TheraBreath Review and Contest

March 24, 2011 by 96 Comments

I was given the pleasure of trying some new breath cleaning products made by Therabreath and Dr.Harold Katz. Dr Katz is the founder of “The California Breath Clinics”, and he has been on television shows like “The View” and “CBS Early Show” and has helped millions in his quest to vanquish bad breath.
The products I was given to try are Therabreath toothpaste, Therabreath oral rinse and the Therabreath mouth wetting lozenges. The toothpaste. Right off the bat, without even opening it up, take a look at the ingredients- you do want to know what you put in your mouth, don’t you? Well, most of the ingredients in Therabreath toothpaste are natural ingredients. Yay! Also, the packaging itself is “green”, both in the colors (green, orange, and white) but it is also environmentally kind. And it is even Kosher and safe for diabetics. Now, onto the important part- the taste and texture. No problems there! The taste is minty and fresh without any strange aftertastes or chemically enhanced “freshness”, natural mint, very nice. The texture is also good to the point where, when finished brushing, my teeth feel clean and smooth.
The oral rinse is meant to be used after the toothpaste. The rinse has the ingredient: OXYD-8, which is an oxidizer and destroys odor causing bacteria. The longer you swish it around, the better a job the rinse will do at getting all the little buggers before they give you bad breath. Doctor Katz suggests swishing and gargling for 30 seconds then spitting and gargling for another 45 seconds. Something to take note of is the lack of alcohol or chloride in both the toothpaste and the oral rinse. Alcohol [Read more…]

Filed Under: giveaway, health, natural, review

Vidazorb Coupon

March 20, 2011 by 1 Comment

St Patrick’s Day May Be Over, But the Luck Continues On! 

All week long, enjoy 40% off at the Vidazorb online store. The Luck of the Irish has it that all lucky things come in fours. So, on Monday the 25th one lucky winner who has used coupon code CSP40 will receive 4 free bottles of their choice of product.  
Offer good through March 24th.

Shop Now

Make sure to use coupon code CSP40 for your chance to win!
Filed Under: health

Dinosaur Train Contest!

March 12, 2011 by 126 Comments

IT’S NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH!  DINOSAUR TRAIN CELEBRATES
WITH NUTRITIOUS ACTIVITIES AND A DINOSAUR TRAIN WORLD TOUR DVD GIVEAWAY!


March is National Nutrition Month®, a nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the American Dietetic Association. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. This year’s National Nutrition Month theme, “Eat right with Color,” encourages everyone to remember to include a colorful variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and dairy on their plates every day.

A healthy diet is important to us all, just as it was to Dinosaurs many years ago.  With the month of March focusing on nutrition, it’s  the perfect  time to look at some great ideas and resources provided by The American Dietetic Association to eat a healthy diet!    And, we invite you to to teach your child how to prepare a vegetarian (herbivore) picnic filled with great food and fun by visiting Dinosaur Train on the PBS parent’s site: http://www.pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/activities/handson/picnic.html dinosaurtrain/activities/handson/picnic.html>

To help parents, the American Dietetic Association provides many resources available at www.eatright.org/nnm .  They even have a downloadable PDF (http://www.eatright.org/NNM/content.aspx?id=11421 content.aspx?id=11421> ) listing 25 healthy snacks for kids, including these five great ideas:

1. Peel a banana and dip it in yogurt. Roll in crushed cereal and freeze.
2. Spread celery sticks with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese. Top with raisins. Enjoy your “ants on a log.”
3. Stuff a whole-grain pita pocket with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of cinnamon.
4. Mix together ready-to-eat cereal, dried fruit and nuts in a sandwich bag for an on-the-go snack.
5. Smear a scoop of frozen yogurt on two graham crackers and add sliced banana to make a yummy
sandwich.

Next, Buddy can help you and your child prepare a vegetarian (herbivore) picnic. The Have A Brachiosaurus Picnic activity (http://www.pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/activities/handson/picnic.html dinosaurtrain/activities/handson/picnic.html> ) helps young children to learn what foods fit into an herbivore’s diet (fruits and vegetables); reminds children about the importance of hand washing before eating; and also creates an opportunity to discuss why all animals need to eliminate waste from their bodies (a.k.a. “poop”).

The downloadable PDF file, available at http://www.pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/activities/pdfs/picnic.pdf dinosaurtrain/activities/pdfs/picnic.pdf> , provides the ingredients to prepare Brachiosaurus Picnic, with fun food items on the menu, including:

o  Brachiosaurus Super Salad: The kids will have fun tearing up green leafy veggies into bite-size pieces and mixing ranch dressing with green coloring to make a tasty topping.
o  Sauropod Sandwich: With a plastic knife, cut pieces of whole wheat bread in the shape of a favorite dinosaur and spread with cheese spread or peanut butter.
o  Herbivore Herb and Spinach Spread: Mix frozen spinach, dried onion soup mix, sour cream, celery sticks and crackers
o  Green Juice – fill a child’s plastic cup with apple juice and add green food color to make a green beverage fit for an herbivore.

And as we all know, digestion is a very important part of keeping healthy for both humans…and dinosaurs back in the day! Click thttp://www.pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/videos/video-dinosaurpoop-song.htmlto watch the video clip of the song “Every Dinosaur Poops” and talk about why every animal needs to go, and what would happen if the animal didn’t poop out the parts of the food its body didn’t need.

Another fun way to explore “poop” is with Uncle Milton’s new Dinosaur Train Dino Poop Kit, just one of a range of new science themed toys geared to make science more interesting, engaging and accessible for children. With the Dino Poop kit, kids can discover what the dinosaur had for lunch!  Did he have fish or did he eat a plant?  Once kids find pieces of what he ate, they can put them together to create their own fossil imprint to figure it out!  It’s OK parents, it’s not real poop…it’s soft, pliable dino dough!  Available at Toys”R”Us (SRP: $7.99, ages 4+)

The hit television series Dinosaur Train® airs daily on PBS KIDS® (check local listings).

We would appreciate your promoting the following sites in conjunction with this promotion.
Dinosaur Train on PBS: http://pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain/ dinosaurtrain/>
The Jim Henson Company: www.henson.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hensoncompany
Twitter: http://twitter.com/hensonparents hensonparents>
http://www.pbs.org/parents/dinosaurtrain/activities/handson/picnic.html dinosaurtrain/activities/handson/picnic.html>

In addition to the television series, there is also a DINOSAUR TRAIN interactive website at PBSKIDS.org/dinosaurtrain. Buddy, Tiny and Mr. Conductor guide children as they discover natural history and the science of paleontology through fun games and activities.  For information on the DINOSAUR TRAIN geocache program—a fast growing adventure game that inspires families to get out and discover treasures together go to www.geocaching.com/dinosaurtrain dinosaurtrain dinosaurtrain> dinosaurtrain >  


One of you will win the new DINOSAUR TRAIN: PTERANODON FAMILY WORLD TOUR ADVENTURE  DVD, which will be released on March 15 from Paramount Home Entertainment and PBS Kids.  

Here is how to enter-

Mandatory entry
You must be a public follower on Google Friend Connect.
Leave me your email so I can contact you if you win.  

 Extra Entries
Leave a separate comment for each entry.

– Become a “fan” of Dinosaur Train/Jim Henson on FaceBook.   I’d love you to tell them Have Sippy Will Travel sent you- never required, always appreciated!

+2 entries

-Subscribe to Have Sippy Will Travel by email, and confirm subscription
+3 entries

– Follow me on Twitter ( you can use my adorable button to the side!) and tweet about this contest

#Win Dinosaur Train Contest! http://t.co/YDAEGy4 @HaveSippy


Please make sure you follow first!
+2 entries


– Stumble this post


– Email a friend about this contest, with a CC to me at  kangabunnie@gmail.com
(you get an extra entry if they enter, too!)


 -Add my button to your blog, and leave me the link so I can find it


– Follow me on “Networked Blogs”


– blog about this giveaway, and link back to this contest (leave me the URL in comment, please)


-Add me to your blogroll, with a link back to me


– Vote for me on “We’re On The Fence!”  (Just Click the Button to the left that says “We’re On the Fence” until it confirms you voted for your’s truly!)


– enter another one of my giveaways


– comment on a non-giveaway post


OOO, so many ways to win! Good luck!


DISCLOSURE: A product sample was provided for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this post are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited by law.  Open to US shipping addresses only.  Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above.  Sponsor is responsible for providing and mailing prize. Ends  April 2,  2011.  

Filed Under: education, giveaway, health, kids

Clean and Healthy Tips for a Germ-Free Nursery- Guest Post

March 10, 2011 by 2 Comments

Clean and Healthy Tips for a Germ-Free Nursery
By Germ Expert Dr. Benjamin Tanner

Maintaining a clean and healthy nursery for your little one can seem like a never ending task. A recent Playtex
survey revealed that having a clean and healthy nursery environment is a key priority for 65% of moms,
underscoring the importance of keeping this special room as sanitary as possible. Germ expert Dr. Benjamin
Tanner offers five simple and easy tips to help parents do just that.

Learn the ABCs of disinfectants vs. cleaners: Cleaners remove soils, but may still spread germs around, while
disinfectants kill germs when used correctly. To use a disinfectant correctly in a nursery, remove your baby from
the spray or wipe zone and apply the product liberally. After the label-specified time elapses, wipe off the surface
with a wet cloth to get rid of any residual chemicals so your baby’s delicate skin doesn’t touch these chemicals. It’s
also wise to disinfect hard floors and vacuum carpets routinely to keep germ levels low.

Know the nursery hot spots: Germ “hot spots” in the nursery are the areas that come in contact with waste in
diapers and other body fluids, directly or indirectly. Areas where most bacteria typically gather include the floor,
changing table, toys and toy chest, and laundry hamper – these spots should be disinfected at least once a day to
kill these bacteria. Make sure to focus on these key areas more than others when disinfecting in the nursery, and
use a proper disinfectant, not just a cleaner.

Eliminate germs and messes during change time: The changing table is one of the key hot spots, and the place
where diaper messes and germs are transferred from the diaper to baby’s skin. Establish a quick, mess-free diaper
changing routine to help keep these germs at bay, keeping supplies handy and close by in a dedicated changing
area. Get rid of diapers in a hygienic fashion that keeps germs sealed away – the Diaper Genie II Elite® Pail seals
odor into the pail and out of your nursery unlike an ordinary trash can. Diapers only touch the disposable film, not
the pail, so there is one less thing to clean. It also offers a convenient foot pedal, allowing you to hold your child
and dispose of a diaper at the same time, and has Antimicrobial Protection built into the plastic to inhibit odor-
causing bacteria.

Keep it clean after a change: Keep soap and warm water, or where not available, antibacterial hand wipes nearby
to use after changing your baby. This will help stop the spread of germs within the nursery. And place a special,
separate hamper inside the nursery to use specifically for heavily soiled baby laundry, which will help prevent
bacteria on this laundry from spreading. Studies have shown that laundry, especially if it has come in contact with
bodily fluids, can harbor great quantities of bacteria and even spread them to clean clothes through normal
washing cycles.

Be mindful of germs when sickness creeps in: Take special precautions within the nursery when you or the baby is
sick to prevent spread of illness to other children and throughout the rest of the nursery. Disinfect nursery hot
spots even more frequently than normal, including the floor, changing table and laundry hamper, and cover all
coughs and sneezes and wash hands before contact with baby and when entering the nursery.

Filed Under: health, kids

Skin MD Review and Contest!

March 6, 2011 by 46 Comments

Skin MD Natural is a light and non-greasy lotion that works to prevent and heal dry skin. It does not have any heavy scents, so it is great for men, women, kids, anyone to use!
Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion + Sunscreen SPF 15 from Skin MD Natural is really fabulous. We all know we need to use sunblock daily- both for heath and for beauty. Sunblock keeps us looking youthful for longer, keeping the sun from damaging our skin and making us appear older. It also prevents harmful damage that can cause cancer and other unhealthy signs of skin damage, like skin spots. And moisturizing is so important to a fresh face and healthy skin. (Especially in this weather- YUCK!)
I never wear lotion on my face, except a few brands especially made just for faces with sunblock in them to moisturize. I get breakouts, rashes, or blackheads. Or, if I’m really “lucky”, all of them at once! I tried some Skin MD on a small patch of skin on my cheek to see what would happen, and I was pleasantly surprised. Nothing bad! And it felt smooth. So I tried it all over, and it was great. No breakouts, no oily-ness, no extra blackheads. Yay!
It has no heavy smell, so my husband and Little Man liked it as well. Little Man has that awful skin, so anything that may help is a good thing in my book!

A bit about why Skin MD is “Natural”–

“Currently the FDA has no regulations concerning the labeling of beauty or skin care products as natural. Products containing toxic, even potentially carcinogenic, ingredients can label and market themselves as natural. Skin MD Natural is over 93% “natural” and the ingredients that are not “natural” are of food or medical grade quality and on the FDA’s most safe list.
Our lotions are made to be free of parabens, [Read more…]

Filed Under: giveaway, health, natural, review

Giant Microbes- Review and Contest

March 5, 2011 by 138 Comments

 Very recently, I opened my mailbox, and it was just FULL of diseases and ailments!   All sorts of germy, sickly, cute contagions were just all over the place.  Wait…what?  Yes, I said cute, LOL.

Of course, I’m talking about Giant Microbes!  And they didn’t make me sick, they made me laugh.  I have to confess right up front- I’m a SUPER fan of this company.  They make all sorts of viruses, spores, diseases, etc in GIANT size, with eyes and in plush, vinyl, and all sorts of assorted merchandise.
And I mean really- what’s better then giving someone Flesh Eating Disease for their birthday?  LOL…it would be the most original gift they got, for sure! 
Confession #2- I gave these out as wedding favors when we got married.  I really, really did.  I figured my aunt was giving me an ulcer– why not give her one back?  HA!  It was so much fun- everyone loved them, and still talks about them years later.  Yeah yeah, no plastic swans here!  I got a bunch of various Giant Microbes, and left them on the tables next to the place cards.   OK, maybe a little odd (I admit it!) but also a lot of fun.  Best. Gifts. Ever.

(We did these, and the fundraiser stuffed animals for charity- every “even” person got a Giant Microbe, every “odd” one got one that helped raise money for charity when we purchased it.)  

This time- we got to review The Common Cold Plush Doll, Bed Bug Vinyl Doll, and the Amoeba Petri Dish.  Fun, fun!

I love these guys.  And they are so much fun- they come with all these facts about them printed on their tags, so you get to learn all about your disease!  🙂 

Want a chance to win from Giant Microbes?
Here is how to enter!

Mandatory entry
You must be a public follower on Google Friend Connect.
Leave me your email so I can contact you if you win.  

 Extra Entries
Leave a separate comment for each entry.

– Become a “fan” of Giant Microbes on FaceBook.   I’d love you to tell them Have Sippy Will Travel sent you- never required, always appreciated!

– Follow Giant Microbes on Twitter and tweet about this contest
#Win Giant Microbes- Review and Contest http://t.co/IrPDuLH @HaveSippy 

-“Like” me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Have-Sippy-Will-Travel/118293111555385 

+2 entries

-Subscribe to Have Sippy Will Travel by email, and confirm subscription
+3 entries

– Follow me on Twitter ( you can use my adorable button to the side!) and tweet about this contest
#Win Giant Microbes- Review and Contest http://t.co/IrPDuLH @HaveSippy 
Please make sure you follow first!
+2 entries

– Stumble this post

– Email a friend about this contest, with a CC to me at  kangabunnie@gmail.com
(you get an extra entry if they enter, too!)

 -Add my button to your blog, and leave me the link so I can find it

– Follow me on “Networked Blogs”

– blog about this giveaway, and link back to this contest (leave me the URL in comment, please)

-Add me to your blogroll, with a link back to me

– Vote for me on “We’re On The Fence!”  (Just Click the Button to the left that says “We’re On the Fence” until it confirms you voted for your’s truly!)

– enter another one of my giveaways

– comment on a non-giveaway post

OOO, so many ways to win! Good luck!

DISCLOSURE: A product sample was provided for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this post are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited by law.  Open to US shipping addresses only.  Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above.  Sponsor is responsible for providing and mailing prize. Ends  March 28,  2011.  

Filed Under: giveaway, health, review

Thomas’ Bagel Thins Morning Tips

March 5, 2011 by 1 Comment

Tips from Thomas’ Bagel Thins!

KERI GLASSMAN
Thomas’® Bagel Thins™ Bagels Morning Tips

Don’t skimp on sleep
o It’s important to get a good night’s sleep to feel well-rested – ready to take
on the day! Most adults need about seven to eight hours of sleep each
night, and studies have shown that those who get less have impaired
memory and physical performance. Not getting enough sleep can also
make concentration difficult, and leave you feeling drowsy all day. So aim
to get enough sleep each night. It’ll boost your immune system, help your
nervous system work properly, and leave you feeling energized all day!
Experts estimate that compared to getting 7 to 8 hours per night, the risk
of developing obesity rises 23 percent with just 6 hours of sleep per night,
50 percent with only 5 hours per night, and 73 percent with 4 hours per
night!

Have a healthy breakfast
o While sleeping each night, your body is in a fasting mode, so within an
hour of rising, you need to break that fast by eating a healthy breakfast.
It gives your body the fuel it needs to meet your busy schedule and
skipping breakfast decreases your metabolism, and increases your
cravings throughout the day! Studies have also shown consuming
breakfast improves cognition and memory in children and adolescents
making them able to concentrate and be more attentive in school. We all
have some kid in us, so use this tip to your advantage!

Eat empowered
o Every morning when you sit down to breakfast (and every meal!),
remember that each meal is an opportunity to get back in the game
and stay on course. You should feel empowered by making the right
choices. There are always healthier alternatives to the high-fat, high-
calorie, nutrient-less options that we all tend to go for, and I always keep
a healthy staple product on-hand to help me quickly make a delicious and
nutritious meal. Thomas’® Bagel Thins™ bagel is one of those better-for-
you options – they’re 110 calories each, low in fat and every flavor is at
least a good source of fiber. It’s not “I can’t eat that heavy bagel” – it IS –
“I can eat the Thomas’ Bagel Thins™ bagel!

Start with a glass of lemon water
o Drinking enough h2o throughout the day helps with weight loss in
several ways. First, there’s an emotional component; it will make you feel
empowered and will help spur you to make good choices for the rest of
the day. Second, researchers have long known that dieters who replace
sweetened drinks with water lose weight more quickly that those who
don’t. Finally, many people overeat because they are actually thirsty and
just can’t tell the difference between thirst and hunger. Also, when you’re
adequately hydrated, your metabolism functions at its best.

Exercise steady
o Aside from burning calories, exercise is important because it causes your
body to release endorphins, making you feel good, and motivating you

to eat well, do your job well, and simply be happy! I love exercising in the
early am, and eating breakfast when I’m done, and typically, people who
work out in the morning are more likely to stick to their routine, than those
who squeeze it in later. If you’re averse to starting your day with more
rigorous exercises like running, try a lower-impact activity like yoga. Just
do something!

Source for “Don’t skimp on sleep” stat: Inadequate Sleep as a Risk Factor for Obesity:
Analyses of the NHANES I

James E. Gangwisch, PhD1; Dolores Malaspina, MD, MPH2; Bernadette Boden-Albala,
Dr.PH3; Steven B. Heymsfield, MD4 1Mailman School of Public Health, Department
of Epidemiology; 2Department of Psychiatry, Division of Clinical Neurobiology;
3Department of Neurology and Department of Sociomedical Sciences; 4Obesity
Research Center, St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center; Columbia University, College of
Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY

http://www.journalsleep.org/Articles/281017.pdf

Filed Under: fitness, food, health

Thomas’ Bagel Thins, Review and Contest!

March 5, 2011 by 182 Comments

Thomas, famous for English Muffins, just came out with a new diet breakfast food.  They wanted to help start your day off right.  Breakfast being the most important meal of the day, so may people skip it when dieting.  Not good, folks!  So they created a bagel that was thin, had lots of fiber, and is only 110 calories.
These new Bagel Thins come in various size packs and flavors, like whole wheat, cinnamon raisin, everything, and others.  


I’m not loving them.  Sorry!  They are good if you put an egg between them, and thereby use less calories then a regular bagel or toast- but I just don’t like them regular.  To me, they totally taste like “diet” food.   My husband says they get crunchy fast, so he thinks that is a positive.

The way we ended up using most of them was with turkey bacon, and an egg on it for weekend breakfasts.  That was good.  They made up a low-calorie, high fiber way to add the bread part of the sandwich.

From the Thomas website- 
“Light texture and delicious taste in a 110 calorie bagel.

THIS PRODUCT IS:

  • 0g Trans Fat
  • Cholesterol Free
  • Good Source of Fiber
  • Low Fat”

Thomas would like to send coupons for 5 of you to try out their new Bagel Thins for free.
Here is how to enter!

Mandatory entry
You must be a public follower on Google Friend Connect.
Leave me your email so I can contact you if you win. 

 Extra Entries
Leave a separate comment for each entry.

-Sign up for Thomas’ newsletter Here

-“Like” me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Have-Sippy-Will-Travel/118293111555385
(leave your FaceBook ID so I can check)
+2 entries

-Subscribe to Have Sippy Will Travel by email, and confirm subscription
+3 entries

– Follow me on Twitter ( you can use my adorable button to the side!) and tweet about this contest
Please make sure you follow first!
#Win Thomas’ Bagel Thins, Review and Contest! http://t.co/6aMAvvH  @HaveSippy
+2 entries

– Stumble this post

– Email a friend about this contest, with a CC to me at  kangabunnie@gmail.com
(you get an extra entry if they enter, too!)

 -Add my button to your blog, and leave me the link so I can find it

– Follow me on “Networked Blogs”

– blog about this giveaway, and link back to this contest (leave me the URL in comment, please)

-Add me to your blogroll, with a link back to me

– Vote for me on “We’re On The Fence!”  (Just Click the Button to the left that says “We’re On the Fence” until it confirms you voted for your’s truly!)

– enter another one of my giveaways

– comment on a non-giveaway post

OOO, so many ways to win! Good luck!

DISCLOSURE: A product sample was provided for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this post are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
No purchase necessary.  Void where prohibited by law.  Open to US shipping addresses only.  Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above.  Sponsor is responsible for providing and mailing prize. Ends  March 28,  2010.  

Filed Under: food, giveaway, health, review