Modern Conveniences I Can’t Live Without

Written by Elizabeth on September 21, 2008 – 10:55 pm -

It would probably be easier for me to make a list of modern conveniences that I DON’T rely on, because when I sat here and started looking around the house, thinking about all the things that get me through the day, the list started getting pretty long. Here’s just a few:

1. A coffee maker. I tried using a French Press to make coffee, and it was always gritty and never hot enough. I’m currently addicted to the Parent Bloggers NetworkTassimo beverage machine that I won in a previous Parent Bloggers Network blog blast.

2. The DVR. I have episodes of “Dora”, “Ni Hao Kai Lan”, and “Max and Ruby” ready for Kaitlyn because otherwise, I would never get anything done. It’s also the only way I can watch any TV show at night, because I’m getting three kids into bed between 8-10 PM.

3. My laptop. Because when Kaitlyn wants to play outside, my work can go too. Same thing for bathtime-oh yes, I’ll admit it, I sit on the closed toilet lid with my laptop perched on the sink and read emails while K is in the bathtub.

4. A cordless telephone. Those of you old enough to remember when telephones hung on the wall and had a long curly cord that gave you a few feet to move, can you even imagine still having to use the phone that way now? I sure can’t.

5. Convenience foods. Okay, I wish I could say that I spoon my homemade yogurt into containers that my kids then bring home for me to wash every day, but the truth is, I don’t. I keep yogurt cups like Yoplait Kids, fat free pudding cups, Quaker granola bars, and I even sometimes by the 100 calorie pack snacks, so that it’s easy for the boys to help pack their lunches in the morning. I am NOT a morning person :P

What about you? What modern conveniences do you need to get through your day?

3.

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Hanes Kids-Comfortable & Wedgie Free!

Written by Elizabeth on August 11, 2008 – 10:44 am -

My kids are always so excited when a package comes in the mail because they know that most likely, it contains some cool product that we are going to review. At least one of the three is always standing right over me, especially if it’s a big box. “What is it? What is it?” Sometimes it’s a cool toy or game or a new snack food, but this time?

Underwear. And Socks. “But look!”, I said, “this is COOL underwear! Boxer shorts with a fly that won’t gap! Tagless underpants, panties for Kaitlyn with the no-wedgie promise! Soft, cushy socks!”

They were skeptical. I was thrilled! These were Hanes Kids socks and undies, with Comfort-Fit Waistbands and Comfort-Fit Promises and No-Roll Waistbands! Guess that makes me a Mom for sure, being excited about underwear :)

I was really hoping that the soft “big-girl” panties would get Kaitlyn excited about potty training, and although they fit her really well and stayed up thanks to the no-roll waistband, they were not impervious to her refusal to use the potty rather than just pee on the floor. Sigh. I do like the fact that the panties don’t have characters on them which should appeal to people who don’t want to purchase licensed merchandise for their children.

Nathan put a pair of the boxers on at bedtime, and true to the label, the fly didn’t gap open, even when he sat on the floor. I asked him for a few words for this review and he volunteered this:

“They are really comfortable, and they are great to sleep in.”

Thanks, Nathan! I really appreciate Parent Bloggers Network sending me these products for review; I was already a Hanes fan, especially for t-shirts for my husband. OH, speaking of which though, my husband asked me to say this about the Tagless t-shirts for men (which were not part of this review but he wanted to contribute which is a big deal for him):

“I like the fact that there’s no tag, except that it makes it hard to put the t-shirt on in the dark.”

Good point, honey. So, hey, want to win some Hanes for yourself? Parent Bloggers Network will be having a Blog Blast on August 22nd, so watch the site for more info on that!


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How MomReviews Manages Morning Mayhem

Written by Elizabeth on June 15, 2008 – 1:16 pm -

It was great timing that Parent Bloggers Network teamed up with Kraft Bagel-Fuls for this Blog Blast this weekend, because I just got two boxes of them and wanted to tell you how much I like them anyway!

Kraft Bagel-Fuls are the first bagel and Philadelphia cream cheese all in one. You know those mornings when you would really like to have some breakfast, but you’ve got a baby on your shoulder and a toddler purposely dumping Cheerios off of their highchair tray onto the floor for the dog to eat, and as much as you’d like to toast a bagel and spread some cream cheese on it, you just don’t have a free hand? Well, with Bagel-Fuls, it’s all rolled up into one!

But first, Parent Bloggers Network wants to know how I manage getting everyone fed in the morning. One thing that makes it really easy for me is the fact that my oldest son, who is 11.5, gets himself up in the morning and makes his own breakfast. School just got out for the year, but because his bus came at 6:45 AM, Ryan was actually out of the house before I even got up in the morning! So all I had to do was drag Nathan’s slow-to-wake-up heiney into the kitchen, put a bowl of cereal or some toast and milk in front of him, and then get Kaitlyn up and into her highchair for her own breakfast. So for me, mornings are generally mayhem-free, fortunately.

To give you an idea of size, here’s a Bagel-Ful sitting on a lunch-sized plate. It’s a good thing I have a wide-slot toaster, although I still had to push it down into the slot and it stuck up at the top.

Here’s the inside-it kind of looks like a Twinkie, doesn’t it? We’ve tried the original with plain cream cheese and the original with strawberry cream cheese, and both are delicious! It really does taste just like a bagel smeared with cream cheese, great job, Kraft! I plan to keep buying these for sure.

Now, what I’m really hoping and crossing my fingers for is that I get picked by Parent Bloggers Network to be one of the two winners of the Blog Blast “morning saver” prizes, each featuring coupons for free Bagel-Fuls, a Bagel-Fuls branded wide slot toaster, a Tassimo hot beverage system, commuter coffee cups and more. A toaster that specifically holds the Bagel-Fuls PLUS a Tassimo which makes coffee, lattes, and hot chocolate? Oooh, pick me!

So remember, don’t let mornings turn into mayhem in the kitchen! If you like eating bagels with cream cheese for breakfast, keep a box or two of Kraft Bagel-Fuls in your fridge for a quick meal or snack! This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a contest sponsored by KRAFT BAGEL-FULS.


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