Think Geek Withings Blood Pressure Monitor Review

Easy and accurate self-measurement

“Monitoring your blood pressure is an important part of overall health, but if you’re one of the 20% of people with white coat hypertension, the reading you’re getting at the doctor’s office isn’t accurate. Think about it. They may not come two by two with hands of blue and a wand that makes your brains exit your nostrils, but medical professionals can be intimidating. You may have normal blood pressure at home, but high at the doctor’s office. Or you may have low blood pressure, but test in the normal range at the doc’s. How can you get a true and accurate picture of your heart health?

Easy: test regularly at home. The Withings Blood Pressure Monitor is designed specifically for iOS devices, so it’ll talk to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Simply plug in your iOS device, strap on the cuff, and launch the measurement. The free app keeps your measurement history close at hand so you can detect trends early and be prepared to discuss the big picture at your next doctor’s appointment.”-Think Geek

Product Specifications

Easy and accurate self-measurement of blood pressure
Connects to any iOS device: iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch
Simply plug in your device, strap on the cuff, and start measuring
Free app keeps your measurement history close at hand
Secured data sharing with your physician
Cuff oscillometric method
Measurement range: 0 to 285mmHg
Accuracy: ±3 mmHg or 2% of reading
Pulse: from 40 to 180 beats per minute
Accuracy: 5% of reading
Cuff circumference: fits arm circumferences 22 to 42cm (9 to 17 in)
Automatic inflation with air pump at 15 mmHg/s
Controlled pressure release valve
Online Dashboard: Free, private and secure online account and access to the best health and coaching online services

With my last pregnancy I had problems with high blood pressure. So being pregnant again I want to make sure I am monitoring my blood pressure regularly. The Withings Blood Pressure Monitor from Think Geek is the perfect way to do that. I simply plug it into my iOS device (I use my iPod Touch) and it is ready to do a reading. The cuff fits comfortably on my arm and gives me an accurate reading each time. I love that all my readings are stored on my iPod Touch so I can see a history of each. It will even average out several readings that are done close together. It is a great and easy way to take your blood pressure and keep a record of it. I highly recommend this at home blood pressure monitor to anyone looking to monitor their blood pressure.

This Blood Pressure Monitor is available at www.ThinkGeek.com.

Think Geek Withings Blood Pressure Monitor gets Bragging Rights!

Heidi February 21, 2012 dad, health, mommy, review

Take the Nutrition Possible Assesment + $25 AMEX Gift Card Giveaway [CLOSED]

When it comes to taking care of my body I know I need supplements to get all the nutrients my body requires. But it is confusing and hard to know what I need for my body specifically. And don’t even get me started about the supplement isle at the store. There are so many options how would I even begin to know what the best choices for me are?

That is why I was relieved to be introduced to the Nutrition Possible website. You create your Nutrition plan by answering questions about your diet, exercise habits, lifestyle, etc…then it tells you which supplements you need as well as what areas in your life you need to improve to improve your health. I love that it makes it so easy to know which supplements you need. Now I don’t have to stand in the supplement isle scratching my head. Thanks to my Nutrition Plan I know what I need and can avoid all that confusion and guessing.

Once you have created your your nutrition plan you can explore your health, know your nutrients, and get tips and advice.

Another great thing is that once you are finished creating your plan you can download a high value Centrum® products coupon and save on the supplements you need!

Visit NutritionPossible.com today to take your nutrition assessment!

One lucky Bragging Mommy Reader will win a $25 AMEX Gift Card!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry- Take the assessment on NutritionPossible.com, and come back here and tell us something you didn’t know you were lacking.

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted.

2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
4 entries- Follow TheBraggingMommy Heidi on Pinterest.
4 entries- Add The Bragging Mommy into your circle on Google+.
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy via: Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
1 entry per day- Mention this giveaway on your Facebook page linking to this post.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post and www.SentrySafe.com. Leave a link to your post.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including @braggingmommy and a link to this post in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Feb. 24th @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter. See giveaway rules.

I am participating in a sponsored campaign hosted by One2One Network. While all opinions stated are my own, I make no claims about NutritionPossible.com as a product or its effectiveness.

Heidi February 20, 2012 dad, gift card, giveaway, health, mommy

The Secret World of Arrietty ~ See It Now In Theaters!

Arrietty (Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (Carol Burnett). Like all little people, Arrietty remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could drive Arrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger.

I LOVE Studio Ghibli films. I have seen them all and personally own a majority of them. My personal favorites are Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service. From the first moment I heard about The Secret World of Arrietty, I knew I would be going.

This movie was fantastic and definitely lived up to my expectations. I am a fan of traditional hand-drawn animation. I love the new developed computer animation but I prefer the traditional 2D animation. This is an area that Studion Ghibli excels in. The animation is literally a work of art and it is a joy to watch. It is amazing to me how talented some people in the world are.

The story is a familiar one that has been told before. This movie is based on the story The Borrowers. It is about little people that live in regular houses and ‘borrow’ small objects that the bigger people ‘beings’ won’t miss. It was fun to see Hayao Miyazaki’s (the ‘brain’ behind Studio Ghibli and the screenwriter of this film) version of the story. I love how creative they were in the tools that the Borrowers use to get the things they are going after.

The voice-over performances were fabulous in this film. All of the cast did a great job. My favorite was Amy Poehler’s performance as Homily (the mother of the Borrower family). Her performance was hilarious and added so much more to her character. Bridget Mendler (she is on Disney’s Good Luck Charlie, which I love) was great as the title character of Arrietty. She brought depth and personality to the title character. You really connected with her.

I loved The Secret World of Arrietty. The animation alone is enough to see it but it is a fabulous movie in all aspects. Do not miss this movie!

The Secret World of Arrietty gets bragging rights!

The Secret World of Arrietty is now in theaters and it is rated G. For more information you can visit the film’s official website.

Nicole February 17, 2012 child, dad, entertainment, family, mommy, movie, review, teen, tween

Ahhhhh the Joys of Dating and Match Making…

“When Paul inherits a matchmaking company from his Aunt Cathy, he wonders what his aunt could have possibly been thinking. But he soon realizes it makes perfect sense: by his own estimation, Paul is very attractive, super-likable and a really happy person — and he’s got a fantastic marriage to a very wealthy woman, Teri. Although Paul’s confident that he is the perfect person to help women find love, his approach is going to be a little different from that of his Aunt Cathy. His no-holds-barred philosophy toward dating can be surprising and frustrating to the women he is helping, but no matter how hilarious it may appear, his focus is always on being brutally honest with his clients.”

In season 1 Episode 3 Jillian played by Lisa Edelstein seeks out Paul’s advice on how to get back into the dating world after being in a 4 year relationship with her ex boyfriend. In this episode Jillian gets matched up with a ‘dummy’ for a date. I don’t miss dating at all and watching Paul the Male Match Maker reminds me why I am so lucky to have a fantastic husband but before I found him I unfortunately had to date some duds. One time I was set up by my sister on a blind date and it was awful. It was so awkward and to make things worse he set up a Mega date (like 4 dates in 1). We went to dinner, went bowling, went for ice cream, and then watched a movie at his house. That is A LOT to do in one night especially when you aren’t into the person. I didn’t have the heart to cut the date short so I had to suffer through it. What is one of your bad dating experiences when you were set up or someone you knew played Match Maker?

Watch Paul the Male Matchmaker on Hulu today!

I have been hired by Warner Bros WBWord division to raise awareness for Paul the Male Matchmaker.

Heidi February 15, 2012 dad, entertainment, mommy

P.F.Chang’s Prixe-Fixe Menu for Valentine’s Day ~ Chang’s For Two Menu Offers Four-Course Meal for Just $39.95

P.F. CHANG’S® PLAYS CUPID WITH PRIX-FIXE MENU ON VALENTINE’S DAY

P.F. Chang’s For Two Menu Offers Four-Course Meal for $39.95

“P.F. Chang’s is serving up a four-course, prix-fixe menu for couples looking for an affordable yet satisfying Valentine’s Day dinner. Available now, bring your special someone to any P.F. Chang’s location in the U.S. and enjoy a customizable meal for two, including dessert!”-P.F.Chang’s

My husband and I love going to P.F. Chang’s. They have wonderful service and delicious food. Right now they are offering a great deal on a four course meal for 2. Perfect for Valentine’s Day! It makes for a great date night at a great price. Check out what the menu has to offer:

Enjoy a four-course meal for two for $39.95*

Cup of Soup (Choose Two)

• Hot & Sour Soup • Egg Drop Soup

Starters (Choose One)

• Chang’s Lettuce Wraps (Chicken or Vegetarian) • Crispy Green Beans • Salt & Pepper Calamari • Spring Rolls (4) • Crab Wontons • Dumplings (Shrimp, Pork or Vegetable) • Seared Ahi Tuna (add $2.45) • Dynamite Shrimp (add $1.45) • Chang’s Spare Ribs (add $1.95)

Entrees (Choose Two)

• Chang’s Spicy Chicken • Mongolian Beef • Crispy Honey Shrimp • Ginger Chicken with Broccoli • Beef with Broccoli • Kung Pao Shrimp or Chicken • Kung Pao Scallops (add $1.95) • Crispy Honey Chicken • Pepper Steak • Orange Peel Shrimp, Beef or Chicken • Sesame Chicken • Beef a la Sichuan • Almond & Cashew Chicken • Salt & Pepper Prawns (add $1.95) • Sweet & Sour Pork or Chicken • Asian Grilled Norwegian Salmon (add $2.95) • Norwegian Salmon Steamed with Ginger (add $2.95) • Mahi-Mahi (add $3.95) • Oolong Marinated Chilean Sea Bass (add $8.95)

Desserts (Choose Two)

Choose two of P.F. Chang’s eight delicious mini desserts

Enjoy one of our larger desserts

Banana Spring Rolls (add $1.95) * Flourless Chocolate Dome (add $1.95)The Great Wall of Chocolate® (add $3.95) * New York-Style Cheesecake (add $1.95)

Please call your local P.F. Chang’s or make your reservation online at pfchangs.com.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day this year with P.F.Chang’s!

*Please check your local P.F. Chang’s for pricing and offerings. Dine in only. Available for a limited time. Not valid with any other offers. Drinks are not included. Tax and Gratuity are not included. Price may vary by location. Warrior® Rewards are not valid on P.F. Chang’s for Two menu.

Heidi February 10, 2012 dad, food, mommy, restaurant, review, valetine

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Film Review~ Now in Theaters!

In this follow-up to the 2008 worldwide hit Journey to the Center of the Earth, the new 3D family adventure Journey 2: The Mysterious Island begins when young Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson, reprising his role from the first film) receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist. It’s a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. Unable to stop him from going, Sean’s new stepfather, Hank (Dwayne Johnson), joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot (Luis Guzman) and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter (Vanessa Hudgens), they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.

If your family loves fun, adventure movies this is a movie for you to see! I really enjoyed Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. It is a great movie for the whole family.

There were many things that I liked about this movie. I really liked the cast a lot. I am a big fan of Michael Caine and Dwayne Johnson (to me, he will always be ‘The Rock’). All the actors in the movie really appeared to be having so much fun. I would like to add that as many times as I saw the trailer, the ‘pec dance of love’ still made me laugh!

I really liked how they brought different mythologies into the film. They talk about Atlantis and Captain Nemo as they are on the island. I am a book geek and love this little tie-ins.

I was pretty impressed with the 3D in this movie. I am not a huge fan of 3D film but this one was actual fun. They used the 3D effects in a meaningful way. It was not just ‘throw in’ to make it more marketable.

If you have not seen the first movie, do not worry. There is not much of a connection to the first film. You will not be lost or confused.

For a fun family movie night out, go to Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. It is a fabulous choice!

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island gets bragging rights!

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island is now in theaters. You can see it in 3D or 2D theaters. It is rated PG. For more information about Journey 2, you can go to the movie’s official website.

Nicole February 10, 2012 boy, child, dad, entertainment, family, girl, mommy, movie, review, tween

The Vow Film Review~ Opens Today in Theaters

A newlywed couple recovers from a car accident that puts the wife in a coma. Waking up with severe memory loss, her husband endeavors to win her heart again.

I really love chick flicks. I also really like Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams. I was very excited to see The Vow.

The Vow was a very different sort of chick flick. It is not your normal, fluffy, chick flick. This movie really focuses on the reality of what it would really be like to have a spouse lose their memory. Not just the memory of their life, but the memory of your life together. This would be so difficult and the movie focuses on how hard it would really be. Knowing that this movie is based on actual events made it even more real.

The acting in this movie was fantastic. My sister and I really enjoyed Channing Tatum’s performance. He made you really believe that he was madly in love with a woman who had no clue who he is or the incredible life they had together.

If you are looking for a chick flick for a girls night out or for Valentine’s Day date night, look into checking out The Vow.

The Vow is rated PG-13 and is now playing in theaters. For more information, you can go to the film’s official website.

Nicole February 10, 2012 dad, entertainment, mommy, movie, review, valetine

New Taboo Game Review and Giveaway [CLOSED]

“Can you get your team to say Brain Freeze? What if you can’t say Ice Cream, Headache, Eating, Cold or Fast? Not so easy now, is it? Because in this game, the obvious clues are strictly taboo.

The trick is to give creative, carefully-worded clues to get your team to guess words fast. But don’t mention unmentionables, or you’ll get the buzzer and lose the point!

This new TABOO game is raising eyebrows with over 1,000 fresh new words and a game-changer die. You’d better be shrewd, quick-thinking and willing to take some risks – but don’t get shut down by the buzzer!

Comes with 270 TABOO cards, Cardholder, Card Tray, Buzzer, Game-changer Die, Sand Timer and Score Pad.

For 4 or more Adult players.”-Hasbro

We love game night at our house. It is so much fun. Taboo has always been one of my favorite games to play so I was ecstatic when I received the New Taboo Game to review. It has over 1,000 new words which is great since we had played the older version so many times. The new element of the die also makes the game more interesting and fun. It requires 2 “AAA” batteries which are not included so be sure to have some on hand. We have had a blast playing this new Taboo game and I know your family will love it as well.

This New Taboo Game is available online in the Hasbro Toy Shop and in stores where Hasbro Games are sold.

Taboo gets Bragging Rights!

One lucky Bragging Mommy Reader will win this New Taboo Game!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry- Visit Hasbro Games and tell us another game they have that you want to own.

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted

3 entries- Like Family Game Night on Facebook.
1 entry- Tell us your favorite Game to play with your family.
5 entries- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+.
2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
1 entry per- Enter another giveaway on our site, tell us which (no limit).
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy on: Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post. Leave a link.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post, & @braggingmommy in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Feb. 15th @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Heidi February 8, 2012 dad, family, games, giveaway, mommy, review, teen

Tax Time Survival Kit ~ SentrySafe HD4100 Fire Proof Safe & $25 Walmart GC Giveaway [CLOSED]

It’s the time of year again, the one that everyone (well, most everyone) is dreading…Tax Season. For most of us, Tax Season tends to be a confusing mess of disorganization and stress. This year, SentrySafe is helping people get both organized and stay secure with “Make Taxes Less Taxing”. This web page offers tips and prizes for this tax season making it less of a pain and more of a gain. Head over there to see the tax tips and enter to win prizes!

SentrySafe has a wonderful selection of Safes to keep your most important possessions not only safe but organized as well. I have the HD4100 Fire Proof Safe and I keep all of our home videos and photo discs inside. If there was a fire in our home those physical versions of memories are the possessions that are irreplaceable so for me it is so important to protect them.

If you don’t already have a fire proof safe in your home I recommend investing in one. Should something happen it is definitely worth every penny!

SentrySafe is providing One lucky Bragging Mommy Reader with an HD4100 Fire Proof Safe and a $25 Walmart Gift Card!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry- Visit SentrySafe and “Find your safe” then let us know one of your safe results.

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted.

3 entries- Enter to win on the Make Taxes Less Taxing Page.
5 entries- Follow sentrysafe on Twitter.
5 entries- Like SentrySafe on Facebook.
2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
4 entries- Follow TheBraggingMommy Heidi on Pinterest.
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy via: Google+, Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
1 entry per day- Mention this giveaway on your Facebook page linking to this post.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post and www.SentrySafe.com. Leave a link to your post.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including @sentrysafe, @braggingmommy and a link to this post in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Feb. 21st @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Heidi February 7, 2012 dad, giveaway, home, mommy

Take the Discover Your Winter Cocktail Quiz + Hendrick’s Gin Golf Umbrella Giveaway [CLOSED]

Yummy Drink Recipes:

Chocolate Snowball
Ingredients:
2 oz coconut rum
2 oz Irish cream
1 oz hazelnut liqueur
3 1/2 oz melted chocolate
3 1/2 oz cream
1 dash chocolate syrup

Preparation: Place the chocolate syrup around the glass then place the other ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake. Strain into glass.

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Spring Fever
Ingredients:
3/4 oz lemon juice
3/4 oz mango syrup
1 1/2 oz pineapple juice
2 oz blood orange juice

Preparation: Shake well over ice cubes in a shaker, and strain into a collins glass half-filled with crushed ice.

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Winter Breeze
Ingredients:
1 oz creme de cacao
1 oz vanilla schnapps
1 oz Irish cream
milk

Preparation: Pour liquors into a beer mug, and fill with milk. Stir, and serve.

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One lucky Bragging Mommy reader will win a Hendrick’s Gin Golf Umbrella!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry- Take the Discover Your Winter Cocktail Quiz in the widget above. Tell us your results.

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted.

1 entry- Tell us your favorite cocktail.
2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy via: Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post & @braggingmommmy in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Feb. 17th @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Heidi February 3, 2012 dad, giveaway, mommy, recipe

The Woman In Black Film Review~ Opens Today!

Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe), a widowed lawyer whose grief has put his career in jeopardy, is sent to a remote village to sort out the affairs of a recently deceased eccentric. But upon his arrival, it soon becomes clear that everyone in the town is keeping a deadly secret. Although the townspeople try to keep Kipps from learning their tragic history, he soon discovers that the house belonging to his client is haunted by the ghost of a woman who is determined to find someone and something she lost… and no one, not even the children, are safe from her vengeance.

I am not a big fan of horror films. I think they are so dumb! I normally go into horror movies and make fun of them because they are so lame. I do have to say that the trailers for The Woman In Black intrigued me. The main thing that made me want to see it was the fact that it was Daniel Radcliffe’s first post-Harry Potter role. The trailer looked so scary too! I was excited to see it.

The Woman In Black is honestly the scariest movie I have seen in a long time! My friend and I were pretty scared the whole entire film. I will be honest, I watched most of the movie with my hands over my eyes, peeking through my fingers. Events in the movie had me constantly jumping out of my seat! The ending was also unexpected. It is not the ending you normally see in a typical ghost movie.

The film pretty much had to be carried by Daniel Radcliffe. He did a fabulous job. In many of the intense moments in the film, there is no dialogue. Daniel Radcliffe’s reactions to the chaos going on around him is what moves the film forward and make you freak out even more. Not once in this movie did I think about Daniel being Harry Potter. He was the character, Arthur Kipps, in this film and he did it well.

I honestly do not know if I will ever watch this movie again. It scared me so bad! If you are a horror film fan, The Woman In Black is definitely a movie you should probably check out.

The Woman In Black gets bragging rights!

The Woman In Black in now open in theaters. It is rated PG-13. For more informaiton about The Woman In Black, you can visit the film’s official website.

Nicole February 3, 2012 dad, entertainment, mommy, movie, review

Big Miracle Film Review~ See it in Theaters Now!

Inspired by the true story that captured the hearts of people across the world, the rescue adventure Big Miracle tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and an animal-loving volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.

I love true stories about animals, especially whales. I was not familiar with the story that Big Miracle is based on. I asked my mom about it and she said she remember the story being on the news awhile ago. The movie takes place in 1988. I figured that it must have been a pretty amazing story in order for it to be remembered by many people.

One thing that I liked about this movie is that it focused on a lot of different characters and you can keep them all straight. My favorite character was the news reporter, Adam Carlson, played by John Krasinski. For me, he provided some of the most touching and most funny moments of the film. I learned a new method of what to do if someone’s eyes freeze shut!

This was a great family movie. It is pretty clean content wise and I believe that little kids will stay entertained. The whales are so cool to look at and you are cheering for them and the people through the movie. In my opinion, the movie does push an environmental message of ‘save the whales’ but does not get too political. I really liked this movie and think that it a movie worth seeing. Make sure you stay through the majority of the credits to see actual footage for 1988.

Big Miracle gets bragging rights!

Big Miracle opens in theaters today. It is rated PG. For more information, you can go to the film’s official website.

Nicole February 3, 2012 child, dad, entertainment, family, mommy, movie, review

The Natural Solution for Teething Pain ~ Hazelaid Review and $25 GC Giveaway [CLOSED]

I came across Hazelaid when E was a baby. He had some issues with reflux, and I was looking for some natural solutions to help ease his discomfort. I found that Hazelwood might be a good alternative to the medicine he was prescribed. I didn’t end up buying a necklace but Hazelaid recently sent me one and I am so excited to have it!! I am worried that this next baby will have some sort of reflux and if it is anything like my sons…I will definitely be pulling out our Hazelaid necklace! They are also a great natural solution for teething pain, and every baby has to go through that!!

“Hazelwood products help to create an alkaline environment in your body which may help prevent and appease many of the symptoms caused by acidosis (being too acidic).

The use of hazelwood jewelry originated long ago when Aboriginal people discovered that they could put hazelwood chips on their babies’ necks to soothe teething pains. This lost art was revived only a decade ago when a few companies in Quebec, Canada (where the hazelwood trees grow indigenously) rediscovered the unique properties of hazelwood. Since then hazelwood has grown in popularity as more and more people have experienced its benefits. Most notably, Hazelwood has been able to help many people with skin issues such as eczema, providing a natural alternative to many of the more expensive, intensive, and messy treatments.”

“Hazelaid was born when our family was introduced to the amazing healing properties of hazelwood products. These necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry made with pieces of wood from the hazelnut tree have the unique property of absorbing the excess acid produced in our bodies when it is in contact with our skin.”

I always like to try a natural approach to any ailment especially when it comes to my kids. These Hazelaid necklaces are safe and that makes me feel good about letting my child wear them. I received the Milk & Butter Necklace from Hazelaid. It is a combination of Hazelwood and Amber. Amber is a natural remedy for pain relief so this necklace does double duty!! It is 11 inches long (perfect for a little neck) and it has silver plated nickel ‘lobster claw’ style clasps. It would look great on a boy or a girl.

Of course, Hazelaid Necklaces aren’t just for children. They also have adult sizes. There are some really pretty colors available and they are totally something I would wear everyday. You can also get bracelets if that is more your style. These necklaces can help with digestion, constipation, eczema, migraines, acid reflux, heart burn, nausea, arthritis, skin problems, etc. I really want to try one for my migraines. It would be so much better than my medication that gives me crazy side effects!

Things that are BRAG WORTHY:

Great for children & adults
Necklaces come in 11 inches, 13.5 inches, 16 inches, 18 inches, 20 inches, and 22 inches.
Helps with a variety of ailments
Safe & natural
Great for teething
Looks great too!

Hazelaid gets BRAGGING RIGHTS!!

If you think Hazelaid jewelry would be helpful for you or your child, right now you can get 10% off a purchase, use code: ‘bragging10’ at checkout.

Hazelaid is generously giving away a $25 Gift Card to one lucky reader!!

MANDATORY 1st entry- Visit Hazelaid and tell us something else you learned on their website (it is full of great information!)

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted.

2 entries- Like Hazelaid on Facebook.
2 entries- Follow Hazelaid on Twitter.
3 entries- Subscribe to the Hazelaid Blog.
2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
5 entries- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy via: Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post. Leave a link.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post, & @braggingmommy and @hazelaid in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Feb. 16th @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Kim February 2, 2012 baby, boy, child, dad, girl, giveaway, health, jewelry, mommy, review, teen, toddler, tween

Man On A Ledge Film Review~ See it in Theaters Now!

An ex-cop and now wanted fugitive (Sam Worthington) stands on the ledge of a high-rise building while a hard-living New York Police Department negotiator (Elizabeth Banks)tries to talk him down. The longer they are on the ledge, the more she realizes that he might have an ulterior objective.

I was excited to see Man On A Ledge. I am a fan of both Sam Worthington and Elizabeth Banks. That was enough to get me there. I did think that the trailers and advertisements for this movie made it look very intense. In addition, I was curious to see how they could make a full length movie about a man standing on a ledge. I will admit, Man On A Ledge was definitely a crowd pleasing movie.

This movie is just not about a man standing on a ledge. Without spoiling too much, Sam Worthington’s character, Nick, is a distraction for a robbery that is happening at a building not far from him. Some of the major plot points in this movie were very predictable but there were a few moments that definitely surprised me. The climax of the movie was something that I did not expect.

There were a couple of moments that did scare me a bit. I am really short in real life and heights scare me. Seeing over the ledge from Nick’s point of view was sometimes a bit unnerving. There was one point in the movie that the crowd of people are yelling for Nick to just to jump. I hope people in New York City are not that mean! I would never yell at someone to jump.

My favorite part of this movie was Elizabeth Banks’ performance of the police negotiator. In my opinion, she stole this movie from Sam Worthington. I was always looking forward to when she would be back on the screen.

This weekend, if you are looking for a fun, action packed movie, Man On A Ledge would be a great choice! Overall, I had fun watching it!

Man On A Ledge is rated PG-13. It opens in theaters today. For more information about the movie, you can go the film’s official website.

Nicole January 27, 2012 dad, entertainment, mommy, movie, review

Real Steel Available on Blu-ray and DVD & Digital Copy Today

“A gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future where the sport of boxing has gone high-tech, "Real Steel" stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kentonm, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.”

AVAILABLE TODAY!

We were sent the Real Steel on Blu-ray & DVD Combo Pack. It is also available in a 3 disc set which includes a Digital Copy. We didn’t have the chance to see this movie in theaters so we were excited to sit down together as a family and watch it on Blu-ray. The whole family loved the movie, especially my boys, they thought the robots and fighting were awesome. My boys favorite bots Zeus because he is such an enormous robot and Twin Cities because he has 2 heads. We even enjoyed the bonus features my boys though the building the bots was cool and enjoyed seeing that. We all liked watching the bloopers they are really fun. This is a great family movie and a great addition to our movie collection.

BONUS FEATURES:

3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (1 Blu-ray Disc + 1 DVD + 1 Digital Copy)

All 2-Disc Blu-ray Bonus Features
All DVD Bonus Features

2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (1 Blu-ray Disc + 1 DVD)

REAL STEEL SECOND SCREEN
Countdown to the Fight—The Charlie Kenton StorySugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman’s Champ
Deleted and Extended Scenes with introductions by Shawn Levy
—Extended “Meet Ambush”
—Deleted “Butterfly” Storyline
PLUS All DVD Bonus Features

1-Disc DVD (1 DVD)

Making of Metal ValleyBuilding the BotsBloopers
HIGH-DEFINITION & STANDARD DEFINITION DIGITAL
Sugar Ray Leonard: Cornerman’s ChampPLUS
All DVD Bonus Features

For a limited time, Dreamworks is offering $5 OFF the purchase of the Real Steel 3-disc Combo Pack. Those interested should visit http://www.steelgetsreal.com/, and click on the offer in the upper right corner of the page. Offer ends 1/29/12.

Real Steel is available on Blu-ray DVD & Digital Copy online and in stores now.

Real Steel gets Bragging Rights!

Heidi January 24, 2012 blu-ray, child, dad, dvd, entertainment, family, mommy, review

Lose Weight and Feel Great ~ Isagenix Cleanse System Review

Amber is our Independent Consultant for Isagenix and she is so wonderful to work with! She will get you your orders fast and help you with any questions you have. Here is her personal success story (it’s amazing, and she looks awesome by the way!):

“My personal Isagenix Success Story is just one the thousands of success stories shared by people who have experienced incredible results using Isagenix Systems. I was introduced to Isagenix 8 years ago and have been a consumer ever since. I have seen how Isagenix has changed my life and others around me. I got up to 209 lbs with my first child and Isagenix helped me get down smaller then I was pre pregnancy better yet pre marriage. I now weigh 133 lbs and have kept my weight off for 8 years. This Amazing company and there products have been a blessing in my life! I am committed to helping others change there life’s. You can be confident that Isagenix is also committed to your success by offering you the opportunity to live a healthy, clean, and lean lifestyle—and to create wealth while doing so.

Whether you choose to try Isagenix as a retail customer or to become an Associate, you can be sure that you won’t be disappointed. In fact, Isagenix offers a 100 percent Satisfaction Guarantee. If after five days of use you are not satisfied with Isagenix Products, simply return them to Isagenix International within 30 days for a full product refund.

There’s no better time to start your own success story than now. Get started right away and start enjoying the benefits you receive with Isagenix.”-Amber

Both my husband and I ordered the Isagenix 9 day Cleanse System from Amber. (You can do a 30 day cleanse as well if that timeline works better for you.) My husband lost 10 lbs. in 9 days and I lost 7 lbs. in 9 days doing the Isagenix 9 day cleanse! Not only did I lose weight and see the difference in my body, but I felt so much better. Getting all the toxins out of my body really improved it’s function. It was like my mind and body was lifted out of a fog, I could even think more clearly. I thought cleansing for 9 days would be hard, but the Isagenix system makes it easy. I never felt hungry, honestly I was amazed by that. I highly recommend the Isagenix Cleanse system for losing weight as well as making your body feel great and function as it should!

Nutritional Cleansing unlocks the miracle of the human body

“Nutritional Cleansing increases the health benefits you’ll receive from the ancient health practice of cleansing. The herbs, vitamins and minerals that aid cleansing do two things:

Accelerate the removal of impurities from the body.
Nourish the body with vital nutrients to rapidly revive health.

A cleansed and revitalized body is stronger, resists illness better, is more efficient and performs at a higher level than one that is filled with impurities. Many people notice an ability to reach and maintain their ideal weight.”-Isagenix

Isagenix has so many wonderful products to improve your health. See them all and order with Amber by visiting www.youwantsome.isagenix.com, or you can email Amber directly at getsomeisagenix@gmail.com, or you can fill out the form here and Amber will contact you.

The Isagenix Cleanse System gets Bragging Rights!

Heidi January 23, 2012 dad, diet, health, mommy, review, weight loss

Red Tails Film Review~ Opens in Theaters Today!

1944. To help win the war, the Pentagon brass has no choice but to consider the untested African-American pilots of the experimental Tuskegee training program. Just as the young Tuskegee men are about to be shut down and shipped back home, they are given the ultimate chance to show their courage. These intrepid young airmen take to the skies to fight for their country – and the fate of the free world.

I really did not know much about this movie when I was asked to preview it. I knew that George Lucas was a producer and that it was about fighter pilots. When I got to the theater and found that it was about the Tuskegee Airmen, I was excited to see it. This is a story that has not been told on film before. It is about time that the story of these brave men was done on film.

In my opinion, this is a more mild war film. It is not gritty and harsh like Pearl Harbor. I would compare it to more of the feeling you have watching Top Gun. There were some very funny moments in this film. Many of the characters in the movie have such fun personalities and had me smiling several times during the film. The action moments in this movie was great. They really put you into the action during the many aerial sequences in the movie.

As I was watching this movie, it was definitely a crowd pleaser. The guys behind me were commenting the whole movie about how awesome it is. I think that this is a movie that most men, and hopefully, most women will enjoy as well. If you like action movies with pilots and planes, this is a movie for you!

Red Tails in now playing in theaters. It is rated PG-13. Make sure to check out the film’s official website for more details about the movie.

Nicole January 20, 2012 dad, entertainment, mommy, movie, review

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Film Review~ Now in Theaters!

Oskar (Thomas Horn) is convinced that his father (Tom Hanks), who died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, has left a final message for him hidden somewhere in the city. Feeling disconnected from his grieving mother (Sandra Bullock) and driven by a relentlessly active mind that refuses to believe in things that can’t be observed, Oskar begins searching New York City for the lock that fits a mysterious key he found in his father’s closet. His journey through the five boroughs takes him beyond his own loss to a greater understanding of the observable world around him.

I still remember where I was on September 11th. I arrived home from an early morning high school sports practice and my mom told me that a plane had hit the World Trade Center. I do not remember much of school that day. The teachers finally gave up on their lessons for the day and turned on the televisions to let us watch this horrible event in American history unfold. Although it has been 10 years, September 11th is a tough subject to discuss.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is a very well acted movie with amazing visuals. Many people are interested in seeing this movie because of Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock. This is not their movie. They are hardly in it. This movie belongs to Thomas Horn, who plays Oskar. This young boy was fantastic in this movie. Oskar is a very socially awkward character. Many things frighten him. During the movie, you really get into his mind. Noise and sights are amplified. This would be a very difficult character to portray and Thomas Horn does well at it.

I will say, this movie was very difficult to watch. September 11th really affected so many people. What made this different from the others is that you are seeing this horrible event and its aftermath through the eyes and experiences of a child. This is a point of view we have not seen done on film until now. Take a lot of tissues to this movie and plan on needing some ice cream at the end. This movie is very sad.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close opens in theaters nationwide starting today. The film is rated PG-13. For more information about the film, you can go to the film’s official website.

Nicole January 20, 2012 dad, entertainment, mommy, movie, review

Think Geek Retro Duo NES/SNES Game System Review

8 and 16 Bit Gaming… Back from the Dead

“If you put your hand far enough into the crack of your couch in the basement you’re likely to find an old SNES game cartridge… reach a little further and out comes a pop rock encrusted NES cartridge. Problem is, no matter how far you burrow, you’ll never come up with a full Nintendo classic game system… and you’ll never ever find a system that plays both NES and SNES games. Well luckily the Retro Duo NES/SNES Game System is here to solve all your 8 and 16 bit gaming needs. Two top loading cartridge slots, one for NES the other for SNES, ensure full compatibility with all your old games… and it’s completely couch lint free! Controllers are included of course, or you can plug in your own original SNES controllers for 100% accurate gaming nostalgia.”-Think Geek

Important Note:
The Retro Duo does not come with any cartridges or a built in game. You need to provide your own SNES or NES game cartridges. Don’t have any? Try eBay.

Product Features

Game Console Plays Old Nintendo SNES and NES Games
Two slots allow you to plug in an SNES or NES cartridge
Switch chooses from NES (8 Bit) or SNES (16 Bit) mode
Connects to your TV via standard composite video out or s-video out
Stereo sound (depending on game)
Comes with two SNES style controllers
Plug compatible with original SNES controllers
Plays most Japanese import games
Main console measures a compact 16cm x 17cm x 4.5cm high

I remember Christmas morning as a little girl when we got our first Nintendo. We were so excited! We had a blast playing it as kids and in my mind no other system or games can compare. Ahhhh Nostalgia…So when I saw the Retro Duo NES/SNES Game System from Think Geek I knew I had to have it. I had a few old NES games stored in my garage, I know crazy right?! and I also order a few more on eBay. We have had a blast playing the old NES and SNES games on this system. Super Mario 3, Dr. Mario, Monopoly, Tetris, Paper Boy, just to name a few of my favorites. So fun. retro_duo_nes_snes_game_system

Even my 4 year old is enjoying the games. I think it’s quite funny actually, give my 4 year old a Galaxy Tablet and he has no problem, needs no instruction. Give him the Retro Duo system & an NES game and he is like “How do I do this?” LOL We are raising a complex generation. It’s too funny!

I highly recommend this game system to send you back to the 80’s & 90’s with some simple and entertaining game play. I like that it is a small console so it doesn’t take up much space. It is also really nice being able to play both Nintendo & Super Nintendo games on one system.

See this and all the fun and unique items available at www.ThinkGeek.com!

Retro Duo NES/SNES Game System from Think Geek gets Bragging Rights!

Heidi January 19, 2012 child, dad, electronics, family, games, mommy, review, teen, toy, tween

Far End Gear Single Earbud & BuDLoKs Review and Giveaway [CLOSED]

If you have been looking for running earphones, or earphones for any physical activity look no further. I have found the perfect product for anyone who is active outside and loves to listen to music. My hubby rides his road bike regularly and loves to listen to music as he does. For safety he leaves one ear open (as you should) so he only uses one side of his headphones. It always annoyed him that the sound quality was never right since standard headphones are made to use both sides he didn’t get the full effect of the music. Also, it annoyed him to have to tuck in the other headphone to get it out of the way. He needed a single earphone to solve his problems. Then I was introduced to

One Good Earbud:

“Designed for enjoying music or fielding mobile calls, our in-ear style earbud with in-line microphone can be worn comfortably in either ear for a secure, near-customized fit. Compatible with iPhone, LG, Blackberry, Motorola, and HTC smartphones, as well as all other mobile phones that accept a 4 conductor 3.5mm plug.

Technical Specifications:

4 Conductor Stereo 3.5mm right angle plug (same as 1/8-inch size plug)
Includes 3 sizes of rubber ear tips, to find your best fit
Sturdy metal housing provides top quality acoustics
Compatible with the iPhone, iPhone 3G/3GS/4, Blackberry, DROID, Palm, Samsung, Android, HTC, LG, Motorola, and other mobile phones that accept a 4 conductor 3.5mm plug, with microphone/button enabled features
Also works with audio devices such as Apple iPods, Sony MP3 Players, Laptops and Desktop Computers, as well as Sansa, Creative, Etek, Ativa, RCA and other low-cost MP3 players
Weighs in at 0.5 ounces (14 grams)
Stereo plug’s circuitry mixes both stereo channels (left and right) together into one earphone
42 inch long cord”

The One Good Earbud is available in different styles: In ear, wrap around, iPod style, with or without a mic…For my hubby I got the In ear with Mic. It is perfect for him since he likes to be able to answer his phone as he is riding, with the mic he is able to do just that. The sound quality is great with this single earbud and he no longer has to worry about the other earphone getting in the way. This earphone is great for any activity where awareness is needed as well as for use with his smartphone while driving, etc…This single earphone is also ideal for someone with a hearing impairment in one ear.

We were also sent BuDLoKs to review and I’m glad we were!

BuDLoKs:

“BuDLoKs replace the stock, in-ear budtips produced by other manufacturers. The soft silicone wing gently locks into the bowl of the wearer’s ear, comfortably locking it in place during general activity or vigorous exercise.
Try them with your favorite in-ear earbuds from Coby, SkunkJuice, JLab, GOgroove, Skullcandy, Beats by Dr. Dre, Monster, Klipsch, JVC, Thinksound, Sony, Sennheiser, Shure, Philips, and One Good Earbud to keep them from falling out.

Technical Specifications:

Comes with 3 sizes for a near-custom fit.
Easy to use.
Replaces the stock, in-ear budtips produced by other manufacturers.
Weighs in at 0.5 ounces
Soft silicone wing gently locks into the bowl of the wearer’s ear.
Comfortably locks earbuds in place during general activity or vigorous exercise”

BuDLoKs are a great way to ensure that your in ear headphones stay in your ear. My hubby uses them with his in ear one good earbud while riding his bike and exercising and they work great. He no longer has to worry about his earphone falling out while he is active. They provide a really nice snug fit and since they come in a pack with 3 different sizes he was able to find the best fit for him. And it worked out that a different size fit my ears so even more bang for our buck!

I highly recommend both One Good Earbud and BuDLoKs to anyone with an active lifestyle! You can see more info and purchase at www.farendgear.com.

One Good Earbud & BuDLoKs get Bragging Rights!

One lucky Bragging Mommy Reader will win a single Earbud of their choice + 1 set of BuDLoKs!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry- Visit Far End Gear and tell us something you saw or learned there.

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted.

3 entries- “Like” FarEndGear on Facebook.
3 entries- Follow farendgear on Twitter.
1 entry- Tell us why you need One Good Earbud & BuDLoKs.
2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
5 entries- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+.
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy via: Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
1 entry per day- Mention this giveaway on your Facebook page linking to this post.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post. Leave a link.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post, & @farendgear @braggingmommmy in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Feb. 1st @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Heidi January 18, 2012 dad, giveaway, mommy, outdoor, review, teen, travel

Zeiss Educational Tools to Help Your Get the Most From Your Eyes

“Zeiss lenses and the educational tools that were created to enable eyeglass wearers to better understand their vision correction needs, ensure they get the most out of their next eye exam, and receive the best lenses to regain sharp vision.

Carl Zeiss Vision (www.vision.zeiss.com) is a global leader in precision optics. With a full line of advanced customized lenses, advanced performance coatings, i.Scription® by ZEISS diagnostic technology and a national laboratory network, Carl Zeiss Vision is dedicated to creating a better visual experience for patients and greater success for eye care practices.

ZEISS Products Help Us View the World

· Astronauts relied on ZEISS quality lenses to take pictures of the first moon landing.

· Google Earth cameras are equipped with ZEISS precision lenses.

· Nobel Prize winners have relied on ZEISS microscopes for their award-winning research.

· ZEISS camera lenses have been used to film unforgettable movies such as The Lord of the Rings, Slumdog Millionaire and The King’s Speech.

Carl Zeiss Vision – a part of Carl Zeiss, Inc.

Carl Zeiss Vision develops precision lenses for eyeglasses, coatings for eyeglass lenses, and optical measuring devices and diagnostic tools, making Carl Zeiss Vision one of the leading manufacturers of optometric products in the world.

About 200 million people around the globe wear eyeglass lenses made by Carl Zeiss Vision.

The ZEISS brand is synonymous with innovation, quality and supreme technology in the world of eyeglass lens manufacturing.

Carl Zeiss Vision is dedicated to creating a better visual experience for patients and greater success for eye care practices, focused around four pillars:

Full line of advanced customized lenses which can integrate how your frames, face and prescription work together to create a one-of-a-kind lens that is precisely personalized for the wearer
Advanced performance coatings
i.Scription^® by ZEISS diagnostic technology
National laboratory network

Carl Zeiss Vision continuously strives to offer high-quality products and services to protect human vision and optical health to improve quality of life.”

The Zeiss Educational Tools cover four topics:

Facts to know about vision and lenses
Tips for selecting an eye doctor
Questions to ask at your next eye appointment
Facts to know about age-related vision changes.

Check out the Zeiss Educational Tools today!

*I wrote this post on behalf of Zeiss through Mom Select. I am receiving a gift card & eyeglass cleaning kit as compensation for posting.

Heidi January 17, 2012 child, dad, eyes, health, mommy, teen

Joyful Noise Film Review~ In Theaters Now!

“The small town of Pacashau, Georgia, has fallen on hard times, but the people are counting on the Divinity Church Choir to lift their spirits by winning the National Joyful Noise Competition. The choir has always known how to sing in harmony, but the discord between its two leading ladies now threatens to tear them apart. Their newly appointed director, Vi Rose Hill (Latifah), stubbornly wants to stick with their tried-and-true traditional style, while the fiery G.G. Sparrow (Parton) thinks tried-and-true translates to tired-and-old. Shaking things up even more is the arrival of G.G.’s rebellious grandson, Randy (Jeremy Jordan). Randy has an ear for music, but he also has an eye for Vi Rose’s beautiful and talented daughter, Olivia (Keke Palmer), and the sparks between the two teenagers are causing even more heat between G.G. and Vi Rose.”

I love musical films and I love Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton. I was very excited to see this movie!

The music is this movie was fabulous. All of the musical numbers were top notch. The actors that sing in this film had amazing voices. Going in, I know that Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton had amazing voices. I was surprised how great the voices were of the two teenage leads, played by Keke Palmer and Jeremy Jordan. I loved all the gospel music in this movie and it was also fun to see their take on modern songs, such as, Man in the Mirror. This is a soundtrack I plan on purchasing soon.

The chemistry between Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton was great. These two together provide some of the funniest moments of the film. Their chemistry was great. My sister, the audience, and I were laughing pretty hard during these moments in the film. Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton also had some great dramatic and emotional moments moments during the story as well. Some tough and difficult topics are present in the film. This movie is not just a comedy, it has many dramatic and heart tugging moments that can be applied to the world today.

My one complaint about this movie is that it did have some really cheesy and corny moments. Most of this moments are meant to be taken seriously but they were laughable. Just be prepared for this as you are watching the movie.

Overall, my sister and I had a great time watching Joyful Noise. I think that the music was fantastic and makes the film worth seeing.

Joyful Noise gets bragging rights!

Joyful Noise is in theaters now. It is rated PG-13. For more information about Joyful Noise, you can visit the film’s official website.

Nicole January 13, 2012 dad, entertainment, mommy, movie, review

Enjoying the View Through My Tamron All in One Zoom Lens!

I have always enjoyed taking pictures of my family. In fact just from the first year of little Bug’s life I have thousands pictures. LOL! I can be picture happy when it comes to my little guy. But I have found a new love of picture taking now that I have my Tamron All in One Zoom Lens.

Since getting this lens I have been taking pictures of beautiful scenery and nature. That is something I really haven’t done before. Until now I have always thought that I needed to have a person in the picture to make it worth while. But I have been able to capture some gorgeous images through this lens, and it has made me see photography in a new light. My favorites images I have taken so far are from a trip my hubby and I took to Hawaii. I was able to not only take pictures to show my friends and family , but I was able to take breath-taking photos that capture the details and colors of it all. I was thrilled with the outcome.

My favorite feature of this lens is that I can zoom in and out to get shots both far and near without having to switch my lens (18-270mm). I am so happy to have found a new love of picture taking. I can’t wait for the weather to warm up so I can go hiking with my family and get some gorgeous pictures of the mountain scenery that I live so close to.

If you are looking for a lens that will give you high quality images with a fabulous zoom feature then look no further than the Tamron 18-270mm All in One Zoom Lens, I know you will love it like I do!

Heidi January 9, 2012 dad, mommy, photography, review

The Best Cable Cord Management Solution ~ iStopDrop Review and Giveaway (5 Winners!) [CLOSED]

“iStopDrop is one of the best, most affordable, no-mess cable organizer out there! It can be placed on the back or behind a desk, night stand, computer table or any where cables are left. It is strong enough to hold up to 3 lbs worth of cables while with the no-mess adhesive, it removes easily and cleanly.”-iStopDrop

Does the below picture look familiar to you? For me battling cable mess is a daily problem. Both at my desk and on my night stand. I struggled to keep cables and cords on top where I could reach them easily. That was until I found iStopDrop. iStopDrop is a quick solution to cable mess. Since I know have it my cables are neat and stay exactly where I want them.

The iStopDrop comes in a 2 pack and are really easy to apply. The plastic part is a hard vinyl durable plastic and the sticker on the back is a Command Brand by 3M. (Same sticker that is used for the Command 3M Hooks). It is simple to apply to any surface and best of all it removes cleanly leaving no residue or damage to your surface! I have a 2 iStopDrops on my desk and my cables are so neat and organized now. I am loving that I don’t have to hassle with cables messes anymore. I have another iStopDrop on my night stand to hold my phone charger cord and since I am pregnant it has been heavenly to not have to bend over and find my cord every time I need to charge my phone. I even got my hubby hooked and he has them at his office at work and LOVES how well they manage his cables.

iStopDrop is the best cable management I have found. I highly recommend it!

Things that are Brag Worthy:

The perfect solution to organize your cables.
No more hassling with unorganized or fallen cables.
Fast and Easy to apply.
Comes off cleanly leaving no damage or residue to the surface it was on.
iStopDrop is proudly made in the USA.
Very affordable.
Now that I have iStopDrop I can’t live without it!

Visit www.istopdrop.com to order yours today!

iStopDrop gets Bragging Rights!

5 Lucky Bragging Mommy Readers will win an iStopDrop 2 pack!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry- Watch the iStopDrop video above and tell us something you saw or learned in the video.

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted

3 entries- Like iStopDrop on Facebook.
1 entry- Tell us where you need iStopDrop to organize cables.
5 entries- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+.
2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
1 entry per- Enter another giveaway on our site, tell us which (no limit).
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post. Leave a link.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post, & @braggingmommy in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Jan. 20 @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Heidi January 6, 2012 dad, giveaway, home, mommy, organization, review

New Juice Beverage Trop50 ~ 50% Less Sugar & 50% Less Calories! + Giveaway (2 winners!)

trop502

Have you heard of Trop50? If you have been in the juice section of your grocery store then odds are you’ve seen it. But what you may not know is that it is the new juice beverage from Tropicana that offers 50% less sugar, 50% less calories! It is a great healthy choice for 2012!

If your like me then you probably have a new years resolution to get healthier. Whether it be to eat healthier, exercise more, or both you are working on it this year. Trop50 is a great way to enjoy the delicious taste of a Tropicana beverage with less sugar and less calories all while keeping your resolutions for the new year. I’m in! I was able to try the Raspberry Lemonade and it is super yummy. I would never guess that it has less sugar or less calories! It doesn’t have any artificial sweeteners and an 8 oz. glass gives me 100% of my daily vitamin C. I love being able to drink a tasty beverage without the guilt of a ton of sugar and calories. Also, as a mom I love giving my son a drink with less sugar and no artificial sweeteners. I highly recommend trying Trop50, you will fall in love with it as I have.

Visit Trop50 on Facebook to enter your new years resolution and get a coupon to save on your purchase of Trop50. You can also enter to win a $1000 gift card!

Trop50 gets Bragging Rights!

2 Lucky Bragging Mommy Readers will win 2 Coupons for Free Trop50 in their choice of flavor!

How to enter: Leave comments below with your qualifying entries. Leave a Separate comment for each entry telling us which you qualify for.

MANDATORY 1st entry- Visit Trop50 and tell us which 2 flavors you will buy with your coupons if you win.

1st Mandatory Entry must be completed before you can qualify for additional entries. All extra entries who don’t do the mandatory entry will be deleted

3 entries- Like Trop50 on Facebook.
5 entries- Follow BraggingMommy Heidi on Google+.
2 entries- Grab The Bragging Mommy button and put it on your blog. Leave a link.
1 entry per- Enter another giveaway on our site, tell us which (no limit).
1 entry for each- Follow The Bragging Mommy via Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, subscribe to emails, subscribe in reader.
10 entries- Blog about this giveaway linking to this post. Leave a link.
1 entry per day- Tweet this giveaway including a link to this post, & @braggingmommy in your tweet.

You can enter this giveaway until Jan. 19 @10:00 am MST. The winner will then be chosen at random, verified and contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to email us back and claim the prize, if prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be chosen. By entering this giveaway you agree to The Bragging Mommy Full Disclosure. You must be over the age of 18 and live in the Contiguous US to enter.

Heidi January 5, 2012 beverages, dad, giveaway, mommy, nutrition, review

Home Soda Beverage Maker ~ Primo Flavorstation 100 Review

“Do you want better living at your fingertips? Now you can have it with a Primo Flavorstation 100. Create fresh, sparkling beverages at the touch of a button! The Flavorstation 100 takes up very little counter space and looks great in any kitchen. You will have the power to serve your family’s favorite sodas, teas, fruit sparklers and energy drinks with just a touch!”

“The Primo Flavorstation Premium home beverage maker that creates sparkling water in seconds at the touch of a button. Makes 16.9 FL OZ (.5 liter) single serve beverages for on-the-go convenience.

Add Primo Beverage Mixes to create a delicious variety of drinks, from classic and zero calorie sodas to sparkling fruit, tea, and energy drinks.”

We love soda pop at our house, and we buy a lot of it. That is why I was thrilled to try out the Primo Flavorstation 100 at home Soda beverage maker. Right away I loved that it is a small and sleek little appliance that doesn’t take up much counter space. We tried it out right away and I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to make our own soda! You fill up the on the go sport bottle with filtered water and then press the button on top. Now your water is sparkling.

Next you add the flavor of your choice. I love that Primo offers so many great flavors, from the classics like Cola and Grape Soda to Diet sodas and even tea. I love that all their flavors are made with 100% natural flavors. We have tried out several flavors and my favorite is the Cola. Bug’s favorite is the Lemon Lime, and my husband loves the Diet Cola.

I am so impressed with how great these beverages taste! I think they are much better than store bought beverages and I love the fact that you can flavor it perfectly to your liking.

You will love the savings you see when you use the Primo Flavorstation to make your own soda. One Primo beverage flavor mix costs just $3.99 and makes the equivalent of 24 – 12 oz. cans of soda. That is a great savings, not to mention it is much better for the environment.

Visit Primo Flavorstation.com to learn more and to purchase a Flavorstation for your family today!

Primo Flavorstation 100 gets Bragging Rights!

Heidi January 4, 2012 beverages, dad, family, kitchen, mommy, review