Glow Crazy Distance Doodler and Glow Crazy Glow to Go: Great Glow-In-The-Dark Fun For Kids! {Review and Giveaway}

Want to have some glow-in-the-dark fun with your kids?  Glow Crazy Distance Doodler is a great choice for some fun family time... in the dark!  One thing I loved about these products is that they're not messy.  I hate messy toys with a passion!  I don't have to worry about anything leaking or melting in my car (in reference to the Glow to Go product).  They remind me of the Aquadoodle we once had, but without the mess of water or the wait to have the canvas dry before doodling some more.

Glow Crazy Distance Doodler:  The Glow Crazy Distance Doodler was something that my youngest enjoyed very much.  How it works:   You hang the reusable GlowClings on your wall (doesn't harm your wall) and use the Light wand to draw.  The GlowClings can also be cut into different shapes if you wanted to get creative with an easel for your child's glow-in-the dark art.  My son also enjoyed the stencil sheets that came with the Glow Crazy Distance Doodler.  What made this toy so much fun was that you could doodle from up to 10 feet away.  I can easily see us hanging a GlowCling on our child's ceiling instead of a regular wall, but I imagine I'll be confiscating the Magic Lightwand if he has too much fun and won't go to sleep.

Glow Crazy's Distance Doodler is for ages 6 and up.  

Tip:  Stencils make the Distance Doodler lots of fun.  Check out the Christian stencils on the GlowCrazy Facebook page.  Their first line of Christian stencils is a Noah's Ark theme.  Their second line, which launches on September 15, will include Christian symbols -- a loaf of bread, fish, and boat.

Glow Crazy Glow to Go:  This toy was the glow-in-the-dark choice of my 10 year old daughter.  What made the Glow to Go so much fun for her was that it was something that she could hold in her lap to doodle with in the car.  The handles make it so easy to carry too.  We took the Glow to Go with us on a trip back home to PA and my kids fought over it in the back seat.  Parents, save yourself the hassle and buy two!  What I liked about it was that though it glows in the dark, it didn't put off enough light to distract a driver or other passengers.  The kiddos can play tic, tac, toe in the dark or draw quietly in the dark.

Glow Crazy Glow to Go is for ages 3 and up.

Tip:  Use the wide beam to help the Glow Crazy canvas fade faster so that you can draw again.  Your glow doodlings will last about 3 minutes in the dark! 

Doodle of my 10 year old on Glow Crazy Distance Doodler

Buy it!  The Distance Doodler is available at the Glow Crazy website. By ordering direct from Glow Crazy, you can receive an exclusive free bonus pack with your order that includes 1 Light writer, 5 canvas wallclings and 4 stencils for free (you just pay $5.95 p&h).


Giveaway:  Win your own Glow Crazy Distance Doodler!  Distance Doodler toy includes:  1 dual-action Magic Lightwand, 2 Jumbo Wall Clings (12" x 30" each), 4 stencil sheets, and a fun tip booklet that will help you get the most fun out of your prize.


Glow Crazy has generously offered one lucky winner a Glow Crazy Distance Doodler of their very own. (ARV: $24.99)  This giveaway will run through 9/25/2011 at 11:59 PM with the winner being selected via Random.org on or about 9/26/2011.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond back to a request for shipping information.  If winner does not respond within that time frame, a different winner will be chosen.  Therefore, it is imperative that you leave an email address for me to reach you should you win.  Suggestion:  Leave an email in your mandatory comment or ensure that your Blogger profile is set to public so I can view it. This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents 18 and older.


Mandatory Entry:   Visit Glow Crazy's website and then come back and tell me something you learned while you were there. You must do this entry for the extra entries to be valid.

Extra Entries:  Each action is worth one extra entry.  Leave a separate comment for each action you complete.  If tweeting/Facebook sharing daily, you must leave a separate comment for each daily share.  If you already liked/follow/subscribe, just leave a comment saying so because it counts.

• Like GlowCrazy on Facebook

• Follow GlowCrazy on Twitter

• Watch this YouTube video and them come back and tell me which fun activity highlighted is something you'd do with the Glow Crazy Distance Doodler if you won.

• Like Making Ends Meet on Facebook

• Subscribe/be subscribed to Making Ends Meet via email (Right side bar - be sure to confirm your subscription via the Feedburner link within the email that's sent.)

• Become/Already be my Google Friend (right side bar)

• Share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook.  Please leave a link to your post.  You can do this extra entry daily.

• Tweet this giveaway out via Twitter.   Please leave a link to your tweet.  You can do this extra entry daily.  Sample tweet:  Enter to win an @GlowCrazy Distance Doodler, a super fun glow-in-the-dark toy at Making Ends Meet!  http://ow.ly/6tDho  #giveaway #toys  

• Like Blog POP! on Facebook so you'll be in the know with all the latest on our upcoming 'Christmas Wishes' blog event in November. 

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!  PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL OF THE EXTRA ENTRIES THAT YOU CAN TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.  TWEETING/SHARING DAILY IS AN EASY WAY TO BOOST YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

Disclosure:  Many thanks to Glow Crazy for the opportunity to review these Glow Crazy products.  My kids truly fought over them.  These products were provided to me at no cost to me; however, this did not affect my opinion.  The opinions expressed are 100% my own or are based upon my family's experience with the product.  

Prefense Alcohol-free hand sanitizer review and giveaway

Anyone with kids or who deals with kids on a regular basis knows that they are germ factories.  When not incubating germs to pass along to the rest of us, they're almost seemingly actively recruiting germs to take up residence and make them sick.  If they don't have their mouths on things, their hands are sure to touch germy surfaces and then go into their mouths anyway.  A parent would need to frequently re-apply hand sanitizer to offer the best protection.  However, Prefense sells an alcohol-free hand sanitizer that lasts all day long - for 10 hand washings.

That's simply amazing!  In a world with strep, E coli, MRSA, staph and worse floating about, aside from the normal germs associated with colds and flus running through communities, Prefense offers a persistent protection for up to 24 hours - a whole entire day.  To read more about the germs, viruses, fungi and mold that Prefense kills, please see their FAQ page.  Prefense can be purchased in the 1.5 oz or 8 oz sizes and you can even purchase it online at Amazon if a store near you does not carry it. 

My experience with Prefense alcohol-free hand sanitizer

One thing that I noticed right away after application was that my hands did seem wetter.  Alcohol-based sanitizers usually evaporate and dry faster than Prefense did for me.  However, it didn't take long for my hands to dry and when you consider that you are only applying the product once per day, it isn't a negative to have to wait a short minute for your hands to dry. My hands did feel smoother and softer after application.  How does it work, you ask?  When you apply Prefense, it coats your hands with millions of tiny spikes that actually slice the germs to kill them.  Since skin naturally sloughs off, you need to re-apply daily. Talk about germ fighting action!

Prefense alcohol-free hand sanitizer uses

Prefense is safe for kids and it is alcohol-free.  The fact that it is alcohol-free is a huge plus to me since irritated hands may sting with alcohol-based products.  I generally try to find hand lotions that do not contain alcohol for this reason.  I wash my hands a lot each day and particularly a lot when I am handling food while cooking dinner.  It is nice to know that Prefense can withstand several hand washings without the need to re-apply.

Since Prefense specifically kills staph and MRSA, I will recommend it to a friend of mine who has had some issues with those superbugs.  I know she keeps an eye out for products that she can use to protect herself from costly hospital stays and treatment since she has had a few bouts of the illness in the past.  

Another great use that I see would be to make sure my family and I are protected with Prefense before venturing out shopping.  Grocery carts are notorious germ carriers and I have recently read stats that indicate that even the flu doesn't stop some people from going out shopping!  When my son was younger, he often got sick not long after a weekend shopping trip.  I'm convinced it was the germy carts that he was touching at every store. 

Win it!  Prefense is allowing me to giveaway one (1) 8 oz bottle of Prefense.  Here's what you need to do to enter.  Be sure to complete the mandatory entry to ensure that all other extra entries count.  I do check!  This giveaway will run through 2/28/2011 at 11:59 PM Eastern.  Winner will be chosen March 1, 2011 via Random.org.  U.S. entrants only and you must be 18 or older to participate.  Each entry needs to be listed as a separate comment.  Don't leave me one comment for multiple entries. 

Mandatory entry:  Visit the Prefense site and then come back here and tell me which store nearest to you sells Prefense.  You must leave your email or acknowledge that your profile has it listed if you are on Blogger.  I need a way to reach you if you win.

Extra entries:  Connect with Prefense online via social media!  Follow them on twitter (1 entry) or on Facebook (1 entry) or do both and gain two entries.

You also can gain extra entries for following me on twitter (1 entry), being/becoming my fan on Facebook (1 entry), being my Google friend (1 entry - right side bar), subscribing to me by email (1 entry - right side bar) and for tweeting out this contest (1 entry).  If you already follow me, just leave a comment letting me know.  If you tweet, please use this:

Win an 8 oz bottle of @Prefense Alcohol-free hand sanitizer.  1 application lasts 10 hand washings! http://ow.ly/3Yll3 #cold #flu #giveaway

Disclosure:  I received a sample of Prefense for the purpose of this review.  Though I received the item for free, the opinions stated herein are 100% my own.  I did not receive compensation for this blog posting. ** Note:  As of 3/1/2011, Prefenz changed their name back to Prefense.  This blog post was updated to include the name change. **

Living Without Magazine: A quick review

Having a birthday somewhat close to Christmas - as in five weeks before - means that I have to come up with a huge gift idea list (or at least two different lists) within a short period of time.  I am a horrible person to shop for, since I rarely want extravagant things (ok, I admit that I'm really intrigued by the Tassimo T20 that several bloggers have been giving away, but not because I'm a coffee fiend, because I'm not.  I want it for hot chocolate.).  I had to give a list over and my sister-in-law got me a magazine called Living Without.

The USPS battered and tore my premiere issue, but the information inside was still intact.  Though they sent me the December/January issue (which I hate when they send back issues since the holiday is now past...), I still found some of the holiday recipes in there intriguing.  I liked, too, that it had several features that I found relevant to me and my need to avoid wheat.  For instance, there was a large article, A Celiac Pill, that I found very interesting.  Researchers from across the globe are working toward finding a cure and the differing ways the medicines would work was quite interesting.  I have hope that they'll be able to find a way for those with Celiac to eat wheat. 

Dining out is sometimes quite tricky and I often end up eating some items off the kids menu.  Another helpful feature article was about Atlanta and special diets so that visitors would know which restaurants catered to their special dietary needs. 

Aside from the features, I found a few different recipes for making my own flour blends.  I especially enjoyed the Q&A with a chef and I even enjoyed the ads showcasing gluten free food items.  Sometimes you don't know what's out there simply because a product isn't located in your grocery store.  It's nice to see different products so that I can do some research to see if I might want to order some to try online.

Final analysis:  I can't wait to get the next issue.  My family is tired of the same old, same old here and there were several recipes (or recipes that I could adapt to our tastes) that looked promising.

Disclosure:  This review is unpaid.  It is relative to my own opinions while perusing the very thoughtful and helpful birthday gift that was given to me.

Scooby-Doo: The Movie & Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed Double Feature Review

Release Date:  November 9, 2010

Scooby Doo, where are you?  Right here!  On November 9, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. released Scooby Doo 1 & 2 as a family double feature in Blu-Ray.  Watch the adventures of Fred, Daphne and the gang as they solve two mysteries, with the special effects viewing experience enhanced with Blu-Ray definition. 

Synopsis: In Scooby-Doo, the gang is lured to a mysterious island to solve the mystery of what is causing college students to leave the island with immensely changed personalities.  The gang had been on a break - a two year break - from each other and reluctantly reunite to solve the mystery.  Each wants to solve the mysterious behavior of the college kids on their own without the help of others, but in the end, teamwork is what was needed to unmask the villain.  Run time:  86 minutes

My family's experience:  I watched Scooby-Doo with the kids.  This movie is rated PG, and there may be some instances where some guidance might be needed.  Fred and Daphne end up in different bodies, which led to some comments that wouldn't be appropriate for younger kids.  Overall, this was a fun adventure and the villain at the end was a surprise to me.  I didn't see it coming!  The effects were really cool and we got to see that Daphne isn't just a pretty face after all.

Syopsis:  Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed is the second part of this double feature.  This movie begins with the opening of the Coolsville museum that features displays of past unmaskings.  The grand opening goes awry when the monsters become unleashed.  The gang is then ostracized by the town and is portrayed very poorly in the press.  Can they save the town from these monsters and get back in Coolsville's good graces?  Is the true villain the museum curator or someone else totally unexpected?  The gang works together to solve this mystery, with Scooby and Shaggy taking a more active role in collecting clues instead of cowering in the corner. Run time: 93 minutes.

How does a dog fly on an airplane? Disguised as Grandma, of course!

My family's experience:  We actually watched Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed before we watched the first movie. Of the two, I enjoyed Scooby-Doo more.  The kids liked both movies, though they are both PG rated.  There seemed to be more adult humor in the second movie than the first and it creeped me out a little bit to see Shaggy preening in the mirror when his body became altered after drinking a concoction.

Both movies had a lot of action and though Scooby was CGI, it transferred well to Blu-Ray.  The picture was crisp and clear and I think it enhanced the viewing experience. Overall, we enjoyed these movies.

Own it on DVD!  Scooby-Doo 1 & 2 Collection (Family Double Feature) is available now.  You can purchase it in Blu-Ray at Amazon.com for under $25.  Warner Bros. has many other Blu-Ray titles available for purchase at their site, www.WarnerBlu.com.

Disclosure:  I received the Scooby-Doo 1 & 2 Collection on Blu-Ray at no cost to me for review purposes.  This blog post is not a paid one.  The opinions stated herein are my own or are derived from comments made by my family.  Many thanks to Warner Bros. for providing this opportunity to me.





Pinching Abe does, from time to time, include referral links and/or affiliate links within the body of the text. Please be aware that clicking on any of these and/or shopping through those links may benefit her by way of earning money toward a commission for referring you to specific deals or sites.

Crest Pro-Health FOR ME product review - dental care products for tweens

I recently was provided with a sample pack of Crest Pro-Health's FOR ME product line.  Crest Pro-Health's FOR ME products are specifically designed for tweens - kids between 8 and 12 years of age.  I received the above-pictured items at no cost to me for the purposes of review here at Making Ends Meet.  In addition, I was granted permission to offer one lucky reader a gift pack including these items:

• Oral-B Pro-Health FOR ME CrossAction Toothbrush
• Crest Pro-Health FOR ME Fluoride Anticavity Toothpaste
• Crest Pro-Health FOR ME Anticavity Fluoride Rinse
• Oral-B Pro-Health FOR ME Floss Picks

Are you excited?  I am.  And here's why.  My 9 year old is a tween... she's often got a gap (or two) between her teeth, having just been visited by the Tooth Fairy.  She even has one tooth that is only partially erupted.  In general, she sometimes looks like a jack-o-lantern.  She's also older, so we trust her more to take an active role in her dental health.  We check her teeth and remind her to floss, floss, floss, but we don't treat her like a baby and brush her teeth for her.

She likes mint and so the toothpaste was a good fit.  When I asked her input about the Crest Pro-Health FOR ME Fluoride Anticavity Toothpaste that she'd been using for a few weeks, she stated, "It doesn't burn my mouth like a lot of other minty toothpastes do."  Even the mint in my own toothpaste can seem a bit strong to me.  If you want a kid to brush their teeth, particularly a tween, you need to think about these things.  She's too old for fruity flavored "baby" toothpastes (she says), but not old enough to tolerate the amount of minty freshness in an adult tube of toothpaste.

With regard to the Oral-B Pro-Health FOR ME Floss Picks, she had a few things to say.  "They're a little bit too pointy at the end.  It's a little bit mintier than the toothpaste... I didn't like that."  Well, you can't win them all.  I was just happy that she really gave these a try since she is not one to remember to floss, even though we tell her to do so.  She did tell me that she was able to reach all of her teeth though. 

She's also used to having some kind of anticavity rinse.  She generally complies with using these, but she said of the Crest Pro-Health FOR ME Anticavity Fluoride Rinse, "I didn't like the fact that the I have to pour it.  I like the squeeze it and fill it kind.   I made some messes by pouring."  Well, that's good to know too and I would have to agree.  I actually thought that it was her brother who was getting into it and leaving slops on the vanity top.  Maybe an improvement would be to place a plastic piece over the top so that it pours out through a half moon or something like that to help with spills.

Buy the FOR ME product line at Targets and Walmarts, as well as many e-tailers if you want to shop online.  Think Christmas!  I don't know about you, but Santa always includes a toothbrush in our stockings here.  These products would also make a nice extra something that is left by the Tooth Fairy.

Win four FOR ME products here at Making Ends Meet. Here's what you need to do to enter:

Mandatory entry:  Leave me a comment letting me know which of these products that you would want your tween to try out first:

• Oral-B Pro-Health FOR ME CrossAction Toothbrush
• Crest Pro-Health FOR ME Fluoride Anticavity Toothpaste
• Crest Pro-Health FOR ME Anticavity Fluoride Rinse
• Oral-B Pro-Health FOR ME Floss Picks

Be sure to include your email address so that I can let you know if you should win.   You must complete the mandatory entry or no other entries will count.

Extra Entries:  Each action requires a separate comment (please include your email address in comment).  If you already are following, just leave me a comment letting me know.  All friends - new and old - should be treated the same.

• Become my Google Friend (right side bar)

• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway - Win a Crest Pro-Health FOR ME gift pack for your tween at Making Ends Meet.  http://ow.ly/2OVUs  #crestFORME #dental #kids   You can tweet daily for more entries!  Just make sure you leave a large enough gap between tweets.

• Follow Crest on Twitter

•  Watch this video and then come back and tell me you watched it!

Giveaway notes:  This giveaway will run through 10/25/2010 at 11:59 PM.  Random.org will be used to randomly select a comment - so using the extra entry opportunities will help boost your chance of winning.  Giveaway is limited to US only and you must be 18 years old or older to participate.  Winner will have 48 hours to reply back with requested information.  If winner doesn't reply back within that time frame, I will need to choose another winner.

Disclosure:  Thanks goes out to Crest Pro-Health/Oral B Pro-Health FOR ME for providing me this review opportunity.  As I mentioned, these products were provided at no cost to me for the purposes of facilitating this blog review. I did not receive compensation for making this blog review post.  The opinions stated herein reflect the experiences of my family.  Please visit the Crest Pro-Health FOR Me page to learn more.

Product Review: Corelle Country Cottage Teapot from CSN Stores

I mentioned a while back that I was perusing the Corelle section at CSN Stores and came across a nice looking tea pot that matched my pattern.  I did end up ordering it to replace my other worn out Corelle teapot.  Other than it matching my dishes, I bought it mainly because of its size, which was advertised at 80 ounces - quite large for a tea pot.

Country Cottage Tea Pots - two available at CSN Stores

I found two Country Cottage tea pots for sale at CSN Stores and had to make a decision between the two.  There was a smaller Country Cottage teapot, but it was markedly smaller.  See side-by-side below.

You'll note that the price was fairly close, but the capacity was quite different.  Here's where it gets interesting... the larger whistling teapot isn't actually 80 ounces.  This was a bit of a disappointment.  It wasn't until the product arrived that I looked at it and thought, boy that sure is small for 80 ounces!  Sure enough, I asked my husband how to make Google do some math for me.... and being the Google wizard/brilliant computer engineer that he is, he clued me in.  2.2 quarts is actually 70.4 ounces.

You lose a bit of capacity, too, because the fill line is just below the spout.  However, for how we use it, it is more than enough.  My husband loves to drink Lipton's Bed Time Story tea to wind down at night and likes to drink tea especially when he is sick with a cold.

One nice feature of the tea pot is that it actually whistles.  Our older tea pot did not have this feature and I can't tell you how many times I forgot about the tea pot without the audio cue!  I actually started setting the timer on the stove for about 5 minutes so I wouldn't forget it.  The whistle isn't high pitched, but is not so annoying you hate it, but enough to get your attention. 

In addition, I have had my older Corelle Country Cottage tea pot for several years.  This newer teapot feels much more sturdy than my old one, so I have no reason to believe that it won't last for many, many years.  The inside is metal, which I thought was a good thing since my old tea pot was calcified and was actually starting to lose the finish on the inside.

Though the tea pot was not quite as advertised, we are still pleased.  If you would like to check out CSN Stores' Corelle offerings, please click here.  They do have several patterns and items such as the tea pot make your set more complete, not to mention they make nice gifts for friends or family if you happen to know their pattern.

Disclosure:  CSN Stores provided me with a gift certificate to purchase items for review from their stores.  I chose a Corelle tea pot, which was shipped to me, paid for with part of the gift certificate.  The opinions stated herein are my own or are based upon my family member's experience with the product.  I did alert CSN to the incorrect capacity with regard to this tea pot.

Orbeez Peace Sign (toy review)

I recently received a complimentary Orbeez Peace Sign to review here at Making Ends Meet.   Though the product was provided at no cost to me, the opinions herein are 100% my own or are related to comments made by my children who played with the Orbeez Peace Sign.  I did not receive compensation for posting this review.  This post contains affiliate links.  See my disclosure policy on side bar for more details.

Not the best picture since this was on the carpet, but you can see how big those Orbeez balls grow (think marbles).  Both kids liked playing with them, perhaps a little too much.  This toy is rated by the manufacturer as being for ages 5 and up and I do have a 5 year old.  However, these balls are small enough to be a choking hazard, so you should definitely not just hand them the Orbeez and not supervise your younger child while they play.  The manufacturer has tested Orbeez extensively and has found it to be safe for children 5 and up.  Orbeez meets ASTM regulations.

The Orbeez orbs grow from an extremely small speck into an orb the size of a small marble in about 3 or so hours.  This is something that you should be aware of if your kids are into instant gratification versus growing the orbs.  This is definitely a plan ahead kind of toy.  Of course, there's always the Orbeez grower, which would definitely make growing Orbeez more fun!

Once they are fully grown, they are very bouncy.  One bad move could cause your Orbeez to scatter in 100 different directions.  My cats chased these balls and I was very afraid one might get ingested, but I was with my son while he was playing and grabbed up anything that rolled away.

There are warnings on the package about what to do if any are eaten. The Orbeez site  has a specific FAQ on what to do if ingested, and stresses that Orbeez are non-toxic and should pass a child's digestive tract (we're talking ingesting a dozen or less) since they do not stick together.  They are not absorbed in the body.  I will also toss it out there that my older sister swallowed a quarter when she was a pre-schooler and Mr. Washington passed just fine!   This picture shows their size fairly well:

My 5 year old kept getting into the Orbeez to play with them, much to my consternation.  I ended up hiding the grown and ungrown Orbeez from him because I was concerned he might eat or otherwise try to stick them in his mouth or allow the cats to eat ungrown Orbeez.  Having lost 4 pets in 3 years, I am very cautious with the cats we do still have.  This is something that parents should bear in mind since kids don't magically turn 3 and stop putting things (especially shiny things) into their mouths.  This is my son, though!  He's always got things in his mouth that shouldn't be in there.  To be honest, I think this toy should be rated for older children a little older.  That's just my thoughts on this though.

My 9 year old loves it! She is also responsible enough to not stick them in her mouth and immediately retrieves any Orbeez that get away from her when she is playing. She already told me she wants the Butterfly next.

 Ok, so you've gone on and on about safety... but are Orbeez fun?

My kids enjoyed watching them grow, but wished they'd grow faster.  If you do have to throw some Orbeez out, it might be a good idea to grow more overnight or while the kids are in school so they don't have to wait for them.  The many colors mean that my daughter can make numerous designs in the Peace Sign and I'd consider buying Orbeez' Butterfly as well.  I store them in an airtight container and they haven't lost much water since we first grew them a few weeks ago.  Is your Peace Sign full?  You can always drop those colored Orbeez into a water bottle stop by the Orbeez Facebook Page to see what other fans have dreamed up.




Where can I buy Orbeez products? What do they cost?


You can buy Orbeez products at Target, Amazon.com, Toys R Us and Kmart.  Some items are coming up as out of stock at Toysrus.com already, which leads me to believe that Orbeez is going to be one hot toy this Christmas season.  Expect to pay between about $12-$25 for most Orbeez products.  The Peace Sign costs about $12, but if you want a safe and entertaining place to grow your Orbeez, the Magic Maker runs about $25.

Final thoughts:

I liked this toy for my daughter, mainly because I felt she could play with it with less supervision.  The Orbeez do lose water over time, but you can rehydrate them by placing them back in water.  I liked the idea of using them for cut flowers and think that it is a fantastic idea for florists to consider. Red and green would make a great look in a vase for Christmas flowers.

I also noted that they were more (for lack of better word) crumbly once they were a few days old.  My son dropped one and pinched it to pick it up and it broke in half.  It reminded me of the time I washed a Pull-Up by accident and how that extra absorbent material - that looked like a gelatinous sludge - ended up all through my washer.  Maybe Orbeez is similar to that material?  I don't know.  But that was the thought I had when the Orbeez broke.  Parents should check to make sure the Orbeez are a completely hydrated state before letting children play with them and toss any extra squishy ones back in water to rehydrate them.

Connect with Orbeez


If you love Orbeez, stay connected!  They have a Facebook Page and you can even follow them on twitter.  You can also read more about them on their website, Orbeezone.com.

Many Orbeez products are available on Amazon, including some with free Amazon Prime Shipping.  Check them out!

PowerSox - GoldToe Kids EZ Match socks review (boys and girls)

I recently contacted PowerSox to ask whether they would be willing to send me some of their PowerSox EZ Match Socks for kids.  They graciously sent me a 3 pack of both boys and girls socks to fit my 5 and 9 year old.  These socks were sent to me for free by the company and I receive no compensation for posting this review.  Though they were free to me to try, the opinions stated herein are my own (or my kids').

PowerSox Gold Toe:  Kids EZ Match

To be honest, I hate matching socks.  I have (literally) a laundry basket half-full at all times.  I mate the ones that don't all blend together, and when the basket gets full enough (or people start whining about a lack of socks), then I match them.  I just detest matching and I know I really should keep up with it, but who wants to lay every white sock out and determine a) gender and b) size?  Is it my 9 year old's sock or mine?  Is that ankle sock a boy sock or a girl sock? Or worse:  Does that sock even fit anymore?

The gold bands make it so easy to mate.  My daughter's socks are a larger size, so she has 3 bands.  My son's younger, so his only have two.  Now I can tell at a glance whose socks are whose!  For people who have a house full of boys of varying ages, this can come in handy.  I remember my aunt mating my uncle and cousin's socks and looking for a big old "J" for Junior.  I guess mating socks wasn't a chore she enjoyed either!  She'd written "J's" on the tops of all of his socks so she could mate socks more easily.  I'm thinking that gold bands are easier (and more aesthetically pleasing!)

PowerSocks EZ Match Socks:  Style and Sizing

If you take a look at the picture above, you can see that the girl socks are definitely stylish.  The gold bands, which aren't seen when you are wearing shoes, are actually cute and stylish!  The boys socks that I received are the standard whites that boys just naturally gravitate too once they are big boys and not babies.  

I really loved the boys socks because they were so roomy.  My soon was blessed with tree trunks for feet.  I could probably color him green for Halloween because he has what I call "Hulk feet."  They're extra wide and thick!  Once he hit about age two, it was impossible to find footed jammies to accommodate his large feet.  So when I asked about a complimentary package to try, I asked up front about whether or not they would fit his big feet.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that the PowerSocks EZ Match Socks fit his feet quite well, without being snug in the least.  This is a huge thing since he likes to wear socks to bed and I know that his feet are getting enough circulation because these socks aren't too tight.

Though my daughter liked the socks, she did think they were just a tad too big when she first tried them on.  She says they fit better now, so maybe they shrunk just a tiny bit.  She really liked the orange, red and white striped pair.  Best of all, the gold bands mean she can sort her own socks!

Other things I note about these PowerSox EZ Match Socks

I did notice some slight pilling on my son's socks when these came out of the dryer, but I didn't have the pills on my daughter's socks.   I imagine a lot of running around might make the fabric get those little pills, but I am not overly worried about this since the socks are well made.  The boys socks are thick enough that I am also not worried about them being worn out before they're outgrown.

Having tried these socks in my home, would I actually buy them? Yes! I have a very hard time finding socks for my son's XW feet and I really liked these socks, both based on quality and also the ability to mate them.  I'd also buy them for my daughter because they are a quality sock.

Disclosure:  I received these socks at no cost to me for review purposes.  I did not receive compensation to make this blog post review and the opinions stated herein are 100% my own or based on comments from my children.  Thank you to PowerSox for providing me with a quality product to review here on Making Ends Meet!

Be Thifty: How to Live Better for Less (book review)

As I mentioned a while back, I have been reading Be Thrifty:  How to Live Better for Less by Pia Catton and Califia Suntree (Workman Publishing Company).  It took me a few weeks to read and to digest and what follows is my review.  Please know that I received a copy of Be Thrifty at no cost to me to review here on Making Ends Meet.  Though the book was free, my opinions are 100% my own.

Initial thoughts:  I really liked the conversational tone of the book.  Throughout each chapter, there were contributions from real-life people, including many short comments by people who lived through the Great Depression.  I couldn't help but think that the book would be a great resource for a single Mom, since there was DIY how-to fixes for common household problems and ideas on what cuts of meat to buy to save the most money... not to mention lots of recipes for food.

Though I'm a frugal person by nature, I even learned a trick or two.  One good thing I pulled out of this book was how to make your own stock from scraps.  This is something that could save me money since I have to scan all my food labels to make sure there's no wheat inside.  The stock I usually buy is quite expensive off-sale and to be honest, I was not sure how it was even made!

What I think the whole point of the book was is that thrift doesn't have to mean cheap.  You can be thrifty without being a total scrooge!  Know when to spend money and when you can get away with making your own or buying a lesser expensive item instead. Being thrifty can be done in degrees and you are in control of just how thrifty you want to be.  I, myself, probably wouldn't make my own compost; however, if I wanted to learn, the directions were right inside.  

Another important point that I think that Be Thrifty: How to Live Better for Less brings out is that going green can be thrifty too!  There are lots of green living tips inside that do more than just save the Earth --- it saves green in your wallet.  One section of the book that caught my eye was about green cleaners and cheap alternative cleaners that you can make at home with things already in your kitchen cupboards.  Avoid the urge to buy cleaners for convenience sake and make your own at home.  I'm planning to try the vinegar trick for my toilets!

Finally, another point that struck home in this book is that when times are tough, people turn back toward thriftiness.  When life is going great and there's money to spend, convenience goods are selected over good old fashioned know-how.  What happens is that people like me don't know how to make their own cleaners because I was never taught by a thrifty frugalista.  When the good times are rolling and suddenly come to a stop, there's an information gap that must be bridged.  Be Thrifty: How to Live Better for Less does just that.  It fills in the blanks of information that doesn't get passed down through the generations because life was good and there was no need to be as cautious with money.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and loved reading the compilation pieces.  This would be a great book to buy for your own library as a reference book, or even to give as a wedding present because money is tight for a lot of newlyweds.

* In case you were wondering, yes, that is a real penny!  The sturdy cover for this book contains a real penny in the right hand corner of the cover.

Thermos FUNtainer bottle and food jar review (Shrek!)

I recently received a Thermos FUNtainer bottle and food jar to review here at Making Ends Meet.  When these arrived, I had two kids with grabby hands telling me that Shrek was theirs.  Take a look at what they look like:

The color is very vibrant and another thing I really loved about the Thermos FUNtainer bottle and food jar was the fact that they are made from BPA free materials.  With so much in the news about BPA being bad for kids especially, it does a mom's heart good to know that they are putting their child's food and drink in safe containers.  Not sure if your Thermos product complies with safety standards? Just enter the item number or UPC number in at this website to be able to download certificates of compliance.

Other things I love about these Thermos FUNtainers

If you look at the top of the containers, it tells you how long it will keep your food or drink cold (or hot, in the case of the food jar), so you always know what type of time frame that you are working with when you are packing a lunch.

While I happened to get Shrek Thermos FUNtainers to review, I really love the idea of the different styles that are available.  My son loves (and I mean loves) Star Wars:  Clone Wars.  Thermos sells FUNtainers featuring his favorite character, Anakin Skywalker.   They also have Hello Kitty, Scooby Doo, and Mickey Mouse FUNtainers among others.  There's sure to be a favorite character that your little one adores featured on a Thermos FUNtainer set.

Best of all, the bottle is leak proof provided that you close the lid and make sure it is secure.  The caveat here is that you shouldn't put some beverages in the bottle (like soda pop) that might build up pressure and thus force a leak if the pressure gets too high.  

Things I learned from reading the insert in my FUNtainers

1)  I learned that for maximum cooling or heating, you can pre-heat or pre-chill the FUNtainer by using either hot or cold water and letting it sit in the container for about 5 minutes before dumping it out and filling with your desired food or beverage. 

2) Don't use abrasives on the outside if you want to keep Shrek looking spiffy!  You will scratch the artwork on the outside of the container and dull the finish.

3) Don't use bleach on them and though they are top rack safe for your dishwasher, if you want the best results, wash by hand. 

Overall, I'm very pleased with Thermos' FUNtainers.  The no spill bottle is nice for the car and the food jar will be perfect for cut up fruits for lunches too.  I can easily see me packing some grapes for a car ride in the food jar.  Hot stays hot and cold stays cold... something very important to me.  I am paranoid about food poisoning, so I need to feel confident that food is going to stay fresh and cold.  I feel that confidence with Thermos products. 

I did go to the website and view the certificates.  As one who was affected by the McDonald's Shrek Glass recall, I like knowing that the food containers my kids will use are safe for them.

Disclosure:  I received a Shrek FUNtainer bottle and food jar at no cost to me for review purposes.  The opinions stated herein are 100% my own.  I did not receive compensation from Thermos for writing this blog post review.  I was provided with a link to check the certificate of compliance for Thermos items; however, any other links contained herein were my own and were provided for context.  If you purchase a Thermos product via their website, I do not receive a commission for the sale.

EO All Purpose Soap Product Review (and reviews of a few other EO products...)

Recently, I saw a call for bloggers to review some EO products and was blessed to be chosen from (I'm sure) the many that applied.  The folks at EO graciously sent me a nice sampler pack containing EO's All Purpose Soap, liquid hand soap, and small travel sized shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion, as well as a handy purse sized hand sanitizer. 

What I loved about the EO products I tried:


EO's All Purpose Soap:  I used this to scrub my kitchen floor.  I really loved the fresh citrus scent and it can also be used to wash veggies and fruits.  Talk about all purpose!  There are literally dozens of uses for this product, including using it to wash laundry, clean cabinets, and polish stainless steel.   Next up:  Use it to degrease my stove from grease splatters... and I have some outdoor furniture that needs a good scrubbing!    What I really like about EO's All Purpose Soap is the versatility.  I don't want a cupboard full of cleaners when just one can do the job of many.

EO's Shampoo, Conditioner and Shower Gel:  I have been using these for about two weeks and still have a little left in the small 1.5 oz bottles that EO sent to me to try.  This is phenomenal since any time I stay at a hotel, I have to beg for more shampoo since it never lathers.  These worked well for me and my city water and I absolutely love the french lavender scent.  Lavender is very relaxing and busy mommy bloggers can definitely use a little relaxation!  They rinsed clean and I haven't noticed any build up in my hair.   I recommend using these products at night to help relax your senses just before bed time.

EO's Liquid Hand Soap:  I put this in my bathroom, mainly because that's where I needed soap!  However, I can easily see how using it in the kitchen would be nice too since the peppermint and tea tree scent I was   sent to try would help mask those pesky onion odors that I end up with while cooking.  The first time I tried this, it did make my hands feel a bit dry afterward.  I may have acclimated to it or maybe I just didn't rinse well enough the first time.  At any rate, I love the scent!  Hubby hasn't complained (he doesn't like soaps that are too girlie) so he must be satisfied too.

EO's Body Lotion:  This was also french lavender scented and had a much stronger scent than the shampoo, conditioner or shower gel.  I like to use it after my bath to help seal in some moisture.  My hands get very dry, and the body lotion worked to an extent.  I probably will use this on my body and not so much for my hands.  But again, I liked the scent, though it might be a bit too scented for some.

EO's Hand Sanitizing Spray:  This handy 2 ounce spray bottle will fit into your purse or even your car.  I like to sanitize when I'm at places like doctor's offices, and grocery stores (those germy carts!) and EO's hand sanitizer is a great choice for those who don't like that strong alcohol smell that other hand sanitizers have.  The product they sent me was organic peppermint with thyme.  It smells kind of like those breath sprays, but obviously I don't recommend that you use this product for that!  I like that this product was in a spray because it, to me, dried much faster than any gel I've used.

Overall, I was really surprised at how much I liked all of the EO products sent to me for review.  As I grow in eco-awareness, I definitely see myself replacing many of the products I typically buy with organic ones, particularly if they are affordably priced, like the EO brand products are.  With all of the products I tried, a little went a long way, which just makes them all the more affordable.


Disclosure:  EO sent me these products at no cost to me for the purpose of this review.  I did not receive compensation for this review and the opinions stated herein are 100% my own.  To read more about EO products, please visit them at eoproducts.com.  FYI, August's promotion is 15% off hair care!

Prefer Pets Pet Carrier (black) review

I recently made a purchase of a Prefer Pets Pet Carrier in black via  CSN Stores.  CSN Stores is a collection of over 200 stores that you can shop from at one site.  Many of the items available there ship for free, and the Prefer Pets Pet Carrier was one of them.


Why I needed a new pet carrier

We recently lost another pet.  My poor children have bid goodbye to four furry family members in the space of two and a half years. Two years ago it was a beloved 7 year old cat.   Last year was particularly tough since we lost a 1 year old cat (undetected heart problem) and a 14 year old beagle mix within the space of about six months.  Recently, however, it was my husband's 15 year old cat who died.  Regardless of how long we had them, we loved them just the same.

After our most recent loss, my husband asked me to dispose of the cat carrier we had.  It was molded plastic and in good enough condition; however, he pondered whether it had had too many one-way trips to the vet.  So, out it went to the trash, though some lucky scavenger probably snapped it right up.

This decision left us sans a cat carrier, so I took at look at what CSN Stores had to offer and found a duffle bag type of cat carrier with mesh for $34.95 with free shipping.

 Photo from CSN Stores

What I liked about this particular pet carrier was the softness.  My cats never really liked being shoved into a hard box and this carrier is soft and pliable.  It even has an insert that is quite soft and feels a lot like their favorite blanket.  The ends are mesh, as well as the top part of the duffle (as pictured).  You can carry by handles or by attaching an over the shoulder strap.  One side of the carrier has a pouch that closes, so there's a little bit of storage.  It also came with a luggage tag if you plan to travel with your pet.

The mesh feels very strong, thick and plasticky.  It is not made of thready mesh, which would easily snag a hole open with sharp claws.  Both of our 1 year old cats like the bag, probably because they can see out.  They are about 12-14 pounds, and fit nicely inside.  I've left the bag out for several days and seen them climbing in and poking their head out.  That was not something that happened with the other carrier!

Overall, the Prefer Pets Pet Carrier meets our current needs and is a well-made product in my opinion.  I would certainly have returned it if I felt otherwise.

Disclosure:  I received this item free by using a gift code provided to me by CSN stores to purchase a/an item(s) via their site to review here on Making Ends Meet.  Other than being able to obtain a product for free to review here, I was not otherwise compensated.

Review of 5 Qt. Progressive International Collapsible Colander from CSN Stores

I recently made a purchase of a 5 quart collapsible colander from CSN Stores.  In case you weren't aware, CSN stores is a collection of over 200 stores that you can shop from at one site.

What did it look like?  Take a look at this picture from CSN Stores site:

Photo from CSN Stores

What I really liked was that the blue middle that gives the colander its collapsibility was fairly stiff.  It was actually very stiff, but I am going to assume that it will loosen up as time passes with each use.  It is dishwasher safe - a big plus for me since I *hate* dishes with a passion.  

One thing that I wasn't sure about was that there are only holes at the bottom of the colander.  I normally would use my plastic colander, which has holes throughout.  However, after rinsing the spaghetti noodles in the Progressive International colander, I don't think that it was an issue.  The noodles rinsed just fine for me.

I love that it collapses because if you saw my kitchen cupboards, you would understand why.  I don't have a lot of elbow room under there (mainly because I keep too many pots, pans and cookie sheets...) so anything that stores more compactly is a big plus.  If you are thinking about a wedding gift for someone, this would be a nice thing to buy, mainly because it would fit well in a starter home or small apartment.

This colander cost $14.99 and I did pay shipping, though many items available via CSN Stores 200+ sites are free shipping.  I purchased another item at the same time, a cat carrier, so look for that review too!

Disclosure:  I received this item free by using a gift code provided to me by CSN stores to purchase a/an item(s) via their site to review here on Making Ends Meet.  Other than being able to obtain a product for free to review here, I was not otherwise compensated.

Sunshine Kids Super Mat Review

I recently received a Sunshine Kids Super Mat to review and used the product under the booster seat of my son's seat in my minivan.  He sits in a captain's chair.

Pros:

• Easy to clean.  It wiped clean when I cleaned the car today. 
• It didn't move.  We went all the way to PA and back and the Super Mat didn't move one inch from where I put it.  
• Gripping action.  It grips my son's car seat, while providing seat dent avoidance.  Car seats leave awful marks in cars!
• Pockets in the front.  There's a little storage in the front.  Good for crayons, matchbox toys or even a smaller McDonald's toys.  I would definitely not recommend it for crayon storage in this heat!
• Covers the seat.  The Super Mat covers your seat rather well, except for one area, which I will discuss in the cons section.  
• Affordable price.  It is priced around $15.  I highly recommend to people who trade their cars in frequently and have small kids.  Protecting your seat might just get you a higher trade in value.

Cons:

• Color choice.  I have only seen it in black and I would like to see it in more colors -- hot pink would go over great with a girl.
• Toward the back crease of the seat (when you have the Super Mat installed) you will notice that there is a U shaped channel (see photo here).  Though the product is designed to protect your seat from car seat dents in seats, I do wish there was a way to narrow that channel.  I assume that it is so wide to accommodate different kids of seat belts, but even a zipper of some sort to narrow the channel would be an added benefit because it would help keep crumbs and such off the seat.

Overall:

I really like this product.  The Super Mat grips my son's booster seat and I feel a bit safer with it on there, to be honest.  It could be because I had a minivan totaled (with us all in it!) less than one year ago.  Since then, I'm even more vigilant about safety in the car.  I also know from first hand experience that insurance adjusters are very nitpicky about car condition and will ding you for every little stain when valuing your car.  Seat protection from spills and marks helps your car retain the highest value possible.


Disclosure:  Sunshine Kids provided me with a complimentary Super Mat for review purposes.  I was not compensated to make this blog post and the opinions stated herein are 100% my own.

Gluten-Free Essentials: Gluten Free Meatloaf Starter Mix Review

I have been reviewing some goodies provided to me by Gluten-Free Essentials.  This review of Gluten-Free Essentials' Meatloaf Starter Mix is only one of several product reviews.  To read more reviews on products from this company, click on the "gluten free" tag in the tag cloud in the right side bar.

I was eager to try Gluten-Free Essentials' Meatloaf Starter Mix, mainly because I felt bad for my family.  It is a lot of work to make two separate dinners and it is just more convenient if we can all eat the same food.  Because the meatloaf mixes available at the grocery store contain wheat or wheat family items (including gluten), I avoid them. I've tried some recipes from scratch, but they just don't taste as good as the mixes do to my husband and kids.

How to use the Meatloaf Starter Mix...

This is a starter mix and I italicized that to make a point.  The first time I made meatloaf using the mix, I didn't add any of the extra things that I would normally add - such as chopped onion, celery and catsup.  As a result, it didn't taste as good as I hoped and my kids didn't want to eat it.  It tasted very bland.

The second time I used the Meatloaf Starter Mix I fared much better.  I tossed in an egg, some celery, onion powder (I was out of onions) and some catsup.  I found that it tasted much better this time around.  I did make my husband his own separate loaf, substituting worchestershire sauce in for the catsup.  He did think it still a bit bland for his tastes though I used the correct amount per the instructions.  I thought it tasted good, but could easily see how a little more mix would enhance the flavor.  I do think the next time that I will add a bit more and hopefully reach a happy medium for all.  The kids ate the meatloaf this time, so we're making progress!  I think in time I will get the ratio of mix to meat and other ingredients to a place where everyone is happy and will enjoy it.

A big plus:  This is the only gluten free meatloaf mix that I have run across.  I love meatloaf and make my own gluten free gravy, so I was very glad to find the mix.

Buy it! 

Head on over to Gluten-Free Essentials' site and buy some!  The mix retails for $5.25 and you will get several meatloaves out of the mix.  I made it twice already and still have a good amount of mix left in the pouch.

Disclosure:  This product was provided to me for free for review purposes; however, the opinions stated herein are 100% my own. 

Powermat: Great Gift for Grads (Powermat Review & Giveaway)

 This is my Powermat, with two phones and a Bluetooth charging

Do you love your technology?  iPods, Bluetooth, cellphones, DS, PSP... the list goes on and on.  In my household, we charge our devices in the same spot.  I *might* be tempted to unplug hubby's cell phone to charge my own because it is just too cumbersome to have chargers hanging out of every outlet in the house.  This is one of the reasons that I loved the concept of Powermat!  It allows us to charge three devices at once while only taking one outlet.  In the interest of full disclosure, I did receive the Powermat free for review purposes.  However, what follows is 100% my own opinion, as well as that of my husband.

Just what is a Powermat?

Powermat is a wireless way to charge your devices.  No more looking for the right power adapter when you have one of these in the house!  Click here to read more about Powermat and how it works! 

My First Thoughts:  That Powermat would be great for grads

Because my husband travels a lot, he knows that hotels aren't exactly bursting with available outlets.  This got me to reminiscing back to my college days... those days when you had just a few outlets for things like the TV, your hair dryer, your curling iron... etc.  Older houses in particular just don't have the number of outlets that we need today for all of our gadgets.  What could be better for a grad than a space saving device?  Young adults are way into their gadgets.  This is why I think that Powermat is great for grads.  Send them off to college with a way to charge their phone and iPod, while leaving an outlet free for the TV and PS3.  Remember, colleges are very strict on fire safety!  Don't get caught with an overloaded powerstrip!
 

How it works!

When the Powermat arrived, it came with several basic adapters and two power cubes.  This allowed us to find the right adapter for our Samsung phones, our iPods, our Bluetooth (which in my case was the Micro adapter) as well as the DS and my hubby's beloved PSP.  All you do is plug in the Powermat, find the appropriate adapter and click it into place on the powercube and then snug the head into your gadget.  Place the powercube on the Powermat and it will make a noise when it is in the correct place for charging.  It will also light up so you know that it is working.  It was easy as pie to get the Powermat up and running and charging my devices.


Did it really work?

You betcha!  The only thing that I will note is that if your device has a ready light that turns green when fully charged, it may not turn green using the Powermat.  In the case of our daughter's DS, her light did not turn green to let us know it was fully charged, even though it was.  To test to see if it really was charged, we pulled the cube off and then placed the cube back on.  It was then that the light on the DS went to green.  This was exactly the same with our Bluetooth devices.  Therefore, if you do get a Powermat, don't panic or think your item isn't charged if you don't see the green.  Your item is charged if you allowed it to charge like you normally would under its own power adapter.

The best aspects of the Powermat device from my own perspective....

I really love the ability to charge several items at once. This cuts down the clutter and having just one place to charge is convenient for our household.

I washed my phone several months ago and though it lived through drowning in the washer and high heat and banging around the dryer for a few moments, the battery life is significantly less than it was before I bonked and washed it.  As a result, I have to charge my phone far more frequently than my husband has to charge his (the same exact model).  Therefore, I was usually the one hogging the charger.  Now, we can charge both of our phones at the same time.

In addition, Powermat also sent me a travel mat, which folds neatly into a carrier.  So if you love the idea of your Powermat, there is a portable option for those who travel frequently.  Taking along a phone charger, a Bluetooth charger, an iPod charger, etc. takes up valuable space in your luggage.  They even have an adapter for ebook readers, so don't fear -there's even an adapter for your Kindle.  Considering how much airlines charge these days, any space saving items are also cost saving ones.  Take a look at how little room a Powermat Travel Mat takes up when folded up into its case:

There are so many adapters available and you can search for your device on the Powermat site to ensure that you can use the Powermat to charge your gadget.

Things I didn't know... until I read the manual!

I am not one to read manuals, but I do think reading the Powermat manual was worth it to me!  Here are some things that I did learn:

• There's a USB port in the back so you can charge devices that will charge via USB.  Of course, if your camera's USB is to offload pictures and videos only (like my Zi8), then you won't be able to use the USB on the Powermat to charge your device.  
• The lights and the volume (it makes a ba-zhoop noise when your cube is in the proper charging place on the mat) are both adjustable.  So if you sleep with the mat next to your head, you can turn off the lights so you aren't disturbed by the light.
• When your devices are charged, the cube no longer draws power.  This means energy savings as many device's power supplies when left plugged into the wall still draw power even if your device isn't plugged in for charging.  

Buy It!

If you have just got to have one today, Powermat can be purchased via their website and orders over $50 receive free shipping.  You can also find it at Amazon.com, some Staples stores, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Best Buy and other regional retailers.

Win It!

Powermat has generously offered me the opportunity to give away a Powermat Home and Office Mat.  This is an awesome device that you will love!  Here's what you need to do to win it and your choice of  up to 3 receivers:

Rules:  You must be 18 years old or older and a resident of the U.S. that currently lives in one of our 50 wonderful states.  In addition, you can not have won a Powermat in a previous contest hosted by another blog or anywhere else. 

This giveaway will run from the date of this posting (July 19) through August 3, 2010.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond to an email asking for shipping information, including telephone number.  If I do not receive a response within the allotted time period, I will have to choose an alternate winner.

Mandatory entry:  Visit Powermat and then come back here to tell me which Powermat they offer for sale is best to suit your needs and which devices that you would use Powermat to charge!  You must answer both questions to qualify.

Additional entries for one entry each - you must leave a separate comment for each entry to count.

1.  Follow Powermat on Twitter 
2.  Like Powermat on Facebook
3.  Follow Me on Twitter
4.  Become my Google friend
5.  Tweet this contest or share on Facebook and come back and leave me a link to either your Twitter status or your Facebook status.  You can do this once per day.  Just come back once a day and leave a comment as a contest entry.  Don't spam your friends!  Tweets should be at least 12 hours apart (so please don't tweet at 11:59 PM and then again at 12:01 AM).

If you have already followed or Liked me or Powermat due to a previous contest, just let me know in your comment. The winning entry is subject to verification, so please be honest. 

Tweet this:  Ditch your powercords & charge wirelessly! Win a Powermat at Making Ends Meet! http://tinyurl.com/2dra5re

Phew!  Did you make it to the end?  Thanks for stopping by and please share this contest with your friends (sharing buttons are below).

Disclosure:  As I mentioned, Powermat products were provided to me at no cost for the purposes of review.  I did not receive compensation for this review and the opinions stated herein are 100% my own or derived from comments made by my husband.

Gluten-Free Essentials Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix Review (pictures)

I recently have had the opportunity to try several products from the Gluten-Free Essentials line of gluten free baking products!  I recently baked up a batch of Gluten-Free Essentials' Chocolate Chip Cookie mix.  Do you see this bowl?  Would you believe me if I told you that it was my parents' bowl?  It doesn't match anything in my kitchen, but they left it behind when they moved out of the house (my hubby and I rented the house I grew up in for a few years in our early marriage....)  Take a look at this yummy looking batter.  The directions did call for a quick refrigeration of about 30 minutes and if you ask me, it had the consistency of sugar cookie batter when it was done chilling.  This meant it held together really well and didn't spread out before it entered the oven.  All you need to make these yummy gluten free chocolate chip cookie treats is a stick of butter, two eggs and Gluten-Free Essentials' mix.

These baked really well and very close to the 12-15 minutes specified on the pouch.  I set my timer for exactly 12 minutes and checked on them to be sure I didn't overbake.  I bake on silicone because I burn things otherwise and these turned out great.  I took some to my neighbor while they were still warm. She really loved them and she ate 3 out of 4 of them while we were chatting.

What I really liked about these cookies was their almost cake-like texture.  I haven't seen cookies raise like that in a long time!   The kids devoured them too - they didn't notice any difference in taste.  I really liked the chocolate chips too because though I love chocolate, I don't like an overpowering taste.  These chips were suited to how I like chocolate chips to taste.  I must confess, I ate a lot of these cookies.  I told my hubby that I felt like the Cookie Monster because I couldn't keep my hands off the cookie plate!

How was the yield for the Gluten-Free Essentials mix?  I got 29 cookies out of this mix, but I probably ate a cookie's worth in cookie dough.   They came off the sheet best if you allowed them to cool at least 5 minutes before removing them.  When I bake, I usually take cookies out, and set a timer for 5 minutes and then come back to move them off and start the next batch.  This is how I do it and it works best for me.

Buy it!

Gluten-Free Essentials sells their chocolate chip cookie mix via their website.  You can click here to get to the page to order.  Also, be sure to check out their variety packs as I did see a few that included these yummy treats.


Disclosure:  I received a variety of Gluten-Free Essentials products to taste and review, all free of charge to me.  This review is based on my own experience with the product.  Though I received the item reviewed at no cost to me, that did not influence my review.  I know yummy when I taste it!


Additional information:  This mix is listed as gluten free, casein free, lactose-free, dairy-free, nut-free and soy-free.

Shamrock Farms Rockin' Refuel Tastes Great - My Kids Loved It!

I was recently offered samples of Shamrock Farm's Rockin' Refuel, which included vanilla, chocolate and strawberry flavors.  I almost declined because I am lactose intolerant and generally don't drink milk products.  However, I thought that maybe the kids would like to try some Rockin' Refuel since they love milk - especially flavored milk.  I did take a small sip of each... more on those later!

How'd Shamrock Farm's Rockin' Refuel Taste?

My 5 year old is a serious milk fiend.  If he gets a kids' meal, 99% of the time, he wants chocolate milk with it instead of pop.  He enjoyed all of the flavors and, in fact, drank 3 out of the 4 samples sent!  I allowed him to choose which he wanted to try first, assuming he'd go straight for the chocolate, but he surprised me and asked for the vanilla.  He loved it!  I took a sip and thought it tasted like a vanilla shake.

Another day, he tried the strawberry and drank it right down.  I sipped that one too and thought it tasted like milk does when you flavor it with strawberry syrup, but it was a distinct strawberry flavor and not a sugary strawberry flavor, like you'd get from a syrup.  He did finally make it to the chocolate, but it was then that his sister realized he'd drank the other two.  She liked the chocolate, as did he.  I took a small sip here too and it was delicious tasting.  Overall, the flavor of all three was extremely good.

Who would drink Shamrock Farm's Rockin Refuel?

This product would be great for kids and adults.  Drinking milk after a workout may actually boost the benefits you received from working out, according to a study.   Other than great flavor, I couldn't taste any difference in the Rockin' Refuel versus regular milk.  I thought since there was added protein and electrolytes that it would somehow taste different, but it didn't.  It is definitely a contender for parents who want to rehydrate and refuel their athletes, but don't always want to hand them an energy drink.

Adults could benefit from drinking Rockin' Refuel after their work out.  If the study is correct, milk may be able to give you the boost that you need to maximize the effort that you are putting into your workout routines.  In addition, women (myself included) can benefit from the extra vitamins and minerals. A 12 oz bottle of Rockin Refuel's strawberry milk contains 60% DV of calcium... what a nice way to cool down after a work out and get calcium your body needs!

No HFCS in Rockin' Refuel

What's in Shamrock Farm's Rockin' Refuel?  The better question might be what isn't.  There's no High Fructose Corn Syrup in this product and there's no artificial sweeteners.  Each 12 oz bottle ranges between 280-300 calories (chocolate is 300 calories, strawberry and vanilla are 280 calories) and more complete nutritional information is available on their site here.

Rockin' Refuel is available in leading grocery stores and convenience stores with a shelf price of around $1.39, making it an affordable on-the-go body refueling drink.  Summer is here and most of us want to slim down.  A nice chocolate milk might just be another tool to help us reach our weight loss goal!


Disclosure:  I received product information and several samples of Shamrock Farm's Rockin Refuel at no cost to me for review purposes.  This review is based upon my own family's experience with this product. The opinions stated herein are 100% my own.