I have tried for awhile now to find snacks for the kids that I don't feel so guilty about them eating. Snacks in my home are slowly leaning towards the more organic line. One problem I have though is finding snacks that really taste good even though they are not made with all the crap other snacks are made with. And not spending a fortune on them.

I recently came across Late July products on Facebook and when I took a look at their site I knew it was something I wanted to share with you guys. I reached out to do a review, and was sent a nice sampling of the products offered by Late July. We were sent a sampler of the Late July cookies and crackers that included

• 
  
  Organic Vanilla Bean with Green Tea Sandwich Cookies
• 
  
  Organic Dark Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
• 
  
  Organic Bite Size Cheddar Cheese Crackers
• 
  
  Organic Peanut butter Sandwich Crackers
• 
  
  Organic Cheddar Cheese Sandwich Crackers
• 
  
  Organic Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers
• 
  
  Organic Mini Cheddar Cheese Sandwich Crackers

I have to say that the only ones I got to try were the Dark Chocolate Sandwich Cookies. And boy were they good. There was only one pack of them, which is probably a good thing since I would've sat there and eaten a couple more packs! The boys devoured the rest over a couple of days for snack time, and I never had a mess to clean up! Which says alot when it comes to my kids. You know it is GOOD when there are no crumbs or broken pieces to have to clean up after they get through.


We were also sent a couple of boxes of their endangered animal mini sandwich cookies. These were almost too cute to eat. The girls both nabbed a box as their own, wrote their names on them, and refused to share! I love with the endangered animal mini sandwich cookies how there are 7 different endangered animals featured. And even better (icing on the cookies) 10% of the profit made from the sale of these cookies goes to the Jane Goodall Foundation. This was a huge selling point for Savanna, as she is very animal friendly.




All of Late July’s products are produced without synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, genetic engineering, antibiotics or added growth hormones. You can purchase a snack sampler like we received for $18.95 or two boxes of the the Mini Sandwich Cookies for $18.95. Purchase your Late July products HERE or by searching for a store near you.




One lucky monkie will win 1 box of each mini cookie and a variety of our single serve snacks.

Mandatory entry:
Visit the Late July website and tell me what you think of the company!

Optional entries:
Visit the Late July store and let me know which product you would most like to try!
Become a Facebook Fan of Late July
Follow this blog publicly
Grab my button or add me to your blogroll
Subscribe to the feed
Blog about this giveaway linking to the Late July and myself. 5 entries
Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. 2x a day
Become a Facebook Fan.
Post about this giveaway on your FB wall. 1x a day.

I don't know who hosts Tuesday TidBits so if you know...please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due!

I came across this on another blog I read once in awhile. I wish I had more time to sit and read blogs, but unfortunately I do not! UGH! But this stuck. So this past week I wrote down as it happened some of the funny, off the wall, and just tidbits that don't make a whole post.
************************************************************************************
I'm trying to get Braden to bed, and a discussion breaks out between us. It went just like this:

Me: Braden time to go to bed.
Braden: I want to sleep on the couch.
Me: No! Go get in bed.
Braden: But I want to watch SpongeBob.
Me: You can't watch SpongeBob all day long.
Braden: But MOMMMMM! I NEEEEDDDD HIMMMMMMMMMMM!
************************************************************************************

Either I am raising technologically advanced sons, or I am a bad example for them. Why? Because the boys have been walking around with a play cell phone telling anyone that will listen to them that they are "checking their email"!
************************************************************************************
Apparently SpongeBob has alot of influence in this home.

Kenzie and I were driving home from the store Sunday and had an impromptu "Eeemaaagiinaation" session.

Most women I know love to have smooth soft yummy kissable lips. One of my personal favs for obtaining and keeping my lips just oh so right is Softlips. I was lucky enough a few months ago to work with Robin Leedy & Associates and Softlips on a review and giveaway of Softlips products. Well, recently I was given the chance to work with them again on another Softlips giveaway.

Softlips has been around for a VERY long time, and I can remember using it when I was a teen myself. I always had a tube in my bookbag, and my mom always had a tube of Cherry flavored in her purse. Softlips does exactly what its name says! It makes your lips kissably soft. And for every girl (maybe a few guys) we all want those kissably soft lips. There are so many "flavors" to try that it would take you a year just about it to go through them all.

Softlips wants to let everyone in on how great their lip balm is and show you just why it has been around as long as it has. You can purchase Softlips about just about every store you go into (Wal-mart, Target, grocery stores, drug stores) for around $3 a dual pack of.

One lucky monkie is going to win a set of the new limited edition Softlips winter flavors.

Mandatory entry:
Become a Fan of Softlips on Facebook

Optional entries:
Follow this blog publicly
Grab my button or add me to your blogroll
Subscribe to the feed
Blog about this giveaway. 5 entries
Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. 2x a day
@brandibest is giving away a set of Limited Edition Softlips Winter Flavors to one winner http://tinyurl.com/ya4baz3 #giveaway
Become a Facebook Fan
Post about this on your FB wall. 1x a day



disclosure: I was not compensated for this review in any way other than a giveaway of Softlips products provided by Robin Leedy & Associates and Softlips. All opinions are my own!

Now with all that said. I do sterilize when someone in the house has a cold. Why? Because I don't want to play ring around the rosie with the cold bug. I was recently send a little spray thing of MyClyns to review and see how it works. MyClyns is a personal germ protection spray that is about the size of a BIC pen.I stuck it in my purse thinking, honestly, that I probably never would use it. And that I would have to give it to my germ-terrified neighbor. But the same day I got it in, I made a trip to the grocery store with Colton where I ran into this family shopping. The little girl with them was sneezing and coughing (pure thing I thought she would lose a lung the way she was coughing). I turned my back to them and Colton to grab a couple loaves of bread. When I turned around this little girl was all over Colton. First I was pissed because her parents were not watching her and she couldn't have been more than 4 or 5. Second I was grossed out because she wiped her nose that was pouring snot and proceeded to continue to play with Colton's hands. I remembered the MyClyns in my purse and pulled it out right there. After spraying Colton's hands and mouth where he was sucking on his hands, I promptly marched little Miss Cold to her mom and asked the mom to watch her own daughter. (Actually I said "Ummm your little girl just wiped snot all over my son.")

I bet you are wondering why I sprayed it into Colton's mouth. I know you wouldn't do that with Purell, or any other anti-bacterial lotion/liquid/gel right? Well Here are some facts about MyClyns you might want to know. "MyClyns is a fast-acting, non-alcohol personal germ protection spray that can be sprayed directly into the eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, where germs are most likely to enter the body. In independent laboratory test, MyClyns has shown a 99.99% reduction in 60 pathogens including MRSA, E.coli, and others. The solution has been cleared bu the FDA as a medical device and is non-irritating, non-sensitizing, non-drying tot he skin and fragrance free. Originally MyClyns was created for public safety officials and first responders, and is now available for the first time to consumers."

MyClyns retails for $7.99-$9.99 for a 6 mL spray. You can purchase it at CVS, Kroger's, Wegman's, or Biggs, and several other little stores. You can check HERE to see if there is a store near you.





disclosure: I was sent a free sample of MyClyns to review from Robin Leedy & Associates and MyClyns in exchange for a review and giveaway on my site. All opinions expressed are my own.

A million more to go. Or so it seems some times! This week has actually been one I hope not to repeat while on this diet. And you would think I would've lost more than did because of it. Okay okay! I'll explain. Hit the high notes anyhoo.

Don't get me wrong. As far as Nutrisystem goes, it has been great. The meal plan is easy to follow. The food is mostly good (there have been a couple that I haven't exactly liked but that is to be expected right?). It has been freeing knowing I have to come account to you guys on my progress. And it has also been filling. Yep filling. I have left every meal full. A couple of meals I didn't even manage to eat everything. I have had the Cheese Ravioli (which was oh my goodness good!), the chocolate raspberry bar, the orange cranberry pastry, and some other goodies. Desserts this week were yummy. Of course I didn't eat all day long Friday and didn't eat my dessert Thursday because I was sick. Today I haven't eaten everything on my meal plan either, just giving my tummy time to catch up.
  Now let me tell you why I hope not to repeat this week. Tuesday they twins got sick and started vomiting. Up all night taking care of them. Wednesday Donnie and MacKenzie got same said virus. Took care of them. Thursday...we all seem good. Right. Wrong. 10 pm Thursday night I start vomiting. Lasted longer than with the kids and Donnie with me. In the midst of being deathly ill I have to prepare for this blizzard we are sitting through now. Every grocery store is packed, I have to take all the kids with me (because they are still out of school from being sick), manage to not embarrass myself the kids while standing in line trying not to let anything come up or down. Yep, it was all good. But what matters is I am now all better. I will admit that Thursday Aunt Flow came for a visit and I managed to jump off the Nutrisystem bandwagon for a little while. I ate way tooo many almonds (Only suppose to have 6 when I eat them as a fat with my nighttime meal), downed a Nutty Butty Bar like it was a bottle of water and I was a dehydrated person, didn't drink enough water, and didn't exercise like I had "planned".

When all is said and done I lost 1.1 lb during the first week. This week I will strive to be better about exercising and drinking water.

Before I sign off, I wanted to share with you another person to support. Kimberly from She Scribes
is also working with NutriSystem like I am. Head on over and show her some support as well!

Be sure to visit Nutrisystem
for more information on the foods available, the community, and the price for the monthly meal plans!


disclosure: I was supplied with free food from Nutrisystem in exchange for blogging about my experiences while using the plan. All opinions expressed are my own!

Yep. You can now let your monkies get their fiber and like it! Getting my kids to take vitamins is one of those chores that is a have to do, but they don't really enjoy it. AT ALL. That was until Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies
came into our house.

I honestly hadn't thought to much about whether the kids were getting enough fiber in their diets or not. I assumed since they were eating realatively healthy meals that they were getting enough. Until I received the information about Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies. I found out that in 2009 the American Academy of Pediatrics INCREASED the recommended daily fiber intake standards. The outdated "age plus 5" rule was no longer in effect. The new guidelines recommend that a child age 4 should have 25 grams of fiber a day in their diets. Whooo. That is a lot of fiber. I know my kids aren't eating 25 grams of fiber a day in their regular meals.

With the Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies, the kids eat three a day (equals 1/2 cup of broccoli) and they are done. They still get all the fiber in their daily foods, but to bridge the gap between needed and actually getting the gummies help. The gummies are penguin shaped and have an assortment of flavors. I love that the Fiber Gummies are sugar-free, calorie-free, gluten-free, and made with natural fruit juice to flavor them. And best yet...they are dentist approved!!!

You can purchase Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies at Target, Walgreens, certain onlin retailers, and other major retailers nationwide. They cost around $7.99 a bottle, and each bottle contains 60 gummies. Visit the Fleet Fiber Gummies website to print off $1.00 coupon towards your purchase of Fiber Gummies!


One lucky reader is going to win a bottle of Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies for their own little monkies!

Mandatory entry:
Become a Fan of Fiber Gummies on Facebook

Optional entries:
Follow this blog publicly
Grab my button or add me to your blogroll
Subscribe to the feed
Blog about this giveaway linking to both Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies and myself. 5 entries
Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. 2x a day
@brandibest is giving away a bottle of Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies to one lucky monkie http://tinyurl.com/ye7839v
Become a Facebook Fan
Post about this on your FB wall. 1x a day

disclosure: I was sent a free bottle of Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies to review from Robin Leedy & Association (Pedia-Lax Fiber Gummies PR firm). All opinions expressed above are my own!

Skelanimals is one of Kenzie's new favorites. You can purchase Skelanimals products online or at Toy's R Us.


One lucky monkey is going to win a Skelanimals Gift Pack featuring a Red Penguin Plush and a Poem Book.

Mandatory entry:
Visit Skelanimal website and let me know another product you think would be a cute alternative V-day gift.

Optional entries:
Follow Skelanimals on Twitter
Become a Fan on Facebook of Skelanimals
Follow this blog publicly
Grab my button or add me to your blogroll
Subsrcribe to the feed
Blog about this giveaway linking to both Skelanimals and myself. 5 entries
Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. 2x a day
@brandbest is giving away a gift pack from @skelanimals http://tinyurl.com/yctsflv
Become a Facebook Fan
Post about this giveaway on your FB wall. 1x a day


disclosure: I was not provided with anything other than a giveaway in exchange for letting my readers know about Skelanimals for V-day! Any opinion expressed is my own!

I'm not. Really, I just don't do football, but now give me hilarious commercials in between plays and yummy snacks to munch on. Everywhere you look right now you are seeing recipes for Super Bowl party foods. Well, if you have a vegetarian attending your party then you will need a good substitute for them. Turtle Island Foods, Inc has just the products for you!

I was recently sent a coupon to get a sample of Tofurky to try out, and knew I would be able to put it to use. Our sitter is vegetarian and so when she is over I try to have things that she can eat on hand. I decided to get the Beer Brats to try out. Then I used the Lambeau Field Style Grilled Beer Brats recipe I found on the Turtle Island Foods website. While I didn't think it tasted the same as a Johnsenville Brat, it was still good. The skin got nice and crispy. The texture was a little strange until you got in a couple of bites and got used to it. I found the taste to be like ground turkey. The onions and peppers (and the beer) helped add flavor, and the extra  smokiness from the grill...yep, it is good.

I won't go as far as saying that you can't tell the difference between Tofurky and meat brands, but it is a good substitute. If you are wanting to have one meal a week that is a vegetarian meal (super healthy to have one meal a week that isn't meat based) then definitely give Tofurky a try. There are tons of options to choose from, and loads of recipes on the website to help inspire you. Check HERE to find a store located near you that sells Tofurky products. Added bonus nugget for you....Turtle Island Foods are vegan, kosher, and made with organic tofu or organic soybeans.





diclosure: I was sent a coupon for a free Tofurky product from Turtle Island Foods, Inc. All the opinions expressed above are my own!

You might have noticed there was a slight lax in bloggy-ness today. Yep, I went from 4-5 posts to delight your day with to one little post about Webkinz...which by the way be sure to enter. They are ADORABLE. See the reason for the bloggy layoff was due to the ickyness that hit my home. Tuesday night I was literally up all night long with first from 9 pm to 1 am Connor throwing up everything he didn't eat, from 1 am to 8am Colton following in his brothers footsteps, and then from 4am to about 10 am MacKenzie feeling left out so she joined in the pukefest.

Yeppers, I got like 3 hours of sleep. To top it off, I had a cold (big whoop right), and Donnie decided to sympathize with the kids and throw up...which by the way he can't physically do because of a surgery he had years ago, so it is more like a retching sound coming out while he leans over the toilet just in case...and he topped em with the runs. I played nursemaid to all 4 yesterday. And didn't get to feeling any better myself. Made it to bed at 10:30 (early for me), and slept poorly. Today Kenz is stilling feeling like crappyola and stayed home again.

I took Savanna and Braden in for check-ups, which finally resulted in a referral to a Developemental Therapist. YAY! I feel relieved that finally the fight of the lifetime so far is about to come to a point where results will be seen. The school has started Intervention Services for her. She showed the ped today her full on BAD Savanna show. Got obssessed with getting a glove, which resulted in her falling in the floor throwing a tantrum. I think the ped was a bit flustered. LOL

Now I am getting whatever ickyness the kids and Donnie had minus the vomit, but still will be on call for all my motherly duties. Oh, and did I mention we are expecting a snow storm this weekend. Possibly 24 inches. Oh joy! How was your day?

And just because I want to show off a picture of Connor...

As you know by now I am huge supporter of safe websites for children. About 3 years ago MacKenzie discovered Webkinz and we have been collecting the adorable little stuffed animals, figurines, charms and charm bracelets (she even had the charm necklace at one point), mousepads, and everything Webkinz. Binders have been filled with the trading cards. Many hours have been spent online at Webkinz World. Savanna got into the stuffed animals but tends to give her codes to Kenz because she just doesn't have the interest in playing on the computer. Last Christmas Braden started requesting the Webkinz for himself.

I had seen Webkinz Jr stuffed animals on Ebay, but didn't really think much about them. I figured they were smaller versions of Webkinz. Boy was I suprised when I was asked to host a review of Webkinz Junior on here for you guys. We were sent the Orange Kitty Webkinz Junior to review. I opened the package and got a big ole shocker. These are BIGGER Webkinz. Perfect for your little one to snuggle with and love on. Like the original Webkinz it comes with a code that you use to adopt your pet online and play games, feed, and take care of your pet. It is super soft and just begs to be cuddled to. Braden never had a chance! Savanna seen it and claimed it for her own. Of course she gladly gave Braden the code to play online.

I love the Webkinz Jr. site online. It is made where 4-7 year olds can have a ball and really be able to explore and understand more than they would be able to on the Webkinz World site. It is set up just like Webkinz World but the games are easier for the little ones to play. Instead of having the pop up menus, Webkinz Jr. has a map that has pictures. Making it easy to know where they player wants to go and visit. Visit the school to practice math, reading, science and more. I loved that in the school I could set the level that Braden was at so I know all the activities will be geared just right for him. Visit the playhouse to play games! The games change often so you never know what you are gonna see on the little bulletin board. Know the W Shop on Webkinz World? Well there is one on Webkinz Jr. as well!

Braden had no trouble navigating around the site and playing. I can turn it on for him and he just sits there playing. And the fun goes off line as well!!!! There is a great area in the Parents Area that you can print off fun activities to help keep them learning. I am now definitely as big a fan of Webkinz Jr. as I am of Webkinz World! You can purchase the Webkinz Jr. stuffed animals at many retailers. I know I recently saw them in Toys R' Us, but you can check out the Webkinz Jr. store locator to find a retailer near you!

Pssssttttt....If you are looking for a super cute Valentine's Gift for your little one, Webkinz has released the Love Lion for this years Valentine's themed plush! We were sent one and let me tell you, it is sooooo very cute! Savanna already had the Love Frog from a couple of years ago and this makes a nice buddy for it. LOL

Super Psssssttttt....If you are already thinking about St. Patricks Day, Webkinz also has a St. Patrick's themed puppy! Seen pics of it and it is all covered in 4 leaf clovers.


One very lucky monkey is going to win a Webkinz Jr. of their own!

Mandatory entry:
Visit the Webkinz Jr. site and let me know which stuffed animal you love the most. (My fav is the brown monkey of course!)

Optional entries:
Follow this blog publicly
Grab my button or add me to your blogroll
Subscribe to the feed
Blog about this giveaway linking to both Webkinz Jr. and myself. 5 entries
Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway. 2x a day
@brandibest is giving one lucky reader a Webkinz Jr. stuffed animal! http://tinyurl.com/ykoeb3w 
Become a Facebook Fan
Post about this giveaway on your FB wall. 1x a day
Enter any of my other giveaways. Leave me a comment letting me know which giveaway
Comment on any non-giveaway post. Leave me a comment letting me know which post


disclosure: I was sent a Webkinz Jr. and a Webkinz Love Lion in exchange for this review and giveaway. All opinions are my own!