Long-time readers of this blog…and by “long time” I mean anyone who has been reading for a year or so…know I post about this and that and the other. Part review. Part giveaway. Part travel. Part parenting post.

While my blog has been “live” since 2008, it is only in the last year that I have blogged with any clue about what I am doing. It’s debatable exactly how much of a “clue” I have, but I get by…. So, if you are new here, I hope you stick around, and if you are a long-time reader I appreciate that you come back time and again.

My goal is to make Musings from Me a place for family time. What began as a blog with an all-encompassing and way-too-general theme has transformed in to a place for having fun as a family whether you have 15 minutes or 15 hours. Spending time with your family. Watching a movie together. Reading the newspaper to each other. Taking a day trip. With, a Kid, a Preteen, and a Teen, we make time for each other. Today’s post is no exception.

When not blogging here about this/that/other, I blog at Oyster.com’s Locals Blog. Oyster is the go-to site for hotels…thorough, no stone unturned reviews of hotels, motels, and residence suites. I blog about D.C. for Oyster’s Blog on Local sights and sounds in and around D.C. You might be surprised to learn that even though I have lived in the D.C. area for over 20 years, I had never been to Ford’s Theater until last fall. My latest post is new discovery…Top Golf in Alexandria, VA.

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Days off school mean no homework. No bus pickups. No lunches to pack. In our household we bask in the glow of school holidays. We eat, play, shoot baskets, watch movies, and hang out. What’s not to love about this type of day? But five people in one house all vying for control of the remote or the game controller or a laptop makes for a crazy, noisy day. As a work-at-home-mom, my work day can become challenging with the kids and husband home from school. While it is tempting for us to stay home, every so often planning a trip on a day off school is a must.

Some months ago we ventured out to a new type of high-tech driving range just outside Washington, D.C. While the kids finished up any lingering homework or played games with dad, I did my daily work tasks. Once I logged off, we set off for Top Golf.

I’m not a fan of sweat. I don’t like exercising, but then who does? No, don’t answer that if you lurve exercising and can’t get enough of it. We can remain friends even if you are an exercise fiend. We’ll have to agree to differ on the “love of exercise” issue.

Is it me or is sweat just plain gross? OK. OK. I know I need to sweat to show that I am actually working out, instead of oh…I don’t know…leaning on an elliptical and shooting the breeze with someone. Not that I would ever do that. No, not me.

But, back to sweat… Last Saturday night my son was dying to play the wii with anyone. I’m not a wii player at all. I have dabbled with a couple of fitness wii games, played a shockingly bad round of Mario Cart, and even created a mii character. But, playing the wii leaves me bored.

Until Saturday evening… I had just had a shower. The reason I am mentioning this has everything to do with sweat. Read on. My son wanted to play wii with mii or should I say me. Really he needed a hot body. And by “hot body” I mean he would have played with anyone…and I just happened to be the one nearest to him. I put Michael Jackson: The Experience on.

After a few minutes of playing I WAS a hot body. I was sweating up a storm. Sweat was dripping down my neck. I needed a shower. I couldn’t get enough of the game. Did I mention I’m not a wii player? But, there I was sweating to the…can’t call them “oldies” as I will get an image of Richard Simmons that I won’t be able to shake. Let’s say “sweating to the newbies,” shall we?

Michael Jackson may be old hat to my son, but to me he was one of the first pop singers I recall listening to in the 80s. While I may have had issues with MJ’s lifestyle and his eccentric parenting style, MJ was and is a pop icon.

The Michael Jackson: The Experience game is a how-to “Dance like Michael Jackson” game. Here’s how it works…

• You choose a song. 4 players can play.
• You decide if you will be MJ or one of the backup dancers.
• You start dancing.
• The game scores your dancing. The comments are not critical like a Karaoke game. Players may see “Good” or something else on the screen. Each player is given points for each dance. Player with the most points…wins.
• It’s a simple as that.

We danced to Billie Jean, Black and White, and one other song. On the screen you see Michael and the backup dancer doing their thing. Next to the dancer you choose to be, there is a curved line showing your progress. I was OK overall with flashes of brilliance on dances I recognized. My son was nonplussed. He asked why I was so good. I told him I lived through the 80s when Michael Jackson was on the TV and in the clubs and discos. All that dancing certainly paid off when I played Michael Jackson: The Experience!

Price: $45.96

Players: 4

Perks: Comes with a very cool and oh-so-quintessentially MJ white glove with silver sequins. Remember when MJ’s brothers each wore a single glove at his funeral? You can’t play with the glove on. The wii remove might slide off due to the slipperiness of the glove.

Negatives: Depending on the song, there’s a fair amount of crotch grabbing. I avoided all crotch grabbing myself, but my son is a stickler for details, so let’s say I was glad that a neighbor didn’t happen to walk past our window as we were dancing!

While Ubisoft provided me with this game to review, the opinions I’ve expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. , Clever Girls Collective and I promote Blog With Integrity.

As of July 2010 Mark Zuckerberg reported that a whopping 500 million people all around the world actively use Facebook to stay connected with friends. Add in twitter users — recently estimated as over 25 million users worldwide — and it is safe to say that social media is here to stay.

As a social media mom, I use Facebook not just to reconnect with family and friends, but for weight loss. Whether you caved to pressure from your kids to set up a Facebook or you live and breath social media, the possibilities for using social media are immense. Since I use Facebook all day for work and frequently work on FB at night, I have found a way to use Facebook to aid in my weight loss goal.

Yes, that’s right Facebook can be a weight loss tool. Here’s how: CalorieStory has found the secret to achieving health and diet related goals: social media. Facebook application CalorieStory has just released a new free online calorie counting tool that uses the power of your social network to keep you on track with health and dieting goals.

“After 7 years in the weight loss industry, I realized that the social network was the most significant thing to happen to weight loss since the invention of Weight Watchers,” stated Adam Yap, co-founder of CalorieStory, “A community has always been one of the most powerful tools in staying on track with your weight; now with Facebook, your support network is always there.”

With CalorieStory, anyone with a Facebook account can look up and log food calories using a free application on Facebook. People can then share their progress with their friends, make public pledges, and even nominate friends to be CalorieBuddies to keep each other on track.
The results can be startling. Already, CalorieStory has found that users who have been invited by their friends are 52% more likely to use the Food Diary feature, and when they do, they record 58% more foods.

CalorieStory has created the New Year, New Me Challenge, with the objective of helping people meet their health goals for the new year using social media. The Challenge is open to all Facebook users. Once a user installs the application, she chooses three health and fitness related goals, and tracks her progress for a month. Three winners will be chosen randomly at the end of the challenge. Prizes from The CarbLovers Diet Book, Eat Smart Scales, GoodBelly, YogaPulse and LARABAR will also be awarded from @CalorieStory on Twitter.

Ten bloggers have also been chosen to share their journeys on the challenge. They will be blogging throughout the Challenge on their progress in meeting their New Year’s resolutions.
For more information, or to join the Challenge, visit CalorieStory on Facebook.

I started using the CalorieStory food diary application late last year. With 2011 now here, I plan to continue using the CalorieStory food diary application to keep me on track. How about you? Are you up for a challenge to lose weight or get healthy? Come join the #NewYearNewMe Challenge today!
I work for CalorieStory on social media projects.

My son is the most excited package receiver…ever. At 7 he will still bound out of the house, off his scooter, out of the van to get the mail. He was about 5 when I started blogging, so for him the packages that arrive at our doorstep seem very normal. His teen sister only gets excited when the package is obviously for her. My tween daughter occasionally has her interest piqued by an odd-shaped or curious looking package, but mostly lets her overzealous brother do the tearing open of the packages.

I let slip that a package arrived while my son was at school one day. There was no turning back. I had to let my son open the package as the Thanksgiving Holiday was in the offing. As a reward for doing his homework without complaint, chores with pouting, and bedtime without shenanigans…he earned the right to play Just Dance for Kids.

He’s old enough that he tore open the game and commenced playing without any assistance from me. I heard the music from the other room. He was happily occupied for close to 30 minutes before I poked my head around the door of the family room. I saw him waving his arms madly and dancing up a storm. I don’t think I have seen him dance that wildly since the school Hoe Down where I feared for his partner as he swung her about the square.

Just Dance Kids was a hit both from the perspective of watching my son cut the rug and my trip down memory lane listening to the songs on the game. A sampling of songs…

• Naturally
• Kung Fu Fighting
• Here We Go Again
• Surfin USA
• One Time

We have yet to play the game as a family as our house was hit by the stomach bug. Yuck. My son can vouch that he loved Just Dance Kids for the Wii system.

The game has a huge selection of favorite songs, crazy dances, and all-new kid-friendly game play. The over 40 fun dances were created by choreographers and led by kids. As we know kids love watching other kids singing, playing, and acting on screen. My normally only plays Lego Star Wars games son was totally engaged in the dancing as he followed the moves of the kids on the screen.

Other features of Just Dance Kids

• Younger kids will love dancing to their favorite TV shows and television personalities, including The Wiggles and Yo Gabba Gabba!
• Classic kids songs will appeal to even the youngest at home –”Wheels on the Bus,” “The Alphabet Song,” and more!
• Party fun for family and friends with pick-up-and-play game mechanics make it easy for kids of all ages to participate.

Play in three different game modes:

• Dance Party Mode: Songs play continuously without needing to return to the menu selection.
• Freeze and Shake Mode: New game play that kids love, including shaking the Wii Remote or freezing for extra points.
• Team Play: Lets kids dance together for a team score. (Now that we are recovered we need to try Just Dance Kids as a family.)

I was given an advance copy, but you can find Just Dance Kids for the dude or dudette on your list at amazon.

Want to win a copy of Just Dance Kids? I have 1 copy to giveaway to one of my lucky readers. Leave a comment for each entry. One comment = one entry. Enter now!

Mandatory entry:

Leave me a comment with your favorite way to spend family time.

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Giveaway ends November 30, 2010. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

While Ubisoft sponsored this review, the opinions I’ve expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint. Ubisoft, Clever Girls Collective and I promote Blog With Integrity.

Our year is all about sports. In fall it is football and volleyball. In winter it is karate and volleyball. In spring it is lacrosse and volleyball. And in summer it is swimming with a little volleyball. With swim season ending July 31 and football practice beginning on August 1, we have absolutely no break from sports.

We keep uniforms washed, pads of all kids stored in sports bags, shoes thrown all over the makeshift mudroom in the garage, and cold drinks in the fridge. With three sporty kids and one sports mad husband, we go through many, many cold drinks. Cold drinks refresh and revive our kids. Hydration is a number one priority for our family.

Like other protective equipment, proper hydrating and fueling have a major impact on an athlete’s safety and performance, especially with heat waves. To help keep athletes safe and performing their best during the hot summer months, Gatorade and the NFL created “Beat The Heat,” an educational program focusing on the dangers of heat-related illness and the importance of taking the proper steps to reduce the chance of illness and injuries. This information is especially important for Moms because children have an increased risk of dehydration and exertion-related heat illness due to their size and other factors.

Our son is a new football player. His uniform and helmet is dripping with sweat at the end of a long practice. A sports drinks allows him to stay cool and refreshed during practice. Our girls play indoor volleyball. No heat issues, but both play all-day tournaments. A refreshing sports drink gets back in the game.

I remind my kids to bring a water bottle to ever sports practice and event. Water does not replace the electrolytes and sodium lost in sweat, so it isn’t enough to protect kids against the summer heat and humidity. The right sports nutrition and hydration, including Gatorade, can play a vital role in helping young athletes get the hydration and fuel they need to stay safe and perform their best.

You can help. Download a free Gatorade Heat Safety Kit found at www.nfl.com/trainingcamp. For every unique download Gatorade will donate $1 to “Beat the Heat” charities up to $20,000.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Gatorade’s “Beat the Heat” campaign and received Gatorade samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Another lengthy comment that I am turning in to a blog post!!

You would think that since my children are 14, 11, and 7 that this summer would have been a breeze. Nope. It was an utter nightmare.

Thank goodness my teacher/administrator husband was off for part of June and all of July. He did the swim practices, camp runs, and play date drop offs. But, it was still hard to do work in set hours. I frittered time away on twitter when I could have been writing. It is also extremely hard to work when you know your family are having fun at the pool.

Health club? Have not exercised since early July. I believe I can verify my visit with a lone foursquare check-in.

When the kids weren’t in scheduled activities, all 3 clamored for screen time. I forced the older two to go outside and play, but really it was a losing battle. The days of entertaining kids outside with a swingset, bubbles, and chalk only work with the 7 yo.

Now that my husband is back at work…well our situation is actually worse. Swim team is over. I scheduled no camps for August. The camps I scheduled for July were only half-day for 2 weeks. I only did camps for the older two. This month I am working in between high school volleyball practice, playdates, and football practice. Why oh why is there no internet access at the practice fields?!?!

School can’t start quick enough.

Anyone want to do coffee on Monday???

The only plus to this otherwise trying and hectic summer? I bought a boatload of crafts from Michaels. The kids have done Model Magic, popsicle stick building, Perler beads, gimp thread, duct tape purses, and sand art. My kitchen is a mess but I have a little peace each day!

Another comment from a forum that was long enough for a post! In answer to the question, do you use sunscreen, why, and what strength. If you want to participate in this discussion, join MomSpark Forum.

I had one very bad burn on my back as an 8-year-old and another serious burn on my back as an adult. Both times it was due to not applying sunscreen. I am a fanatic about sunscreen.

I have used different brands over the years. Here’s my take on sunscreen/sun exposure:

• I never used sunscreen on a baby less than 6 months. I limited sun exposure until the baby was over 6 months of age.
• Coppertone Baby is excellent for babies up to late elementary school age. Comes in the pink bottle. It is a thick liquid.
• For active kids, Banana Boat or Coppertone Active is excellent. It is thick, plus resistant to sweat. I reapply after swimming for a long period.
• When my kids were about 8, I started letting them sunscreen their arms and legs. I would do their backs and chest.
• With my tween and teen, I trust them to apply sunscreen.
• Each of the kids carries a sunscreen in their pool bag in case they go to the pool with a friend.
• The kids wore rashguard shirts on the beach and at the pool until around age 10.
• If you need sunscreen due to fair skin AND you are going to the beach, apply sunscreen before you go on the beach. Applying sunscreen to already sandy legs can result in uneven sunscreen coverage.
• Avoid spray sunscreens! The spray will not cover all areas. I find myself applying twice as much spray to be sure.
• Only use cream sunscreens. I like to see the cream on the children’s skin to know that I have covered each body part.
• We have a house rule that if a child refuses to use sunscreen the child does not go outside. No exceptions.
• The worst time of year for sunburn is April/May and September/October. At these times of the year, the sun can be bright but I don’t think about using sunscreen. Invariably one of the kid ends up with raccoon eyes.

I’ll be keeping this list of tips in mind as I prepare to travel to Ocean City with my family. The beach is a hit with my husband and kids. Not so much me, with my fair skin and ability to burn when near the sun.

Baby weight? Is it accurate to refer to baby weight when your babies are 7, 11, and 14? No, I didn’t think so!

But, I am struggling with my weight. I lose some. I gain some, but I never get anywhere near my goal weight. My goal weight is largely unattainable to me. Did I ever weigh my goal weight??

You see I love food. Gastric bypass surgery would not be an option for me. I cannot spend the rest of my life eating a portion the size of an egg for each meal How sad! So, I need to find ways to eat less, eat sensibly, and eat healthy all within the structure of my family and crazy/busy/insane kiddie activity schedule.

Healthy eating on-the-go and exercising suffer when schedules become busier, and sorting through the plethora of products and services on the market proves an overwhelming, time-consuming effort in itself.  A new line of products may help me to achieve my elusive weight-loss goals.

I was sent a sample shipment of innovative products from underWAY and Smart for Life to review. We had a family taste testing over a period of days.

Note: Since my children are growing and a healthy weight, I monitor what dietary products they ingest. I didn’t let the kids try to underWay supplement drink as it is a meal replacer. I want the children to eat the healthy meals that I prepare rather than “drinking their meal.” Since I need to lose weight, I find a meal-replacing drink to be acceptable to me. I did let them try the Smart for Life cookies and cupcakes.

The Musings from Me family thoughts on Smart for Life and underWay products:

• underWay supplement drinks — I am not a huge water drinker. If the water is flavored I will drink more. The underWay drink I tried was Acai Pomegranate. underWay is an appetite suppressing drink that curbs hunger. I drank one for breakfast on a day I was on-the-go. Here’s what I found on the underWay website: underWAY™ Curbs Your Hunger Two Ways: (1) its special formulation not only takes longer to be absorbed by the stomach, but it also slows the absorption of what’s already there–making you feel fuller, longer, and (2) its unique ingredients stimulate your stomach, telling your brain you’ve consumed more calories than you really have – which, with underWAY™, is almost zero!
• Smart for Life cookies and cupcakes were pronounced good by the kids and husband. Not an abundance of flavor, but as far as diet products go the flavors are better than most. I like that the ingredients are all natural, 60% organic products. We liked that the products were packaged in small packs. The size of the package was small enough for me to eat in 2 days or the whole family to eat in one sitting.
• Ready-to-Go Vanilla Shakes and Chicken Soup — we have not tried yet. Update to come!
• Smart Crunch, Cupcakes–Chocolate and Carrot, and Chocolate Chip Cupcakes were a hit with all of us!

I’m not sure if I could adopt the new 7-meals-per-day schedule featuring 6 cookies or products plus a balanced dinner that underWay and Smart for Life advocates. But, I found the drinks, cupcakes, and cookies to be tasty and a useful snack in my harried and rushed day.

The new 7-meals-per-day schedule allows your body to maintain steady blood sugar and glucose levels, and to burn more fat for a longer portion of the day.

For more information, from the Smart for Life and underWAY products, developed by physician Dr. Sasson Moulavi, a board certified bariatric weight loss doctor, go to www.smartforlife.com and www.under-way.com.

Special Discount Offer for Musings from Me Readers:

My readers can get a special 10% discount code for underWAY and Smart for Life products.

Please use MCUS10OFFUW for underWAY products at www.underWAY.com.

Please use MCUS10OFFSFL at www.smartforlife.com.

Codes good through August 30.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of underWAY and Smart for Life and received samples of the products to review.

I have weight that I have gained…lost…gained…lost…gained…and lost during three pregnancies. I have about 50 pounds to lose. I have lost 15 pounds and counting. My oldest is 14, so my path to weight loss is slow.

I’m motivated at times. At times I would rather sit on the couch and do nothing.

The summer is approaching. Will I get to the health club and exercise? Will I binge on snacks at the pool? Will I give cooking the cold shoulder and get dinner from Pizza Hut?

I want to exercise. I want to find time to exercise. I want to stop making excuses. I want to learn how to budget my time so that I have time to exercise.

Stay tuned…