while being entertained. These stories do just that all while educating and encouraging creative thinking.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: Plain Tales
Prize: I have one copy of each First Tales #1 and Animal Tales to give away.
Number of Winners: 2
Entry Question: What is your favorite fairy tale?
Enter By: May 16, 2009
Entry Form: Click here

Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Missy who also writes at Misc. & Co.

Olive Kids: Name it for free!

One of our favorite online stores, Olive Kids, is offering free personalization for the month of May. Adorable items available for personalization include framed prints, clocks, placemats, floor pillows, growth charts, art prints and name tags.

You already get a discount at Olive Kids as a Full Mommy reader, so go, check it out!

Frecklebox Personalized Gifts

Are you looking for a special gift for the child in your life? I know my daughter gets tickled when she is given something personalized with her name.

Frecklebox is a one-stop-shop for personalized items for kids. Books, coloring books, puzzles, posters, placemats, stickers, and more can all be made especially for your child with his or her name.

Three items that Frecklebox sent me for my children were a book, puzzle, and placemat.

Unlike some other sites that offer personalized books, you are able to preview each and every page. This allows you to gauge whether or not you'll like the story. We ordered a personalized book from another site and it was painful for my husband and I to read. My daughter loves unicorns, so the Personalized Unicorn Book was a no-brainer for me to order for her. Books are available in soft or hard cover.

My daughter not only loves unicorns, but also horses. The Horses Puzzle is so cute because her name is spelled out in the clouds. The first time we put it together I waited until the puzzle was completed and let her find her name in the clouds. She was tickled!

I love the extra details in the placemats. In the Firetruck Personalized Placemat, you can personalize not only with your child's name, but also the name of your town. Too cute. And I like the idea of a personalized placemat because you can show your preschooler his name and he can begin recognizing the letters.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Soy is the New Black. Leighann has her share of freckles.

Powder Art gives us the warm fuzzies

The Crescent company sent me a Powder Art kit to try out with my kids. I pulled it out on a Saturday morning when we had a sleepover guest over. Instant mommy heroine! My two 7-year-old girl testers loved it.

Powder Art is basically a simpler, slightly less messy version of sand art. Instead of pouring globs of glue on a piece of paper and then coating it with colored sand, kids "peel and paint." The Powder Art "design boards" have a built-in sticky surface. Kids uncover sections of the board, then dab on the powder paint with a paintbrush (both the paint and the brush are included). This is a paint-by-numbers activity, so there isn't much creativity involved unless kids want to go all crazy and use colors other than the ones suggested in the instructions. So if you're a purist about creative arts and crafts, this isn't for you; but my daughter and her friend enjoyed both the process and the finished products. The completed paintings have a surprisingly soft, velvety texture.

A caveat about mess: Powder Art says it creates "virtually no mess," because there's no water or paints to spill. That's true; nor is there glue or glitter or sand which as we know, have a tendency to work themselves into the deepest nooks and crannies of our homes. However. The powdery paint doesn't exactly stay in the palette, and my girls kept blowing it all over the place when trying to remove excess color from their boards (but it did wash out from the cotton tablecloth we were using). And we were left with four million teensy scraps of peeled-off paper! So I wouldn't call this a no-mess project, but I would call it easy to clean up.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: POWDER ART
Prize: Powder Art kit of your choice (6 designs available; each kit includes four design boards, eight Powder Art colors, a paintbrush, and an artist palette tray and a color guide instruction sheet)
Number of Winners: 5
Entry Question: What is your child's favorite art or craft activity?
Enter By: May 11
To Enter: Click here to complete the simple giveaway entry form

Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

Cathy, aka Mayberry Mom, tries to leave crafty things up to her husband whenever possible.

Wet Ones to Keep School Children Healthy

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've no doubt been thinking about the flu (or at least how best to avoid it).

The CDC is recommending hand washing as a first line of defense against infections.

Germs just seem to spread among kids, especially the younger ones who aren't adept at sneezing or coughing into elbows. I know that local guidelines dictate that children wash hands upon entering preschool.

If you can't get to a sink with water and soap, you could consider using an antibacterial wipe such as Wet Ones. Wet Ones clean hands and kill germs. And they can be used on the go on the playground, at sports practice, and on field trips.

To help schools keep kids healthy, Wet Ones has committed to donating half a million canisters of wipes to schools.

One reader of The Full Mommy can win a supply of Wet Ones for their school. That's two containers for each and every classroom!

For more ideas on how to keep your family healthy and to download a $1.00 off coupon for Wet Ones antibacterial wipes, please visit the Wet Ones website.

Wet Ones retail for $2.99 per 40-count canister.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: WET ONES
Prize: WET ONES will stock your entire school with antibacterial wipes
Number of Winners: one
Entry Question: Is your child in preschool, elementary, middle, or high school?
Enter By: May 8, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail.
Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Soy is the New Black. She does not like having dirty hands!

My Precious Little One Rick Springfield

Yes I am old enough to remember when Rick Springfield was on General Hospital. That was twenty-some years ago. Turns out Rick was busy doing other things twenty years ago- becoming a dad.

Legend has it that his children are now in their early twenties and Rick Springfield rediscovered these magical songs last year, tucked away in a drawer in his music room

My Precious Little One features ten songs including “Catch a Kiss,” “Dreamtime Faeries” and “Don’t Keep the Sandman Waiting.” I thought the CD was simple but sweet

Goodness knows I can use all the lullabies I can get. How about you?

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: RICK
Prize: An autographed copy of Rick Springfield's My Precious Little One
Number of Winners: 1

Entry Question: What's your favorite lullaby?

Enter By: 5/10/09
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail.
Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

Playtime Pals DVD

Hit Entertainment brings us another roundup of great preschool fun. In the new DVD called HIT Favorites: Playtime Pals, we get a good mix of several popular shows.

Join our friends Thomas, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Fifi, Barney, and Kipper as they have warm-weather adventures.

You can imagine what happens when Thomas is given the task of taking a light bulb to the lighthouse in time for the harvest festival. In the words of my two-year-old, "Oh no, oh no, oh nooooo!" (Seriously, he says that every time someone runs off the track or off a cliff.)

Join Barney and his friends on the first day of summer for a plethora of great outdoor activities. He brings the fun, you bring the sunscreen.

Fifi and the FlowerTots create a beach in their patch of the garden. But where did all the water go?

In the Bob the Builder episode, Splasher is on a timetable to create two new stops along the river.

You know when Norman is around Fireman Sam has to come to the rescue. All I'll tell you is: spontaneous combustion!

And cool off with Kipper as he and his friends venture to the local pool.

HIT Favorites: Playtime Pals is available beginning May 5, 2009.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Soy is the New Black where she dishes about family, food, foraging, and frivolity.

Please read our disclosure statement. DVDs were supplied by Lionsgate/HIT Entertainment and I was not paid for my review.

Movies for Mom: Themed DVD Gift Sets

Flowers and candy are a fine enough gift for any mother, but one eventually ends up in the trash (or compost heap) and the other on the hips!

Do you know what my husband often gives me as gifts? DVD's. Oh, and the occasional box of my all-time-favorite candy Fannie May Pixies. Which, by the way, I do not feel any obligation to share!

What kind of movies does the mom in your life like?

Fox and MGM Home Entertainment have put together four movie collections that are sure to please.

Maybe she likes the Laughs & Locks Collection including Beauty Shop, Nora's Hair Salon 2, and The Salon.

Or does she like Women in Charge movies like Baby Boom, Thelma & Louise, and Working Girl?

Ooh, or the Women in Love Collection with One Fine Day, Return to Me, and A Walk in the Clouds.

Or how about the Laughs, Love and Lyrics Collection, which includes the classics 9 to 5, the Rose, and Hello Dolly.

I like movies from each of these collections! And I think I've seen them all.

And if you could possibly choose between these sets, you can get them for the mother of your children, your mom, and even your mother-in-law and still have a little money leftover for flowers or candy. Each collection is under $20!

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: MOM MOVIES (Make sure to put this in the entry form EXACTLY as written here.)
Prize: The Women in Love Collection of DVD's: One Fine Day, Return to Me, A Walk in the Clouds
Number of Winners: Three
Entry Question: Name the female lead in one of the three movies in the Women in Love Collection
Enter By: May 10, 2009
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail.
Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Soy is the New Black. She is a movie buff who enjoys almost all genres of films. Not just kids' flicks!

Earth Day: Planet Dog Green T Collection

Have you tried any organic cotton clothing yet?

You haven't?

You should!

Organic cotton is good for the environment, yes, but believe me when I say it is very, very good for your skin.

Planet Dog sent me some samples of their Green T Collection- Tees made from 100% organic cotton.

According to their website: These are printed with earth-safe, phthalate free inks and made with partial wind and solar power.

According to me, these are the some of the softest and comfiest tees I have had the pleasure to wear.

The slogans are cute "Reduce your carbon pawprint" is one of them, but I have a dog so I go for that kind of thing. I've been living in these since I got my paws on them (sorry- couldn't resist) and I will say one of them has had the hem start to unravel a bit, but I've washed it like six times in the span of two weeks and that's probably about par for the course.

Since I have a dog, I asked Planet Dog if they would send me something from their leash and collar line to try. They sent me one of the cozy hemp adjustable collars and the hemp leash with fleece lined handle. I don't care how comfy a leash is, it has to be strong enough to keep my 80lb poodle from running away and this was. The fact that it's eco-friendly and super soft on your hands is a plus. A soft plus.

They have a full line including more apparel, dog beds, dog toys, travel supply and treats. Visit Planet Dog for more information.