Chiquita's "Make your way to Rio" Sweepstakes

Ever since I saw the poster for this movie, I've been EXCITED. Even the kids have been bugging me to see it as well. I couldn't have been luckier then when Chiquita contacted me again about a great partnership.

Chiquita is partnering with 20th Century Fox and the movie Rio, the next big 3-D animated event from the creators of Ice Age™ , to bring you and your little ones Chiquita’s “Make Your Way To Rio” Sweepstakes.  It’s an online journey filled with fun interactive games, coloring pages, videos, easy Chiquita recipes and sweepstakes prizes that you and your family will enjoy together.  Did I mention that you’ll also have a chance to win a trip to Rio de Janeiro for your family? All you have to do is sign up and play!

Inspired by the upcoming film Rio, you and your children will help Blu, an endangered Macaw, get closer to his final destination in Rio de Janeiro, where he meets his female counterpart Jewel. By interacting with the website, www.chiquita.com/rio, unlocking badges and sharing your successes with friends and family, you will get one step closer to winning the trip to Rio de Janeiro!

The contest is open to U.S. only, but the fun can be enjoyed by everyone! With all kinds of great activities for kids, this is a site that the whole family will enjoy. So take advantage of the chance to be one of the very first to experience this fun and interactive website, and don’t forget to check out the movie in April!

To enjoy fun activities and enter the sweepstakes, check out www.chiquita.com/rio

Disclosure: I'll be receiving a movie pack giftcard on behalf of Chiquita as apprecitation for sharing the contest. Opinions expressed are solely mine and mine only with no reflection to the giftcard. 

Roundabout Cupcake Sleeves Review & Giveaway

Ever look at a cupcake and think "man it looks plain"? I know I do it all the time and can never really think of a way to dress it up. So I try very hard to stear clear of cupcakes if possible, but that was until I came across Roundabout Cupcake Sleeves! What a perfect ingenious idea for people to fancify their cupcakes without having to have a lot of decorating knowledge!

Roundabout Cupcake Sleeves are well made card stock with quality prints. The prints are of high quality that allow for instant illusions of greatness without all the work or expertise.

They are very simple to create as well. 3 super simple steps and viola you've created a masterpiece that iwll make your guests talk in envy. You can start with a frosted cupcake (although I found it easier to frost afterwards), wrap the SELF-ADHESIVE sleeve around, and then add some creative decorations if you choose. When you order you get a full kit that will help you create a delicious display.
Kit contents:

• a Dozen themed Roundabouts Cupcake sleeves
• Easy store sleeve case
• Handy quick reference hanging guide (which is AWESOME if you have cabinets above your counters with knobs!)
• Suggestions & tips guide

Roundabout Cupcake Sleeves has been in publicatioins such as Everyday with Rachael Ray, American Cake Decorations, and Pasadena Magazine; all with raving reviews.

The idea and creation came from the mind a of a busy mom of 2 and only just started selling them online back in 2009. From a simple idea it blossomed into a must have for all types of parties!

The one sleeves I am REALLY looking forward to ordering for the kids are the Easter sleeves. Aren't they the cutest?!

Interested in creating your own awesome cupcakes? Then enter for a chance to win your own free set!

Mandatory Entry:
You must visit Roundabout Cupcake Sleeves, browse, ohh & aww, then come back and let me know which sleeves you'd love to try. Don't forget to include an email address in this entry. Giveaway will end on Feb 17th, 2011 at 10

Additional Entries:

• Follow @RoundaboutWraps on Twitter (+1)
• "Like" Roundabout Wraps on Facebook (+1)
• "Like" It's a Hooah Life on Facebook (+1)
• Subscribe via Email (You can click the link or enter you're email on the right side of the page) (+1)
• Tweet about the giveaway: #Giveaway @Roundaboutwraps Cupcake sleeves Review & #Giveaway Ends 2/17 http://bit.ly/hUU3HA  Or use the tweet button above and leaving the link (+1 per day)
• Add my button to your blog & leave the link (+2)
• Follow It's a Hooah Life on Networked Blogs (+1)
• Vote for It's a Hooah Life at Picket Fence Blog (+1)
• Blog about the giveaway and leave a link (+3)

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Applied Label Review

Applied Labels™ are Applied Labels LLC's flagship and most popular product. They're extremely tough, ultra versatile and perfect for labeling:

*bottles

*sippy cups

*shoes

*school supplies

*gadgets

*summer camp gear

*all those little things that go to early childcare centers

I was so happy to get the chance to review these! We started a new church and we've been having a heck of a time with trying to keep Curly stuff to herself, especially her sippy cups. They have the cutest fonts and images to choose from. Makes it more fun to personalize items with cuteness vs. the boring sharpie writing.

I've never been a huge label fan, mainly because I'm so incredibly disorganized! But these were fantastic. They were simple to use, sleek and shinny. After numerous times of washing her cups, they never lifted up or lost the coloring in the font! PERFECT!

If you have a baby, they offer Bottle Labels! Definitely helpful if you have more then one in the house or if your little one attends daycare. You can pick different color blank tape to wrap around the bottles, along with preprinted single use date tapes, and named tapes. The combination of all 3, allows for peace of mind ensuring that there won't be any mixups with other baby bottles.


Interested? Thought so! Take a wander on over to Applied Labels™. See how they can help you or your kids.

You can follow Applied Labels, Inc on Twitter
Use Facebook? You can "Like" them there too!

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

CVS Flags Review

Last month I was approached by a wonderful woman who offered me the opportunity to review a flag for CVS Flags. I was more then happy to do so as I have always wanted to get Dirt Diver a US Army Flag. Well really a US Navy one but I figured that would be kinda weird having that on the front of our house now that we're an Army family, so Army it was.

Honestly I had never heard of CVS Flags, so I was a little skeptical at first. Off I went to their website to peak around and OH MY! The amount of flags to choose from was overwhelming. You can pick from military to states to government to religious to even nautical ones. You have the choice of different sizes as well.


The pricing for the flags were very reasonable too. Everytime I've looked for getting a flag I was either looking at under $20 for a cheap version or over $40 for a high quality one. To see that the 3' x 5' flags were only $21.95 was awesome.

After I picked the flag out, I have to admit I was kind of worried about the type of flag that would come. Would it be of high quality? Would the stitching be right or lots of "IP's"? Would the image on it be good or would it be some flaky screen print.

Boy was I surprised and happy when it came and out it came. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

We recieved a 3'x5' Nylon Army Flag. The flag is made of 200-denier 100% outdoor nylon. It will withstand the rain, sun, snow, hail, and wind. The US Army logo is done in a "bright vibrant colors" of dye. And the brass grommets are FABULOUS! Help keep the flag from tearing while blowing in the wind.

To say I was impressed is a COMPLETE understatement. I plan on ordering Dirt Diver a US Navy flag one of these days to go with his Navy things.

If you haven't had a chance to stop by CVS Flags, you really need to do so! Especially with the weather starting to get nicer out, it's becoming more like flag hanging time!

Disclaimer: I received a FREE flag from CVS Flags for this review, however the free flag did not sway my thoughts or opinions one way or the other.

A sneak peek of Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story

Like most women out in the world, I have a severe addiction to Lifetime Movies! Doesn’t matter what the genere of the film is I watch them religiously. When Ihad the opportunity to watch an advance screening of “Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story” I just had to jump on it. While I have not been in Ms. Rubin’s shoes, I have unfortunately been in a position more times then I can count where I truly felt that my son would be taken. And to say I cried a little is an understatement; it made me think way too much of how fast my custody battle could have taken a turn for the worse. 

Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story is based on a dramatic true story of Tiffany Rubin’s (Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) daring 2008 rescue of her six-year-old son, Kobe, after he was abducted by his biological father and taken from his home in Queens, New York, all the way to Seoul, South Korea.  At the urging of her mother Belzora (Beverly Todd, The Bucket List), Tiffany sought the counsel of Mark Miller (O’Quinn) and his charitable organization The American Association for Lost Children.  With Mark’s help, Tiffany was able to travel to Korea to execute a high-stakes plan to bring her son home.

Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story will be airing on Monday January 31^st 9 PM (ET/PT), immediately following the movie at 11 PM (ET/PT), Lifetime will premiere an all new hour long documentary, Beyond the Headlines: The Tiffany Rubin Story. The documentary will re-tell the incredible story of Rubin’s experience in her own words, giving an extended account of her journey to save her son and revealing new details that have never been made public before.

Another plus to this movie were the actors! Terry O’Quinn, who plays “Mark”, is best known for his portrayal of “John Locke” on the long running hit ABC Series, Lost.

EatSmart Digital Bathroom Scale Review & Giveaway

Upon making the decision to enter into the Biggest Loser Contest, I knew I was going to have to go on a search for a new scale. For the past couple of years I've had a love/hate relationship with these "torturious" devices. Mainly hate though. I hated them because of the toe touch start up, trying to navigate between Dirt Diver's saved weights and mine, the constant have to recalibrate them after the kids had played with them. I started veiwing them with such negativity that I pretty much stopped stepping on them altogether.

And that is another reason why I am where I am in my weight.

With the help of the EatSmart Digital Bathroom Scale™, I've dropped the hatful feelings I've harbored for scales and can find myself loving mine with each time I use it.

Features that gained my love:

- An easy to read 3.5" digital display. I can even read it without my glasses on!

- A 12" x 13" platform topped with Sleek & sturdy tempered glass top glass

- Consistent and accurate measuring thanks to the 4 precision sensors

- Auto powering off and calibrations!
 

(and the MOST important reasoning...)
- no toe tapping needed! You just simply step on and it produces your weight!

- Another plus is due to its' simplicity it makes weighing the little kids so much easier too! No more waiting months on end for a doctor's appointment to get these values.

EatSmart is a company that is driven to providing consumers with a simple and trustworthy scales for nutrition and weight management. They offer well made products that you do not need to worry about breaking, along with simplicity that makes keeping track of your weight painless. Also, with each click on EatSmart Digital Bathroom Scale™; EatSmart donates 100% of their proceeds to a foundation. For the month of January the proceeds raised will be going to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.


Surprisingly the Digital Bathroom Scale is not a wallet buster either! You can get it at Amazon for $28.95 and if you have a Prime membership you get free shipping as well! It even came with it's own measuring tape! Which REALLY makes it easy to tape myself!

Want a chance to WIN a FREE EatSmart Digital Scale? Well if so then just follow the simple requirements:


Mandatory Entry:


Visit EatSmart and tell me which product of theirs that you'd like to try and why. Don't forget to include your email address.  Giveaway will end on Thursday February 10th at 11:59 PM ET.


Additional Entries:

• Follow @EatSmart on Twitter (+1)
• "Like" EatSmart Products on Facebook (+1)
• "Like" It's a Hooah Life on Facebook (+1)
• Subscribe via Email (You can click the link or enter you're email on the right side of the page) (+1)
• Tweet about the giveaway: #Giveaway @EatSmart Digital Bathroom Scale Ends 2/10 http://bit.ly/dMdgJs. Or use the tweet button above and leaving the link (+1 per day)
• Add my button to your blog & leave the link (+2)
• Follow It's a Hooah Life on Networked Blogs (+1)
• Vote for It's a Hooah Life at Picket Fence Blog (+1)
• Blog about the giveaway and leave a link (+3)

Disclaimer: I received the EatSmart Digital Bathroom Scale for free for the purpose to provide a review. All thoughts were of my own with no influence from anyone else. I was given the opportunity to review this product because of my membership at The Product Review Place. Upon winning the giveaway, EatSmart does not guarantee the exact same model as mine, your product will be what is available in inventory.

Smiley Cookie Review

It's that time of year again with Valentine's Day, Easter, Spring, and just where happiness blooms! What a better way to spread smiles through friends and coworkers then by handing them a Smiley Cookie!


Their History:

More then 20 years ago at Eat'n Park, the Smiley Cookie became a reality. The desire to make their patrons smile has become a family tradition for years to come. Every child that dines at Eat'n Park gets a FREE smiley cookie. Can you just picture a child's face after dinner when they're handed a sweet and delicious treat?!

Now you don't have to be exculisvely IN Pittsburgh to enjoy their goodness. With the help of the internet, Smiley Cookies are delivered all over the country, so smiles are shared from far and near.

Oh the details:

Smiley Cookie are available in preset desgins for as low as $11.99 a dozen. You can choose from shapes such as hearts, flowers, circles, or even a star for the next super star. OR you can take a shot at creating your own sugar cookie with their easy to use Create your own feature for just $12.99 a dozen. With this neat feature you can pick the cookie, icing color and smiley face color. You can even send Cookie Gift Baskets to warm hearts and creat even more smiles!

Our thoughts:

The Heart Cookies that Smiley sent us were HUGE! I truly wasn't expecting them to be that big. Definitely bigger then the ones you get at the store. They came super fresh and moist. The flavor of the cookie wasn't too strong. I much prefer a sweeter taste to a sugar cookie but the kids all agreed they liked Smiley Cookie's taste better. The icing was perfect! Sweet and crisp. I loved that part about them the most. Needless to say Smiley Cookie was a success in our house.

Where to find your smiles:

Of course you can get your gourmet cookies straight from their site, but you can also get updates and communicate with them via FACEBOOK and TWITTER!

So head on over to Smiley Cookie, wander around, and then treat yourself or someone else who deserves it; a great big smile!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

RelaxZen Shots: Review & Giveaway

RelaxZen Day!

As most know I'm a mom of 4 children who love to give me a run for my money.  Most of the time when I shuffle out of bed in the morning I’m running on about 4 hrs of sleep since I work till 0100/0200 in the morning. At this point the day has already begun and I’m still struggling to keep my eyes from rolling backwards. Normally I go straight to the kitchen and whip up a cup of joe while trying to mentally adjust to the complaints of ‘Tater regarding how she looks horrible in her uniform. Yes I’m very well aware of how to set a timer on but I don’t have that option anymore with my NEW Keurig I got for Christmas!

I’m digressing again. As much as I love my coffee, sometimes I make it too strong and then the caffeine just takes over sending me into a ball of shakes and feeling high strung.

That is where RelaxZen comes into play. Well to be honest it was the word “shots” that got me then I realized that this was nonalcoholic. I had never heard of this brand before so off my fingers did for reading. I was intrigued upon reading their site about the different types of shots they offered. They were starting to remind me of the 5 hour energy shot. Which by the way tastes HORRIBLE, does not live up to its name and instead wasted my money when I was desperate to stay alert while driving cross country.

Then our awesome mail guy dropped off a box! Inside were 2 awesomely slender durable plastic bottles of Instant Relaxation in Day and Night formula. I was really impressed by how small the bottles were but their size will make it even easier to toss a couple in the truck, diaper bag, and purse for when some extra help is needed.

Description from their site:

"Stress affects the body and mind. RelaxZen works with your body to de-stress your mind, increase your focus and balance your mood. With natural herbs, vitamins and amino acids, there’s never been a better time to live a RelaxZen Life."

The claim of benefits are:

• Reduce stress and fatigue
• Increase focus and alertness
• Balance mood
• Enhance productivity
• Sugar AND calorie FREE
• Created with Natural herbs, vitamins, & amino acids

My Thoughts?

Of course I was hesitant but excited to try and see if these had any different effect then the others I’ve tried over time. The smell was very soothing and pleasant. It was a faint hint of berry. The taste was what I was worried the most about though. To my surprise and pleasure it very pleasant! I know I read that it was non carbonated but for some odd reason I expected it to be. It really tasted more like water with a small amount of berry juice added, very refreshing. Another perk is that they don’t need to be refrigerated. They tasted just as good right off the shelf as they do out of the refrigerator. The best part I found besides its’ refreshing flavor was no after taste! That’s a HUGE thing for me.

I bet you’re wondering if it worked. While I didn’t feel a huge rush of instant relaxation as CurlyTop is in the midst of a stomach bug battle, I did find myself not wanting to fall asleep. I did in fact was able to peacefully have a conversation over trading our SUV in that normally ends with me yelling and walking out of the room. So I have to say it did in fact have an effect on me. It really does make me wonder if consuming these on a regular basis would have a lasting effect on a person or if one’s body adjusts to the drink and the drink loosing its effectiveness. The Night shot did help calm me down after a long night at work. For once I was able to lay in bed without too many thoughts running the hamster wheel.

Where to buy:

RelaxZen can be found in MANY places that we shop at every day! RiteAid, Circle K, Foodtown, Smoothie King, Pilot are just to name a few.

Don’t have one near you? Don’t worry you can order RelaxZen from ThirstMonger.Com and they currently have a really good deal that I will definitely be taking advantage of come payday! Free Shipping on all RelaxZen orders!

But WAIT! Don’t run off just yet! Did I peak your curiosity but still hesitant? Don’t worry because I’ve got the opportunity for THREE of you to win your own sample!

!! GIVEAWAY !!

Mandatory Entry:

Visit RelaxZen; tell me 1 thing you normally dislike about energy drinks and 1 thing you're hoping to see a difference in from RelaxZen. Don't forget to include your email address.

Additional Entries:

• Follow “It’s a Hooah Life” fan page on FB (+1 entries)
• Like “RelaxZen” on Facebook (+1 entry)
• Follow @RelaxZen on Twitter (+2 entries)
• Blog about the contest and leave a link (+3 entries)
• Grab my button & put it on your page. Don’t forget to leave a link to your page. (+3 entries)
• Tweet this: #Giveaway: Your own sample of @RelaxZen Energy Shots! Visit http://bit.ly/hmZeB6 to enter! {3 winners} Ending 1/29/11 (+2 entries; 1 entry per tweet)

Giveaway will end at 11:00 PM (eastern time) on January 29th , 2011. This giveaway is open to U. S. residents only. The winners will be selected by Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing information or another winner will be chosen. 

Disclaimer: I received a FREE sample from Smile.ly.com as a courtesy for this review. It did not sway my opinions one way or the other.

Chili's Restaurant Review & Giveaway

It’s funny how things work sometimes. Back in December on the way back from taking Lil t’ to Indianapolis to catch a flight, Dirt Diver & I were talking about what places we haven’t eaten at since we left San Diego. We both agreed with missed Chili’s and we really enjoyed their Southwestern Eggrolls. (If you haven’t tried them you better. TO. DIE. FOR.) The next day I went to check my emails and there was an email from Chili’s asking me if I was interested in doing a review of their “2 for $20” deal. I about died. I men really who would have thought that they would have emailed me literally the next day after the hubs and I were drooling in the truck just thinking about them. So we made plans to go on my birthday on December 27^th. Unfortunately life and our unit’s deployment got in the way along with a ton of medical issues with Dirt Diver so we never got to go. Finally the comics’ aligned and off we went this past Friday.

What started out as a simple dinner date with just the 2 of us, turned into a family dinner with everyone arguing over what they could order.

I’ll admit Dirt Diver was less then thrilled at being limited in what he could order until he pulled the menu out and saw that he could order one of his favorite meals, Crispy Honey-Chipotle Chicken Crispters and that my dear readers is where the complaining ended.

Dirt Diver and I are creatures of habit. When we find something that we like it’s almost impossible for us to stray away unless it’s unavailable and we’re forced to try another choice. So we stuck with two orders of Crispy Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers and the Texas Fries for an appetizer to share.

When the Texas fries came, I have to admit I was kind of taken aback at how small the serving was. I even commented to Dirt Diver that there wasn’t enough to share. But wouldn’t ya know that when we were done with the fries, I did realize it was he prefect size for me!

Next came our scrumptious Chipotle Chicken Crispers. I drool just thinking about them. OH EM GEE! Honestly to die for with the corn the cob just makes it even better. It was a battle between scarfing them down or savoring each and every piece. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to savor them very much. They were way WAY too good. My only complaint was that 2 crispers weren’t crispy more like just a soft breading but I dind’t care with the sauce, they were still phenomenal!

In the end we were all stuffed to the brim. I can’t believe I forgot to bring my camera because afterwards on the way out we got hit with a sleet storm as I was changing CurlyTop’s diaper in the back of the Durango. Talk about FUN times. *snicker*

Afterwards we headed home for a night of family Knect Time.

Enter the Giveaway:

Want to jump on in on the fun and win a $20 Chili's Gift Card?! Hop on over to Chili’s website, drool and then come back here to tell me what your mouth watering? (MANDATORY + email address) 

Extra Entries:

• Become a public blog follower of It’s a Hooah Life on GFC (+1)
• Follow It’s a Hooah Life FB Fan Page (+1)
• Follow @Chili’s on Twitter (+1)
• Follow @ShoutOut2EatOut on Twitter (+1)
• Follow Chili’s FB Fan Page (+1)
• Blog about this giveaway include link (+3 )
• Grab my “It’s a Hooah Life” button and add to your blogroll with a link back (+3)
• Tweet about this giveaway making sure to include @amuddypaw and @chilis in your tweet. (+1 entry each day. Must include link to tweet if you don’t include @amuddypaw)

 The Chili's Giveaway will start now and end on January 25th at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.

Disclaimer: I received one $20 Chili’s gift card for reviews purposes. I received no other compensation for this giveaway and all onions are of my own free will.

Chiquita Mom Review & Giveaway!

I’m not one for bananas, for the most part absolutely can not stand the way they taste after undressing them. However my feelings are not shared by everyone else in the house.  I do like banana smoothies and banana bread. They eat them straight out of the peel faster then I can keep them in stock. I’m always, ALWAYS replacing them.

The other day I bout a bundle, took them out of the bag, set them on the counter, turned to throw bag away, turned back and what was once 8 had magically dwindled down to 3. This is an every day occurrence here. I’ve tried hiding them, I’ve tired leaving them in the car, putting them in high cabinets, what have you but it never works. Almost like the kids have banana radar in them.

Anyways Chiquita contacted me to see if I would be interested in receiving a healthy kit that had great ideas for nutritional snacks for the kids. This was a complete no brainer in my book! The kids would be so mad if I had passed up this opportunity. Fast forward to a door bell ringing and there sitting on my porch was a white box with a HUGE image on it. The kids were pushing on either side of me to see what arrived and if it involved them.

Of course the excitement followed me into the kitchen as I opened the box to hear a bunch of “ohhh can I have?” and “If you aren’t going to use”.  The kit included some fabulous useful items, such as:

• Chiquita Mom’s Flip Book
• Chiquita Mom’s Freezer Bags
• Chiquita Mom’s Recipe Cards
• Coupon for a FREE bundle of Chiquita Bananas
• Chiquita Banana’s baby safe bowl w/ lid, fork, spoon, and Sippy cup
• Chiquita Banana baby bibs

And last but not lease since this was my favorite part of the kit…

• Chiquita Banana’s Moms’ Reusable Grocery Tote Bag.

(Can't believe I forgot to add a pic of my favorite thing!)

Why do I love being part of Chiquita Moms?

Simply put… spending quality time with the kids while feeding them something nutritional!

It gave us an opportunity to have fun picking out the perfect bunch of bananas, laughing and learning about dark green to bright yellow bananas, plantation bananas, and discuss which recipe we would love to try when we got home. It also gave me a reminder that just because life is busy doesn’t mean we have to push nutrition aside. Banana’s are cheap, easy, and a delicious snack. They curb

Banana Pops

Ingredients:

• Bananas (As many as people eating them can keep whole or cut in half)
• Peanut butter (optional)
• Yogurt (optional and what ever flavor you like)
• Chocolate (optional)

Toppings:

• Sprinkles (optional)
• Rice Krispies (optional)

• Craft sticks (amt depends on how many bananas you are going to use)

Directions:

1. Take the banana insert a craft stick in each one.

2. you can either dip it in the Yogurt/Chocolate or spread Peanut Butter on the banana.

3. Roll banana in the topping of your choice

4. Then you can either freeze them or eat the yummie goodness right there!

!! Giveaway !!

5 lucky followers (yes you read that right! I said FIVE!) will receive a Chiquita Mom Kit to encourage healthy eating while enjoying your family time! You MUST be a follower of my blog through GFC (Google Friend Connect) to enter.

Mandatory Entry: Visit Chiquita Banana’s Health & Nutrition and tell me something you learned from their site.

Additional Chances of Winning: (Don’t forget to leave a separate comment for each entry and to make sure your mandatory entry has your email included)

• “Like” It’s a Hooah Life’s Fan Page (+1 entry)
• Follow @ChiquitaChatter on Twitter (+1 entry)
• Follow @Amuddypaw on Twitter (+1 entry)
• “Like” Chiquita on Facebook (+1 entry)
• Blog about this giveaway & posting a link to your post (+2 entries)
• Place my button for It’s a Hooah Life on your site (+2 entries)
• Tweet “#GIVEAWAY: Win a Chiquita Mom's Kit! @amuddypaw (Ends 01/11) http://bit.ly/h5Y4Un“ (+1 entry per tweet max 2 tweets per day)

Please make sure to include your email address so that I can contact you and have Chiquita send you your very own Chiquita Mom Kit

Giveaway will end at 08:00 PM (eastern time) on January 11th , 2011. This giveaway is open to U. S. residents only. The winners will be selected by random.org and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. 

Disclosure: I was provided with Chiquita Mom Kit that was free of charge for the sole purpose of providing this review for my readers. All views and opinions are of my own and my children’s own with no other influences included.

Publish Post

Going from scary to hairy

Growing up I used to look at other mixed race girls with straight hair and wonder how they achieved it. I would look in the mirror and curse my hair. Having an Afro as a kid was NOT cool. It was always okay in the beginning, and then it would be turned into the butt of jokes by everyone. If I laid my head against something too long I’d looked like a soda can with a dent. A new sweatshirt pulled on and my hair looked like it snowed upon it. Everything stuck to it. To say I was jealous was a complete understatement, I was miserable.

WATCH OUT! It's Cousin IT!

At 20 I went and had my hair relaxed for the very first time. Sometimes I wonder if I had done it in High School if I would have had a better time; had the confidence to ask my crush out, and *gasp* even been asked out to a school dance. The lovely what if’s of an ugly duckling. After relaxing my hair it became obvious quickly that I had absolutely NO “girly gene” in me to take care of it. I did not know that regular shampoo was not good for ethnic hair, until my hair was so dry it was full of static and breaking. Had no idea how important conditioner was. Did you know that rubber bands are not healthy for your hair? I didn’t even learn what “wrapping” was until about 4 years ago and then I didn’t even grasp it until about a year ago. A year ago I was 29; I had been straightening my hair for 9 years! I went through many different flat irons with still not a clue in the world on exactly how to use them. They either ruined my hair, the handles broke, or the plates would flake.

Can you see the difference?

That was all until I met a little guy named Vidal Sassoon Answers: 1” Straightener Coarse Hair. My, oh my how that little guy has become my best friend. I still don’t straighten my hair regularly but when I do, I love the results. The one I have is for coarse hair since it’s beyond coarse; is that even possible? I think so.  Love how it heats up in 30 seconds, which is great for a quick touch up before heading out the door. The plates are ceramic vs. the ceramic plated ones that flake, then grab your hair breaking it. A big plus for me is it has auto shut-off! I am notorious for leaving things on as I run to chase a kid out of the dog water, from climbing the entertainment center. And last but not lastly, thanks to the swivel cord I no longer get tangled up in the cord causing serious injury to myself. And the best thing it didn’t cost me a fortune. I was able to bring it home for only $27.99. Not bad since I was almost to the point of selling a child for Chi.

Also if you notice in the first picture that fabulous bottle of lotion from The Cream Perfume Company, I was the recipient of it after winning Mass Hole Mommy’s giveaway. I am VERY picky about how my coconut products smell. I was very surprised and happy that I loved it. My first win in a giveaway since I started blogging, so excited. You must go visit her and her giveaways because they are all wonderful.