Last week Hubby, I, and two of our friends had the opportunity to attend Barley + Vine Restaurant's soft opening. We were very much looking forward to checking out the new place in town as we live within walking distance from it and have seen the building change venues way too many times. We were not disappointed with our visit! Only the name has changed on the outside of the building, but the inside is better than the previous restaurant. Gone is the crazy blue tile behind the bar, replaced with a real copper penny backsplash and a subtle ceiling. The layout of the dining room seating seemed less crowded and the overall atmosphere was inviting. Our server, Emily, was knowledgeable on the menu and helpful in deciding what we wanted to eat. The staff we talked with seemed genuinely excited about working. As with all opening nights, there were a few kinks but I'm not going to dwell on them. The staff will get into their groove. The food was delicious! We started with a … [Read more...]
LG GizmoGadget Watch Review
Last month during my post about the Verizon Wireless Tech Bytes Lunch, I mentioned that Verizon loaned my family a LG GizmoGadget Watch to review for a month. Our month ended a few days ago and this weekend we're off to the store to buy one to keep! I honestly can't imagine life without it now. The LG GizmoGadget Watch is all the benefits of giving your child a phone without the distractions of a phone, the cost of a phone, or the risk of losing a phone. It's got calling, texting, a GPS locator, an activity/step counter, a to-do list, a voice changer, and some funny sounds. Everything you need, nothing you don't. It's exactly what I had in mind when I wanted something that I could use to communicate with my girls. I can't begin to tell you how handy the GizmoGadget is for communicating after school plans with the girls. Before we got the watch I would have to call the class room and disrupt the entire class in order to pass messages on to the girls. Now, I simply text … [Read more...]
An Honest Review of Zipit Bedding®
I was given Zipit Bedding® in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are my own. When my girls found out that we were receiving Zipit Bedding® for review they were extremely excited. They had seen it on a commercial (or somewhere) and thought it looked "so cool!" Since our package arrived three weeks ago, the girls have been fighting over who's bed get's the new bedding. I decided that they could each use it for a week at time (and I'll order another set for Tottie's birthday coming up). First and foremost, Zipit Bedding® claims to make it easier for you and your children to make their beds. This claim is NOT false! Oh my gosh, it was incredibly easy to put on the beds! My girls have bunk beds and I DREAD the days I have to change their bedding to wash their sheets. Not any more! I didn't have to try to force the comforter around the guard rail on the top bunk...I didn't have to fight with the sheets to make them … [Read more...]
Disney On Ice Presents Frozen Recap #DisneyOnIceInsider
I received something of value from Feld Entertainment as part of their Insider Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Last evening my family and I had the chance to attend opening night (Minneapolis) of Disney On Ice Frozen. Let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint! We've seen two other Disney On Ice shows but as my husband said, "Frozen is the best Disney On Ice show we've seen by far!" It was a bit hard to get photos because the lighting was so dramatic and everything was moving. What I have does NOT do the show justice. It's definitely worth going to see in real life if you have the chance. Before I go on and on about the good things, I do have three things to warn you about: 1) The show starts with a brief introduction by Mickey, Mini, Goofy, and Donald Duck, and is then followed by the Disney Princesses and other popular Disney characters. This confused my girls as they thought they were not going to … [Read more...]
Moms and Their Body Wash
*I was given compensation and/or product to facilitate my review of this product. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Can a body wash make you feel like less of a mom? I think so... I've been a fan of Caress® body washes for a long time so when I was given the opportunity to review their new Forever Collection, I jumped on it. The Caress® Forever Collection is the world's first body wash with Fragrance Touch Technology. Caress Fragrance Release Pearls ™ bring out bursts of perfume with each touch of your skin. In other words, it's a "scratch and sniff body wash" as my girls call it. These body washes definitely have a perfume smell to them and it's a kind of flowery sensual smell. One that, when I was in the shower, made me feel like more of a woman than a mom. Not a scent I really want my daughters smelling like! I admit, the fragrance was a bit overwhelming at first but once you dry off, it dies down and isn't extremely noticeable unless you are close. I'm not really … [Read more...]
9 Practical Uses for the Philips Hue “Smart” Bulbs
Have you heard of the Hue light bulbs by Philips? They are “smart” bulbs and are part of Verizon Wireless' Smart Home collection. I first saw Hue at the Verizon Destination Store at the Mall Of America and was blown away at what Philips Hue bulbs could do; but at almost $200 for a starter kit (3 bulbs and a bridge), I didn't think they'd be worth it for something that seemed to be more of a party item than a necessity. A month later, Verizon contacted me to try out the Hue smart lights so that I could learn what they could do for me and my family. Why not?? I could have fun playing with them and I wouldn't waste $200. Um...yeah...I AM returning the bulbs to my rep but I WILL be asking Hubby if we can buy our own once we get our taxes back. Worth the $200 cost? Every cent! The setup for the bulbs took less than five minutes connecting to our home internet and downloading the app to my smartphone. I wish I would have taken video of my girls (and my Husband's) reactions to the … [Read more...]
