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Ocean Spray Cranergy
When you think of Ocean Spray, do you think of the commercial where those two farmer-type guys are standing in cranberry fields exercising? It’s a commercial that really irritates my husband. It doesn’t bother me so much and since I’m a fan of Ocean Spray, I say whatever. Regardless, when I opened up a package recently that held Ocean Spray Cranergy, I couldn’t help think about those two guys in the cranberry field.
While I don’t think those guys are all that hip, Ocean Spray has a new drink out that is very hip, Cranergy Energy Juice Drink. I’m a sucker for packaging, and this bottle looks refreshing, hip and very enticing. It would draw my attention in a cooler at a store.
Let me tell you up front that I am not a sugar-substitute kind of girl. I think the more natural the food, the better. But I understand that no sugar means less calories, and that’s a big deal. The first taste you take tastes a bit odd with a slight after-taste. I think this is the Splenda and since I have not experienced Splenda, I cannot verify this. After the first few tastes, though, this drink grows on you. It has a refreshing flavor that tastes "cool." I tried the Raspberry Cranberry Lift. I love cranberries and raspberries, so the two together was great! Your other choice is Cranberry Lift. I imagine both would make a great summer morning drink.
The really great part of Cranergy is that it gives you a natural energy boost. With green tea extract and B-vitamins, you get a natural jolt of energy without all the sugar. I drank one this morning before a very busy and stressful day-I will say that I felt good all day. I didn’t have that mid-afternoon crash I normally do.
I think Ocean Spray has provided yet another quality product. This hip, new energy drink is sure to be a favorite for those on the go. Check out their website for lots of great information on Cranergy! I give it a
Frosted Flakes Gold
So, there we sat one night a couple of weeks ago. We had just finished a very balanced dinner, one which even my son sat down and ate. (This is highly unusual.) Our mail was sitting on the table, so I started sorting it. My son spied a package. Always assuming everything is his, he asked that we open it. Inside was a box of cereal. Not just any box of cereal, but a box of cereal he had never seen before, never tasted before, and it had a big, cool looking tiger on it. He immediately said to me, "Mama, that cereal looks greeeeeeeat!" (Ahem, sorry, I couldn’t resist.) Even though we had just eaten a lot of food for dinner, we decided to try this breakfast food.
Flash forward to a half-hour later…half the box was gone. Gone! How crazy is that? Our dessert that night was cereal, a brand new cereal from Kellogg’s called Frosted Flakes Gold. This is one yummy cereal. I do try to stay away from overly sugar-y cereals for my son, but this one has just the right sweet flavor. A hint of honey goes well with the crunchy whole grains. It boasts long-lasting energy…I can’t say that I was able to prove that, but the flavor alone is enough to buy this one.
Since the folks at Kellogg’s sent me this box, I’ve already purchased one of my one, and have it on my grocery list again. I’m loving this cereal! Check out their website for more info on this cereal, especially the recipes they have for Frosted Flakes cereal. I can’t wait to try Tony the Tiger Cookies. They sound fabulous. Now I can actually have cereal for dessert without looking like a weirdo. I give this a
Norton 360
There is peace of mind in knowing that you are being diligent about your health. Every year (more when he was little), we take my son for his annual check-up. Just hearing the doctor tell us that he is a healthy young boy gives us comfort. You want for your family to be healthy and happy.
The same should be true for our computers…we should take care of them preventively. We want them to work smoothly, quickly, and with ease. We want the peace of mind in knowing that someone is looking out for our security and that our information is protected. Ladies and Gentleman…meet Norton 360 All in One Security version 2.0.
In the past, many years and computers ago (okay, it was my first computer, a laptop, and it was only 11 years ago…) I had Norton software. I loved it. Somehow, over time, the laptop was too old and got put away and we moved on to other computers. We had other security programs at times, and at other times, we had none. (GASP!) Lately, we had installed a free security program. And it droves me crazy. It slowed the computer down considerably and I don’t have patience!
Since I have put the Norton 360 2.0 version on my computer, I have to admit, I feel pretty proud of myself. I’m taking preventive action to keep my computer safe and healthy. I see the task bar on my computer and see prompts coming up and I feel like someone has my computer’s back. My favorite feature so far? I can back up my files online. So, when the inevitable happens, and my computer crashing, my important files are safe. A couple of years ago, my computer did crash and if it weren’t for a wonderful techie guy at my husband’s company, all of my son’s pictures from birth on would have been lost. The thought of that makes me sick. Now, I know my photos are safely backed up online with Norton.
Now there’s a ton of technical stuff it does, but I don’t really understand how it works and it makes my head hurt a little. What I do know is that the software is incredibly easy and fast to install. My computer is running faster than it has in a long while and it has this whole Identity Safe feature which securely stores your personal information allowing you to control how this info is shared with Web sites. And lastly, they have lots of folks there to help you out if you’re having problems.
Truly it is about peace of mind. The Internet can be a scary place, but my computer has Mr. Norton on his side. Watch out all you crazy Internet thingies that hurt computers!! I give this product a
Dirty Little Secrets
When I was pregnant with my son, I always dreamed of the mom I would soon be. I would be perfectly put together. I would bake whole-grain cookies and serve balanced meals that we would all eat together at the table after saying grace. I would do crafts and build cool forts with blankets. I would be patient. I would only buy gender-neutral, educational toys. Then, I had my son. And all those ideas, they flew out the window with my sanity. Being a parent, more often than not, is just a daily game of survival-and often, I would easily get voted off this island.
Dirty Little Secrets from Otherwise Perfect Moms is a book to revel in our imperfections. Mothers tend to "withhold the truth" from other mothers, as if revealing our imperfections somehow makes us a failure. Instead, we bottle it up and act like everything is perfect and balanced. In this new book, Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile (also authors of I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids) got moms to reveal their deepest, darkest secrets of motherhood. At times, I giggled. Sometimes, my mouth dropped in horror. Other times, I found myself nodding in agreement. All the time, I was taken with how honest these mothers were being.
The hardest part of motherhood for me is the constant feeling that other mothers are better mothers than I am. Dirty Little Secrets makes me feel that I am not alone. I have this book already packed up to send to a friend who is a new mother. It’ll be a "Welcome to the World of Guilt and Incompetent Feelings" "Happy New Baby!" gift.
If you have a dirty little secret of your own to share, head on over the book club at Mother Talk. Share your dirty little secret by May 1, 2008 and you might just win a $25 Amazon gift certificate or a free copy of the book.
For a refreshing and honest look at motherhood and for reminding me that even if I get voted off of this island, I am not alone, I give this a
Special K Bliss Bars
Okay, I admit it. I’m a sucker for breakfast bars. While I’d much rather sit with a hot cup of coffee, a plate of eggs and bacon, and the morning paper, but life just isn’t that luxurious for me. If I’m not working, I’m running out the door at 6:00 AM after a few hours of sleep. If I am home, I’m racing around getting breakfast for everyone else and hopefully trying to sneak in a shower. So, breakfast bars are my best friend most mornings. Special K has just made the breakfast bar experience a bit more blissful!
Recently, Kellogg’s has come out with some great new products. Special K Bliss bars rank up among my favorites. Bliss bars are only 90 calories (woohoo!!!) and dipped in chocolate-really, do I have to tell you more to get you interested? Add to the chocolate an exciting fruit flavor and your tongue is doing the happy dance! They have two flavors…Chocolatey Dipped Raspberry and Chocolatey Dipped Orange. While I always prefer raspberry to orange, my husband prefers the orange to the raspberry. That works for me-I was given one box of each flavor so we each have our own box!
I think what I like the most about these Special K Bliss bars is that they feel sinful, but they’re not. They kept me full for far more hours than most breakfast bars and the flavor really is good. It’s made from multigrain cereal and it really tastes like you are munching on a bowl full of raspberries or orange slices.
You can get lots of great info on their website, http://www.specialk.com. Thanks to the great people for the awesome tote bag which will join us on our trips to the pool this summer!
For the great taste and low calorie count, I give this a
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