A Good Night's Sleep

Bedtime...

For a lot of us that word can make us cringe, the thought of putting some children to bed can be about the equivalent of getting a 200lb black bear to just let the dentist look at his teeth.

In our house, bedtime can be a challenge as well, whether it be Annabella begging to eat some 'banamas' or she needs to "hug babies at the gym" she certainly comes up with a few other things she would rather do then lay down and shut her eyes.

But some parents have it so easy, they just lay that little one down in the crib, read a story, and say "good-night" I had always hated those women until now

Anna Wahlgren is a full time mother of nine, yes that's right nine children. As you can probably imagine, over the last 30 years of having children, she has come up with a valuable system for putting children to bed. The system is simple and it focus' on the things that children need for a quality nights sleep. 

Anna helps parents to understand why their children are waking up a few times a night. She points out ways for us to handle these challenges with our children so that they (and we) can sleep better.

The book's steps are calm, security and pleasure. With terms like 'rocking', 'jingling' and 'buffing' your children to sleep you will find some amazing ways to calm your child down and let them know that you are there, while helping them fall asleep.

Anna talks about what we can do during the day to help our children sleep through the night, such as feeding them good foods.

So before you try the  'cry-it-out' method which is hard for everyone involved,  please give this book a try, if you don't want to take my word for how wonderful it is, read one of the many letters in the book from parent's. 

The book is available on Amazon

I received a free copy of "A Good Night's Sleep" by Anna Wahlgren for this review all opinions are 100% mine. I did not receive any cash for this post.

"Dance First, Think Later"

Alright, before I post this review let me just say that I like books that are easy to pick up and put down, having a toddler, and a full time job makes it hard to read novels. By the time I get started reading something, its too late, I'm already being pulled in another direction.

Which is why I like books that have quick sayings about life, or about being zen or whatever they might be about. Little saying that make me feel good inside are something that I like to have strewn around my home in different places, so I can just pick them up whenever I might need one.

"Dance First, Think Later" is one of these books. Its a compilation of 618 quotes about following your heart and living your life to the fullest. Sometimes it can be hard to remember to follow our hearts. They are inspiring statements that are quick and easy to read.

One of my favorites

Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.”—Oscar Wilde

If you don't have time to read a book to get the lesson, try out "Dance First, Think Later" and you'll get quotes that are straight to the point and meaningful. They are great conversation starters or fun notes to put into your kid's lunch for school! 

I recieved a copy of  "Dance First, Think Later" for this review, I did not receive any cash for this review. All opinions are my own. 

Asthma, Allergies, Children a Parent's Guide

Asthma and Allergies can be scary. Especially when it comes to talking to a doctor about your child. Personally I've never had any allergies (except to the mirena birth control)

I don't have asthma, and I'm pretty healthy.

So I've wondered what I would do if Annabella were allergic to anything.

It would be hard for me to really know what was going on, what questions to ask, what foods she could eat. What symptoms to look for. What therapies are out there for children with allergies.

In the book "Asthma, Allergies, Children... A Parents Guide" The three authors Paul Ehrlich M.D., Larry Chiaramonte M.D.,  and Henry Ehrlich; give advice and insight on how to deal with your child's Asthma or Allergies.

One feature in the book that I particularly liked is the explanations of Allergies and Asthma, the book goes into great detail and tells us how the two work. Which really gives insight on how our bodies work and how the bodies of children with Allergies or Asthma are different. It helped me to really understand what was going on when someone had an allergic or asthmatic reaction.

It goes through which ingredients should be avoided in food if your child has certain allergies. I found this section to be very helpful; especially the section that tells all the ingredients that have to be avoided that I didn't even know that there were eggs in! Like Ovomucin (not that I know what it is!)

One feature in the book that I particuarlly liked is the explinations of Allergies and Asthsma, the book goes into great detail and tells us how the two work. Which really gives insight on how our bodies work and how the bodies of children with Allergies or Athsma are different. It helped me to really understand what was going on when someone had an allergic or athsmatic reaction.

It talks about skin allergies and the different variations of them. Where they come from, I liked the Eczema information as my cousin has eczema and I am always looking for tips for her to use when it comes to her skin.

Learn about alternative treatments for Allergies, learn how Biofeedback and Yoga Breathing can help with your child's asthma! What Vitamins and herbs can help out? Ever thought to try acupuncture for your little one?

If your child has asthma, then "Asthma, Allergies, Children a Parent's Guide" is indispensable. It not only helps teach about allergies and asthma but it will help put your mind at ease about your child's asthma and allergies! 

For more information check out http://www.asthmaallergieschildren.com/

Glo Crazy!

Alright everyone, I think I may have discovered the coolest new toy on the market!

I was sent the "GloCrazy Distance Doodler"

This amazing product comes with special paper that you stick to the wall, you can also cut out shapes and stick them to the wall. They have a faint glow when just left in the dark.

Now here is where the fun part comes in, take the special  'distance doodler' you can stand up to 10 feet away, click the button and start drawing! This product is amazing, the pen writes and it glows right on the sheets that you put on the wall! The sheets can be reused because the glowing color fades after about ten minutes.

Wait theres more! You can also create cool silhouettes with the alternate setting on the glow wand

This is a great way to make silly monsters or practice your hand at shadow puppets!  It was a great way to get the kids to see the differences in their faces.

My daughter had fun pointing out the noses on the silhouettes as we put them up.

My 8 year old cousin thought it was just about the coolest thing ever, he was convinced that a 'mad scientist' must have invented it.

The Glow Crazy kit comes with two sheets of jumbo wall clings to stick on your wall to write on, one distance doodler light wand, 4 stencils and a tip booklet. All that you need for hours of fun.  Check out their Glow Crazy Activity Center for more great activities and ideas to use your Glow Crazy for tons more fun!

You can get your own Glow Crazy by visiting their website at www.glowcrazy.com. They have a great offer going on right now where you'll get 5 jumbo wall clings, an extra distance doodler (what a great way to have light battles) and bonus stencils! All this for just$24.95 (plus postage and handling)

So if you're looking for the perfect gift for just about anybody be sure to check out Glow Crazy, its amazing and sure to put a smile on everybody's face.

"The Secrets of People who Never get Sick"

Have you ever wondered why some people just seem to never get sick? 

I get sick about three times a year I'd say but for some, they just seem to avoid it all together.

In "The  Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick:" by Gene Stone, we learn 25 ways that seem to be the secrets to these people's health.

Among these secret; Brewers Yeast, Friends, Probiotics, Good Genes, and Yoga. In addition to those six, there are 19 more secrets that are not only simple and easy to add into your life. 

While it may be tough to live in a Blue Zone, it is possible that we could try to create one and all live long and healthy lives like the people in Nicova, Costa Rica. Learn more about these amazing places in Gene Stone's book.

I have already incorporated Brewer's Yeast into my diet.  I sprinkle it on salads and sweet potato fries, and add it to my oatmeal and baked goods."The secrets of People who Never Get sick" tells some easy ways to incorporate these secrets into your life.

And this Author knows his stuff, he's been a co-author of many books two of them New York Times bestsellers! He says in the book that he has tried all kinds of remedies. He's really done his research here, this book isn't just a book of crazy ideas and old wives tails. They are simple habits that you can add into your day to help you stay healthy and give your body what it needs!

This book is an excellent read, its hard to put down. I don't know anybody who couldn't benefit from reading a book like this. The chapters are readable and are easily finished in a short period of time making it a great book to bring with you for a day filled with appointments. Or if you want something to read when you're getting that short break from the kids.

Get a copy of The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick on Amazon.com for $16.29 you won't regret it.

Review and Giveaway "Exploiting my baby because its exploiting me"

Do you sometimes feel a bit... paranoid?

At times does it feel like every mother in the playgroup is staring at your sweatpants and unmade up face?

Well then  "Exploiting my baby.... because its exploiting me is just the book for you.

Its the perfect book for you. Now, if you consider yourself the perfect mama always looking fab and never having problems... then you probably are  robot.

Teresa Strasser is funny and honest in this book, just like her radio personality. This book is so straight forward that sometimes I wonder if her stories are coming from my house or hers.

The book is filled with hilarious observations of Teresa's own life, I love how honest she is on all accounts and how she doesn't hesitate to talk about feeling left out by other mothers even though its probably only in her head (yes, I felt this way too) Personally I always felt like the 'young mom' or the 'single mom' at birth classes and other events and wondered what we would talk about, I also always thought they were staring at me.

This book is talks about everything us 'normal' parents feel when pregnant, is there something wrong with the baby? What can't I eat? Is this stomach pain something more?

If you're easily offended this book may not be for you, as I said she is brutally honest and doesn't hold back talking about bodily functions, sex, loneliness and so many more topics that we all deal with when pregnant or a new mom.

GIVEAWAY!

One lucky reader is going to get a copy of their own! 

To enter:

Be a follower of mommypants and just leave a comment below telling me what you were most paranoid when pregnant... never pregnant, tell me what makes you most paranoid about being pregnant!!

Giveaway ends March 3rd at Midnight so be sure to enter!

Make sure you leave your  e-mail address so I can e-mail you if you win~

Good luck!

I received a free copy of "Exploiting my baby. because its exploiting me" to review for this post, all opinions are my own. I did not receive any cash for this review

":E is for Enviroment" Review

I'm very excited to tell you about today's book review

I can't tell you enough what a brilliant book this is!

Ian James Corlett, has created a book that is not only a fun learning experience for kids, but it helps me as a parent make healthy choices, for my house, family and the environment.

Elliott and Lucy star in this book along with Mom and Dad. Throughout the book we read two to three page stories about their daily lives. In these stories, Elliot and Lucy learn how to make choices that are green and healthy for their bodies. While reading through these stories, I noticed that Mom and Dad try to help the kids to make the right decisions, and these decisions are instilled into their children.

Elliot and Lucy, learn about buying only what they need, they learn to buy local produce, about the importance of the three r's (reduce, reuse, recycle)

I love all the stories, they are short and are easy to read before a trip to the grocery store, or as a quick story before breakfast or diner. 

What I really love about this book is how it really helps parents to teach the kids (or whoever needs to learn) There are questions to ask the kids throughout the stories, to help kids stay involved and interested in whats going on. At the end of the stories, there are questions about the stories, helping kids to relate what happened in the story to their own lives. 

E Is for Environment is fantastic, I would recommend it to every family and maybe even require it. Not only do I feel this book is helping my daughter learn to be eco-friendly, but I have been reading it aloud to my 'not so eco' family and I'm quite sure a bit of it is sinking in.

So for all you eco-mamas out there and more importantly for you non eco-mamas, get this book. You and the future won't regret it.

To get your own copy of E Is for Environment: , check out the link to Amazon, you'll have to preorder because the book isn't going to be released till  February 22, 2011!

I received a free copy of "E is for Environment" for this review, all opinions are mine.

The Naked Mom

Brooke Burke, is a multi talented woman, she has been on tv, and radio, as well as being on "Dancing with the Stars" , now she can add Author to that seemingly growin list.

All of these which require lots of time, talent, effort and minimal privacy.

Her newest book The Naked Mom is about Brooke, its an honest and real account of her life. She talks about the things that we all deal with in life as mothers. The frustration, joy and, humor that can come with it.

It was nice to read the story of someone who I think is awesome, from her show "Wild on" to "Dancing with the Stars" Brooke is a dedicated and hard worker, so it seems as though it would be easy for her to raise a family. But just like the rest of us, Brooke deals with (even more publicly) the issues we all face, divorce, remarriage with kids, worrying, criticism. and everything else. This book is like getting advice from a good friend.

I especially appreciate the chapter on guilt. Its something that mothers deal with so often, and its hard to get over, I guess it just comes with the territory! In it she has a list of things we shouldn't feel guilty about as well as one we should (that list includes "saying you remind him of his mother") .

Another good topic is the topic of bitchyness... on man do I know about this one. I have on a few occasions been labeled "a bitch". And while I do think that most of the time I am an overly nice person. On the wrong day, I wouldn't recommend crossing me. Brooke's chapter "Embrace the Bitch" lets us know its okay to be a bitch and that sometimes, its almost necessary.

The book is spotted with lists full of everything from life lessons to a suggested playlist. And Brooke is a down to earth girl who just wants whats best for her family. The book is a great read for any mama!

Buy a Copy
The Naked Mom:  is available on Amazon.com!

Win a Copy!

To get your own copy of The Naked Truth just be a follower and leave a comment below!
Contest ends March 1st 2011 at midnight!

Good luck!

"Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred" Review

Hello!

Any future handymen out there in those households?

Well let me tell you I have the book for you!

"Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred... Seriously Geeky Stuff  To Make With Your Kids" by David Erik Nelson is a great book for parents looking for new ways to interact with their kids.

Or just for folks who are looking for some new projects to make.

When I received the book I was super excited about all the projects that there were to make, they are useful things that you can make with your kids so that they can not only have new toys or games to play with, but they also learn about what goes into making things!

Take the  $10 electric guitar, perfect for my cousin Kolt, you'll remember him  from this post about him playing guitar for Annabella. This was the perfect project for us to make together and I think I had just as much fun making it with him as I did learning about how a guitar works!

Not only can you make an electric guitar for $10, but it teaches you how to play the guitar that you just made, of course its a bit different from a regular electric guitar (Kolt was sure to point that out) But its amazing to see how all the simple parts of the guitar come together to make music!

These projects are easy, they do require some time and a few tools. Of course usually a trip to the hardware store to get the required elements. But they are almost always cheap and the projects that you can make from the book are fantastic.

Another great project?  How about a "dirt cheap amp"? Yes, we do focus on music here in our neck of the woods. Lean how to work with circuits (yep I 'm learning too) If you hit up yard sales (or in our case the basement) for old speakers and switches you can make it for about $2

My favorite project in the book? The "Cheap Mesh Screen Printing" So simple I had everything I needed except for the mesh screen. Which was easy to find. Using the screen and an old embroidery hoop (who doesn't have one of those hanging around?) I was able to create screens and use them over and over to create screen prints that were the same (whoo-hoo summer vendors here I come!) Such a cheap way to make screen prints, personally I like the handmade look that they get over the professional screen prints that are available.

David Erik Nelson has written and amazing book for kids of all ages to do great projects with their parents, older siblings or even grandparents. The projects like the shut-the-box game are sure to provide for hours of learning and fun even after the projects are complete.

So yes I absolutely recommended this book, its amazing, its fantastic, its creative! Its fun! Its sure to last for years of do it yourselfing.

Get your own copy Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Stuff to Make with Your Kids

I received a free copy of "Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred" for this review, all the opinions are my own, I did not receive any cash payment for the review.

Papertoy Monsters!! Review and giveaway!

So Its snowing here in New England, and there isn't very much to do on the outside of the house.

I was looking for a way to kill time, that was until I received "Papertoy Monsters!" A book of punch out, fold and glue pages!

Whats so cool about that? 

These monsters are seriously cool, its kind of like a 3D paperdoll, only you don't dress it.

Need an example? Check out this Valentine's Day Papertoy Monster which is available to download and print out right from your printer!

Or try the Superbowl Papertoy Monster also available for download on the site!

Now I will note that when I made the first monster, I was weary that a nine year old could make these as well, its tedious no doubt, small spots to glue, and little areas to fold. However, after I made the first one, and then the second, I realized that its a book thats habit forming. In fact, I made total of five of the monsters this morning and my sister made one.  I just couldn't stop (in fact I'm thinking about doing another one after I'm done with the review) 

A few of my new buddies

Its easy for me to see how a child or anyone for that matter could spend hours making these.  These folks have also made the book interactive by putting a quiz online to find out which "Papertoy Monster" fits your personality! You can take the  "Papertoy Monster" Quiz on Facebook as well as join the "Papertoy Monster" Facebook page. I got the "Zombunny" a bunny that thanks to a government experiment gone wrong, raids farmer's trash heaps as well as supermarket  parking lots.

More adorable monsters

I really have to say I am enjoying this book, I was a bit weary at first and thought that maybe it was more hype then anything, but after building a few of these colorful toys, I think that they would make a great addition to a desk or locker. They would also be fun at parties because all the kids could make them and then have monster fights!

Not to worry though, not all these monsters are evil, some of them are nice and spread love and joy around town. 

To see these guys live in action check out this video from Brian Castleforte

Watch Papertoy Monsters come to life in a video from Castleforte!

This book is a collaboration of the top 24 papertoy designers in the world! Which means that I have lots more fun projects to keep making!

To get your own copy:

 Papertoy Monsters:  Check out Amazon.com and other major retailers!

WIN ONE!!

The fabulous folks over at Workman Publishing have offered one reader of Mommypants! a free copy!!

To win!! (Please leave a separate comment for each entry)

1. Who is your favorite monster (it doesn't have to be one from the book)
2. Become a follower of Mommypants!
3. Blog about this giveaway

Giveaway ends February 7, 2011

Good luck and thanks for reading!

I received a free copy of  "Papertoy Monsters" from Workman publishing for this review. All the opinions are my own

"Saltwater Taffy" Review

Pirates

Who doesn't love them, or fear them, or well secretly want to be one?

When I was offered to review the book "Saltwater Taffy" by Eric DelaBarre,  I was a bit excited, I'm not going to lie, as much as I love reading about mystery and romance, I would much rather hear about adventure.

"Saltwater Taffy" fits this mold perfect, its full of suspense, mystery and a group of middle schoolers who want to find the lost treasure of Jean Laffitte.

But they're not alone in their, search, the whole town has been trying to figure out where the lost treasure is for years!  So this rag-tag group of middle schoolers has to outsmart quite a few people in their hunt. Will they ever solve the mystery ciphers will they discover where the treasure is?

I really enjoyed reading this book, which is why I am such a fan of it, not only did it entertain my daughter, but it was a fantastic book to read out loud to her before bedtime. I had to stop myself from going further in the book as she fell asleep. I'll be honest, I really wanted to read the whole thing in one night!

This book is great  for middle schooler to read on their own, but can also be read aloud to much younger children because its easy to read and understand. It's story is captivating and its written at a level of reading that they can understand. This book is also a great way to spend family time together; rather then watching a movie, I chose to read this to my daughter and we were both caught up in the adventure. 

I would recommended this book to anyone who likes pirates and anybody who wants to read a book that will take them places! This book is about friendship and sticking together, as well as letting kids know that they can do anything if they put their mind to it!

To get your own copy of "Saltwater Taffy" check out the Amazon Book store, as well as Barnes and Noble and other book sellers!

Don't miss out! Its been a while since I've recommended a book like this to adults, but really you'll love it!
Check out Eric's Site for more info on "Saltwater Taffy"
http://www.whatagreatbook.com/
And be sure to check him out on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/whatagreatbook


I was sent a free copy of "Saltwater Taffy" for this review, all the opinions are my own. 

Getting Your Furniture Clean with Guardsman Products!

As Larry David once stated "I Respect Wood!"

So I'm always on the lookout for some great new products that can protect and clean my wood, but won't further damage it! 

The Guardsman company has been around helping people care for their furniture for over a century, so I felt confident when they asked me to try their products that they would work. 

Not only do they have products to clean and protect furniture but also to repair it and keep it feeling like new!

Gaurdsman believes that you don't have to work all day to make your home sparkle, but with three simple steps you can get your furniture looking like new! (or at least looking like it hasn't been living in a daycare center)

Step 1: Dust

Be sure to get every area

Cracks and crevices usually hold the most dust, and they can make furniture look old and dingy if they are full of dust, so be careful to get those places as well as the obvious surface areas

I was sent the Guardsman Ultimate Dusting Cloth

The cloth is SOFT, and is specially treated to lock the dust into the fibers, rather then just pushing it around like ordinary towels. Its 100% cotton which means it won't scratch the surface. Its also washable and reusable, always a plus for us eco-friendly mamas!

Don't forget to dust your shelves, take everything off and move stuff around!

Here is my table after dusting it with the cloth

As you can see its free from dust and debris, there are still a couple of finger prints, but the dust is gone!

Step 2: Clean

Guardsman has TONS of products for keeping your furniture in tip top shape, I was sent the

 Purifying Wood Cleaner.

This stuff was wonderful! I put it on a soft cloth and then wiped away the fingerprints. I liked how I didn't have to  'scrub' to get the prints off the table, which can damage the wood. Immediatly after using the cleaner I dried it with another soft cloth.

Alright, now due to the picture below you may think that I don't clean very often, but I do! All this residue is from my table, goodbye fingerprints and dirt!

And here is my sparkling clean table! Doesn't it look like new!

I really love how this table turned out, I continued to dust and clean the rest of my house and it turned out beautiful!

I was also sent the Guardsman Leather Cleaner Wipes, just $7.99

We decided to do the leather in my sister's car with this since it really needed to be cleaned!

My sister's dog doesn't really know how to treat leather so as you can see here there are lots of stains and tons of dirt! The Leather Wipes are premoistened so they are simple and easy to carry around in the car for easy cleaning at any time!

 But do they work? Well we used 4 for her ENTIRE CAR!!

Here you can see the first two

And here are the second two! As you can see they really got the dirt out!

 Here is the back seat after cleaning them with the wipes! As you can see all the dirt is off the leather, I can't begin to tell you how much softer it felt after using the wipes!

Gaurdsmen has some great other products for cleaning, take the Water Ring Remover.

 I was sent one of these and really love using it on all my problem areas

Its a small cloth that takes away blemishes in your wood that can be caused my a number of things, in my house its usually sippy cup rings on my tables!  (I don't know when kids learn to use coasters)

It will also remove stains that are caused by heat, alcohol and cosmetics. Is this not the perfect item for any house with wood? I think so, I'm adding it to my "must keep on hand" list, I have even used it on stains that have been there for a while and they came off with ease! The price? Just $4.99!

I was also sent the Guardsman Fabri-Kleen sudsless cleaner.

 This is great for couches, or carpets that need some stain removal. Simply dissolve one of the four, 8oz packets in some VERY warm water, and wet a portion of cloth with the cleaner, then test on an area that you won't see often to make sure it doesn't damage the fabric.

Then gently work the cleaner into the stain until the soil is loosened, (about 15 seconds depending on the stain) Then gently blot with a clean cloth.

Yep, thats it! Gone are the days of trying to rinse the oxyclean suds away from my furniture only to be disappointed later when I have leftover soap on the surface making my couch or carpet look dingy! Or spending hours trying to rinse the suds off the fabric. It was so easy. I used it to take some make-up stains off my carpet (yes I'm guilty of making the messes too!) It was so much easier then my usual method and it  got the stains out quick! At $3.49 thats less then a dollar per cleaning!

So at this point, your house is looking pretty great but there is one more step in getting everything exactly how you want it to look, as well as keeping everything in good condition!

Step 3: Protect and Maintain


Polishing furniture is my favorite part, I love everything looking shiny and new, as well as the good feeling I get knowing that everything is being conditioned and protected.

The Guardsman Wood Polish, is a great way to condition your wood without silicones or waxes that can cause build up on your wood. Its even available with a UV inhibitor to protect that wood that sits by your windows from the sun's harsh rays which can damage and lighten the surface and color of your wood furniture!

Its best applied with the Multi-purpose Polishing Cloth.

Which in addition to wood can be used to polish everything from windows to boats to jewelry to shoes, and those aren't the only items on the list. Now thats what I call a multi-purpose product! Just like the other cloths from Guardsman, its  100% Cotton and reusable! At just $1.49 a piece you really can't beat that price!

Now that your wood is polished go ahead and get rid of all those areas where the finish has come off and left unsightly marks on your wood.  They are non-toxic and come in three colors! They can be blended to match just about any wood color. I found that the were really good for my baseboards and doors because I am guilty of letting my vacuum cleaner hit the baseboards as well as knocking the huge thing into walls and doors.  I was able to match up the colors with ease and had my baseboards looking like new!

To protect that carpet from further makeup stains (thank you guardsman for helping me FINALLY remove them) I used the Guardsman Fabricoate Fabric Protector. Selling for $9.99 this product is designed to help keep the furniture cleaner for longer. It helps to keep stains off the fabric. It takes about two hours to dry.  But you have to test it on a hidden area to make sure it doesn't alter the color!

I put it on the carpet in front of my mirror to help to avoid other stains, and though I haven't had any problems with spilling make-up, I'm waiting for the day and I'll let you folks know how it turns out.

Finally I'm going to talk about the Guardsmen Leather Protector Wipes.

 For just $7.99 these were amazing, they made the car look, smell and feel like a brand new car. They were also so simple to use, below you can see my sister super excited about how wonderful these are making her car look!

And a picture of the back seat after using the protector, notice how shiny and clean everything looks! It creates an invisible barrier on your leather so that in the future its EASIER to clean! Wow a product that makes future cleaning easier, how could we NOT buy it? I loved how easy it was to use the wipes on the car and we only needed to use six of them to do the whole thing.

To Buy or Not to Buy:

Buy! With the most expensive product priced at $9.99 (the fabric protector) these are a great bargain compared to most products. These are quality cleaners and they come from a company thats been around since  1915, thats something you can count on!

The Ring and Stain Remover is must have for any household and I would say the same for the Fabri-Kleen Upholstry Cleaner, which includes four packs of cleaner for  $3.49! Thats less then a dollar per cleaning!

I also recommend the Leather cleaning products for anyone with a leather interior in their, car these are perfect and come in packs with disposable wipes to make it easy to keep that leather soft and new anywhere!

Get Some For Yourself!


To get your hands on some Guardsman products check out
http://www.shopguardsman.com/


*I received a free Guardsman Cleaning kit for this review, no financial compensation was received for this review* 

Auntie Anne's At Home Baking Kits

My sister loves monkey bread

I don't think that there has been a visit home without her bugging me about it.

For some reason, my sister has forgotten that all thats required to make "Mally's Monkey Bread" is three packs of refrigerated biscuit dough, sugar, cinnamon and way too much butter.

Myself however, I don't really succumb to the hydrogenated oils that saturate the dough, as well as my body after eating it. 

So when I was sent the Auntie Anne's At Home Baking Kit to try out I was psyched when I learned that one of the recipes reccomended was Monkey Bread! My sister was just as excited

So we started out on our journey to make a new kind of Monkey Bread

Gather Materials:

The only materials needed in addition to the kit is some butter, some spray oil, and some extra cinnamon and sugar, the kit doesn't come with quite enough sugar for the monkey bread, however it does come with enough for making pretzels!

First get the yeast ready with warm water in a bowl.

Stir in the Yeast

Wait for two minutes for the yeast to activate

Stir the premixed dry ingredients into the yeast mixture

 After mixing a while its easiest to pour 

Add some flour to the table if its too sticky

The hands of a massage therapist are great for kneading dough

Once you get the ball in a dough

Let it rise, in a warm spot

 After thirty minutes in a warm spot it should be ready

 Cut into 50 or 60 1 inch pieces (we made ours too big, probably would have been better half this size)

 Melt your butter and mix the cinnamon and sugar.

 Roll into balls

 Roll them in butter

 Then roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture.

Then drop it into your Bunt pan that you have sprayed with oil

 Keep rolling your balls and filling your bundt pan

 Sooner then you know it you'll be done!

 Bake for 30-35 min

 Yum Monkey Bread

 Sticky and crunchy.

 Careful Auntie its hot!

Blowing it off

 Mmmm delicious

Well it was definitely worth the process. My sister who has never made bread before, wasn't too keen on how long it took to make the monkey bread (about 1 1/2 to 2 hours from start to finish) I thought that it came together quick, considering that it was yeast dough!

The problem I find with most monkey bread is that it goes stale so fast! This recipe seemed to be good for  a longer period of time. I also liked that it contains NO HYDROGENATED OILS!!! A big no-no for my mouth. Pillsbury may last forever, but thats because its semi plastic!

I would make the balls of dough smaller next time because I think that I made them a little bit too big this time, I only made about 40 balls I think that 60 would have been just right, it was hard for me to make them the size I wanted.

Everybody in the house loved the monkey bread, It even got crunchy on the sides just like we like it! 

This would be so much fun to make with younger kids, because its simple and its fun to roll the balls of dough in butter and sugar. Its also a nice break from a chocolate dessert!

The kit is available at Auntie Anne's stores be sure to check the site to make sure that they sell it at stores near you! I was glad to find that they were available at the mall near me. As these would make great gifts (I'm big on gifts that are centered around food and crafting this is great!) 

Its affordable and if you don't like monkey bread, try making the Deep Dish Pizza, apple dumplings or pretzel stuffing! In addition to these recipes there are lots more!

Check it out!

Thank you Auntie Anne's for the great product!

I recieved a free Auntie Anne's at Home Baking Kit for this review, all the photos, reviews and opinions are my own! I did not receive any money for this review.