I have a bit of a love affair with T.J. Maxx. Could it be the hunt, knowing I am certain to find treasure? Perhaps it is the fabulous prices on fashion that is still in style? I’m thinking it may also have something to do with their amazing housewares section that pulls me in like a moth to a flame. I never know what I’m going to find when I go and that is half the fun!

Locally, our kids go back to school next week. It was obvious when I visited that there were plenty of families doing their school shopping here and with good reason. I found great looks like this feminine military. (That top seriously makes me wish there was one left in my size!)

To cool black rocker argyle. And to to think argyle used to be thought of as preppy. Not anymore!

These leather jackets had me doing a double take. Not only are they eye catching for the look, that purple one has my name on it, but just check out that price!

And T.J. Maxx isn’t just for women and girls fashion. I found these awesome Guess Jeans for guys, normally $89 for only $29.99. They were a current and classic style. Not irregular or with some super trendy detailing. Any guy would love to wear these and any guy (or mom) would love to buy them at that price!

And with plenty of options for junior and girls and boys fashion, you really can shop for Back to School or just for fall for your entire family!

If you still haven’t gotten around to getting a new backpack, T.J. Maxx had a huge display to choose from and a great price.

But on this trip I was shopping for me. Just me with NO kids. Since this doesn’t happen often I had to take some time to browse for myself and found some great fall sweaters like this win.

I couldn’t resist so I picked up a similar one in brown. The quality is fantastic. It is a heavier weight but with 1/2 sleeves that allows me to breathe a bit. It is a great layering piece and will be the perfect addition to my fall wardrobe at $29.99. This is me feeling fancy free in my new sweater and dying in the heat doing it. (Try not to laugh at my pose. We kept getting wind gusts and I just finally went with it instead of trying to get my hair out of my face. Work with me here.)

The baker in me can not resist the housewares section and when I spied this amazingly girly yet modern apron I *knew* I had to have it. It was a total want, not a need but once I found the matching oven mitt and pot holder I was sold.

If this doesn’t scream fall fashion I don’t know what does. Doesn’t it almost look like a cute dress on its own? I’m in love with those frilly ruffles and I have no idea why.

I already made some apple crisp in it the other night and totally looked the part! (Which was so important in the privacy of my own home where nobody saw me…yeah.) The apron was only $12.99 and the pot holders $5.99. For under $20 I bought myself some happiness. Well worth it!

Since 1984 T.J.Maxx, and bighearted customers like you, have raised over $14.7 million to support Save the Children’s U.S. Programs which provide early education, literacy, physical activity and nutrition programs to children in need. And this year we’ve made it easier than ever to give. You can:

• Purchase a special edition tote bag at any T.J.’s and we’ll donate the profits.*
• Give at any of our registers and 100% of each dollar donated will go to Save the Children’s U.S. Programs.
• Post a tote to your Facebook wall and we’ll donate $1, for every bag shared.**

Every little bit counts, so give if you can and together we can help children in need succeed. Thanks for being so thoughtful.

*34 cents per bag sold. While supplies last.
** up to $50,000

Please visit Totes for Change via the T.J. Maxx Facebook Page where you can share a tote on your Facebook wall to donate $1 to Save the Children! Help support this great cause!

To see more great fall fashion looks, visit T.J. Maxx Feel Good Fashion and check out the  T.J. Maxx store locator to fine a store near you.  If you suddenly feel depressed because you don’t have a T.J. Maxx near you, have no fear. Perhaps you have a Marshalls instead?

Marshalls is one of the nation’s leading off-price family apparel and home fashion retailers with over 820 stores spanning 42 states and Puerto Rico. Marshalls offers a wide selection of current season, top quality, brand name fashions for the entire family as well as giftware and domestics for the home at prices 20-60% less than department stores, specialty boutiques and catalogs. For the nearest Marshalls store, call 1-800-Marshalls begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1-800-Marshalls      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, or visit www.marshallsonline.com.

Happy Treasure Hunting!

Disclosure: Thank you to T.J. Maxx for providing me with a gift card to check out the fashion finds currently at T.J. Maxx. My thoughts and opinions remain 100% my own and yours may differ.

Modern looking baby products with an innovative twist always grab my attention. Such is the case these stylish mOmma feeding products from Italy. With advanced technology, mealtime is both fun and safe with all products being BPA and phthalate-free.

Innovation, technology, movement and colors. mOmma is a revolutionary line of baby products that encourages baby to discover their surroundings with products that are unique in shape, movement and color, thus transforming each moment of your baby’s mealtime into a moment of growth, learning and pleasure.

A complete line of products designed according to baby’s changing needs during the various phases of growing. These simple but innovative products help baby become more self-assured and independent.nd

We received a collection of products from the mOmma line, including these 9 oz. roly-poly cups. Their unique design keeps them from tipping over and come in a non-spill and straw design in both green and orange. While all mOmma products are dishwasher safe, the wash brush makes it even easier to clean their rounded shape.

Both the my boys really like the mOmma cup with straw which retails for $12.25. Warren enjoyed trying out something that looked new and different and the ergonomic handles make it extremely easy to hold.  The rubber bottoms helps with skidding and spills and rounded bottoms keeps the tops from hitting potentially dirty surfaces. He is drawn to the squishy material of the straw and I’m curious how well it will stand the test of time with his biting.  So far I haven’t discovered any teeth marks!

While my two year old Warren struggled a bit to figure out how to close it, his older brother was more than happy to show him how it works. I love cup products that don’t leak as Warren still enjoys tipping his cup over and splashing the contents out on occasion. The non-spill cup cousin for $13.25 is the perfect starter cup that will grow with your child.

Available individually or as a set for $22.00, the  mOmma warming plate, spoon and fork also have some cool features. The utensils also have a spherical base with keeps the tops from touching the dirty table and have a protective cover that provides a hygienic case for travel that doubles as an extendable handle. The feeding plate has two compartments designed for easier feeding and has a wide base to avoid tipping.I love the look and overall design of these products. The only downfall is the higher price tag that comes with this innovation.

Other mOmma products including a collection of soft teethers and feeding bottles. You can see all these products and more at the mOmma US website and also enter to win the mOmma’s messiest mOments photo contest for a chance at a prize package of the line valued at over $100. Hurry, this contest ends on September 2, 2010!

Buy It:

You can purchase mOmma products at specialty stores or online at Amazon, diapers.com and MommaUS. Amazon currently has these products at reduced prices with free super saver shipping!

Disclosure: Samples were provided to me by mOmma through Team Mom. My opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by monetary compensation.

This isn’t a review of a My Pillow Pet. This is raving about the pillow pet, though I may be a little biased. When I presented my 3 1/2 year-old daughter with it, she said, “Thank you Mommy! I’ve always wanted a pillow pet! Look, it’s a pillow, now it’s a cuddly animal!! Oh, thank you Mommy! I love my pillow pet!!” And this continued all weekend. I have never been thanked so many times for anything. And, she proceeded to go telling everyone that she met that she had a pillow pet, and continued to go on about how much she loved it. Who knew?

But let’s back up for a minute, here. For those who are wondering, what is a pillow pet? It’s basically like it sounds. It’s a large stuffed animal-like pillow that folds up to look more like a stuffed animal. There’s a little velcro piece that does the magic, and when the pillow pet is in “pillow” form, part of the velcro piece can be covered so there are no scratchy edges. Brilliant. The pet’s “fur” is super-soft, too; definitely as soft as the furry zebra print pillow that already adorns her bed.

The pillow pet that my daughter has is the special-edition Patriotic My Pillow Pet in celebration of Independence Day and in support of our military members. Created in honor of our troops and their families, this Pillow Pet is a Limited Edition and available only through the month of July. In essence it is a puppy covered in stars and stripes. That’s really about the only criticism I can offer. I’m not a huge fan of the whole “stars-and-stripes-forever” look. I’d prefer something pink and poofy that would match the rest of her things, but that’s just me. It certainly doesn’t make any difference to my little girl, and for those whom it does, there are plenty of other colors and styles available. Great product!!!

BUY IT:

Only 3,000 of the limited edition My Pillow Pets® plush folding stuffed dogs are available at a price of $24.95 plus $6.95 shipping & handling. All other Pillow Pets retail for $19.95 plus s/h.

Disclosure: I received a sample for the purpose of  this review but no other type of compensation was received. This has no bearing on my completely honest review above. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with these products are my own and yours may differ.

Pop on Pals is brand new world of toys from Spin Master. Pieces can be mixed and matched for added fun, allowing children to be anything they want to be with endless combinations.  Recommended for ages 2-4, this world is perfect for your toddler and preschooler. Since I happen to have a 2 and almost 4 year old it  I was certainly excited to see them in action at my house!

We got the chance to try out the Pop on Pals Amusement Park Playset.

The Pop on Pals Amusement Park Playset comes to life with lights, sounds, music, and more. Pop your pal in five different activation points for lots of action/reaction play. Pop on Pals encourages imaginative play and helps little ones develop fine motor skills. Pals are perfectly sizes for small hands to play with and the signature pop sound adds to the fun!

My boys were so excited when they opened the box to find this toy inside. They were immediately attracted to all the activities, bright colors and sounds. The excitement I felt wore off almost instantly when I realized the set only comes with one pop on pal. Since this set can hold a whopping 9 pop on pals not only does it feel bare to only have one, it doesn’t allow my boys to easily play with each other. The boys did enjoy checking it out but having to wait to use the pop on pal (while a lesson in itself) wasn’t all that fun. I also found that because the rollercoaster isn’t attached it is hard for my two year old to get it on the track properly so the pal doesn’t go flying before it gets all the way down.

What I did really like about the set however, is the number of activity spots and knowing that this set can interact with others that are in the Pop on Pals collection. I also thought that the sounds and music in this set were not annoying or loud which is a huge plus.

Other Pop on Pals Sets include  pets, vehicles, an airplane, a school bus, deluxe rings and pals. I think the vehicles would be a hit at our house and am definitely going to consider them for my son’s 4th birthday next month.

BUY IT:

Pop On Pals Amusement Park Playsetretails for a suggested price of $34.99 and can be purchased at such retailers as Target, Toys “R” Us, and Amazon. For a complete list of retailers visit the Pop on Pals Buy page.

Disclosure: I received this playset from Team Mom and courtesy of Pop on Pals/Spinmaster. This review was not influenced by any monetary compensation. My thought are my own and yours may differ.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve been using a rather cheap vacuum. I got it in my early 20′s figuring all I really needed was something basic to get the job done. Well I should say that I was using. Because I have finally seen the light. Not all vacuums are created equal and you certainly get what you pay for in this case.

I remember the excitement we felt when our new Dyson DC23 Turbinehead vacuum arrived. My husband immediately starting vacuuming every room in the house. I barely got the chance to try it because he was so excited. Excited by the cool features, like the maneuverability of the head to easily go around corners and the shocking way the clear canister was filling up with dust and debris. It had only been a few days since we last vacuumed and yet it was obvious that our old vacuum was leaving a lot behind.

• Compact canister vacuum with Level 3 Root Cyclone technology ensures powerful, consistent suction
• Air-driven TurbineHead brush bar is ideal for cleaning medium and short pile carpets and can be turned off for hard floors.
• Lifetime HEPA filter with Bactisafe screen that traps and kills bacteria, mold and allergens on contact
• Telescopic Wrap System allows the hose and wand to be compressed
• Great for cleaning stairs

To see the Dyson DC23 Turbinehead in action, I put together this video to demonstrate the features.

MY OVERALL THOUGHTS

This vacuum is such a step above my old one that I don’t think I can make a good comparison. I have fallen in love with many of the features including the automatic cord keeper (no more wrapping the cord around the back of the vacuum) and ease of corner cleaning.  Because of the turbinehead design it can easily go under furniture where other vacuums can not. I am thrilled I no longer have to buy bags and can easily switch between cleaning hardwoods and carpet. And let’s not forget the Dyson design is certainly lightweight and beautiful.

Thinking of ways for improvement, I wish the hose could stand up on its own. Instead I have to lean it against something or put it down on its side. For storage you can remove the head and attach it on the side of the unit but I find that to be a pain and simply store the whole thing together in our closet, with the hose flopping over. And while I don’t have to buy bags, I do have to wash the filter every three months.

If you have hardwood floors and shorter pile carpets, this model is perfect for you. If you have thicker carpet I would consider a different Dyson. While it certainly can still be used for our shag rugs, it works much better on our other surfaces and takes a bit more strength to move it over the thick pile.

Buy it: The Dyson DC23 Turbinehead vacuum can be purchased directly from Dyson currently for $399 with free shipping or from Amazonfor the same price.

Disclosure: I received a sample for the purposes of this review but no monetary compensation was received. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with these products are my own and yours may differ.

HABA is a company from Germany (oh yea!) that started in 1938.  HABA was the “Factory for fine wooden toys” and is now known around the globe.

We are a wood manufacturing company known for our high-quality baby and children’s toys, as well as our children’s games and furniture. We view ourselves as a “single source supplier” for children. We are expanding our product portfolio beyond wood products using the same high quality standards for which we are known. Thus, HABA also offers jewelry, porcelain dishes and textiles, for example. HABA products may be found in well-stocked toy stores around the globe.

Being of German descent myself and further studying the language and culture during the last 9 years, I know how serious Germans are about quality. HABA is no exception to this high consideration. “Produkt gut, Alles gut” Check out their website to really get into how great their policies, philosophies, environmental protection, and quality and safety really are! One concern I have always had being a mother is making sure my daughter has quality toys…enough of these lead paint, plastic and cheaply made toys! We have always been partial to wood and quality made products.

Meet Fay Finja, Souri, Lotta, Amelie and Paola – each 15” of sweet smiles and outstretched arms. HABA’s soft doll collection features a padded body, chenille hair, cotton/polyester and velour dresses. Each doll is dressed in happy colors of the rainbow and carries an accessory that makes them special from a flower basket to a headband. And just in case, each doll is hand washable (but keep them away from the dryer).

I received the Fee Finja doll for review. She is everything I have ever looked for and more than I could hope for. She is made out of REAL textiles and the quality is sure one of the first things I noticed.

I was greatly impressed with how much detail went into the doll. From the hair being chenille yarn-like to the removable shoes exposing the fabric matching her dress, I couldn’t help myself from examining every thoughtful aspect to this Fee Finja. Fee Finja came also with a blue shawl that can go on and off. Also with a basket of flowers that is also detachable with little fabric flowers.

My daughter was incredibly excited to receive her…in fact to go with the great picture I captured she exclaimed “OHHHH, I’ve ALWAYS wanted one of these!” As if she has no other dolls…ha!…but even she could tell its different than her other dolls – this one is a Forest Fairy wanting her playmates to come with her protecting the forest! I seriously could not get this doll out of the arms of my daughter after she opened it up! I think it was painful for her to have me take the one or two pictures of just Fee Finja alone…with out being in her arms.

The dolls are culturally diverse, which is a defiantly a positive. One downfall I see is that they could be considered costly but you get what you pay for, especially in this case for a fantastic quality and environmentally aware product. I think we may even add to our (now) started collection and buy more of the sisters and friends…they seriously are really amazing dolls.

HABA has many different small and large dolls and accessories such as prams, a buggy and carry cot to collect including little sister type dolls  along with horses.

Buy it: You can purchase Fee Finja for $45 and other HABA toys at www.maukilo.com where you will find the largest online selection of HABA products in the US or use the HABA store locator to find a retailer near you!

Disclosure: I received a sample for the purpose of this review . This has no bearing on my completely honest review above and was not influenced by any type of monetary compensation. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with these products are my own and yours may differ.

I love being in the kitchen and I absolutely love eating the results. I’m a baker first and foremost and have never been all that artistic so the idea of cake decorating has always intimidated me a little bit. I’ve seen some amazing cakes and I always figured that I would need more of an artistic flair in order to be even remotely successful. And I’ve come to realize I was wrong, so so wrong.

Last month I had the amazing opportunity to visit Wilton Industries in Woodridge, Illinois and get a firsthand look at the Wilton Method of Cake Decorating. I’ve learned that having the right tools, the right icing consistency and an organized workspace are keys to successful cake decorating. And lets not forget, practice, practice, practice.

With two amazing instructors Ann and Heidi, our group of 7 was able to learn all the elements of Decorating Basics in two jammed packed and exciting days.

We observed demonstrations of proper technique and tips and then were given time to practice one or a few decorating techniques at our workstations. Our instructors walked through our areas, offering help and advice as we practiced. This aspect was invaluable! It is one thing to watch or read steps in a book, it is entirely another when you have an experienced decorator at your side.

There is a certain excitement felt when you realize that creating beautiful cakes,while certainly an art form, isn’t nearly as difficult as think and that YOU can do it too! Anyone can take a Wilton Course and know by the end they will be armed with the knowledge necessary to perfect this skill and to create an amazing cake. Finishing my final cake was a great feeling, although keep in mind we only had about 15 minutes total to create it given our rigorous schedule. Now I’m actually looking forward to tackling my son’s 4th birthday cake in August instead of feeling completely overwhelmed and intimidated!

The Wilton Method of Cake Decorating Classes are now new and improved. Even if you took a one before you will learn new things in these updated classes. With additional hands on learning, the classes are now more interactive and have been updated to cover more of the current styles of decorating.

Wilton currently offers three different courses to choose from. Decorating Basics is the required first course but after that you can take the next two courses in any order.

Decorating Basics is the foundation for all Wilton Method Courses. In this class you will learn the following:

• How to bake a great cake
• Icing ingredients and consistency
• Leveling, filling and icing the cake
• Filling the decorating bag, bag position, pressure control
• Curving lines, tight zigzag, stars,drop flower, rosette, shell, pompom flowers, leaves, shaggy mum, ribbon rose, printing & writing
• Filling & icing cupcakes along with guidelines for cake design

I did have the opportunity to try out a few different flowers from Flowers & Cake Design and Gum Paste and Fondant classes and had a blast with all of them.

In Flowers and Cake Design you will cover the following topics:

• Basic Principles of Cake Design
• Gum Paste and Fondant 101
• Button Flower, Pansy
• Making Royal Icing and a Parchment Bag
• Flower Nail, Making Stems
• Rose Base, Rose Center, the Wilton Rose,Apple Blossom, Primrose, Rosebud, Daffodil,Violet, using the Lily Nail, Lily
• Guidelines for Flower Arrangements and Floral Cake Design
• Reverse Shell and Basketweave

And in Gum Paste and Fondant you will cover the following topics:

• Gum Paste and Fondant 101
• Bow Loops and Bow Assembling
• Mum Base, Rose Base, Carnation Base
• Tinting Gum Paste and Fondant and Basic Principles of Floral Cake Design
• Calia Lily, Rosebud and Rose,Carnation, Daisy, Mum, Calyxes and Leaves
• Covering a Cake Board with Fondant & Elements of Fondant Cake Design
• Creating Geometric Designs Using Cut-Outs, Overlays, and Inlays
• Eyelet, Ruffle, and Ball Borders

Buy it: Products used for cake decorating can be purchased at the Wilton online store. Classes may be taken at your local craft store including retailers such as Michael’s, Jo-Ann Fabrics and A.C. Moore. Classes at Michael’s are currently 50% off for the month of July!

If you would like the opportunity to learn more tips on how to bake a great cake as learned at Wilton, visit Oh My! Sugar High, my new baking blog with partner Cat from 3 Kids and Us!

How would you like to win the opportunity to take a class for you and a friend for FREE? Wilton wants to give one of my readers the opportunity to learn the joys of cake decorating! How exciting is that? I’m practically busting at the seams to share this with you!

{ Giveaway }

Wilton would like to give one of my very special readers a $50 gift card to cover the cost of the Wilton Method Course Tuition, a student kit for the course chosen and a package containing many class supplies needed for the course for themselves and a friend at a local venue! (Each prize package contains two $50 gift cards, two student kits and two packages of supplies) This is over a $300 value!

MAIN ENTRY: Tell me what you would be most excited to learn in a Wilton class and the super lucky person you would take with you!

Want more entries? (There is no doubt in my mind that you do!) After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Each is worth one entry unless otherwise noted. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.

-Subscribe to A Piece of Cake blog by Wilton
-Follow Wilton on twitter
-Like Wilton on Facebook and leave them a comment on their wall telling them what you think of this contest (2 entries)
-Like Baby Loving Mama on Facebook
-Follow my blog with Google Friend Connect
-Subscribe to my feed in a reader or by email
-Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway (Leave me the link. You can do this daily!)

Win a Wilton Cake Decorating Prize Pkg worth $300+ for you & a friend! @babylovingmama @WiltonCakes http://bit.ly/bJzoGf #giveaway PLS RT!

-Add my button to your blog
-Subscribe to the Oh My! Sugar High baking blog
-Blog about this contest and link back here and to Wilton (3 entries)

This contest will end on 7/29/10 at 11:59 pm CST. U.S. residents only. The winner will be drawn via random.org and will have 72 hours to respond to winning notification email before  I draw another winner or do a live giveaway. No substitutions or transfer of prizes allowed. The winner and their guest are responsible for their own transportation to and from the location where the Wilton Method Course is held. Wilton Method Courses are scheduled by local retailers and Wilton does not have any control over when the classes are held. Please check with your local retailer to learn more about Wilton Method Course availability in your area.

Disclosure: I was invited to Wilton headquarters to learn the Wilton Method of Decorating through the Wilton Mom ReTreat for bloggers and my expenses were paid. However no monetary compensation was received. This has no bearing on my completely honest review above. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with these products are my own and yours may differ.

While perusing the selection of frozen seafood products, I tried to imagine which I could get my picky little eater to try. I settled on Seapak Popcorn Shrimp, which I would tell her, is “like chicken nuggets,” when she asked me suspiciously what “shrimp” was.

When I began to prepare the shrimp, I was surprised to see that they only take 10 minutes to bake in the oven. Other frozen products I have tried, particularly in the realm of seafood, tend to take longer. The popcorn shrimp was done in the time it took to make a box of macaroni and cheese. There was even downtime in the midst to have a bubble-blowing “dance party” with my 3-year-old.

Seapak Popcorn Shrimp are bite-size, and coated with oven crispy breadcrumbs. They can be baked in the oven, deep-fried, or pan-fried. I chose to prepare them in the oven.

My daughter is usually somewhat reluctant to try new things, but it only took a little prodding to get her to try her shrimp, and she gobbled them up pretty quickly after that. I liked them too because they emerged from the oven perfectly golden, and not over or undercooked. They didn’t stick to the pan or leave any residue behind. And, Seapak Popcorn Shrimp contain 135 mg Omega-3′s per serving. You can’t go wrong with this product; it’s a quick, easy, and delicious way to get the recommended 2 servings of seafood per week.

Visit Seapak for more information, promotions and some tasty looking recipes!

Sometimes I feel cool. It doesn’t happen all that often but when it does happen it is sweet. This past weekend I had that dang I’m kinda cool feeling when my family got the chance to watch a pre-screening of the new 3D CGI movie, Despicable Me. This is my first opportunity to see a movie before it is open to the public. And don’t steal my thunder, I AM cool even if my kids are too young to realize it yet.

Synopsis:

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden deep beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by an army of tireless, little yellow minions, we discover Gru (Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in Universal’s new 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me.

Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.

One of the world’s greatest super-villains has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.

Trailer

I hate reviews that contain spoilers or tell so much about the film you wonder if you still need to see it. I think the trailers have done a great job of showing you enough without giving away too much. So instead of doing a complete play by play of the movie, I’ll try to keep my thoughts general so as not to ruin any surprises!

Special Effects

I have to admit (a bit embarrassingly) that my husband and I hadn’t yet seen a movie in 3D before. Our boys are just getting to the age of watching movies in the theater and we don’t get a chance to see them ourselves often. Let me tell you the 3D was A-W-E-S-O-M-E. My husband kept joking afterward that if you had never seen a movie in 3D before you can just go to see this one and have all the cool tricks covered in a single movie. Favorites included a long skinny balloon being blown up which appeared like it was coming right at the audience, an apple being squeezed where the juice and bits fly out of the screen and a fun rollercoaster scene that really makes you feel like you are riding alongside the characters. The CGI animation was amazing as well so I highly recommend seeing this in the theater for that alone. I was pleasantly surprised that my young boys did a good job of keeping their 3D glasses on, although a kid sized version would have been easier for them to keep up on their face.

Characters

Steve Carrell does a fantastic job as Gru. The unique accent Carrell gives Gru reminds me of what Mike Meyers did for Shrek. It is memorable and makes an unlikely hero seem more likeable somehow. It seems wrong but even though I know I wasn’t supposed to like Gru (at least to start) I found myself laughing at his antics from the very beginning. His day to day frustrations match the average person’s but the way in which he deals with them is way over the top. What Gru does is what we all wish we could do but never would. He struggles with being thought as a failure as a villain and feelings of inadequacy, especially from his mother, played by Julie Andrews. Gru is a completely relateable character who has just gone on the wrong path. It is enjoyable to watch him grow as a character. Seeing him read stories to the girls is so funny and heartwarming at the same time.

The three girls, Margo (played by Miranda Cosgrove), Edith and Agnes are so adorable and their need of a parent really tugs at the hear.  Without getting into too much detail, I did leave wishing I knew more about their back story and how they arrived at their situation in the movie.  Being a parent,  I can laugh at their antics and can see my own children in many of their actions.  The youngest, Agnes will crack you up with her love of unicorns.

And of course how I not mention the minions?  They provide a lot of comic relief and are scene stealers. I thought I might find them annoying but actually they are very lovable and sweet characters. It doesn’t take very long into the movie before you realize they aren’t exactly what they seem.

Overall Thoughts

If I had to rate this movie I would give it 3 out of 4 stars.  We had plenty of laughs during the movie and my boys can’t stop talking about the minions. Even with a couple of holes within the storyline we left with a smile on our face. The memorable characters and special effects really make this movie and it has a good underlying message. I would recommend seeing this one in the theater to enjoy the 3D!

See it

Despicable Me hits theaters July 9, 2010 and is sure to be a blockbuster hit this summer you don’t want to miss!

{ Giveaway }

I have a Despicable Me Prize Pack to give to TWO of my readers. Each winner will receive a youth shirt, youth hat, moo-can (it really moos!), pencil with minion topper, balloon and minion ink stamp.

MAIN ENTRY: Tell me if you plan to go see this movie and who you would take if you did!

Want more entries? (Don’t deny it, this is  so much fun!) After answering my question do any of the following and leave a comment telling me what you did. Each is worth one entry unless otherwise noted. Your comment is your entry so please leave the appropriate number of comments for each extra entry.

-Like Despicable Me on Facebook
-Leave a comment on their Facebook wall & tell them I sent you
-Follow Universal Pictures on twitter
-Follow my blog
-Subscribe to my feed in a reader or by email
-Like Baby Loving Mama on Facebook
-Follow me on twitter and tweet about this giveaway

Check out a Despicable Me movie review & win a prize pack from the movie! @babylovingmama http://bit.ly/bCKXe9 #giveaway PLS RT!

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Disclosure: I received samples for the purpose of this review . This has no bearing on my completely honest review above and was not influenced by any type of monetary compensation. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with these products are my own and yours may differ.

An essential to my morning is my usual shot of caffeine. Nothing wakes me up and gets me ready for the day like a latte or cappuccino. Typically I settle for some regular coffee with some flavored creamer since trips to Caribou Coffee have become inconvenient and certainly expensive. But don’t feel too bad for me.  Now I’m a lucky girl with a T-20 Tassimo brewing system which allows me to get that wonderful coffeehouse flavor with just the push of a button in my own home.

Tassimo is the only home brewing system that allows you to make coffees, tea, hot chocolate and wonderfully rich cappuccinos and lattes. 

How does TASSIMO make café style beverages so good you will swear they came from your local barista? The Secret is in the T DISC. Every T DISC contains a unique barcode that instantly tells the TASSIMO system precisely how to prepare your hot beverages.

TASSIMO lets you enjoy a cup of exactly what you want, right now. Simply insert your choice of T DISC, select the right cup for your drink and press the button. In about a minute you’ll savor an exquisite cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. You can brew your next delicious cup right away, knowing it will be as fresh and delightful as the one before it. No mess, no grounds and no waiting. Just pure pleasure, one cup at a time.

Making a latte with the Tassimo brewing system can be completed in a just a few steps.

First make sure that you add enough fresh water to at least reach the minimum water line.

Flip your esspresso disc face down into the machine so it can read the barcode to create the perfect cup of coffee.

Press the top down so it can puncture the T-disc and read the barcode.

Press the brew button.

Wait a minute until it is done brewing and press the button again if you would like a weaker brew.

Add the milk disc to create the nice soft foam on top!

After just another minute or so you have a beautiful latte, just begging you to take a sip.  What a great way to start your day!

So that our boys could have fun too we tried out the Milka Hot chocolate mix. It certainly was a quick way to make hot chocolate at the perfect temperature that was smooth and creamy. Lucian absolutely loved it. (Can’t you tell?)

The only drawback to this system is the expense of the T-Discs. However, thinking about what you would pay at a coffeehouse, the less than $1 paid per cup with the Tassimo seems small in comparison.

Buy it: Tassimo systems and t-discs can be purchased from Amazon, directly from Tassimo or check the Tassimo store locator for a retailer near you.  This particular model is available at Target.

Disclosure: I received a sample for the purposes of this review but no monetary compensation was received. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with these products are my own and yours may differ.

KitchenAid made my day month year when agreed to let me test out this KitchenAid Artisan 5Qt Tilt Head Stand Mixer. The extra fun part was picking out a color! Isn’t this green apple mixer a real beauty? So far I’m loving how much easier it is to bake but also that it is pushing me to be more adventurous in the kitchen.

One area I’ve never tried is baking breads. I like to make the occasional cinnamon rolls but I always cheat and never make them from scratch. For whatever reason I’ve been afraid of yeast. I know it is somewhat touchy to work with and I stayed away for fear of messing it up. I also never thought to attempt to make my own bread because frankly, I always assumed I’d wait to get a bread machine for that.  The idea of relentlessly kneading and waiting forever for the dough to rise just seemed like too much work.

I used to think that. That is, until I wanted to test out the dough hook and decided to take the BYOB (Bake Your Own Bread) plunge.

I opted for the Rapid Mix Cool Rise White Bread recipe from the instruction and recipe booklet included with my mixer. I chose this recipe because it specifically states it is a faster and easier recipe for new bread makers. And since I’m a total bread making newbie I went with this more temperature tolerant recipe that adds the yeast to dry ingredients.

To make this bread, simply place 5 1/2 cups flour, 2 T. sugar, 3 1/2 t. salt, 3 packages of active dry yeast and 1/4 c. butter or margarine (softened) in your mixer bowl. Attach bowl and dough hook to mixer. Turn to Speed 2 and mix about 20 seconds. Gradually add 2 cups very warm water (120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit) and mix about 1-1/2 minutes longer.

To see this in action check out this video I made that includes the entire process of making this bread with the KichenAid Stand Mixer.

Continuing on Speed 2, add remaining 1/2 cup to 1-1/2 cups flour (1/2 cup at a time) and mix until dough clings to hook and cleans side of bowl, about 2 minutes. Knead on Speed 2 about 2 minutes longer. While this might sound like a long, hard process, remember that the mixer is doing all the work so it is really quite simple.

Cover with plastic wrap and a towel. Let rest for 20 minutes. (Yes, I know those are penguins and snowflakes on my beloved Press and Seal but cut me some slack. I live in Minnesota where 8 months out of the year this is actually totally fitting!)

After 20 minutes your dough will have risen considerably. Divide the dough in half.

On a lightly floured surface, roll each half into a rectangle, approximately 9×14 inches.

A rolling pin will smooth the dough and remove gas bubbles.

To create the loaf shape, starting at the short end, roll the dough tightly.

Pinch to seal the seam.

Pinch the ends and turn them under.

While they didn’t turn out perfect, they did look like little loaves! I’m sure with practice I will get even better!

Place the dough, seam side down, in greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inch loaf pans. (I had to improvise since I didn’t have two of that size.)

Brush each loaf with oil and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 2 to 12 hours. When ready to bake, uncover dough carefully. Let stand at room temperature 10 minutes. Puncture any gas bubbles. Bake at 400 degrees 35-40 minutes.

Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

Mmm…..bread. Doesn’t it look yummy?

Ok, if plain bread doesn’t get you, how about some lightly toasted bread with butter?

No? Then how about a little grape jelly on top? It tasted fabulous with my coffee in the morning.

Still not making you drool? Well if those don’t get you this one certainly will! This french toast turned out divine. Almost sinfully good. Because of the denseness of the bread, it almost seemed like a pastry. Light and fluffy on the inside and certainly more filling than any other french toast I’ve tried!

Now I’m officially on a homemade bread kick. My husband is begging me for a cinnamon raisin bread so I just might make his day soon and surprise him! I’m certainly going to be experimenting with different types of bread and can’t wait to share my experiences with you!

If you have a KitchenAid mixer and haven’t yet attempted to use the dough hook for making homemade bread, I highly suggest you try. It isn’t as complicated or time consuming as it might seem and I really enjoyed a sense of accomplishment at the end! Not to mention how extra good it tasted that night with our walleye.

If you don’t have a KitchenAid mixer what are you waiting for? Splurge and get yourself one or ask for one for your next birthday or Christmas gift.  It is currently on sale and has free shipping. How can you resist?

And if that doesn’t sound likely, never fear. Watch for my review and giveaway post this week and learn how you can win one on my blog. Maybe YOU will be the lucky reader who wins this amazing mixer in your choice of color!

Disclosure: I received a sample for the purpose of this review but no other type of compensation was received. This has no bearing on my completely honest review above. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with these products are my own and yours may differ.

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

My family eats frozen pizza almost every week so I’m always on the lookout for something new and different to try. Whether it be for a quick supper or the perfect lunch on a weekend, we certainly appreciate the convenience.

Freschetta has come out with a brand new Flat Bread pizza which features an ultra thin and crispy crust. Available in four varieties including Zesty Italian, Roasted Garlic & Spinach, Pepperoni and 5 cheese, we opted to try the Zesty Italian Freschetta FlatBread .

Freschetta was kind enough to send us some free coupons along with a wonderful gift package including a square pizza stone, oven mitt and pizza cutter. (How did you know we desperately needed a new pizza cutter??) All of which came in very handy when cooking the pizza.

Because of the thinner crust, the flatbread pizza only takes 8 minutes to bake and is ready in no time! The flavors within the pizza were fabulous and the crust nice and thin. The only downfall with this pizza is that because it is so thin it isn’t nearly as filling as our typical pizzas. For our family of two adults and two small children we would need two pizzas and yet have some left over.

To supplement I purchased our usual favorite, the Freschetta Brick Oven Supreme. This pizza has a bit of a sweeter taste because of the inclusion of red and yellow peppers along with the usual green. The crust is still on the thinner size but thick enough to have some weight and therefore be more filling. We are die hard fans of this pizza. If you like something other than the traditional, I highly recommend the Brick Oven!

Be sure to print this $1 off Freschetta Flatbread Pizza coupon so you can try them out for yourself!

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boudreaux’s Butt Paste. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don’t know any parent that hasn’t struggled at one time or another with diaper rash. It is an unfortunate consequence of our tender baby’s bottom being diapered. There are however ways in which to reduce the uncomfortable and even painful experience of diaper rash for our babies. Besides frequent changing and allowing air dry time, you can find products available to both treat and even prevent diaper rash with Boudreaux’s Butt Paste products.

Available in a 2 oz container, Boudreaux’s Butt Paste Rash Protector Spray prevents and protects against diaper rash and seals out wetness.  With a clear and continuous spray, apply this non-staining formula daily. It even contains Peruvian balsam for healthy skin and retails for approximately .

I’ve been using this rash protector on my 26 month old Warren for the last month. I love how quick it is to apply but I especially appreciate not having to deal with any creams or powders. I haven’t noticed any diaper rash at all and my son actually likes it when I spray it on his bottom.  In fact, he typically giggles and says, “It tickles.” Just be sure to keep the the container pointed down at all times. I have accidentally hit poor Warren in the chin with the spray. I definitely will be buying this product in the future and think it would be a great to include for baby shower gifts!

Visit the Boudreaux’s Butt Paste website to learn more about these products and how to request a FREE sample!

Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Washington Shoe Company have unleashed a rain collection inspired by the beloved DC Comics character, Batman under the Western Chief Kids brand. This rain gear is sure to encourage your child’s imagination with its Batman themed hooded rain slicker, boots and umbrella.

Two super fun features include a removable cape that can be used with or without the raincoat for all those flying adventures and glow in the dark logos so your child is sure to get noticed.  Boots range in child sizes 5-13 and youth 1-4 while the raincoats come in size 2T-6X.

Batman has recently become one of my three year old’s favorite characters. Lucian had a blast getting dressed up in his gear to “fly” around our backyard.  He loved the flowing cape blowing in the wind as he ran around super fast. Wouldn’t you just love to join this super hero in his adventures?

The quality on this set is like nothing I’ve ever seen. We already own the Western Chief Fire Chief boots so I wasn’t surprised by the high quality of these Batman boots. However, the raincoat and umbrella really surprised me. The workmanship is absolutely outstanding and the lining of the jacket so soft and clearly well made. This set really had me in awe on all levels and can easily be passed down from my oldest to my youngest. The coolest feature on the umbrella is the absence of any sort of button/locking mechanism that could pinch little fingers. It literally goes up and down magically just my moving the white connector up and down. No locking in place whatsoever!

Buy it: You can find the complete Batman rain collection at Nordstrom’s nationwide as well as select specialty stores! The boots retail for $36.95, while the raincoat is $50 and the umbrella $16.

Disclosure: I received a sample for the purpose of this review through Team Mom but no other type of compensation was received. This has no bearing on my completely honest review above. The opinions and experiences I’ve shared with these products are my own and yours may differ.

Saving money while shopping online has never been easier with couponchief.com. With discounts codes for virtually any store you can think of, the opportunities to save are plentiful!

I’ve always been a super saver shopper.I love buying clothing for my kids out of season for the following year and I always shop around online before I buy. With couponchief I have a one stop resource for all my online savings that hardly takes any effort at all. Virtually any store you can think of and any possible item you are looking to purchase can be found here. Couponchief has over 50k coupon codes from 15k stores. Wow, right?

You can search by store name or browse the handy alphabetical list available. When I was shopping for Easter clothing I was able to quickly check for Gymboree coupons or The Children’s Place coupons and know I wasn’t missing out on a fabulous deal. I found the site to be super simple to use and appreciated the feedback that other users could give about using the code.

If you are new to using discount code sites, couponchief makes is extra easy with their quick video tutorial that breaks it all down for you step by step. Check out how it works to learn more.  I’d also love to hear what stores you love to shop for a discount!

Disclosure: I was compensated for my time to share my thoughts about couponchief.com. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own and are not influenced by this compensation.

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

Laundry is a chore that seems never-ending and rather cumbersome so I appreciate any related products that make the process just a little easier and less complicated. Purex has developed this ingenious Purex 3-in-1 Laundry Sheet which does the work of three products in one. It contains laundry detergent, fabric softener and anti-static, all in one handy dandy thin sheet. So I’ll bet it comes as no surprise that I jumped at the chance to try them out. How could I resist?

It really doesn’t get any easier than this. Simply start your washer, add the sheet and then add your laundry. The detergent will magically be added to your wash. When the wash cycle is finished you can add the sheet to your dryer with the rest of your laundry and the heat will activate the fabric softener and anti-static strip.

After using this on multiple washes I couldn’t tell a difference in the cleanliness of my clothes or the softness when they came out of the dryer. I did notice however how easy they were to use.

My laundry room is already a mess. I have multiple bottles of detergent, liquid fabric softener and boxes of fabric sheets. I have virtually no shelving with which to speak  so my bottles end up on the floor. I purposely to do not buy the over-sized bottles of liquid laundry detergent because I hate trying to pick up and pour out of a bottle that gives me a workout. And even so I’m a bit messy when I pour. I also always have the nice soap residue sprinkled with lint around the top of the washing machine. Don’t let the picture above fool you. I’m creative enough to take a shot that would exclude this embarrassment.

These sheets eliminate all those problems. No more lugging heavy bottles in from our van, no more measuring, no more residue and no possible way my husband could screw it up if he actually did a load of laundry. (Not that I’m holding my breath on that one…)

BUY IT: Check out the store locator to find this product at a retailer near you including Target and Wal-mart.

Don’t forget to get your  free sample to try this out for yourself!