Busy Mom Reviews

I receivedFiber One Raisin Bran Clusters to check out.

I'd love to be able to tell you about them, but, since they were gone from the pantry by the morning after I received them, I have no idea what they tasted like.

So, I'm going to deduce they must be pretty good.

I was able to locate the perpetrators, and, extract a confession - about how they tasted.

Rumor has it they were brown-sugary, a bit sweeter than other raisin bran cereals. At 13g of sugars per serving, it may be sweeter than you'd like. I dunno. I just aim to inform.

It is higher in fiber than regular Raisin Bran cereal, 11g (my, that's fiber-y) versus 7g in Kellog's Raisin Bran. The anonymous taster wishes that it had a few more raisins, though.

There were clusters of cereal, as the name implies, but, there weren't a lot, and, they weren't very big. It stays crunchy in milk, without that raisin bran sogginess that skeeves me out.

Overall, it was a hit in our house, and, we'll buy them again.

8 Simple Rules: The Complete First Season is available on DVD beginning August 7th, 2007.

The three-disc box set holds all 28 episodes featuring star John Ritter plus never-before-seen comedic moments with John and the cast from the 2002 season of the Emmy® Award-winning sitcom.

TV hall-of-famer John Ritter plays sportswriter Paul Hennessey, a father who lives by 8 Simple Rules, or better yet, one golden law: keep your hands off teenage daughters Bridget (Kaley Cuoco - “Charmed”), the boy-crazy one, and the moody and artistic Kerry (Amy Davidson - “Malcolm in the Middle”). Paul’s wife Cate (Katey Sagal) fully supports Paul’s mission, but her nursing career eats up much of her time, leaving dad to play a more active role. Luckily for the already overburdened Paul, there’s “The Boy,” a.k.a., teen son Rory (Martin Spanjers – “Max Keeble’s Big Move”), to lend wisecracks and mischief.

Sadly, John Ritter died during the filming of the show, the next season, I think?

Just by way of review, here are the rules:

The Rules:
1. Use your hands on my daughter and you'll lose them after.
2. You make her cry, I make you cry.
3. Safe sex is a myth. Anything you try will be hazardous to your health.
4. Bring her home late, there's no next date.
5. Only delivery men honk. Dates ring the doorbell. Once.
6. No complaining while you're waiting for her. If you're bored, change my oil.
7. If your pants hang off your hips, I'll gladly secure them with my staple gun.
8. Dates must be in crowded public place. You want romance? Read a book.

Home Improvement - The Complete Seventh Season comes out on DVD on August 7th, 2007 (I received one for review).

This 3-disc compilation nails down all 25 Home Improvement: The Complete Seventh Season episodes, plus a new blooper reel sampled from the 1997-1998 season’s funniest outtakes.

The seventh go-around of the Emmy®- and Golden Globe®-winning Home Improvement houses some of the series’ most memorable shows, including guest appearances original “Blues Brother” Dan Akroyd (“Saturday Night Live”), former Detroit Pistons All-star Grant Hill and astronauts Ken Bowersox and Steve Hawley.

In “Thanksgiving,” the Taylors score box seats to a pro football game, but somehow Tim manages to cause a blackout. Tim’s eldest son Brad (Zachery Ty Bryan) almost gets hitched in “An Older Woman.” Tim’s wife Jill (Patricia Richardson who received her fourth Emmy® nomination for the seventh season) makes some rather inappropriate comments about “Tool Time” in “From Top to Bottom,” while wise but rarely seen neighbor Wilson (Earl Hindman) goes face-to-face with an alien in “Believe It or Not.”

Home Improvement’s cast is rounded out by Tim’s mischievous younger sons Randy (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) and Mark (Taran Noah Smith), with former “Family Feud” host Richard Karn as Tim’s flannel-wearing “Tool Time” sidekick Al Borland.

Get yours today!

Cory in the House (All Star Edition) comes out on DVD on August 7th, 2007.

And, we couldn't be more excited at our house.

It’s a brand new life for Cory Baxter when his dad, Victor, becomes the personal chef to the President of the United States. Cory’s entrepreneurial scheming reaches new heights as he mingles amongst high-powered Washington D.C. elite. Relive your favorite episodes including guest appearances by Raven in “That’s So In The House,” and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in “Never The Dwayne Shall Meet.” Every DVD comes complete with a collectible High School Musical 2 locker poster.

Bonus Features
• Raven in the House
Behind the scenes of Cory in the House episode “That’s So In The House” with guest star Raven Symoné
• Rock in the House
Behind the scenes of Cory in the House episode “Never The Dwayne Shall Meet” with guest star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

Cory in the House All Star Edition retails for $19.99 in the U.S. and $24.99 in Canada.

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody - Sweet Suite Victory comes out on DVD on August 7, 2007.

Real life twins Dylan (Zack) and Cole (Cody) Sprouse live a charmed, hijinks-filled life atop swank Tipton Hotel in Boston. When mother Carey (Kim Rhoades) isn’t belting out the hits in the Tipton lounge, she’s policing her mayhem-making 12-year-old sons. Ashley Tisdale co-stars as Maddie, a down-to-Earth Tipton Hotel snack counter girl who moonlights as Zack and Cole’s babysitter. Brenda Song is cast as London Tipton, the wealthy, showoff daughter of the hotel’s owner.

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody: Sweet Suite Victory includes extras only available on DVD. Hosted by series star Brenda Song, “Sweet Lift Challenge” dishes out some of the show’s inside, secret scoops through an interactive trivia game. The “Gag Reel” is a hilarious collection of bloopers and outtakes from the top-rated Disney Channel series.

A collectible poster of “High School Musical 2”, Disney Channel’s highly-anticipated sequel, is included as well.

We are all over this at our house, get yours today!

Wild Hogs will be released on DVD on August 14, 2007.

The star-studded cast of this hit comedy includes Tim Allen (“Doug”), John Travolta (“Woody”), Martin Lawrence (“Bobby”) and William H. Macy (“Dudley”) as four suburban couch jockeys who suffer from mid-life crises and take motorcycles to the American asphalt expecting nothing but fun and adventure. But being an easy rider isn’t so easy, especially after a chance encounter with the real-life Del Fuegos biker gang proves just how lame and tame the
Hogs really are.

It retails for $29.99 (US), and, includes bonus features:

Bonus Features include:

• Bikes, Brawls and Burning Bars: The Making of Wild Hogs

• Alternate Ending

• Deleted Scenes

• Audio Commentary

• How to Get Your Wife to Let You Buy a Motorcycle

• Outtakes

• Easter Egg

Loved this movie, it's hilarious!

NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 25 is in stores, well, "now".

The world’s best-selling multi-artist album series, NOW That’s What I Call Music!, returns this summer with a scorching collection of today’s hottest tunes. NOW That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 25, to be released July 17, 2007, features 20 smash hits from the current Pop, Modern Rock, Rap and R&B charts.

NOW That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 25 spotlights 20 of today’s hottest chart hits, including #1 Pop hits "Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne, “Glamorous” by Fergie w/Ludacris, and “Buy You A Drank” by T-Pain w/Yung Joc; Top 10s “The Sweet Escape” by Gwen Stefani w/Akon, “U & UR Hand” by Pink, “Summer Love” by Justin Timberlake, “Pop, Lock & Drop It” by Huey, “I Tried” by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony w/Akon and, from a trio of “American Idol” stars, “Never Again” by Kelly Clarkson, “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood and “Home” by Daughtry.

Busy Girl immediately took to this one, and, I actually like it, too. With a young teen, I get really worn out with her radio station in the car.

However, there are some current top 20 songs I like. This CD has been a good compromise, and, it has been quite timely since I inadvertently lost most of her music on her iPod.

Anyway, I'm old, and, this isn't too bad.

Universal Studios Hollywood celebrates the finale of its “Wicked Wednesdays” musical summer series on, Wednesday, August 15, 2007, with special performances from the lead stars of the smash musical blockbuster, “Wicked.”

“Wicked” stars Eden Espinosa (Elphaba) and Megan Hilty (Glinda) join John Rubinstein (The Wizard), Emmy® nominated and Tony Award® -winning Best Actor, and hundreds of “Wicked” fans for the finale performance.

This special event also marks a homecoming performance for Eden Espinosa, who previously starred in several of Universal Studios Hollywood musical attractions. She and Megan Hilty will entertain “Wicked’ fans with a selection of the musical’s most memorable songs, including, “The Wizard and I,” “For Good” and “Popular.”

“Wicked Wednesdays” offers fans an opportunity to enjoy special performances, meet the stars and collect autographs from the cast of the L.A. production. Tickets for the L.A. production of “Wicked” at the Pantages Theatre will also be on sale during “Wicked Wednesdays” at Universal Studios Hollywood .

If you're in the LA area, be sure to check it out!

Gloves in a Bottle is a shielding lotion that battles dry hands

I received a bottle for review. I tend to get dry hands when I do yard work, so, I tried it out after doing so (back when we had things growing before this drought), and, I really liked it. It smells nice, absorbs quickly, and, most importantly, it's not greasy.

It works by creating a protective layer, not one you can feel, but, one that keeps the drying elements out.

It's received some glowing testimonials, and, is dermatologist recommended.

Stock up now before the cold weather (yeah, right, it was 100 degrees at 7 'clock last night),or, if you have a job that's hard on your hands.

An 8 oz. bottle is 120 applications, and, sells for $12.95.

I received a package of Hibachi House microwave meals (in a really nifty soft-sided cooler), and, set out to see if these frozen microwave Asian inspired meals tasted like fresh grilled with crisp crunchy vegetables as they advertise, rather than all rubbery like a typical frozen meal as they advertise.

Hibachi House meals take about 10 minutes to prepare. First, you thaw the sauce packet in hot water, then you put the bag of food into the microwave, then, you mix them together and enjoy!

I tried the chicken with broccoli first, and, man, the chicken tasted great, and, the vegetables were crisp and crunchy. There's lots of them, too. Yes, all this from the microwave!

The rice was steamed perfectly, flavorful, and, not all starchy and gummy like, and, the sauce was good, too.

The box said it was 4.5 servings, those must be for awfully light eaters, though. One box was much more than I could eat, it might be about 2 large, or, 3 medium sized meals in real life.

Overall, it seems pretty healthy, but, the sauces tend to have a high-ish sodium content. There's no trans-fat, MSG or nitrites added to the meals.

There's ten flavors, and, our other in-house reviewers gave similar high marks to the other flavors including mandarin orange chicken, and, Sweet and Sour Hibachi Shrimp (actual shrimp that looks and tastes like shrimp!).

The Hibachi House website even has ideas about how to "accessorize" your meals, including making it into a tortilla wrap or even lettuce wraps (love those).

They retail for about $5 and are available in the frozen food aisle at many local grocery stores and food warehouses throughout the United States.

We really enjoyed them, and, will buy them again.

The Straight Edge, Inc. designs and produces educational placemats, educational puzzles and interactive children's books.

I received the cutest educational placemats for review. The Read a Mat placemats are thick, long-lasting vinyl mats measuring 11 1/2" x 17 1/2".

They're great as a gift, homework helper, teacher resource and place mat, in over forty titles in areas including basic skills, astronomy, geography, math, performing arts, and, history.

The Day at the Beach Mat received the Best Product Award from Dr.Toy in 2007.

We love our Day at the Beach (how to stay safe and healthy at the beach), Visit to the Doctor (reduce doctor visit anxiety, and, teach good health habits), and, Street Smarts (street safety tips for ages 6-9) mats. They are very sturdy (important when you have fork jabbers at the table), and, wipe up easily.

They are $5-$6 each, and, are available at various locations including teacher supply stores in the United States.

Also, be sure to check out the Straight Edge Inc. website for all their educational products.

Seeing Redd is the second in the trilogy from Frank Beddor, author of best-selling The Looking Glass Wars.

The Looking Glass Wars is a dark take on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland. That book is the story of Alyss Heart's escape from her Aunt Redd who killed her parents, the King and Queen of Wonderland.

When she jumps into the Pool of Tears, she emerges in Oxford, where she emerges from a puddle, lives on the street, and is later adopted by Reverend and Mrs. Liddell. But, back home in Wonderland, the Alyssians are trying to overthrow Redd, and, Hatter Madigan searches the world for Alyss so she can return to Wonderland to be the Queen.

In Seeing Redd, Alyss has just begun her rule as queen, and, trouble finds her early on, and, there's even rumor that her evil Aunt Redd has returned.

Science fiction, and, fantasy isn't usually my favorite genre, but, this was pretty cool. It's dark, and, violent, but, what an amazing imagination!

Seeing Redd is available in stores as of August 21, 2007.

Nickelodeon's and Nick Jr.'s new fall seasons are here!

I got a box full of goodies to kick off the following shows:

Yo Gabba, Gabba is a fun live-action program for young children ages 1 and up. Join host DJ Lance Rock as he introduces friendly toy monsters in a magical land full of music, dance, colorful cartoons, and simple life lessons in the lives of preschoolers, like sharing, healthy eating, and, making the bed.

It has lots of animation, music, and, celebrity and musical guest appearances on every show including: Elijah Wood, The Shins, Laila Ali, and, Tony Hawk.

iCarly is a new series premiering Sept. 8, 2007 on Teen Nick.

Carly Shay (Miranda Cosgrove from Drake and Josh) is a teen who has her own web show along with her friends Sam and Freddy. It's actually a show within a show, as you can go to the website, and, see Carly's webcasts with the actors in character, unseen footage, and, the characters' blogs.

Kid viewers can even upload their own video to the website in hopes that their submission will be used on the air.

iCarly will air Sundays at 7:30 pmET/PT

The Backyardigans also have their first hour long primetime TV movie Super Secret Super Spy premiering Monday, Septemer 17, 2007 at 7:00 Pm ET/PT. Cindy Lauper performs the movie's original theme song "The Lady in Pink".

Also, on Tuesday, September 18th (my birthday, no less) Nick will release the Super Secret Super Spy DVD featuring the TV movie, and, two other Backyardigans adventures.

Back at the Barnyard also premiers on Nick in September 29th, 2007.

It picks up where the wonderful Barnyard movie left off. Otis, the carefree cow (we're still suspending our disbelief about a male cow with udders), and, his pals Pip, Bessie and Pig, just want to have fun in the barn, and, they stop at nothing when the farmer's back is turned.

Tak comes to Nick from the video game console this fall. Tak and the Power of Juju is Nickelodeon's first computer graphics aniamted series. It premiers Friday, August 31, 2007 at 8 and 9pm ET/PT.

When Tak discovers he posessed the Power of Juju, he became the sole link between the Jujus and the Pupununu tribe, but, he's not very good at controlling his powers. Join teenage jungle boy, Tak, and his fellow Pupununu villagers as they deal with their fate as the unluckiest tribe in the world.

Kellog's is entering the market of quick and simple weight management tools with the addition of Special K20 Protein Water Mix.

Special K20 Protein Water Mix are single serve packets that you add to a 16 oz. bottle of water to deliver 5 grams of protein, and, 5 grams of fiber which can help take the edge off hunger while you are maintaining your weight management goals.

I tried it, and, it's easy to open, and, it mixes easily. I was a little wary since I'm not a big flavored water fan, but, it's really good! A 16-ounce serving of Special K20 Protein Water Mix is 30 calories and has zero grams of sugar. Each serving also contains niacin, vitamin B6 and B12.

Special K2 Protein Water Mix is sold in 7 and 14 packet sizes in Iced Tea, Strawberry-Kiwi and Pink Lemonade flavors. It is available nationwide in diet-and-nutrition aisles of grocery and drug stores.