Scrutiny by the Masses

V8 V-Fusion Sparkling Juice

If you know anything about me, you know that I am a HUGE fan of V8 V-Fusion. I was lucky enough to go on a trip to their headquarters and it remains as one of my most fond memories in all of the great stuff I get to do as a blogger.

I buy V8 V-fusion by the truckloads. I think, conservatively, we go through 10 bottles a month. Probably more than that. I buy the little cans for the kids to take to school. One thing my kids have asked for, though, is a sparkling juice - something more like a soda. There are always options available, but I am hesitant to purchase them because they are often not healthy choices. Thankfully, V8 V-Fusion has come to my rescue.

V8 V-Fusion Sparkling is the newest addition to the V8 family. This delicious juice drink is available in three flavors— Black Cherry Pomegranate, Strawberry Lemonade and Tangerine Raspberry. I was able to sample these drinks at Blissdom and fell immediately in love with them. As a bonus, not only do they taste delicious, but an 8-ounce can of V-Fusion Sparkling provides a combined serving of fruit and vegetables – all for 60 calories!

To celebrate the launch of V8 V-Fusion Sparkling, the lovely folks at V8 are going to help make your spring sparkle too with a gift pack for one lucky reader. The gift pack includes:

• V8 V-Fusion Sparkling
• Gaiam Yoga/Gym tote with an easy-reach outside pocket for your refreshments
• A  Philosophy Raspberry bubble bath to add some refreshing bubbles to your bath
• A $25 Sephora gift card to help you sparkle inside and out
• An Essie nail polish to add some sparkle to your nails
• A versatile to-go cup so you can quench your thirst with an iced V8 V-Fusion Sparkling on-the-go

I can personally attest to how cool this bag is. We took it with us as a carry on when we went to Puerto Rico and it performed admirably. We use the cup every morning and, of course, the drinks are long gone. You know you want this kit.

To enter, please leave me a comment telling me your favorite flavor of V8 V-Fusion. If you don't have one, take a look here and tell me which one you'd like to try! This contest is open to residents of the United States age 18 or over and will close on Sunday, April 22 2012 at 11:59 p.m.

Food Fights - a Review and a Giveaway

I was compensated for my review of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Recently, I was sent two copies of the new book Food Fights: Winning the Nutritional Challenges of Parenthood Armed with Insight, Humor and a Bottle of Ketchup.

Food, our children, and the relationship between them has been a topic near and dear to me for several years. I worked in a school cafeteria and was able to see, first hand, some of the struggles that go into feeding hundreds of children on a daily basis - and to see what many parents feel is the best choice of foods to feed their kids. Some parents are doing a stellar job - and some parents, not so great. I remember seeing an overwhelming amount of lunchables, candy coated granola bars, florescent yogurts and sodas, not to mention cookies and candy bars, in the vast majority of lunch boxes.

This book does an excellent job, from birth to teenager and beyond, of breaking down the food myths and explaining things in an easy to understand manner. With simple yet powerful information boxes spelling out the high points of each section, this book makes child nutrition easy to understand.

Want a copy? Leave me your best child nutrition tip and I'll draw one lucky winner.

Here's an excerpt from Food Fights, discussing one of the most hotly contended topics - JUICE:

The answer to whether or not young children should be allowed to
drink juice on a regular basis has been a bit of a sticky one for years.
After all, the fight against childhood obesity has most definitely included
a focus on limiting sugary liquids. And juice—whether it is delivered in
a box or carton, sippy cup or straw—most definitely contains sugar. In
fact, when we set out to write the first edition of Food Fights, the latest
research at the time had us all but convinced that fruit juice was almost
as much to blame for childhood obesity (not to mention tooth decay)
as soda pop. Sugar was sugar, after all, and it was hard to look past
the fact that a 12-ounce serving of 100% grape juice had been shown
to have 11/2 times the calories as grape soda. Additionally, a few small
initial studies suggested a worrisome connection between obesity in
young children and their fruit juice consumption. But unlike soda pop
and its utter lack of redeeming nutritional qualities, 100% fruit juice has since proven itself
significantly more worthy of further nutritional consideration. Several
subsequent large national studies have revealed some interesting findings
about kids, juice, nutrition, and obesity, not the least of which has
been the lack of an association between drinking 100% fruit juice andan increased likelihood of children being or becoming overweight.
These new findings have led us to reassess our take on juice, and to
reformulate our own juice-related advice for parents accordingly.

A Convenient Juice Box

If and when you plan on incorporating juice into your child’s diet responsibly,we suggest the following approach:

• Make sure it’s pure fruit juice. Fruit drinks that aren’t 100% juice typically
contain added sugars and/or sweeteners that can up both the cavity and
calorie counts.

• Hold off on introducing your child to juice for at least his first year and
refrain from serving it in a bottle.

• Avoid letting your child sip on juice (or any other sugar-containing liquid,
for that matter) for prolonged periods. Whether by bottle, sippy cup, or
cup, bathing one’s teeth in sugary liquids can cause serious tooth decay.

• Consider diluting it with water.

• Encourage your child to eat fresh, whole fruits whenever available.

• Whenever possible, serve juice that contains pulp for added fiber.

• Make sure juice doesn’t entirely drown out your child’s interest in drinking
milk and water.

• Buy only pasteurized products (shelf-stable juices, frozen concentrates,
or specially marked refrigerated juices) to avoid potential diarrhea-causing
infections.

• While the American Academy of Pediatrics does suggest 100% fruit juice
as an acceptable part of a healthy diet, be aware that it’s wise to offer it in
age-appropriate moderation (none under 6 months of age and no more
than 4 to 6 ounces a day for older infants and children).

• Keep an eye out for warning signs of excessive juice intake, such as tooth
decay and “toddler’s diarrhea.” Not only do young kids tend to suck on
sugary liquids for prolonged periods when allowed, thus putting their newly
acquired teeth at considerable risk., but kids
between the ages of 2 and 3 tend to have the highest juice consumption—
in some instances enough to cause persistent diarrhea.

The Listerine Oral Care Challenge Comes to a Close

I was provided with product and compensated for my participation in the Oral Care Challenge. However, all thoughts and opinions are all my own.

Not quite a month ago, we began the Listerine Oral Care Challenge. We were provided with floss, toothbrushes and Listerine and as we used the products twice a day, we were to notate how clean our mouths felt.

The older kids in my family were a dismal flop. Apparently, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them use floss OR Listerine. You can, however, coerce an 8, 9 and 12 year old by giving them their very!own!bottle! of Barbie, Phineas and Ferb or Batman Listerine.

My younger kids took to the product like great gangbusters. I merely had to say, "Time to floss, brush and rinse!" and there they went. My youngest in particular was extremely enthusiastic and I'm fairly certain we've created a convert. My 9 year old was not quite as accepting, but one small reminder of the two fillings that she had to have done made her an entire convert. She NEVER wants to go through that again. They both loved the way that their mouths felt - "Very clean, Mom!"

My 12 year old proclaimed it to be the perfect blend of just a little bit spicy and just a little bit not. Not only that, it had his favorite superhero - and we can do a lot if Batman asks us.

I'll admit it - I've not been a fan of Listerine before. It's too spicy, leaves my mouth on fire and I don't care how good it works - I can't stand the taste. I agreed to try the newer formulation - and I'm a convert. I tried the Fresh Mint, which was, oddly enough, a light pinkish/purple color - and I really loved how it left my mouth feeling clean and tidy at the end of the day. A few nights, I went to bed without rinsing - and I got up just to do so - my teeth didn't feel as clean as they did when I used the Listerine.

It's now on the shopping list. ")

I am an avid flosser - some might say that I've overwhelmingly anal about it. The Cleanpaste is a newer formulation, and I thought it was a wonderful product, given that I have a few teeth that are very, very tight. With regular floos, it often shreds when I'm trying to use it - but the Cleanpaste goes right through.

For more information, check out the Healthy Habits for a Lifetime page - there's some really good info there.

The Motherhood, WalMart and Listerine would like to give you $100  to help you restock your bathroom with new toothbrushes, floss and Listerine for your entire family. To enter, share your best tips for encouraging your family to engage in healthy oral care habits. Those who provide their tips will be entered for a chance to win LISTERINE® and REACH® product samples to step-up their oral care routine and a $100 Walmart gift card to continue the healthy habit.

No purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia, Eighteen (18) years of age or older. Sweepstakes end March 30, 2012. Prize(s) provided by Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products, a division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules for complete details. Prize will be fulfilled in a 4-6 week timespan.

Hallmark's "Tell Them" - Let Others Know You Care

It can sometimes be difficult to tell a person how you feel. Maybe you don't have trouble getting the words out, but you don't say it nearly enough - or maybe the words tend to get stuck in your throat. 

Like me.

Luckily, Hallmark, the company that always, ALWAYS seems to get it right - has stuck gold with their new campaign. Hallmark has launched a new Tell Them Facebook page and application. You can visit Tell Them on Facebook and “vow to tell” someone in your life what you think he/she needs to hear.

Who are you vowing to tell? What do you want to tell them?

 The campaign commercial that debuts this week shines a light on what Tell Them is all about. Have you seen this really touching commercial?

 

To help me Tell Someone, Hallmark has sent me a set of cards - I can't tell you who I'm sending them to - it's a surprise! - but I'd love to be able to give you a set of your own. To enter, leave me a comment telling me who you would "Love to Tell". Is it your mom, grandmother or husband? What about your neighbor, best friend or college roommate?

This is a super short contest and will close on 2/12 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Julep Maven - Beauty in a Box

I was supplied a Julep Maven Beauty Box for my perusal, in order to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I am a nail polish junkie. I'm also a hair product junkie - AND you might as well add some makeups into that rotation as well. I love to have my nails "did" and have a collection of polishes that you'd have to see to believe.

What I'm trying to say is, Sephora is one of my favorite stores. :)

I was excited to be contacted to review the new Julep Maven line of beauty. It's a program designed to bring the newest and greatest beauty products to your door.

From their site:  We launched our new Julep Maven program to give all of our girlfriends access to the beauty editor Sneak Peek Box we create every month.  As a Julep Maven, you will have access to the hottest trends in nail color and the latest Mani Care and Pedi Care products - delivered right to your doorstep, just like the beauty editors do.  And you'll have access to these trends and products before anyone else.

We know that tailoring and customizing each editor delivery is critical to gaining her attention and enthusiasm, so every Sneak Peek Box we send you will be tailored to your needs and preferences.  Just take our fun and easy Julep Maven Style Quiz to help us understand your style profile.

The box I was sent contained two nail polishes - one light gray, very cool, and the other an amazingly interesting gold glitter - I'm saving that for Blissdom.

 

It also held a new hairspray that I'd never heard of, which has become my new favorite.

AND - a bonus - a good size dark chocolate block to snack on, in the shape of an Oscar! Win- win, in my book.The box was beautifully wrapped, and I didn't realize until I researched this post that the February box was created with the Oscars in mind, so the red and gold is completely appropriate!

The polishes are all free from DBP, toluene, formaldehyde and formaldehyde resin- but beautiful and long lasting nonetheless.

Would you like to win a box of your own? Leave me a comment here, telling me your favorite color of nail polish - and one winner will be chosen at random to receive their very own Julep box. In addition, if you sign up and use the code "SCREAMINGMASSES" at checkout, you will receive your first Julep Maven Sneak Peek Box for just $5! (valued over $40).

This contest is open to residents of the United States AND Canada who are over 18 years of age. This contest will close on 2/13/2011 at 11:59 p.m.

Shabby Apple - Beautiful, Stylish and Affordable

I was compensated for this review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love to wear dresses. I think that they make me look more pulled together, more classy, and wearing a dress just makes me feel more feminine. It can be difficult to find a great dress that either a) doesn't look like I'm on my way to the club or b) qualifies me as the most covered up woman this side of Iraq.

There's gotta be a good looking compromise, is my point.

Shabby Apple delivers on that point.

Founded by two women who were tired of the inability to find stylish dresses that were modest, Shabby Apple has become synonymous with stylish clothes that need no tank top or cardigan to be beautifully modest and attractive.In their store descriptor, they say: Wehave designed dresses that  are “A return to what dresses were always meant to be — a one-piece outfit. No need to add anything…no tank tops, no cardigans, nothing (except accessories, of course!).

I love their dresses, and I was thrilled to be able to try one for myself - and have the opportunity to offer the same dress to one of my readers! I looked at the website for a long time. I went back and forth between a few dresses, but this was my ultimate choice:

Nothin' Like a Dame

(I have no idea why the photo is so small.) Click the link to see the dress in all it's glory.

The fabric is soft, the dress is flattering and this dress has quickly become one of my favorites.

Want to win one of your own? Like Shabby Apple on Facebook and leave me a comment telling me you did so for one entry. Leave me a comment telling me your favorite Shabby Apple dress - visit the site and pick one, and make sure you have a LOT of time to look! - for a second entry.  

This giveaway will run from 1/12/2012 to 1/18/2012 at 11:59 p.m. It is open to US residents only. You must be 18 to enter.

Bake Up Some Fun with Entemann's

I was sent product to facilitate this post. All opinions expressed are all my own.

Entemann's, the well known bakery, has come out with a new book, full of images and recipes, guaranteed to help you become the best baker possible. Kathleen Robbins has been the Master Baker in Research and Development at Entenmann's Bakery for the past 21 years. She's spent this time in the lab and the bakery at Entenmann's creating innovative and delicious products from classic Ultimate dessert cakes to portable Little Bites snack products. My family loves baked gods of all kinds and Entemann's is a favorite - especially the cheese danish. My oldest boy could eat an entire danish in one sitting.

The first third of this book is devoted to recipes you can create using the Entemann's products - donuts, crumb cakes, lemon loaf and the like. We wanted to go rogue, though, and had some friends over to make Vanilla sugar cookies.

 

The recipe was *very* easy and didn't require fancy ingredients or tons of work, and the results were, well - judge for yourself!

And this is where a photo goes of the finished product - but I can't, because WE ATE THEM ALLLLL.

Yes, they were *that* good.

Want to win a copy of this book for your own? Leave me a comment with your favorite Entemann's product before 11:59 p.m. on 12/28 and one winner will be chosen at random. US residents only, please.

Reverse Charades - Silly Fun for the Entire Family

I was sent two copies of this game to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Reverse charades. What an amazing, awesome game. I've never laughed so hard in my life.

Available in two versions, one for the family and one geared towards younger players, this raucous game is very similar to regular charades - except that teams have 60 seconds to act out (without speaking) as many words as one person can guess.  The words are weird and wacky - think synchronized swimming, piñata, paparazzi, dogpile, leapfrog, pillow fight or CPR.

Yeah. Picture your Great Aunt Tilly acting out CPR.

Reverse Charades was seen on the Today Show, where it was proclaimed "So easy a 5 year old could play!" and that's not far from the truth. My 7 year old had a total and complete ball with this game. Reverse Charades has won many awards, including Creative Child's Game of the Year and the AARP Best Holiday gift under $50. Reverse Charades also won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award.

Intrigued? You should be.

I'm giving away one copy of Reverse Charades and I'd love for you to win it. To enter, please leave me a comment telling me your favorite party game - either wiht your family or a group of friends. One lucky winner will be drawn at random to win this fabulously fun game. This contest is open to residents of the United States only and will close on December 23 at 11:59 p.m.

Bacci - Fashionable, Fearless and Fun

Recently, I was contacted by a new company. The Bacci Couture Collection, sold in upscale women's boutiques, is set to take the world by storm. Junior inspired but missy sized - and those words are super important, if you are a missy sized woman who doesn't want to look like she's wearing her daughter's clothes - this is a company after my own heart.

When it comes to their garments Bacci says, “An essential aspect of fashion is that it is one of the most influential, accessible forms of art. Fashion is a direct projection of your personality, mood, etc. Depending on the weather or occasion, you want your clothes to reflect how you feel in that moment. Bacci is here to help inspire you daily.”  The clothing offered is stylish, well constructed and appealing.

I was sent two pieces in order to facilitate my review. I loved them as soon as I opened the package. The fabrics were heavy, the jewel tones bright and crisp and the detail work superb. The sizing was a bit off for me, though, and I wasn't able to wear either outfit. My daughter's friend was in love with both outfits, and she was delighted to be able to take them home.

She looks so cute. She's wearing the Charlotte here.

I was also sent the Cassie. I absolutely adored this dress and handing it over was a pain in my heart.

I have a tough time finding fashionalbe clothing that won't break the bank and yet looks both stylish and attractive and, well, let's face it - not matronly. I've picked out several pieces from the line and plan to purchase them after the holidays.

Want to win one of the above dresses? It's super easy. Just like Bacci on Facebook and come back and tell me. One winner will be drawn at random to win one of these very attractive dresses.

It's easier than ever to dress beautifully with Bacci in your corner.

It's the BEST BED in the WHOLE WORLD

And it could be in your house. In your room. And under your tookus.

A bed like THIS.

I won a Split King Tempurpedic mattress, with the Ergo Adjustable base, at Blogher this past summer. I hung out at that booth so often, and laid on that bed for so long, that if I didn't win the bed, my husband was going to have to buy me one - just to shut me up.

And this new bed did NOT come one moment too soon.

When we married, we bought a waterbed. After ten years, the water mattress heater was found to have overheated and melted the bottom of the mattress - and so we replaced the water part with a regular mattress in the same frame. And on that we slept, for another TEN years.

And, well, here's the dirt on that.

  

The point of that video - beside to illustrate the fact that I take HORRIBLE video - is that I literally could not find one comfortable spot on that bed. I like to sleep on my right side, and as a result, I'd developed a sore spot - mostly due to a broken spring - and there were many hours during the night that I tossed and turned and banged my head against the mattress in frustration.

No more.

This bed is the coolest -soft, comfortable TEMPUR material that cradles and supports your body and completely relieves any "hot spots" you may have developed. You no longer have to chose between comfort and support, as the TEMPUR-PEDIC mattress supplies both, in spades.

Sleeping with a partner? No more waking up as your partner rolls over - the mattress allows you to sleep virtually unbothered, no matter how much tossing and turnig occurs on the other side. This was HUGE for me, as I'm (stunner, I know) a very light sleeper.

The Adjustable Ergo base will elevate your head, your feet, or BOTH if you feel like making a sandwich of yourself - hey, I'm not saying anything if you want to do that. The massage feature will roll your entire body, or just the upper or lower half - especially awesome if you exercise and are super sore.

Comfort alert - do you have a spouse who snores? We made the amazingly stunning discovery that if you elevate the bed just about 10% - your spouse will.not.snore. As in, at all. We've tried special expensive pillows, breath right strips, and just about everything else - and the raising of the bed solved the issue.

So, if you'd like to win one of these fancy-schmancy wonder beds, I'm thrilled to be able to give one away to a lucky reader. You can enter to win in one of two ways. Here are the deets:

A) Create your own video entry. With a length of less than 1 minute, record a video telling me why you need a new bed - keep it clean, guys - I don't need your personal issues in the bedroom, if you catch my drift. Make it creative, make it fun - make me laugh and you've got a great opportunity. Add a photo or some type of art work to catch my attention and really make your entry stand out!

B) Not video inclined? Don't despair! Write an essay, no more than 500 words, telling me why you need a new bed. Same details as above!

MOST IMPORTANT:

Post your (less than 500 words, please) essay here, on this blog post, in the comment section. Post your video to YouTube and send me the link so I can check it out. Tell your friends, tell your neighbors!

This contest will run from 12/9/2011 to 12/16/2011 at 11 p.m. EST. I'll choose the top five most creative entries, which will be posted here and go to second round voting. These winners will be announced on 12/17, and the Grand Prize winner will be selected on 12/20 - just in time for the Christmas holiday!

IN ADDITION: If you tweet the following, you will be entered into a drawing, to be chosen randomly, for a $25 Starbucks gift card. This comes from me. You must post a link to your tweet - to do so, click on the time stamp below your tweet, and when it appears on a page alone, highlight the permalink and leave it in the comment section. You MUST leave a working email address. The more times you tweet, the more times you are entered! Tweet this: @mttsm is giving away a #tempurpedic bed! Be creative and enter to win a split king ergo!  http://bit.ly/tpSNsY

So get busy, get creative, and tell me why you want to win a bed of this magnitude!

Rules: Must be 18 years of age to enter. Open to US residents only.