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I struggle with trying to find healthy food options for breakfast and snack time. When I'm hungry, quick and easy is the best. I'm particularly fond of smoothies, but I don't often make them because either I don't have all the ingredients needed or I'm feeling too lazy to locate them and put them all in the blender.

Recently, thanks to MyBlogSpark, I had the opportunity to try out Yoplait Frozen Smoothies. This smoothie mix is found in the freezer section of the grocery store. The smoothie package contains Yoplait frozen yogurt chips and frozen fruit -- everything needed to make your own fruit smoothie, with the exception of milk. All that you need to do is dump the contents into your blender and add milk (the package says to use skim, but I used 2% because that is what we had on hand.) It only takes a couple of minutes to make a delicious drink.

The mix comes in four different flavors: Blueberry Pomegranate, Triple Berry, Strawberry Banana, and Strawberry Mango Pineapple. One package makes two servings and each serving contains only 110 to 120 calories.

We tried out the Triple Berry flavor containing strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, and I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the package and noticed the large frozen real fruit chunks. Instead of adding 1 cup of milk, we added a little more to make a thinner smoothie that the kids would be able to drink with a straw. I like my smoothies thicker so next time I'll follow the package directions. It only took a minute for the blender to mix up the batch, and we had a nice, frothy cold drink to enjoy. It's an easy, peasy, no fuss way to a yummy smoothie. The smoothie tasted as good as anything I've made from scratch, and I love that it contains calcium and live and active yogurt cultures. My son loved his "shake." Unfortunately my daughter was less excited about it because it contains seeds. Someday soon I hope she'll get over her seeds in food issue! I plan to keep a few packages on hand for when I'm craving a light and cold fruit-filled snack.

Even though MyBlogSpark sent along an awesome 3-speed KitchenAid® Blender to use, we decided to use our own, not-as-fancy blender to review the product and will donate the lovely new KitchenAid to a charity. I'm sure a deserving family will really appreciate receiving it during the holidays.



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Norah Jones has the kind of timeless voice that I never tire of hearing. Her mellow, rich melodies envelope like a warm, fuzzy blanket and carry the listener away to a calm and slower paced world. Every time I listen to one of her albums I have the urge to grab a cup of coffee, sit in a comfy chair and observe the world as time passes by. The talented singer shows off her musical versatility in her newest album, ...Featuring Norah Jones. The album released last week on November 16th and is a collection of various collaborations with well known artists including the Foo Fighters, Ray Charles and Dolly Parton.

The 18 songs on the album were recorded over the last decade and showcase a wide range of musical styles. Some of my favorites include the "Virginia Moon" (with Foo Fighters) with it's jazzy, bossanova beat and "Ruler of My Heart" (with Dirty Dozen Brass Band), a bluesy song sung with attitude and heart. And, of course, November is the ideal time to listen to Norah's version of "Baby It's Cold Outside" (with Willie Nelson). The two banter back and forth together so perfectly, they could have wrote the spicy song. Another favorite toward the end of the album is a cover of an 80s song originally sung by Roxy Music, "More Than This" (with Charlie Hunter). Norah's sultry, jazzy style gives the song a whole new life. If you're a Norah Jones fan, make sure to add this album to your Christmas list.

And make sure to check out the interactive widget below. It is probably one of the coolest widgets I've come across. You can click on the names to hear snippets of the songs and watch videos of Norah discussing the various collaborations on the album.

My kids have never seen an ocean. They've never walked on the sand or felt the waves lap at their feet. They've never heard the ocean roar, though I know they'd love the sound. They like pretending to hear the ocean by holding Grandma's large conch shell to their ears. When you live in the Midwest, a trip to the ocean is a vacation, something that takes planning and time. Someday we'll take the kids to visit an ocean. But for now, they'll have to experience it in books and on film. Disney's latest release, Disneynature: Oceans Blu-ray & DVD is a great place to start.

Disneynature: Oceans premiered in U.S. theaters on Earth Day 2010. The Blu-ray/DVD combo just came out on October 19th and we had the chance to preview it in our home. Wow, the cinematography in this masterfully produced documentary really is spellbinding. My kids sat entranced for a good portion of the movie, soaking in the fascinating, crystal clear photography and expressive narration by James Brosnan. It really feels like you are right there in that underwater world alongside the extraordinary creatures and sights.

The documentary explores all five oceans (the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and Antarctic (or Southern) Ocean). In the beginning of the film children run along the beach and a young boy pauses to contemplate the sight as the narrator remarks, "to really know the ocean, you have to live it." For one hour and 24 minutes, viewers truly live it and gain a special appreciation for the "universe of wonder and mystery" through the amazing sights and sounds caught on film.

One of my favorite quotes from Oceans is when the narrator remarks, "Down here it's like nature has given everything a try." Views get a chance to witness a variety of different species, all living in their natural habitats -- yellow clouds of jellyfish, mobula rays, a extraordinary blanket octopus, curious sea lions, humpback whales waking up from a slumber, a leafy sea dragon, a strange looking Asian sheepshead wrasse -- the list goes on and on. There's a touching scene with a walrus mother cradling her baby. In one particularly powerful scene, dolphins jump and swim with speed through the water, herding a large school of fish together while sea bird dive down snatching the fish in their beaks. An impressively large whale joins the feast -- what a sight!

GOTCHA!! But I sure got your attention, didn't I!?!?

In my grandparents' spare bedroom there's a gray wig sitting on top of a stand. It's my grandmother's wig. She bought it over 25 years ago when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I can't remember the first time I learned what the word cancer meant. I can't remember much about the time when my grandmother went through her cancer treatments. But I remember the wig. I remember thinking that it didn't look very much like my grandmother's own thick and wavy gray hair. Her real hair grew thin but came back overtime. My grandmother is a breast cancer survivor.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To me that pink color stands for strength, faith and hope. When I walk through the stores and see the pink ribbons, the pink merchandise, the pink labels, I am reminded of my grandmother and of all those who have dealt with or are currently dealing with this disease. I am reminded that I should take the time for those monthly self-exams. I am reminded that I need to take care of my body, eat right and exercise. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is coming to an end but the reality is even as the pink fades, the fight with this disease continues on.

There are many different campaigns, companies, individuals and organizations that help spread awareness, donate money to help find a cure and provide hope to all those dealing with breast cancer. It is important that we all work together to raise awareness and bring attention to this disease. Early detection and screening through self-examination and yearly mammograms are crucial because breast cancer is most treatable in the when it is found early. And, through the ongoing development of life-saving treatments and the search for the causes, those dealing with cancer can find support and remain hopeful for a cure.

Here are some breast cancer related websites that I've become aware of recently -

With Halloween only a week away, the costume scramble has begun. I just finished my daughter's Ladybug Girl costume this week. As I'm sure many of you know, Ladybug Girl (from the picture books by David Soman and Jacky Davis) wears a bright red tutu. I really didn't want to purchase a tutu, especially since some of the fancier ones cost $20+.

Thankfully, Jenni from MissTutu.com just recently contacted me about reviewing her tutu making DVD tutorial, Secrets to Tutu Making Success. Talk about perfect timing. I found the DVD extremely helpful. I'm not sure my homemade tutu would have ended up looking as good without all her helpful tips and detailed instructions on what and how much material to buy and how to assemble the tutu. Without this guide, I would have never thought to use a rotary cutter to cut the tulle and her tips on how much tulle to use saved me from having to make multiple trips to the craft store for more.

Surprisingly, these tutus are very easy to make. I made a Basic Tutu in one hour, from start to finish. Pretty good for my first attempt! With practice, I'm sure that I could easily make one in half the time. The whole tutu cost me about $7 for materials, but if I would have used coupons and shopped around, I could have easily spent much less than that. A bargain, either way.







The Secrets to Tutu Making Success DVD includes directions on how to make 15 different tutu designs, including the Basic Tutu. None of the designs require a sewing machine. Even a novice crafter can easily whip up a tutu by following this

Almost 20 years ago, in 1991, the movie Beauty and the Beast made its debut in theaters. I remember going to see this amazing version of the "tale as old as time" when it first came out and marveling at the wonderful animation. Even high school students like myself at the time found the movie amusing and witty enough to become a favorite. I have fond memories of my friends and I sitting in the band room listening to the CD and remarking on the moving and expressive music. Beauty and the Beast is a wonderful story in itself, but this Disney production made it into so much more -- a powerful love story with magical characters in a wonderful musical form. And then there's Belle, a princess for every little girl to admire, an intelligent, adventurous book-lover with brown hair and brown eyes. The movie features a bookstore and a to-die-for, amazingly large library in the castle. Yes, I've loved Beauty and the Beast from the beginning.

"Ohhh, isn't this amazing, /It's my favorite part because, you'll see /Here's where she meets Prince Charming /But she won't discover that it's him 'til chapter three!" - "Belle"

Finally, after being locked in the Disney Vault for a long while, Beauty and the Beast is available once again for purchase, this time in the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Diamond Edition. Disney released this newly restored version last week, on October 5th (the 2-Disc standard definition DVD releases on November 23). The Blu-ray Combo Pack includes two Blu-ray Discs plus a bonus DVD for regular disc players. Thanks to Disney, we recently had the chance to watch this newest Blu-Ray version.

I'm not going to rehash the synopsis because the tale is so familiar and the film so popular it hardly needs an introduction. Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney's most beloved and highly-regarded films, receiving two Academy Awards for music in 1992, three Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture, Best Original Score and Best Original Song in 1992, and two Grammy Awards in 1993. It was previously re-released on DVD in 2003. What this newest version brings to the plate is a brightly restored picture, a new audio in 7.1 Digital Surround Sound, and tons and tons of behind-the-scenes stories and bonus features.

According to a recent White House Press release, President Obama announced a new goal of recruiting 10,000 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) teachers over the next two years. Students in the U.S. lag behind in math and science when compared to their peers in other countries and the government wants to see improvements in STEM education. Even at my daughter's school I've noticed they've started to put more of an emphasis on math and science. Each week in kindergarten, my daughter observes and participates in a new science experiments and every week she brings home a math at home worksheet to complete.

This fall I've been trying to focus more on science and math with my kids in our daily lives. While the school will teach the basics, I believe it is important for us, as parents, to encourage the curious minds of children through simple home activities. Starting this past month, we've been trying to participate in Science Sunday every week.

Just recently through Mom Central, I learned of a new science publication for kids ages 6 to 9. KNOW: The Science Magazine for Curious Kids by Mad Science contains short articles and plenty of engaging pictures, experiments, games and activities to help children think scientifically. Right now a free online copy of the Sept/Oct 2010 KNOW Magazine is available for download. A bi-monthly publication, the yearly subscription rate for the U.S. is $28 (Canadian dollars). That price doesn't seem too bad, especially considering the magazine contains very few ads.

My kids and I really enjoyed browsing the magazine online. The articles are laid out in an artful, eye-pleasing way, with the right balance of text and pictures on each page. This newest issue contains all sorts of interesting pieces on shapes, patterns, origami and more. The see-through frog on page 3 amazed my children and they wanted to know more about it. We used the page on Fibonacci Fun in this issue as the basis for one of our Science Sunday posts a few weeks ago. And, there's even a page featuring book reviews by kids! Hooray! This magazine looks like an excellent supplement for home science studies. I also think that the publication might be a good one for public and school libraries to offer for check-out to their patrons. Magazines like KNOW provide the perfect stimulus for kids and parents to talk about and learn about science together.

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Mad Science and received the products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate."

Like many children attending school, my daughter helped shop for all the things on her supply list before school began this year. The list included your typical supplies like pencils and crayons, but I was surprised to see Ziploc bags included. Why in the world would the teacher need that many Ziploc bags?


This past Tuesday I volunteered to help out in the classroom, and I learned how she uses some of the Ziploc bags. One of the tasks I performed was to inventory, organize and assemble the literacy "fun" bags so that the kids could start taking them home. The themed literacy bags are totes filled with a book, games and activities and sometimes stuffed animals and the kids take them home to encourage parent involvement in teaching early reading skills and other kindergarten basics. A lot of the totes contain small pieces or things that need to stay together. My daughter's teacher uses the Ziploc bags to keep all the pieces together. Some of the literacy bags even contain bubbles, watercolor paints, and glue! Those items need to be contained in strong and dependable bags so that they don't spill all over and make a big mess. Ziploc bags and literacy? Who knew? But, it's definitely something I'm willing to support!

We use a lot of different Ziploc products in our home so I was very happy to receive several different products to review as part of a Family Review Network blogging opportunity. Ziploc sent us four different products:
· Ziploc Brand sandwich bags
· Ziploc Brand Freezer slider bags with expandable bottom and smart-zip seal (quart)
· Ziploc Brand Storage slider bags with expandable bottom and smart-zip seal (quart)
· Ziploc Brand Containers with the Smart Snap™ Seal (medium square)

I'm sure many of you are familiar with the sandwich bags so they probably don't need much description. However, this is the first time I've tried out the expandable Ziploc slider bag. Both the freezer and storage bags have a special folded bottom that expands out so that the bags stay upright when you fill them. The bags are also roomi

Exploration through tactile play is an important part of childhood. My kids especially love it when I bring out the play dough. They roll and shape it into interesting forms and like the way it feels when they squish and knead it between their fingers. Playing with dough improves motor skills and encourages creativity.

Recently, thanks to an opportunity provided by Team Mom, we had the chance to try a new kind of moldable dough called Moon Dough. It is a very lightweight, dry and crumbly dough that easily compresses into shapes. And, according to the manufacturer, it never dries out, is hypo-allergenic, and is wheat-free.

We received the Moon Dough Barn product to test and review. The large plastic barn is actually a crank driven toy that molds the dough into four different animal shapes: cow, sheep, horse or chicken. The barn requires some minor assembly before kids can play with it.

Besides the main barn pieces, the set comes with the following items:
3 packages of Colored Moon Dough, Removable Barn Silo, Fence Mold, Hale Bale Mold, Small Play Mat, Instruction Guide

The lightweight dough is a very different product to work with than your typical play dough and feels really interesting to squish and compress. My kids had fun trying to form the Moon Dough into balls, placing it into the hay and bale molds and liked crumbling it into bits. They also really, really enjoyed pressing the dough into the top compartment of the barn and turning the crank to create the various animals one by one. Oftentimes they were in such a hurry to make an animal that they didn't put enough dough into the mold compartment and didn't fully compress it before cranking so they would end up with half-formed animals.

This is a fairly messy activity so I decided to let the kids play with the dough outside to simplify clean up. The dough does end up everywhere because it is so lightweight and it tracks easily. I think that adult supervision is necessary for kids who use this product. Care needs to be taken if you don't want the different dough colors to mix. In my opinion the play mat is a little on the small size (the manufacturer suggests covering the play surface with a plastic sheet or disposable table cloth). If my kids played with in indoors, I think I'd invest in a shallow tub to help contain the play.