Go Graham Go: Parenting | Recipes | DIY | Brand Ambassador | Product Reviews | NC Mom Blog

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Remember me telling you about the new bareMinerals Skincare line?  Well, the day has come for me to share with you my experience as well as give you an opportunity to win!

We were sent the Deep Cleansing Foam as well as the Purely Nourishing Moisturizer to try out.  Honestly, I never change up my skin care routine because I have had such bad luck with it in the past.  It seems like anytime I try something new it completely throws off the pH balance of my skin and I either have break outs, or overly dry/oily skin.  Because I have heard so many wonderful things about the bareMinerals line from friends as well as in reviews, I was not as concerned, but still hesitant.



I started using the Deep Cleansing Foam and Purely Nourishing Moisturizer about a week ago.  I am happy to report that I have no breakouts and my skin feels great!  It is not overly dry and is definitely not oily.  After using the Deep Cleansing Foam my face felt so much cleaner and even a bit tighter.  The face wash I currently use does not remove all of the dirt and make-up and I know that can be a problem.  I do feel a slight tingling after using it, but it actually feels nice, not painful.  I do feel as if my pores appear smaller which is one of the claims of the product.  The bottle tells you that less is more and that is definitely true!  You only need a tiny dot of this or else you will have a mask instead of a foam.  The Deep Cleansing Foam retails for $20.



The Purely Nourishing Moisturizer is fantastic!  I love that it goes on with such ease and is completely light weight.  There are absolutely no worries about this becoming greasy either.  I also love that it comes in a pump bottle as opposed to a tube (less messy and I feel like I waste less).  I've been using the Purely Nourishing Moisturizer both day and night for a week and my skin is doing great.  The moisturizer retails for $28 online.

Overall, I think that bareMinerals has come out with a winning skincare line.  The products I tried have been great for even my sensitive skin that revolts against change!


This product was provided free of charge by Bare Escentuals. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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I couldn't help but notice these great rain boots in my latest issue of Real Simple magazine.  Rain boots are practical this time of year, but they are also becoming a trend.  If you like the look and feel of these Calvin Klein boots but don't want to spend $119 on rain gear, then check out Zoubaby.



Not only do you get trendy, yet classic rain boots... you also get personalization!  The best part?  You get them for $89 (saving you $30).  Need more convincing?  Check out my review of Zoubaby boots.

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If you haven't already seen them, I am here to tell you about the latest product from Chuggington!  They arrived in stores at the beginning of this month and have been quite popular in this house.  Chuggington now has wooden railway systems to choose from!  I feel like these new sets are probably going to be the most popular amongst all of the merchandise.  Why?  Well, we all know that wood generally holds up a lot longer than plastic.



We were sent the Chuggington Wooden Railway Double-Decker Roundhouse, Over & Under Starter Set, Track Pack, and Elevated Track Pack for review.  I must say, it is a lot of track and a lot of fun!  Graham enjoys these because he can easily put them together and take them apart.  His favorite part is the Double-Decker Roundhouse that has the elevating turntable.  Now, not all of the parts are wooden.  The tracks themselves are the only parts that are wooden.  The rest of the set is plastic.  This is my only complaint about the new sets.  It would be nice to have everything wooden, but I also know that having all wood would dramatically inflate the cost as well.  I guess it is nice to have a reasonable price as well as sturdy materials.  The trains that go along with the wooden railway sets are a nice size.  I like that they are a little chunkier for small hands.

The Double-Decker Roundhouse can be stacked for two layers or unstacked for just one.  Again, the turntable elevates in order to get to the top level once stacked.



The Under and Over Starter Set is a 22 piece set that includes, Koko, Wilson and Vee.



All of the sets are compatible with each other and can be added on to with additional track packs.  Prices vary depending upon what you are looking for.  The Over and Under set would be a great place to start and retails for about $49.


This product was provided free of charge by Chuggington. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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We love to make crafts throughout the day out of things we already have around the house.  Because it is now Spring and Easter is right around the corner, we made this cute bunny yesterday out of an oatmeal can.  You may remember our Oatmeal Santa Claus craft from 2 years ago as well.  This guy is the same concept but with an open top in case you want to use him for a basket.



What you will need:
Oatmeal Can
white paper (about 3 sheets)
pink paper (or pink crayons)
2 googly eyes
2 craft pom poms
1 pipe cleaner
black marker
Tape
Craft glue

Instructions:
Cover the outside of the oatmeal can with white paper.  If you are using 8.5x11 you will need to fold down the top about a half inch.  Use tape or glue to make it stay in place.  Cut oval shapes for the bunny ears and two small circles for feet out of the rest of the white paper. Cut smaller oval shapes out of the pink paper for the middle of the ears.  Glue the pink ovals on top of the white ovals and attach to the back of the can with tape.  Cut your pipe cleaner in half and bend each half into halves.  You can twist the two together and glue them on for whiskers.  Glue one of the pom poms on top of the whiskers for the nose.  Add the googly eyes with glue and draw on a mouth.  Using your black marker, draw two paws onto the circles and attach them as feet on the bottom of the can with tape.  Finally, glue a larger pom pom on the back of the can for a tail.  If you want your can to also be a basket, just punch two holes in the sides and add ribbon or pipe cleaner for a handle.

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We are excited about a cute new movie that is coming out April 1st called HOP.   This looks like one Graham may like.  We haven't done very many theater movies for Graham yet, but he is getting to the age where I think he might really enjoy it.



Synopsis:

Blending state of the art animation with live action, Hop is a comedy about E.B. (voiced by Russell Brand), the teenage son of the Easter Bunny. On the eve of taking over the family business, E.B. leaves for Hollywood in pursuit of his dream of becoming a drummer. He encounters Fred (James Marsden), an out-of-work slacker with his own lofty goals, who accidentally hits E.B. with his car. Feigning injury, E.B. manipulates Fred into providing him shelter, and Fred finds himself with the world’s worst houseguest.

I was sent a Fandango Gift Card in order to thank me for the post. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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I must say, I receive the most compliments on my Bumbleride Indie stroller.  I have had so many random people stop me while out to ask me what kind of stroller I have and then ask me where they can purchase one.  Just as many make comments about the stroller in passing, "That's the coolest stroller I've ever seen," is the comment I hear the  most often.  So, you can only imagine how often I recommend this to my pregnant friends.  You can seriously steer the thing with your fingertip!  Oh, and we were the ONLY stroller making it through the apple orchard with ease this fall.  So, when I found out that Bumbleride was coming out with two new lines, I wanted to make sure to tell you all about it.

Movement features water-resistant sport fabrics, SPF 45 sun canopies and striking color combinations. This collection was inspired by and designed for the active, action/sports lifestyle and has a very unique and sophisticated look when compared to other strollers in the industry. This collection will be shipping in late April and featured in two colors- Jet, a sleek black; and Fog, a warm grey. It will be fitted on our Indie (all-terrain model), Indie Twin (double all-terrain model) and Flite (lightweight/umbrella model).

Natural Edition features a soft bamboo-blend interior fabric and a tightly woven recycled poly-blend exterior fabric. The interior also has the added benefit of wicking away moisture from baby. Natural Edition will be available in two colors: Ocean, a rich two-tone navy and Walnut, a warm chocolate brown. This collection was inspired by and designed for the eco-minded lifestyle.

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Don't forget!  Tangled will be available for purchase on Tuesday!  Make sure to download your $5 off coupon before you get to the store.  Or, make sure to enter to win a copy here.

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Earlier this week I told you guys about the fact that I was a cheerleader in high school and invited you to a chat being held at The Motherhood (I even shared an old school pic).  I hope you were able to make it to the chat we held on Tuesday!  If you came, you know there was a ton of great information from Nicole Lauchaire, VP Corporate Marketing and Communications for Varsity Brands, and a former cheerleader herself.  Helping to moderate was Amy Bender, sports announcer and host of ESPN’s National Cheerleading Championships.  If you were unable to make it you can still catch the video at The Motherhood or read the re-cap below.






5 tips for parents with daughters who want to join their school team
Not only did I cheer for many of my school years, but I also coached a high school team for several years.  Parents should take an active role in selecting the right cheer program for their kids, and continue to stay involved. Questions that parents should ask as they’re getting started or if they haven’t already:

• Is the coach certified through the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA) and has the school conducted the appropriate background checks?
• Does the coach adhere to AACCA practice and performance guidelines?
• Does the coach ensure that performance skills are taught in the proper sequence using skills progression training, with an emphasis on training all squad members in proper spotting methods?
• Does the coach properly balance practice time between skills training and spirit leadership instruction?
• Does the squad have an emergency plan in place?

Safety tips for cheerleaders to follow:
Yes, it is important for parents to know about safety, but it is just as important for the cheerleader's themselves to make a commitment to safety (especially when we are talking about older girls).  I love that Nichole made the statement that even one injury is too many.

• Know the rules for your school, college or all-star division/level 
• Ensure your squad has an emergency action plan and has practiced it
• Only perform stunts, tumbling and routines on appropriate surfaces
• Warm up before stretching, jumping, tumbling, stunting and dancing
• Only attempt new skills in the presence of a skilled instructor
• Take the iCheerSafe pledge, which asks cheerleaders to commit to their responsibility to cheerleading safety.

5 specific benefits of cheerleading
Working as a school counselor, I see a direct correlation between kids being involved in sports and other extra curricular activities and the drop out rate.  When students are involved they are less likely to be at risk for dropping out and generally do better in school altogether.  While these percentages involve the sport of cheerleading, any time students get involved in positive activities, they are going to learn valuable lessons that will carry over into adulthood.

• Cheerleaders are more likely than the general teen (57% vs. 46%) to hold a leadership position in or out of school.
• 81% of cheerleaders have grade point averages of 3.5 or higher
• They value being ‘ahead of the curve’ even more than the average teen and a whopping 84% say that people look to them as leaders.
• Cheerleaders are more comfortable speaking in public than the average teen (64% vs. 54%)
• When concerned about an issue, cheerleaders are more likely than the average teen girl to volunteer (56% vs. 46%) and join an organization within their school (43% vs. 24%)

To find our even more about Cheerleading safety and what others are doing to make it as safe as it can be, head over to USA Cheer to find out more about the USA Cheer Safety Council and taking the iCheerSafe Pledge.


This post was sponsored and compensated by The Motherhood and Varsity.  These are my honest opinions.  Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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If you are looking for fun and original ideas for Easter baskets this year, make sure to stop by on Fridays when I will be featuring one or two products each day!  Today my pick is the HEXBUG Nano Bunny.  We've reviewed the HEXBUG products in the past and they are still some of Graham's favorites.  We generally have a few of them in the car with us at all times.  The HEXBUG Nano Bunny comes in its own plastic Easter Egg and has the cutest pink bunny ears!  Retailing for only $4.99 at RadioShack, you can't go wrong!

We were sent a HEXBUG Nano Bunny by RadioShack.  We already own and love many of these sweet little fellas and wanted to share them with you!  Please see our terms of use for more info.


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It's true.  I love to label things.  I am a list maker and an organizer by habit and nothing makes me more happy than to have things in their respective "homes" as I like to call it.  While I am going through our home and re-organizing, I am finding it easier to create different boxes and crates for things to go in.  We are so limited in our space around here, so sometimes totes and closets are my friends!



If you have not seen the DYMO LabelManager Plug n Play you really are missing something special!  First of all, there is absolutely NO software to install with this label maker.  It also does not require any batteries or power sources.  You just plug it into your computer's USB port and it charges from their.   You will literally be creating labels in minutes.



Quick Facts on Feature We Love:

• Quick and easy set up that requires no software installation (we have enough installed on our computer)!
• Pick out fonts, graphics, etc for your labels from your computer (even has screen capture capabilities)
• Create vertical or horizontal labels
• Choose from 3 different sizes for your labels
• Save your money!  No batteries needed!
• Great for organization, labeling gifts, labeling juice cups, shoes and more!
• Convenient cutting device built in for perfectly cut labels

It was fun to create labels for the boys and add their pictures to them!  I will admit, they were quite fuzzy because I tried to use large pictures, but if you use smaller images or bigger labels this can be a great way to customize.  Another idea would be to add shapes to the labels in order to teach kids how to categorize and learn shapes.  I have even found this to be a great source when I was in a pinch for a birthday card!  I just printed up a sweet little Happy Birthday label with a cute cupcake graphic to place on a present.  I made it the minute before we walked out the door for the party!





The DYMO LabelManager retails for about $64 and is worth every penny in my opinion!  I have gotten so much use out of this thing in the 3 short weeks that it has been with us.  The possibilities are endless.

This product was provided free of charge by DYMO. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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It seems like different varieties of kids pillows that are also characters are all the rage right now.  That's why when Happy Nappers contacted me about their new product I was excited to share them with you.  There is just an allure that these cute little fellas have!



We were sent the Penguin Happy Napper for review (as picked out by Graham).  I think he chose this one because of the igloo that the penguin lives in!  You really need to head over to the website and check out all of the varieties and listen to them.  Each one has a unique snore and home!  Too cute!



The Happy Nappers feature a doorbell on the outside of their homes.  When you press it you will here the unique snore of your Happy Napper.  My personal favorite to listen to is the Cow!  He cracks us up every time.  When you're Happy Napper is awake you can unzip the door to their house and flip them out.  The house then folds into the Happy Napper in order to plump it up.  Just zip it closed to play with your friend.  When the Happy Napper is ready for bed you just flip him inside out and zip up the door once more.





As a mom, I love that this is a 2-in1 product.  It works great for road trips by eliminating the need for a pillow and a plush toy.  It also is just a great unique way for your child to nap!  You can purchase a Happy Napper from the website for $19.99.  Chose from: Penguin, Dog, Unicorn, Cow, Dragon, or Ladybug.  What a great gift idea for under $20!


This product was provided free of charge by Happy Nappers. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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If you love Greek style food, this one is easy and will be ready in just a few minutes!  We really love feta and this is a great way to incorporate it.  This is another great recipe I found at AllRecipes.com.

photo from AllRecipes.com

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 pound feta cheese, crumbled
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups water
1 cube chicken bouillon, crumbled
2 cups loosely packed torn fresh spinach leaves
1 ripe tomato, chopped

Preparation:
1. On large plate, combine 1 tablespoon flour, salt, and pepper. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine cheese, lemon juice, and oregano. Set aside.
2. With a meat mallet, pound each chicken breast to 1/2 inch thickness (or just buy thin sliced like me). Spread cheese mixture on each chicken breast, leaving 1/2 inch border. Fold chicken breasts in half; secure each with toothpick. Coat chicken breasts with flour mixture.
3. In large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Cook chicken breasts for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until golden. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups water, chicken bouillon cube, and remaining flour; pour over chicken breasts in pan. Add spinach and tomato to skillet, and bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink inside. Discard toothpicks before serving.

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Cisco is a name that I have known for a long time.  It seems that almost every where I have worked has used some form of Cisco product.  It only makes sense that they would also come out with an extremely easy to use and set up wireless system for home use.

We were sent the Cisco Valet for review a few weeks ago.  It really is as easy as 3 steps to being wireless.  The Valet also includes a key that you insert into your computer that has Cisco Connect Software.  The Valet then sets itself up.  It takes just a few minutes and then you are ready to go.  We currently have 2 laptops, 2 iPhones, a wireless printer and an iPad all connected to the Valet wireless system and have had no issues.


The Cisco Valet also makes life easier when guests are over.  If they would like to connect to the internet with their smart phones or laptops, you can provide them with a guest password.  This ensures that they cannot access your personal computer information.  5 total guests are allowed for individual set up.  You can also keep your family safe with the Parental Controls.  You can decide which device to block, what (teen or child) to block, and when to do it!  You can even add in specific sites you would like to be blocked.  Of course, you can always personalize your Valet by creating a unique Valet name for your network as well as a password you can remember.

The Cisco Valet retails for about $89.99 which is pretty comparable to other routers.  We paid about $60 for our previous router and it doesn't do half of what the Valet accomplishes.  Not to mention, you just can't beat how easy it is to use and set up!

This product was provided free of charge by Cisco. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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It seems like every time I turn around there is a baby shower.  So many of my friends are expecting and it is so exciting!  I love being able to celebrate a new little life and I really love to find things that are special, especially handmade.  I often find myself browsing Etsy in search of the perfect find.



Princess And My Pea was created by a talented mom who quit her job as a NICU nurse to stay at home with her children.  I am so excited to share with you some of her gorgeous creations because they are perfect for your sweet baby or shower gifts.  The best part, they are super affordable!  We were sent one of her Taggies for review.  The back of the Taggie is a soft chenille that Davis loves to feel.  There are several adorable fabrics to choose from and we love the sweet zoo theme of ours.  Of course, the best part are the sewn in tags.  A few of them have little knots tied into them that Davis loves to hold onto.  This is our go to item when we are in restaurants.  Davis will sit in his high chair and play happily with the Taggie until we are finished eating (on most occasions).  You can find the Taggies for $10 at Princess And My Pea.



Some of my other favorites from Princess And My Pea are the Personalized Embroidered Burp Cloths, Reusable Snack and Sandwich Bags, and the beautiful blankets.  Most everything is $25 and under!  Also, if you follow Princess and My Pea on Facebook she offers deals all the time!  Head on over and browse.  I know you will not be disappointed!


This product was provided free of charge by Princess and My Pea. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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I am so thankful that our taxes have already been completed.  I guess I should say, I am thankful for a husband who took care of that for us a long time ago!  He really is on top of things when it comes to taxes and for that I am grateful.  One thing we do try to make sure of is that we are very diligent when it comes to filing and disposing of our tax documents when the time comes.



Two families who are close to us have had their identities stolen all in the past 4 years.  I must say, it was a nightmare for them and a hassle to resolve.  After watching many documentaries on TV about those who have been in even worse situations, it makes you think even more about how to guard your personal items.  One way we take care of our paper documents is to use a shredder.  We were sent the Fellowes P-12C Shredder for review through Mom Central.  Before this work horse, we had a little tiny desktop shredder (only good for about 2 papers at a time).  If we wanted to get rid of a credit card we had to rely upon the old scissor method (not exactly the best, but it is what we used).





The Fellowes P-12C Shredder has been great for home office use.  Not only is the bin able to hold up to 4 gallons, but it cross-cuts your materials (better than single strips).  The feature I appreciate the most on this shredder is the SafeSense Technology.  If you have children or pets you know what I mean when I say that I worry having shredders around.  The SafeSense Technology actually shuts the shredder down if a hand gets too close.  While this gives me a little more peace of mind, you always want to remember to keep shredders out of the reach of kids and pets.  Another great safety feature is that you can lock it into the off position until you are ready for use.  I have found that it has been very useful for shredding my documents that have staples in them which saves time and frustration.  You can pick up the Fellowes P-12C Shredder from Target for about $89.99.

Here are even more tips from Fellowes on how to prevent identity theft this tax season:

• Update personal computers with firewalls and security software, including antivirus programs.

• Contact the IRS (800-829-1040) if you do not receive W-2 forms and other sensitive information by February 15, as this may indicate that an identity thief intercepted such documents.

• Send tax returns from a locked mailbox/post office to ensure thieves cannot get to it before the postal service.

• If sending in tax forms via post mail, make sure all forms, identification documents and enclosed checks are not visible from the outside. Try wrapping everything in an extra sheet of paper to disguise its contents.

• Keep tax paperwork and other documents in a safe and accessible place, such as a fireproof box.

• After filing taxes, shred any backup documents with a Cross-Cut paper shredder, like Fellowes’ P-12C, which is essential because it shreds a single sheet of paper into hundreds of tiny particles to ensure confidential information is destroyed beyond recognition.

I wrote this review while participating in a Mom Central Consulting blog tour on behalf of Fellowes. I received a Fellowes paper shredder to facilitate my review. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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