Horizon Organic Milk plus DHA Omega-3 Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 4/15 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, allysmama!!!***

her comment...
My favorite dairy product is Cheese!!



My kids are milk fiends. Particularly Jasper, who gave up nursing cold turkey at 17 months so he could drink more whole milk. Seriously, the kid is like a milk lush. For a long time, I didn't think he actually consumed solid foods; he just subsisted on milk. His pediatrician said it wasn't causing him any problems, so I gave up trying to wean him off the white stuff. I didn't grow up drinking much milk, myself. I'm not sure if it's my Asian heritage or because I just didn't like the taste, but milk was pretty much something I used to moisten my cereal in the morning. In retrospect, it might be because the only kind we ever had in the house was skim milk. And the dreaded powdered milk… ick.

Anyway, during both of my pregnancies, I started becoming obsessed with organic milk and yogurt. I couldn't get enough. My favorite was this brand with a red label and a black and white cow jumping over the Earth: Horizon Organic. I'm back to normal levels of milk and yogurt consumption these days but my kids keep a run on the Horizon Organic milk. They are especially fond of the shelf-stable (no refrigeration needed, perfect for lunchboxes) lowfat chocolate organic milk boxes. Those things were a lifesaver on our cross-country road trip last summer!

A nice addition to their product roster is Horizon Organic Milk plus DHA Omega-3, available in whole, reduced fat and fat-free varieties as well as in the lowfat chocolate milk. DHA Omega-3 is a fatty acid that is widely thought to be beneficial for proper brain and eye function for infants and children, healthy heart function for both children and adults and brain function for adults. Sounds good to me.

To enter and win coupons to try Horizon Organic Milk plus DHA Omega-3 (3 coupons each good for 1/2 gallon), please comment on this post with your favorite dairy product or milk memory.


Entries will be accepted through April 13th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For additional entries: 
- Post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar) 
- Follow my blog 
- Follow @superdumb on Twitter 
- Like Superdumb Supervillain on Facebook 
- Follow @HorizonDairy on Twitter
- Like Horizon on Facebook
- Fave me on Technorati 
- Subscribe via email 
- Subscribe via reader Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received free coupons for Horizon Organic Milk plus DHA Omega-3 to facilitate this review. I chose to pass them onto my readers since I already buy the product regularly.

Wordless Wednesday- Busy

Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?

Sliquid: Slippery When Wet

The following review is for adult eyes only because it involves sex. Mommy and daddy sex. (Everyone under 18 just clicked away, right?) No super explicit stuff here but the links might contain NSFW content. Consider yourself warned.









A while back, I told you about the Jolly Rancher-like Sliquid Swirl Green Apple, a water-based insupporttimate lubricant. I recently received some new Sliquid Lube varietals to tell you about. Like their forebears, they are glycerin-free, sugar-free, paraben-free, gluten-free, and vegan.

First up, Sliquid Swirl Strawberry Pomegranate. I would like to regale you with stories of the antioxidant benefits of the superfruit pomegranate in lubricants but you would probably realize I was yanking your chain. As a matter of fact, I get way more strawberry from this than pomegranate, but in a way that is redolent of coming of age in the late '70s/early '80s. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the heady strawberry scent reminds me of roller disco, tube tops, feathered hair and Famolares. Like the good-bad teenage girls from Little Darlings or Foxes, who have lips that are vinyl-shiny from meticulous application of fruity lip gloss from a glass rollerball tube. That's what Sliquid Swirl Strawberry Pomegranate evokes for me. And it's pretty hot.

I also received a bottle of Sliquid Oceanics. It has a thicker consistency due to its mix of sea vegetation including carrageenan, nori and wakame, but it's just as smooth and slippery. (Carrageenan, a vegan alternative to gelatin derived from seaweed, has been shown in some lab tests to help prevent the spread of HPV, one of the most common STIs. I hope you know your partner's dirty laundry down there and aren't relying on that, though!) Sliquid Oceanics is formulated with with certified botanical extracts like aloe, green tea, sunflower seed, hibiscus, flax, and alfalfa to relax and soothe. Very nice, indeed.





In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received samples of the aforementioned intimate lubricants to facilitate this review. If you click on any of the links and end up buying anything, I could earn a few bits. Just so you know.

Wonka Easter Essentials

Q: What could possibly be more dangerous to a diet than the onslaught of Easter?

A: Brand new Wonka Easter candy! Including festive Gummies, jellybean carrots and egg-shaped Wonka Exceptionals, in my very most favorite Scrumdiddlyumptious variety. Bestill my heart. 

What are the chances that these will last long enough to be stuffed into plastic eggs for the hunt? I'm not telling…

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that this bounty of Wonka goodies to facilitate this review but all opinions are strictly my own. For better or for worse!

Doodle Roll- Art on the Go

Doodle Roll is a simple but ingenious invention: a continous roll of drawing paper and crayons, packaged compactly to grab and go. It's available in two sizes, 3" x 15' (with four crayons) or 6" x 30' (with eight crayons). The plastic clamshell is easy for kids to access and features a slightly serrated, but not dangerously sharp, edge to cleanly tear off their masterpieces without the need for scissors.

Roo just turned 7 and she loves drawing on the Doodle Roll and then rolling the paper back up. Jasper is a more rambunctious 3-1/2 and immediately unrolled his entire Doodle Roll, much as he enjoys doing to the toilet paper. Sigh. Thankfully it rolled right back up and snapped shut. A great affordable diversion for road trips and restaurants!

Follow Doodle Roll on Twitter and Facebook.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that we received two Doodle Rolls to facilitate this review but all opinions are strictly my own.

Wordless Wednesday- Preschool Party and Pre-pre-teen

Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?

Easy Organic Living- Take the Challenge!

Our family tries to use organics whenever possible, especially in food and cleaning products. Bob is committed to his pesticide-free garden, which he has just started to till, and can talk for way too long about his compost pile! We also choose hormone-free dairy products and meats when we can. I think it's a good idea to read labels and be more aware of where the things you purchase come from. It doesn't seem too hard, even here in Wichita where we are, sadly, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods-less. Our local Dillon's and Walmart are all stocking more organics these days and the prices are often competitive.

Healthy Child Healthy World and BabyCenter.com have joined forces to create Easy Organic Living, a new interactive community sponsored by Stonyfield Yogurt. Its mission is to educate parents about the benefits of adopting an organic lifestyle and give them easier ways of getting there, with helpful tips from other community members and from featured experts including reknowned pediatrician Dr. Bill Sears, Valerie Deneen (Frugal Family Fun Blog), Robyn O'Brien (author and co-founder of the Allergy Kids Foundation), Melinda Hemmelgarn, M.S., R.D. (registered dietitian and “Food Sleuth” columnist) and Catherine McCord (Weelicious).

I'll be one of twenty five bloggers taking on the four weekly Organic Challenges, which will include:

• A money-saving challenge to help parents make organic living affordable.
• A snack invention challenge to inspire parents to think outside the wrapper and create their own healthy snack using at least one organic ingredient.
• A meal preparation challenge encouraging parents to use at least one organic ingredient.
• A simple label-reading challenge to encourage parents to understand what they’re eating.

This week's challenge is "Save a dollar here, Shift a dollar there." Join me in taking this challenge and see how easily you can Shift Your Habit.

For a full week, make a conscientious effort to save money by using some of the tips below. Then shift your savings to organics!

1. Choose some easy ways to save money:

Buy in bulk and save up to $500 a year!

Eat your leftovers. According to the USDA, 14% of all the food that we buy ends up in the trash, adding up to almost $600 thrown away each year.

Opt for water. Instead of grabbing soda or juice, drink what’s freely available from the tap. You could save up to $200 per year or more.

Choose whole chicken. Save up to $600 per year by choosing whole chicken instead of boneless skinless breasts.

Buy fruits and vegetables when they’re in season. You can save up to $130 or more per year by shifting to seasonal produce (i.e., apples in the winter, plums and nectarines during the summer).

Eat less meat. If you were to cut meat out of your diet once a week and replace it with a vegetarian option, you could save about $250 per year for a family of four.

2. After a week, estimate your savings and shift the money to organic food.

The hardest habits for me to break were buying in bulk and buying whole chickens. I'll admit it- I usually buy boneless portions because they're easy, but it's not so hard to cook a whole chicken or to butcher it and freeze parts for later. I just need to get over my hypocritical squeamishness about cooking things with carcasses. (You know, because then you think about it being an animal. I am such a hypocrite, ack!) I don't buy bulk a lot because… well, honestly, I've never really thought about it. So I'll have to give it a try. I'm already totally down with buying seasonal produce, eating meatless meals and choosing water. We do a fairly good job of repurposing leftovers, too. I think I've got a decent headstart on this Challenge.

How did you do? Let me know in the comments below or share your thoughts in the Easy Organic Living community. You can also comment using hashtag #ezorganic on Twitter.




In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I will receive an Easy Organic Living goody bag for myself and one to give away in exchange for my participation in the Easy Organic Living challenges but all opinions are strictly my own.

Disney Social Media Moms Celebration

We registered but didn't get confirmed for this year's Disney Social Media Moms conference and I'm still sulking about it, so I thought I'd post a couple of pictures from last year since my twitterstream is filled with it.

Pretty Neat Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 3/31 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, susanlanai!!!***

her comment...
Our pantry is pretty stressful!

Pretty Neat is a book about organization that is unlike any other I've read. Instead of extolling the virtues of spreadsheets and matching desk accessories (although it very well could, being written by the women behind the Buttoned-Up line of organizational products), it asks the reader to do some soul-searching to discover what your own individual organizational style should look like so you can focus on conquering your clutter demons amidst expectations of the unrealistic portrayal of "Org Porn"– that perfectly manicured world that doesn't really seem to exist, except for in magazines.

Pretty Neat offers plenty of tips and advice from experts and "ordinary women" alike. The most compelling are based on Buttoned-Up's Three Cardinal Rules: 1) stop chasing perfection, 2) focus on the 20% of tasks that are critical and 3) learn to delegate effectively. My personal favorite tidbit is from Chapter 5 Eliminate Excuses: "Just like an oversized derriere will slow you down physically, an oversized organizational but will hold you back, too." I'm often guilty of overanalyzing whether or not I can do something before I try, stalling progress. This book reminded me that to accomplish my goals, all I need to do is be realistic, take responsibility, and then just do it, already. Stop procrastinating and making excuses for why something won't work. Focusing on the possible and the plausible is my new modus operandi.


To enter and win a copy of Pretty Neat, please comment about the area of your home or life that has become the biggest source of organizational stress. Additionally, one winner will be chosen at random from across all blogs participating in this Global Influence Network campaign to receive a $200 gift card (same as cash such as Visa or AmEx) plus a selection of Buttoned Up products (ARV: $50) to be used towards her own reasonable organizational goals for her life.


Entries will be accepted through March 21st and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For additional entries: 
- Post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar) 
- Follow my blog 
- Follow @superdumb on Twitter 
- Like Superdumb Supervillain on Facebook 
- Fave me on Technorati 
- Subscribe via email 
- 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!

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that we received a copy of the book to facilitate this review as a part of a Global Influence Network campaign and will be entered in a drawing to win a prize but all opinions are strictly my own.


***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

RIP Piewackett

Today I lost my oldest, closest friend and roommate. Piewackett was a stray kitten we found in the garage of my apartment complex in college. She was about three months old when she wandered into my life and she would have been 19 this summer.

She was often cantankerous, persnickety and hissy but she was also a supreme cuddler who would purr for hours on my lap or in front of my computer. PiePie also had a soft spot for the kids and even let all of Roo's friends carry her around at her birthday party last weekend. I'm going to miss my big grey girl.

Roo made some pictures in memory of Piewackett:

Support Indie Rock in Style

Almost everyone loves music but folks often overlook the everyday financial challenges that independent artists, record companies and record stores deal with to keep it playing. Share Shirts were created by Iris Distribution to raise awareness of the importance of buying music from independent artists. 

Made especially for the wee progeny of indie music lovers, Share Shirts are available in sizes from newborn onesies to youth medium and feature an adorable illustration by S. Britt. Tees are available individually or bundled with one or both of two digital downloads: Kimya Dawson's Alphabutt and Planet Music's Kids Songs.

Individual Share Shirts are $14.99, bundles are $22.99 for shirt + 1 album and $28.99 for shirt + both albums. Half of the proceeds go to the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM).

Having managed indie bands, put out indie singles and worked in indie record stores, this is something that I think is pretty cool. Roo loves her Share Shirt… I wish they came in my size!

Like Share Shirts on Facebook.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that we received a tee to facilitate this review but all opinions are strictly my own.

Wordless Wednesday- The Crooner and The Birthday Party

Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?

Embracing the Now Revolution (Giveaway)

***WINNER PICKED 3/31 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, Olivia Fletcher!!!***

her comment...
Social media has enabled me to connect with more people, become more outgoing, and has facilitated me being able to better connect others with resources and support causes that are important to me.


I know you will be shocked but I have never been much of a career girl. I've had lots of jobs, good and bad, but nothing I really loved and excelled at aside from doing promotions for my college radio station. In retrospect, I kind of wish I'd payed more attention in advertising class instead of booking bands and making flyers all the time. At the time, I didn't really think that was viable work but it sure beat selling records at Tower. (I will admit that selling records at Waterloo was actually pretty awesome most of the time I worked there.) I always had a sense of unease with anything remotely corporate and kept to the odd jobs I felt meshed best with my self-imposed underdog status. Suffice it to say, being gainfully employed has never been my forte but, luckily, I've always had a knack for social interaction.

Why am I telling you this? Since I started blogging, I've developed an unhealthy interest in the world of social media. I like the unpredictable juncture of emerging technology and bare-bones person-to-person contact. Having been off the job market for some time now, I've been perusing business books and trying to figure out where I should start looking once Jasper is in school full time. Basically, I want to know how to put everything I already know to work NOW, which is almost entirely different than the work world I was in a decade ago, pre-kids and settling down.

I was pleased to be able to review Jay Baer and Amber Naslund's new book The Now Revolution because it doesn't waste a lot of time trying to convince you that the social web is here to stay. It pretty much assumes you already know that. What it does do is tell you how you can implement some simple changes to help you become more adaptive and keep up with the world around you.

Baer and Naslund break it down into “7 Shifts To Make Businesses Faster, Smarter & More Social” that are immediately actionable. The case studies cited are engaging and applicable and the whole thing reads like you're talking to a peer, not being preached at, which was refreshing. (In fact, the only time they lost me was when they started using football analogies. The business stuff I could wrap my head around but I know nothing about televised sports…) Oddly enough, there are a zillion parallels between using social media for business and parenting. Listening, empowering, respect, forward-thinking… good for your kiddos and good for your corporate culture.

Join The Now Revolution on Facebook and on Twitter.

To enter and win a copy of The Now Revolution, please comment on this post and let me know how you've changed because of social media.


Entries will be accepted through March 30th and I'll pick the winner using Random.org. US readers are eligible.


For additional entries: - Post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar) - Follow my blog - Follow @superdumb on Twitter - Like Superdumb Supervillain on Facebook - Fave me on Technorati - Subscribe via email - 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!

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a copy of the book to facilitate this review but all opinions are strictly my own.



***Click Giveaways on my sidebar to see what else you could win!***

Change the Tone with Crocs Giveaway

***WINNER PICKED 3/17 WITH RANDOM.ORG***

***CONGRATULATIONS, Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug} !!!***

her comment...
It's True -- Mean Are Also Chatterboxes
Enormous Phone Bill A Man's Fault For Once

Frozen Pig's Knuckle Collides With Car on Freeway
Pigs Actually Did Kind of Fly

Urn - With Ashes - Donated to Virginia Thrift Shop
Deceased Man's Wish to Have Ashes Spread in Thrift Store Fulfilled

Minnesotans Sick of Snow
Home Sales Up In Florida

Body Found In Berkeley Cemetery
Berkeley Cemetery A Step Ahead of the Rest

Wild Flock of Geese Runs Down Busy Street
Real Geese Participate In Awesome Games of Duck Duck Goose Downtown
.


During my pregnancy with Jasper, Crocs were truly a lifesaver. Back then, they were pretty utilitarian- comfy and easy to get on and off. They weren't the world's most stylish kicks, aside from the plethora of colors they came in. Now, of course, Crocs come in a a range of styles and colors to suit almost anyone- from the most comfort-minded worker to the urban fashionist. My kids love, love, love their Crocs. Unfortunately, so does our puppy Stella… she's eaten more than one stray shoe.

The latest Crocs creation is a line of women's shoes featuring the tried and true ultra-lightweight Croslite material they're known for, only re-engineered to tone your upper and lower legs while you walk. Genius!



The Crocs Tone Collection is available in four styles ready to get you ready for warm weather. Aside from their toning benefits, they are pretty darned cute with their contrasting color detailing. I am partial to the dainty Skylar Flat, which I am modeling in espresso/electric blue.

Crocs Tone fit a bit snugger than traditional Crocs and take a teensy bit of adjusting to. The soles have a bounce that is escalated by a rounded shape that you have to reorient yourself to balancing on. I was surprised that I could actually feel the muscles in my legs react to them after just a few minutes. It's subtle but it's there. I can see how they would have more of an impact the more you wear them.

With all the hustle bustle and bad news floating around, lighten up a little with the Crocs Change the Tone Facebook app. It lets you change negative headlines into something a bit more positive and a lot more fun!

To enter and win your a pair of Crocs Tone shoes, please try the Crocs Change the Tone Facebook app and leave a comment on this post with your headlines- negative and with the changed tone.


Entries will be accepted through March 12th and a random winner will be selected by the sponsor. US readers are eligible.


For additional entries: - Post my button on your blog (see code on sidebar) - Follow my blog - Follow @superdumb on Twitter - Like Superdumb Supervillain on Facebook - Fave me on Technorati - Subscribe via email - Subscribe via reader Leave an extra comment letting me know what you did for each additional entry.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a pair of Crocs Tone shoes to facilitate this review but all opinions are strictly my own.



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!***

LetterMpress Virtual Letterpress for iPad

How super cool would this be to play with? Most of us don't have access to our own antique letterpress but LetterMpress would enable typography fans to keep the medium alive. Digital analog, baby! I love it. If you love it, put your money where your mouth is and put some money in the Kickstarter kitty.

Tarte Welcomes Spring

The weather is finally starting to thaw and teeny tiny green buds are forming on all the plants but my parched skin still has the dullness of winter. Perennial favorite tarte cosmetics has a bevy of new products to help foster the fresh, healthy look of springtime.

The Amazonian clay 12-hour blush is available exclusively at Sephora and comes in 8 shades to give everyone a natural glow. Even though powder blushes can sometimes be drying, the Amazonian clay works on all skin types, intuitively providing nourishing moisture to dry skin while minimizing oil on oily skin. I am obsessed with the sweet pink dollface shade and love the color-coordinated compact.

The provocateur Amazonian clay shimmering powders have the same refining qualities as the blush but can be layered for looks from subtle to shimmer princess. It's available in two shades, champagne and rose. The champagne is lovely but possibly better suited to fairer-skinned ladies. I thought it was a bit pale on my olive skin. Dust along the decolletage for some instant glamour!

My absolute favorite new product is the emphasEYES natural inner rim brightener. This innocuous nude eye pencil has become my secret wake-up weapon! I wear gas-permeable contact lenses and always have dry, bloodshot eyes. This pencil is amazing- just a little jot on the inner rim makes your eyes look bigger and brighter. Love, love, love this little guy.

tarte's spring 2011 collection is now available at the following retailers: tarte.com, sephora/sephora.com, ulta/ulta.com, beauty.com, QVC.com, Henri Bendel & boutiques nationwide.




In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received samples of the products mentioned to facilitate this review but all opinions are strictly my own.

Wordless Wednesday

Share your own pictures this week at Wordless Wednesday HQ!

Before you leave, have you entered all of my giveaways?

Happy Birthday, Goth Girl

Today, Roo is 7. 

She is a full-fledged fashionista and is currently obsessed with all things Monster High:

Happy Birthday to my big little girl.

Mommy, Daddy and Jasper love you!