Every so often I try a new product. I might be strolling the aisles at Costco. I’ll see a sample kiosk. If I have my children with me, we ALWAYS stop. No questions asked. I’ll stand while my children take a sample. If there are enough samples left, I take a sample myself. I’m rarely disappointed. I’ve found samples that were so tasty. Without the sample stand in a discount warehouse or grocery store, I would never have known.

Last summer, the Musings from Me family journeyed to Southern California. While the kids and dad explored San Diego, I walked the Expo Halls at BlogHer. I met people, played in-booth games at the Expo Hall, learned about products I had never heard of, and most importantly, sampled some awesome treats. Walking the Expo Hall is thirsty work.

As I hauled my bags out of the Expo Hall one day, I spotted a white booth with comfy white couches. As I cast my eye to the side and back of the booth I spotted several displays of Trop50. Trop50? I was intrigued as I looked at the familiar shaped bottles with a name I had never heard of. What was this Trop50? Looked like the Tropicana I buy for my family, but what was it exactly?

I sampled the Trop50 Lemonade. Let me tell you how it tasted…it was delicious. Tart, but not too tart. Sweet, but not overly so. Kind of like a lemonade stand lemonade, but with 50% less sugar and 50% less calories. Plus, no artificial sweeteners. I knew my family would love it and that I would be happy to buy it for them. In fact, I brought a few bottles back to my family in our hotel room, which we enjoyed on our drive to Legoland. Delish!

Which brings me to New Year Resolutions and the thorny subject of sticking to ‘em. I think of resolutions each, but do I stick to them? Sometimes. I find that the smaller, more focused, and more doable the resolution, the more likely I am to do it. For instance, resolving to exercise is not nearly as effective as resolving to exercise every other day. I need a resolution spelled out for me. Another resolution is to cook more dinners that are healthy, with mostly fresh ingredients. My resolutions need to be short on vagueness, and long on specifics.

More about Trop50…

• Trop50 by Tropicana offers fruit juice goodness with 50 percent less sugar and calories, and no artificial sweeteners.
• Trop50 juice beverage comes in the following flavors: No Pulp, No Pulp with Calcium + Vitamin D, Some Pulp, Farmstand Apple, Pomegranate Blueberry, Lemonade, Pineapple Mango, and Raspberry Lemonade.
• New! Trop50 introduced the following new flavors: Red Orange, Raspberry with Green Tea, Peach with White Tea, and Pear Lychee with White Tea. Can’t wait to try these!
• Do you like those funny Jane Krakowski spots? Here are a few funny ones.

Connect with Tropicana and Trop50:

• Find a store near you that sells Trop50 juice beverage.
• Like Trop50 – 50% Less Sugar and Calories on Facebook.
• Follow on Twitter by following @TropicanaOJ and searching for hashtag: #Trop50.
• Visit the Trop50 Web site.

I was given samples of Trop50 juice beverage to facilitate my review. The views expressed in this post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

Christmas break was short this year. Very short. School ended for the kids at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 23rd. The next day was Christmas Eve. The next Christmas Day. The best day for Christmas Day to fall on is a Wednesday. Schools won’t Here are instructions and editorial guidelines for your post: The school system will never schedule school on Christmas Eve. Plus, the system won’t open schools for a one-day week. But, the hand we were dealt was a short Christmas break.

Since Christmas break was so short, we spent lots of time at home. Opening presents. Playing with presents. Watching movies. And eating. Lots of eating. We’re n0t a “cook a 5-course dinner”-type of family. We’re more a “let’s heat up a bunch of hors d’oeuvres”-type of family. With snacking, meals, and of course, candy and dessert eating, making sure that the kids brushed regularly was essential. You know how teens want to skip the daily shower? Well, younger kids want to skip the whole toothbrushing routine. Ick, I know!

I always ask myself the question: “Just how much energy does a child need to expend to brush their teeth twice daily?” Really, how hard is it to pick up a toothbrush? Apparently, the twice daily act of oral care takes too much energy! Thankfully, we had started the kids on the Listerine Oral Care Challenge before the holidays.

Each day the younger one will place a sticker on the Listerine Oral Care Challenge calendar whenever he brushes his teeth, rinses with Listerine, or flosses. I don’t require the older two to use the stickers. As one is just out of braces and one is in braces, both know the value of regular brushing, and of course maintaining a regimen of good oral care and hygiene.

As the kids start back to school, we’ll continue our Listerine Oral Care Challenge. I an pleased to say that since starting my youngest has not once missed brushing his teeth. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, kids love using a sticker or reward chart. The fun Listerine products don’t hurt either. My kids liked using the Listerine Smart Rinse in the Phineas and Ferb or Barbie versions.

• Save $1 on Listerine or Reach kids’ products.
• For oral care advice by age, check out the Listerine Kids site.
• To learn more about the Listerine family of products, go here.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Listerine and received a sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

…or at least I was last week and the beginning of this week.

Let’s see what happened to me:

• I had chills leading to mild flu-like symptoms.
• Developed a hacking, deep in my chest, yucky cough.
• Had a case of constipation that was so painful. Add in hacking coughs and you can get a feel for the pain I was in. Sorry for the TMI.
• Actually, had to beg off taking kids to a birthday party this weekend due to my general state of malaise.
• Had to get my ask my husband to stay home from work to do the morning breakfast, get kids off to school, bus and car drop off.
• Same day I had my husband play me in the morning, I completely forgot to pick my son up from school after sleeping all day. I had drugs in my system from the previous night’s impromptu visit to the doctor. Still can’t believe I forgot to pick up a child from school.
• Dinner and practically every other meal since I got sick has been a thrown-together sort of mess.

Christmas? We’re not ready for Christmas at all. Sickness and schoolwork and general family scheduling mayhem means that Christmas is not done.

• Put the Advent calendars out on December 8 after I realized both should have been out December 1!
• Ordered photo albums for the grandparents’ gifts. One will arrive by Christmas and one just after. I’m sick about missing the shipping/ordering deadline.
• Haven’t ordered Christmas cards but I’m giving myself tonight as the deadline to order. Will mail cards Saturday or Monday.
• Christmas #1 is practically decorated. Thanks in large part to the helping hands of the Tween-now-Teen and the Kid.
• The Kid assembled the trainset all by himself. Demanded the Dad buy batteries from Costco. Added the batteries to the Christmas train. Here’s a kid who is not about to let mom’s illness, dad’s illness, and his family’s frantic-ness get in the way of celebrating Christmas. Sometimes we need to look at a holiday or situation from a kid’s perspective, don’t we?
• Christmas #2 is another story. Not assembled. We abandoned the real tree a few years ago. Too many needles for our poor vacuum to handle. Christmas #2 is a vision in silver, which complements all the Star Trek ornaments. [Personally, I'm glad to get the ST ornaments off the tree. There's some a little un-Christmassy about having the Borg Cube and various Star Trek ships on the tree. Is it just me?]
• Cushions, tree skirt, and table runners are in two large bags waiting to be hurled in the general direction of the couches, etc.
• And finally the Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Nutcracker ornaments that I display on shelves, mantle, and other surfaces…with a dust rag, a can of Pledge, and a bottle of Windex I should be able to tackle the layers and layers of dust after my daughter’s concert this evening.

Still hacking a little today, but definitely in the land of the living. How are you today? And most importantly, are you ready for Christmas?

I see it. The kids are long gone to school. The gleaming stripe looks glossy but a little hard. The stripe of toothpaste is almost touching the sink. I sigh. My son yet again forgot to brush his teeth. Sigh.

My son’s morning routine is different to his sisters. His sisters wake or more correctly are awoken and told in no uncertain terms “Don’t go back to sleep!” They brush their teeth. Shower. Dress. Fuss about with makeup and all sorts of unnecessary processes. Honestly, the time wasted on makeup should be spent eating breakfast and getting out the door to the bus. But, I’m not a teen so what do I know?

In the case of teeth brushing though, both are regimented. Neither would get up and go without brushing. One has braces. One just got out of braces. Both have had it drummed in to them by dentist, orthodontist, mom, and dad, that teeth brushing is not optional. In fact, at the orthodontist, the patients are awarded for excellent brushing.

Must be an age and maturity thing. Perhaps it is a boy v. girl thing. Or, more likely it is my son’s routine on weekday mornings. He wakes, he sits up in the bed, and in one movement he bolts downstairs. He has no time for teeth, screens await! TV. PC, DS. iTouch. He’s not picky as long as it is a screen. I can’t blame him really. His bus arrives over an hour after his sister’s bus. He has time to kill.

Because he bolts downstairs, he does not pass go. He does not collect $200. And…he does not brush his teeth. Cue…heavy sighing and tut tutting from me. Usually, I ask when he comes downstairs “Did you brush your teeth?” If he is dressed in school clothes, there is a good chance he did brush his teeth. If I have any doubts, I send him back upstairs to “check.” This is my code word for “I think you didn’t brush your teeth, but why don’t you head back upstairs and brush them.” If he is wearing pajamas, there is absolutely no chance that he brushed his teeth. Go back to where I wrote about the way he “bolts” out of bed. There’s no stop for tooth brushing when games playing and Lego building are ahead of us.

I found that we needed a system to ensure that he brushed his teeth on a regular basis. I was very excited to be asked to join the Listerine Oral Care Challenge. With this challenge, I knew that I could get my son on a plan of twice daily brushing, flossing, and mouth rinsing. How would I make this happen with a young child? Simple! I asked the entire family to take the challenge.

Kids love when mom, dad, and siblings — older and younger — join them. I placed a chart on the wall outside the kids’ bathroom. The chart shows the month of December. I made copies of the chart for all the months in 2012. I want to get the Musings from Me family on the road to good dental health. It was recently suggested to me that I should use a water flossing device. I could use encouragement to add this new process to my daily routines.

So, far the Listerine Oral Care Challenge is working for all of us. I see the chart and head straight to my bathroom. My son reminds is that he put another sticker on the chart for brushing. In just over a week, I have seen none of the telltale glistening, but slightly hardened globs of toothpaste on top of his brush. Added bonus less toothpaste mess to clean up in the sink!

Be sure to come back to see how we are doing with the Listerine Oral Care Challenge.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Listerine and received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

I have come to terms with my love affair with food. For as long as I can remember I have loved food. It is both a joy to me and a curse. Over the years, I have learned to eat in moderation. I’m not happy, but eating in moderation is a step in the right direction on the road to good health. I slip up from time to time, but I would rather eat a little of many things than a whole lot of one single food item.

As moms we love resources on pretty much any aspect of parenting, educating, and raising our children. I devour resources and tips on anything parenting or family oriented. But, what about eating a healthy diet? I know I am not as likely to find resources. I will tell myself… “Uh, the food pyramid has changed and I don’t have time to find out what the new categories are” or “I used to know what to eat when I was cooking for one, but now that I am cooking for my family it is so hard to find a meal that everyone likes.” There I go again with the excuses. Just piling on one excuse after another. Sigh.

I recently heard about a book that I believe many of my readers will enjoy. I haven’t read the book yet, but I plan to once it is released. For now, I will share with you what I know about Real Moms Love to Eat: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous by Beth Aldrich and Eve Adamson. I love the title of this book, don’t you?!

Here’s what I know about Real Moms Love to Eat

• The book is broken down in three sections.
• One of the sections is a fun and easy-to-follow 10-part plan for moms to implement to make gradual, life-long changes in their approach to food.
• Another section is a 21-day list of meal suggestions,tips, recipes, and lifestyle changes—all to help you continue your love affair with food to look fabulous.
• Moms will learn a lot about the food they eat and how it impacts their bodies and still have fun experiencing new foods and enjoying your life.
• The book has been described as a “love affair like no other–with huge rewards of looking fabulous.”
• Real Moms Love to Eat is THE source for “tasty, fresh, whole food meals, creative recipes, and food facts that will keep you looking fabulous and feeling energized and fulfilled.”

It seems that the author’s approach to healthy eating is realistic for busy moms. I know I don’t have time for a complicated recipe with 18 different ingredients requiring 42 kitchen gadgets and listing 23 steps to create the dish. Keep it simple and I will cook the meal.

Want to know more about Real Moms Love to Eat: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous.

• Pre-order the book via a contest on Beth Aldrich’s site.
• Subscribe to the Real Moms Love to Eat blog.
• Like Real Moms Love to Eat on Facebook.
• Follow @RealMomsLuv2Eat on Twitter.
• Purchase the book on amazon.

And before I forget, you must check out the author’s unique Food Affairiate program for bloggers and those who love to eat!  Anyone who registers to be a Real Moms Love to Eat Food who writes a review will receive a digital copy of Real Moms Love to Eat. You must click here to participate in the Real Moms Love to Eat Food Affairiate Program.
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Beth Aldrich — Real Moms Love to Eat blogging program, for a chance to get 3,000 My SocialMoms Rewards points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

It’s funny to think that I joined a membership warehouse club when I was in my 20s…pre-marriage…and pre-kids. What did I buy? Why would I need a gallon drum of mayo? Did I even think about saving money back then?

My then-boyfriend/now-husband and I joined Pace Membership Warehouse in 1989. Pace, you say? Why am I mentioning Pace when I am writing about Sam’s? Well, the first Sam’s Club was opened in 1983 by Walmart. By 1993, Walmart acquired Pace Membership Warehouse. By 1993, I had been married a few years and loved shopping at membership warehouse clubs. The savings. The stuff. And yes, we did leave quite a few times with a football or fuzzy stuffed animal nestled in our cart of tomato soups, yogurt, and humongous bags of Mexican Cheddar cheese. But, you know what? The savings from shopping at a warehouse are tremendous. Now that we are a family of five you can bet that we shop at warehouse clubs all the time.

Sam’s Club wants to help you give back by purchasing your favorite cereal or snack. This October, when you make simple everyday purchases at Sam´s Club, you can help support breast cancer education and research.

Sam´s Club stores will feature exclusive pink packaging on some of your favorite participating General Mills products in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

So, what are you doing to give back to help the fight against breast cancer?

I have a giveaway so that you can experience all that is Sam’s Club. One lucky reader will win a $25 gift card for Sam’s Club. And don’t forget that you can use your Sam’s gift cards at Walmart. If you want to enter, complete the mandatory entry. You must complete the mandatory entry for all optional entries to count.

Mandatory Entry

Subscribe to my blog’s RSS feed. Come back to leave a comment.

Optional Entries — Leave a comment for each optional entry.

Like Pink Together on Facebook.

Like Sam’s Club on Facebook.

Follow Pink Together on Facebook.

Friend me on Facebook.

Like my blog on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter.

I was given a Sam’s Club gift card to facilitate my review. The views expressed in this post are my own. The information and gift card(s) have been provided by Sam´s Club and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

I’m excited to post about a very cool event in D.C. Very last minute, I know. I’m heading to the event in a bit myself. But, before I go, I want to share about the launch of a New Happy Meal.

That’s right, McDonald’s is launching a new Happy Meal. The ubiquitous McDonald’s® Happy Meal® is getting a healthy makeover. And the launch events are taking place all over the USA, including in our neck off the woods.

So if you are in the vicinity of the McDonald’s at 4130 Wisconsin Avenue, NW — huge parking lot behind the restaurant and it is walking distance from Tenleytown Metro. Stop by at 1:30 p.m. today — Friday, September 16.

If you can’t make it to the launch of the new McDonalds Happy Meal, follow the event on Twitter — @McDonalds_DMV and hashtag #NewHappyMeal.

The 411 about the event:

McDonald’s has launched a new Happy Meal in support of the company’s recently announced ‘Commitments to Offer Improved Nutrition Choice’ which strive to help customers – especially children and families –make nutrition-minded choices whether visiting McDonald’s or elsewhere.

As one of the first markets to offer the new Happy Meal, the Greater Washington, D.C. region will commemorate the occasion, by unveiling the new Happy Meal with a panel discussion about McDonald’s commitment to nutrition. The event starts at 1:30 p.m. today (September 16).

Guest Panel:

• Shaye Arluk, MS, RD, HFI, Dietitian
• Craig Welburn, Jr. McDonald’s franchisee owner
• Neva Van Valkenburg, McDonald’s franchisee owner

Special Guest: Ronald McDonald

Giveaway for Musings from Me readers

So, here is the deal…if you want to go to the event, I’ll see you there. If you can’t go to the event, leave a comment and I’ll have McDonalds send you a free coupon for the New Happy Meal.

A second way to enter… Send out this tweet:

@McDonalds_DMV is launching the #NewHappyMeal today. @MusingsfromMe is at the launch. Enter to win a free #NewHappyMeal here> http://bit.ly/owx9pI

I was invited to the McDonalds #NewHappyMeal launch. I was given a gift bag for participating in the launch. Giveaway ends October 31, 2011, 11:59 p.m. Open to U.S. residents only.

But, menopause is on the horizon. I’m observing little changes here and there. An imbalance of hormones. Hormone imbalance can cause weight gain, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and more. I recently heard about a treatment option for women experiencing issues associated with hormone imbalance. Have you heard of bioidentical hormones? I’m sure you know about hormone replacement therapy, but what about bioidentical hormone replacement.

Body Logic MD offers bioidentical hormones to women, which are an exact replica of hormones produced by the body. The bioidentical hormones match the body’s natural hormones. Body Logic MD bases its products on compounds found in plants.

A certified physician will tailor a program to suit the needs of patients with early menopause symptoms, menopause, perimenopause, or even severe PMS. Services can include dietary supplements, fitness programs, nutrition planning, stress reduction plans, as well as administration of bioidentical hormones.

For more information on Body Logic MD:

• Go here to learn more about Body Logic MD.
• Take the Body Logic test to see if you have a hormone imbalance.
• More information bioidentical hormones.

I was compensated by Body Logic MD for this post. The views expressed in this post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.

I hated the feeling of being caught off guard. Still hate it. Twice when I had heavy bleeding I was at school…high school. You don’t want to stand out in high school…ever! But, there I was…stuck at school and totally caught off guard. I have never felt so helpless.

As an adult I can and do talk about such subjects as heavy bleeding and menstrual cramps here on this blog or on Twitter or to my offline friends. I’m a grownup and I’m comfortable talking to women who may be experiencing the same problems. But, back kin high school, I was stuck.

I couldn’t talk to my high school friends about the heavy bleeding I experienced each month. No, I could not. I wonder which of my friends were going through the same pain and discomfort as I was? I also couldn’t talk to my teachers, either. I was at a religious affiliated school and quite honestly the teachers were not approachable at all. Neither were the nuns. I rarely remember having a conversation about anything with any of them on any subject, especially not heavy bleeding during my period. And my school did not have a school nurse or even a place to go and lie down when you were not feeling well.

Schools and times have changed. I have quite frank conversations with friends about how to deal with issues that can make your life uncomfortable. There is certainly no shame in seeking advice on heavy bleeding from a medical professional. In fact, I want to help my readers better understand the condition and its impact, and strategies for talking with a healthcare professional about finding the right treatment options.

I have a few resources for you if you suffer from heavy bleeding or know someone who suffers. I normally don’t ask this, but if you have a friend or relative with heavy periods…pass this blogpost on.

HealthyWomen.org has a host of resources for dealing with the effects of heavy bleeding. In fact, did you know that 92% of women with heavy periods say that the condition frustrates them, while 68% say that their periods control them. I’ve been there and I can say that I don’t want to go back to my teen years.

But, there are treatment options for those women with heavy periods. From ice packs on the abdomen to taking vitamins to taking medications, Health Women has a comprehensive listing of options for you to peruse. Use them now or bookmark the link for later. Look in to medical options. Ask your gynecologist. Whatever you do, don’t suffer in silence.

Other resources from Healthy Women include:

• A Q&A on what to ask during your medical visit.
• A Q&A on what is heavy bleeding and what is a normal menstrual cycle.
• And finally, what is the cause of heavy periods?
• Follow HealthyWomen.org or Facebook.
• Follow HealthyWomen.org on Twitter.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Ferring Pharmaceuticals and received a promotional item to facilitate my review.

Joe’s Crab Shack
The Corner Bakery
Au Bon Pain
Chevy’s
Burger King
Chili’s
and even Carrabba’s Italian Grill

I have eaten in these restaurants more than once. In some cases I have taken my family to the restaurants on multiple occasions. I should feel guilty, but I don’t. The reality of  my life is that I am a busy working mom of three. While I may plan to or have good intentions of cooking dinner each night, our on-the-go schedule dictates that we eat more than one meal a week at somewhere other than home. And, I’m OK with that.

Oh, sure there are times when I grocery shop with recipes in hand or create a crockpot meal in advance of the dinner witching hour. But many days when 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. rolls around, there is no dinner on the table. No chef is coming to my rescue to whip up a meal for the 5 of us. My husband works late some nights, so he can only step in and cook dinner from time to time. A Kid, a preteen, a teen, and a working mom and dad need to eat, don’t they?

So, like many American families we come up with a solution that works for us. Some nights I cook. Some nights my husband cooks. Some nights we eat out. Is our weekly dining plan ideal? No. But is it realistic ? Yes.

While I will opt out of cooking home cooked meals in favor of going out to eat, I don’t want to sacrifice nutrition or quality. My oldest is 15, so I well remember the days when a kids’ meal was nuggets and fries, hot dog and fries, grilled cheese and fries. Kids know what they want to eat, which meant that many times in restaurants my kids would eat my meal of salad, lean meat, fruit, veggies, or low fat options while my husband and I would eat the kiddie meal.

I’m proud to announce the launch of a new initiative to promote healthy eating. The Kids Live Well Program is a partnership between the National Restaurant Association and HealthyDiningFinder.com. A long with the National Restaurant Association, 19 restaurants signed on as inaugural partners for the Kids Live Well inistiative.

As a side note, I was invited to speak at the press conference launching the event. A true highlight for me! I’m not a public speaker, but I was thrilled to speak at the National Press Club yesterday. I was invited in my multifaceted role as Mom…Mom Blogger…and Leader of DC CityMommy and Baltimore CityMommy.

To Learn More About the Program:

• A list of the inaugural partner restaurants in the Kids LiveWell Program
• The Twitter hashtag for the program #KidsLiveWell
• HealthyDiningFinder.com on Twitter and on Facebook
• National Restaurant Association on Twitter and Facebook
• Press release from the National Restaurant Association

I was invited to participate in the press conference for Kids LiveWell, but I was not compensated for my time. The views expressed in this post are my own. I follow the tenets of Blog With Integrity.