 ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** Anyone who knows me is well aware of one dirty little secret of mine: As much as I would LOVE to have a great veggie and herb garden, I have a black thumb and tend to kill of plants. It's bad. I would even call it "Veggie Genocide".
For example: After we moved to my hometown in Ohio and finally had a yard of our own, I was absolutely psyched to start a garden. I bought all kinds of seeds, a planting tray, topsoil, plant food, and more. I laboriously worked to plant each seed exactly the way directed, and soon, my tray was completely filled with what I had hoped would be the start of some beautiful plants. Well....That didn't happen. Somehow, they died. Every last one of them. It turns out that I planted them far too early to withstand the cold snaps that are common here in NE Ohio. We went from mild, spring weather to frigid, icy cold, and my poor plants didn't stand a chance. Looks like I have a lot to learn about planting zones. In the meantime, I am going to try my luck with indoor gardening to get some practice. Thanks to my 1byone LED Grow light Bulb, I can grow some herbs, flowers, and maybe even a pepper or two, all winter long. That should definitely get me ready for outdoor planting this spring!
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 ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** I grew up in a very musical family. We had music on more often than the TV, and if the TV was on, we were more than likely tuned in to MTV. You know...When they used to actually play nothing but music videos. Oops, I think I may have just given away my age there.
Anyway, music was a very regular part of life for me as a child. My Dad was, and still is, in a band, and we were always watching them practice, or just listening to their Band Practice tapes. We also listened to a ton of record albums. I grew up listening to a lot of Classic Rock, and was introduced to bands like Heart, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles thanks to the wonders of vinyl. I always loved the rich, raw sound of record albums. Experiencing music through records is a unique and much different experience than we have today, thanks to the digital age. When I recently got the opportunity to check out the 1byone Belt-Drive 3-Speed Stereo Turntable with Built in Speakers, I was beyond thrilled. I have a small record collection myself, and had absolutely no way to play them. Thanks to the awesome folks at 1byone, now I can enjoy my classic record albums any time I'd like. I can even record them onto a USB drive as MP3 files for music on the go! How cool is that?!  ***Disclosure: I received complimentary product as well as information to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** Dogs and their human companions have something very important in common: both are creatures of habit. With school about to start—it's the perfect time to make sure the whole family gets off on the right paw with the right habits at the start of the day. (And it's so much more fun when the whole family is involved!) 1. Get active with your four-legged trainer in the morning. 40% of doggy mommies and daddies do healthy things with their pups at the same time that they do healthy things for their families. By adding doggy exercise to the rest of your family's morning routine, your dog can actually begin to encourage the rest of your family to stay active!  2. Involve your kids in caring for Fido (and for themselves). Dogs, just like young kids, need role models. 57% of dog parents who also have human children involve their kids in caring for their pet—instilling responsibility and good daily habits like brushing their teeth and taking their vitamins. 3. Make sure your dog consistently receives the nutrients necessary to live a long and happy life. 1 in 3 pet parents are confused about what's needed for proper pet nutrition, meaning many pup parents are unaware that their dogs' diets may be lacking in essential nutrients. Milk-Bone Good Morning Daily Vitamin Treats were created specifically to promote your dog's well-being and longevity. So when you're giving your kids their daily vitamins, remember that your pup needs their nutrient-packed treats too. Your dog adds so much to the family—make sure to take care of him/her for the long-term! Learn more about Milk-Bone's Good Morning Daily Vitamins on their site: http://bit.ly/GoodMorningDailyVitaminTreats-NewlyCrunchyMomma What are your family's favorite morning routines? Tell us how you and your pooch get ready to take on the day in the comments section below!  
***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
A few months ago, I got the amazing opportunity to check out the GhostBed from Nature's Sleep. (You can check out my GhostBed review for more details about this mattress, if you'd like!)
First, I'd like to give a little update as far as my GhostBed is concerned. You may recall that I said this mattress was a bit more firm than I'd normally prefer, but that my husband loved it because it helped ease his aches and pains. Well, after a couple more months of use, I am VERY pleased to report that the mattress, while still pretty firm, has softened up enough to be absolutely wonderful for me. Just wanted to throw that out there. Like fine wine, the GhostBed just gets better with age! Anyway, I was absolutely thrilled to learn that GhostBed recently introduced the GhostPillow.These new ergonomically designed pillows feature the newest thermos sensitive technology that senses heat and adjusts to keep the sleeping environment temperature neutral. In addition, it features aerated gel memory foam which allows air to circulate and creates a plusher, more responsive feel. Happy Healthy Cat Month: Show the World That You and Your Cat Are Purrfect Together #Sponsored8/29/2016  ***Disclosure: I received complimentary product as well as information to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** September is Happy Healthy Cat Month—and there's never been a better time to show our cats some extra love. Recently, the cat lovers at Meow Mix ran the Purrfect Together Survey, which asked cat parents around the country about their special bond with their four-legged friends. Here are some of the meow-nificent results: 83% of cats take naps with their humans This is surprising—and not because 83% of people love napping with kitty. The bigger question is: Who are the 17% of deprived humans who don't get to experience the joy of napping with their cats? 80% of cat parents believe they can interpret their kitty's meows While humans and cats may purr in different languages, that doesn't stop most cat mommies and daddies from understanding what their kitty wants—whether it be some treats, cat nip, or just a snuggle partner. 72% of cat parents love to surprise their kitties with treats  Speaking of treats, nothing makes a cat happier than some spontaneous, unexpected goodies from the person who cares for them the most. 55% of cats love chicken-flavored nibbles Exciting news: Meow Mix has just released a brand new culinary-inspired food made with real chicken or salmon, Bistro Recipes—a classy meal for a classy kitty! Head over Meow Mix's new Purrfect Together web portal [http://bit.ly/meowsterpieces-newlycrunchy] right meow, and you can download a coupon for $2.50 off any bag of Meow Mix Bistro Recipes.  And that's not all! You need a classy painting to go with that classy meal. On the Purrfect Together portal, you can enjoy the unique experience of converting a photo of you and your cat into a Meowsterpiece—a digital "oil" painting that helps express and immortalize your cat-love on canvas. I did it, and you should too!
Now it's time to show me how special your human-cat bond is! Post your Meowsterpiece on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with the hashtag #PurrfectTogether. Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below. Wishing a fantastic Happy Healthy Cat Month to you and your feline friend! 
***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
It's the bare necessities, the simple, bare necessities, that get us through our worry and our strife...
Come on, you know you just sang that in your head, if not out loud! I know I did while I typed it! Anyway, I have some exciting news! Disney's live-action movie, "The Jungle Book" is about to become available for fans of all ages! This classic tale was a childhood favorite of mine, and I always loved the story of Mowgli, Baloo, and all of the inhabitants of the jungle as they try to keep themselves safe from the evil, vengeful tiger, Shere Khan. Now, we can enjoy one of our favorite animated films as a live-action movie! How cool is that?! We got a chance to see it for ourselves, and I have to admit, it was quite impressive. The graphics are absolutely amazing, and it was really neat seeing how they made all of the jungle animals come to life. King Louie, especially. Now that's one BIG monkey! Or is he an Orangutan? Hmm... Anyway, we were on the edge of our seats while we watched this classic tale in a never seen before format. Adults and kids alike were blown away by how incredibly well done this film was, from the script to the talent, and of course, those special effects. Here's more about the film:
Audiences were mesmerized by Disney’s live-action epic adventure “The Jungle Book,” which has earned more than $911 million at the global box office to date. Critically acclaimed, Jon Favreau’s stunning live-action reimagining of Walt Disney’s animated classic, will be available early on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on August 23, and on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand on August 30.
Venture behind the scenes with in-depth bonus features that reveal the innovative filmmaking technology used to create the richly immersive jungle world and characters; Follow the journey of the film’s only on-screen actor, charismatic newcomer Neel Sethi (Mowgli); Delve into a candid and humorous scene-by-scene audio commentary with director Jon Favreau and meet the all-star voice cast who help bring the film’s colorful characters to life, as well as the musicians who accent the adventure with a majestic music score. The all-star cast includes Bill Murray (“Lost in Translation”) as the voice of Baloo, Sir Ben Kingsley (“Learning to Drive,” “The Walk”) as Bagheera and Lupita Nyong’o (“12 Years a Slave,” “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) as the voice of mother wolf Raksha. Scarlett Johansson (“Avengers: Age of Ultron”) gives life to Kaa, Giancarlo Esposito (“Breaking Bad”) provides the voice of alpha-male wolf Akela, Idris Elba (“Beast of No Nation”) roars as the voice of Shere Khan, and Christopher Walken (“The Deer Hunter”) lends his iconic voice to King Louie.  ***Disclosure: As an official Peppa Pig Parent, I receive product and information to share with you all. As always, all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** I have some OINK-TASTIC news for everyone today! Especially for those who love Peppa Pig as much as we do! Right now, Peppa Pig has enlisted some of her favorite celebrity pals to help raise money for kids and families whose lives have been touched by childhood cancer.
Entertainment One and the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation (TLC) have teamed up to make a BIG splash for The Muddy Puddles Project and childhood cancer research with a very special Peppa Pig Celebrity Auction on eBay! Fans everywhere can bid on one-of-a-kind autographed Peppa Pig items to support TLC and The Muddy Puddles Project in their efforts to help kids and families affected by childhood cancer. The eBay for Charity auction [www.ebay.com/peppapig] runs from August 22 – August 29, leading up to Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (September). Special Peppa Pig items include apparel, books, DVDs, plush, and more, each signed by a different famous name: Kristen Bell, Emily Blunt, Olivia Culpo, Carson Daly, Jesse McCartney, Nicole Ryan, Liv Tyler, Emily Van Camp, and Nia Vardalos. The Muddy Puddles Project (Peppa Pig’s chosen charity in the US) is a fundraising platform for the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation, a certified 501(c)(3) that funds pediatric cancer research. The project was inspired by Ty, a little boy who loved Peppa Pig and dreamed of jumping in muddy puddles when his cancer was cured. All proceeds will benefit the organization and their amazing work to help children with cancer. You can tune in to the awesomeness that is Peppa Pig on Nick, Jr. You can also find loads of Peppa Pig fun on the Peppa Pig website. There are games to play, cute clips to watch, and even creative activities to make! You can also find Peppa Pig on Facebook! 
***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
Do your kids love building and creating? Mine sure do!
Sophie, Xander, and my teen, Kyle, all really enjoy putting their hands and minds to work to create buildings, vehicles, and anything else they can dream of. Of course that means we have LOADS of K'NEX here. No, really. LOADS. Thank goodness for those big, plastic storage bins to keep all the pieces in! They are definitely a lifesaver! Anyway, we recently got to check out a couple of brand new offerings from the folks at K'NEX. These building sets are super-cool, and allow kids to soar, race, and put their engineering skills to the test. The K'NEX Turbo Jet 2-in1 Building Set and K'NEX Revvin' Racecar 2-in-1 Building Sets are designed specifically for creative kids that love things that MOVE!  ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% honest, and have not been influenced in any way.*** Well, we're back to school here in NE Ohio! It was a long, fun-filled summer, but now we're getting our pens and paper and are ready to learn!
Sophie is in 1st grade this year, and Xander just started Kindergarten. We're enrolled in the K12 at home learning program, so I am lucky to be extremely involved in their academic lives. While they have actual teachers that they connect with online on a daily basis, Dan and I are the kids' Learning Coaches, which gives us a very hands-on insight into the kids' struggles and achievements. Sophie, as always, is ahead of the game. She's pretty advanced for her age, so there are no real struggles for her when it comes to learning. She's quite an over-achiever, just like her Mommy was at her age. Xander, however, is a different story. He is often resistant to anything that has to do with reading or letters. Math he LOVES, but his ABCs are another story. In fact, when we've tried to sit with him and teach him to read, we've been met with screaming, shouting, crying, and some head-rotation and pea soup spewing. Okay, so that's a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the general idea. When we learned about the new LeapFrog LeapStart Reading system, we couldn't wait to check it out. This system is an interactive way to pair technology with traditional books, making learning easier and more fun than ever for tech-savvy kids like my Xander.  ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% honest, and have not been influenced in any way.*** I have a confession to make: I am addicted to pretty pens. I try to avoid Plain Jane blue or black ballpoint pens whenever possible. I love bright, vibrant color, especially when sending handwritten notes. I just feel like something colorful and fun helps put more of ME into my letters. Blue and black pens are fine, but with colored Gel Pens, there's a literal rainbow of possibilities.
I have to admit, though, that not all gel pens are created equal. Many of them don't write well, or they smear very easily, leaving weird, colorful trails in their wake. It can be frustrating, to say the least. No one wants to spend time writing a letter just to have it become a big, smeared mess! I'm sure some of you can relate, no? Recently, I was introduced to the brand new Paper Mate® InkJoy® Gel Pens™. I've been a fan of this brand since I was a kid and used their pens and pencils at school. My favorites were the erasable pens, but I don't think they make them anymore. After all, it has been about a thousand years since I was a kid. At least that's what my kiddos think. Now that my children are in school, they seem to be just as enthusiastic about having great, colorful gel pens to write and doodle with. I couldn't wait to show them these InkJoy Gel Pens and see what they could create! My oldest, who is 16, drew the pretty picture you see above. Notice something? Hint: There are NO SMEARS! |
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I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com 
 
 
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