A few weeks ago, I was invited, as a member of My Blog Spark, to a dinner at Myers + Chang in Boston.  It was supposed to be a thank you dinner for members of the network, and I was allowed one guest.  Since my kids were going to be at my parents house for my Hawaii trip the next morning, my husband and I decided to make a date night of it.  My husband doesn’t typically like Chinese food, but Myers + Chang is more of an upscale restaurant with high-quality food.

After we arrived, we were seated at a table for two.  I was surprised that it wasn’t more of a networking event, but we did have a great dinner.  The first two courses were delicious, and by the time our entrees arrived, we were already full.  But, we still dug in, and my husband finished his entree (Kung Pao Chicken).  I thought mine, the Spicy Ginger Chicken dish, was a bit sweet, but ate all of the chicken pieces, which were really great quality.

When our host for the event got up to speak, we all thought it was to thank us for coming – which she did.  But then, she made the shocking and surprising announcement that the restaurant had actually helped them pull a switcheroo – the entrees we received weren’t from the restaurant – they were Wanchai Ferry frozen meals!!

Jaws dropped.  I was surprised, and of course, later put the pieces together – the fact that our server had to ask how spicy my meal was (when I asked her), the liability waiver we signed, the fact that there was no networking.  But still, I was shocked.  And so was my non-Chinese-food-liking husband, who devoured his dish.

So, I can honestly say Wanchai Ferry fooled me!

Disclosure: I was provided with dinner, a gift card to cover expenses, and coupons through My Blog Spark.

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Elegant Outdoor Summer Party Cutlery

by Jodi on July 23, 2010

diamond brillianceWe recently celebrated my son’s birthday with a two-part party.  In the morning, his friends came over for a pirate party extravaganza, but when they left at noon, the adult and family party started.  We grilled, ate more cupcakes, and drank wine & beer (well, not the kids of course).  I had purchased regular plastic cutlery for the event, but the day before, I received a package from Diamond Brilliance, with elegant, silver disposable spoons, knives, and forks.

The Diamond Brilliance cutlery is machine washable or disposable, whichever you choose.  They look to be standard stainless steel cutlery, but are lightweight just like traditional plastic cutlery.  They definitely add a layer of elegance to a summer outdoor party.

Visit their website to learn more about Diamond Brilliance.

Disclosure: We received a box of Diamond Brilliance free of charge.

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Ramona and Beezus Movie Review

by Jodi on July 23, 2010

I was always a fan of Beverly Cleary when I was growing up, who is decidedly more wholesome than the other ubiquitous writer from my childhood, Judy Bloom.  I had wondered what happened to those captivating characters, since Beverly Cleary’s talents seemed to have skipped a generation of fans.  So, I was happy to see them back in Fox’s new movie, Ramona and Beezus, out today in theaters.

My five-year old daughter and I had the opportunity to attend a screening a week ago in Boston.  While she wasn’t already familiar with Ramona and Beezus, she’s a big fan of Selena Gomez, and so she was so excited to see her on the screen.  Plus, this was her first 100% live action movie to watch in the theater!

The movie isn’t based on a specific book from the series, but is still very true to the characters and characteristics of Ramona and Beezus from the books.  Actress Joey King, a relative newcomer, absolutely shines as Ramona – she’s energetic, rascally, and captivating, while Selena Gomez is great as Beezus, the straight-laced older sister.

As a mom watching the movie, I actually really enjoyed it.  My daughter, however, LOVED it.  She cracked up at all the right parts, and was so excited to tell her brother and dad all about it afterward.  I’m pretty sure we’ll be seeing it soon again!

With a G rating, the movie is definitely appropriate for little ones .  There are some more adult type themes that they won’t get, but nothing inappropriate.

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A Greener, Better, Manual Toothbrush

by Jodi on July 22, 2010

Radius Intelligent ToothbrushI’ve been using an electric toothbrush lately, but with so much travel, I’ve also been using a manual brush.  I just don’t find it practical to travel with my electric.  If you use a manual toothbrush as directed, you’ll actually find two things – one, they need to be tossed and replaced frequently, and two, it’s really hard to brush for the recommended two minutes without reminders.  The Radius Intelligent toothbrush is a manual brush that addresses both of these problems.

The Radius Intelligent toothbrush has an internal timer that lets you know when two minutes are up, as well as an interval timer that tells you when to switch to another section of your mouth.  In addition, when it’s time to replace the brush, you just have to change the brush head – not the handle.

Visit the Radius website to learn more about their products.

Disclosure: We received a Radius toothbrush at no cost for review.

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Help Prevent Chafing

by Jodi on July 21, 2010

lanacane gel packaging 237x300 Help Prevent ChafingIf you’ve read my personal blog at all, you probably know that I’ve been affected by chafing when running.  And, in the summer months, I can even feel chaffing when wearing a skirt.  So, I was thrilled to hear that Lanacane recently released their Anti-Chafing Gel here in the United States.

Lanacane Anti-Chafing Gel, while a gel, dries to a nice powdery finish, so it isn’t tacky or sticky (as the word gel may indicate).  You don’t need to use loads of it, and it’s perfect for those summer months when chafing can occur.

Click here to find out about Lanacane Anti-Chafing Gel.

Disclosure: I received a sample of Lanacane Anti-Chafing Gel for review at no cost.

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Melt It Off!I’ll be honest.  When I was initially approached to review Olympian Mitch Gaylord’s new workout system, Melt It Off!, I kind of assumed it would be easy.  After all, it only uses a 2 lb medicine ball, and after ChaLEAN Extreme?  Two lbs is NOTHING.

The system includes a DVD with several workouts and a 2 lb ball.  I started with the recommended strength workout (about 45 minutes) and ab workout (25 minutes) and could hardly walk the next day.  My husband thought it was hysterically funny, so I suggested he do the workout.  He started out thinking it was easy, but the next day (and the day after) he was incredibly sore.  It’s a GREAT workout!

I’ve been doing it for a few weeks now, and have seen results.  There’s also a recommended diet plan, which I haven’t followed.  I am definitely integrating this into my workout program, as is my husband!

You can learn more about Melt It Off! at the Melt It Off! website.

Disclosure: I received this workout program at no cost for review.

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Eggo Fruit Pizza Review & Giveaway

by Jodi on July 19, 2010

eggologo Eggo Fruit Pizza Review & GiveawayWith it being summer now, our summer routine is a bit lax, but once my daughter starts kindergarten in the fall, we’ll have to be operating on all cylinders.  When I was working in Boston, our routine was crazy, but we definitely found ways to work around it.

  • Prepare, prepare, prepare – get clothes ready ahead of time, and pack all bags the night before
  • Wait to get dressed – I wouldn’t put my business clothes on until it was time to go, to prevent the inevitable staining of my clothes
  • Coffee – in my house, it’s best to ignore me until I have my coffee.  Getting the coffee maker set up at night saves us!
  • Find healthy, easy-to-prepare breakfasts that the whole family can enjoy

As part of this campaign, I had the chance to try out the brand-new Eggo Real Fruit Pizzas, which combine real fruit and crunchy granola into a delicious breakfast meal.  They are super-easy to warm up – just take them from the freezer to the microwave on the included tray, and then, they are ready to serve!  This is one of those products that can speed up your morning routine.

Win it!  I have a product sample set of Eggo™Real Fruit Pizzas,(both varieties, Mixed Berry Granola and Strawberry Granola, one each) giveaway five Mom’s Favorite Stuff readers.  The five blog readers that will receive a prize will be selected at random using www.random.corg on August 5, 2010. Giveaway ends 7/28/10 at 11:59 PM ET. To enter, leave a comment below with your best morning routine tip!

Disclosure: I am being compensated for my participation in this campaign to try out Kellogg’s Eggo Real Fruit Pizzas, courtesy of The Motherhood.

The Motherhood “Streamlining Your Morning Routine” Blogger Giveaways
OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
HOW TO ENTER: Twenty (20) Eggo™ Real Fruit Pizza brand ambassadors (pre-selected bloggers specified by TheMotherhood), will host giveaways and create a feature post on their own blogs as part of The Motherhood’s Streamlining Your Morning Routine blogger program. The brand ambassadors will blog about their own tips and tricks to streamline a busy morning routine, and will ask their community of readers to share their tips.

[click to continue…]

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Superfruit Juice From Bossa Nova

by Jodi on July 19, 2010

BN LOCKUP SQUIRT B 300x298 Superfruit Juice From Bossa NovaI’m always looking for ways to integrate healthier foods and drinks into my lifestyle, and this year, I’ve started drinking a lot more juices with superfruits, which are a fabulous way to get some key vitamins into your diet.  Bossa Nova sent me a selection of their juices to try, and I couldn’t keep them away from my family.  Even though I insisted that it was important that I “test” them all, they just kept drinking them.

Bossa Nova’s juices come in a variety of flavors and blends.  While they all tasted great, our favorites were the ones blended with tropical flavors, like the Mangosteen with Passion Fruit and the Acerola with Mango.  They have a delicious taste, and are healthy at the same time.

Boss Nova juices are sold in the refrigerated section of many grocery stores as well as natural food stores.  To learn more, visit the Bossa Nova website.

Disclosure: I received several bottles of Bossa Nova for review.

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20091108 IMG 3941 Edit 300x273 Eliminating Plastic Snack and Sandwich Bags with ReUsiesIf I think about the number of plastic snack and sandwich bags my family has already gone through, it’s a sad thought.  And, my kids haven’t even entered kindergarten yet.  So, we’ve been trying to find more green and eco-friendly ways to keep those bags out of our lunch boxes, and have been very happy with ReUsies – reusable wrappers made from 100% cotton and lined with leak-resistant nylon.

ReUsies aren’t completely airtight, so if you use them for sandwiches, you’ll want to put the sandwich in the package at the last minute, to prevent the bread from drying out.  And, you’ll need to remind your kids to return home with them.  My little guy hasn’t lost one yet, and he’s only 4, so I don’t think that’s a real issue.

ReUsies come in sandwich and snack sizes and are available in a wide variety of patterns and styles.  To learn more or to purchase, visit the ReUsies website.

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Last week, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit Martha’s Vineyard while celebrating our 10 year anniversary.  Even though I was born in Massachusetts, grew up in Rhode Island, and now live in Massachusetts, I’d never actually been to Martha’s Vineyard.  So, we were definitely there to explore the island.

I wasn’t sure where to stay, but thankfully the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber took care of us, and booked us a one-bedroom, kitchen, and living room unit at Edgartown Commons, which is located just a short walk from all of the action in town.

We decided to take our car over to the Vineyard, so I had to book a ferry for us and our car.  Luckily, I was able to get reservations – I was unaware of the fact that these boats fill up FAST.  The vessels we’d scheduled were freight ships, so they had limited amenities – not a problem since the journey from Woods Hole to Oak Bluffs is short.

We drove to Edgartown, found our hotel, and immediately set out for a walk downtown.  I LOVED all of the shops and boutiques in Edgartown, and could have spent our whole time there.  We had lunch on the roof deck of the Seafood Shanty where we both decided to order lobster rolls.  Then, we shopped around, and relaxed until it was time to get ready for dinner.

We’d booked our anniversary dinner at Il Tesoro at the Terrace, which is absolutely beautiful and delicious.  I’d highly recommend going there for a special dinner – I already can’t wait to go back.

Our other restaurant choice for the next night, Atlantic, was closed, so we decided to visit The Seafood Shanty yet again.  It’s exactly the type of place I’d imagine to see in Martha’s Vineyard.

We wanted to hit the beach, so after some research, decided to walk to Lighthouse Beach, where it was completely relaxing and quiet.  I’m not really a “beach” person, but still loved spending a few hours on the beach, soaking up the sun, going in the water, and reading the latest Jane Green book.

While we didn’t bring the kids on this trip, we will on the next trip.  I know they’ll love it, and we’ll probably stay at the Edgartown Commons since we can get a two-bedroom with a kitchen, and can walk to town.

Disclosure: The Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce sponsored our 2-day stay.

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Street Surfing With Ease

by Jodi on July 16, 2010

When I was at the Time to Play Toy Showcase back in April (wow, where has the time gone!), one of the coolest items I saw is the Whiplash Scooter from Street Surfing.  Unlike traditional scooters, where you have to push with one foot, the Whiplash is self-propelled.  Users can move the scooter while keeping both feet on the board, and after getting used to the movement, you can do some pretty fun moves!

While the Whiplash is for ages five and up, I’d recommend that you make sure your kids know how a traditional scooter works before taking on the Whiplash.  My kids didn’t, and it has taken more time to just get them up to speed.

Street Surfing also has a fabulous PE program – they are giving away 1,800 wave boards to schools all over the country to help encourage physical fitness.  Interested schools can find the application here.

To learn more about Street Surfing and the Whiplash, visit their website.

Disclosure: we received a Whiplash at no cost for review.

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Saving Money When Vacationing in Orlando

by Jodi on July 15, 2010

Vacationing in Orlando can be expensive, especially with theme park admissions, souvenirs, and other necessities.  Walmart, which has five locations in the greater Orlando area, has low prices on a variety of items that you’ll definitely need while on vacation.

  • Walmart is a great resource for discounted park and event tickets, including the first-ever Walmart Ticket Bundle, which features discounts on tickets to the most popular attractions at Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. This Walmart-exclusive discount can help families save $15-$32 per ticket bundle.
  • Walmart provides unbeatable prices on all top souvenirs, including character apparel and theme park memorabilia, including the newly opened Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios.
  • With everyday low prices at Walmart, moms don’t have to worry about the rising checked -baggage fees or the 8 oz. liquid rule on airlines because they can purchase basic travel items at Orlando-area Walmarts.

Walmart sent me a travel essentials kit with a variety of items that families need while on vacation, including Salt Water Taffy, Disney Tee Shirts, sunglasses, sunscreen, flip flops, water spray bottles, and a stuffed animal.  Families who purchase these items outside of the parks can save loads of money!

To learn more about the Walmart locations near Orlando, visit their website.

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