New from Pepperidge Farm

If you have preschool kids, you no doubt have Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers in your pantry. If your child has eaten way too many of the cheddar variety or if you would like to change things up a bit, they have recently come out with Vanilla Goldfish Grahams, which  are made with whole grains and real vanilla. They don't have artificial preservatives and less than 10% of a serving’s calories are from saturated fat.

What did we think? My son, who loves graham crackers, really liked them. I thought they weren't overly sweet (a good thing) and they were nice and crunchy. We're all about crunchy snacks! Of course the small goldfish-shaped graham crackers are easy to throw in a container and take along or put in our favorite snack cup (the Munchie Mug).

So there's a new snack for the kids, but what about us moms?

Pepperidge Farm has a treat for us too!

The Pepperidge Farm Homestyle Cookies collection are relative lower in calories than some of the other cookies on the market. Two new (crispy Oatmeal and Lemon) and three improved (buttery Shortbread, simple Sugar and crunchy Gingerman) varieties have only 160 calories or less per serving. I know!

The company sent me the Lemon and Shortbread cookies, which I did not share with the family. The Shortbread cookies has a classic flavor, not overly sweet. They are great with a cup of coffee or tea. I really, really, really liked the Lemon cookies. The lemon wasn't overpowering, but they were definitely flavorful.

I sometimes reach for Pepperidge Farm cookies when I want to satisfy my sweet tooth (Milano's are my kryptonite!) and I will be adding these to my rotation.

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. Pepperidge Farm sent me product samples to try.

Handy Manny Big Race

You know my kids love their Playhouse Disney. Super Duper Super Sleuths has gotten more than its fair share of spin time in our DVD player as of late.

We recently watched the much-anticipated new episode of Handy Manny: Big Race on TV. I recorded it on the DVR and the kids asked for it again...and again.

So they were delighted when we received the DVD.

Handy Manny: Big Race is the latest release in the lineup of fix it up DVD's for the preschool set. Following the Handy Manny formula, Manny and his tools help save the day, figuring it out and finding the right tools to make it work. See your favorite characters including Mr. Lopart and Kelly.

(From the company:) Vroom! Vroom! Gear up for high-speed fun with Handy Manny in this action-packed adventure! Share the thrill of a lifetime when Manny puts the pedal to the metal in the Wood Valley 500 car race! But first, can Manny, the Tools and their friend Elliot turn a broken-down jalopy into the coolest racecar ever? It will take teamwork, determination and some awesome driving skills to cross the finish line first. Tricked-out with music, excitement and surprises, BIG RACE! is high-octane fun for the whole family!

(Read more reviews of Playhouse Disney and Handy Manny DVD's.)

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. We were sent this DVD for review consideration.

Green Pick: Avatar DVD

I know so many people who just raved about how wonderful Avatar looked on the big screen. I didn't have a chance to see it in theaters, but I did have a chance to watch the DVD which was released earlier this week on Earth Day.

SPOILER ALERT!

The story told in Avatar, PG-13, is not a new one: A group of people come into a new land and want to dominate another group and take what is theirs. The main character is torn between his people and the new ones he comes to love.

But what sets this movie apart is James Cameron's delivery in an awe inspiring visual production. You've literally never seen a movie like this before.

So why the Earth Day release of the DVD? (DVD's are usually released on Tuesdays.) The movie has themes of environmentalism and being one with the planet (literally). At the same time, the people of Earth have all but destroyed their own planet and now have sights on destroying a beautiful planet, taking what they want without asking.

You can join the Home Tree Initiative when you purchase the DVD. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and the Earth Day Network are planting one million trees worldwide. With the DVD you will be given a unique access code that allows you to go online and actually adopt one of the million trees being planted, charting its location and progress. This might be a great activity to do with your children.

Actress CCH Pounder, director James Cameron and wife Suzy Amis plant first tree in North America symbolizing the one million tree initiative on behalf of the "Avatar" Blu-ray disc and DVD release on Earth Day held at Twentieth Century Fox Studio Lot on April 22, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Read more reviews of eco-friendly, organic, non-toxic, and Earth Day inspired products.

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. I was sent this DVD to watch before reviewing.

Green Pick: Babo Botanicals

I dare you to go read the ingredients list of the shampoos and soaps you use on your children. Were you able to actually pronounce any of the ingredients?

So many toiletries for kiddos are created and manufactured in labs. Is this good? If you have a child with sensitive skin, maybe it's some of these crazy ingredients that cause rashes and dryness.

We use a variety of toiletries for our kids that have natural ingredients, not chemicals. (Though we still do use one or two products that I'm not proud of.)

We were recently introduced to Babo Botanicals, which are made at an organic farm in upstate New York. A farm, not a factory!

Their products are:

• Sulfate and Tear Free
  
• Free of artificial fragrances or colors
  
• Free of parabens, phthalates and chemical preservatives
  
• Formaldehyde-free
  
• Silicone and alcohol free 1,4-dioxane free
  
• Free of high allergy nut oils and mineral oils
  
• Dermatologist tested, Clinically tested, Allergy tested
  
• Non-Irritating, Hypoallergenic
  
• Vegan - Free of Soy and Dairy
  
• Biodegradable formulas
  
• Color safe for mom’s hair too
• Never tested on animals
  

Okay, that list just covered many of the things that we try to avoid.

Babo Botanicals sent us a few products to try out including the Oatmilk Calendula Moisturizing Baby Shampoo and Wash, Berry Primrose Instantly Smooth Detangler, Oatmilk Calendula Moisturizing Baby Lotion, and Fragrance Free Bunny Baby Soap Set.

I like foaming body wash and shampoo for my kids, so I actually created it with the Babo shampoo and wash (read my tutorial for cheaply creating foaming hand soap and body wash). My daughter thought the oatmilk calendula formulation smelled like honey. I think it has an almost masculine scent, meaning it wasn't sweet or flowery. I used this on my sensitive daughter without problems.

She has incredibly tangly hair. Each morning I sprayed her hair pretty thoroughly with the smooth detangler. Each time she said, "Mmm, I smell like berries!" The spray definitely helped get out her tangles.

Because the soaps aren't tear-free, I kept them for myself! I have very dry skin and need a moisturizing soap. I'm also sensitive to fragrances and irritating ingredients. I really liked the soap. It formed a nice lather. Though I will say that each bar only lasted about a week with both my husband and I using it.

They also have lice repel formulations that I hope to never have a need for (knock on wood).

If you are concerned about the ingredients in the toiletries you use on your kids or how they are made, check out Babo Botanicals.

Become a fan of Babo Botanicals on Facebook, follow on Twitter, and read Kate's Blog.

Find more of The Full Mommy's Green Picks. Read more reviews of eco-friendly, organic, non-toxic, and Earth Day inspired products.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! She tries to find eco-friendly and non-toxic products for her family.

Please read our disclosure statement. The company sent me products for review.

Green Pick: Green Toys Dig Earth Day Essential Green Kit

I already told you this week about the new Green Toys Tugboat (enter to win if you haven't already). But I've got another great product to tell you about in honor of the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. The Green Toys Dig Earth Day Essential Green Kit includes a Sand Play Set as well as products from CleanWell, Preserve, and Luna.

Everything you need for a day at the beach...or an afternoon in your backyard!

Diapers.com and Green Toys sent us the kit so we could experience it for ourselves. Though we haven't been to the beach or sandbox yet, my kids took the Sand Play Set to the bathtub. They have really enjoyed using it to scoop up bubbles in the tub (we use Burt's Bees Bubble Bath). They've also been using it around the house to scoop us toys and carry them around. Buckets have a gazillion uses!

At our preschool they use hand sanitizer to quickly clean the kids' hands when coming in from the playground (they wash hands in the sink upon arrival, before snack, and any time someone goes potty). Some of the parents have supplied CleanWell hand sanitizer. I like it because it doesn't freak me out like some sanitizing products. The smell is pleasant.

I used to eat Luna Bars all the time. But they are one of the foods that I ate so many times during pregnancy that I had to take a break. You know how it is, moms. I also can't eat Spaghettio's or egg salad sandwiches, which I craved like clockwork at 10 am every morning! I always bought the same three flavors of Luna Bars and ate them almost every day. The Luna Bars that I received in this kit were White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, which happens to be my absolute favorite flavor of fresh baked cookie. I was so glad to try a new flavor and I was pleasantly surprised by them. I'll be adding Luna Bars back into my repertoire. It's so nice to have a stash of them in my desk drawer for mornings when I am running so late that I don't have time for breakfast.

When I pack my daughter's lunch or when we go on outings with the family, I try to be as waste free as possible. I pack cloth napkins and prefer containers over baggies. We have a few of the products made by Preserve (read my reviews of the toothbrushes and cutting board). I LOVE that their products are made from recycled plastic like Stonyfield Farm yogurt cups (which we often eat). The storage containers included in this kit are shaped like green apples. They are big enough for a sandwich, chips, or even a salad. We haven't had a chance to use the containers for school lunch yet, but I am going to put them into rotation.

Buying these products as a kit saves you 25% off the retail price if products were purchased separately!

Besides getting a bunch of great products all in one kit, here's another reason to buy it: these companies are donating all the profits to Healthy Child Healthy World, an organization that works to create healthier, greener, and safer environments for children and families. (If you haven't read their book Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home, you should! Read my review. It's even available in paperback now.)

This kit includes (from the Diapers.com website):

• One Green Toys Sand Play Set - made in the U.S.A. from 100% recycled plastic milk containers that save energy and reduce C02 emissions. Safe, non-toxic, BPA-free, phthalate-free, and PVC-free.
• CleanWell All Natural Hand Sanitizers - One Orange Vanilla Spray and One Pocket Pack Wipes. Alcohol free, safe for kids, never tested on animals. These convenient no-mess pocket sized sprays and wipes are perfect for daytripping.
• One Preserve 2-pack Square Food Storage - Snacks are secure in Preserve's 100% recycled, BPA free plastic storage containers. All recycling and manufacturing is done in the USA
• One LUNA Bar - Created by and for women. Wholesome nourishment and delicious indulgence, they are all-natural, 70% organic and just plain yummy!

Purchase the kit from Diapers.com for $27.

Read more reviews of eco-friendly, organic, non-toxic, and Earth Day inspired products.

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. I was sent this product for review, but I have purchased goods from each of these companies in the past.

Introducing The Full Mommy Green Pick

We contributors of The Full Mommy care about bringing you products that are good for the planet and good for your family. That is why we are proud to unveil our new "Green Pick."

What is a "green pick" in our opinion? Products that are of the utmost quality that are eco-friendly, organic, or non-toxic.

We have been bringing you opinions of products just like these for years, but now you will be able to quickly identify when we think something is just great! And we've chosen the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, which happens this week, to start using our fancy new button.

We encourage companies to examine their practices and we applaud companies who already care enough to bring their best to market.

Happy Earth Day!

Read more reviews of eco-friendly, organic, non-toxic, and Earth Day inspired products.

Mrs. Prindables Gourmet Apples

What do you get for the person who has it all?

How about the fanciest, tastiest caramel apple I have ever seen.

Mrs. Prindables has been in the caramel apple business for 25 years, hand-dipping these delicacies and wrapping them up.

What makes these apples so special? (From the company:) Mrs. Prindable’s starts with a handpicked, extra-fancy apple, grown especially for us. Delivered fresh from the orchard and with the utmost care, it is gigantic in size, crispness, taste, and juiciness. The apple is dipped-by hand-in creamy, smooth caramel cooked that very day. Using only the best all-natural ingredients-butter, sugar, cream, vanilla-the caramel is prepared in copper pots in small batches.

Mrs. Prindables sent me the Triple Chocolate Jumbo Caramel Apple Gift to eat with my family. I always say that presentation is half the gift and not only was the apple beautifully wrapped and placed in a purple box, but when I removed it from the box it was in pristine condition as if it had been dipped in my own kitchen. (Though had I dipped it, it wouldn't have been half as pretty, lol!)

I will say that I should have watched the video below for cutting instructions because I made a bit of a mess of it. But no harm, no foul, we nibbled on the little bits of chocolate that I accidentally knocked off while cutting it. The apple was so large that we had leftovers after dessert. When they say an apple serves 8-10, they aren't exaggerating. I wrapped the leftovers tightly in plastic wrap and popped it in the fridge. We were able to enjoy it again the next night.

One thing that I really appreciate is that the apple was packaged with the nutritional data. Oftentimes specialty items such as this do not come with nutritional data.

The Mrs. Prindables apple that we ate was delicious and beautifully presented. I can see adding this to my repertoire of hostess and congratulatory gifts for someone who has it all...or just has a gourmet sweet tooth.

Watch this video that shows how to cut and serve a Mrs. Prindables apple:



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. Mrs. Prindables sent me one of their apples to try for myself.

New Release: The Great Mouse Dectective : Mystery in the Mist

In this Walt Disney release, the creators of The Princess and the Frog and The Little Mermaid give us the story of a clever little hero on a great big adventure -- over the pond. Join the Sherlock Holmes of Mousedom on a heroic journey unraveling clues through London.

If you and your family like mysteries, you'll love The Great Mouse Detective. When the naughty Professor Ratigan kidnaps the city's master toymaker, the brilliant Basil of Baker Street and his trusted sidekick Dawson set off to track him down. Little do they know that the evil rat's trail leads all the way to The Queen at Buckingham Palace!

This movie arrived in theaters in 1986, but now digitally remastered, fully restored and complete with exclusive bonus features, The Great Mouse Detective is better than ever in the Mystery In The Mist Edition! Check out the clip below to see some sleuthing in action!



My five year old son thinks any kind of mystery is fascinating and he loved watching these mice trying to crack the case. And that's not all: Viewers can test their own powers of deduction and go behind the scenes of the movie with bonus features that include:

• So You Think You Can Sleuth? — An animated look at the history of detective work, complete with a crime-solving puzzle for the entire family.
• The Making Of “The Great Mouse Detective” &
• “The World’s Greatest Criminal Mind” Sing-Along Song

The Great Mouse Detective: Mystery in the Mist is available now.

This was written by Amy Jo who can be read at Binkytowne.

Please read our disclosure statement.

The Madeline Movie: Lost in Paris

Madeline recently celebrated her 70th anniversary. (See what I wrote about the classic book and new Madeline plush doll.)

Though I don't remember reading Madeline as a girl, I do like to read the book to my daughter. You see, there are so many shows, books, and characters who are Spanish speaking these days (and rightfully so), but I took French!

I love being able to point out places I visited in Paris during my high school trip or read aloud in my rusty (though once fluent) French accent. And it is fun to teach my daughter French phrases. Just this morning I taught her to say: Je t'aime, mon petit chou.

(It's been two decades since I've been immersed in French culture or graded on my grammar. I hope I spelled that right, lol!)

The Madeline Movie: Lost In Paris is a new animated DVD available beginning April 13. This movie is not all sunshine and roses as Madeline must overcome a bad situation. But Madeline gets through it.

For over 70 years, she has captured the hearts and imaginations of children worldwide. Now Madeline, the smallest of 12 little girls living in an old house in Paris covered with vines and the star of Ludwig Bemelmans beloved children's book series, springs to life with her dog Genevieve in this amazing animated adventure!

When her long lost Uncle Henri (Jason Alexander) unexpectedly visits Miss Clavel's Parisian boarding school from Vienna, Madeline is whisked away on promises of the wonderful new life, and family, of which she has always dreamed! But soon Madeline realizes that her new life is not as wonderful as she had hoped, and she must use her own wits and courage to maintain the only real family she has ever known.

This was written by Leighann who can be read at Multi-Minding Mom where she dishes about family, food, foraging, frivolity, and more! She speaks French; she tries anyway.

Please read our disclosure statement. We were sent this DVD to view with our kids for the purpose of this review.

Slender Secret Nassau Capri

I was recently asked if I would like to become a Lee Fit Ambassador. What does that mean? It means I get to occasionally try out styles of Lee pants throughout the year so that I can give them feedback. And the best part, I get to give away lots of pairs to the lucky readers of The Full Mommy. That's what I call a win-win situation.

I have to say that I love, love, love wearing capris. They are the right combination of comfort and cuteness in my opinion. I like that they can be dressed up or down. I can wear them with Birkenstocks to work in my casual office or I can pair them with my favorite strappy shoes for the rare date night or GNO. And since I am on the short side, I like that the length is always right.

Lee sent me the Slender Secret Nassau Capri which arrived just in time to wear to the in-laws for Easter lunch, which is a casual affair, but I like to look nice. I paired these black capris with ballet flats and a ruffled collar polo. I was comfortable, yet looked pulled together.

The Slender Secret Nassau Capris come in sizes 4 to 18 and in four colors. I am not the tiniest gal and I thought that they fit nicely. I even blindly chose the size based on the size of Lee pants that I have purchased in the past. But they do have a size chart on their website to help you choose the right size.

I am not really a belt person, but these capris do come with a cute thin belt. (I think belts accentuate my thick post-baby belly that I should have lost a long, long, long time ago and have not, but that's my own self-image issue.)

Lee's website describes the Slender Secret Nassau Capris: Another favorite in our Slender Secret collection. This belted capri has tick stitching on the belt loops and clean tailored lines.

These do have a bit of a slick/shiny finish to the fabric which means that you can easily dress them up.

I'm anti-ironing and I was pleased that I took them out of the dryer and hung them out and they don't appear to have too many wrinkles.

My verdict? Expect to see me wearing them around town this summer. I think they'll get a lot wear time and they will look great with my vast collection of sandals.

WIN IT!
Giveaway Title: LEE CAPRIS
Prize: Lee Slender Secret Nassau Capris
Number of Winners: TEN!
Entry Question: What's your go-to summertime outfit that is comfortable, yet looks pulled together?
Enter By: April 19, 2010
Entry Form: Click here
Winners will be notified by e-mail. Please read the official rules for entering our giveaways. US addresses only, please.

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. I am a Lee Fit Ambassador and Lee occasionally sends me clothing so that I can provide them with feedback about their products.

My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Duper Super Sleuths

We recently took a long car trip and after my kids were tired of looking out the windows at cornfield after cornfield, I told them I would pop a DVD into our portable player. (No, we don't have a minivan with one built in; wouldn't that be nice for long trips.)

I grabbed a handful of favorite DVD's, both new and old, not knowing what would hold their attention on this particular day. Seeing the stack, my kids proclaimed they wanted to watch the brand new My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Duper Super Sleuths.

They watched the full-length feature and when it was over we still had a bit to drive. I asked which DVD they wanted to watch next and I was admonished for even suggesting that I swap it out for another.

They wanted to watch it yet again.

The other day when my daughter arrived home from school, she retreated to her room, coming out minutes later dressed as Darby. She put on a sleeveless shirt over her tee to mimick Darby's as well as pants, her Little Caper's Big Cape, and of course the piece de resistance: she had to "slap my cap!"

In her waistband she tucked a telescope and she threw her backpack on. She set off to the backyard to go solve a mystery.

I know that there was resistance by some to replacing Christopher Robin in this new version of Winnie-the-Pooh with a female heroin. But I have to say that it is great for my daughter to have a positive role model in this spunky, smart girl.

Oh yeah...I was telling you about the new DVD. My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Duper Super Sleuths has gotten more than it's share of play since we received it. Both my son and daughter love it. I like it because there is a gardening theme, a regular theme on the show and a passion that my daughter and I enjoy together.

Get set for out-of-this-world excitement when Pooh, Tigger, Darby and Buster embark on a thrilling full-length adventure! After a mysterious shooting star falls in Rabbit’s garden, his vegetables suddenly become gigantic. And when our heroes eat the super-veggies, they get incredible superpowers! Packed with delightful songs, surprises and good friends working together to save the day, Super Duper Super Sleuths is fantastic fun for everyone!

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. This DVD was sent to our family to watch for the purpose of this review.

Splenda Tastebook

Do you count calories or carbs? I can tell you that sugar has a lot of both.

We have begun using Splenda to reduce the carbs in some of our baked goods. We go through a lot of bananas, but when some start getting black spots, I like to make banana bread. Most recipes call for 3/4 to 1 full cup of sugar! But what are you gonna do? Banana bread is a sweet bread.

Splenda sent me a package of their granulated crystals as well as several recipes from the Splenda Tastebook. Since we had some over-ripe bananas on hand, I thought I would give it a go. They actually offer several banana bread recipes.

The Splenda measured exactly as you would use sugar. I thought the recipe I used turned out great and I could not tell a difference from a taste or texture standpoint. No matter how you slice it, warm banana bread with a smear of butter can't be beat.

I also like my tea sweet and have been using Splenda in my iced tea. I find I barely need any Splenda to get my tea to what I consider a good sweetness level.

If you count calories or carbs, have you given Splenda a try?

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. I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Splenda and received products necessary to facilitate my candid review. In addition, a donation was made in my name to the Meals on Wheel organization to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

What's old is new again. Right? So many of the shows that we watched as kids are being renewed for this generation. One such show is Alvin and the Chipmunks.

We checked out Alvin and the Chipmunks from the library and have done so a few times since.

When my kids want to have a dance party, they ask for the Chipmunks Undeniable CD. What a workout!

Over Christmas break, my husband took my daughter to see Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel in the theater. She came home singing "All the Single Ladies" (the Chippette version).

We were sent the newly released Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel DVD to watch at home and it has seen heavy rotation.

It has it all: Drama, action, romance. LOL!

If you watched Alvin and the Chipmunks as a child, have you checked out the modern movies?

From 20th Century Fox: When a concert mishap lands Dave in the hospital, the Chipmunks take a break from superstardom and enroll in school to fit in with kids their age. But they soon face some stiff competition when they meet the Chipettes — a beautiful, talented trio of chipmunks discovered by Ian, the boys’ evil ex-manager!

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel is rated PG.

You can also visit www.MoreEasterFun.com for fun Easter activities including downloadable character coloring pages, coupons, games, and a chance to win a $50,000 Nest Egg.

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. This DVD was sent to us for review. Though my husband and daughter did pay to see it in theaters over Christmas break.

Whole Foods & Energy Levels

As parents one thing we all face, is keeping our energy levels up, as we keep up with our children.
This month Whole Foods Market current podcast series suggests tips and action steps to support our energy levels naturally and safely.

I regularly visit my local Whole Foods Market for good food that also tastes good but I admit I can be slightly intimated by the supplement section. I'm never sure what is the best for you. I found this podcast to be really helpful.

For a great list of energy supporting herbs, and to listen to these podcasts please visit Whole Foods Markets here.

This was written by AmyJo who can be read at Binkytowne.
Please read our disclosure statement.