November 8, 2010
Is it hard for you to find jeans that fit? Hard to find jeans that you love? Hard to find jeans that make you want to do a runway walk in the dressing room? Shopping for jeans can be one of the most annoying things that women do. Have you ever tried to go shopping for jeans immediately after lunch? Oy. Forget about it! I remember after I had my daughter and I was losing the baby weight but, not back down to my original size. Jeans shopping during that time usually ended in tears. Nothing fits when you feel overweight and all you want is to put on a pair of jeans and have them magically transform your body into something you'll want to snag a glimpse of every time you walk past something reflective.Magic jeans? Not real? Check out Miraclebody. Miraclebody jeans, leggings, skirts and tops are all made to make you look 10 lbs. lighter as soon as you put them on. If I had known about Miraclebody jeans after I had my daughter, so many fewer tears would have been shed. 
Too good to be true? Don't understand how it could work? Let me explain...
Miraclebody jeans sit about an inch below the belly button and have a contoured waist. That holds in those bottom tummy pooches and eliminates the dreaded "muffin top". The jeans are made slighter higher in the back so they don't gap. A unique, handcrafted canvas control panel flattens the tummy for a smoother shape. Embellishments on the rear pockets create the illusion of a slimmer look. On top of all that, Miraclebody jeans have two times as much spandex as regular jeans so that they gently lift the tush while slimming the thighs. 
So, with all that going on, you're wondering if they are comfortable. They really are, especially if you like a more high-waisted pant. And, do they work? Well, not only did the jeans make my midsection seem smoother and flatter but, I was super impressed by the way my rear looked. It's rare that I find jeans that make my butt look good but, these did. The dark rinse and cut of the jeans also made my super short legs look longer. All in all, I would definitely recommend these jeans and am really wanting to try a pair of their leggings, as seen in Oprah magazine. I'm also dying to get some of their adorable tops. The tops would definitely be something that would be welcome in my wardrobe and make me feel a lot better about my changing body.
If you're looking to find a pair of jeans that will make you feel better about those 10 extra pounds, I suggest putting on a pair of Miraclebody Jeans and putting a smile on your face!Buy it!You can get Miraclebody jeans from their online store!Win it!One reader will win their own pair of Miraclebody Jeans!US onlyends 11/19Mandatory to Enter: Visit Miraclebody and tell me which pair of jeans you love.Extra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry. - Like Miraclebody on Facebook- Follow Miraclebody on Twitter- Subscribe to the Miraclebody YouTube channelAll other extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all of them.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Clothing
November 6, 2010
Thank you to everyone who entered the Home Makeover Giveaway! And, a special thanks to the amazing companies who contributed to it's success! The next time any of you are doing a home project, I urge you to give those companies a look! Congratulations to Karen Mead, our Home Makeover Winner!
Stay tuned to Lolidots for more amazing giveaways during the holiday season. There are so many exciting giveaways coming up and you'll see many more than usual here in the weeks leading up to Christmas. You can see a great list of some of the companies by checking out the 2010 Lolidots Holiday Gift Guide!Sidenote, some of the extra entries have changed. Please take note of the new Twitter entries. Thanks!
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Winners
November 3, 2010
My kids love being crazy. They also love music. There's tons of amazing kid music out there that feeds their craziness and wild ways. The thing is, sometimes I want to feed their love of music without feeding their zaniness. Sometimes, just sometimes, it's nice to have some mellowness in our house. Granted, it doesn't happen often! Luckily, I've recently been introduced to a new kid music artist that fills an entire album with amazing, joyful, glorious, mellow music that kids will love and parents will be reaching for when the house needs to take a turn onto Mellow Avenue. Elizabeth Mitchell's new CD, Sunny Day, is jam packed with the sweetest melodies and songs that can only be described by me as "chill". I've been listening to the disc for the last hour and just feel relaxed while I watch my daughter play quietly and sweetly on the floor with her toys. There is definitely a time for the rowdy music but, there are so many wonderful times during the day when an album like Sunny Day is absolutely perfect for the background music of the moment. 
Nap time, quiet play, art time are perfect times for Elizabeth Mitchell. Keep it in the foreground as you sing along to the catchy tunes or fade it into the background for a sweet melody as you spend time with the kids. Daycare owners and parents of small children will absolutely love Elizabeth Mitchell's Sunny Day. I love that Elizabeth makes her album a family affair as she creates the music with her husband, Daniel Littleton, their nine-year-old daughter Storey, and Storey's cousins and friends. The kids singing along on the disc makes my kids more anxious to learn the words so that they can sing along. I definitely recommend Sunny Day by Elizabeth Mitchell as a fantastic alternative to all the crazy, loud, rambunctious kid music out there. The mellow and chill melodies with the fun and uplifting lyrics are the perfect combination. Buy it!You can get Sunny Day HERE. Win it!One reader will win a copy of Sunny Day by Elizabeth Mitchell!US onlyends 11/18
Mandatory to Enter: Tell me when you would listen to this album.Extra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Music
November 2, 2010
I generally make my mashed potatoes from scratch. Let's face it though, sometimes it's nice to have something done quickly and with zero mess. But, what about that homestyle taste, you say? Well, good ol' Betty Crocker saves the day in more ways than cake! 
Betty Crocker's Boxed Instant Mashed Potatoes are made with 100% real potatoes and actually taste like homemade mashed potatoes. I love that they come in more than one flavor and I really like that there are two pouches in every box. That means, if it's just you and the hubby or if it's friends over for dinner, you'll have enough for everyone out of one box. 
When it comes to "instant" food, my husband is very picky. He'd prefer the homemade variety any day. It was a challenge but, after coaxing him into trying the Betty Crocker Instant Mashed Potatoes, he had to admit that they tasted great and didn't taste like they came from a box. Back in my single days, instant mashed potatoes were a staple in my pantry. I'll admit, after starting to make them from scratch all the time, I get a little spoiled to the taste and wonder how I ever ate those cardboard box potatoes. After trying Betty Crocker's Instant Mashed Potatoes, I'm definitely keeping at least one box on hand all the time for those nights when I just don't feel like making them from scratch. I'll let Betty do it instead and take all the glory for it! With the holiday season approaching, no doubt you'll be busy in the kitchen whipping up fanastic holiday feasts or creating all of your side dishes to tote along to the family get togethers. Regular dinners get overlooked during the busy holiday weeks and all that cooking will wear you out for sure. It's good to know that you can whip up a box of Betty Crocker's Instant Mashed Potatoes and either have them with your Tuesday night meal or take them in a gorgeous bowl for Christmas Even dinner. Either way, all the tummies will be happy and you'll have a fantastic side dish that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. Buy it!You can get Betty Crocker Instant Mashed Potatoes at your grocery store and click HERE for a $0.55 off coupon!Win it!One reader will win a prize pack that includes:-2 boxes of Betty Crocker Instant Mashed Potatoes- A serving bowl- A trivet- A serving spoon
US onlyends 11/16Mandatory to Enter: Tell me what night of the week is your craziest night, therefore making it the perfect night to whip up some Betty Crocker Instant Mashed PotatoesExtra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry.- Follow Betty Crocker on TwitterIf you tweet this giveaway, please use the hashtag #myblogspark- Like Betty Crocker on FacebookAll other extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all of them.The product, review prize pack, information and additional giveaway prize pack for this were all given to me by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark. My opinion remains my own.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Food
November 1, 2010
When I became pregnant with my first child, I received a gift that I carried with me everywhere. Truly, it was never more than a few feet from my side and I used it constantly throughout each and every day. It was packed in my hospital bag and was absolutely my number one must have during pregnancy. What was it?What to Expect When You're Expecting.
I read that book cover to cover, repeatedly. I referenced it daily and took comfort in knowing that it really could answer all of my questions. (I'm sure my doctor took comfort in that too!) One of the things I loved about What to Expect When You're Expecting was how easy it was to understand everything. Reading on different topics in the book was as casual as talking with my own mother about the different things that go on during pregnancy. What to Expect is so much more than pregnancy questions and answers. From pregnancy to delivery, newborn to first year and absolutely beyond that, parents need answers and What to Expect has them. So much more than the books alone, What to Expect offers an interactive website complete with all the amazing info found in the books, new information, educational and entertaining articles, customized newsletters, baby growth trackers, ovulation calculator, community forums and so much more!When it comes down to it, What to Expect When You're Expecting is the end all be all of resources for expecting parents, new parents and throughout parenting toddlers and small children. In fact, according to USA Today, 93% of all pregnant mothers who read a pregnancy guide read What To Expect When You’re Expecting. If you're looking to connect with other moms going through what you are experiencing, the What to Expect's online site is the place to be. You'll find message boards, blogs, photo galleries and more in the What to Expect Community. Online communities were important to me when I was pregnant with my first child and they still are today. Feeling comraderie with other moms makes all we go through, the good and the bad, so much easier and more fun. Knowing that moms like you are just a click away is wonderful. Take that sense of community and combine it with the amazingly informative and entertaining world of What to Expect and you've got the absolute perfect site for pregnancy and beyond. 
Even if you are only in the pre-pregnancy stages, it's never to early to start soaking up all the info you can and building relationships with other soon-to-be moms! There are community message boards on every possible topic and situaiton where you'll find other like-minded people and support when you need it. 
What to Expect When You're Expecting was absolutely my bible during my first pregnancy and a welcomed old friend during my second pregnancy. Now that we are officially trying to conceive our third child, I turn once again to What to Expect and know that I'll find all the wonderful features that I originally fell in love with while exploring all the new things. I highly recommend the books and the website to anyone who is thinking of having a child, pregnant or already a parent.Check out What to Expect When You're Expecting HERE!Win it! I've got 6 What to Expect When You're Expecting books to give away!! Win one for yourself, a friend or a family member! US onlyends 11/14Mandatory to Enter: Visit What to Expect's website and tell me something you like about it. Extra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry. All extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all of them.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Parenting
November 1, 2010
A few months ago I started a home improvement project that was, for me, a huge undertaking. My entire kitchen, dining room and living room areas got repainted and slightly remodeled. The very first part of the project, what really ended up inspiring the rest of the project, was my decision to paint my kitchen cabinets. The result, thanks completely to the paint I used, was so amazing that the entire room's makeover fell perfectly in place around the cabinets. 
The gorgeous red that makes my cabinets, and now my front and back doors, absolutely pop with vibrant color is all thanks to Mythic Paint. Mythic Paint is non-toxic paint and ultra low-odor. The paint from Mythic is absolutely free of lead, mercury, formaldehyde, formaldehyde precursors, crystalline silica and other known toxic materials or suspected carcinogens. I was absolutely surprised by the lack of odor when painting my home. It was a refreshing change from when I painted my daughter's room earlier this year and had to keep it sequestered for days to remove the paint fumes. Because Mythic Paint contains no toxic solvents, it carries no toxic smell. Mythic Paint carries interior, exterior and priming paint in a variety of colors that will make you gasp. I love how safe this paint is for my family and for the environment. I absolutely adore the colors available from Mythic. 
I knew I wanted to paint the kitchen cabinets red. I was unsure of the shade and very unsure of the results. After a few coats of my Tango Red paint from Mythic Paint, I was blown away. This paint looks so sleek and perfect upon drying. My cabinets absolutely look professionally done; a huge accomplishment for me, an inexperienced painter. I also used Mythic Paint in Black for my trim and am over the moon with the sleek results. 
Whether you are a beginning painter in the home or a professional, I definitely recommend Mythic Paint for all of your interior and exterior painting. Their website is so easy to navigate. One of the really fun things about the Mythic Paint website is the interactive Room Visualizer. See how the colors will look on walls, trim and ceilings before you purchase. Using a paint in the kitchen, where grease flies in the air and child sized fingers that have been dipped in ketchup, chocolate and who knows what else will be running across the area at two feet from the ground, is a pretty big test for any paint. In the months since completing my cabinets and doors, I have been constantly satisfied with the performance of Mythic Paint in being stain resistant and easy to clean while maintaining the perfect finish that appeared just after the paint dried. In spite of the high humidity in my area and high traffic in my kitchen, Mythic Paint is standing up to everything and keeps looking amazing. 
Buy it!You can get Mythic Paint in all the amazing colors from their online shopping site.Win it!One reader will win two gallons in the color of their choice from Mythic Paint!US onlyends 11/16Mandatory to Enter: Visit Mythic Paint and tell me which color you would choose.Extra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each entry.- Like Mythic Paint on Facebook- Follow Mythic Paint on TwitterAll other extra entries are on the upper left sidebar. You may do any or all of them.
Posted by Robin .. Posted In : Home
