This Full House Reviews

Horizon Healthy Families: What is your biggest food concern, to date?

HFC (high fructose corn syrup), pink slime, or artificial food color?   What's the next "big thing," it foods?  Then again, they are called additives for a reason, right?

Still, doesn't mean I necessarily want them in my sandwich, or trust that I know exactly everything that goes into the foods I am feeding my kids and that concerns me...a whole lot!

What is your biggest food concern, to date?

Join me as we discuss this very sensitive topic with the Horizon Healthy Families Community:

Cookbooks for Kids: Teen Cuisine Book Review

Raising 2 teens and 2 tweens (yeah, I know, right?) I feel it safe to say that cooking with your kids is a wonderful adventure.

Getting them to eat, what I cook, now that they're getting older and can, you know, read labels, or understand animal anatomy a little better, not so much.

My 2 oldest girls, however, have recently expressed interest in wanting to cook dinner for the family, at least one night per week and I am MORE than willing to had over my wooden spoon, allowing them to go free range, in the kitchen.

I was contacted by the publicist for a new cookbook, Teen Cuisine by Matthew Locricchio and I'm thinking...YAY!...my turn -- sooooooo, what's for dinner?!?

Garden Safe Product Review and Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING THIS WITH ONE OF YOU REAL SOON!!!

Some of my earliest childhood memories are of exploring my great-aunt's vegetable garden -- happily digging in the dirt, along with my twin brother, while she and my parents traded old world gardening secrets -- and, I swear, I could still smell Anushka's stuffed Hungarian peppers cooking on the stove. 

Today, I've passed the gardening gene to my youngest (she's 9) who loves to run out into our yard and pick a couple of cucumbers and tomatoes for dinner, or maybe even a handful of fresh flowers for the table.

I just love that!

Worrying about the effects of using nasty pesticides, not so much -- so, we don't use any -- still, I don't like the idea of our feeding the entire bug population (in Jersey) either!

I was recently contacted by the good folks representing Garden Safe, a brand for gardeners (like me) who are seeking new alternatives to control garden pests and seeing as we ARE dealing with a few pests of our own (in the garden, I mean) it seemed like a really good fit.

Exhibit A:  The Fig Tree that Lived...

Are You Clueless or Crafty?

In her new book, "Do It Gorgeously: How to Make Less Toxic, Less Expensive, and More Beautiful Products," Sophie Uliano demonstrates how women can update their beauty regimen, create an eco-friendly home, adopt a healthier diet and fitness routine, indulge in guilt-free shopping, and more, all whilst making a positive impact on the earth.

So, I took the Gorgeously Green Quiz (only 6 questions) and, as per the results, it seems I, "Need a Bit of Help!"

I know (act surprised, anyway) looks like I also need to get Sophie's book, huh -- go ahead, give it a whirl and maybe even win some pretty prizes, too -- how about you; clueless or crafty?

 

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

FWIW:  NO PAYMENTS, OR CONSIDERATION, OTHER THAN SHARE THE CHANCE TO WIN SOME PRETTY PRIZES, WAS RECEIVED FOR THIS BLOG POST.

Seventh Generation Cleaning Products: Spring Cleaning and The Conscious Kitchen

[WE HAVE A WINNER:   CONGRATULATIONS TERZORN -- COMMENT #20 -- PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!] Going green isn't always easy -- especially, when cleaning your house -- trust me, I know. 

However, for families (like ours) I believe that "going green" is an ongoing process of educating ourselves, as best we can.  That's why, I'm excited to share with you some very useful information and also a terrific family of green products, that makes it a little easier for families (like mine) to turn over a new leaf, courtesy of the earth-friendly folks at Seventh Generation.

Pure and Little: 40% OFF Organic Crib Sets

I know, I know, you don't have to remind me -- my kids are waaaaay past the baby stage -- still, this is a pretty good deal for those of you who are, you know, still enjoying that new baby smell!

DETAILS:  40% off crib sets & fitted sheets; use code CRIB40; offer expires April 1, 2010

FIND IT HERE:  PurandLittle.com (http://www.pureandlittle.com/organic-baby-bedding/organic-crib-sets-fitted-sheets.html)

[sniff-sniff]

Enjoy it while you can!

© 2010 This Full House - All Rights Reserved.

FWIW:  NO PAYMENT OR CONSIDERATION, BESIDES A CHANCE TO HELP FAMILIES (LIKE MINE) SAVE A LITTLE MONEY, BY SHARING COOL STUFF I FIND IN MY EMAIL, WAS RECEIVED FOR THIS BLOG POST.

Spring Showers Giveaway: Baby Egg Nest Gifts - Cute Baby Shower Gifts from Baby Bunch!

[COMMENTS ARE CLOSED: SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS WITH, VICKI COUTURIER - COMMENT #12 - PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS!!!]

When my friend, Vered (a.k.a. MomGrind) asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing a bunch of baby clothes, my first thought was, like:

"Ah, H...E...double hockey sticks...to the NO!"

Then, I pulled my head out of the snow and was pleasantly surprised to learn about The Baby Bunch, brainchild of Bryony Boxer and her husband Simon Martin, where they actually take a bunch of baby clothes and arrange them into "gorgeous baby gift bouquets" and into "crayon boxes" AND "cupcakes."

Having spent this passed weekend, hiding out from torrential rainstorms (reserving space on an ark, for six, along with a delinquent cat and one big doofus-dog, as we speak) I'm very pleased for the chance to go green and help baby leave a tiny footprint, by hosting a giveaway of the cutest organic baby sock bouquets, I've ever seen (available in blue or pink) courtesy of my friends at BabyBunch.com!

Because, the kids and I are SO ready for April and, you know, we roll like that!

BamBoo Bears Debut at Toy Fair 2010 and It Was Like I Was There, Almost!

Sadly, I wasn't able to attend Toy Fair 2010 (stupid, work!) however, a lot of my friends did (DAMMIT!) and I hear that Child's Play Communications (my Team Mom buds) presented a terrific social media panel, during the event.

Why is this important?

Well, having received email pitches addressed from "Intern 6" and "Assistant #3" this week, it's obvious that some companies STILL don't get it.

What?

That moms (and dads) are NOT stupid and really do a lot of research (on line and word-of-mouth) before they buy stuff, for their families!

Still, it was like I was there (almost) because, Jen from Ren Beanie sent us a BamBoo Bear and, well, who new that bamboo could be made to look like fur?

Maranatha Organic Peanut Butter: How to Make a Perfectly Healthy Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich!

4 out of 6 people in our house love peanut butter.  My oldest daughter (she's 15) and my son (he's 10) are just not that into nuts -- unless, the peanut butter comes mixed with chocolate -- but, my youngest daughter (she's 7) takes a PB&J sandwich to school, for lunch, every day.

We're joining the Parent Bloggers Network in trying out Maranatha nut butters as Hope demonstrates how to make a perfectly healthy peanut butter & jelly sandwich.

Sit back folks, she IS a professional.

Two Minute Gift for Mom: Nature's Inventory Wellness Oils Giveaway

[WE HAVE A WINNER:  CONGRATULATIONS, BROOKE 3/19 - CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS VIA PRIZEY!!!]

I've been suffering from restless leg syndrome for a little over a year and, let me tell you, it is nearly impossible for me to try and relax on the couch with my husband, after a long day of running after my kids, when my legs insist that they should be, you know, still running.

Then, I found out about Nature's Inventory -- actually, they found my blog -- see, they are marketing these organic and aromatherapy oils for women (like me) who are looking for alternative forms of health and wellness.

Why not?