Infantino Jumbo Wheel PlaySpace Review

As an Infantino Test Drive Mom, I was fortunate to receive the Infantino Jumbo Wheel PlaySpace (ARV $41.99; to be released July 15, 2010).

The PlaySpace really is jumbo! It's bright and colorful, and is very engaging, with activities (music, teethers, little toys), various patterns, cute animals, textures, and a mirror!

Smiley Boy loves to hear the crinkle of the animals' ears and the squeaking of the elephant, but his favorite feature is the detachable musical flower.

Although I think the music is too soft, he really loves playing with the flower and pressing it to hear the music. He often takes it off of the mat, and he and Little Music Man will always fight over it!

I love that there's no set up involved--just place it on the floor, and it rolls up for easy storage!

I've never had a play mat like this before for either of my boys, but now that I have one, Smiley Boy can't get enough of it, and neither can Little Music Man!

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products to as part of my participation.

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Seventh Generation Laundry Challenge Review and Giveaway

I recently completed the 30-day Seventh Generation Laundry Challenge, and it was tough!

The challenge entailed using cold water and non-toxic, biodegradable detergent to wash clothes, as well as using a line to dry them.

To help me with this challenge, Seventh Generation sent me a Project Laundry Line Kit, which included Seventh Generation Natural 2x Concentrated Laundry Liquid, a portable laundry line, clothes pins, a laundry basket, and a Flip camera that I used to share my thoughts about this challenge.

I've used Seventh Generation Laundry Liquid ever since we bought our new high efficiency washer and dryer. I have tried other non-toxic, biodegradable laundry detergents since then, but for some reason I always end up buying more and more Seventh Generation--it's simply a brand that I've grown to trust.

The portable laundry line was so quick and easy to set up. When I'm done drying clothes, taking it down to store is such a cinch! It seems to only hold about a single load of laundry though, so if I'm doing more than one load, I use an additional line that we have in our garage. A few of the clothespins did come apart, but fortunately I had lots of extras from back when DH and I used to line dry clothes all the time (before kids).

The laundry basket is a little small, but it's perfect for our downstairs family room where we end up putting clothes that my boys mess up throughout the day.

All of these products came in very handy throughout the Laundry Challenge.

The toughest part of the challenge for me was doing without the dryer for 30 days, but I managed to successfully complete the challenge (with the help of a note on my dryer that said "DO NOT USE" and my wonderful husband who helped me hang the clothes).

The challenge did get easier, and although I do admit I did use the dryer once the challenge ended, I am making an effort to use it a lot less and the line a lot more.

Every bit helps...the line helps us use less energy, save money, and ultimately it helps the environment.

Below are some interesting facts when it comes to doing your laundry:

Seventh Generation products are manufactured in the most sustainable way possible, and we use only those ingredients that do not pose any chronic health risks and that are safe for the environment. We use only recycled paper in our paper products, primarily post-consumer materials, and we never use chlorine bleach. We disclose all ingredients for all of our cleaning products.

“We want to quantify the real impact of using Seventh Generation products for our consumers,” said Martin Wolf, Director of Product & Environmental Technology at Seventh Generation. “In doing so, we study the environmental impact of our products versus conventional products and create environmental saving statements to help people understand the difference that they can make when they reach for something on the supermarket shelf.”

Our savings statements quantify the positive impact on the environment of using a sustainable product and are based on average, daily sales for some of our products in North America.

• If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 100 oz. 2X concentrate petroleum-based laundry liquid with our 100 oz. 2X concentrate plant-derived product, we could save 466,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 26,800 U.S. homes for a year!
• If every household in the U.S. replaced just one box of polyester fabric softener sheets with our paper sheets, and recycled or composted after use, we could prevent 6,000 tons of solid waste front entering our landfills, equivalent to 640 garbage trucks.
• If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 50oz. petroleum-based baby laundry liquid with our 50oz. plant-derived product, we could save 169,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 9,700 U.S. homes for a year!
• If every household in the U.S. replaced just one bottle of 50oz. petroleum-based delicate care laundry liquid with our 50oz. plant-derived product, we could save 156,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 8,900 U.S. homes for a year!
• If every household in the U.S. replaced one bottle of 64oz. bleach containing chlorine with our 64oz. chlorine free bleach, we could prevent 11.6 million pounds of chlorine from entering our environment.

If you want to participate in the Seventh Generation Laundry Challenge, you're in luck!

Seventh Generation is inviting people to take a seven day laundry challenge where they will pledge to use Seventh Generation liquid laundry detergent, wash their clothes in cold water and line dry their clothing on a clothesline or drying rack for seven days. The challenge will kick off on July 1 and will run for the month of July. Consumers will be able to calculate their savings from the challenge (energy and money saved) on the site. People who make the pledge will be entered into weekly drawings that will randomly award Seventh Generation product and other prizes (up to seven people per week will be named winners).

Visit SeventhGeneration on July 1 for more information.

So make the pledge--you'll save some money and energy, and you could win some great prizes!

Shop: You can purchase Seventh Generation laundry liquid, cleaners, and more at various retailers online and nationwide, or you can click here to find a retailer near you.

Savvy Savings: Become a Seventh Generation Nation member and access great coupons and special offers on Seventh Generation Products!

Win: One lucky winner will receive a Seventh Generation Laundry Prize Pack which includes: Seventh Generation Natural 2x Concentrated Laundry Liquid, portable laundry line, clothes pins, and laundry basket (ARV $80).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Kim!

• To enter, comment on what steps you take or would like to try when doing laundry to lessen your impact on the environment.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Seventh Generation (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• 6)Follow Seventh Generation on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is July 6, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on July 7, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

Thank you to Seventh Generation for providing the products for review and giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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And the Winning Diaper Pail is...

I've been fortunate to test out a couple of diaper pails thanks to Mom Central: The Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin and the Diaper Genie II Elite Advanced Disposal System.

After trying them out for the past several weeks, so far I prefer the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin.

I think the Diaper Genie is a really good diaper pail--the foot pedal is an awesome feature, and it does a great job controlling odors, except for when you have to open it up to insert a diaper. The odor is pretty overwhelming, but once the lid closes, the odor eventually disappears.

Because of the Munchkin Diaper Pail's unique twisting system and baking soda dispenser, odor is not released when you open it up to dispose a diaper.

That, along with the ease of set up and refilling and disposing of bags, and the number of diapers each bag can hold, are reasons why I would choose the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin.

The prices for the diaper pails and refills are almost identical, and they both function well as diaper pails.

However, because complete odor control is a feature I find really important in a diaper pail, I prefer the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin.

Do you use a diaper pail? If so, which brand? What feature do you find most important in a diaper pail?

I am a member of the Mom Central community and I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central, sponsored by Diaper Genie, and received a free Diaper Genie diaper pail and a free Munchkin Arm & Hammer diaper pail to facilitate my review.

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Higher Education by Kenneth Jeddings Review and Giveaway

Even though it's been several years since I graduated from college, I still learned a lot from the book Higher Education: On Life, Landing a Job, and Everything Else They Didn't Teach You in College by Kenneth Jedding.

Today's college grads face a new set of challenges brought on by a sluggish job market, changing technology, and staggering amounts of debt. The rules have changed since their parents were in school, leaving young adults at a loss for advice that addresses their immediate concerns as well as the big-picture questions with which each generation of young adults must contend.

Life coach Ken Jedding has spent the past decade talking one-on-one with college students and graduates across the country in his workshops and lectures. In Higher Education, he provides a fresh, modern guidebook to postcollegiate life that addresses the issues and concerns he hears voiced most often. From the lofty What is my purpose in life? to the practical How can I land my dream job? to the increasingly common (if somewhat terrifying) How did I wind up back in my parents' house?, Jedding's valuable insight, wisdom, and humor provide a much-needed roadmap for the journey that is only just beginning.

Higher Education is an enlightening read for just about anyone--not just those who recently graduated from college.

Yes, you'll find lots of practical advice when it comes to interviewing and finding a career (e.g. parents contacting prospective employers is a HUGE no-no; sending a thank-you note to your interviewer is always encouraged), but there's so many more life lessons that Jedding shares.

He stresses the importance of finding your passion, keeping perspective, networking, and so much more, all of which can be applied to finding a job, relationships with others, and so many other areas of life.

Jedding gives a lot of great examples, and ultimately helps one to realize that it's not an easy, predictable path that we're on.

Higher Education is witty, insightful, and practical.

Even if you didn't just graduate from college--maybe it's been years, or maybe you never enrolled, you could still learn a lot about life and yourself from Higher Education, just as I did.

Shop: You can purchase Higher Education at various retailers online and nationwide (ARV $19.99).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Higher Education!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Lynn!

• To enter, comment on a subject you wish you were taught in school that could've helped you prepare for "real-life."
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Higher Education: On Life, Landing a Job, and Everything Else They Didn't Teach You in College (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is July 5, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on July 6, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Infantino Fold & Go Bouncer Review

As an Infantino Test Drive Mom, I recently got to try out the Fold & Go Bouncer.

Designed to go anywhere! Easy to move from room to room. Perfect for travel. Compact for storage!

• Unique easy-to-fold, space saving design.
• Includes plush seat, padded head support and waist harness.
• Removable entertainment bar adjusts and includes two detachable toys!
• Comforting bouncing action occurs with baby’s natural movement.
• Machine washable seat cover.
• Simple, no-hassle assembly!
• Requires 3 "AA" batteries
• For babies up to 25lbs (11.3kgs)
  

I thought the Infantino Fold & Go Bouncer was a little more difficult to set up than other bouncers/infant seats I have, but once it was set up, Smiley Boy did not want to get out of it.

He loved playing with the toys on the entertainment bar, and he'd cry whenever I had to take him out of the bouncer.

I really love the design and the colors of the bouncer--it's so much more modern and fresh.

The Fold & Go Bouncer is similar to other bouncers/infant seats I have in terms of toys, vibration, and sound features, but what really makes it stand out is how it can easily collapse for storage and travel. In just a matter of seconds I was able to fold the bouncer so it was neat and compact, and I didn't need to detach anything, not even the entertainment bar!

It's important to use the hook and loop straps to keep everything together when collapsed, because I found if you don't, the bouncer can easily open up.

The Infantino Fold & Go Bouncer is sleek in design and style, is great for visiting friends and family, and Smiley Boy absolutely loves it!

Shop: You can purchase the Infantino Fold & Go Bouncer at various retailers online and nationwide (ARV $49.99).

I am a participant in a Mom Central campaign for Infantino and have received various Infantino products to as part of my participation.

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Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece Book 1 App Giveaway

I recently did a review of the app Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece Book 1 and really enjoyed trying to solve the various puzzles throughout the game.
Ten-year-old Simon Graham needs your help! His grandmother has been kidnapped and the only clues he has are in the diary she left behind.

Take on the role of Simon as he journeys from his small hometown to the big city.

Along the way:

• Discover the hidden pieces of his grandmother's mysterious pocket watch.
• Test your skills solving dozens of puzzles that are tightly integrated with the plot.
• Visual, word, math, jigsaw, and hidden picture puzzles, combined with a compelling story, provide hours of gameplay.
• Busy players will appreciate the ability to quit at anytime and continue where they left off.

Do you have what it takes to crack the puzzles and solve the mystery?

Both DH and I had fun playing Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece (you can read my complete review here).

If you love puzzle games as much as we do, or simply want to try out a new, entertaining app, check out Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece Book 1.

Shop: You can purchase Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece on iTunes (ARV $1.99).

Win: Two lucky winners will each receive an iTunes code redeemable for a download of Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece Book 1!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to rah267, lisad33611!

• To enter, simply comment on why you'd like to win!
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Simon Graham and the Extraordinary Timepiece Book 1 (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment; must reference Sage and Savvy)
• 6)Follow Simon Graham on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment
• The deadline for entries is July 3, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on July 4, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

Thank you to the App House for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Francesco Rinaldi ToBe Healthy Pasta Sauce Review

Even though it's messy, I love to make spaghetti before my boys because they just love to eat it. Thanks to Francesco Rinaldi, I was able to try out a pasta sauce from their new ToBe Healthy line so I could make spaghetti for the boys.

Your family has enjoyed the rich, authentic Italian flavor of Francesco Rinaldi around the dinner table for over three decades. Now, the famous taste has gotten even better for you with new Francesco Rinaldi ToBe Healthy pasta sauces, the first major brand of pasta sauce that is fortified with DHA Omega 3 provided by life's DHA.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Each serving of Francesco Rinaldi ToBe Healthy pasta sauce contains 64mg of heart healthy DHA Omega 3 with no saturated fat, cholesterol or added sugar. In addition, each variety has 70 calories or less per serving, reduced sodium, and is a good source of vitamin A.

"Our ToBe Healthy pasta sauces are certified by the American Heart Association, and have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval," says Edward Salzano, COO/Executive Vice President, LiDestri Foods. "These pasta sauces are proof that delicious food can be healthy for your family and your heart."

Francesco Rinaldi ToBe Healthy Pasta Sauces with Omega 3 come in four varieties: Tomato & Basil, Garlic & Onion, Garden Vegetable, and Spicy Marinara. We were fortunate to receive a jar of the Tomato & Basil variety. The boys quickly ate the spaghetti up (with their hands). I thought the pasta sauce was really good--it was thick, and I could really taste the basil.

Hopefully they come out with chunky ToBe Healthy pasta sauces because I love chunky pasta sauces.

Not only does the ToBe Healthy Pasta Sauce taste good, but it's fortified with Omega3s, and is also gluten-free!

Although the Francesco Rinaldi ToBe Healthy pasta sauce is pricier and comes in smaller jars than the pasta sauces I normally buy, it's fortified with Omega3s and our family really enjoyed it, and we (especially my boys) look forward to eating more spaghetti made with the ToBe Healthy pasta sauce!

Shop: You can purchase Francesco Rinaldi ToBe Healthy pasta sauces at various grocers nationwide (ARV $2.49).

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product for review free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Michael Bolton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall DVD or Blu-ray Giveaway

Not too long ago I had a chance to listen to Michael Bolton's new CD One World One Love, and one of my favorite tracks was Murder My Heart, a song co-written by Lady Gaga and featured on Michael Bolton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (DVD and Blu-ray).

Join Michael Bolton for an unforgettable concert at London's famous Royal Albert Hall as he delivers hit after hit in his trademark soulful style in front of a packed audience. With his inimitable voice, charismatic stage presence and superb songwriting Michael Bolton holds the audience in the palm of his hand as he performs classics such as "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?", "Time, Love And Tenderness", "Can I Touch You There" and "How Can We Be Lovers" alongside his unique interpretations of "Fly Me To The Moon", "Summertime", "That's Life" and "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" plus his own rendition of "Murder My Heart", the hit he co-wrote with Lady Gaga. Simply a wonderful night.

Shop: You can purchase Michael Bolton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall on Blu-ray (ARV $19.98) or DVD (ARV $14.98) at various retailers online and nationwide.

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Michael Bolton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall on Blu-ray or DVD (winner's choice).

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to FDP 4 Life!

• To enter, visit Michael Bolton and comment on your favorite track from any album.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Michael Bolton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is July 1, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on July 2, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  

Good luck!

Thank you to Universal Music Group for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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WW: Cooling Off

Visit Wordless Wednesday and 5 Minutes for Mom for more participants.

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Backyard Safari Outfitters Review

My boys love playing in the backyard, and thanks to Team Mom and Backyard Safari Outfitters, we have some awesome gear that makes outdoor play a lot more exciting!

ARE YOU GEARED UP?

BACKYARD SAFARI™OUTFITTERS is the outfitter for all your year-round outdoor adventures!

Our year-round ESSENTIAL FIELD GEAR is rugged, fully functional, and made for the field. Perfect for backyards, parks, campgrounds, beaches and lakes.

So, gear up and get in the field! Chase a storm or wrangle a bug. Track an animal or comb the beach. Dig up the past or gaze at the stars. The world is your backyard. Join us on safari!

We were fortunate to receive a Backyard Safari Outfitters Bug Wrangler's Extreme Suction Bug Vacuum (ARV $19.99), a Land & Water Mega View Periscope (ARV $24.99), and an Essential Field Gear Cargo Vest (ARV $19.99).

Little Music Man loved the vest--he had it on all day (even when we came inside from the yard), and we thought he looked so adorable in it! It has all kinds of cool pockets for his backyard adventures.

He loved using the Periscope. We used it to look over walls and fences in our yard. It was a little big for him to hold on his own, so DH or I would hold it while he looked through, and he just thought it was so cool!



The Bug Vacuum is really neat too. Since we haven't been able to find many bugs in our yeard, we haven't been able to use the vacuum yet, but we're always on the lookout for them so we can put the Bug Vacuum to good use!


There are so many other fun products that the Backyard Safari Outfitters offer, such as Binoculars, Animal Callers, and a really cool-looking Bug Podz Habitat Construction Set!

The Backyard Safari Outfitters products help to make everyday an adventure in our very own backyard!

Shop: You can purchase Backyard Safari Outfitters products at various retailers online and nationwide.

Thank you to Team Mom and Backyard Safari Outfitters for providing the products for review. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Conclusion of the Seventh Generation Laundry Challenge

My 30 days in the Seventh Generation Laundry Challenge are finally up.

The challenge entailed using cold water and non-toxic, biodegradable detergent to wash clothes, as well as using a line to dry them.

No dryer allowed.

To help me with this challenge, Seventh Generation sent me a Project Laundry Line Kit, which included Seventh Generation Natural 2x Concentrated Laundry Liquid, a portable laundry line, clothes pins, a laundry basket, and a Flip camera to share thoughts of this challenge with all of you.

The easiest part of the Seventh Generation Laundry challenge for me was washing in cold water and using non-toxic biodegradable laundry detergent, since I was already doing that way before the Laundry Challenge started.

The hardest part for me was to get over the fact that I wasn't able to use the dryer's heat to kill lingering germs that may still be on the clothes (hopefully one day our homeowner's association will allow for lines outdoors, because I've read that the sun's rays can help to eliminate germs, but for now I have to settle line-drying in the garage--I don't want to risk getting a hefty fine!).

To hear more on my thoughts about the challenge, you can view the video below.

***VIDEO HAS BEEN DELETED***

As I mentioned in the video, although I won't be giving up the dryer (at least not yet anyway), I will be using it less often, and I'll continue to use cold water and non-toxic, biodegradable detergent to wash our clothes, and hopefully the more I line dry I'll be able to figure out ways to save time. One thing I've been doing that helps a lot is hanging clothes that need to be hung in the closets after drying on hangers instead of with clothespins to save a step when I'm putting the laundry away.

I hope I can figure out a way how to make the laundry feel softer!

It's been a tough challenge, but I'm proud of myself for making it through the entire 30 days without using the dryer.

Stay tuned for information on how you can participate in a 1-week version of the Seventh Generation Laundry Challenge, as well an awesome Seventh Generation Laundry Prize Pack Giveaway!

Thank you to Seventh Generation for providing all of the products in the Project Laundry Line Kit listed above free of charge for the Seventh Generation Laundry Challenge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Sarah McLachlan: Laws of Illusion Review and Giveaway

Thanks to the One2One Network, I recently got a chance to listen to Sarah McLachlan's new album Laws of Illusion.

“Loving You Is Easy,” the first single from the album, is an upbeat, almost jaunty piano–based song, with a musical atmosphere perfectly matched to lyrics that describe the heady thrill of new love: “I’m alive and I’m on fire/Shot like a starburst into the sky…”

For many listeners, “Forgiveness” will be the centerpiece of Laws of Illusion. There is a wonderful subtlety in the arrangement, which builds inexorably from unaccompanied vocal–and–piano showcase to the layers of near–ambient guitar parts and finally a powerful coda completed by bass and drums. “Forgiveness,” says Sarah, “is about the loss of a relationship and drawing a line in the sand, saying: This is not good for me and I can’t do it anymore...”

Coupled with the release of Laws of Illusion comes another landmark event in Sarah McLachlan’s career: her return to Lilith Fair, the all–female concert tour she founded in 1997 and where once again she’ll headline the main stage.

“Being a part of Lilith Fair was inspiring on so many levels,” says Sarah. “Besides discovering new music everyday and sharing the stage with an incredible array of talented women, it was wonderful to see established and new artists alike have the opportunity to play in front of much larger or more diverse audiences than usual...”

“This summer,” Sarah promises, “is gonna be full on and fun.”

TRACKLISTING
1. AWAKENINGS
2. ILLUSIONS OF BLISS
3. LOVING YOU IS EASY
4. CHANGES
5. FORGIVENESS
6. RIVERS OF LOVE
7. LOVE COME
8. OUT OF TUNE
9. HEARTBREAK
10. DON’T GIVE UP ON US
11. U WANT ME 2
12. BRING ON THE WONDER

McLachlan has such a pretty, soothing voice, and her songs on Laws of Illusion are thoughtful and meaningful.

My favorite track on Laws of Illusion is Loving You is Easy. It's such a feel-good, happy song. The lyrics just make me smile: You light me up you take me higher/Loving you is easy/ Loving you is wondrous and pure/I shout it from the rooftops/How long must I wait 'till I see your smile?

I also really enjoyed Out of Tune. It's such a deep, emotional song: It isn't my heart that's grown cold/The same mistakes are getting old/I'm lost for words I don't know what to do/But when I'm lying here with you/And the whole world's out of tune/You're the one and only voice that makes things right/So stay with me tonight.

Some of my other favorites included U Want Me 2 and Heartbreak.

For McLachlan fans, it's been too long since she released an album with new songs--seven years, but the wait is over, and this album does not disappoint. Her songs roam a range of emotions--from the elation of love to heartbreak, and we all can relate to her songs on one level or another.

Her beautiful voice, the insightful lyrics, and the music all come together to create, what I think, is a really great CD.

Shop: You can purchase Sarah McLachlan: Laws of Illusion on Amazon.com and at various other retailers online and nationwide (ARV $13.99).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of Sarah McLachlan: Laws of Illusion.

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Hotsnotty2!

• To enter, visit Sarah McLachlan, listen to the sample tracks from Laws of Illusion, and comment on your favorite track.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Sarah McLachlan: Laws of Illusion (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 28, 2010 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 29, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  

Good luck!

Thank you to One2One Network and Arista Records for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin Review

Thanks to Mom Central, I've been trying out a couple of new diaper pails, and last week I tried out the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin.

The design team at Munchkin has partnered with Arm & HammerTM to create the new Arm & HammerTM Diaper Pail, designed specifically with mom in mind. Bags are easy to load, and tossing dirty diapers is quick and easy. The patented self-sealing system tightly seals the bag and locks odors away, while the Arm & Hammer® baking soda cartridge safely absorbs odors and dispenses natural baking soda each time the lid is closed. A full cartridge lasts over 90 days, and refilling is simple (no need for a separate deodorizer). Each bag holds up to 25 diapers and is easy to snap, seal and toss when full.

The pail comes fully assembled and includes 3 Arm & Hammer® Diaper Pail Refill Bags. The odor-eliminating power of Arm & Hammer® baking soda combined with this clever and easy-to-use design make The Arm & HammerTM Diaper Pail by Munchkin® the perfect diaper pail system for today's busy parents and caregivers.

Arm & Hammer™ Diaper Pail Quick Features

• Powered by odor-eliminating baking soda
  
• Patented self-sealing system seals the bag as the lid closes
  
• Easy, one-handed use
  
• Just Snap, Seal, and Toss bags to dispose
  
• Includes 3 Arm & HammerTM Diaper Pail Refill Bags
  

The Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin was so easy to set up. In fact--it was pretty much already set up, all I had to do was open up the baking soda dispenser and insert it into the lid, and it was ready to use!

Although it took some getting used to, the lid can be opened with one hand simply by depressing a large button and lifting at the same time. After inserting a diaper, the diaper pail uses a nifty system to twist the bag upon closing of the diaper pail. The twisting of the bag, along with the sprinkling of baking soda from the dispenser whenever the lid is closed, efficiently controls odors.

Replacing a bag is a snap--literally. Simply take out the bag through the lockable door, snap it shut, and toss it in the trash, then take a refill bag and snap it into place! It's so easy!

Each refill bag holds quite a lot of diapers--at least 20 to 25 diapers, depending how on tightly you roll it up.

The diaper pail itself retails for $39.99 and a box of refill bags (10 count) retails for $6.99, and if the dispenser runs out of baking soda, you can simply refill the dispenser with baking soda you already have on hand--no need to buy a special dispenser!

Although the door on the Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail by Munchkin is pretty easy to open up even when in the locked position, and the diaper pail itself seems a little short, it's an easy to use diaper pail that can hold a lot of diapers and controls odors extremely well with baking soda and a self-sealing system.

I am a member of the Mom Central community and I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central, sponsored by Diaper Genie, and received a free Diaper Genie diaper pail and a free Munchkin Arm & Hammer diaper pail to facilitate my review.

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Are You a Safety Nut?

I've always been a worry-wart, so you can imagine how much bigger of a worry-wart I became once Little Music Man was born.

When we brought him home from the hospital, I'd check on him all the time while he was sleeping.

I was so paranoid about what he ate, what he drank, the toys he played with--everything!

I made sure our furniture was secure and couldn't tip over, we installed safety gates and cabinet locks everywhere, and I read numerous books and magazines on cleaners that were safer to use in the home than traditional cleaners.

I was a bit of a safety-nut in addition to being a huge worry-wart.

Inevitably, no matter how safe I tried to make our surroundings, Little Music Man still would end up with bumps, scrapes, and bruises.

It's all part of the growing process.

But to me, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Before he was born, I even made DH go through a car seat installation program to make sure he installed the car seat properly.

Evenflo recently released the new Momentum 65 DLX Convertible Car Seat, with features that help make safety, installation and use as easy as possible for parents. They are running a video series called The Savvy Parents Guide, featuring the Evenflo Momentum 65 DLX convertible Car Seat, and the current video is pretty funny.

In terms of worrying, I did loosen up a little though once Smiley Boy was born.

But I still do what I can to provide a safe environment for my boys.

And I still do worry.

Just a little...

Are you a worry-wart when it comes to your kids?

Evenflo has just released the Momentum 65 DLX Convertible Car Seat, with features that help make safety, installation and use as easy as possible for parents. Evenflo and JuiceBoxJungle sponsored me to write this post, and talk about what child safety means to me and my family.

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Summer Bridge Activities Review and Giveaway

I've been trying to find ways to keep Little Music Man's brain stimulated during the summer so he doesn't regress and forget things that he learned in preschool. Thanks to Summer Bridge Activities, we now have a book that helps him develop new skills while reinforcing those he has already learned. Prevent summer learning loss! Research shows that on average, children can lose 2.8 months of grade-level equivalency skills over their summer vacation. By using Summer Bridge Activities books students enter their new grades prepared and confident.

We were fortunate to receive the PreK to K Summer Bridge Activities book.
Little Music Man has been doing a great job in the activities so far, whether it's coloring shapes or tracing lines. He's practicing counting and handwriting while reinforcing his fine motor skills, vocabulary, and other skills.

I admit that most days Little Music Man would rather play with his electronic learning toys than do the activities in this book, but all I have to do is say "ready to do homework so you can get your sticker?" and he'll say "YES!"

I can tell he loves that feeling of accomplishment when he finishes his activities for the day. He gets so excited picking out a specific-colored star in the back of the book to place on the completed activity sheets, and he'll tell himself "Good job!"

Not only does the Summer Bridge Activities book have a lot of activities Little Music Man can work on, but it also offers summer reading lists, a monthly goals section, flash cards, and so much more.

When he completes the book, he'll get a certificate (included) for all that's he's worked on!

The Summer Bridge Activities book suggests just two pages a day to help develop, practice, and improve skills, and it's a great way to help keep Little Music Man's brain stimulated!

Shop: You can purchase Summer Bridge Activities books on the Summer Bridge Activities or at various other retailers online and nationwide (ARV $14.95)

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of his/her choice of Summer Bridge Activities Book!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to FDP 4 Life!

• To enter, visit Summer Bridge Activities and comment on which book you'd choose if you won.
  
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
  
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Summer Bridge Activities (leave the link in your comment)
  
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
  
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
  
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
  
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
  
• The deadline for entries is June 25, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
  
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 26, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
  
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  

Good luck!

Thank you to Summer Bridge Activities for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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Clay Aiken: Tried and True Giveaway

Although I don't watch American Idol any more, I did watch the first few seasons, and one of my favorite contestants was Clay Aiken, who recently released a new album, Tried and True.

Clay Aiken has never sounded more at home than he does singing the lushly arranged classics on his fifth studio album Tried and True — the international pop phenomenon’s first album for Decca Records. Showcasing Aiken’s powerful voice and considerable interpretive gifts, the new CD is comprised of songs from the ’50s and ’60s that Aiken grew up listening to as a child. The platinum-selling artist and idol to many has arguably never sounded better. Tried and True will be available everywhere on June 1st.

For Aiken, Tried and True (so named because he feels the songs have stood the test of time) was about getting back to himself after a career performing more pop-oriented material. “There are a lot of elements to this album that are about me returning to what I’m comfortable with,” Aiken says. “To me, older songs are more melodically appealing and beautiful. So doing this album was an opportunity to just be myself.” Aiken’s delight in the material on his new disc shines through with his impeccable vocal delivery, as well as his genuine emotional connection to each track.

Shop: You can purchase Clay Aiken: Tried and True at various retailers online and nationwide.

Win: Five lucky winners will each receive a copy of Tried and True!

***THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED***

Congratulations to Team JC, mar, cheryl c, tawnda, saturdaynightfever!

• To enter, visit Clay Aiken, listen to the sample tracks from Tried and True, and comment on your favorite track.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Clay Aiken: Tried and True (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway (leave the link in your comment)
• The deadline for entries is June 24, 2010, 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on June 25, 2010 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to accept.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.

Good luck!

Thank you to the sponsor for providing the product(s) for review and/or giveaway free of charge. All opinions are my own. I received no monetary compensation for this post.

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