Extra Dessert Delights Gum in Key Lime Pie

Gum with flavors "inspired by real desserts."


I'm not really a gum chewer, but the packaging of this gum caught my eye as I was standing in line at the grocery store. I love lime. I especially love a great key lime pie. And I thought having a sugarfree gum on hand that tasted as yummy as the picture promises, I would be able to resist snacking on other not-so-healthy options.

So how does it taste? It's good, really good. The initial hit is the just the right amount of authentic key lime flavor, with a bit of a milky /custardy (yes, I know that's not a real word) note in the background. Of course you get the biggest punch of flavor the first 5 minutes in, but Extra really does last. You're left with a pleasant lime tinged custard flavor for the remainder of your chewing experience.

The only downside for me is that it contains aspartame. I don't have a reaction to aspartame, but I know those who do. I wish the bigger corporations, like Wrigley, would get on board with the more natural sweeteners like stevia or xylitol. But the aspartame is in such small amount, I'm OK with chewing it occasionally.

4 out of 5 stars - For great, long-lasting flavor but sweetened with aspartame.

Goody Spin Pin

"Does the work of twenty bobbies."


My hair is long, thick, and curly. So when I want to put it up, it becomes a bit of a challenge. Bobby pins are pretty much useless in my hair, I don't even bother with them. I saw a commercial for the new Goody Spin Pins and thought I would test them out. The picture above/right is the back of my head (lovely eh?). These are really easy to use, just insert the tip and spin it to the right. Goody says it only takes two to hold a chignon, but in my hair, I found that three really anchored it in place. For most women two will suffice.

Aside from the fact that these are really easy to use, they also stay put. I think I spent at least half the summer with my hair up in these, just trying to keep cool. I even swam with them in, and they do not fall out. They would also make a great stocking stuffer for any long-haired girls in your life.

5 out of 5 stars - They work just as advertised.

Sinupret for Kids

"The Sinupret® product line, developed by Bionorica, has been the #1 most widely recommended, scientifically tested nasal and sinus support formula in Germany for children for more than 70 years. Not only does it provide sinus support*, but it is documented to provide immune support as well*. Sinupret for Kids has been recommended by German physicians more than 3,500,000 times to their patients. There has never been one serious side effect from Sinupret for Kids and its efficacy is so well-documented that it is the most prescribed product by pediatricians in Europe."


There are new guidelines out for the administration of cough syrup for children under the age of 6. Basically, kids under 6 should not take over the counter cough medicines. GREAT. What can I do to help my 2 year old when he's up all night hacking like 4 pack a day cigarette smoker suffering from emphysema? 


I saw an ad in Parenting magazine for Sinupret, a homeopathic syrup. Let me be clear, this is not cough syrup. It  will not relieve a cough. But in my experience, it helps knock out their cold in a matter of days instead of weeks. The only local place I could find this was at Walmart. It's pretty pricey, about $14 a bottle, but it lasts a long time. We're on our third cold with our first bottle still 1/3 full. After I read that this is a product that's been used in Europe for over 70 years, and is made in Germany, I was sold. People, Germany invented aspirin, they obviously know what they're doing!


I've also taken this myself, just this past week in fact. Adam has had a cold, it was inevitable I would get it too. I woke up Tuesday with a bad sore throat on one side, so I knew it was starting. So I took a double dose of Sinupret twice a day, with extra vitamin-C, and it was gone by Thrusday. The cold never fully developed, and I'm usually the one who gets hit the hardest in our house.


5 out of 5 stars - Tell that cold to take a hike!

Off! Clip-On Mosquito Repellent

Personal mosquito protection you don't spray on!

I am a mosquito magnet. The mosquitoes in our area must have a sophisticated palate, because it's me they want, not my husband or child. Granted, if I was a mosquito, all it would take is one good look at those two mud lovers and I'd head for the clean, sweet taste of me too. Within 5 minutes of being outside, I will get no less than 5 bites. It's kind of been a running joke in our house; let's count mommy's owwies!

I also have sensitive skin, so I hate having to put on bug repellent. When I saw the commercial for the new Off! Clip-On, I got one right away. And IT WORKS! I've been using this for about 3 months now, and every time I remember to grab it on the way out the back door, I can enjoy the weather bite free.

5 Stars - It works! No more sticky, yucky smelling bug repellent for me.

Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets

Laundry sheets are a load's worth of detergent, softener, and anti-static all on one powerful sheet.

I received a sample of this product by visiting this site. I think it's a great concept, since I hate having to lift my giant CostCo size laundry detergent bottle every time I want to wash a load. These sheets are light as paper; grab one (or two, if you have an especially filthy load) and toss it into your washer. No liquids to spill, no softener to dispense, and it even takes the place of dryer sheets.

The downside is, they are way more expensive to use than dosing out your own liquid/powder. Not all loads of laundry require softener either. I don't use softener on my towels, because over time it leaves a build up which makes your towels less absorbent. I learned this watching TV, so I know it must be true.

Also, I found that these weren't nearly as effective as the standard dryer sheets at reducing static cling. Maybe because I'm a hot water wash-aholic (in my mind, the clothes aren't going to get clean and wash away all the invisible germs/bugs unless their scalded), but it didn't seem like there was much product left to do the job in the dryer after the wash cycle.

However, they are great for travel. So light and easy to pack for vacation, and no problems passing through security if you're traveling via airplane. Also, to my disabled friends who do their own laundry, these are definitely much easier to lug.

3 stars because they're great for travel, but too expensive and ineffective for every day use.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia



"This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali. By turns rapturous and rueful, this wise and funny author...is poised to garner yet more adoring fans."


Just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend, a book review! This is a great 3-day weekend book because you'll actually be able to finish it during that time. As the title suggests, the book is broken up into 3 parts; Eat (Italy), Pray (India), & Love (Bali). I won't go into to too much detail about the plot, only to say that this is a memoir of a woman in search of herself. The author, Elizabeth Gilbert, has a really breezy writing style, almost lyrical. It's a fun, fast read with parts that are cringe worthy and parts that are joyous.

To me, I could literally smell the aromas of Italy (Eat) and never wanted to leave that section. That should tell you a lot about me! The India section, (Pray), was the most tedious, and the Bali (Love) was the most satisfying.

If you read it now you can beat the movie, starring Julia Roberts, which will be in theaters August 13.

4 out of 5 stars for a great read, one that I will likely read again. Well, at least the Eat part.

Brainy Baby Flashcards

"Fun picture cards that introduce the alphabet; For ages 2-5 years."

OK, not much of a pitch from the company, so let me see if I can do a better job. The age range for these flash cards is from 2-5, but I say that it's never too early to introduce your child to concepts such as the alphabet. My son is now two, but he's had these cards since he was 3 months old. I didn't set out on a mission to teach him his ABC's, he just loved looking at the pictures in books. So on one of my many trips to Walgreen's during his infancy, I wandered down the toy aisle and noticed these near the books. They were priced 2 for $3, so I picked the ABC's and Shapes/Colors. They are really thick, like cardboard, so I thought they would be perfect for him to play with as he got bigger.

At first, I would pull these out and show him the letters and pictures on the two-sided cards. I would say the letter and then tell him what the picture was. He really enjoyed this, but I'm quite sure it was just the colors and sound of my voice. But by 6 months, when he could sit up on his own, he loved grabbing them and throwing them around. By the time he was 12 months, he would specifically ask me for "cards" every morning. He really enjoyed throwing them around the room by then. So one day, as he sat on the floor in the wake of a flash card hurricane, I thought I'd try a little experiment. I spotted the card with the "A" on it, and asked him "Can you bring mommy the card with the A on it?" He stood up, and took a while to inspect his surroundings. I repeated my request, and sure enough, he found the "A" card and brought it to me. OK, total coincidence, he saw me looking right at it, right? Nope. The kid was actually paying attention during all those months of "play" and had learned his alphabet before he could even verbalize all the letters. AND, his colors and shapes. WHOA.

Needless to say, now that he actually is two, these are boring to him. He can recite his ABC's in order, count to 20, count down from 10, and asks his mommy to draw him pentagons and octagons (you know, the fun shapes). Is he a "Brainy Baby"? I like to think so, but I think we just underestimate the mind of a 3 month old. Every kid can do this if just given the tools. And hey, 2 for $3 is about the cheapest tool you can get.

5 out of 5 stars because they're cheap, well made, effective teaching tools.