Sponsored: It smells a lot like the holidays!! #FebrezeHoliday

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks and Febreze. I received a fun and great smelling kit from Febreze to facilitate this review. The opinions within are my own. 

 It is that time of year again. Merry Berry and Bright. Cranberry that is. And apple and cinnamon. Yum. Nothing makes me feel as festive as the wonderful scents of late fall into winter. I love the smell of baked goods, delicious autumn fruit and berries throughout the house.   I was so excited to receive a great little package from Febreze that included: 

1. Cranberry Cider Febreze  Set and Refresh.  A stand alone Air Freshner in a wonderful cheery holiday scent.  Right away, I opened the package and voila it was ready to set down wherever I wanted. I put it in the downstairs bathroom for now. But, may be moving it around depending on my mood. 

2.  Febreze Noticeables warmer. Plug it in and there are 2 scents that alternate. How cool. You can also adjust the intensity of the scent, which helps if I have it upstairs in or near a bedroom.

3. Febreze Noticeables Special Edition apple cider and cranberry frost.   The combination of scents takes me back to pretty much every fall in the Hudson Valley when we apple pick, head out for outdoor Pumpkin or Corn festivals and hike. I love the fresh, fruity scent. It is warm and inviting and smells just like Fall should. 

What memories do you think of when you smell Apple Cider?Or cranberries?  Are you ready for the holidays?

Important Links for Febreze (and where to buy it!! ):

• Website: Febreze at Walmart!
• Program Hashtag: #FebrezeHoliday on Twitter
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/febreze 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/febreze_fresh 

Upcoming Review: Batter Babies

Dear Readers:

 This week at Preschool Ana is learning all about Bears, including bringing in her favorite bear and having a bear picnic :)  On Friday we will be bringing in Black and white panda bear cupcakes made with our Batter Babies.  So our photos will be Live Thursday night :) In the meantime know that:

 Batter Babies are cake batter separators made specifically for cupcakes.  With them, you can make half & half cupcakes - either flavor or color combinations.  Made of a food-grade plastic, they are reusable and dishwasher safe.  Cool huh? So we will be using them with lots of cute photos and I will tell you how they come out!

Always remember:
 Remove before baking.   And they are so simple to use, even children can create their favorite cupcake flavor/color combinations.

Want to know more right now? Cannot wait to see more on Thursday??Visit www.kimbercakeware.com for more information.

And the important Links:

• Kimber cakeware on Facebook
• Kimber Cakeware on Twitter

Check out this cute video at Youtube:

Come back for the full color photos and our immediate review on Thursday, I cannot wait to make these with Ana!!!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Review: WEXY ecofriendly snack bags, adorable bags for Ana's snacks!

Dear Readers:

 Ana and I were so excited to receive and try out the aorable WEXY snack bags. I love that they are eco friendly, biodegradable, BPA Free, Recyclable , and reusable and Ana loves the cute little monster designs. She thinks it is fun to pick out a bag and pack her pretzels, Goldfish, animal crackers, raisins, almonds etc. for the park, playground or a roadtrip. They are the perfect size and hold a good amount for a toddler's snack. Plus, I like how long they last!

(I will insert a cute photo of Ana with her WEXY bag tomorrow, Monday afternoon).

All the deets:

•  Made in the USA.
•  WEXY bags feature four funky monsters that all kids love.
•  Colorful and fun!

Check out this cute video:

You can find out more at the links here:

• Official WEXY site
• WEXY on Facebook
• WEXY on Twitter
• WEXY on LinkedIn

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Review: Pajanimals Bedtime Routine Board by TOMY

 Dear Readers:

   The one thing that D and I have folllowed through with since Ana was a baby was a nighttime routine. We have pretty much had the same one for a long long time and I think it works for Ana. Trying out The Pajanimals Bedtime Routine Board by TOMY has made it even easier. 

 Plus it "makes bedtime fun and helps little ones transition from play time to bedtime. The board highlights pre-bedtime activities such as taking a bath, brushing teeth, putting pajamas on and getting into bed. Fun sounds ping as your child slides each character to perform and complete each task. Complete all tasks to hear the “La-La-Lullaby” theme song." from the company! 

After Bathtime and into Pajamas.

  Pretty much every night is the same. At bedtime, a bath, then pajamas, take the vitamins/brush teeth and get into our bed for story time. Ana has such fun sliding the characters and making the sounds and music play. She wants to even skip ahead sometimes to hear the end song (naughty! ).  Ana really loves the sliding factor and how easy it is to follow. Big characters for small hands, cute sounds and a soothing song that she can relate to, equal fun. Lovely. 

Brusha Brusha....

Ana loves to brush her teeth and couldn't wait to slide the button down to the brusha brusha time!

Here are all the details about the Pajanimals Bedtime Board:

Ages: 12 months to 6 years
MSRP: $29.99, Walmart.com and Amazon.com

And finally its time for the lullaby and lights

Her favorite part, when all is done and it is time for the lullaby and good night songs from mama and daddy! 

And the important links you need to know:

• Company website: http://tomy.com/pajanimals
• Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tomy.toy   
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tomy_Toy    
• Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/tomytoy/pajanimals-toys/
• Link to sign up for the TOMY newsletter - http://tomy.com/register        

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Starkist Tuna Creations Sample and Share on #crowdtap

Hello Dear Readers:
 I received a complimentary sample of Starkist Tuna Creations in Ranch to facilitate this review. All opinions within are my own.

I love salad. I eat a salad almost everyday and sometimes twice. I like it plain, with lots of veggies, with proteins on top, any which way. Salad is my life. So, I was excited to try out the Starkist Tuna Creations in Ranch. I opened the packet (single sized serving, how easy!!) and mixed it into my green salad. It was light tasting, and quite delicious. Not too overpowering or ranchy.

 I love tuna, and I usually do not use mayo, but eat it plain. I like to throw it in with lettuce and cucumbers and a little hot pepper. But this packet has everything included and already mixed, so I dont have to lift a tuna finger. Easy Peasy. And low calorie.  Thanks Crowdtap. Now, I have another healthy choice for my lunches!

Check out the Starkist Site for more info and flavors including: Ranch, Herb and Garlic, Lemon Pepper, Hickory Smoked and Sweet and Spicy (which I have had several times and loved!! ).  Which one would you love to try??


Also:

• Starkist on Facebook
• Starkist on Twitter

Thanks Crowdtap and Starkist for this review ;)

Review: Kind Bars are so much more than KIND @KINDsnacks

Dear Readers:

Thanks to KIND for sending me a delicious box of yummy bars. I have been oogling them for some time and couldnt wait to try the:

Pomegranate Blueberry Pistachio Antioxident Kind Plus Bar!Those are three of my favorite ingredients (especially for Fall), and all together they are a great mix in this bar of salty/sweet and gooey yumminess. In one word: Delicious.  Also in the box were:

Almonds and Apricots in Yogurt.  Sound good? Ugh, yeah! They are THAT good.  I dont often eat sweets or dessert and these bars definitely satisfied that sweet craving that I get once in a while, without all the bad stuff. Just good stuff. An even better than the amazing ingredients is the message behind KIND.  From the company:

 " KIND Healthy Snacks has teamed up with Dr. Elizabeth Thompson, radiation oncologist and founder of BFFL Co to offer a limited-edition BreastBFFL Bag for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The limited edition Breast BFFLBag (http://bfflco.com/product/limited-edition-breast-bfflbag/) contains all the essential items a women needs during the first days following breast cancer surgery including KIND bars, a toiletries kit, amusement pack, skinceuticals, comfort pillow, drainage pack, collapsible water bottle, and expandable folder for important paperwork.

 For every bag sold in October, KIND will donate an extra $5 to Friends Fighting Breast Cancer. You can purchase the bag for a woman in your life who is recovering from breast cancer or "Do the KIND Thing" by purchasing one to donate to an anonymous, deserving patient. Can't commit financially - no worries!

  Within each of the donated bags we will be including words of encouragement from women across the country. Submit your note to one of these brave women anywhere on KIND's Facebook wall (http://facebook.com/kindsnacks) or to bfflco@kindsnacks.com and we'll be sure it makes its way to a deserving patient.

 Gift a @bfflco bag to a breast cancer patient & @KINDsnacks will donate $5 to @FFBC1
http://bit.ly/14mEI2I

Giving back is #kindawesome Help @KINDsnacks & @bfflco share notes of
encouragement to be delivered to breast cancer patients: email them to bfflco@kindsnacks.com

Check out Kind's facebook page to stay up with this campaign and help out where you can!!



 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Beginning Ballet at Dutchess School of Performing Arts with Ms Denyse Looney

  Since Ana was very young, she showed an interest in dance and music. And really, how could she not. I played all types of music for her since she was in the womb: Nina Simone, Jazz, Blues,Rock and Pop,  Broadway etc.  One of the first songs she knew the words to was "Bushel and a Peck" from Guys and Dolls.   We would constantly  put on a cd soundtrack or Broadway Pandora channel and dance around the house, giggling.

   It was obvious that Ana had a natural rhythm and after several seasons of Music Together, knew how to drum out a beat in time. But, could she point her toes and move in time to slow classical music? I didn't know. All that I DID know is she really really wanted to take ballet. It was an important impetus for her to potty train (after all : Ballerinas do NOT wear diapers).  So when she turned 3, I started looking for a ballet school for her.

   I should have prefaced this blog entry with the information that I studied ballet for many, many years. And although I knew I would never be a ballerina, I loved how it taught me grace and the basic movements that I needed to be a Broadway style dancer. I did work on some music videos, touring musicals and cabaret style shows before I moved onto voice-over and film. And I do miss dance. And, I will take classes again. I know it.

 In the meantime, I knew that I wanted Ana to take a class that was fun, but really did teach her ballet and the basic steps to form a strong base for her dance career, be it short or long.  One of the schools that I called was the Dutchess School of Performing Arts in Poughkeepsie.  Right away, I knew it was a match for Ana and I.  I spoke with Ms Denyse Looney , the Head Ballerina and Creator of the School. She understood how important it was for me that Ana be trained in proper technique but with fun, as she is only 3.  I didn't want her to take a class that was silly, and just jumping around a lot, but one that really taught her the language and basics of ballet.

 So we went in and took a sample class to see if it was a fit. And I have to admit, I was more than impressed and she has been dancing there ever since.   Ana has really taken a liking to Ms Denyse and she is learning her positions as well as tendus, and other basic steps.  Denyse is patient, and makes learning ballet fun while combining the grace, structure and proper posture for Ana.  We love her. I can only hope that Ana loves to dance as much as I do, and that she will study dance for many years to come.  If she is serious, graceful,  and has the physique of a ballerina as she grows, I will full on support her in her dance career.

If you are looking for a school of dance that will really teach your child to dance in a nurturing way, please do check out the Dutchess School of Performing Arts.  I am hoping that one or two of Ana's friends will join us and see how amazing this class is.

The studio (gorgous and bright)

 The location is brand new, spacious and clean. It is a beautiful dance space , light and airy and ready for grace and beauty.  Check out all of the info and photos at their new website and make sure to follow on facebook for master classes and announcements!

Main Website: Dutchess School of Performing Arts
Facebook Page: Dutchess School of PA on Facebook