Busy Mom Reviews

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.

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.

I received some Keri Lotion in both the Original and Shea Butter varieties (I almost wrote "flavors").

They even came with a cool canvas bag, and, an art set, I guess so my dry skin doesn't distract me from my creative endeavors.

Anyway, I have had such a hard time with dry skin this winter, and, I was glad to get them. Both varieties go on easily, and, aren't greasy at all.

Both varieties have a pleasant smell, not too overpowering or feminine (despite the very feminie looking label), and, they take care of your dry skin all day.

Try them today!

I received a set of SmartMouth products for bad breath to review.

I don't think they were trying to tell me something, as I don't think the can evaluate my breath over the Internet, but, it still makes one wonder.

Anyway, I received the Smart Rinse, the toothpaste, the sugar free mints, and, the sugar-free gum.

The rinse is actually two bottles that most be mixed in a cup. That's no big deal, as they both come with a pump. It's easy to use, it doesn't taste too strong, but, it seems to work pretty well for morning breath, and, "coated tongue" like it advertised.

The only down side is that it dried out my mouth. However, they did warn of that, and, the remedy is to reduce how much you use.

The flouride toothpaste touts "zinc ion technology", and, promises whiter teeth. It's taste is pleasant, and, like the mouthwash, not too strong. I haven't noticed a large difference in the whiteness of my teeth, but, I haven't been using it all that long.

The gum and mints have been very popular around these parts. They're both wintergreen-ish, and, seem to do the trick for bad breath.

Smart Mouth products are available on the website, check them out!

Lamisil AT Gel is an advanced way to cure athlete's foot.

It's a gel that is used in 7 once a day doses of a cooling gel formula. Other athlete's foot products require applications several times a day.

I received a product sample (along with a cool bag, and, some flip flops). Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on my need to do a review) no one in our house is bothered by athlete's foot at the moment.

However, I am here for you, dear reader, so, I tested the product as best as I could.

I put a very small amount on my hand. It has a pleasant smell, goes on easily, and, isn't "goopy". It is, indeed, very cooling, as my hand is still cool in that spot.

Lamisil is so confident you'll like it, that it comes with a money back satisfaction guarantee. It's almost summer, and, sandal season is just around the corner. So, if you're bothered by burning, itching, cracking and peeling between your toes, give Lamisil AT a try.

It's available in grocery stores, drug stores, and, mass market retailers nationwide.

Skin M.D.Natural is a "shielding lotion" which makes a protective, moisturizing barrier after several days of use.

I was sent some samples, and, it really is easily absorbed, and, isn't stick or greasy. It also has a light, but, pleasant smell. I've been using it on my hands, and, heels, and, it's working well.

It's reportedly been beneficial to people with eczema, and, people with latex allergies that have to use latex gloves frequently.

A 4oz.bottle is $25, but, it is a 1-2 month supply.

If you or someone you know has dry skin problems, Skin M.D. Natural has been very successful, and, your satisfaction is guaranteed.

Sweetleaf Baby is a new bath and Body Collection from Thymes, a manufacturer of bath and body, home care, and, home fragrances.

I received a sample of the Baby Wash and Shampoo and the Instant Hand Cleaner, both packaged in a lovely wooden, slide top box.

The Thymes company prides itself on attention to detail, and, wonderful fragrances, and, these products are no exception.

The Sweetleaf Baby Collection is a calming blend of lavender, chamomile, and, honey that is dermatologist tested, and, formulated for sensitive skin. The Baby Wash and Shampoo is tear free.

Both of the products I tried smell wonderful, and, indeed the Baby Wash and Shampoo was tear free and gentle. My youngest has very sensitive skin, and, it didn't irritate it all.

Incidentally, the labels on the products are very pretty, and, would look nice out on the shelf in the nursery.

Other products in the line include lotion, bar soap, diaper balm, blanket wash, and, nursery mist.

Any of them would make a great baby shower gift, or, a treat for your baby.

Check these and all the other products at Thymes.com.

A new report of 3,000 U.S. moms reveals that although most (76 percent) agree it's just as important for mothers to take care of themselves as their families, nearly eight in ten moms don't do enough.

One of the biggest things falling by the wayside is her sense of feeling and looking beautiful.

A whopping 84 percent admit they've let their appearance slide since becoming a mom and that taking care of their appearance has become more of a wish than a reality.

So, can motherhood and womanhood co-exist?

Suave asked some bloggers (including me!) to share tips on motherhood. Go check them 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.

Pacific Shaving Company All Natural Shaving Oil is a tiny little bottle of essential oils for shaving that produces up to 100 shaves with a 1/2 oz. bottle since you only use a few drops at at time.

It's alcohol free and won't clog pores. It's got a mild scent, and, it's for both men and women. You can even use it with an electric razor!

It's perfect for travel (meets those TSA carry-on restrictions), and, you don't need other shave creams or moisturizers.

I was a little skeptical at first, I always just use soap, but, I have to say that it gives a close shave, and, you don't feel all dried out afterward. Since it's clear, you almost feel like there's nothing between you and the razor blade, but, it's great, and, you can really see what you're doing.

You can find Pacific Shaving Oil online at Amazon or on the Pacific Shaving Company site.

Women's plastic surgery is big in the news lately.

From the press release:

New research from the not-for-profit National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) shows life-changing events, such as childbirth, significant weight loss or divorce trigger changes in a woman's mindset, inspiring improvements around health, fitness, and, for 42 percent of women, their physical appearance.

Of those women motivated to improve their appearance, nearly half (45
percent) said they would consider plastic surgery to do so. These are just
a few of the results from the NWHRC's Life Makeover Secrets of the Modern
Woman national consumer survey.

"This research tells us significant life events influence a woman's
overall outlook on life, empowering her to pursue a healthy lifestyle and
her own beauty goals, which often leads to increased consideration of
medical aesthetic procedures," says Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, executive
vice president of the NWHRC. "During the past decade, we have seen the
topic of plastic surgery -- including breast aesthetics -- become
increasingly relevant for women. Therefore, as a premier women's health
organization, it is critical that we provide women the information and
tools they need to make informed decisions."

Other survey results:

--More than half of women (59 percent) surveyed felt motivated to make over their lives after experiencing a life-changing event, such as major weight change (62 percent), childbirth (59 percent) or divorce/separation/end of a romantic relationship (55 percent)

--The majority of women (95 percent) who wanted to make a change actually did so in at least one area of their lives: health or fitness (57 percent) and physical appearance (42 percent)

--Of those women motivated to improve their appearance, nearly half (45 percent) said they would consider plastic surgery to do so.

--Breasts are among the top five body parts women would change; more than half (53 percent) say they are more accepting of breast augmentation than they used to be.

When considering breast aesthetic surgery, women should seek advice
from a plastic surgeon who they can partner with to define realistic
surgical goals and a plan for their long-term breast health. For more
information about breast aesthetics or to find a board-certified surgeon
near you, please visit http://www.healthywomen.org/breastsurgery.

The Life Makeover Secrets of the Modern Woman national consumer survey
and campaign are part of an NWHRC educational initiative, sponsored by
Allergan, Inc., maker of the NATRELLE(TM) Collection of breast implants.

Nail-Aid Fingernail Treatments are an innovative line of nail care treatment products.

These treatments deliver “Beautiful Nails with No Toxic Chemicals”, the first nail treatment brand to be 100% free of toxic chemicals.

Nail Aid products include and they are 100% guaranteed.

Common nail problems include: thinning, chipping, yellowing, artificial nail damage, ragged cuticles, broken nails, and, slow drying manicures, and, Nail-Aid has products to address them all.

I was sent samples of the Clear Liquid Bandage, Cuticle Cure, Grow Tougher and Brush-On Wrap for review.

It was a good choice on the part of the company as I have horrible fingernails. They aren't deformed or anything, they're just oddly shaped, and, soft. I can't grow nice nails to save my life.

I really like all the products, my cuticles aren't usually a problem, but, they're looking good, lately. But, they best part is that my nails really are stronger, there is much less breaking and tearing, and, they have actually grown.

The products stay on well, no annoying peeling every time you turn around, and, it stands up to normal hand wear and tear.

People love Nail-Aid proucts, you should really check them out.

The company is especially proud of their values: to promote women’s health, oppose animal testing, support women’s rights and protect the environment.

Every Man Jack has assembled some of their bestselling, award-winning products into a limited edition Valentine’s Day gift set – ready for gifting – to make the task of shopping for your partner a little easier.

Gift Set Includes:

* Shave Gel Hydrating Formula – Fragrance Free
The Shave Gel’s rich formula contains methyl glucoside to lubricate skin to reduce shave friction, chamomile extract for soothing relief and hydration, aloe + Vitamin E to heal and protect, and glycerin to help skin retain moisture.

* Face Lotion – Post-Shave – Fragrance Free
The light, non-greasy formula in the post-shave Face Lotion deeply hydrates and heals dry or razor-irritated skin. And unlike other lotions, Every Man Jack’s formula will not block pores. It dries to a matte finish, leaving the face feeling clean and refreshed.

* Body Wash – Cedarwood Scent
The refreshing Body Wash nourishes and protects skin, for a deep down cleaning that removes dirt and grime without drying the skin. Coconut derived surfactants cleanse, essential oils invigorate and stimulate the senses, and glycerin helps gather and retain skin’s moisture. Every Man Jack’s Body Wash and Shower Gel is also dye free, sodium laurel sulfate free and paraben free.

* Body Bars – Cedar wood Scent
Every Man Jack’s vitamin-enriched Body Bars cleanse, soothe and condition skin while protecting it against dryness. The bars are 100 % vegetable based and contain marine extracts to soothe and moisturize, keeping skin feeling fresh all day long.

The gift set is only $16 and is available directly through EveryManJack.com, so you don’t even need to leave your house and at Target stores nationwide.

While vaccinations for kids is a controversial topic, pertussis or "whooping cough", isn't controversial, it's very serious for anyone, and, it's a disease that's increasing, and, in my mind shouldn't be.

I worked with a lady whose child contracted pertussis, and, it was a very, very bad thing, for what it's worth to this discussion.

Pertussis is a potentially deadly bacterial infection that can strike at any age, but is particularly dangerous for babies. Adults are the number one transmitter of pertussis to babies. One of the best ways to protect babies from pertussis is to make sure that anyone in close contact with them is vaccinated.

PKIDs (Parents of Kids with Infectious Diseases), a national nonprofit whose mission is to educate the public about infectious diseases and help families whose children are affected by such diseases.

PKIDS wants raise awareness of pertussis through a program called "Silence the Sounds of Pertussis." At PKIDs’ web site, you can hear an audio clip of what whooping cough sounds like and get advice on how to talk to your doctor about protecting your child or children you may care for from pertussis.

Whatever your views on vaccination are, it's always good to be informed.

I was sent a
Schick Quattro Razor for women for review.

It's nicer than any razor I've ever had since I've been using disposables for forever.

It's solid, but not too heavy, and the handle has a pretty effective no-slip grip. There are 4 blades with "conditioning strips" that help with a close shave and the pivoting head works well to help get around the contours of your legs and arms.

The shave is very smooth, but I had to press a little harder than I thought I would have to, but I had no nicks or cuts. The blades last an average amount of time, and for me the shave lasted somewhat longer that my disposable razor.

The blade did get clogged, but was no big deal to rinse out. It took me a minute to figure out out to get the blade back in as I inadvertently knocked it off in the shower (not a problem, I have no idea how I did it).

It even came with a little suction cup thingy to put in the shower to hang, the razor on, but my shower didn't like it.

I really liked the razor and will stick with it a while, but if money is tight I'd have to let it go as it retails for around $9.00 US and a package of 4 refill blades is a little pricey at about $18.00

There's some fun stuff that Schick is advertising to go along with it (even though I think I'm older than the demographic since my dream date involves going to the grocery).

There's the Girl's Guide to Dating and the Dare to Dream Date II Sweepstakes where you can have a chance to win one of 3 grand prizes of $1,500 cash for the ultimate dream date.

There's even a place for you to create a dream date for yourself or a friend.

Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea is back...

Believe it or not, your sweet smelling baby will one day enter the tween years, and trust me, smelling their head will no longer be an enjoyable pastime.

While there is a certain relief when they get old enough to bathe themselves, at some point you will wonder how anyone can come out of a shower smelling worse than when they went in there. You will learn that when you ask, "Did you wash?" you must add, "With soap?"

Totally Texty shampoo was designed with you stinky headed tween in mind.

There's shampoo and conditioner for both boys and girls. It was designed by moms who wanted a shampoo that would clean a tweens scalp as well as the hair. Totally Text shampoo and conditioner is also free of harsh chemicals such as: Sodium Laurel Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Parabens, DEA, and TEA.

We received the DGG Shampoo and Conditioner for girls as well as the YTMN Shanpoo for boys, and Busy Boy (age 12) was the first to try them out.

He was confused by their titles at first, but when I pointed out it was just for fun and related to texting, he thought that was cool. He's been using it for several days, and at first thought the shampoo was a bit thick and almost sticky, but he soon became used to it and likes it.

I could tell a difference in the way his head smelled right off the bat. Now, true he may smell better because he's actually using soap, but I do think Totally Texty has been helpful. He's started football now, so that's been the ultimate test and so far, so good.

If you have a stinky headed teen or tween, take a look at Totally Texty shampoo. Though a little pricey at $15.00, he understands that you don't need to use very much for it to work, and it's made a difference here.

This post courtesy of Totally Texty. The opinions are my own (and Busy Boy's). No payment or compensation, other than product samples as described above, was received for this post.

I don't have a fancy skin care routine and I'm a bit skeptical of all that's out there on the market, especially the little machine thingys as I've always been unclear of the benefits of vibrating my face.

But, when I was asked to check out the Clarisonic Skin Care System, I thought, "Sure, I'll give it a shot", particularly since I was not exactly blessed in the good skin department and, well... I'm not getting any younger, either.

The Clarisonic Skin Care System is the first sonic oscillation face brush that deeply cleanses, stimulates and clarifies the skin. It uses sonic technology for a deeper facial skin clean and it has been shown to clean twice as effectively as manual cleansing and removes six times more makeup than traditional cleansing.

According to their website, in the Clarisonic studies, after eight weeks study participants reported:

o Healthier skin, 83%
o Fewer blemishes, 70%
o Fewer dry patches, 69%
o Decreased appearance of pore size, 68%
o Softer skin, 94%

So, did I see any of that stuff?

Like I said, I didn't know what to expect and many times I can't see the difference when I use revolutionary! new! skin care items.

But, you know what? I'll be darned if my makeup didn't go on better and I could see the difference after only a couple of days.

I clean my face at night and use the Clarisonic in the shower (one of my favorite things about it) in the morning. I pretty much thought I was washing my face thoroughly at night, but in the mornings, the brush looks like I just took off a days worth of makeup. It really does get your skin clean.

I don't really have dry patches, but I do have some "blemishes" (acne and wrinkles, so unfair), and I've noticed some improvement there as well.

I give the Clarisonic Skin Care System a big thumbs up and I look forward to using it a long time.

Want to see for yourself? In honor of Father's Day, I'm giving away a Graphite Gray Clarisonic brush for men.

Rules:

1. Visit Clarisonic and leave a comment (with a valid e-mail address) telling us why you'd like to try it (or get it for the man in your life) to be entered for a chance to win.
2. For a bonus entry vote for me here (I'm the last one, it only takes a second) and leave a separate comment.
3. Twitter about this contest for an extra entry. Leave a separate comment and a link to your tweet.
4. Blog about about it and receive yet another entry! Please leave a separate comment and a link to your post.
5, Contest ends 10 pm CST on Thursday, June 25, 2009.
6. Winner will be chosen from the comments by a random number generator.

No compensation other than the product sample as described was received for this post

Pepto-Bismol is celebrating their new Instacool Peppermint chewable tablets that provide an instant cooling sensation that lets you know relief is on the way, with a cool sweepstakes!

Enter the Instacool Sweepstakes a chance to win a getaway to root for Team USA at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, BC. All you have to do is tell them about the last time you could have used new Pepto® with InstaCool™ (probably yesterday, if you've been eating your way throught the holidays like I have)

No payment or compensation was received for this post.

Like countless other people in the world, one of my New Year's Resolutions was to get some more exercise and lose some weight, not just for appearance's sake, but for my overall health. Last year, I had a lot of problems with my knees and I was hardly able to do any real exercise at all.

I'm better now, but I have a lot of catching up to do in the way of getting exercise. I hope to keep my problems from getting worse or returning, so, a few weeks ago when the good folks at Collective Bias asked me if I wanted to participate in the Your Shape Challenge along with 9 other bloggers, I was thrilled.

Your Shape featuring Jenny McCarthy. It is a new fitness game for Wii from Ubisoft. It's different from other fitness games since it uses a camera to monitor your moves and you don't have to hold a controller while you exercise. It also features a virtual Jenny McCarthy who gives you feedback and encouragement as your proceed through the exercises. I'll let her tell you more about it:

My fellow Your Shape Challengers:

• Toni from A Daily Dose of Toni. (@totally_toni)
• Kim from Crafty Mama of 4. (@craftymamaof4)
• Amy From Selfish Mom @SelfishMom)
• Beth from Plus Size Mommy (@plussizemommy)
• Claire from The Mom Claire

• Kelly from The Centsible Life (@CentsibleLife)
• Lori from Operation Fatty (@acowboyswife)
• Stephanie from Mommy Musings (@MommyMusings)
• Jodi from Multitasking Mommy @JodiGrundig

Your Shape was very easy to set up, but I had to play around a little bit to get the camera to pick up my moves properly. I had it on top of the TV at first, and through the suggestions of others, I found that it works better when it's to the side. My den is poorly lit, but once I got some adjustments made there, too, I was ready to go. The game and Virtual Jenny has no problem telling you when you need to correct your form, but it is very encouraging, and the music is great.

When you use Your Shape, you can see yourself alongside the virtual Jenny McCarthy, and not only does it help you with form, I've found it to be a real motivator to see myself right there on TV in all my glory. Yikes.

You can choose what part of your body you want to work on each day, and you can enter your goals and the workout can be tailored to your needs. The workouts are good, and boy have I ended up sore, but it is gradually getting better as I get better at it!

Along with exercise, I've been refocusing on eating right, and have really made some improvements. I've really worked on increasing my water and protein intake as well as just simply eating less. I'm proud to say that even though I've had my ups and downs during the challenge, I am now in the habit of eating much more healthily at lunch at work which was a problem for me! More on that later, though,.

I've lost just over 5 pounds, and that doesn't sound like much, but you gotta remember I'm older than some of my fellow challengers ;) but I still need to work hard. I also feel like I've lost some inches, and I look forward to my next set of measurements!

But, more importantly, Your Shape has inspired me to just do something and get back on the right track for healthful eating, which is something I've lacked for a while, and I'm glad to have fun while I'm doing it.

Stay tuned for more adventures from the Your Shape Challenge!

The challenge is sponsored by Collective Bias, Ubisoft, and Walmart. I received the game and will also receive additional incentives throughout the challenge, but my opinions are my own and will not be influenced.