Kidorable Umbrellas Review & Giveaway!

We do not have school buses in our school district. Everyone must walk or get rides to school. I really enjoy walking Gavyn the 1/2 mile up the road to school. Many times, we have been stuck due to the torrential rains that happen in late afternoons. I have my umbrella which doesn't work to well for myself as I'm 5 foot 9 and 2 children under it. I'm way to tall for them to stay dry. It's time they had their own umbrellas to stay dry just in case it does rain. Kidorable has come to our rescue with the most adorable umbrellas for kids.

"In 1997, Kidorable sprung from the minds, hearts and efficiency apartment of Liping and Jonathan Domsky. They proclaimed, "The world needs someone to create children's apparel and accessories that are both functional and fun. We can do that."
And so Kidorable was conceived. Starting with lions and cats and bears, oh my, manifested as umbrellas and hangers, Kidorable generated enough sales during its first year to break even and plant fruitful Kidorable seeds throughout the land. The following year sales grew ten fold. Every year since, give or take, a new style and/or product line debuted. And every year, the world joyfully embraced more Kidorable delights, give or take, than the year before."

I searched for the perfect umbrellas for Gavyn and Zoe. Designs from frogs, butterflies, ladybugs, pirates and more, kids will surely be proud to carry an umbrella from Kidorable. For Zoe we chose the butterfly and Gavyn the space hero. Once I received them, which was speedy, I had to see what Kidorable was all about. The umbrellas were inside a plastic case for storage.

We unfastened the button to open up the purple butterfly, that is surely going to be attached to Zoe at all times. Made of 100% nylon, the brightly colored butterfly is perfect for little girls. The antennas even stick out from it, giving it a super cool look.

What little girl wouldn't want to walk around with a butterfly, that is protecting her little head? Perfect for her little hands and drapes over her head, so I know she will stay dry. It hasn't rained here since receiving the umbrella but we cannot wait to try them out. We have gone on several trips to the store and today to grandmas house and her butterfly had to travel with. Gavyn's space hero umbrella is a perfect umbrella for boys. An astronaut, a moon, stars and a rocket with the nose peeking off the top of the umbrella, super cool.

He is really into space right now, and doesn't like walking with moms pink umbrella, so now he can have his own, and not get wet. All boy colors as well. Here is what Kidorable says about their umbrellas.

"Kidorable has taken the idea of the humble umbrella and transformed it into an imagination tent. We are proud to offer the most popular assortment of whimsical umbrellas ever created. Made of 100% nylon, Kidorable umbrellas are child-sized for those little hands."

Kidorable has a large line of adorable products for boys and girls and I'm looking forward to purchasing the matching rain boots for both kids. We actually wear these quite a bit going to papas house, as it's in the country and gets extremely muddy after rain. But all the kids love it. If you have a younger(preschool) age child going to school this year, check out their super cute backpack line. They also have a birthday club, which you'll want to check out. Your child will get a free gift plus you'll receive a special offer. Gotta love birthday clubs:) Check out their outlet store for amazing savings. You will really have a hard time getting rid of the smile on your face, once you see your child with any of the darling products they carry. Super cute, bold, and totally fun! Don't you agree?


BUY IT: You can head on over to www.kidorable.com and purchase any of their super cute products.

WIN IT: Kidorable is offering one of my readers an umbrella of choice.

MANDATORY ENTRY: Head on over to Kidorable and tell me which style is your favorite. Please don't use the two styles I reviewed(if it's your favorite tell me another)

EXTRA ENTRIES: Leave a comment for each(Mandatory entry must be done first)

~Like Kidorable on facebook(2 entries)
~Follow Kidorable on twitter
~Sign up for their email updates
~Become a friend of mine on facebook
~Follow my blog
~Grab my blog button and add it to your blog
~Subscribe to my blog
~Enter this into any linky and leave me the link(2 entries)
~Enter any of my current giveaways, tell me which one in your comment(1 entry for each giveaway your entered in.)
~Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and www.kidorable.com Leave me the blog link in the comment(3 entries Must have at least 50 blog followers)
~Follow me on twitter and tweet the following: You may tweet daily

#Win an adorable @Kidorable umbrella @KiddiesCorner Deals! http://is.gd/dS7TG #giveaway

RULES: Open to readers in the US and Canda only. Giveaway ends August 13, 2010 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will be chose using random.org and will have 48 hours to confirm by email. If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chose. Non bloggers welcome. Just follow the instructions but leave your email address in the comment section as well. If your profile does not have an email, please leave in the comments. Good luck to all entrants.

DISCLAIMER: This is a review based on my opinion only, yours may differ. Kidorable sent us the above mentioned items to help facilitate our review. No other form of compensation was received.

Back To School with T.J.Maxx and Marshalls & $25 Gift Card Giveaway!

I remember growing up, I never had the stylish clothes. Everyone in school had all the cool gear, that I only dreamed of. My parents just couldn't afford it and they always had a strict school budget. When I was about 13 we went school shopping to a larger city near us, and on our way we saw T.J. Maxx. We had no clue what it was, so we stopped. It was like heaven. Designer gear, name brands, high quality in season clothing, accessories, home and more. I could actually be stylish and be in the "in" crowd for once, and not get picked on. My teen years were going to rock!
I then moved to Florida, and discovered Marshalls, another off site shopping store, offering incredible savings on men's, women's and children's apparel, footwear, accessories and home merchandise. T.J. Maxx and Marshalls would be the only stores to shop at. Used to shopping at department stores and spending more money then we ever wanted, we had to find a way to save money. These two stores would do that for us. We could purchase more, save more, and still be fashionable. Both stores are your one stop shop for back to school shopping this school season. Now that I have children, it's a must stop for us. We do make the trip often but it's quite a ride for us, as our closest T.J. Maxx is about a 50 minute drive and Marshalls isn't around here. I heard a T.J. Maxx may be opening here though, which would be amazing! Ready to get some fun ideas for your back to school shopping?

Have a teen who needs to be trendy for high school? For the teen girl go for mix and match styles at Marshalls with plaids or stripes, bleached denim, and a bright shoe, like this fun outfit:

Maybe your handsome son is off to college, and wants the best gear for his first day back to class. Choose a military inspired jacket layered over plaid with deconstructed denim and rugged footwear.

Don't forget our little ones....fashion is a must for them as well, and they want to look their best on the first day of school. Gavyn would look great in this striped polo

Zoe isn't heading off to school yet, but if she was, this outfit would surely be a back to school outfit. Loving the plaids!

Don't forget to pick up fun essentials for kids while your shopping.

T.J. Maxx and Marshalls has everything covered this back to school season, including back-to-campus items like bedding, towels, laptop cases for only $9.99, cross-body messenger bags, and so much more. Shop with ease, and save money. You'll be happy you're saving loads of money and the kids will most definitely be happy that they are wearing the style they love all at affordable prices!

WIN IT: One of my readers will win a $25 gift card to use at either T.J. Maxx or Marshalls.

MANDATORY ENTRY: Tell me who you will shop for with your gift card if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Leave a comment for each(Mandatory entry must be done first)

~Like T.J. Maxx on facebook, and/or like Marshalls on facebook(1 entry each)
~Follow T.J. Maxx on twitter and/or Marshalls on twitter(1 entry each)
~Become a friend of mine on facebook
~Follow my blog
~Grab my blog button and add it to your blog(if it's already there just tell me where I can find it)
~Subscribe to my blog
~Enter this into any linky and leave me the link(2 entries)
~Enter any of my current giveaways, tell me which one in your comment(1 entry for each giveaway your entered in.)
~Blog about this giveaway with a link to this blog post. Leave me the blog link in the comment(3 entries Must have at least 25 blog followers)
~Follow me on twitter and tweet the following: You may tweet daily

#Win a $25.00 gift card to use @tjmaxx or @marshalls @KiddiesCorner Deals! Back to school savings! http://is.gd/dOuQm #giveaway

RULES: Open to readers in the US only. Giveaway ends August 13, 2010 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will be chose using random.org and will have 48 hours to confirm by email. If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chose. Non bloggers welcome. Just follow the instructions but leave your email address in the comment section as well. If your profile does not have an email, please leave in the comments. Good luck to all entrants.

DISCLAIMER: This is a review based on my opinion only, yours may differ. I was sent a gift card to write about the back to school savings at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. No other form of compensation was received.

Frecklebox Personalized Lunch Box Review & Giveaway!

Lunch boxes are a must have school item for my son. He refuses to eat school lunch, and I'd rather make him a healthier lunch and something I know he'll eat. I'm also the mom who always adds a little note, have a nice day, be good, see you when you got home.....love mom! Do you think he is getting to old to pull out little pieces of paper from his mom? Nah! Frecklebox has personalized lunch boxes that are the perfect back to school lunch box for kids. Not familiar with Frecklebox? Let me introduce you:

"Frecklebox is on a mission to educate and entertain. So we conceived this here web-based business to offer truly unique, personalized gifts for children at affordable prices. The site makes it quick and easy to customize each item so it prominently features the name of the child who will receive the gift. Our entertaining selection of personalized books, posters, growth charts, journal books, coloring books, stickers, placemats, puzzles, and other personalized items, are designed to delight your children and friends."

I was browsing around for personalized lunch boxes when I came across Frecklebox and loved the site so much. I began the simple process to get our very own. Just browse the 70+ styles of lunch boxes they have for girls and boys, choose the style you like, select order now, and then personalize it. Once you enter the name you would like on the lunch box, click update and you're able to view how it will look, with the name you choose. A very cool feature.

I didn't have to browse long at all, but thought I would have a look at the different designs. There is everything from animals, to fun prints, automobiles, and other designs for every child's liking.

As soon as I saw the camo box, I knew I had to have that. The lunch box arrived quickly and I couldn't be happier. The lunch boxes are made of .30 millimeter tin (lead free) and covered with printed, laminated high-tack adhesive on all sides. His name is personalized on all sides, front, back and both sides. No more labels this year, as his name is all over it.

They are quite deep, so you're able to fit quite a bit of food inside. We were a little worried with his sandwich getting warm, as they are tin and not insulated, so I put this to a 5 hour test as his lunch gets made around 7:30 AM and he goes to lunch at 12:00 at school. With his entire meal packed with an ice pack, his sandwich stayed cool. I do have to say that the lunch box was in our home, with the windows open the day I did this. Our home was 73 degrees inside. I do get worried about his sandwiches getting warm, so to be on the safe side I will pack his sandwich the night before and keep it in the fridge wrapped in aluminum, which should keep it completely cold until his lunch at school or I will buy a larger ice pack, as his current one is very small.

I love the old style lunch boxes and Gavyn has actually been asking for one, so this is perfect. Another feature I'm loving is the small chalkboard, for all my letters to him, so if he wants to be discreet about his mama writing letters he just has to close the lid. I love the chalkboard and I think it will brighten many children's days to have a letter from mom or dad. Good thinking Frecklebox.
Gavyn is going to be strolling down the hallway on his way to the cafeteria in style, and will be one of the kids not carrying a Star Trek, Batman, or Superman lunch box. He's loves it already and cannot wait until school starts.

Frecklebox has many more items for all your back to school shopping. How about personalized notebooks or personalized school folders with your child's name? They would be the talk in their class. Check Frecklebox for all your back to school needs!

BUY IT: You can purchase an assortment of personalized gifts at www.frecklebox.com and use code BTSLUNCH for 15% off your total order.(expires 8/6)

WIN IT: Thanks to the generosity of Frecklebox, one of my readers will win a personalized lunch box of winners choice.

MANDATORY ENTRY: Head on over to Frecklebox, and tell me which lunch box you will choose if you win.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Leave a comment for each(Mandatory entry must be done first)

~Like Frecklebox on facebook
~Follow Frecklebox on twitter
~Become a friend of mine on facebook
~Follow my blog
~Grab my blog button and add it to your blog(if it's already there just tell me where I can find it)
~Subscribe to my blog
~Enter this into any linky and leave me the link(2 entries)
~Enter any of my current giveaways, tell me which one in your comment(1 entry for each giveaway your entered in.)
~Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and www.frecklebox.com Leave me the blog link in the comment(3 entries Must have at least 25 blog followers)
~Follow me on twitter and tweet the following: You may tweet daily

Back to school with @Frecklebox. #Win a personalized lunch box @KiddiesCorner Deals! http://is.gd/dM7Eb #giveaway

RULES: Open to readers in the US only. Giveaway ends August 13, 2010 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will be chose using random.org and will have 48 hours to confirm by email. If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chose. If chose as the winner you may not have won a previous giveaway for Frecklebox. Non bloggers welcome. Just follow the instructions but leave your email address in the comment section as well. If your profile does not have an email, please leave in the comments. Good luck to all entrants.

DISCLAIMER: This is a review based on my opinion only, yours may differ. Frecklebox sent us the above mentioned item to help facilitate our review. No other form of compensation was received.

Back to school with Sanuk Sandals Review & Giveaway!

School will be back in session soon and that means back to school shopping has started. With the many items we must buy for our children, backpacks, lunchboxes, folders, scissors, binders, jeans, tops, and other accessories, shoes always seem to be the first item we shop for. And it's never for one pair. We must have an extremely comfortable pair of sneakers for all the running around in the gym and playground, a dress pair for when Gavyn wears dressier clothes instead of boring everyday jeans, and then Spring time comes and it's sandal weather. Well, this Fall Gavyn will be able to wear a fun new pair of sandals to school and his feet won't freeze. He's going to be wearing his new Sanuk sandals. Zoe as well, but she will be home with mom learning and cruising around the house in hers. Here is more about this fun company:

"We’ve been around since July, 1997 when Jeff Kelley started making sandals out of inner tubes and indoor-outdoor carpet. 1998 marked our first full year of operations. While we’ve progressed into semi-proper footwear company (uh-oh), Jeff’s spirit of innovation still serves as the backbone of our little brand. Today, we strive to make products that are as much about funk as they are about function. We’ve found our sandals are happiest when they tread the road less traveled – so we design ‘em accordingly. Because “Sanük” is the Thai word for FUN, our name is also our mantra."

Sanuk sent Zoe and Gavyn a pair of sandals for our review. It didn't take me long at all to find the perfect pair for Gavyn, because we all know what he is into right now, Army. They had a pair that I knew Gavyn would love and wear until they fell apart. The Army Brat sidewalk surfers and the perfect shoe for any boy who loves anything camouflage. Gavyn is thrilled to walk in comfort and of course style. I will admit they seemed to fit a little small on him, but once he got them on they seemed to stretch and fit great now. He is a size 1, so we ordered a 2. I think they just need to be worn for a bit, and once your child wears them around they will see how comfortable they are but I do recommend ordering a full size bigger then your childs normal size. He will not go anywhere without them on. He tells me mom these shoes feel nice walking around and are lightweight kinda like my slippers. I say Gavyn remember these are not shoes, they are sandals. He is excited to have a pair of sandals to wear into the colder months and to school. I have a feeling this will be what he is wearing the first day of school, with let me guess, some type of army shirt.

Zoe was a little more difficult to shop for, but after much browsing and reading I decided on the Lil Ibiza. I chose these because Zoe loves to be like mom and wear her flip flops, however she does not do well walking in them. They always fall off of her, she complains of her toes hurting and mom or dad ends up carrying her. So I saw these sandals and figured maybe she could walk better since there is an oval strap that goes over her foot as well. She does walk much better in these sandals then the traditional flip flop, and they look extremely comfortable. I wish my foot would fit in them just so I could try them out. They are also lightweight and the rubber bottom is soft. This is the perfect sandal for little ones who want to wear flip flops but have the difficulty walking in them like Zoe does. They will get them used to walking without the straps in the future I believe. A great sandal!

See two happy kids because their feet our happy and not hurting!

Both sandals arrived in a Biodegradable corn bag. No bulky boxes and no foam or paper stuffing shoved inside them. Sanuk believes that this bag is the best way to protect their fun, cool sandals and it lowers the environmental impact. So when your sandals arrive in this reusable bag, you can use it for carrying kids toys around, disposing of kitchen waste and when you're finally finished with it, dispose of it. Very cool.

I think Sanuk is a great company and their sandals are going to be the talk everywhere. With fun names for all their sandals, and affordable products for the entire family, everyone will surely find something they want to wear on their feet. Who wouldn't want to wear comfortable, and fashionable footwear, with cute little smiley faces? Now it's moms turn to shop because I'm dreaming of the French Kiss sandals or the Junos(which look like boots but are sandals!)

BUY IT: You can purchase your very own pair of Sanuk sandals at www.sanuk.com

WIN IT: Sanuk has generously offered a pair of children sandals or sidewalk surfers to one of my readers.(Based on availability)

MANDATORY ENTRY: Head on over to Sanuk and tell me what kids product you will choose if you win.


EXTRA ENTRIES: Leave a comment for each(Mandatory entry must be done first)

~Like Sanuk on facebook
~Follow Sanuk on twitter
~Become a friend of mine on facebook
~Follow my blog
~Grab my blog button and add it to your blog
~Subscribe to my blog
~Enter this into any linky and leave me the link
~Enter any of my current giveaways, tell me which one in your comment(1 entry for each giveaway your entered in.)
~Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and www.sanuk.com Leave me the blog link in the comment(3 entries Must have at least 50 blog followers)
~Follow me on twitter and tweet the following: You may tweet daily

Back to school with @SanukFootwear! #Win a pair of Sanuk children's footwear @KiddiesCorner Deals http://is.gd/dJBAS #giveaway

RULES: Open to readers in the US only. Giveaway ends August 13, 2010 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will be chose using random.org and will have 48 hours to confirm by email. If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chose. Non bloggers welcome. Just follow the instructions but leave your email address in the comment section as well. If your profile does not have an email, please leave in the comments. Good luck to all entrants.

DISCLAIMER: This is a review based on my opinion only, yours may differ. Sanuk sent us the above mentioned items to help facilitate our review. No other form of compensation was received.

$60 CSN Stores Giveaway!

You know when you find a site online that you just love and always go back to look for items you need? Well, the site I just adore is CSN Stores. Going site after site to find certain items is time consuming, and can get quite frustrating searching for different products. At CSN you shop all in one place. Luckily, for me I've had the wonderful opportunity to work with them in the past. You can read my review of the Butterfly rug here, which was a wonderful addition to Zoe's newly remodeled bedroom. Her room is pink and it needed a rug as our floors are all hardwood.

You can also check out my Chandelier review here. This chandelier is gorgeous, so much better than the photos on the site. It's stylish and looks amazing in our kitchen. The problem I had with both of the reviews was finding one thing. With over 200+ stores to shop at, and carrying everything from furniture, housewares, home decor, school items and so much more at wonderful prices, it can be difficult. But I found the two items that I knew I needed and these were perfect. CSN is definitely a great place for a person who has a shopping addiction like myself. If I had to shop right now for items for my home for $60 or less here is what I would purchase from CSN.

The IMAX Gentine Tall Ceramic Candle Holder for only $33.00, to put on the floor in our living room. It would look fantastic over by our gas fireplace. Sleek, stylish and totally affordable.

For my kitchen I'm in desperate need of new frying pans so I would most definitely pick up the Rachael Ray Porcelain Enamel Skillet Triple Pack in Orange for $59.95. Love her items and a 3 pack, I'm sold!

Or I could get this fun Nexxt 7 Piece Zoe Round Mirror Set for the hallway upstairs for under $43.00. I have quite a mirror addiction, not sure why, so having these scattered on the wall up the stairs or in the hall would look great. Don't you think?

There are so many wonderful items to choose from, but I really love that I can do everything at CSN, no matter what room I'm shopping for. Even for the outdoors. Their prices are great, the customer service team is amazing and they have a HUGE selection of high quality products, selling merchandise from the top manufacturers. They also have a rewards program, where you can earn CSN Dollars. You'll earn 3% when you purchase from them, which can be used towards your next purchase. So you're getting paid to shop with them...you can't beat that. Oh and one last thing. They give back. CSN has participated in walks, food and toy drives, runs, fundraisers and many more do good activities to help with organizations and people who are in need or to just donate. That is amazing CSN, keep up the amazing work. Next time your looking for something, check CSN Stores first and don't forget to check the clearance!

WIN IT: CSN Stores has offered one of my readers a $60.00 gift certificate for anything in their 200+ stores! (Shipping is not included)

MANDATORY ENTRY: Head on over to www.csnstores.com and tell me an item you love or what you would purchase with your $60.


EXTRA ENTRIES: Leave a comment for each(Mandatory entry must be done first)

~Like CSN Stores on facebook and let them know your entering the $60 giveaway at KiddiesCorner Deals
~Follow CSN Stores on twitter
~Become a friend of mine on facebook
~Follow my blog
~Grab my blog button and add it to your blog(2 entries leave me the link)
~Subscribe to my blog(email subscribers get 2 entries must be verified)
~Enter this into any linky and leave me the link(2 entries)
~Enter any of my current giveaways, tell me which one in your comment(1 entry for each giveaway your entered in.)
~Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and www.csnstores.com Leave me the blog link in the comment(3entries)
~Follow me on twitter and tweet the following: You may tweet daily

#Win a $60 Gift Certificate to @CSNStores @KiddiesCorner Deals #giveaway US and Canada http://is.gd/dDh9H

RULES: Open to readers in the US and Canada only. Giveaway ends August 6, 2010 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will be chose using random.org and will have 48 hours to confirm by email. If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chose. Non bloggers welcome. Just leave your email address in the comment section. If your profile does not have an email, please leave in the comments. Good luck to all entrants.

DISCLAIMER: Thank you to CSN Stores for offering this giveaway to my readers, no form of compensation was received.

1,000 Followers!!!! Thank you Giveaway!

I never realized when I started blogging I would have any followers, as I wasn't quite sure how everything worked. Then my followers started coming, and I was so excited. I started to follow blogs and I got the hang of this blogging thing. Here I am a little more than a year of blogging and I've hit 1,000!!! You are all amazing. So here is what I want from you. What would you like to see here at KiddiesCorner Deals? After all, you're the ones who are here and keep coming back, so I want to know what you want! What types of giveaways? Do you enjoy the sales I post? Let me know, and I thank each and everyone of you for taking the time to comment on my posts, and for coming back. You all rock and I appreciate it so much.

As a thank you I'd like to give one of you a $50 Visa Gift card to be used any where of your liking!

MANDATORY ENTRY: You must follow my blog publicly.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Leave a comment for each

~Tell me what you would like to see here at KiddiesCorner Deals
~Become a friend of mine on facebook
~Subscribe to my blog(email subscribers get 2 entries must be verified)
~Enter this into any linky and leave me the link(2 entries)
~Enter any of my current giveaways, tell me which one in your comment(1 entry for each giveaway your entered in.)
~Blog about this giveaway with a link to this blog post. Leave me the blog link in the comment(3entries)
~Follow me on twitter and tweet the following: You may tweet daily

@KiddiesCorner Deals is thanking her followers with a $50 prepaid Visa gift card http://is.gd/dC5GH #giveaway!

RULES: Open to readers in the US and Canada only. Giveaway ends August 9, 2010 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will be chose using random.org and will have 48 hours to confirm by email. If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chose. Non bloggers welcome. Just leave your email address in the comment section. If your profile does not have an email, please leave in the comments. Good luck to all entrants.

A big thank you to all of you for making my blog possible!

DISCLAIMER: This is not sponsored by anyone but yours truly!

Skip the salt...add flavor with Mrs. Dash! Review & Giveaway!

Salt is a huge no-no in our home. With all the health risks associated with too much salt intake, I do my best to limit it in our home. I purchase a good percentage of canned foods with no added salt, and try to read labels to see how much salt is in the foods our family eats. Some foods are very frightening! Although, I couldn't tell you how much I eat on a daily basis. I can tell you the recommended daily salt intake should be 2,300 milligrams, which is about 1 teaspoon of salt. When I cook I never add it. Instead, I use different seasonings to spice up our meals. One of our favorite seasonings is Mrs. Dash. Mrs. Dash has been in our family for quite sometime now, as we love the different varieties of the salt free spice.

According to a recent study by Mrs. Dash 71% of Americans don’t know the recommended daily amount of salt intake and nearly double the amount we should be taking in. This is a huge percentage, and is seen by many as the "new trans fat". Thankfully I myself am not part of that, as I've done my homework, and have researched this, trying to better my health and what goes into my body. Like I said I choose low sodium, no salt added, and never add salt. I feel many others should do this as well.
Check out some other statistics:

~58% of Americans are consuming the same if not MORE salt than two years ago, despite persistent health warnings.
~70% of people surveyed usually add salt while cooking or preparing a meal, and 55% usually add salt without consulting a recipe, or add salt to prepared foods at the table, and half add salt to their food even before tasting.

However, some people have taken heed to the warnings to lower sodium intake:

~68% of Americans say they usually eat low sodium foods when cooking at home.
~As many Americans change their diets for health reasons, 61% of those people have cut back on their salt intake.

There are many ways you can cut back on your salt intake at home, and Food Network’s Robin Miller (“Quick Fix Meals”) is here to help. She is working with Mrs. Dash and has provided practical tips for lowering sodium intake without sacrificing flavor:

Sauce Swap: Instead of prepared sauces, make your own. In a blender, combine roasted red peppers (home-made!), balsamic vinegar, fresh garlic, fresh parsley or basil, olive oil, and ground black pepper. Puree until smooth. Add water until you reach the desired consistency. The same sauce can be made with rehydrated sun-dried tomatoes. Thick sauces can be used over chicken, fish, pork, steak, and vegetables. Thinner sauces can be used in pasta and rice dishes.

Better Broth: Make home-made broths with the liquid from rehydrated wild mushrooms such as porcini and shiitake. Soak 1 ounce of dried mushrooms in 1 cup of very hot water for at least 20 minutes. Strain through a fine sieve to remove any debris and use the broth and mushrooms in your favorite dishes that call for chicken or beef stock (soups, stews, sauces).

Pantry Raid: Keep a hearty stash of salt-free seasoning blends such as Mrs. Dash. Grab these instead of salt to truly enhance the flavor of sweet and savory dishes. For example, nutmeg brings out the cheese flavor in dishes made with cheese (casseroles, egg dishes, etc.). Cardamom, cumin, curry, and cinnamon add warmth and depth. Oregano, marjoram, bay leaves, and garlic add robust flavor to Italian, Spanish and Greek dishes. Sage and tarragon add a wonderful floral quality to meat, fish and vegetable recipes. Start experimenting (when first starting, read the labels – they often highlight the ideal food “partners” for the particular herb or spice).

Amazing tips, that I've already printed and am keeping in my recipe book. Make sure you check out Mrs. Dash for more recipes from Robin Miller. I was sent 5 varieties of Mrs. Dash, Lemon Pepper, Tomato Basil Garlic, Fiesta Lime, Table Blend and Caribbean Citrus for our family to try. One meal we always enjoy with Mrs. Dash is pork chops grilled out on the grill, baked potatoes and a side salad.

My husband added some of the table blend to the pork chops. It gives foods an amazing flavor and the best part, no salt taste. Just a delicious blend of pepper, garlic, oregano and many other spices every family loves. Let me say you can come to our home at any given time and find Mrs. Dash Table Blend in our spice cupboard. We use it on everything from meats, potatoes, veggies and salads. I now have a new favorite for my salad, the Caribbean Citrus which I have never purchased. I added this to my salad and it was amazing. Giving my salad a flavor I've never had before. It is a sweeter blend which is perfect for salads, veggies and fruits. Yum! All varieties are just so good, and bring out the flavor of any food you add them to. If you've never tried Mrs. Dash you really should. She makes your meals delicious, better for you, and gives you many options.

WIN IT: One of my readers will win a variety of 5 different flavors of Mrs. Dash!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Head on over to Mrs. Dash and tell me a product you would like to try.

EXTRA ENTRIES: Mandatory entry must be done before any extras. Leave a comment for each

~Like Mrs. Dash on facebook and tell her your trying to win 5 Mrs Dash flavors @KiddiesCorner Deals
~Follow Mrs. Dash on twitter
~Tell me a recipe that sounds delicious
~Become a friend of mine on facebook
~Follow my blog
~Add my button to your blog(Tell me where I can find it)
~Subscribe to my blog(email subscribers get 2 entries must be verified)
~Enter this into any linky and leave me the link(2 entries)
~Enter any of my current giveaways, tell me which one in your comment(1 entry for each giveaway your entered in.)
~Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and www.mrsdash.com Leave me the blog link in the comment(3entries)
~Follow me on twitter and tweet the following: You may tweet daily

#Win 5 flavors of Mrs. Dash @KiddiesCorner Deals! Skip the salt, add flavor with Mrs. Dash http://is.gd/dAfiD #giveaway

RULES: Open to readers in the US only. Giveaway ends August 4, 2010 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will be chose using random.org and will have 48 hours to confirm by email. If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chose. Non bloggers welcome. Just leave your email address in the comment section. If your profile does not have an email, please leave in the comments. Good luck to all entrants.

DISCLAIMER: This is a review based on my opinions only, yours may differ. I was sent the above mentioned items to help facilitate my review, no other form of compensation was given.

Sew Adorable Sock Friends! Socks Appeal Review & Giveaway!

Now that I'm a stay at home mom and providing childcare again, I'm always trying to look for fun activities to keep my children and the children I care for occupied. There are so many activities they enjoy and I enjoy helping them with. I never thought about taking mismatched, missing socks and making them into pals for the kids. With Socks Appeal you learn exactly how to do this.

Socks Appeal is a hilarious book written by Brenna Maloney. She makes you look at socks in a different way turning them into cute bunnies, slithery snakes, kittens and so much more. They aren't just to keep our little tootsies warm. Make whimsical stuffed animals using baby socks, knee socks, crew socks…any kinds of socks rock! Brenna writes amazing, is witty, and makes you laugh. For example. There is an excerpt from her book where she is making her squirrel that made me laugh hysterically.

"Gently stuff his weird little legs. My squirrel’s legs look like green chicken nuggets. I can hardly believe you are following my advice! So far this project looks absurd. But have faith. You don’t want to overstuff
his legs—he is not Steroid Squirrel— but they should be firm."

This is just one of the many phrases that had me laughing, had my husband asking what the heck, and made me continue to read. Now, I am not a crafty person at all. There just isn't a bone in me I don't think. I do try though, and when I do try, I have a blast. I think my 3 year old would have better chances at making anything, better than I do, but I'm a mom and I have to put forth the effort.

I decided it was time to get out the needle and thread and search through the craft shelves for some stuffing, and buttons. I fell short on stuffing so tore up cotton balls making the fun fish, which looked the easiest and was where I had to start. This was in the easy peasy section of the book. The book is divided into three areas, Easy Peasy, which are for beginners like myself and children, Look Ma No Hands, for intermediates, and Pass the Excedrin which are more challenging projects. I gathered my supplies to make a basic fish. With Zoe, as my little helper, we were off. She found an ankle sock that was missing it's match so off to work we went. We followed the instructions, which were very easy. She takes you step by step from cutting, sewing, and what to use. So whether you're a beginner like me and need these step by step instructions or more advanced, anyone can attempt to make these. Zoe's fish turned out quite good I must say, for a beginner. Now I had nothing but googly eyes so that is what her fish received.

It's not that bad is it? Give a mom some credit! We had a blast at making this and we are going to attempt many more. It is a great activity to spend time with your children. Once you start reading Socks Appeal and looking at all the fun creatures, it's hard not to put it down, and it's a must to start creating. This book is highly recommended for anyone of all ages. You can check out a free Worry Wort pattern by checking out www.socksappeal.org and clicking free. He looks like a blast to make. So my only suggestion is to stop throwing away old socks and start saving, to make adorable little sock friends!

BUY: Purchase your copy of Socks Appeal starting at $12.99 for the eBook.

WIN IT: One of my readers will win the 128 page hardcover copy of Socks Appeal!

MANDATORY ENTRY: Head on over to Socks Appeal and go to the gallery and tell me which creature looks fun to make!

EXTRA ENTRIES: Leave a comment for each(Mandatory entry must be done first)

~Become a friend of mine on facebook
~Follow my blog
~Grab my blog button and add it to your blog(2 entries leave me the link)
~Subscribe to my blog(email subscribers get 2 entries must be verified)
~Enter this into any linky and leave me the link(2 entries)
~Enter any of my current giveaways, tell me which one in your comment(1 entry for each giveaway your entered in.)
~Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and www.socksappeal.ogr Leave me the blog link in the comment(3entries)
~Follow me on twitter and tweet the following: You may tweet daily

#Win a copy of Socks Appeal @KiddiesCorner Deals...Sew adorable Sock Friends http://is.gd/dxCh3 #giveaway

RULES: Open to readers in the US and Canada. Giveaway ends Aug 2, 2010 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will be chose using random.org and will have 48 hours to confirm by email. If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chose. Non bloggers welcome. Just leave your email address in the comment section. If your profile does not have an email, please leave in the comments. Good luck to all entrants.

DISCLAIMER: I wrote this review as I am a Review Maven for the Maven House Network. All opinions are mine. I received the above mentioned item to help facilitate my review. No other form of compensation was given.

Breyers Smooth & Dreamy Ice Cream Review and Giveaway(5 Winners)

The heat is on here in New York, which means lots of cold and yummy treats to help cool off. Whether a milkshake, smoothie, or a huge bowl of ice cream, you can bet I save a little extra room to indulge. I try to stay away from the high calorie snacks as much as possible as I do not want my weight to creep back up on me. But ice cream and chocolate are two huge guilty pleasures I have. I just found out about a new ice cream Breyers has out. Breyers Smooth & Dreamy!

I headed off to the store immediately and checked the ice cream aisle for these. So many yummy flavors to choose from. Ugh this was a hard decision. Was I going to choose the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Sandwiches, or the Chocolate Caramel Brownie Sandwiches? Neither as I spotted the Triple Chocolate Chip bars. OMG, don't these look amazing?

You bet they do and this is why they had to come home with me. Have a look at all the different layers in this? The entire bar is a creamy chocolate light ice cream with dark chocolate chips throughout. Then, you get swirls of fudge. They then top it all off by half dipping it in a rich milk chocolate coating! Is your mouth watering for one yet?

These bars are decadent, and absolutely creamy. Everything is so right about these. They are triple the chocolate for us chocolate lovers, but only 130 calories per bar, so there really is no need to feel guilty. There are no artificial flavors or colors, and once you taste them you will truly believe this. It's the real deal. Gavyn enjoyed this so much he even asked for another. And Zoe loved them. She kept saying mommy the chocolate chips are good. She isn't kidding!

The perfect treat for the entire family with six rich and creamy flavors, including Chocolate Caramel Brownie, Vanilla Caramel Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Vanilla Fudge Brownie, and Triple Chocolate Chip. We cannot wait to try the other flavors! Breyers this is definitely a keeper.

Check out www.smoothanddreamy.com and take a look at the new ice cream. It's amazing. While there, spin the wheel of delights. This is an instant win and sweepstakes game Breyers has going on right now. When you spin you may just win instant prizes like a day at the spa, maid for a day, free Breyers Smooth and Dreamy and other great prizes. There will also be a grand prize of $10,000 cash and a day with celebrity trainer, Kathy Kaehler. Head on over to the Wheel of Delights daily to take your 3 spins....you never know!

WIN IT: Five of my readers will win a coupon for one FREE Breyers Smooth & Dreamy Ice Cream Sandwiches or Bars.

MANDATORY ENTRY: Tell me your favorite flavor of ice cream(Mine is Heavenly Hash)

EXTRA ENTRIES: Leave a comment for each(Mandatory entry must be done first)

~Like Breyers on facebook and let them know your dreaming of winning their new Smooth & Dreamy bars at KiddiesCorner Deals
~Follow Breyers on twitter
~Become a friend of mine on facebook
~Follow my blog
~Grab my blog button and add it to your blog(2 entries leave me the link)
~Subscribe to my blog(email subscribers get 2 entries must be verified)
~Enter this into any linky and leave me the link(2 entries)
~Enter any of my current giveaways, tell me which one in your comment(1 entry for each giveaway your entered in.)
~Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog and www.smoothanddreamy.com Leave me the blog link in the comment(3entries)
~Follow me on twitter and tweet the following: You may tweet daily

@Breyers Smooth & Dreamy Ice Cream #giveaway @KiddiesCorner Deals! 5 Winners! http://is.gd/dvkgm

RULES: Open to readers in the US only. Giveaway ends July 31, 2010 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will be chose using random.org and will have 48 hours to confirm by email. If no confirmation in that time frame a new winner will be chose. Non bloggers welcome. Just leave your email address in the comment section. If your profile does not have an email, please leave in the comments. Good luck to all entrants.


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