After a month long of blog hiatus, we are back! Things may not be moving as fast as it used to but we are definitely going to get the ball rolling with our first blog tour for 2012.

So, fellow Parent Reviewers, be on the lookout for our email on the tour!

 AND  

We have finally decided to announce to all that this blog will be on a hiatus while we try to adjust our respective schedules and hopefully, be able to find time to make a comeback.

Meantime, we would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone of you

A HAPPY, HEALTHY & PROSPEROUS  NEW YEAR 2012

  AND

 
I’m sure many of you can attest, our daily lives are driven, in a large part, by the technology we use. That means that technology must be congruous to our lives—constantly changing and adapting based on what’s happening, and simple and effective—enabling us to live our lives and not holding us back in any way.

That’s exactly what AVG has realized and tried to create with its new 2012 edition of its trusted Internet Security software. Protection that works behind the scenes to keep you protected and productive. Protection that anyone can use and then not have to worry about. Protection that enhances, rather than limits, the cool things you do online.

AVG 2012 now comes with the all-new AVG Accelerator and AVG Advice features as well as additional protection technologies. Other new features worth mentioning are:

• Social Networking Protection–each web page and link is checked so you won’t download a virus by clicking on a link you see on Twitter.
• Uninterrupted gaming– Provides continuous protection during non-stop action in multi-player games without annoying lags and freezes.
• An early warning system that identifies and stops new threats–Emerging threats are identified in the cloud and are blocked before they reach you.

If it sounds too good to be true, let’s take a look at what our reviewers who had tried and tested the AVG Internet Security 2012 thought of it:

3 Boys and A Dog – Once again, I am impressed at the ease of use of AVG. It is all I have ever used and I have no desire to switch. As a reviewer, I have tried other virus protection programs, but nothing has compared! Just so you can see what it looks like, I took a few screen shots while setting it up and running it for the first time.

Captain Fussybuckets -My favorite feature of AVG Internet Security is that you can adjust the speed and amount of resources used while scanning. If you’re going to be away from your computer, you can set the scan to run on “High Priority” so it will scan quickly. There are also three other options you can choose, depending on what you’re doing on your computer and how fast you want it to scan. In the picture below, I have it set to “User Sensitive” (see bottom left) because well, I’m typing this blog as AVG scans! It’s not interrupting what I’m doing and I’m not interrupting the scan!

Babas Farm Life – One improvement that I’m loving is the speed accelerator for watching videos! I watch a lot of videos on youtube and normally have no problem but it’s nice to know that a bit of acceleration is there if I need it. This is what pops up when I watch a youtube video now. The AVG accelerator makes downloading faster and watching videos without interruption easy and fast. I love that!

Right Reads - Yay!!! The 4,000 over errors have been fixed! Thank you so much, AVG Technologies, for cleaning up my laptop. Everything’s in tip-top condition now and the laptop does run faster now that it’s all cleaned up. Feels as good as new.

Sewing Mom – The download was super simple and took maybe 10 minutes time. AVG Internet Security 2012 is not just an anti-virus protector, but also helps block spam. What I really like is that it also protects this netbook from picking up malicious links from Facebook. With Facebook recently having been hacked, it made it clear that we do have to protect ourselves even from our favorite websites. The AVG security software also checks links as you surf the web, ensuring that websites are safe before they open up in your browser. With this netbook being something my daughter uses on a daily basis, I feel like I’m not just protecting her computer, but I’m protecting her. Isn’t that my job as a mom afterall?

Jamerican Spice – I was skeptical that this accelerator would work and tried it a bunch of times because I always have buffering going on in the videos I have to watch. I seriously squealed with delight when I realize that it was working and does work! I think this is one of my favorite features because I am always listening to music and watching videos!

Living in Lala Land - Starting up a new internet security can sometimes be difficult to understand and set up. The AVG was easy to get started. I went to the site, agreed to the user agreement, activated my license, selected the custom install and downloaded it. Once it was done downloading I had to restart my computer and I was good to go.

Busy Mommy Product Review – Another piece of technology that I LOVE is the AVG Accelerator. Most of the other security products that I have used slowed down my computer. AVG Internet Security 2012 actually SPEEDS IT UP! It accelerates the download of binary files and minimizes the hangs and delays while watching videos on YouTube. AVG Accelerator is enabled as a default setting when you switch on.

 This Southern Girls Nest - Every once in a while when I have a few things open at once, usually Pinterest, email, Facebook, and a website, AVG will do a little “boost” to help keep things moving quickly. Not sure how in the world it does this, but I’m not complaining. Also when it does get a little overloaded it will pop up and say that I should close such and such and reopen it to get it to move faster. Love this feature!

TO THE WINNERS OF

Sebamed Liquid Face & Body Wash

Justin #20

AND

Cadbury Premium Baking Hamper

Jasmine1485 #61

The winners are required to do the following:

1. Submit your relevant info via the Winner’s Submission Form Below; AND
2. Leave a comment in this post to let us know you have submitted.
3. If any winner does not claim her prize by the 5th November 2011, we will do a second draw.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAD PARTICIPATED.

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1. Kim Holsapple

2. Becky Horn

3. Pending for winner to reply (please check your mails)

For the month of October, we will be giving away one lucky reader from the United States a collection of DVDs from The Bar Method, including the Beginner’s Workout, Dancer’s Body Advanced Workout, Pregnancy Workout, and Super Sculpting Workouts I & II, worth, in total, $100! Woo hoo!

Check out in detail below what our winner will be getting:

Beginner’s Workout DVD

Joey Decker, dancer, choreographer and owner of the Burbank, California Bar Method studio, guides beginning students through the Bar Method’s basic body-sculpting exercises such as “standing seat-work” and “kickstand curl” in this 37 minutes long, full-body workout. Joey’s humor and precise instructions helps beginners and more advanced students to brush up on their form and get a great workout at the same time. Joey’s fellow performers are Jennifer Keyes and Joyce Miraflor, teachers at Joey’s studio, Tiffany Baldwin, a Los Angeles master teacher, and Whitney Bania, co-owner of the Newport Beach, California Bar Method studio. Price: $20

Dancer’s Body Advanced Workout

Actress, singer, dancer and master Bar Method teacher Marnie Alton delivers a no-holds-barred, super-advanced Bar Method DVD workout that will slim down and sculpt your body quickly. In this 62-minute Bar Method workout, Marnie draws from the principles of dance to target the muscles that give your body a beautiful, defined, graceful appearance. Exercises include: “water-ski thigh-work,” “arabesque,” and the Bar Method’s ultra-challenging new abdominal exercise, “the clam.” Marnie’s fellow performers are Denise Burchard, co-owner of the Portland Bar Method studio, Marin Van Vleck, upcoming owner of a Dallas-area Bar Method studio, and Michael Lowery and Katelin Chesna, both long-time Bar Method teachers in Los Angeles. This DVD will inspire you to get serious about changing your body! Price: $20

Pregnancy Workout 

Master teacher Lee Potter in her third trimester with twins adds her own special wit and playfulness to the Bar Method’s pre-natal workout, a long-standing and popular class at its flagship studio in San Francisco. Lee leads you through this 45-minute long series of gentle, safe and challenging moves, including free-weight work, thigh exercises, standing seat-work, and abdominal strengthening exercises performed while propped up on pillows. Lee’s fellow performers are Hannah Blue, co-owner of the Downtown San Francisco studio and Lauren Dunning, a teacher at the Downtown San Francisco studio, both appearing in this DVD in their second trimester. As Lee puts it, this DVD “will help you feel strong during your pregnancy, will assist you in delivering your baby, and will snap you right back into shape.” Price: $20

The Bar Method Super Sculpting Workout

Bar Method founder Burr Leonard has packaged together the Bar Method’s most fast-acting body-reshaping moves into one super-targeted 59-minute workout. The exercises include four sets of thigh work and the Bar Method’s famous ‘pretzel with the ball’.  Burr also utilizes the Bar Method ball to zero in on problem areas such as the inner thighs and seat. Burr’s fellow performers are Chelsea Glavinovich, co-owner of the Walnut Creek and San Ramon Bar Method studios in San Francisco’s East Bay. Keryun Dukellis and Mike Najjar are both teachers at the San Francisco’s flagship Marina studio, and Tera Roth is a teacher at the Downtown San Francisco studio. If you want the quickest results possible, this is the workout for you! Price: $20

The Bar Method Super Sculpting II Workout

Tighten your seat-belts! Bar Method founder Burr Leonard puts the pedal to the metal in this 58-minute workout by combining her most aerobic variations, many of them never seen except in studios, with a fast-tracked pace. Included is five sets of thigh work, one of them performed with the Bar method ball and two sets of seat exercises that simultaneously challenge both legs. During the abdominal section, Burr leads safe, beautiful-looking sequences that sets abs on fire! Presenting the workout with Burr are Sharon Demko and Keisha Ramey-Presner, both teachers at the Bar Method flagship Marina studio in San Francisco and Juan Barba, a teacher at the Bar Method studio in Burbank, California. In Keisha’s words, Super Sculpting II is “intense, but with reach for someone to work up to. The choreography is really fun, and Burr inspires you to do it.” Price: $20

About The Bar Method

The Bar Method is full-body exercise program created by Burr Leonard. The workout utilizes a ballet bar fitness technique and draws from the principles of isometrics, dance conditioning, interval training, and physical therapy. The result is a noticeable “Bar Method” sculpted body featuring:

• ·         Firm, elongated muscles
• ·         Reduced body fat
• ·         High muscle definition in the chest
• ·         Improved posture
• ·         Long, narrow thighs
• ·         A lifted seat and defined hamstrings
• ·         Strong, flat abdominals
• ·         Increased stamina and energy
• ·         Extended youthfulness

And all you needed to do to win $100 worth of prizes is to subscribe to our feed via email. How cool is that!

Disclosure : Prizes courtesy of The Bar Method.

TO THE WINNERS OF

Starmaid Hamper

kerry santillo #64

AND

Wisharoo Park Prize Pack

Patricia #5

The winners are required to do the following:

1. Submit your relevant info via the Winner’s Submission Form Below; AND
2. Leave a comment in this post to let us know you have submitted.
3. If any winner does not claim her prize by the 17th October 2011, we will do a second draw.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAD PARTICIPATED.

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I have picky, sensitive skin – so I am always on the hunt for a cleanser that will clean my skin but not dry it out like crazy; but also something that won’t cost a fortune. So, I was happy to review the SebaMed liquid face and body wash!

SebaMed cleansers are mild, hydrating cleansers that are soap and alkali-free. They are hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic and dermatologist recommended.

One thing that I noticed was that the smell is very nice! The cleanser didn’t dry out my face and made it feel awesome. Also – it was great on the occasional breakouts I get! Perhaps it’s their vitamin enriched formula at work.  Whatever it is, I can honestly say I really, really like this cleanser!

Since it’s soap free and good for sensitive skin I also used it on my 10 month old during her baths. It made her skin soft (mine also!) and didn’t give her any redness.

There are lines for all sorts of skin types; classic (for normal and sensitive skin), dry skin, age defense, face clearing and also a baby line.

BUY IT : The SebaMed cleansers are available online and also at Costco stores. You can learn more at their website or on their Facebook page.

WIN IT : Thanks to the kind people of SebaMed, here’s your chance to try the SebaMed liquid face and body wash. To enter and win a bottle for yourself, here’s what you need to do:

• First mandatory entry- Visit our sponsor, SebaMed and pick one favourite product that you would love to try out.
• Second additional entry- Follow SebaMed on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/sebamedpH5.5 and leave your FB id in our comment section.
• Third additional entry- Follow Parent Reviewers on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Leave us a comment including your twitter id and the tweet url.
• Giveaway ends October 3rd, 2011.
• Giveaway is open to US residents only and a winner will be picked using Random.org. We will not be emailing winners, so please make sure you subscribe to our feed or check back here for the winner announcement post.

Good Luck everyone!!!!

Disclosure of Material Connection : http://cmp.ly/2

I have to admit… I am a handbag addict!!  And with that addiction comes many, many really big beautiful bags that I love!!  The biggest problem with these big bags is although they can hold many great items, things tend to get lost in the crevices.  So…. now a solution to that problem “The Callet”!!  The Callet is a great phone case and wallet that features slit pockets on the back of the case to keep your important cards at your fingertips.  No more digging through your bag in the check out line, now you have all your most important items easily accessible.

I was thrilled to recently have the opportunity to try out The Callet for myself.  I am notorious for losing my drivers license or credit card when going out so I knew this might be the answer for me.  I was very pleased when our Callet arrived and it was truly a great fit.  Not only does it come in an array of great colors, it is very durable and does have great space to hold your important cards and money.

The only problem we had with The Callet was that my husband and I couldn’t decide who gets to keep it!!  We received one in black (next time I will ask for pink and then I don’t have to share)!!  But overall we love it and it has been a very useful tool for us.

About The Callet:

Your Whole Life in Just One Hand

Are you tired of having to shove your cash and cards in between the back of your phone and case?
And then having to take your phone out every time you want to get to them?

Are are annoyed when you don’t have anywhere to put your cash and cards? Or you can’t bring a wallet or a bag?
Are you fed up with having to always search through your wallet or dig through your bag every time you want to access your cash and cards?

Now all of your problems are finally solved with the CALLET! The Callet is a new phone case and wallet in one with a newly invented and patent pending design that makes the Callet easy to use and even easier to take your things with you. The innovative Callet comes customized to fit perfectly on many of the the most popular phones that you already use, but it also has easily accessible and ultra-convenient slit-pockets that can hold your cash and cards. The Callet’s unique design allows for easy access to whatever you’re carrying with you. And the Callet has been specifically engineered to take up a minimal amount of space when holding your stuff, so it doesn’t have that bulky feeling when you’re on the go.

We know most of you now have a Blackberry or an iPhone, so the Callet is available for either one! You can get it for any Blackberry or iPhone models.

The Callet was created and founded in 2009 by four young entrepreneurs from the New York Metropolitan area. They come from all different backgrounds with one common idea: to create a new lifestyle product that everyone should use. After a year of research and development these young entrepreneurs have created the first ever convenient, trendy, and affordable all-in-one accessory for the Blackberry and iPhone.

BUY IT: The Callet is available to purchase on their website and at only $19.99 it is truly a great deal!!

Disclosure of Material Connection : http://cmp.ly/2

As for the month of September, we will be giving away 3 copies of Chicken Soup books but this time, the new titles are

Chicken Soup For The Soul : Country Music.

The Inspirational Stories behind 101 of Your Favorite Country Songs

Songs tell a story, and now many of country music’s most famous singers and songwriters are sharing more of the story! These artists reveal the inspiration, influence, and background, and when and why they wrote their most famous songs, in this fresh collection of stories. The book also includes great photos of the songwriters and lyrics of many of the songs. A great gift for anyone who loves country music!

Remember, all it takes is for you to subscribe to our feed via email and you stand a chance to win the above products. It’s that easy!

Disclosure : Chicken Soup For The Soul books are courtesy of www.chickensoup.com

1. Will The Courageous: A Story About Sexual Abuse by Amy Barth

Will is a typical six-year-old boy: he loves to tell “knock-knock jokes”, collect bugs, and play with other kids. On most school days, Will goes to Nana Winnie’s until his mom returns from work. Will enjoys having his Nana as a babysitter. Recently, Nana’s cousin Perry has come to visit and suddenly Will no longer wants to go there. He starts having nightmares, acting out in school and wetting his bed. Will’s parents are worried. What is wrong with Will?

Chanel’s Journal : After reading this book, I as parent must make sure we equip ourselves in educating our kids. Also, we need to take time to be close with our kids to ensure them that we are there for them so that they are feeling secure and not in fear. Be our kids’ good friend whom they can rely and trust on.

It is a great book for me to read with JL on our journey of learning and understanding…

2 Thumbs & A Dummy -We think that it was definitely well written and once again, simple and easy to understand for school going children. In my opinion, some bits of the story were somewhat graphic but I think this is totally unavoidable due to the message that Ms. Barth wants to bring forth. I think even when Arianna is old enough to understand, it is going to be uncomfortable for me to read it to her but it will be done because we need to educate our children about these sadly, common encounters.

It is better to be safe than sorry.

Mom 2 BB Reviews – The number of sexual abuse cases among children are on the rise but yet, this is a subject that many parents find difficult to broach. With books like Will The Courageous, it helps ease the communication of such issue between parents and young children. It enables us to teach our young children and make them aware of the difference between the touch of someone who is showing them affection and the touch or approaches of someone who is trying to take sexual advantage of them.

Rambling Moo – This book is very helpful for those who works with children such as counselors, doctors and staff working with children as well as parents of young children. The author has written this book in a very easy to understand manner which is suitable for any children between the age of 6-9. Children in this age group will understand about what  “inappropriate touching” is about and how they can relate their experience to their parents or caregivers should they are a victim of sexual abuse.

Jamerican Spice – This book is easy to read and understand without sharing too many explicit details so it’s perfect for a child. The illustrations are expressive and interesting and the book is written very well. I would definitely recommend this book!

Tsue ~ That’s What She Said -As uncomfortable as this topic is, the statistics indicate that all children need to be educated about appropriate touching, in an age appropriate manner, and to trust their internal alarms.  Will the Courageous ~ A Story About Sexual Abuse is an excellent resource for accomplishing this difficult task.

Shelly’s Bits and Pieces – This book is written in a way that everyone should be able to understand it.  It is well written, and handled in a loving manner!  The illustrations by Richa Kinra are interesting go hand in hand perfectly with the story.  Small children can have things explained in a non-explicit manner, and they are shown that it is not their fault.  I applaud Amy Barth for writing this book, as it is a very delicate subject matter to explore.  Families need to be aware that these things do happen.  Parents need to watch for signs, and they need to give their children the voice to speak out and tell someone!

2. What Do You Use to Help Your Body?  Maggie  Explores the World of Disabilities by Jewel Kats

Maggie and Momma love going for walks. During every outing, Maggie learns about something new. Today’s no different! Momma has arranged for Maggie to meet lots of people in her neighborhood. They all have different jobs. They all come from different cultures. They all use different things to help their bodies. Maggie doesn’t just stop to chit-chat. Rather, she gets to the bottom of things. By asking the right question, she discovers how many people with disabilities use aids to help them out. Let’s find out how they work, too!

• Children will learn that disabilities occur in every culture
• Parents and teachers can accurately explain how various disability aids work
• Children will realize that working with a disability is a possibility for some
• Therapists can use this book as a motivational tool for patients with disabilities
• Kids can satisfy their curiosity about disability aids in an unimposing manner

Chanel’s Journal : Overall, this help Maggie to learn of all the different disabilities each person have and how they go through with their daily routine using tools to assist them to lead to normal life. Each person is special in their own way and need to do things differently. They also need to be respected too like normal people. This book would also help our children to recognize others’ differences with respect and never look down or make fun of others.

2 Thumbs & A Dummy – I really like that they covered a wide range of disabilities because it was an eye opener for my kids. It also teaches them to be sensitive and not point out someone’s special need. Though I’m not too sure how Grandpa would react if she told him that he was disable since he uses a walker and a cane! lol But for the moment, we’re enjoying it!

Mom 2 BB Reviews – The book is written in a simple and easy to understand story which is ideal for children aged 6 years and above. I thought the illustration were also a big help as they clearly show the disability aids, which many children may not have seen before OR have seen before, but are not aware of what they really are.

If you are more observant, you may also notice that the characters in the book consisted of people from many different cultural background. Thumbs up to the author and illustrator for including that.

After Meal Gossip -Only when I started reading it to my 7 years old daughter, I realised how nicely thought out it was. The illustration was nice and full page, clearly indicating the body parts which needed help.

Captain Fussybuckets – I read this book to Captain Fussybuckets and he was very intrigued to learn about the different devices people use when they have a disability. I don’t think he pays much attention to these things yet, but there will come a day when he will have questions. It’s definitely a good idea to pre-teach this kind of stuff, in hopes that he will be respectful if he sees someone with a disability in real life. This is a good starting point to teach kids that all people are different and there are many different disabilities and devices that we have, but that we are all the same on the inside and we should treat everyone with respect.

Rambling Moo – This is such a lovely book in explaining why certain people with disabilities require special devices to help them along in their life. Young children will have better understanding why certain people require “assistive devices” and why some don’t.

The Truth About Mummy -The book is soft cover but has large colorful pictures which my girls loved. It’s 24 pages long and rather wordy for little ones but perfect for the 5 plus age group. Middle pink, who is 5, found it particularly engaging and asked a lot of good quality questions. What I like best about What do you use to help your body? is that it’s a perfect discussion started. It inspires all sort of questions and gave me a great way to encourage the girls to think and begin to form their own opinions.