This Full House Reviews

The Banana Splits: They're baaaaack!

Do you remember The Banana Splits?

If your answer is:

"Ah, yeah man!"

Or, something close to it, then you've obviously been to Danger Island, watched as Zazu the donkey kick it like Beckham on the Arabian Nights, rode along with Patsy and Tommy in The Micro Venture and their microscopic dune buggy and spied your fair share of laughs, alongside Atom Ant and Secret Squirrel!

[the sound of crickets chirping]

No?  That's okay, really. The Banana Splits Adventure Hour ran from 1968 to 1970 and I don't think that even David Beckham was born, yet.

[heavy sigh]

Designed to resemble The Monkees (apparently, I am that old) eating a bowl of cereal, eyes glued to the television and watching The Banana Splits on Saturday mornings are some of my earliest preschool memories.

Now, my favorite costumed rock band is back, ready to introduce themselves to a whole new generation of fans and The Banana Splits are just as cute, as EVUH!

Blog Carnival - Review Bloggers 25th Edition

Welcome to the August 18, 2008 Edition of the Review Bloggers Carnival!

It's no secret. I like getting stuff. I like writing about the stuff that we like and perhaps make my family's life a little easier. Especially, if it works!

Or, I haven't managed to break it...YET!

Do you have a review blog - or, perhaps found a product (or, service) that you really, really like and you're aching to share with the rest of the blogosphere - then, you may be interested to learn that the Review Bloggers Carnival has come to This Full House!

Clean off a chair and come on in - mi casa, y su casa - as we canvas the Internets and share together in the ultimate consumer experience....window shopping!

Meanwhile, Back at Kamp Kegel - Part VII

Happy Friday, everyone - only 18 more sleeps until school starts - here in Jersey, anyway!

My friends from Kamp Kegel (generously hosted by Johnson & Johnson for the makers of babies, everywhere) are holding reunions in the form of a weekly post roundup.

Here's what my fellow hair-braiding badge awardees were up to this week - oh AND there are some pretty cool contest and giveaways, too:

The White Trash Mom Handbook: She's less than perfect and she's okay!

A speedy synopsis; based on the popular mommy blog (GASP!) the book has little to do with double-wides and is more about the insane expectations for "normal" modern parenting.
 

I agreed to participate in the White Trash Mom Campaign with the Parent Bloggers Network and, since I had the pleasure of meeting and working alongside authors Michelle Lamar and Molly Wendland with Disney's Family.com, I felt it important to begin my review with a speedy synopsis.

Why? 

Because, living in a world where reality television reigns supreme, most parents would understand "white trash" as a derogatory term.

Including me.

Wii Sports - Getting your kids AND grandparents off the couch!

As most parents (like me) may have already suspected, the computer and video game industry is growing and, according to PC Magazine, the number of U.S. households with game consoles rose notably, up from 33% in 2007 to 38% in 2008.

Thanks to our new best friends at Nintendo, we now have a Wii!

[SQUEAL]

You see, I tried to win one over at City Mama's and shared my most embarrassing fitness story.  No, I didnt win.  Got runner-up, though.  But, this time, the infamous Kotex-Karate mishap (as my two oldest girls like to call it) went terribly right.

So, our family has joined the 63% of parents who believe games are a positive part of their children's lives and they just can't seem to put the Wii down!

Seriously, you'd think their Grandparents would have learned how to share...by now...yes?

Back-to-School Picks & Giveaway 2008

Welcome to our Back-to-School Picks & Giveaway sponsored by some awesomely generous people who have graciously agreed to provide some really cool stuff for you (yes, YOU!) and your...I mean, mine...okay, isn't it time we ALL kicked our kids...back-to-school!?!?

Seriously.

Having 4 kids, attending 4 different schools this year (yes, in the same town) my husband, Garth (not his real name) and I try really hard to pick and choose our children's back-to-school supplies very, very carefully!

It doesn't always work.  Sometimes, we score...big time.

Like now (during the week of August 25th and September 1st) I've got lots of great stuff to share with you.  These picks, as always, are advertorial free.  No one is paying me, to talk about their product.  It's just some really nice stuff that I thought you guys would like, too.

Oh, did I mention the really cool prizes and awesome giveaways!?!?

This Full House Giveaway #15: Travel Adventures of Lilly P. Badilly

[This giveaway has ended - THANK YOU! - we have a WINNER!]

The Travel Adventures of Lilly P. Badilly:  Embark upon a Musical Journey to the Rainforest of Cost Rica.

My parents were born in Hungary -- they immigrated to New Jersey in 1956 -- and my twin brother and I were very lucky to have traveled and visited with many of our European relatives, growing up.

My children, not so much.

Although, I truly DO believe it would be a wonderful adventure, traveling abroad with 4 children isn't very cost efficient for our family at the moment.  For now, I'm thankful for television shows like Rick Steves' Europe, or Globe Trekker and the new children's book, "The Travel Adventures of Lilly P. Badilly," that we recently had the privilege of reviewing.

They allow us to visit exotic new places in the comfort of our own living room and we didn't even need a passport!

Hanes Kids - Back to School and Wedgie-Free!

Catch these awesomely funny Hanes commercials with the very manly-looking Charlie Sheen, yet?

Having mostly girls (ages 14, 12, 7) my husband Garth (not his real name) and I are accustomed to being surrounded by all things pink and prettiful and - though, I never really got into the frilly, fru-fru stage, or fully recovered from the whole Polly Pocket...um...thing - I can tell you that I consider raising a son a refreshing respite from all the girlie-girl goings on, around here.

Until, the man child bought home his first copy of Captain Underpants, or the ritualistic way in which my 9-year-old son walks around the house, before every soccer practice and/or game, wearing nothing but his underwear and knocking on his jockstrap, chanting:

"I've got the brains, brawn and nuts of steel!"

Still.

There's one thing they DO have in common and I am of the opinion that digging into one's butt crack isn't very attractive, either!

Blog Carnival - Review Bloggers 24th Edition

Welcome to the August 4, 2008 Edition of the Review Bloggers Carnival!

It's no secret. I like getting stuff. I like writing about the stuff that we like and perhaps make my family's life a little easier. Especially, if it works!

Or, I haven't managed to break it...YET!

Do you have a review blog - or, perhaps found a product (or, service) that you really, really like and you're aching to share with the rest of the blogosphere - then, you may be interested to learn that the Review Bloggers Carnival has come to This Full House!

Clean off a chair and come on in - mi casa, y su casa - as we canvas the Internets and share together in the ultimate consumer experience....window shopping!

Meanwhile, Back at Kamp Kegel - Part VI

Happy August, everyone - yep, the dog days of summer have officially arrived and oh the sweat!

My friends from Kamp Kegel (generously hosted by Johnson & Johnson for the makers of babies, everywhere) are holding reunions in the form of a weekly post roundup.

Here's what my fellow hair-braiding badge awardees were up to this week - oh AND there are some pretty cool contest and giveaways, too: