Fashion to Figure Plus-sized Dress Giveaway

{This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to #140 rosidentevil} There are at least 6 or 7 good dress wearing weeks left in this season! I've been trying hard to up the number of times I wear skirts and dresses this year, and I think you should too. And I'm not the only one who thinks so - if you happen to wear plus size clothes, then you are in for an unbelievable delight!

Fashion To Figure has offered to give away one of their cute dresses to a Suburban Jungle reader. I've got to tell you, they have cute clothes! They were generous enough to offer me a chance to review their clothing, and I drooled over cute tops and dresses.

We all come in different sizes, and plus size just won't fit me. But they were still willing to offer one of their wonderful dresses to you.

Here are the dresses that are up for grabs:

http://www.fashiontofigure.com/store/ZB1300!Zenob/Print+Maxi+Dress
http://www.fashiontofigure.com/store/3655m!Misp/Cotton+Tiered+Dress
http://www.fashiontofigure.com/store/ZB1197!Zenob/Strapless+Color+Block+Dress
http://www.fashiontofigure.com/store/ZB1157!Zenob/Stud+Trim+Bubble+Dress
http://www.fashiontofigure.com/store/35464P!Trac/Button+Trim+Ponte+Dress
http://www.fashiontofigure.com/store/Z940!Zenob/Poplin+Spaghetti+Strap+Dress

To Enter this giveaway: Click on the links above and determine which dress is your favorite. Leave the name of your favorite dress in the comments below. Choose wisely because this will be your dress.

Extra Entries:

(5) Extra Entries for blogging about this contest

(3) Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest (be sure to include @suburbanjung, 1 extra for daily tweets)

(2) Extra Entries for following along on google friend connect

(2) Extra Entries for following @suburbanjung on twitter

(1) Extra Entry for subscribing with feedburner

(2) Extra Entries for following Fashion To Figure on Twitter

This contest will end on August 12, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and contacted via email. I will ask for your size in the email notification, no need to post it here. :) This contest is open to all US residents 18 years and older.

No compensation was received for hosting this giveaway.

Baby Bunch Crayon Rompers Giveaway

{This giveaway is now closed: Congrats to #34 Erin } Baby Bunch is once again offering a fantastic giveaway to the readers of the Suburban Jungle. This time you have the chance to win Baby Bunch Crayon Rompers.

These are so cute and true to Baby Bunch's style. I thought these were so great and SO colorful. I don't know that I've ever seen clothes so vibrant!

These will definitely be a baby shower hit. Want a chance to try them for yourself?

To Enter: Visit BabyBunch and comment here about something cute you found.

Extra Entries:
5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest (leave 5 comments + your link)
2 Extra Entries for tweeting (be sure to include @suburbanjung in your tweet)
2 Extra Entry for Following @babybunch on twitter
1 Extra Entry for Following @suburbanjung on Twitter
1 Extra Entry for Following on google friend connect
1 Extra Entry for Following on Feedburner

*This contest is open to residents of the US only. It will end on August 12, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. . The winner will be selected by random.org, posted here, and notified by email. No compensation was received for this review. I did receive a complimentary pack of crayon rompers for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Lawry's "Get Grilling Kit" Giveaway

{This giveaway has now ended. Congrats to #329 kngmckeller} There's only a few short weeks of summer left, and that means a few short weeks left for prime grilling! My Blog Spark recently sent me a the Lawry's "Get Grilling Kit" and have offered to share one with a Suburban Jungle reader as well.

We recently learned the value of marinating before grilling and it has transformed our grilling experience! The Lawry's Grilling kit contains:

(1) 9x13 Pyrex pan (aka the marinating dish)

a set of skewers

Lawry's Tuscan Sun-dried Tomato marinade

Lawry's Szechuan Sweet & Sour BBQ marinade

In the past, we've gravitated toward "safe" marinades but these were awesome! We didn't get super creative and used them for chicken, but they were amazing. If you want to try out some wild and really creative combinations check out the Grilling Flavor Forecast.

To Enter to win the Lawry's "Get Grilling Kit": Share your best grilling tip in the comments below.

Extra Entries:

(5) Extra Entries for blogging about this contest

(3) Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest (be sure to include @suburbanjung, 1 extra for daily tweets)

(2) Extra Entries for following along on google friend connect

(2) Extra Entries for following @suburbanjung on twitter

(1) Extra Entry if you've got a tip for "eating ice cream responsibly"

This contest will end on August 12, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and contacted via email. This contest is open to all US and Canadian residents 18 years and older.

Lawry's provided me with the information and "get grilling kits" for this review and giveaway through Myblogspark.com

Breyer's Smooth & Dreamy Bars Review & Giveaway

Everyone loves ice cream, right? We like ice cream a lot, but are super picky about which brands we'll actually buy. Breyer's is a brand I routinely buy because I've found their brand to have the most natural ingredients (and quite often - a good price!)

I was recently offered the opportunity to review Breyer's Smooth & Dreamy bars and sandwiches. We went for the fudge brownie sandwiches.

Here's what I liked about them: they were yummy and just the right size. In fact, I almost felt like they were a little big for one serving, but I happily ate the whole sandwich. The cookies were really soft and the ice cream was smooth and creamy.

Moms will probably appreciate the fact that each box of Smooth & Dreamy bars/sandwiches show the calories right up front on the box. You know that when you are taking a bar out of the freezer, you are eating 160 calories (in the case of the sandwiches we tried, the bars had fewer calories.)

I thought they were really great and my whole family went for them right away. Our ice cream review lasted a whopping 15 minutes. I'd definitely buy them again, but I'm still partial to the Breyer's ice cream in a tub. They have an ice cream that is strawberry (real strawberry!), chocolate, and vanilla all in the same container. It's the best because it covers all of my family's favorite flavors. I have found it to be one of the yummiest ice creams that uses really good/natural ingredients.

Breyer's would like to offer you the chance to try out their new Smooth & Creamy bars too.

(2) Suburban Jungle readers will win (2) boxes of FREE Breyer's Smooth & Creamy bars or sandwiches. You will be mailed (2) complimentary coupons for free Breyer's products.

To Enter: Leave me a comment telling me your favorite flavor of ice cream.

Extra Entries:

(5) Extra Entries for blogging about this contest

(3) Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest (be sure to include @suburbanjung, 1 extra for daily tweets)

(2) Extra Entries for following along on google friend connect

(2) Extra Entries for following @suburbanjung on twitter

(1) Extra Entry if you've got a tip for "eating ice cream responsibly"

This contest will end on August 12, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and contacted via email. This contest is open to all US and Canadian residents 18 years and older.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Breyers and received products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

I've been eating dirt...

My garden is full of exclusively organic fruits and veggies. That means I use no chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides...heck I don't even water it. That last part is due to laziness. My favorite thing to grow is berries. I'm all about berries. And since our garden is "organic," we just pick the berries and eat them.

There's no washing, no saving, just eating. And that's all well and good, right? After all, it's organic. I never really thought about it until we brought a big bowl of blueberries into the house.

Seeing them in that form made my daughter ask about washing. Washing? Oh...I guess I never thought of that. Well, I washed them and...................

The bowl was covered in dirt. Ew! It's not that I've never seen frogs, bugs, or chipmunks touching our plants or that I didn't see the very plants spring from the dirty earth. But still!

How much dirt have we been eating? I don't know. But even seeing the mass quantities of dirt that came from our blueberries, I still eat them straight from th bush. Everything else too. I just can't help it. I've been doing it for decades. I guess you are what you eat. lol

Shed 5 Fast - Review

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love to exercise. Really, I do. I think it's fun and I know it's good for me. But since I have the tendency to overdo it, I took a long break from exercise.

Not anymore - and what better way to kick start my exercise routine than by reviewing a new workout DVD. I had the chance to review Shed 5 Fast and Boot Camp 2 from Moms into Fitness.

I've owned, rented, and downloaded hundreds of workouts over the years, and I have strong opinions about each one.

Here's what I thought about Shed 5 Fast:

For me, the most important thing is that the workout is effective. Second, it needs to be fun. I haven't worked out with Shed 5 Fast long enough to tell you if it will be uber effective (really, I wish I could have done it more often but my house is ripped to shreds...construction, blah!) but I can tell you it was fun! It was a combination of all my faves. There was kickboxing, plies, step-aerobic type leg pulls, and constant core engagement.

I even detected a hint of yoga running through some of the strength moves and I liked it! The kickboxing segments were all my all time favorite parts, but I have to give mad props to the "boomerang" move. That's a new one for me and it was great. Great in a super sore abs sorta way.

One of the best parts of the video is that it's almost all done standing up. Not that I don't think crunches and floor work are important, but hitting the floor just isn't sweaty enough for me. Know what I mean?

There are two 30 minute workouts on this dvd and each workout features 3 girls performing the moves. Each one is doing the exercises a little different (easy, medium, hard.) I jumped right into this video after not exercising for 6 months and made it through easily by following Lindsay (medium intensity.) Don't get me wrong, this is a good workout and I could definitely tell that I was out of shape, but I survived and you could too.

About the music - it's good. It's just loud enough so you can feel the beat but still hear the instructions. And the choices are upbeat and current.

The only downside....do this workout and tell me if you're able to stop staring at Lindsay's abs. I was so jealous, but luckily I had been reading her blog for a bit and already liked her as a person, lol. She's super funny and serious about working out. I love it!

Here's what I thought about Boot Camp 2:

Whoa! There's a lot on this dvd! There's an entire 8-week program, six different 10-minute core wrokouts, and six 5-minute core sessions....all on one dvd! There's so much to learn from this set that I'm going to be spending a lot more time with it.

One of the things I really liked about this dvd is how much time Lindsay dedicates to teaching and how this video is tailored to moms. Moms have a very unique workout situation and she gets that. I'm so thankful to Lindsay for sending me Boot Camp 2 because without it, I would have never realized I still have a 3 finger diastasis recti!

And to be honest with you, I'm mad! I remember the doctors telling me I had a huge separation with my second child but I just assumed it went away. Obviously, I never got 6-pack abs after her birth but I had no idea it was this bad. We're talking 4 1/2 years later, folks. I hope it's not too late to correct. After participating in the boot camp video for a few short minutes, I realized that I had been performing my ab exercises incorrectly. I have strong abs (for the most part) but I'm hopeful that by following her directions, I might actually lose the mommy pooch (yes, I have one -even at a whopping 110 pounds).

I'm so excited, and I can't think Lindsay enough for sending me this Boot Camp video and for giving so much care and attention during the workouts. We moms really need help, and she's there to give us the info we really need.

Want to see more for yourself? Check out a clip from the Shed 5 Fast DVD:

And that's not all! Lindsay Brin is generously offering a 20% discount on her DVDs at Momsintofitness.com. Just use the code below:

I'd highly recommend her videos and her website if you're looking to lose baby weight. Lindsay is a regular mom just like us (well, except for the killer abs.) You can even find her on Twitter and Facebook.

*This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Moms into Fitness for this review.

A Cure for Anxiety? Take 2 and tell me what YOU think!

I'm just going to go ahead and put it out there: sometimes I have issues with anxiety. Sometimes, I just feel like too many people want me at the same time and I just can't deal. I start to get irritable, cranky, and mentally frizzed out.

Obviously, I need to work on my coping skills and pare down on my responsibilities. But my children/spouse could also assist in giving me some much needed quiet/space.

Since I don't see that happening anytime soon, (I have a really loud and demanding family) I've created it myself. Don't laugh - but here's what I've been doing: Ear plugs.

It sounds stupid, too easy, and weird, but it works! When I need/want to focus on a task, I pop two of these babies into my ears and calmly go about my work. I can cook, type, clean, whatever without the feeling that everyone is yelling at me.

I can still hear EVERYTHING but it's just not quite as piercing. And it really helps me to manage everything at once and actually enjoy what I'm doing at that moment. If you feel stressed out by the multitude of noises in your home, you may want to give it a try. It's a cheap (and chemical free) solution.

A word of caution: I wouldn't use these outside or if you're hearing isn't up to par. I can still hear when I use these, but if you can't, then you may miss something important and set yourself up for serious safety risks.

Also: When you take them out - Cowabunga! The world is ten times louder than ever and it takes awhile to adjust.

Total Pillow - Review

I recently had the opportunity to review the Total Pillow. I was originally planning to use this pillow for traveling and that's it. But our entire family soon found it irresistible.

We used it while watching television, reading, and even for dress up. It's really a cool pillow. It's super soft because of all the little microbeads inside and it bends into cool shapes.

Here's what the makers of total Pillow have to say:

VERSATILE TRANSFORMING PILLOW Cradles you with Comfort While Asleep and Awake

Most people spend approximately one-third of their lives asleep on their pillow, however the new Total Pillow has uses for the two-thirds of time spent awake.

There are pillows for all types of issues but no one pillow that bridges all conditions, until now. The Total Pillow™ is for use overnight, on the couch, sitting at your desk, driving, while on a plane or train, in college dorms, or just while watching television. This donut-shaped pillow transforms in just seconds to more than five supportive shapes for customized relief. The patent pending locking technology enables the Total Pillow to support the neck, lower back, ankles and knees.

"Consumers own many different pillows for different applications, identifying the need for a multipurpose pillow solution." said Steve Heroux, CEO of Hampton Direct. "The Total Pillow transforms into five different shapes to answer a wide range of conditions."

The Total Pillow's ergonomic design allows your body to be cradled in support whether you're a side sleeper and like support between your knees and/or ankles or are a frequent traveler. It's also great for the businessperson, who needs lumbar support for the long periods of time spent seated.

Available for $19.99, The Total Pillow and can be ordered online at www.buytotalpillow.com.

Hampton Direct, Inc. is a leading international importer and distributor of consumer products. The Vermont-based company's offerings include common household problem solving products that includes the As Seen On TV Wonder Hanger®, Twin Draft Guard® and Total Pillow®.

I found it to be extremely comfy for laying down to read. It held the shape of my head without flopping out like an ordinary pillow and I never had to worry about it moving.

The packaging included all sorts of uses: as a seat cushion, back pillow, and neck/arm/head pillow. If I can remember to pack it, I will bring this with on long plane rides. Since it's bendable, it's easy to mold into a usable form.

The only downsides: it does look a little weird laying around the house. It doesn't really go with our decor and ever since seeing the "seat cushion" recommendation, I've got a rear-end donut image stuck in my head. Our pillow ripped at the seams within the first hour we had it, but I easily stitched it back up (that's how I know there are tons of little beads inside.) That kind of stuff happens and it wouldn't hinder me from buying another.

This is a Mama Buzz review. The product was provided by Hampton Direct for this review

Herbs Gone Wild!

Seriously, if you've never planted herbs, you need to give it a shot. They grow so easily, thrive on neglect, and most of them come back on their own each year. I planted herbs for the first time last year, and have been amazed at how well they grow. And how great they taste!

If you've never cooked with fresh herbs, you are really missing out. They make everything taste amazing, and it's so great to pick them from your own home (or garden) rather than weeding through the muck at the store and hoping they stay fresh long enough to use them.

But back to the growing.... I can't harvest or give them away fast enough! So, this week I decided to try saving them. I went out filled up my kitchen bowls with herbs.

I picked basil, cilantro, thyme, oregano, parsley, and chives. Then I washed them, pureed them in my vitamix with a smidge of water, and then froze them in ziploc bags. The house smelled awesome. My husband thought I was making enchiladas (lol) and my cat was giving me all sorts of attention.

*You can (and maybe should) freeze herbs in ice cube trays then transfer to ziploc bags. I don't own ice cube trays so I'm just going to break off chunks as I need them. I never measure anyway, so it's all good.

Pop on Pals - Review

If you're a mom of preschoolers, then you are no doubt familiar with Spin Master. They make super fun toys like Bakugan, Pixos, Moon Sand, Paperoni, Air Hogs, Aquadoodle.... everything my kid's love to play with.

Team Mom recently sent me Spin Master's new toy, Pop on Pals. I was sent the Pop on Pals Amusement Park Play Set. This toy is not yet in stores, but when it is; you can find it at Toys 'R Us, Target, Kmart, Sears, and more.

This toy is rated for ages 2-4. My kids are 4 and 6, but both of them squealed when it came out of the package. They loved figuring out how it worked and how to get the person to ride all the amusement park rides.

To be honest, when I first took it out of the box; I thought it looked like a baby toy. And it really does look like a baby toy. That being said, I think this would be a great toy for toddlers. It's colorful, makes noise, and has a lot of non-breakable parts for them to explore. It's also very easy to work all the parts (even a toddler could do it.)

My kids liked this toy, but I can see it getting old quickly. The biggest trouble for our family was the fact that this set came with only one person. They would be more likely to play with this for a long time if it had two people. Then they could interact with each other and take turns on the rides.

The interchangeable parts are fun, but would be more fun if you have other sets to mix and match. Otherwise, my children mostly ignored those parts.

All in all, we liked it. It's a fun toy, but I'd really stick to the age recommendation on this toy, and lean toward the younger side.

*No compensation was given for this review. I did receive the Pop on Pals Amusement Park Play set for review purposes from Team Mom. All opinions expressed are my own.

Link & Win Mondays: Stop in to List and Win Tons of Giveaways!

Link up your giveaways in the Mr. Linky below. Be sure to check out all of the great giveaways for your chance to win!

My giveaways this week:

Lawry's grill pack

Breyer's Ice Cream

Total Pillow

Shed 5 Fast

The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven

Every once in a while, I title crosses my screen and I say "I've got to read that book." It happened to me just a few days ago when I came across this book: The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven.

Ordinarily, I wait for a book to make it to our local library and then I wait forever on the waiting list and finally; I read the book I wanted. Not anymore. Life is too short to wait months for something you really want to read. In the case of "The boy who came back from heaven," I sent a quick email and the book was graciously sent to me within a few short days.

Why did I want to read this book? In my opinion, the title says it all. This book is the story of a 6 year old boy that essentially "dies" in a horrible car accident. He is kept alive artificially while his mind remains in a coma for 2 months. When he comes back, he tells his family all about what he saw, heard, and experienced. It's a story worth hearing.

I have to be careful in telling you what I really think about this book because I don't want to retell the story, and I don't want to taint anyone's perspective. You see, I don't believe in heaven or hell. That being said, I'm willing to admit that I don't know everything there is to know and I'm willing to listen to what other's have to say.

I've read many accounts from people that have "come back" and they are all quite interesting. This book is the first time I remember reading a child's account. Not that children don't lie or make up stories (trust me, I have two of them and they tell some whoppers!) but they're not generally motivated to deceive the same way an adult might be.

So I really wanted to read Alex's story. First things first, it's a quick and easy read. I read this book in less than a day. And I have two little kids running around. I did read a lot of it after they went to bed, but it's the type of story that you can read in bits and pieces without missing anything. It's a story, and it reads like one. That's why I found it to be interesting, engaging, and easy to follow.

I was also engaged because I wanted to hear what happened. I knew some of the "end" because I could see that Alex was alive and smiling on the back of the book, but I didn't allow myself to search the internet (or PrayforAlex.com) until after I finished because I didn't want to spoil the journey. And that's what this book really is: one family's journey from tragedy to today.

It's a devastating story. It's filled with all sorts of trials and inspirational moments, some that I found a bit "too church driven" for my comfort level, but all good reminders to feel grateful for the things we do have and not dwell on all that we are missing.

The one thing I wanted from the book was more from Alex about God. There isn't quite as much about Heaven as I would have liked and there isn't a lot of "specifics." But then again I would have had hundreds of questions for him.

I can tell you with all honesty, that I don't think the book really changed my views on God or heaven. But I did gain from it. For anyone with children, I think it's a poignant reminder that we only have them for a very short time. That even though things might be tough for you right now, you can make it through them. This family has made it through some unbelievable trials. I feel for them, and I hope things get better.

As soon as I finished the book, I went online to find out what had happened from the date the book was written until today. I was glad to find the family photo section. It helped me to put the story into perspective. The book gave me a very "grown up" impression of Alex, and it helped to see how young he really was. When the book described his grin, I'd flip back to the back and look at his smiling picture, but I finally understood when I saw the photos online.

According to Alex, God had told him he would heal him completely, and I'd love to see that happen. I'll keep checking to see if he does. And I'll pray for him. I hope that his story does change people, and I hope more than anything that he'll be able to ride a bike again some day.

*Disclaimer: I received a complementary copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Someone Stole My E-mail Accounts!

Let's just say this has been a stressful week. Beyond all the construction mayhem, somebody hacked into all of my e-mail accounts and locked me out. I have multiple e-mail addresses, and by getting into one of them, they were able to get into multiple accounts.

After switching my passwords, only to have them break in again, I think I may finally have control of my accounts. But not before damage was done. Luckily, there's no evidence that they were able to get into any of my financial info, but they did spam most of the people in my inbox.

Please ignore any weird texts, chats, tweets, or e-mails from "me." I'm hoping all will be back to normal shortly.

Link & Win Mondays: Stop in to List and Win Tons of Giveaways!

Link up your giveaways in the Mr. Linky below. Be sure to check out all of the great giveaways for your chance to win!

My giveaways this week:

Lawry's grill pack

Organic Peanut Butter

$20 Visa Gift Card

All Free & Clear Detergent

Breyer's Ice Cream

Secret Love....

My cat is deliberately disrespectful. She has mastered the art of pretending not to listen and disobeys all the rules. She's also very stingy with affection. The little bits that she does give, she prefers to show when nobody's paying attention.

My children think this is hilarious. Especially the blatant disregard for authority. And in some ways it is pretty funny. But when you feed, bathe, clip, and pick up after someone on a daily basis, you kind of expect a little respect. Or at least some love!

I mean, if you're going to be this furry, you need to at least allow petting! But she will have none of it. Until......

A few nights ago, my children slept outside in a tent and my husband guarded them nearby. Reya was distraught. She mewed and clawed at the door for the children for what seemed like hours with total disregard for my yelling.

With everyone out of the house, my cat decided that her sleeping options were limited. In the middle of the night, I felt her smell my face and then squeeze her body down between my chin and chest. What was going on?? Was she actually loving up to me?

She got comfy and started purring. I tried to stay still so I wouldn't scare her away, and then I fell asleep. After a few minutes, I felt her whiskers tickling my face and I tried to move away. But she was on me. Crap! I tried to feel grateful for the love, but I couldn't get past the tickling.

In the end, I shoved her away and went back to my lonesome sleeping. I guess I wasn't ready for any love. And she could tell. She's been back every night, harassing me while I sleep. Licking, biting, pouncing, rolling....and disobeying my every plea for her to stop!

Smelly Washer Review

I recently had the opportunity to review Smelly Washer - a natural citrus based cleaner that eliminates that moldy smell from washers and towels.

It's really quite simple to use - put a capful into your washer and let it go, but it took me a long time to figure it out. I read online that you had to let it sit in your washer for an extended period of time and I couldn't figure out how to get my front loader to sit with water in it.

Then, I wanted to gather a huge load of towels to de-stink all at once. I couldn't seem to come up with a large enough pile at a time. Then I got smart and went to youtube. This video makes it all so much clearer:




To be honest, my washer isn't all that stinky. I always leave the door open, use minimal detergent, and haven't had any real yucky (read: no toilet training in our house!) laundry for a long time. That being said, I have super old towels. Like, inherited from our parents old, and they have a stinky smell when they get wet.

So I decided my "clean" towels were actually dirty (because of the stink) and I washed them all again with smelly washer. I also washed the machine by running a capful through a cycle with no clothes in it.

The results: My towels do smell better. Since I've also washed the machine, I'm hoping it will last for some time. Each bottle of Smelly washer has 24 uses, and I'm hoping to give drop it in our laundry once a month or so.

The only downsides: the initial instructions were hard for me to figure out (see above video for easy instructions) and I really wish I knew what the ingredients are. The company states that Smelly Washer contains an environmentally friendly citrus cleaner. I guess we just have to trust them on that.


*Smelly Washer provided me with a complimentary bottle of Smelly washer for Review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Not your Grandfather's Wool!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ramblers Way. All opinions are 100% mine.

So many things have changed since our grandparent's days. And wool is one of those things. Do you remember wool sweaters and socks? Itchy, itchy, itchy,and hot! Not anymore! Wool has changed just like everything else.

You can now find wool garments that are just as organic, eco-friendly, and natural as the originals but without all the scratchy, heavy, old lady feel.

Rambler's Way is one of those eco-chic companies that makes the new lightweight, comfy wool. Rambler's Way uses "WINDspun" technology that makes their wool garments smooth and luxurious.

Their garments are ultra-light (they even make wool undergarments - imagine!) and breathable. I've been to the Rambler's Way website and have seen all kinds of slick garments made from wool: biking gear, camisoles, undies, short sleeve t-shirts, sweaters, jackets, leggings. Almost everything people wear - in wool.

I've also been impressed by their natural values. They practice sustainable farming, produce chemical-free clothing, and care for the animals and environment. They do NOT pre-wash their garments with chlorine in the "super-wash" procedure that most companies use. Instead, they use a patented enzyme treatment in order to prevent shrinkage. Rambler's Way garments are all natural and chemical-free.

Give them a try if you're interested in trying the wool of our generation. And while you can wear this type of wool year-round, planning for school makes me think of fall, and wool just seems like a good choice.

FYI - Swiss Chards is much better than Spinach!

This year I planted Spinach and Swiss Chard in my garden. I've got to tell you, that swiss chard rules over spinach! I have no idea how they stack up against each other nutritionally, but I just pulled out all of my spinach and probably won't plant any next year. Or maybe just a little.

This is why I'm loving swiss chard:

• It grows bigger and faster without bolting in the heat (at least it hasn't yet). Spinach bolts as soon as it gets hot and then it's ruined.
• It's so much yummier! It gets all curly and green. And the stems are fantastic.
• It keeps growing back as I cut it off.

If there's room in your garden you can plant both, but if not you may want to give swiss chard a try. It's good eats!

Purely Products Review & Giveaway

{This giveaway has closed. Congrats to Sable $18} I'm not the type of person you'd classify as a "germ-a-phobe," but I am sensitive to the amount of filth in the world. At the same time, I dislike carrying/using hand sanitizers and wipes, so I just don't do it. And sometimes we get sick. And I know we're exposed to far more than I even want to think about.

That's why I jumped at the chance to review the Pocket Purifier from Purely Products. What is it and how does it work?

Here's what the manufacturer has to say:

{The Pocket Purifier is a } Handheld germ eliminating light {that} uses UV (ultraviolet light) to sanitize surfaces (keyboards, cell phones, computer keyboards, kitchen countertops, sinks, public bathrooms & transportation, toys, pacifiers, bottoms/interior of purses & diaper bags, etc.) UV nanotechnology kills 99.9% of germs that cause colds & flu, plus e-coli, salmonella, mold, fungus, and MRSA (staph) without chemicals.

Imagine the uses for a product like this! I immediately used it on all of our door handles, light switches, shoes, shopping bags, phones, keyboards, and the cat's litter box. I took it to the store and used it on the shopping cart and bathroom faucet.

Here are my thoughts on the product:

The good

• It was super easy to use.
• It was cool. Moms in the store stopped me to see why I was "lasering" the shopping cart. I had fun running through the house and zapping every germy space.
• I felt cleaner knowing I was doing some killing.
• No chemicals were needed.
• It fits easily in my bag.
• It works with regular AA batteries.
• It's also a flashlight.

The bad

• I was missing a certain "proof". You know how when you wash a dirty toilet, you can "see" that it's been cleaned. I was missing evidence that the germs were killed. Since it uses UV light, I guess I could have tried to sunburn myself with it to prove it was working, but I wasn't willing to risk the burn.
• It was a little heavy, though not unacceptably heavy. I will definitely bring it with us on any plane trips or doctor visits. In those cases, I think it's worth the effort.
• I worried about burning my skin and eyes - or more likely my kids skin or eyes. They wanted to use it and knew they couldn't be trusted. UV light just kind of freaks me out.

The Pocket Purifier is $29.95 and is available from Purely Products. Purely products is focused on developing eco-friendly products for clean and healthy living for families. During this review, I was also able to try out one of their other helpful products, The Sunmate.

The Sunmate was an eye-opener for me! I had no idea how intense our northern sun really was. And I had no idea how much of it made it into our car! To my delight, the interior of our home was very well protected against the sun's harmful rays. It even encouraged my husband to use sunscreen (hooray!) on a day he thought "wasn't sunny enough."

One lucky Suburban Jungle reader will get the chance to try the Sunmate themselves - courtesy of Purely Products.

To Enter: Visit Purely Products and leave a comment about something you learned.

Extra Entries:

5 Extra Entries for blogging about this contest

3 Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest (1 extra for daily tweets)

1 Extra Entry for following @Purelyproducts on Twitter

1 Extra Entry for following @suburbanjung on Twitter

1 Extra Entry for being a public google friend connect follower

2 Extra Entries for coming with another location to use the germ killing Pocket purifier

*This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only. It will end on July 29, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email. No compensation was received for this review/giveaway. I did receive complimentary products for reviewing purposes.

I'm having "The Biggest Loser" Withdrawal

Can you believe it's been almost 2 months since The Biggest Loser finale? I don't know about you, but I've been having major withdrawal.

I love that show! It's exercise. It's healthy eating. It's watching people change their lives. It's awesome.

In the meantime, I've been trying to watch Bridal Bootcamp on VH1. No offense, but it is NO substitute for TBL. In fact, it kind of sucks.

The girls are so lazy on this show and although the first episode did involve puking, it was from a few measly jumping jacks. Come on! Only puke if you mean it!

So, I'm done with that show. Maybe I just need to get myself back to exercising again.... Stay tuned because I'm going to be back to my old self again shortly and I'm going to bring it! I might even puke! ;)

Man - You are Creeping Me Out!

Our tile installer is freaking me out. He seems nice enough, but something about him just bugs me. Okay, it's more than just one something. For starters, he asks me weird questions and tells me creepy stories.

Then, there's the fact that he pops up in other areas of our house when he's supposed to be working in the tiling area. Just today, I was in my room and came down only to find white shoe prints all over my floor leading from the construction area to our kitchen. Aaaagghh!

There's also the way he looks at me whenever I come to check up on his progress. He turns quickly and gives me a really eerie grimace that makes me feel like he was just chewing on human flesh. Yep. This is my life.

Yesterday, he felt inclined to tell me an awkward accident story. Out of the blue, he informs me that "{he's} seen an accident. A lady is waiting at a stop light. From the left, a car comes racing through the light. Long after the light had turned red. The lady pulls out and her entire car is flipped over. 2 car seats fly out of the windows and personal stuff is splayed all over the road. The woman crawls out through the window. She's fine but her head is bleeding."

Um-Kay. "Where was this?" I ask. He answers, "not far from here" and then he disappears. I say something like, "wow, that's horrible" or something but he's no where to be found. I shake it off and go back to sealing our tile.

I didn't think about it again until I was driving to Target today. I pulled off the highway and was waiting at a stop light. The light turned green and as I went to take my foot of the brake, I didn't. For some reason I felt like I should wait. Then a few seconds later, from the left, a car comes roaring through the intersection. It would have hit me if I had went through the light on time. Creepy. I'm not looking at the tile guy ever again.

Oh crap! He still has 2 or 3 days left of work.

Potty Mouth Anyone?

The Juice box Jungle widget is always full of fun videos, cool savings, and fun polls. But recently they've been running some controversial ads for Evenflo. The video above is an ad they intended to run but pulled at the last minute because they thought it might ruffle too many feathers.

So I watched the ad, and here's what I think - Bring it on! If someone is offended by this video, then they are entirely too sensitive. In fact, I think out society is entirely too offended by everything. It's funny. And it makes you think.

Here's what I specifically thought about the video (feel free to chime in with your thoughts below):

1. I was surprised to hear the words coming out of the mom's mouth. Not because I don't hear them elsewhere but because the mom was so petite and "preschool proper."
2. Personally, I do not think swearing is the end of the world. Yes, we should make an effort to be good role models, but @*$**# things happen and we're only human. I think it's more important to be who we really are. If we censor them too much from the real world, then how will they ever survive in it.
3. I thought the video was funny. I like the mom's recovery and it's probably the best way to get over something like that. If you don't make a big deal out of it, it will probably go away.

Feel free to share your thoughts below. And honestly, if you're offended by it, sorry. But it's really not the biggest deal in the world. There are far worse crimes than swearing. Seriously!

*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 andJuiceBoxJungle sponsored me to write this post.

Blogging for Money - My 2 Cents

My blog is now over a year old, and to my surprise blogging has been a profitable experience. How profitable, you ask? Well, that depends on how you define profit.

In sheer dollars and cents, this blog has averaged about $300/month since I first started last May.

Obviously, some months have been better money months than others. My first 2 months brought in less than a hundred dollars, but I've also had months where I've made more than $800.

Over the last 3 months, I think we can all admit I've been a really lazy blogger. Hey, I'm in the middle of a gigantic home remodeling project and it's summer. What can I say? But even though I've slacked, I'm still making at least $300/month. And I'm not counting gift cards, review products, or swagbucks prizes. That's all gravy. I don't even know how to value those "gifts."

That's why I say it's hard to tell you how much I really make with this blog. I only count the cash that makes it's way into my bank account. Wondering how my blog makes money? I've wrote about the details here and here.

I'm still following the exact same format as I mentioned in those earlier posts. There are only two deviances from the original plans. One is the addition of the Savvy Source widget.

I had no idea whether it would turn out to be a scam or a legit advertiser. They pay out 6 months in the rear (make sense?) but I received my first check from them this month and averaged $93/month just from their widget. FYI - I get no referral payments if you sign up and I don't do anything with the widget. It just rolls on my webpage. Easy-peasy.

The other change is that I do receive occasional "pay for posting" gigs and paid advertiser spots. And I've said "no" to a lot of them. That's just because I'm lazy. If I took the time to answer all my emails or read up on advertisers, I'd probably be money ahead.

I keep wondering when it will all fizzle out. Maybe soon. Maybe never. Honestly, I'm surprised I made it past the "1 year" blogging hurdle.

My construction project will be done soon and both of my children will be in school this fall, so perhaps I'll pick it up again and go back to being a blogger that makes $500-$600 a month. Or maybe I'll kick it up a notch and be one of those bloggers that actually makes a "real income" online. Time will tell. And I'll share the details as they unfold.

If there's anything I'm missing, feel free to share your thoughts with me.

Natura Sleep Envelope Review

When someone in your family has allergies, it's a hassle to find good sleep products. It just is! It's important to have mattress and pillow protectors, to wash them often, and to use natural products so you don't introduce any other allergens. So where does that leave most allergenic families?

Searching! I just had the chance to review 2 amazing products from NaturaWorld.com that you may want to consider. I had the opportunity to try out a twin-sized Deluxe Mattress Protector and Washable Wool Comforter.

Let me tell you what I liked about these products:

The Mattress Protector -

• It's completely machine washable
• Made of all natural cotton and wool
• It's so comfy and heavy duty! I took off my son's previous mattress protector to use the Natura protector and it was so much more durable, thicker, and more comfy than our previous protector. My son said it made is bed softer and more comfortable. He's not even asking to sleep in our bed anymore. Wahoo!
• It comes with a 10 year warranty
• It has a natural silver barrier that helps keep out dust mites, molds, mildews and bacteria

The Comforter -

• It's made of washable wool
• The cover is a super soft cotton
• The wool helps keep out dust mites and other allergens
• It is so comfortable and soft and....I stole it for my bed!

I really enjoyed trying these products. I put them in my son's room because he's allergic to so many things. It feels good to know there are companies out there working hard to make quality products that can decrease the amount of allergens we are exposed to. And they're doing it with all natural products.

I loved the Natura products and the only downside (in my opinion) was that I reviewed a twin-sized set. I did steal the comforter for my own room (I loved it too much!) and if the mattress protector would have been a king size, I would have stolen that too! I love my son, and he really needs all the allergy protection he can get, but allergies or not, these were great products. And I'd love to have them in my room as well.

*No compensation was given for this review. I did receive the 2 products mentioned above for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review: Bossa Nova Superfruit juices

If you're like me, then you're probably very aware of the "superfruits" and try to incorporate them into your diet whenever possible. Personally, I don't drink very much juice, except for superfruit juices.

For the last few years, I've seen a lot of acai products come on the market and I eagerly tried many of them. With an antioxidant level higher than blueberries or pomegranates, I wanted to really love it. But I didn't like them.

I had heard acai tasted like blueberries and chocolate (yum!) but in my opinion it tasted more like old prunes. So when Bossa Nova Superfruit Company offered to send me their juices to review, I was optimistic but a little scared.

A lot of the Bossa Nova Juices contain Acai. But guess what!!?! Their juices were awesome! Bossa Nova Juices come in the following 10 oz varieties:

• Acai Original
• Acai with Blueberry
• Acai with Mango
• Acai with Passion Fruit
• Acai with Raspberry
• Mangosteen with Dragonfruit
• Mangosteen with Passion Fruit
• Gogi berry with Tart Cherry
• Acerola with Mango
• Acerola with Red Peach

I sampled a variety of those juices and all of them were great. They were not stringy or overly "healthy" tasting. They were just yummy juices. But the best part? They are made with all natural, organic ingredients.

I have to tell you that they are not 100% juice. They do contain some organic agave nectar. That may be why they tasted so much better than the other acai juices I've tried. Or maybe it's because of the all natural ingredients?

Either way, I wouldn't worry a bunch about the agave. Agave is a low-glycemic-index carb and it's a natural product. Besides, the juices are fairly low in calories (as juices go.) You can see all of the nutritional info here.

I liked the Bossa Nova superfruit juices. Everyone in my family liked them. And I'd buy them myself. You can find Bossa Nova juices in the refrigerated section of your grocer's produce section. SuperTarget carries them as well - that mean's they'll be on my list.

*No compensation was given for this review. I did receive the juices mentioned for review purposes.

Cat + Water = Trouble

Let me offer you this piece of cat owner advice - Never let your cat see you use the faucet.

My cat is wild. She's jumps into my bath and comes running when she hear's me brush my teeth at night. I thought it was cute, but she was secretly studying my every move. And one night, I came into my bathroom to find this:

*Notice my cat is still wearing her pink soft paws. Love 'em.

Prevent your cat from learning how to turn on the water by never letting her see you use it. Follow this advice, or soon you may be making your own "cats gone wild" video.

A new place to meet singles

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Smingle.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

Trying to meet someone is tough. Not that I've had to worry about that for the last few years, but I know plenty of single people and have heard their stories.

Let's just say, I'm glad I'm not "out there." It's a whole different world out there. Just as our networking and communication techniques have changed, so has our way of dating.

I'd venture to say that almost every single person has tried virtual dating in one way or another. According to a 2006 Harvard Study, "The new cutting edge is interactive, virtual dating” and "Virtual Dates cause individuals to develop greater affinity toward one another when they actually meet." Interesting. I bet it's because it's easier to "talk" to someone when you're not immediately face-to-face.

I was asked to take a look at Smingle.com and tell you what I think. Not because I'm single, but because I'm an opinionated sort of person. Here's what I liked about it:

1.) It's Free. You can join and "just look" for free. Free is good.

2.) You can get 3 months of membership for free if you upload a picture. And really, if you're going to join a dating site, it's only fair you include your picture.

3.) They have groups people can join to meet others with similar interests. I like that. Even if you didn't meet your "soul mate" you could most likely meet some cool friends with similar interests and that's awesome.

What I didn't like? All the Avatar-business. You can create your own 3-D avatar, make it flirt, watch it respond to your typing... I don't know. That creeps me out. I think virtual dating would be fun for today's singles, but I can't have flirting avatars. That's just crazy.

If you're single and want to give virtual dating a try, you can find more info at www.smingle.com. But don't look for me there. It was fun to have a free account for a little while, but my smingle days are over and my account is no longer active. But just so you know, I would have had an angry cat avatar. lol

Blueberry Goodness!

Tis the season for blueberries!! We have had our best blueberry year ever, and I couldn't be more excited! Each day, we are pulling a pint of yummy organic blueberries from our garden. Somehow, I chose 4 varieties that span the whole blueberry season so we have 4 weeks of berry goodness instead of one big week.

It took 3 years but it was sooooo worth the wait!

Free Organic Valley Food and Kickapoo Country Fair Tickets

Organic Valley has become on of my favorite organic brands. And true to their awesomeness, they are offering up more goodies for the Suburban Jungle readers!

Here's what they are giving away - four (4) tickets to attend the Kickapoo Country Fair on July 24-25 (a $40 value), five (5) coupons for free Organic Valley products (a $50 value), and an Organic Valley packable shopping bag.

Information on the Kickapoo Country Fair:

The 7th Annual Kickapoo Country Fair is the Midwest's largest organic food and sustainability festival, and will be held on July 24-25, 2010 at the Organic Valley headquarters in La Farge, Wisconsin. It's a weekend full of delicious organic food, cooking demonstrations, live music, readings by renowned authors, bike and farm tours, theater, kids’ activities, and dancing – all offered at an affordable price for families.

To Enter: Leave a comment telling me your favorite Organic Valley product (or the one you'd most like to try)

Extra Entries:

5 extra entries for blogging about this contest
3 Extra Entries for tweeting about this contest (be sure to add @suburbanjung in your tweets - 1 extra for daily tweets)
2 Extra Entries for following Organic Valley on Twitter.
2 Extra Entries for following @suburbanjung on Twitter
2 Extra Entries for following on google friend connect
1 Extra Entry for subscribing to my feedburner page

*This giveaway will end on July 19, 2010 at 9:00 PM EST. The winner will be selected by random.org and contacted via email. No compensation was received for this giveaway.

Link & Win Mondays: Stop in to List and Win Tons of Giveaways!

Link up your giveaways in the Mr. Linky below. Be sure to check out all of the great giveaways for your chance to win!

My giveaways this week:

Lawry's grill pack

Organic Peanut Butter

Chunky Bling Watch

No Exercise Since December!

I haven't talked about it much, but I stopped exercising! I haven't exercised (at all!) since December 20, 2009. WTF? That's right! Long story short - we were celebrating Christmas with my family when my sister got a text on her phone saying that actress Britney Murphy had died. And because of her death, I haven't exercised in months.

Whoa! That's crazy talk. But it's more in depth than that. You see, I love to exercise. It's fun. It makes me feel healthy.....but I was taking it to an extreme. I was in great shape and I could do mad yoga poses like this:

And this:

I was running and shredding and.... I was getting sick. I was coughing a lot. I was losing extreme amounts of hair. My cycle was all messed up. I was losing all kinds of weight. Did I mention I was also vegan during this time? Yeah, I was on the edge. It was at this time that an unwanted roommate had finally moved out and I was done with the extreme stresses in my life.

When my sister heard that Brittney had died, she said she was sure it was drugs. Then a friend called and said it was because she was too thin - she was supposedly anorexic. And then it dawned on me. Maybe I was anorexic. Okay, no hating. I know the definition of anorexia and I know it's a serious disease.

I never starved myself. I don't even count calories. But I do fiercely control what I eat. And I do exercise to extremes. Not to lose weight, though that certainly happens. But I keep exercising. And exercising and exercising and exercising even though I get dangerously thin.

Since multiple people kept calling me to talk about her death and discuss "how skinny" she was, I just couldn't get it out of my mind. She was 32. I was almost 32. In height and weight, we were extremely comparable. If she was too thin, then I was too. If her weight put too much stress on her heart, then mine probably was too.

And what was I doing anyway? Why would I put my body at risk when my main goal is to be healthy. And when I have kids to take care of. I wasn't trying to be super skinny. I'm not a model or an actress or anybody that "has to" look perfect. So what was I doing? I decided I was going to be really healthy this time. I was going to stop exercising until I could get it out of my system. Then I'd start on a regular schedule again.

So for the next few weeks, I forced myself not to exercise. All my numbing symptoms and back pain came back. It sucked. But I stuck it out.

Just a few days ago, I stepped on the Wii Fit for the first time in 6 months (yep, it's a scale now) and found out I was 110 pounds. Hmmm.... It's not like I sat around and did nothing. I still go walking and swimming with my kids. I still vacuum daily (hold your vomit) and I'm still an active person. I just didn't exercise.

So during my exercise hiatus, I've been trying to acclimate to a life of moderation. How's that going? Well....anyone that really knows me, knows that I'm all about extremes. Crap! I legitimately took 6 months off from any exercise. Sure, I got pissed anytime I saw my friends exercise. And when they told me about their gym memberships, boot camps, and triathlons; it was all I could do not to break down.

But I'm good. We're almost done with our remodeling project and that means a new home gym. Wahoo! I'm desperately eager to start up again. I'm waiting for the gym to be finished and then it's on! Oops - I mean I plan to exercise responsibly. The gym can't get here fast enough. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

*In case you were wondering, the title of this post is said to the tune of The Beastie Boys "No Sleep til Brooklyn." Just thought you'd want to know. ;)