Busy Mom Reviews

River's End is the story of a young man, Clay, who feels out of place in his small town. When he causes his family distress by his angry acting out and destructive behavior, his grandfather steps in.

Grandfather Buster is a cowboy and the local sheriff, and, he gives Clay some consequences of his behavior, he can either go to court, or, take a survival trip down the Pecos River, kind of "tough love" style. Clay encounters both natural and man-made dangers on the exciting adventure.

Clay Watkins is played by Sam Huntington (“Fanboys,” “Superman Returns”), and, his grandfather is played by Barry Corbin (“Northern Exposure”). The cast also includes Caroline Goodall (“Schindler’s List”) as widow Sarah Watkins, Clay’s distraught mother; Charles Durning (“The Sting,” “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas ”); and Clint Howard (“Cinderella Man,” “My Dog Skip”).

It's a great family movie, but, I think it would be best for older kids, perhaps teens, though my 10 year old was fine with it. It would be kind of intense for sensitive kids, as there is some violence, and, language (though in context).

The movie says a lot about overcoming obstacles, and, many parents could probably relate to teen rebellion.

I just hope I'm not one of them in a few years.

I was sent samples of Nozin Nasal Sanitizer, and, I'm surprised I accepted , as I have a thing about things in my nose. However, I was relieved to learn they were simply swabs designed to reduce your chances of infection.

Nozin is for use before exposure to areas that may contain hazardous germs such as crowded airplanes, trains, offices, gyms, hospitals, theaters and schools. The citrus scented swabs are safe, and, they have been shown to kill 99.9% of common disease-causing pathogens and creates a nasal barrier to fight germs for up to 8 hours.

I used them when the kids started getting sick. Because I'm a little slow on the uptake, I probably waited too long, but, I will say that, for whatever reason, I did not get as sick as they did. Even if it wasn't related to my Nozin use, it's safe, easy to use, and, there's no harm in trying it out.

Nozin is available in a convenient travel package of pre-filled swabs (10 doses) for $9.95.

Fiber One Chewy Bars are the latest entry in healthy snacks.

There are two flavors: Oats and Chocolate, and, Oats and Peanut Butter. I was sent a box of the chocolate ones to try. They are really good, almost like a candy bar, the kids ate them without hesitation, and, I could have eaten a whole box. However, they have a pretty high sugar content, be careful. They do contain 9 grams of fiber, that's a plus.

I've not seen them in the store, and, can't find reference to them on the website, so I don't know where or when they are available.

They are delicious and filling, and, I would buy them to have for snacks, but, since it's candy-like, it wouldn't be an everyday thing.

Ragu has a "Good Sport Mom" contest going on where you can recommend an outstanding mom who:

-Has a winning attitude
-Balances her kid's sports schedule, homework assignments and community activities with life's obligations
-Cheers for her home team and her special player(s)
-Is a resourceful meal planner and problem solver who finds shortcuts that make everything work out great for her family

Nominate a Good Sport Mom between now and March 19, 2007, for a chance at winning $1000 and a trip for four to Los Angeles for a soccer shoot-out in April, or one of nine $250 Ragu gift baskets.

The Saddle Club series by Bonnie Bryant follows the adventures and personal trials of Lisa,Carole, and Stevie, at the Pine Hollow Stables. As they approach the whirlwind of adolescence, the girls form The Saddle Club promise to remain loyal to each other and to stay horse mad.

There are over 100 Saddle Club books, and, the first four, Horse Crazy, where the girls have to decide how a new member will fit into their group, Horse Shy, where friendships are tested when there's a terrible accident, Horse Sense, where some members of the group have to decide the commitments they want to make to the club, and, Horse Power, where the girls are recruiting new members to their group, are available in a boxed set.

They are quick, fun reads, and, would make a great gift for the horse crazed reader in your family.

Triple Play, sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company and Kraft Foods Inc., is a dynamic wellness program currently being offered in Boys & Girls Clubs of America that demonstrates how eating right, keeping fit and forming positive relationships add up to a healthy lifestyle.

The goal of the Triple Play program is to improve Club members’ knowledge of healthy habits; increase the number of hours per day they participate in physical activities; and strengthen their ability to interact positively with others and engage in positive relationships.

It is the largest wellness endeavor ever undertaken by BGCA and the first youth-focused program of its kind developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. The program’s curriculum was developed by an advisory council formed by BGCA and included experts from diverse fields such as nutrition, physical fitness and medicine.

It also emphasizes the role of parents (parents guide in .pdf format) in making sure kids learn about healthy lifestyles.

The "triple play" in the name, refers to the fact that a healthy lifestyle involves mind, body and soul.

While it is sponsored by Kraft and Coca-Cola, it's not stuffed full of advertising, and, I think it's good that these sponsors have stepped up and helped provide information like this for children and their families, especially for those families who might not have had the opportunity to get quality information like this elsewhere.

Peter Pan has been let out of Disney's vault and is back in action on DVD.

You know the story, but, I was sent this shiny new digitally restored (it really does look great) 2 disc edition for review, and, it comes with a games and activities, as well as extras, including an interview with Walt Disney "In Walt's Words: "Why I Made Peter Pan".

We love Peter Pan here at our house, and, this has made a great addition to our collection of Peter Pan and Disney movies.

I received a Dove Skin Vitalizer to try out. I was more than willing since my skin has been a disaster of wrinkles and zits this winter (so not fair).

The Dove Skin Vitalizer is essentially a vibrating face cleaning brush. It consists of a handle, and, cleansing "pillows" (note to Dove: not all women respond to silly names like "cleansing pillows", "pad" is sufficient) that are pre-soaped, and, are two sided to provide different degrees of exfoliation.

The "pillows" and cleaner smells decent enough, but, they are pretty soapy. I'm not sure I understand the vibrating part, it's not really unpleasant, but, I am unclear on the benefits of vibrating my face. It would make more sense if it was a spinny thing, but, I am no beauty expert.

Since I am a product of the Buf Puf generation, where anything less than a steel wool pad doesn't really clean your face, I preferred the more exfoliating side of the pad. The pads stay put when you attach them to the handle, and, it's waterproof and can be used in the shower.

Like I said, I have problem skin, and, am sometimes wary of using unknown products on my face, but, this has not aggravated my skin at all. Busy Girl keeps getting into it and using the pads (she loves it), so, I don't know if I've used it long enough to tell if it improves my skin or not.

I like it fine, but, I'm not sure I would keep up with pillow purchase when there is Cetaphil or another large bottle of cleanser available. I'll probably never see it again, anyway, because it will end up in Busy Girl's bathroom like everything else.

It retails for about $13, and, the pads pillows are $4.49 for a package of 14.

As a nurse, I know what I need to know about health, and, good habits for kids, but, as you well know, sometimes it's easier said than done.

So, when I got the book Good Kids Bad Habits by Jennifer Trachtenberg, M.D. for review, I was a little wary.

I was worried it would be all like, "Kids, be sure to eat 27 servings of leafy green vegetables with your tofu", when I was all like, "Kids, did you eat?", but, I am glad to report I was wrong, and, it's a really good book.

It's a guide that covers problems ranging from sleeplessness to video game addiction. Dr. Trachtenberg (who has 3 kids of her own) provides tips and preventive strategies in plain English, but, it's not condescending, either. It's built on the concept that kids' "real ages", rather than their biological ages, are getting older and older due to bad habits.

The goal of the book is simple: to protect our kids' futures.

It begins with a RealAge Healthy Kids test where you can find out where our kids are headed, health wise, and, the guide shows you how you can help your kids get the best possible shot at health in the future by lowering their disease risk, and, boosting their emotional and social skills.

Be sure to check out Good Kids Bad Habits on BlogHer's virtual book tour.

Be Wise About Beauty is a campaign designed to educate the general public about Cosmetic Surgery. You can take a quiz to find out if cosmetic surgery is right for you.

This educational initiative is sponsored by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. You can learn more here:

Jeff Atwood, local (to me) blogger extraordinaire, is a published author!

His children's book, Our Big, Big God, is in stores now.

Our Big Big God is a beautifully illustrated children's book that joyfully proclaims how God made everyone and everything.

The sturdy page sizes are incremented as the works of God get bigger and bigger. It's easy to read, and, very general as it describes all the things on Earth that God made.

Our Big, Big God would make a great addition to your Easter basket this year!

Season 1 and 2 of Run's House is available on DVD today!

Run's House (has sound) is Reverend Run's (of Run DMC fame) MTV reality series. It's a glimpse into his everyday life where he and his wife are raising 5 children.

The kids range from a model, to a wanna-be Michael Jordan. The Reverend and his wife figure things out along the way, just like normal parents.

I had never seen it before, but, it's a good show! They are a loving family, and, while the show features an 80's icon, and, his family, they aren't the Osbornes (who I love), so, the whole family can watch.

I received a box of Oats n' Honey Nature Valley Crunchy Cereal to try out.

However, between the time I placed it in the pantry to get to it later, and, "later", the majority of it was gone. So, I guess it gets the "thumbs up" from the rest of the family.

The part that I did get to eat was good. It's got a variety flakes, oats, rice, wheat, and, corn, and, chunks of granola bar, too. Despite the fact that I have a tentative relationship with granola bars after an ill-fated 100 mile canoe trip, I still liked it.

It's sweet, and, makes a good "eat out of the box" cereal. Though it has 4 grams of fiber, it's 230 calories per serving, so, it's not necessarily a cereal for dieters, but, I'd buy it.

What the Other Mothers Know: A Practical Guide to Child Rearing Told in a Really Nice, Funny Way That Won't Make You Feel Like a Complete Idiot the Way All Those Other Parenting Books Do by by Michele Gendelman, Ilene Graff, and, Donna Rosenstein is a practical, fun book of parenting advice, that is very much like the title suggests.

The authors interviewed friends and family to get real world advice for new parents. There's no what you "should be" doing, it's all about suggestions from house cleaning to discipline, and, what's worked for other people.

If you're new to parenting, check this one out, and, before you know it, you'll be one of the "Other Mothers" who are giving the tips and hints.

Experienced parents will enjoy the humor, and, discussion. What the Other Mothers Know would make a great gift for any parent of young children. Get one for a baby shower, or, an Easter gift!

Disney's Jump In Freestyle Edition comes out on DVD April 3rd!

In Jump In, Brooklyn teenager Izzy Daniels (Corbin Bleu of HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL) is training to become a boxing champ, because it's his dad's dream. Yet, intrigued by the cool moves involved in Double Dutch, he agrees to help out his neighbor Mary (Keke Palmer) when she needs a fourth member on her jump rope team. Izzy quickly discovers that Double Dutch is more demanding and rewarding than he'd ever imagined, but when the entire school finds out about his newest sporting exploit, he's taunted into quitting.

There's great music, and, the Double Dutch jumping is amazing. I learned that the cast did nearly all their own jumping, it's really something to see. The DVD also has extras, such as, how to Double Dutch, and, the making of the movie.

Jump In is a good movie for the whole family as it emphasizes the importance of trying new things, believing in oneself, and rising above the limitations of stereotypes and peer pressure.

I received an Insignia 4GB Video MP3 Player for review.

If you don't know, Insignia is the house brand of electronics at Best Buy, and, we have been very pleased with their portable DVD player as well as the 2G mp3 player.

The 4GB is loaded with features:

- Holds up to 1,000 songs, 4,000 photos, 50 audiobooks or 14 movies
- Pocket-size design measures just over 0.6" thin and weighs only 2.4 ounces
- Supports MP3 formats and most image and video formats
- Bluetooth-enabled, so you can listen wirelessly through compatible headphones
- 2.2" high-resolution LCD color display
- Built-in FM tuner with 20 presets
- Features a microSD expansion slot for additional memory capacity
- Quick Start Guide
- 1-year Limited Warranty
- 2-free months of Real Rhapsody music subscription
- Coupon for free Audible.com book

The advertised carrying case isn't much, just a plastic cover, but, with all the mp3 player accessories on the market, it wouldn't be hard to find one to match your taste.

I love the rubber sport exterior of it, and, the screen is amazingly clear, and, the sound is excellent. It also comes with a USB cable, ear bud headphones, and, CD-ripping software.

The controls are pretty intuitive, the kids got it right away (so ask them if you have any questions), and, I had no problem getting it to work on Windows. It's cheaper than an i-Pod nano, and, it has video and FM radio. Seems like a pretty good deal to me!

It even comes with a few songs and videos already on it that are actually pretty good. Actually, they're pretty catchy. I had no problem getting it to work on Windows.

It retails for $159.99 at online at Best Buy.

Nickelodeon's The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie is out on DVD on April 3. 2007.

The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie (has sound) is a “mockumentary” that follows a world-famous kids' rock band, the Naked Brothers, as they struggle with superstardom, love, friendship, a band break up, and adolescence.

It stars two real-life brothers, Nat and Alex Wolff, and is inspired by the real-life band they started in pre-school. The cameras follow Nat and Alex through their concerts, their rehearsals, and their private lives as they deal with the growing pains of having friends, having a band and having your friends in your band.

We love the Naked Brothers around here, it's a cute show. If you're as old as I am, you might be interested to know that they are the progeny of Polly Draper (Ellyn) of Thirtysomthing fame.