Butterviews

I’m a mom, a wife, a daughter, a business owner… I’m busy. So are you. Mornings are, well, difficult I suppose is the word.

Here’s what we do. I get up at 6am to be able to have my coffee and some morning quiet time. I am NOT a morning person. If I don’t have that hour or so before the rest of the house, I get very very grumpy. Then, around 7am I wake the kids up. They know the routine. Into the dining room for breakfast, brush teeth, wash face, feed and water the cats, get dressed, clean up rooms, and make their beds. Then they can do whatever they’d like before going to school. It’s taken a long time to come up with a routine. We’re still working out the kinks.

For example, if the laundry’s not put away – then where are the clothes? Homework didn’t get put away the night before – where’s that? Where’s the lunchbox so it can be packed? Not to mention if, God forbid, one of the kids gets up on the wrong side of the bed.

But the kids always eat breakfast – and that’s where this review and giveaway come into play.

The good folks at BlogHer asked for a review and for me to giveaway money. How could I refuse that?!

So… Per my regular review format, here we go…

EQUATION: I received the new product from Capri-Sun in three varieties to try – well, for my kids to try. They tried the Orange Wake Up and Berry Tangerine Morning.

Capri Sun Sunrise ~ Making Every Day Better
Capri Sun Sunrise is the new, wholesome morning drink for kids chock full of Vitamin C and calcium.

• A good source of calcium
• 100% Daily Value Vitamin C
• The pouch kids love

It comes in three flavors: Orange Wake Up, Tropical Morning, Berry Tangerine Morning

PLUS: Well – aside from all the vitamins and all that good for you stuff… My kids LOVED it. I tried to get descriptions from them other than “good” but all I got out of them is, “It’s very Orangy!” They’re only 6 & 9 so I’ll give them some slack. But I suppose the biggest praise of all was, “Can we please please please have it in snack tomorrow?”

MINUS: We’ve been using the Capri-Sun products for a long time, and I really trust the brand. But, it’s still a packaged juice, as opposed to completely fresh do-it-yourself. But since I’ve never made juice in my life, that’s not a big minus for me. Although I suppose it should be? But it is 100% juice, and they have Green initiative that you can find out more about at their website.

There are actually 8 chances to win… Go see the Blogher Round-Up Page to find out how.

Good Luck!

RULES: Sorry. Have to have them to keep things fair.

To enter, leave me a comment below and share YOUR morning routine tips, as I mentioned above – or you may leave a link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. The contest will begin on 4/29/09 and will end 7/8/09. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct. You can find the Official BlogHer Contest Rules here.

• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US residents, over the age of 18.
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
• You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

EQUATION:

The good promotional people sent me a “sample” that was actually a full sized Febreze for Fabrics, Carpets and Air in the “lavender vanilla & comfort” scent for me to use and review for you good people.

I chose my reading chair – a second hand find that’s made of a nubby corduroy type material.  I vacuumed it first – cause eewwww cat hair.  And then I followed the instructions and sprayed away.

Of note about the product:  It’s safe for dogs and cats (which, you know, good for me since I have two cats) but unsafe around birds (as with all air products).

PLUS:

When I picked it up, even the bottle felt good.  It’s rounded, and the sprayer attachment isn’t all pointy.  When you spray it, it sprays evenly and easily with no drips. To me, it didn’t smell like lavender and vanilla.  But it did smell like a freshly changed baby.  You know when you use the wipes, and a fresh diaper, and clean clothes, and then pick them up?  That scent, which is wonderful.  It was nice and light, and not overpowering or “chemically.”  It took about a half an hour for the dampness to subside, which to me, doesn’t seem terribly long since you purposefully made fabric wet.  And when I sat, it set off that wonderful scent again.

MINUS:

Honestly?  None.  It’s rare that I can say that…  Usually something rubs me wrong on everything (aren’t I a ball of sunshine?)  But in this case – nope!

EQUALS:

A positive review.  A great product, and one that I will willingly and purposely buy in the future.

Equation:  Skin MD Natural contacted me to try out and review their product.  I was happy to.  I currently work in an industry in which my hands are perpetually dry, as I touch paper all day.  It just sucks the moisture right out.  It’s touted for face, hands, and body, however, I only used it on my hands – leaving it on my desk at work for needed applications over time.

According to their website:

Skin MD Natural™ utilizes the finest effective natural skin care ingredients for dry skin treatment along with the latest advances in dry skin care technology to hydrate and protect the skin.

This is an entirely new concept in skin care requiring a new classification: “Shielding Lotion”. A shielding lotion keeps moisture-robbing irritants away from the skin while the proprietary “super” humectants hydrate the skin throughout the day.

An accumulated effect of Skin MD Natural is fully realized after only a few days of daily use. Depending on how dry your skin is the first few days may require reapplications after only a few hours. Usually, after a few days of continuous use, only one or two daily applications are necessary for complete dry skin care.

Plus:  It definitely worked.  My hands weren’t itchy anymore, and the effect lasted throughout the day.  It did exactly what it was meant to do.

Minus:  Because of the “sheilding” part of the product, the insides of my hands had the shield as well.  That felt weird, and a little like my hands were dirty.  That was a definite turnoff for me.

Equals:  I’ve decided to give this one a neutral review.   On the one hand (ha!  a pun!) it worked great for the dry tops of my hands.  On the other…  I couldn’t stand that feeling on the inside of my hands.  Then again – the bottle is still on my desk at work, so I can’t say “negative review.”  This ones going into the neutral pile.  Because it was only the inside of my hands I had issue with (the part that touches stuff) I wonder if there would be any problems anywhere else.  I’m guessing not since you’re not going to be picking stuff up with your legs or face.  At least I hope not.

EQUATION: I have a book review for you today…  America’s Hidden History, by Kenneth C. Davis.

From Amazon:

Kenneth C. Davis, author of the phenomenal New York Times bestseller Don’t Know Much About History, presents a collection of extraordinary stories, each detailing an overlooked episode that shaped the nation’s destiny and character. Davis’ dramatic narratives set the record straight, busting myths and bringing to light little-known but fascinating facts from a time when the nation’s fate hung in the balance.

Spanning a period from the Spanish arrival in America to George Washington’s inauguration in 1789, America’s Hidden History details these episodes, among others:

• The story of the first real Pilgrims in America, who were wine-making French Huguenots, not dour English Separatists
• The coming-of-age story of Queen Isabella, who suggested that Columbus pack the moving mess hall of pigs that may have spread disease to many Native Americans
• The long, bloody relationship between the Pilgrims and Indians that runs counter to the idyllic scene of the Thanksgiving feast
• The little-known story of George Washington as a headstrong young soldier who committed a war crime, signed a confession, and started a war!

Full of color, intrigue, and human interest, America’s Hidden History is an iconoclastic look at America’s past, connecting some of the dots between history and today’s headlines, proving why Davis is truly America’s Teacher.

PLUS:  The information in this book does not take on a snobby overly intellectual look at the subject matter.  It is very readable by a layman – and I am certainly a layman in history.  Of particular fun for me was the introduction to each section…  Quotes from the time of the historical figures involved.  Such as, “Arnold has betrayed us!  Whom can we trust now?” – George Washington (September 1780) speaking about Benedict Arnold.  Also helpful were the timelines before each section.  The content itself is also a plus.  These are not stories that you read about in history class in school, so while much of the surrounding historical context is familiar, it is merely setting for new stories to you.  There is an extensive bibliography, as well as an index in the back of the book, which in my opinion lends credibility.

MINUS:  This book is for history buffs, in my opinion.  The information is dry – and we’re not talking about fictionalized accounts, so some of it is QUITE dry.

EQUALS:   A positive review.  Although it’s not for me, personally, that is completely about genre, and not about quality.  If you’re an American history buff, this is a must-read.

I received this book gratis as a review copy.

Equation: Another Thing to Fall is the latest Tess Monaghan novel by Laura Lippman. From the flyleaf:

The California dream weavers have invaded Charm City with their cameras, their stars, and their controversy…

When private investigator Tess Monaghan literally runs into the crew of the fledgling TV series Mann of Steel while sculling, she expects sharp words and evil looks, not an assignment. But the company has been plagued by a series of disturbing incidents since its arrival on location in Baltimore: bad press, union threats, and small, costly on-set “accidents” that have wreaked havoc with its shooting schedule. As a result, Mann’s creator, Flip Tumulty, the son of a Hollywood legend, is worried for the safety of his young female lead, Selene Waites, and asks Tess to serve as her bodyguard/babysitter. Tumulty’s concern may be well founded. Not long ago a Baltimore man was discovered dead in his own home, surrounded by photos of the beautiful, difficult superstar-in-the-making.

In the past, Tess has had enough trouble guarding her own body. Keeping a spoiled movie princess under wraps may be more than she can handle – even with the help of Tess’s Icily unflappable friend Whitney – since Selene is not as naive as everyone seems to think, and far more devious than she initially appears to be. This is not Tess’s world. And these are not her kind of people, with their vanities, their self-serving agendas and invented personas, and their remarkably skewed visions of reality – from the series’ aging, shallow, former pretty boy leading man to its resentful, always on the make cowriter to the officious young assistant who may be too hungry for her own good.

Plus: It’s a good old fashioned mystery – and those can usually be great. I love female PI leads. There is quite a bit of character construction which adds to the story and their development is part of the story. If you’re into movies, there’s plenty of references here both to the process of making a television series to film history.

Minus: When I took this book as a review, I didn’t realize that this was a sequel. As a result, sometimes I felt I was missing something somewhere – and then would realize that that was probably fleshed out in a previous novel. This, obviously, isn’t a problem for someone who’s read the series until now. Some of the characters, perhaps didn’t need as much development. I felt some of the characterizations were strictly there to confuse rather than enhance the understanding of the character. The ending could have been fleshed out a bit more. I felt a little cheated by how it ended in some way.

Equals: Actually – I’m giving this one a positive review. Why? I was hooked into the story – not just reading it because I “had” to for the review. I wanted to find out how it ended. In addition, this has made me want to go back and fine the other Tess Monaghan novels, and read about her adventures from the beginning. If an author is able to do that for me I must say “read this.”

Some excerpted quotes:

What I’ve come to realize is that the key to wearing your life well is to fully understand what you have and, equally important, know what you want.

This book may force you to be more truthful than ever before, but I promise it will be worth it!

There are always going to be fears; you’ll always be afraid of something. It’s just a matter of what kind of emotional muscle you’re willing to develop in order to be able to handle those fears and then move on with your life. If you can turn your fear around and learn to use what you’re afraid of, then your fear can often propel you to make a huge difference in your life.

Self-examination is never easy, but when you read or hear something that reroutes your thinking and inspires you to move in a more positive direction, then every step of the journey becomes more gratifying than the next.

Plus: It really is quite motivating. Just the right combination of disgust at the habits we have today, and understanding of how difficult it really is to change. There is a lot of information, so you’re not getting a whole lotta words, and a whole lotta fluff. I appreciate that. There’s some really sound advice, and it seems to me to be coming from someone who walks the walk so to speak. She adds both personal anecdotes from her own life, as well as the personal stories of her members at marilu.com. She reaches braod strokes of life, such as closet organization, to the foods you eat, to how to present yourself to a stranger. It really is quite comprehensive as a life guide.

Minus: Because of the amount of information, it can be a little intimidating. Especially the food section – if you’ve never attempted a healthier lifestyle before. I think some of the terms she uses might be for someone a little higher up in the food chain so to speak. In addition, I was a little confused as to the direction of the book, especially since so much time is spent on the food you eat. Now that I’ve read the whole thing, I think it is on purpose because of how strongly she feels about the health properties of food. In addition, I think some of the advice she gives in the cleansing section might put off some readers. I don’t think she is wrong or misinformed, but it might be a little on the “too much” side for those readers who’ve never in their life heard of a colonic.

Equals: A positive review. I thought it was so motivating I’m considering signing up at her website. I was forced to examine some life choices. And I’m planning on making some healthy changes to those choices. And really – if you’re talking about a self-help book – what better a review is there than that?

Just when you feared your overstuffed, eyesore of a closet was a lost cause, here’s the antidote to all your closet woes. Closet expert and style maven Melanie Charlton Fascitelli is here to help you whip your closet into shape, refreshing your wardrobe and saving you time along the way.

With this accessible, stylish guide, you’ll find out how to redo your closet and organize your clothes so that you can, yes, go shopping there—sort through shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, scarves, and shoes, all in perfect condition and ready to go.

From the first closet face-off to long-term maintenance, Charlton Fascitelli takes you step by step through the entire process of turning your closet into a “safe haven” for your clothes.

The format is three sections

1. Be Your Own Editor: Letting go of clutter, enhancing your wardrobe, and defining your style.
2. In the Closet: Closet organization logistics.
3. Staying Organized: Basic maintenance.

Plus: It really gets into the nitty-gritty. What you should keep and why. What you should toss and why. How to store things from beaded gowns to your belts. What you should hang versus fold. How to actually organize (ie: hardware etc.) your closet. It also goes into how to shop, both the physical vs. online aspect of it, and how to shop for your particular body type.

Minus: She promotes using an actual inventory (written and stored.) That just a bit TOO anal for me. I’m simply not that into clothes and accessories to go that far, and I’ve far too much to do.

Equals: I do recommend this book. I’m saving it on my shelf, as we’re doing a home renovation room by room. Once I get to the bedroom I’ll be getting this puppy out to use as a guide.