Go Graham Go! |

After stints of living in the Midwest, Northeast, and England, the Monkey's Mama (AKA Allie) currently resides in Atlanta with her wonderful husband of 7 years, "J". Together they have two daughters.


The Monkey's Mama takes great joy in being a Christian Stay-at-Home-Mama. In her spare time, she loves to run and race competitively for her local track club, read mystery novels, and walk her cats Churchill and Thatcher outside on leashes!


You can find her on twitter @monkeysonthebed.



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I did not used to be such a coffee lover, and the truth is, I only like a little bit of coffee with a lot of chocolate and milk!  What I especially love are cold coffees.  What I don't love about cold coffees are the prices you pay for a good one!  Thanks to Seattle's Best Coffee Toddy, you can save money if you have my same addiction.



We were sent the Seattle's Best Coffee Toddy to review and I must say that this DEFINITELY receives mine and my husbands praises for taste and cost saver!  The minute we started brewing our first batch the entire house was engulfed in the wonderful aroma.  This system is so simple you wonder if it will really work... and work it does!  The cold brewing system actually leaves your coffee with less acidity and oils than a traditional brew.  This results in a very smooth tasting coffee.  Of course, you do not have to make a cold coffee drink with this, you can always heat some up in the microwave for a hot cup.





The process takes several hours to brew so we usually do it overnight.  We then store the coffee in the refrigerator (good for up to two weeks).  The beauty is it only takes a little to make a wonderfully smooth cold coffee drink!  Check out my Iced Mocha recipe that leaves us with more than enough coffee for two weeks.

If you would like to start saving on your cold or even hot coffee, you can purchase the Seattle's Best Coffee Toddy for only $37.50.  They suggest using a coffee with the arabica bean as opposed to robusta.

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Summer!  I love this time of year!  Why?  Well, I am a 10 month employee so that means plenty of time with Graham for a few months and because the weather is great for getting outside.  Because we spend so much time in the heat and in and out of the pool, my hair sometimes takes a toll!  I normally don't blog a lot about beauty items just because I do not use a lot of them personally, but I wanted to let you guys know about these few products that have been great for me this summer that I use just about every day!

First of all, I am more of a lip gloss kind of girl than lipstick.  When it is summer time it just makes more sense to me anyway!  I am in love with the Perfect Wear EverLasting Lip Gloss from Avon.  Not only is it a gloss, but the color stays for just about half of the day!  Most of the lip gloss I wear is gone in just a few hours (breakfast, drinking water, etc).  I also have been pretty frightened of all things "eyeliner" but had the opportunity to try out the JD Pro Duo Eye Enhancer and was impressed with how easy it was to use.  It takes just a second to put it on and it goes on pretty precise.  The other end is liquid eye shadow that is so convenient to use.  Every time I wear it my husband makes sure to make a comment about liking my eyes that day! LOL!



Here is my favorite of all!  Not only does it smell wonderful and work great, it is priced WELL below the product I currently use.  Avon Advanced Techniques Lotus Shield is only $12 and works like a $20 or more product!  After one week of use this is what you can expect:

• Minimizes excess frizz, volume and poufiness
• Provides frizz control that lasts
• Prevents frizz and flyaways even in high humidity
• Retains and protects style no matter what the weather

After using it the first time I noticed a huge difference.  My hair was definitely smooth and the flyaways were gone!  You only need a little bit for this to work which makes it an even bigger value.

To locate an Avon representative call 1-800-FOR-AVON or visit www.avon.com.

This product was provided free of charge by Avon. 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 will be the first to admit that I am pretty "cooking challenged."  Mind you, I am getting better and I do cook nutritious meals.  What I struggle with is the finesse of cooking.  I have a few friends that can whip out those knives and chop like pros while I dig through my cabinets for my "chopper thingy".  My food might taste good, but it doesn't look like it was prepared in a gourmet kitchen for sure!  I have more gadgets than I know what to do with (mostly for cutting purposes...because...I can't use a knife)!



I was recently sent the new DVD set titled Cooking From A to Zest to check out.  I first need to tell you that even Graham has enjoyed watching these videos (that took me by surprise).  He had all sorts of questions about the kitchen during and even after the videos.  This is a 4 disc set that is like having your very own famous chef teaching you one on one.  Cooking From A to Zest is hosted by Kierstin Buchner - renowned food stylist and Food Network contributor.  There are over 450 minutes worth of tips and tricks that you will be glad you watched!  I know my husband will be glad that I finally learned how to chop without chopping my fingers!  The very first DVD gives you the basics of choosing a knife, learning to chop, different techniques and more that make me feel like I am a pro!  Ok, so I'm no Kierstin Buchner, but a girl can dream right?

Cooking From A to Zest retails for $59.99 which is less expensive than any cooking class I know of around here!  Besides, you watch these when you have time!  Why not kill two birds with one stone and watch them while exercising...if you can stand to exercise with a growling stomach!

This product was provided free of charge by Cooking From A to Zest. 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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Just call me a paranoid mama.  I really am cautious of the things I put on my skin when I am pregnant.  I figure, my skin is the largest organ on my body, so it must be important to try and put less chemicals on it!  When I was pregnant with Graham I even resorted to the most natural make up I could find.



Skin Free sent over a few samples of their products for review a few weeks ago.  I must say, I am extremely impressed with how nice all of the products have been on my skin.  Typically, when I have used more natural skin products they have left my skin feeling dry.  I was able to sample the Super Moisture Body Balm, After Shower Moisture Spritz, Niaouli Butter Stick, and a bar of the Extra Moisturizing Soap.

My favorite product out of the four, hands down, is the Super Moisture Body Balm!  With my ever growing pregnant belly I need something that is more than just your every day lotion.  I absolutely love this stuff!  You only have to use a few drops for it to do the trick.  The Super Moisture Body Balm is made with 100% butters and natural oils.  When you first put it on you think it is going to be greasy, but after about a minute your skin soaks it right up.  My skin feels moisturized the entire day.  I actually just got out of the pool and my skin still feels great.  I also love the price tag of this one: $12.99.  You really can't buy a good lotion now days for less than $10 and to know that this one is all natural is even better.






My entire family has used all of the products and we have all been satisfied.  I actually let Graham use the bar soap and the Niaouli Butter Stick.  He loves bar soaps and I always have to buy the soaps from our local organic grocery store because of his skin sensitivities.  This soap has worked wonderfully on him!  Graham loves the Niaouli Butter Stick because it is easy for him to put on.  I have also used the Niaouli Butter Stick on my belly for even more moisture during the day.

Overall, Skin Free has proven to be a great resource for our family's sensitive and delicate skin.  I would have no problem telling my friends about this company.  In fact, if you have sensitive skin, are expecting, or just like natural products, I would encourage you to try it out (start with the Super Moisture Body Balm)!

This product was provided free of charge by Skin Free. 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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When I first read about the Towel Down I thought, "this is such an excellent idea for parents!  Why didn't I think of it?".  Honestly, this handy invention is not just a handy towel in a bag, it is a HUGE towel that IS a bag and so much more!



We were sent the Towel Down in the Blue and White Hibiscus design for review.  First of all, I must say that I am extremely impressed with the generous size of this towel (40 inches x 70 inches).  Most of our beach towels are big, but nothing compared to this.  The material is 100% Cotton Velour which makes it fluffy and soft to lay on (yes that matters to me).  I can't stand those beach towels that are paper thin!








Secondly, the Towel Down is versatile.  How many times have you found yourself carrying a pile of things down to the beach or the pool?  Our family usually looks pretty funny with all of our gear!  The Towel Down is actually a bag itself!  There is enough room inside to put your sunscreen, lunch, water bottle, sunglasses and more!  This will eliminate the need for the beach tote.  I usually have my regular beach tote so full that I end up carrying my towel.  What a stroke of genius!  You can turn the Towel Down into a backpack or an over the shoulder tote bag.  There are snaps at the top in order to close the bag.  I found the instructions to be very easy.



Finally, there is a place for all of your belongings once you get to your location.  I always struggle with where to put my cell phone.  I want to be able to hear it, but I don't want the sand to mess it up or for a passer-by to snatch it out of the top of my bag.  The Towel Down has a built in pocket at the top that is generous enough to fit your phone, sunglasses and sunscreen (all the things you would want nearby).  They even thought about "fly away towels" when they created this!  There are Velcro sections on each corner that will allow you to either store things or place a handful of sand so that your towel will stay in place.  If you have two Towel Downs, you can easily connect them with the Velcro on the sides to make a huge blanket or a covering (cocoon).

The only problems I noticed with the Towel Down was the fact that one of my snaps to secure the closure of the backpack came off after the first use and there was a light discoloration on some of the white hibiscus flowers.  However, I was able to put the snap back on and open and closed it several times and it stayed in place.

You can purchase the Towel Down for about $44.95.  This would make a great gift idea as well!

This product was provided free of charge by Towel Down. 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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When I think about my own father, one of the many memories that comes to mind is how he would always have coffee brewing!  He had a huge thermos that he would fill every morning to take to work with him.  He is still an avid coffee drinker, but he has cut back some for several reasons.  One thing he purchased recently was a one cup coffee maker for convenience.  It seems like it is the new wave for coffee drinkers, making it more convenient and quicker!


Senseo offers a great option if you are looking for a quick and easy way to have one or two cups of coffee.  We were sent the Senseo Original to try out and I was impressed with how simple it was to have a good cup of coffee (even froth on top).  With just the touch of a button we had a cup of coffee in about a minute.  The Senseo Original is dishwasher safe and also has an auto shut off function after an hour (another useful feature my father would appreciate).





The Senseo uses its own coffee pods in order to create a perfect cup.  You just insert the coffee pods and your water.  You can choose from either one or two cups of coffee.  If you are more of a "specialty" coffee drinker, you will be happy to know that there is a Godiva line!  You can also choose from cappuccino and espresso pods.







The Senseo Original is selling for $49.99 at Amazon right now.  You can also pick it up in a retail store near you.

This product was provided free of charge by Senseo. 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 are familiar with the store Kirkland's, you know that you can find a multitude of items that are excellent for home decor and gift giving that are reasonably priced.  Our local store has been around for a long time and it is fun to head over and check out what they have.  I am huge Wizard of Oz fan and my husband actually found and purchased the entire set of Wizard of Oz porcelain dolls from Kirkland's about 10 years ago!  I have also picked up several home decor and gift items for friends (weddings, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc).



We were sent one of the Kirkland's "Sassy" Aprons.  Of course, I was sent the one that best describes me!  It is pink, and black and has the phrase, "Everyone has their price, mine is chocolate."  It is adorable and a great length as well.  These "sassy" aprons would make a wonderful secret sister, birthday or Mother's Day gift.  You can choose from the chocolate phrase or 3 more phrases that are cute and catchy.



If you are like me and have a busy life that usually involves needing to search and purchase gifts online, you will be happy to know that you can search for the perfect gift at Kirkland's and have them sent to your favorite store free!  All you have to do is create an account, reserve your merchandise, and then pick it up from the store when it arrives.  This way you can browse from the comfort of your own home without a hungry troop of kids following you around every corner!  I love the Adirondack Chair for kids for only $39.99!



This product was provided free of charge by Kirkland's. 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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Lip gloss, how do I love thee?  Let me count thy ways...

I have been a lip gloss fan since I first started wearing makeup.  Honestly, I would choose lip gloss any day over lipstick.  Before I had children you could easily find about 5 different varieties in my purse at one time.  I always needed just the right one for the situation I was in.  Now days, I definitely keep  at least two with me (just not enough room for all of that lip gloss along with the juice cup, snacks, toy cars, and lizards).



I was in heaven when Avon recently sent out the entire line of their Glazewear Lip Gloss for me to review!  Even though I love lip gloss I am picky about what I wear.  I have been extremely impressed with the Glazewear and have been wearing it for several weeks now.  For me, a lip gloss can not feel slimy.  It needs to feel moisturizing, but not super sticky.  The Avon Glazewear has been meeting my expectations as well as those of some of my friends (I decided to share the lip gloss wealth).

Avon Glazewear Lip Gloss comes in 3 different finishes: Shine, Sparkle and Intense.  Also, for those of you with less bravery when it comes to color, there is Clear!  My favorite shade so far has been the Mocha Latte from the Sparkle category (lip gloss must imitate life huh.. I love Mocha lattes)!  The Glazewear Lip Gloss is regularly priced at $6 a piece, but is on sale right now for only $1.99!



Want an even sweeter deal?  From now until June 16th you will receive one entry form for every Glazewear Lip Gloss you purchase to be entered to win a new Red Chevrolet Malibu with Avon's Time to Shine Sweepstakes.

This product was provided free of charge by Avon. 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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Now I know what I was missing the first time I was pregnant!  I had a friend tell me about the Mustela products and how wonderful they were, but I just never got around to picking any of them up.  Mustela recently sent me one of their new products and I must say that I am highly impressed!



Every pregnancy is different so I am told, and it seems that the way your skin reacts is purely luck of the draw.  This time around my skin has been incredibly dry feeling.  It may also have something to due with the time of year I am pregnant, but none the less, I am itchy!  Mustela sent the Ultimate Hydration body lotion from their 9 Month Maternity collection.  I have to tell  you that I was instantly relieved.  I had been using my regular body lotion, but it just wasn't doing the trick.

The Ultimate Hydration has a very light scent and goes on easily.  You are also going to be thrilled with the fact that it does not feel greasy at all!  I usually put it on right after I shower so that I make sure to lock in as much moisture as possible.  I know that the Ultimate Hydration will come in handy after I have the baby as well.  Last time it seemed that all of the moisture was completely sucked from my body after I gave birth!  There are so many hormonal changes going on that your skin may do some different things.  Ultimate Hydration by Mustela is also safe to use if you are breastfeeding and is hypoallergenic.

You can purchase the Ultimate Hydration body lotion for about $22 at Babies R Us, 1-800-Diapers.com, Sephora and more.

This product was provided free of charge by Mustela. 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 usually not a huge jewelry wearer. I like things that are simple and sweet and do not distract too much. When I learned about Lily Me, a company that specializes in French style jewelry, I was delighted to share them with you. This is my kind of elegant and simple jewelry.

Lily Me offers several different styles and personalization options and has a quick turn around! I was sent the flat circle bracelet in sterling silver for review. I had Graham's named engraved on the front. I love the style because it is a simple circle with a simple satin cord. The cord can be adjusted to fit as well. It is gorgeous and can be worn dressy or I even wear it with my casual clothes. If you are a little more fancy than myself, you may like some of the Design Charms they offer. You can choose from openwork hearts, butterflies, peace symbols and more. I love the idea of the boy and girl hanging charms to make special Mother's Bracelets! And like most of the Lily Me charms, you can personalize them with whatever word, name, or initials you would like.


I like the fact that you can make these bracelets personal and add as many charms as you would like. These would be perfect gift ideas, especially with Christmas right around the corner. Because the cord is adjustable you wouldn't have to worry about buying the right size band either. Prices start at about $30 and go up from there. You can choose from Sterling Silver or Plated Gold and you can even choose your own cord color.


Want a deal? From now until January 1, 2010 you can save 10% on your first order when you use code: lilymeblog at checkout.

This product was provided free of charge by Lily Me. Thank you to Momblebee for introducing me! 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 are lotion addicts in this house! The addiction grows stronger during the winter months. Our house seems to stay pretty dry and our skin suffers.

I was recently introduced to the new Vaseline Sheer Infusion with Stratys-3 and really like it! At first, it takes it a while to rub into your skin, but once it is, there is no greasy feeling. Sheer Infusion works by distributing the moisture throughout all layers of your skin instead of just sitting on top or sinking quickly through your skin. I can put it on in the beginning of the day after my shower and it is still with me at the end of the day.

Sheer Infusion is available in three different varieties: Mineral Renewal, Botanical Blend, and Vitamin Burst. We were able to sample all three and I really love the fragrance of all three. They are light and clean smelling. My favorite is probably the Mineral Renewal.

You can purchase a 6.8oz bottle for about $5.99 and a 13.5oz for about $8.99! Save a $1.50 here!

This product was provided free of charge by Vaseline. 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 are like me it is so hard to find time to exercise, much less find something that you really like. I do enjoy running, but I'm not a marathon runner and I am pretty wimpy when it comes to weather, so as it gets colder I tend to get more sedentary! Not good! Fortunately, the Moms into Fitness DVDs have proven to be fun and effective for me.

Lindsay Brin is the professional behind the DVDs as she leads you through the various exercises. Lindsay sent me 4 of her DVDs to try out: Core Firing Sequence Method, Core Fitness for Moms, Shed 5 Fast, and Dance Jam! As soon as I got them I put them to use. Whenever the winter rolls around I am itching to get moving because I feel so claustrophobic in the house.

My favorite of the four is definitely Dance Jam! Lindsay really breaks the moves down for you so even if you are not familiar with dancing, you will catch on! I also really enjoy the Shed 5 fast because they are quick 30 minute work outs that are easy to master yet tough on your body! It works by boosting your metabolism and claims that you will loose 5 pounds in the first 3 weeks! The Core Firing Sequence Method is also great for those of you who are trying to work on your core muscles (abs). It includes three progressive 7-8 minute work outs that can be used alone or part of a more comprehensive program. After phase 1 I was already feeling my stomach muscles working! The DVD that would probably be the best to incorporate everything is the Core Fitness for Moms. This one completely killed me! Lindsay helps you teach your body to use the deep abdominal muscles instead of just the surface. Because you are standing up, you will also be elevating your heart rate and burning calories!




Like all exercise, you really have to commit yourself to doing it. If you can just find a good time for yourself and make a promise to yourself you can be successful. I say if you are really wondering about which one to try, check out the Core Fitness for Moms which covers a lot of different areas. I also love that she includes options for new moms who may need to do things differently.

At the Moms Into Fitness website you can also find healthy and quick recipes, maternity clothing, and more! The DVDs retail for about $9.99-$19.99. The best part is that you can connect with a real mom, Lindsay Brin, who has a 17 month old daughter and is currently pregnant with her second. She shares her tips, trials, and more on her sweet blog.


These products were provided free of charge by Lindsay Brin. 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 excited to be teaming up with Baby Luxe {daily} as well as Jolly Mom to offer you all this amazing giveaway! If you are a runner, biker, or just love the outdoors, you are going to want to learn more about this amazing product called Zigo.

Now, I do not currently own the Zigo, but my husband and I have definitely looked into it. We were first introduced to Zigo when we were trying to figure out a way to incorporate Graham into our bike rides. We wanted to find the safest and most comfortable method for all of us.

This versatile product allows you to either bike alone, bike with a baby carrier (front or back), jog, or turn it into a stroller (converts in less than 30 seconds)! Even though it can do so much, it can still fit in the back of any economy sized car! That's nice to know when you are trying to help minimize your own carbon footprint. The best part, you save money! You will not need to buy 4 different products to fit one need because it is all included in the Zigo Leader X2. What a fun way to get the entire family outdoors and into the fresh air!

Zigo from My Zigo on Vimeo.

Here's what founder Michael Ehrenreich has to say about the history the Zigo invention: "I was sitting on my front porch with my wife and then six-month old son one beautiful summer evening. My wife complained that her feet hurt after jogging with a jogging stroller. I said, "you need to cross-train." She said, "I want a foot massage." The rest is history. Over a period of more than three years and several designs, the Zigo LEADER took form. A fearless group of engineers, industrial designers, and now manufacturing and sales and marketing specialists were added to the growing Zigo family. We hope that you enjoy using your Zigo LEADER as much as we enjoyed building it."

You can save 10% on your purchase by using code: ILUVZIGO1 at the myzigo.com website.




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I love Weleda products because they are organic and usually do really well on the entire family's skin. I am completely in love with their brand new body care line: Pomegranate Regenerating Body Care.

This would definitely be a treat for your own stocking this Christmas... ok.. or you could buy it for a friend, mother, sister, or teacher. I was sent the Pomegranate Creamy Body Wash and have been loving waking up to its light, fresh fragrance in the mornings. Of course, because it is natural, this is great for even sensitive skin.

From the Weleda website: "The 100% organic pomegranate seed oil in our new Regenerating Body Care product line helps to promote skin renewal, protects against skin-damaging environmental influences and enhances your skin’s vitality and natural radiance."


The pomegranates are harvested on an organic farm in Turkey. They are at their peak in late September and more than 100,000 tons of pomegranates are grown there each year! The fruits are carefully cut from the trees by hand each year by the residents. Just another reason to love Weleda products, you know where they come from and you can trust them!

The line includes: hand cream ($12.50), body wash ($18) and body oil ($28). You can pick up Weleda products at Target, Whole Foods, and select health food stores near you.

This product was provided free of charge by Weleda. 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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