WWJD?

I don't know a lot of things (I am Superdumb, after all) but I do know that Jesus Would NOT Do this horrible thing. Or condone it. Or wish that others would do it in his name.

It happened today less than two miles from my house. I wish I could say I was surprised but I'm not. I just hope it doesn't spark more violence. From either side of the peanut gallery. Live and let live, people.

Ancient Tribal Secrets

I like trying out new and different things but in this sucky economy, I'm a little more stingy about doling out cash for untested beauty products, no matter how thrilling their claims of new technological advances or super organic holistic awesomeness might be. So I was totally thrilled to win Ojon's Tawaka Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cleanser and Conditioner in a giveaway at Spoiled Pretty. I'd read about Ojon in various magazines but I wasn't about to shell out $60+ on some shampoo that might or might not make me gorgeous…



So let's cut straight to the point: Ojon's Tawaka Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cleanser and Conditioner is absolutely brilliant and probably worth its admittedly hefty price. Why, you ask? Well, it hasn't made me suddenly supermodel-esque but it definitely makes my limp, fine hair seem thicker and healthier. Glossier. And what's even better is that it can also be used as a facial and body cleanser and moisturizer. I am a big fan of all-in-one bath products for my kids, but haven't used one for adults that actually leaves both your skin and your hair feeling and looking amazing. This one does and it also smells divine. Kind of like dark chocolate and blueberries, which is not surprising when you read the ingredient list and see that the Tawaka™ cacao blend packs a serious antioxidant punch– as much as hundreds of pounds of blueberries! Bob used it without my prompting and was raving about how it made his hair and skin feel… high praise, indeed, since my husband generally doesn't think of shampoo as more than a necessary evil.

If the rest of the Ojon collection is as amazing as the Tawaka Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cleanser and Conditioner, I might have to save up for the whole shebang! Thanks so much to Spoiled Pretty for introducing me to a product line that I suspect I will explore further soon.

Excuse Me

Here's my deal: Roo's out of school, Bob's out of town and the sun doesn't set until 8pm. The kids are running me ragged, which is I suppose what kids do in the summertime. I've never really experienced the end of the school year in such a dramatic way before. My beloved daughter talks from the minute she wakes up and then keeps talking all day until I tuck her in at night. It's exhausting! Jasper is at a fun stage where he can get into almost anything undetected and totally intentionally. The look on his face tells me he will always know how to find trouble to get into, which is absolutely terrifying.

I'll get my act together soon, hopefully, and get some kind of blogging schedule in order. Until then, though, all bets are off because my kids see the computer as their nemesis. Seriously.

A couple of great giveaways soon, you will be thrilled to pieces, I promise. As soon as I can find the time to post them, I will. Before August, hopefully.

Just kidding, sponsors.

Wordless Wednesday- Summertime!

Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Ask Your Mamapedia

It was my turn to host bunco last night but we were missing too many regulars and ended up just talking for a couple of hours instead of rolling the dice, which was actually really nice. Two of the girls are pregnant, one in the last few weeks of expecting her third child and the other just starting her second trimester with her first baby, so conversation wound up focusing on babies and birth stories. It's so interesting to hear other women's stories, especially after having two babies myself.



When I was first expecting, I didn't have many "mommy friends" so I didn't have anyone to ask for advice. It would have been incredibly helpful to have a resource like Mamapedia, an online compendium of practical parenting knowledge. Mamapedia is a uniquely searchable database of answers to all of your parenting-related questions. The data used to build Mamapedia was culled from millions of moms' advice and recommendations on a variety of subjects posted on Mamasource's community forums over the past two years. I've entered a ton of different queries on Mamapedia and been impressed with the number of pertinent answers that come up, even to seemingly dumb questions… (like "asshole husband," which I searched while being particularly annoyed late one evening. And then quickly realized how much my husband is not an asshole compared to some of the husbands I read about. Yikes.)

Thanks to Mom Central for asking me to check out Mamapedia. I was way more impressed than I expected to be and have bookmarked it for future use.

Skinny Cow Makes Indulging Okay

The weather is getting warmer and that means ice cream season is upon us! My kids wake up wanting to go play outside, which is a good thing, but they also beg for ice cream all day long. I like giving them treats but all that snacking packs so many empty calories. Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches feel like a decadent treat but only contain 150 calories and 2 grams of fat, which makes them especially perfect for chronically-dieting mommies to partake in the traditional summer snacking.



The Skinny Cow offers a variety of calorie-conscious ice cream treats including Cones, Dippers (coated pops), Fudge Bars and, of course, the blissful Sandwiches. There are seven Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich flavor options to choose from: Chocolate Peanut Butter, Cookies 'N Cream, Mint, Strawberry Shortcake, Vanilla, Vanilla/Chocolate Combo and No Sugar Added Vanilla.



Jasper approves of this vanilla Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich. Just don't try to take it away from him or wipe up any drips while he's still working on it…



Roo's more of an all-chocolate, all-the-time gal. Just like mommy and daddy!

Thanks to Mom Central for hooking us up with a couple of boxes of Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches . I am slightly embarrassed to admit that they're already gone. Whoops. They come in even bigger boxes at Sam's. Just so you know.

Thomas the Train Live!

When I was little, I used to love going to the big traveling roadshows. The excitement of the massive crowds, the bright lights and , of course, the omnipresent souvenir stands were always worth the wait. I was especially enamored of the Ice Capades (oh, wow… I just realized that's a pun. I can't believe I never noticed that. I feel really silly now.) because ice skating was awfully exotic to me– our temperatures rarely dropped below 60º even in the dead of winter. The shows that had tie-ins with my favorite TV and movie characters were always brilliant, too. I remember seeing Big Bird at the Waikiki Shell and being totally starstruck!



When we received an offer from MomSelect to see Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage: A Circus Comes To Town here in Wichita, I accepted without hesitation. Jasper and Roo haven't been to see this kind of show before and they love playing with Thomas toys, so I am sure they will go completely nuts! Thomas & Friends Live! On Stage will be at Hartman Arena on Sunday May 24th. To find out if the show will be playing near you, check the Thomas & Friends Tour Schedule.



Thanks to MomSelect for giving us this opportunity to enjoy some family entertainment!

Obama: The Historic Journey

I never thought I would see a black President in my lifetime. I didn't expect to see a woman come so close to becoming President but the concept is certainly plausible after last year's primaries. It's definitely a new political era, no matter where you stand on the issues. I think change is good, especially when it seems to come with a new sense of hope and possibility.



Obama: The Historic Journey: Young Reader's Edition is a book that captures the story of our 44th President's path to the White House. Photos and text culled from the venerable New York Times are presented in an engaging style for younger readers. (A version of Obama: The Historic Journey is also available for grown-ups.) I remember reading books like this about JFK when I was little but I don't recall any other President garnering so much adulation from the media or even from average Americans. Especially not one who grew up in Hawaii, the older brother of one of my classmates… (No, I didn't know him. He was a lot older than us!)



It is so inspiring to see young kids in the White House. It's nice to see a swingset in the yard and to watch Barack and Michelle dealing with school drop-offs and pick-ups. It definitely makes them more relatable. One of the most popular sections in Obama: The Historic Journey: Young Reader's Edition is "The New First Daughters." I love seeing Malia and Sasha interact with their dad because it gives me hope that he is watching over our country with the same protective, loving spirit: "If at the end of four years, just from a personal standpoint, we can say they are who they are – they remain the great joys that they are – and this hasn't created a whole bunch of problems for them, then I think we're going to feel pretty good."



Obama: The Historic Journey: Young Reader's Edition is a great way to share the story of the President with children and, hopefully, to let them know that if they work hard enough, anything is truly possible!



Thanks to MotherTalk for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

Wordless Wednesday- Harmonica Solo/Crazy Hair Day

Nope, it's not a wig, just a whole lot of spray-in hair color. It took a whole lot of bleach and Manic Panic to get mommy's hair to look like that, back in the day…


To add your own pictures this week, check out Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Nowali Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 6/1 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, Taylor!!!***

her comment...
Adult- Navy ones.

Nowali (aka Nowa Li) has been making traditional Swedish moccasins for over fifty years. They're the perfect combination of slipper-socks and even my barefoot monsters love how they keep their feet toasty on our hardwood and tile floors. They also make adorable tights and socks. Roo has had many pairs of Nowali tights since she was a baby. My favorites were a kitty cat print and their marvelous stripes. I can vouch for their durability and Roo can vouch for their style and comfort!

Nowali sent us a couple of pairs of their Block Stripe moccasins to review. They are apparently so comfortable that Roo has worn them every day since they arrived. I even caught her trying to put shoes on over them to wear to school!



Jasper likes his, too, although he was feeling a bit camera shy:



In a perfect world, the Unicorn Moccasins would be available in sizes larger than 18 months. Like maybe women's size 8…



Get 10% off + free shipping on Nowali orders over $40, use code HAPPYFEET through 12/31/09.

To enter and win a pair of moccasins in your choice of style and color (subject to availability), please comment on this post with your favorite pair from the Nowali website.


Entries will be accepted through May 31st and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.

Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!
***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Yanni Voices In Wichita– Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 6/1 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, Tara Czepiel (non-blogger)!!!***



I tend to wince when I hear new age music (it is, after all, the anti-punk) although I have to admit that it is pretty relaxing during yoga class. I have plenty of friends and relatives, however, who absolutely love Yanni and especially the new Yanni Voices album that takes Yanni's wordless compositions and gives them lyrical interpretation by four young singers - Nathan Pacheco, Ender Thomas, Leslie Mills and Chloe. All four were handpicked by Yanni to add their own words to his contemporary instrumental music. People are going crazy for this latest incarnation of Yanni and I have to say, the dude looks pretty good without the big moustache, even surrounded by young hotties.



The YANNI VOICES: LIVE IN CONCERT Tour is underway now and garnering rave reviews. Would you believe they're coming to Wichita? Well, technically Park City. YANNI VOICES: LIVE IN CONCERT will be at Hartman Arena Wednesday, June 10th at 7:30pm. Thanks to the One2One Network (which you should join if you are a blogger), my pal Hannah will be taking it all in, even attending a post-show meet and greet session with the artists so she can report back to us. What's more, One2One is also offering one of my local readers the chance to win a pair of tickets!



To enter and win a pair of tickets to the YANNI VOICES: LIVE IN CONCERT at Hartman Arena Wednesday, June 10th, please comment on this post with your favorite track from the Yanni Voices album.


Entries will be accepted through May 31st and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. Wichita-area readers (or those who can travel to Wichita for the concert!) are eligible.


For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.

Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!
***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Define-A-Lash Giveaway

***WINNERS PICKED 6/4 WITH RANDOM.ORG***
***CONGRATULATIONS!!!***

#5 Jackelyn and #65 Sheila R (both non-bloggers)



I have been a make-up addict since I was in elementary school and decided to send away for one of those "get a zillion dollars worth of designer cosmetics for only $1" ads in the back of a magazine. I remember the excitement at receiving something in the mail that promised transformation and glamour… of course, I was well below make-up wearing age and, rather embarrassingly, I tried to pay for the resulting monthly cosmetic subscription in change stuffed into an envelope. The postman tipped my mom off and I was in trouble with a capital T. Looking back on it, I wonder how my mother was able to stifle her laughter when presented with the business sized envelope spilling over with pennies and nickels. I had that stackable Calvin Klein-branded palette for a loooong time, as a reminder of my infractions. I thought it was slightly more noble than the girls who were shoplifting eyeliner and Lipsmackers at the grocery store…

Flash forward a couple of decades and I still love the beauty booty. Despite the fact that I rarely go out at night anymore and probably wear less makeup now than I did in high school, I do still like to stay up to date with makeup trends. I like to read beauty magazines and browse the makeup counters… it's okay to be a femme feminist, right? Anyway, one of the hottest beauty trends right now is vibrating mascara wands. The vibration is supposed to mimic the actions of pulling and jiggling at the same time, keeping lashes separated while evenly coating them with mascara. Everyone knows that mascara is a quick eye-opener, so obviously this could be a great find. Unfortunately, most of the brands offering vibrating mascara cost upwards of $30 a tube, which is definitely more than I'd like to spend on what could end being a novelty item.

Thankfully, I'm part of the More Than Elevenmoms community, which is not surprisingly an offshoot of Walmart's highly successful Elevenmoms program. They sent me a care package featuring the new Maybelline Define-A-Lash Pulse Perfection mascara to try out.



I think most women are familiar with Maybelline Great Lash mascara since it's come in the same iconic pink and green tube for as long as I can remember. And it works, consistently. I was hoping that Define-A-Lash Pulse Perfection could work as well. And it does. I'll admit I was a little put off by the buzzing wand initially and I clumsily gooped it up on my first try. Once I got used to the vibrating aspect, it really did make putting on mascara quick and easy. True to its name, Define-A-Lash Pulse Perfection vibrates 7000 times per stroke, evenly darkening lashes while separating them. Once I got the hang of it, I could even swoosh the wand upwards to mimic a curling action. I was suitably impressed, although the definition you get when you take the time to curl your lashes before applying the mascara is even better.

Maybelline Define-A-Lash Pulse Perfection is available in waterproof and washable formulas and retails for about $15. Totally worth it in my book. FYI- I have sensitive eyes and wear hard contact lenses but it is gentle enough for me to use. But don't just take my word for it, see what the Elevenmoms think by clicking the button below:





Walmart and Maybelline generously included a couple of extra tubes of Define-A-Lash Pulse Perfection for me to share with my readers, too. It's available for preorder today Wal-Mart if you can't wait!


To enter and win a tube of Define-A-Lash Pulse Perfection, please comment on this post with your favorite make-up trick. There will be two winners.

Entries will be accepted through June 3rd and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.

For an additional entry, post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar), follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, fave me on Technorati or subscribe via email or subscribe via reader. Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.

Make sure you leave an email address in your comment or that you have one accessible on your blog so you can be contacted if you win!
***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Win Mums from Mums

Behold the gorgeous Mums the Word area rug by Flor.



Isn't it lovely? You can win one over at Mums the Wurd, where I wrote about my Flor addiction. Go on over and enter to win one now! It would liven up any room, I think.

Wordless Wednesday- Zoo and A Face In The Crowd

To add your own pictures this week, check out Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Loose Teeth Vintage Inspired Sundress with Petticoat GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Loose Teeth Vintage Inspired Sundress with Petticoat GUEST GIVEAWAY at Grosgrain!!!!

Mama needs a summery dress for picnics…

HealthMaster

When I was approached about reviewing Montel’s Living Well HealthMaster System, I was skeptical. I'm not one to buy things that are "as seen on TV" and although I like Montel Williams more than I would like to admit, his Living Well HealthMaster System looked like a blender. But since my blender smells like burning rubber every time I use it, I decided to bite the bullet and give this newfangled contraption a shot.



Montel’s Living Well HealthMaster System is advertised as a "fruit and vegetable emulsifier" instead of a mere blender. It's supposed to replace your blender, your mixer and your juicer to help you prepare healthy, fresh food in no time flat. The HealthMaster is not a flimsy appliance. It is a behemoth! When I unpacked it, Jasper ran up to it yelling "robot!" which is high praise in his book. It does bear a startling resemblance to Darth Vader:



Anyway, the HealthMaster ships with several recipe booklets that show you how to make a variety of smoothies, soups, drinks, and desserts. I decided to make a smoothie, since we tend to have a lot of fruit in the house at all times. I was duly impressed at the speed and ferocity with which the HealthMaster rendered ice and berries and bananas silky smooth. In my experience, homemade smoothies usually have a little bit of chunky ice or pulp, but this smoothie was totally smooth and ice cold, almost like a sorbet. One you can drink through a skinny straw.



I haven't used the HealthMaster to make a soup yet but I think that's what I'll try next. This thing is heavy duty! My only complaint about Montel’s Living Well HealthMaster System: I wish it was a little smaller for easy storage. It takes up a lot of counter space, so I don't think most people would leave it out for easy access. Which is a shame since you can literally whip up just about anything with it…

The Donut Whole

Last night after yoga, which has rather surprisingly become my new favorite thing, Hannah and Chantel and I went to The Donut Whole. Which could easily become my new new favorite thing.



It's been open a while (since January, I think), so it's mildly embarrassing that this was my maiden voyage to The Donut Whole. Bob and I actually scoped out the building it's located in way back pre-kids when we thought it would be cool to live in a warehouse-y space. Back then, the upstairs had been converted into seriously sketchy tenement-style lodger apartments but the downstairs was pretty much the coolest space ever. Sadly, they wanted too much for the building considering how much we'd have to invest in making it livable, so we ended up buying our house in the 'burbs. Well, the 'burbs that edge up on the 'hood. Anyway, I digress. Let's talk more about The Donut Whole. Or about the donuts, anyway. Look at these beauties!

top: root beer float, cinnamon roll, s'mores
bottom: sunshine citrus crunch, bumble bee, Homer J
*revised to show correct names!

I didn't eat them last night, because I am a good person and decided to share them with my family. They're really good. They would probably have been even better last night. My personal favorites were the bumble bee (chocolate cake donut with citrus icing) and the sunshine citrus crunch (buttermilk donut with citrus icing and Fruity Pebbles). Jasper was especially fond of the cinnamon roll. I must say that cinnamon roll icing was sublime. But that citrus icing is a knockout!



There were A TON of people in The Donut Whole at 10 pm on a Monday night in Wichita, Kansas. I was impressed. And they have a drive-through. (Holy crap, I think I just gained ten pounds by typing that in!) The decor provides a great repository for owner Michael Carmody's vast collection of cool stuff, too.

Mamapedia/Momfluence Vado Giveaway

This post and giveaway is brought to you by Momfluence.

Last weekend Momfluence introduced its members to a wonderful new parenting advice search engine, Mamapedia, and now we'd like you to try the site out for yourself with our new contest, "What Can I Learn Today?" One grand prize winner will win a VADO digital video camera!



To Enter:
1. Visit Mamapedia and ask any parenting question.
2. Choose how you want to enter - or choose all three for more chances to win:

• Comment to this post with your question and the answer you found
• Blog about Mamapedia on your own site sharing the question you asked and the answer you found
• Vlog about Mamapedia and your question/answer at New Baby.

3. Fill out this secure form to let us know that you entered.

It's that easy! Then join us for another SiteWarming Party on Twitter Saturday, May 23rd from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m eastern time to find out who won! There will also be several great door prizes.

Good luck!

*This contest is open to all U. S. residents 18 years or older and ends May 23rd at 9:00 p.m. eastern.

*This contest courtesy of Momfluence - Rocking the Cradle and Shaping the World.

*Thank you to New Baby for donating this VADO camera from Creative Labs to our fun event. Please check out New Baby and consider adding your own vlog!

Happy Mother's Day!

Roo outdid herself this year…




Happy Mother's Day!