As a Mom, I like the fact that it’s large enough to keep the table clean(er). If I knew where to buy these in a store, I would get more.

Get it: $3.99 from Crocodile Creek.

Get it: It shouldn’t be the only mascara in your arsenal, but it should be one of them. Look for it at in the cosmetics aisle of any grocery or pharmacy chain for around $5.

Yesterday I learned about a scary recall of the Aqua Dots toy — it’s linked with the same chemical found in the date rape drug. Yes, shocking. For me, this solidified my mom instinct to now really look at all toys that come into my home. It’s a wake up call. Check out the CPSC Web site for current recall information. You can’t rely only on the TV or newspaper to report on recalls, there are far too many for them to mention in a 30-minute newscast so they limit the reports to severe recalls. But, let me tell you, there are tons of recalls. See for yourself.

Related links:

• CPSC email list sign up
  
• Aqua Dots recall information from the CPSC site
• Aqua Dots recall information at Aquadotsrecall.com (at the time of the writing of this post, the Web site was down, most likely because of heavy traffic)
• My reaction to all of the recent recalls, on my Mom blog, Balancing Motherhood.

Perhaps this creme would be more suitable to use for cuticles or elbows, or maybe if you have dry heels, because it just doesn’t work at all on the face. Too bad, because I love the classic blue tin, but I can’t justify buying this even for $0.99 cents just for that.

Fergit it: Unless you’re traveling and in desperate need of some heavy moisturizer, steer clear of this creme, because it’s not suitable for the face. But if you must try, get the smaller tin which is available at Walgreens, CVS, and most drugstores.

Most gourmet chocolate bars will cost more than $2 to $3, but Cacao Reserve is a great value for $1.99. (If you live near a Super Target, check for the smaller four-square package on clearance for 68 cents. You’ll find it by the register.)

Get it: Great taste, excellent value, if you love dark chocolate but not the price, try Cacao Reserve. Look for it at your local grocer.

So, to save my sanity and not have to wash 10,000 loads of laundry every week, I purchased the Shout Color Catchers. They look like dryer sheets, but they go in the washer. As your clothes are washing, and those mystery colors are floating around in the water just waiting to cling to the wrong garment, the Color Catchers absorb the color from the water.

When you move your clothes to the dryer the Catcher sheet will not be white. It will turn whatever color it picked up from the water. Now, sometimes I find that there is nothing on the sheet, but other times it is red or purple. Sometimes blue. It’s always a faint color, but there is ink on the sheet. Ink that I suppose would have ended up on my husbands new colored shirt I just bought for him. This sheet saves me a lot of worry. I still sort my clothes, but if I’m in doubt, I toss a sheet in for extra assurance. It’s been working so far. The only downside to the sheets is the price. It’s about $5.00 for a box of $24. It’s not outrageous, but not cheap either.

Get it: Most stores, in the laundry aisle.

Get it! I took this on my last two trips, and I still have half a box left. The small plastic box contains 24 swabs and can be purchased for $5 from Bare Escentuals or Sephora.

The only downside to this laundry soap is that it doesn’t remove tough stains, so for that you may have to spray on some stain remover prior to washing clothes. But it’s so gentle for my skin and my clothes that I’m willing to live with that.

Git it: This is perfect for sensitive skin, babies, and for use with HD washers. Prices may vary but it’s around $6.00 for 100oz. bottle. Available at Target, Publix or your local grocery store.

It’s a cute bottle with a hippo’s head for the spout. It dispenses a foaming soap — which I love because it just is cooler than regular soap, but more importantly for young kids is that the soap can 1) be seen by the kids and 2) stays on their hands. My only complaint is that I’d like more soap to come out with each pump. I have to double-pump to get enough soap to wash my hands.
But the really cool part is that there is a red light that flashes in the hippo’s head. It stays on for 20 seconds — the amount of time you are supposed to was your hands. Try it folks. Even if you don’t buy this product, try to wash your hands for a FULL 20 seconds. It’s longer than you think. Great idea, especially this time of year. With the MRSA virus speading like wildfire, the best thing we can do as parents is to all wash our hands.

Watch an animated demo.
Read about hand washing on my Mom blog.

Get it: It’s about 3.99 for the dispenser. I got mine at the grocery store so I’m sure you can find it most places you normally purchase hand soap.

Forget it: Skip it and go for the glossing cream instead. But you want to try the mist anyway, you can find it on Amazon, Sephora, and Bath and Body Works for around $22.