Product Reviews

Being a hot mama blogger (ummmm...what?  did i really just say that?) has it's perks every now and then.  Certain people and companies want me (well, really, Zeke) to try their products out and give my opinion.  So, what it all boils down to is this:  Zeke gets a package in the mail every now and then, opens it in a very giggly manner, and plays for some undetermined amount of time with the contents of the package.  Now comes my job...I have to give feedback.  Did he like it?  Was it "dorky, mom"?  Was it yummy in the tummy?  Or was it REEEEEEEE-jected by my icky, picky 5 year-old?  Here are some results from our latest reviews:

Hexbugs:  um...hells yeah.  Let's just say the little mechanical critters are a go.  With Zeke and about 4 of his little friends.  They love them.  And really, they're just little battery-operated Legos, if you ask me...with a few plastic-y whisker/leggy things on the sides.  But, hey, the 5/6/7-year-old crowd thinks they're sweeeeet.  So be it.  Thumbs up for Hexbugs.

Nature Valley Granola Bars:  this one is simple.  He ate them.  He ate more.  And I was totally okay with him eating them since they were a healthy option to chips, cookies, candy, etc.  I love a product that gives back to the community when I spend Pauly's hard-earned money on it, so here are some nice details about what Nature Valley will do for all of us if we save our wrappers:

Since the dedication of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872, America’s parks have been visited by hundreds of millions of people who marveled at their beauty, found peace in their wildness and shared their experience with others.



However, these national treasures need care and support to help them flourish. Years of underfunding and environmental problems such as pollution and climate change are threatening our National Park system. To help preserve our national parks and ensure their existence for generations to come, join Nature Valley® and Patricia Shultz, internationally best-selling author of 1,000 Places to See Before You Die and travel industry leader, to help support the National Parks Project. This year, the National Parks Project will focus on restorative work at Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Biscayne National Parks.



To get involved, simply purchase a box of specially marked Nature Valley Bars and mail in your wrappers to the address below:



National Parks Project


PO Box 450328


El Paso, TX 88545-0328




Nature Valley will not only recycle the wrappers, but will also contribute $0.10 to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) for every wrapper received (up to $600,000 in total). To learn more about the National Parks Project and how you can make a difference, check out PreservetheParks.com today. And don’t forget to visit Nature Valley on Facebook or Nature Valley on Twitter to “Like” or “Follow” the brand. Facebook fans can enter to win a trip, as well as share photos and videos of their summer vacations. All of these sites will also feature updates on the restoration projects, as well as videos and pictures from “National Parks Project” volunteers.




There are many other ways you can enjoy the natural beauty and diverse wildlife of our national parks this summer while supporting the cause. The easiest thing you can do to support the national parks is to experience them for yourself and share them with your family – remembering as always to “take only pictures and leave your footprints.” So grab your backpack, your boots and some granola bars and go soak in the scenery.

Nature Valley provided Zeke (me) and one of my loyal readers a super-nice prize pack of goodies, including some tasty granola bars, a copy of Patricia Shultz's book, and an awesome water bottle through MyBlogSpark.  Yippeeeee...we all really enjoyed the package!

Stay tuned for more reviews as Zeke submits his opinions....

And never look back.

No, I'm not apologizing for the looooooooooooooong gap in posts.  I've been busy, people.  It's been summertime.  Summertime means fun time and that equals no time.  To post that is.  But now things are coming to a screeching halt, so I'm back.  Tons of goodies have happened, so I'll do my best to summarize:

1.  Pauly, Zeke and I went on an awesome trip to Atlantis in the Bahamas to celebrate my BIG birthday.  That's all I'm going to say about just how "big" my birthday was.  For now, we'll call it my 23rd.  But the Caribbean was amaaaaaazing, the water was gorgeous, the relaxation was primo, and I'm ready to go back.  I love collecting those stamps in my passport...

2.  Zeke started school.  Full time school.  Big time SAD for me.  I'm still not sure if I'm actually coping or just muddling my way through the empty days.  All I know is that I horribly, terribly, ridiculously, insanely MISS my baby boy.  I wonder all day every day if he's okay, if he needs me for anything, if he's hungry, if he's thirsty, if he has to go to the potty, if he's too hot, if he's too cold, if he needs a tissue, if he needs a wet wipe, if he bumped his head and needs an icepack (very possible), if he wants me to read him a story, if he wants apples and peanut butter, if he wants to go to the park to ride his Razor Scooter, if he wants to play Club Penguin on his laptop, or if he needs a Band Aid.  Mostly I worry that my baby just needs his mommy to give him a kiss and tell him that he's the most fabulous kid on earth and that he's so smart that when he grows up he could most likely rule the universe.  Five year olds need that.  And five year olds need their mommies.  So why is he in school all day?  Not sure if that was a good decision on my part yet...(insert lots of sobby, wet tears here).

3.  My dove breeding days have slowed.  I'm down to one singular dove.  After a series of events including the sad euthanasia of the "wacky-legged dove", I'm left with the original mommy dove of the flock.  She's a gorgeous ring necked girl who has become quite the talker.  I really do love her but fear that she's lonely.  It's that teeny, tiny nagging fear in the back of my mind that could very well lead to yet another round of dove breeding if I cave in and get the little mama a "friend".  Oh boy...

4.  Zeke is playing football and I'm not sure I like it.  I'm happy that he's enjoying a new team sport, but the mommy side of me wonders why they call it "flag football"?  The kids are tackle-crazed and forget to go for the flags about 90% of the time.  And to top it all off, they don't wear helmets.  :(

And that's about it.  Or at least what I can recall in the haze of what was a super nice summer.  I enjoyed each day with my boy, with our friends, and with my hubby.  I'll always kinda' remember this summer as the "last one"...the one of innocence for Zeke...the one before he stepped into the cold, cruel, crazy real world of the 9 to 5 grind.  There's no going back for him now.  But somehow, I don't think he really minds.