How I Got a Three-Year Old to Brush Her Teeth

Tom's of Maine

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My girls love going to the store with me.  On a recent trip, Daddy decided to tag along.  On my small list of stuff to buy was toothpaste for the girls.  Daddy picked out one with some {licensed} characters on it.  Lyla, politely, told him, "No, no, Daddy.  You have to get the one with the strawberries on it."  This particular store did not have that brand, so Daddy made the executive decision to buy it anyways.  He figured that she would love the characters on it, so that would encourage her to brush her teeth and that one kid's toothpaste was as good as the other.  Oh, no.

After lunch, it was time to brush the girls' teeth.  Neither Lyla nor Bina liked the toothpaste with the characters on it and that was the end of toothbrushing.  I went to a different store and got the toothpaste that they like - Tom's of Maine.  It's Made in the USA.  The bottle has a simple design of strawberries on it and the price was comparable to all of the other children's toothpastes.

During our bedtime routine, it was time to brush their teeth again.  This one they liked.  Lyla likes the toothpaste bottle because it has strawberries on it and it tastes better.  Simple as that.  Peace has been restored in our household.


Karina

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Disclaimer: This is a product that I purchase with my own money.  The only compensation I receive is the satisfaction that I have brought you another product that is proudly Made in the USA.

Italian-style Made in the USA - Review

Three pasta sauces I received for free in exchange for an honest review - That's it.

Earlier this year, I challenged myself to a 30-day no-repeat recipe.  The snag in this concept was cooking for picky eaters.  Alas, I pushed on and came up with the 30 new recipes.  In the process, I was given the opportunity to review pasta sauces by Galassi Foods, which are made in the USA - Coralville, IA to be specific.  Two of the recipes used in my 30-day no-repeat recipe challenge came from their website.  

Galassi Foods, is a family-owned and operated business that has turned their Italian recipes into a business.  I was given the opportunity to review three of their pasta sauces, - Galassi Pasta Sauce, Galassi Pasta Sauce with Mushrooms, and Galassi Sweet Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce.  I absolutely enjoyed these sauces.  They contained chunks of ingredients - tomatoes, onions, herbs, mushrooms (in the Galassi Pasta Sauce with Mushrooms) - that I could hear and feel crunching while eating it.  In order to properly taste the sauce, I set aside a couple of tablespoons to try each sauce on its own.  I ended up eating the entire sample of each sauce.  Each one was so delicious.  My favorite sauce, hands down, was the Sweet Tomato Basil Pasta.  In my opinion, it had a combination of sweet and savory that just danced in my mouth.  It was simply fantastic.

Recipe #1: Chicken with Pepperoni-Marinara Sauce 
Recipe #2: 
Galassi Not-So-Weak Weeknight Pasta

I served this meal when we had company over.  I wanted a recipe that was easy to prepare, could feed several people, and, of course, be delicious in the process.  I used the Galassi Pasta Sauce with Mushrooms to make this recipe.  I received so many compliments.  The biggest compliment came when my oldest daughter asked for another spoonful and my youngest daughter said that this was best ever, ever.  My husband went back for seconds also and said that this recipe was going in rotation.  No doubt the sauce had something to do with it.

Recipe #3: Meatloaf Galassi Style

I took a chance on making this recipe.  Several years ago, I found a good meatloaf recipe.  Unfortunately, I drove it in the ground by making it one too many times.  We have not eaten meatloaf in our home in several years.

I chose this recipe because it incorporated vegetables and I appreciate recipes that do that.  This is an Italian-style meatloaf, which I have never had.  I used the Galassi Sweet Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce for it.  I let Lyla taste some of the sample sauce that I had set aside and she loved it.  She asked for more of it.  We shared the sample sauce.  The girls enjoyed this meal as well.  I served it with some homemade mashed potatoes and peas.

Update: To purchase any of Galassi Foods' sauces, you can purchase from their website or click here for a list of stores that carry them.  I hope you're hungry because these sauces definitely deliver the taste you are looking for in a pasta sauce.

Karina

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Disclosure: I received the three products mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What Led Up To This Picture?

 One of my goals for this year is to find more crafty activities for the girls.  I am not crafty so I have to be creative in how I accomplish that.  In doing so, I found Betty Lukens.  Betty Lukens has been manufacturing felt sets for over 30 years.  Their products are made here in the USA in Cotati, CA.

In trying to choose a product from their website, confusion set in.  I could not pick just one.  Finally, my husband told me to think like a 3 year old little girl - Princess!  Lyla had the opportunity to play with the Learning Fun With Felt - All Dressed Up! set.



At first, she was a little confused because the little girls were not "dolls."  I sat with her and showed her how to stand up the flannel board.  Then we put the little girls on it and I showed her how she could put the different outfits on them to dress them up.  Once she saw how the girls did not fall off the board and their outfits stayed on them while the board was standing, she was hooked.  She did lay down the board, though.

 As you can see, the set comes with several different outfits from casual to dressy.  Bina decided to join Lyla when she was playing with the set.  Good thing there were two little girls - one for each of them.  They eventually played with the little girls like they were actual dolls and started storytelling and playing make-believe.  It was sweet to see them sharing.  That's how the picture above came about.  They were hugging each other and I prayed for a shot.  They usually scramble when they see my camera coming.  I love to capture those moments. 

Flannel board

The sets come in a plastic carrying case, which makes it easy to keep all of the outfits in one place.  Bible Felt Sets are another set that Betty Lukens sells.  The selection within the Bible Felt Sets is extensive, including Old Testament and New Testament backgrounds, and specialty boards.  Other topics include Science, Early Learning, Animals, Nature, Holidays, Seasons, and, of course, Princesses and Dress-Up.

Karina

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Disclaimer: I was provided with a product to review, and I have provided my honest opinion. Thank you to the sponsoring company for working with Mom in the USA. You can view my complete PR policies here. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.  Please see my Disclosure Policy.

My Five-Minute Facial

I recently bumped into an old friend of mine.  My friend's name is Alba.  You may otherwise know this friend as Alba Facial Mask.  I say friend because no product has loved my face as much as Alba has.  Alba and I enjoy time together everyday.  I call it my five minute facial.  Whenever my five minutes are done, I rinse and admire.  I know that sounds vain, but sometimes we should take some time to admire our best work.  My face looks so refreshed and even-toned.  It's like having a facial without the immediate red blotchiness.  The mask does not dry on my face, so I can carry on a conversation and move as I normally would.  For a busy mommy like me, that's a definite plus.  Three-year olds and two-year olds don't stop asking questions because mommy is washing her face.  They do, however, offer fabulous compliments, like "Mommy, you look beautiful."  Ah, warms my heart. 

Let's see: a product that evens out my color, elicits compliments from my daughters, and it's Made in the USA.  What better boost than that in a little container?!  How can I not be friends with Alba?

Karina

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Disclaimer: This is a product that I purchased with my own money.  There are affiliate links in this post. You will NOT pay extra to buy through the link. If you purchase anything through an affiliate link, you give back a percentage to our family. Thank you for your purchase. You are supporting the blog, our family and all families who make these products in the USA. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

The Card Is In The Mail.....Product Review

Baby's Noah's Ark T-Shirt

We recently decided to have a party for the kids.  Actually, we thought everyone could use a party and somehow, when it's a kids party, people seem to have their guards down a little more.  Something about those kids......Our next decision was to send out invitations.  I adore stationery.  To me, there is something more personalized about receiving a letter in the {physical} mailbox versus my {electronic} mailbox.  Call me old-fashioned.

Ladybug Family Of 4 T-Shirt

We chose Amy Adele for our invitations.  I adore the artwork on their stationery.  It's light-hearted.  That's the word that comes to mind when I see it.  The rest is really a true story: I was looking at their invitations when I received an email from one of their reps, checking in on me because I am an affiliate of theirs.  Seriously, that email came the very same day I was looking at the invitations on their website.  I let him know that I happen to be on their website looking at invitations for our party and was given the opportunity to review them here.

Amy Adele creates invitations, thank you notes, birth announcements, labels & stickers, calling cards, personalized stationery on 100% post consumer recycled paper.   Amy Adele also designs girls' and boys' T-shirts and baby one-piece outfits that are made in the USA. 

The process for ordering invitations {or any of their stationery} is really too simple.  It's so easy that I actually made screenshots for you.

What Sweet Momma's Creates is Magical

 

 

I was given the opportunity to review a cake in a jar from Sweet Momma's Creole Confections in Thiboudaux, LA. Blown away! Not just any blown away. Crystal sent me a flavor of her choice. She sent me Coconut and Almond Buttercream. I do not like coconut shavings, the texture - none of it. Period. I admit I was hesitant to even try it, but my love for almond anything and CAKE outweighed my dislike of coconut. I took the first bite expecting a gross coconut cake. (I'm sorry Crystal for saying that.) After taking that first bite, my eyes rolled to the back of my head. IT. WAS. AMAZING! I ate the whole thing in that one sitting. (I can't believe I'm admitting to that.) I may have also received the cake at the perfect moment. You know how you have one of those days where your food groups consist of sweet junk, salty junk and sweet and salty junk chased by a huge glass of.......well you get the picture. I received this cake on that day. Good girl Crystal. Timing is everything!

I have heard people say that their palates begin to dance after tasting something and I think, "How cheesy. Can you exaggerate anymore?" I get it now. The icing is sweet. The shavings add a delicate touch of texture (imagine me saying that?!). The almond - I'm biased so I will [almost] always love it. In this case, it works. I refrigerated it when I received it and it was still smooth when I ate it.

Sweet Momma's Creole Confections would be the perfect gift.  For what? you might ask.  Here are some gift ideas:

• Weddings: It would make a creative cake concept - Cake in a Jar - or a favor or both.
• Bridal or Baby Showers: The jars are a great jumping off point for decorating and simple too.  Create a centerpiece or a prize for the games.
• Military families: Crystal offers a 15% discount to military families. Gotta love her for honoring our service men and women! She also ships to your loved ones overseas.
• For those days that your food groups include cake, cake and more cake chased by a glass of......again you get my point!
• Special Occasion Gift: Christmas, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day (why not?), Easter, Mother's Day, Grandparents Day, Let Them Eat Cake Day (Oct. 16), Birthdays, Anniversaries, Kids' parties, Engagement parties, Bachelorette parties, the list goes on.
• Just because....

If you are craving cake now, click on over to Sweet Momma's Creole Confections. If you order now, fifteen percent of your purchase goes to Caiden's Hope Foundation, a non-profit foundation that provides support for families whose babies were born prematurely and are now in the NICU. Crystal's baby, Faith, was born at 23 weeks and 6 days and weighed a miraculous 1lb 3oz!! (In case you're trying to picture that weight - that's the equivalent of a pint of milk.)  Families of premature babies, especially the micropreemies like Crystal's, spend a lot of time in the NICU.  Your purchase supports a fellow mompreneur who donates a percentage of your purchase to a great cause. 

Simply put, this cake is delicious and life is too short to eat anything but delicious cake.

Karina

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** Note: I was provided with a product to review, and I have provided my honest opinion as a mother. Thank you to the sponsoring company for working with Mom in the USA. You can view my complete PR policies here. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.  

GIVEAWAY: Halloween Costume

 

I am so excited to be able to host my first product review and giveaway.  In my searches for products that are Made in the USA, I came across Beastly Buddies.  Ann is the owner of Beastly Buddies and she is the sweetest person.  I contacted her for permission to add her to the Shop page since her products are Made in the USA - Schenectady, NY actually.  She was kind enough to offer me the opportunity to review two of her costumes.  Each costume is handmade by Ann herself.  Ann has been making costumes for about 20 years and from time to time still sees some from times gone by for sale on the internet.

The first costume is for a Monarch Butterfly costume.  When Lyla saw me take this costume out of the package, the princess in her came flying out.  She wanted her princess dress right away....so I put it on her.  

The costume slips on very easily.  Picture this:  I have an enthusiastic 3-year old who wants the costume on now and a one-year old who kept trying to hide in the tulle.  I still had an easy time getting it on.  It is one piece that slips on.  (Note: The Halloween bag in the picture is not included.  We already owned it.)  The black bodice is lycra and it is a bodysuit so there is a bottom part for your little lady.  I added a pair of black leggings underneath so it wouldn't be see-through.  I think that might just be personal preference also.

 

The wings are quite impressive.  They are made of flock and Lyla loved how soft they were.  We also found out that it's easy to wipe off little oopsies from the bodice.  A baby wipe cleaned it right up.  The costume is dry clean only.  The dots on the wings glow in the dark.  They just have to be "charged" with a light source.  (Note: Don't hold it up to something hot.  It might burn.)  Lyla is 3 and this is a size 4.  On a hard surface, the costume goes down to her ankles.  She meandered through the grass and had no problems walking.  The costumes are available in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12.

The bad part of this costume: It was not easy to convince Lyla to actually remove it!  The only reason that I convinced her to take off the costume was because either she had the other costume to twirl in or it was time to eat and she didn't want to accidentally spill something on her costume.  

I have to admit I learned a lesson.  I had forgotten how much little girls love dress-up.  I did not expect Lyla to wear this costume as much as she has since she received it.  Amateur mommy!  I love watching that thrill in my daughter's eyes.

 

The second costume that I was given to review was a costume of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, also in a size 4.  Lyla loved this costume also.  She must have because she never wants anything in her hair.  To take these pictures, she let me put pig tails in her hair.  She also exercised her own fashion sense with the socks.  This costume includes the white blouse and blue and white gingham apron dress (2 pieces).  We happened to have the red "ruby" slippers.  The costume is available in sizes 12 months and 18 months.

 

This costume can survive Halloween night and many more "dress-up" days to come.  While we were taking these pictures, Lyla decided to run on the sidewalk, pictured above, and she fell.  I thought the dress would get snagged or something.  I am proud to inform you that the dress survived the fall without a hitch.  Lyla's poor little knee didn't do quite as well.  Little boo-boo, big mommy kisses and a band-aid - her knee will be just fine.

I was concerned about the opening where the bow goes in the back, but as you can see from the picture, you can't even tell.  Lyla has twirled in this dress while holding her basket and has enjoyed it so much.

GIVEAWAY:  This is a giveaway for one Monarch Butterfly costume pictured below.  The costume is available in sizes 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 so you can pick one of these sizes if you are the winner.

Enter by using the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win this awesome costume!  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Open to the US, ages 18+.

I was provided with a product to review, and I have provided my honest opinion as a mother. Thank you to the sponsoring company for working with Mom in the USA.  You can view my complete PR policies here.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway