I’ve searched long and hard for something that will cover the head of my son’s toothbrush when we travel or he goes to spend the night at his grandparents. I’ve found the long enclosed tubes, but personally they gross me out after a few uses because of all the water and gunk that collect inside. They’re also harder to clean out and not every toothbrush will fit inside - especially kid’s brushes with fat handles for little hands.

Finally, I found these great covers made by Flipper. They’re genuis! Yet another things I wish I’d thought of. Flipper carries several designs and styles, so I’m sure you can find one to suit every kid you know. Personally, we love the Dino Eggs and have Gigano in our bathroom. Is it bad that a 31 year old mother wants one too?

These will make great stocking stuffers this year too! What I love is that they are convenient and easy to use, plus they protect your little one’s toothbrush from yucky germs. This is a must have if you have children.

by Emily

We used to have this plastic type resin box outside on our patio that the hose would wind up into and the darn thing kept making me mad. Usually the hose would get off the intended track when you wound it back inside and sometimes it would get stuck. Eventually I got rid of the box and went looking for something more simpler. I was guided to Plow & Hearth’s website and spent a great deal of time looking through their large selection. I wanted something sturdy and something functional. At this point I wasn’t expecting anything fancy or even attractive.

Then I found the hose holder with a stake bottom that plants firmly in the ground. It had a graceful scroll on the 3/8 inch wrought iron finish that is treated to withstand the weather. Out winters are fairly mild with only the occasional snow, so I’m anxious to see how it holds up this year. I was surprised to find that my new holder would handle 100 feet of hose with ease. This version can also be mounted on a wall if you choose. I thought having our hose within eyesight might be unattractive, but I actually prefer this over the resin box. It’s less bulky looking and so natural.

by Terry

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You can read what our reviewers had to say below and visit Scrubbing Bubbles website for a $1 off coupon. If you’d like to try a sample, leave a comment telling us how bad your toilets are and we’ll randomly draw two names on Sunday, September 28, 2008.

I was excited to get to try out the new Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel product. For the first time in 10 years we’ve got three, count’em three, toilets so I thought that this would be a great experiment in my new house.

The product is easy enough to dispense - you just push down until a little clicker moves down a notch (note - I did push it too hard the second time I used it which resulted in a “double dose” in one toilet). You place a greenish patch of gel on the rim of your toilet and with each flush, it’s supposed to release cleansers.

It smells very strong, but gives off a clean citrus-pine sort of smell. It seemed okay to me. However, it did nothing in the realm of cleaning. My toilets were pristine when these gels were inserted and right on schedule they needed cleaning again. I’m very disappointed, especially after all the explaining I had to do about this product. I reassured the family that it was ok and not to worry about this glop of goo sitting in the toilet bowl. “It’s going to clean the toilet,” I explained. I was wrong. It just freshened the room.

by Gidge

Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel are disks of cleaning gel that are meant to be squirted out one at a time into your toilet. Each one is supposed to last for a week, however, our family of six people is home all day and our disks only lasted about 4 days each. During those 4 days those, however, our toilet smelled clean and required less cleaning than normal.

Unlike the old cake block cleaner that hung on your rim, the disks are attached under the rim and with each flush, a bit of cleaner is released into the toilet. My kids loved squirting out the disks which are in a plunger. I think it reminded them of making cookies with a cookie press.

There really isn’t a lot I can say about these disks, except that they seem to do the job as advertised. They are easy to use, have a fresh lasting scent and I think, under normal family usage, each disk would last up to a full week. There are six disks in the package and we will be adding this product to our shopping list.

by Perri

I am a regular user of Scrubbing Bubbles products, especially the Action Scrubber for tubs, because I love the scent and it does a great job. When the cleaning gel arrived I was excited about using it in our three toilets. It did take me a minute (or two) to figure out what exactly to do with the little plunger, but once I figured it out I was on my way to cleaner smelling bathrooms.

The kid in me loved using the plunger and leaving a star shaped disk on the rim of the bowl. I doubted it would last through a weeks worth of flushing, but it our household of 3 it did! We used the fresh scent and although I found it to be strong, but tolerable considering what the alternative smell might be, my husband did not. The first night I squirted the toilets my husband and I were laying in bed and he asked me what that smell was. He claims it irritated his nose, but I think he’s just not used to clean smelling toilets!

My only issue with this product is that there was some leftover when I cleaned our toilets with the scrub brush a week and half later. The green goo got on the brush and it was very difficult to wash off. Maybe it will help disinfect the brush?

by Emily

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Organic Batter Blaster is packaged just like spray on whipped cream, so you just aim it into the hot griddle and wait for the edges to brown and bubble. It makes delicious pancakes in minutes. The bottle stores neatly in the door of the fridge so it takes very little storage space.

The batter blaster is made from organic ingredients and it tastes absolutely great. My family can’t tell the difference between my homemade pancakes and the pre-made blaster, which I believe is a fine endorsement on the taste and gourmet food quality of the product.

The best part of the batter blaster is the clean up process. There is none! No bowls, no measuring spoons, no whisks - just a simple skillet and spatula. This product can be found in a three pack at Costco and if you love it as much as we do, you will go through 3 bottles faster than a box of cereal.

Written by Helene, who is a “fly by the seat of her pants” mom with 6 kids, well really 7 if you count her husband. She is a die-hard bargain shopper, designer-clad domestic diva who writes reviews to maintain a sense of sanity and unleash her creative side. You can also keep up with their busy family at their blog.

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The Camelbak water bottle comes in many different colors and two different sizes, and I cannot go anywhere without mine. I even have two to make sure that one is always clean. I drink lots of water every day and I was going through plastic water bottles left and right. In order to help the environment and our budget I decided to use a plastic bottle all the time.

The Camelbak water bottles have a nice slender shape and fits in most travel cup holders. I am also able to clip it into a hook on my diaper bag, so I can always have it with me even if the diaper bag is full. They are BPA free and completely safe to put in the dishwasher. I also like knowing how much water I’m drinking and the measurement is on the side in ml or oz. This is a must have for me!

by Louise

I remember watching Care Bears when I was child and loving it. However I’ve noticed the new Care Bears aren’t exactly the same. I was very pleased after reviewing the Care Bears Care-A-Lot Collection though. It was just as I remembered and my kids love it. My son has been talking non-stop about the flying cars and the worm that eats clouds!

The Collection features 22 Care Bear episodes and what’s great is that you can stop it after just one episode if you don’t want your kids to be clued to the television for too long, but start it at the next episode when you’re ready to watch again. Twenty two little adventures instead of one long movie! Within the collection you get two great dvd’s; the enchanting adventures which includes 14 episodes and the heartwarming adventures with 8 episodes. I don’t let my son just watch any program, but I’m confident that Care Bears sends a good message with just as much entertainment as a lot of programs you find today. Definitely a great must have for our collection to watch!

by Andrea

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There was one instance when the note written on a yellow post-it note paper and placed on my sandwich between the meat and bread. To the unknowing eye it looked like a slice of cheese. This caused quite the uproar at my lunch table when I bit into the sandwich and realized there was paper inside. Leave it to my mom to do something like this.

Now that I have a child who is in school I find myself wanting to leave notes inside his lunch box, so when the opportunity came to review KidsLunchBoxCards I was very excited. Designed by KidsFunCards, these colorful cards contain all kinds of fun facts and cool ideas. They are packaged in sets of 5 and allow you a week’s worth of smiles from your child. Each set offers a different flair that provide a laugh and a smile.

I would imagine these sets are not reserved only for lunch boxes. They would make great cards to mail (they are post card ready, just add a stamp) or place one in the suitcase of a child who is headed on a trip without you. The potential is wide open to create memories. What kid wouldn’t want to know that In Michigan it is illegal to hitch a crocodile to a fire hydrant? I must say I was intrigued to learn from a lunch box card that astronauts are not allowed to eat beans before they go into space, because farting in a spacesuit damages it!

My mom started a tradition with me that included hiding post-it notes in my sandwiches, but now I can start a tradition with my son that gives him a laugh each day. I give huge props to this creative idea to bring fun to lunch boxes around the world!

Written by Emily, who is a married working mother of a very energetic 6 year old son. They recently moved out in the country and live on a rock road. Emily had to give up high-speed internet and she blames the realtor for not informing her ahead of time that it was not available. She writes at her personal blog, Fenicle and loves to review new things.

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I am a big fan of Swifffer products. From the wand dusters to the floor, they all work very well. They have introduced a new product called Swiffer Dust & Shine furniture polish that cleans and conditions in your home. It produces a light mist that when wiped away leaves a shine. You can use it on a variety of surfaces such as wood furniture, granite and even leather! I would have thought you’d need seperate cleaners for leather, so this is a very multi-purpose product and eliminates the need to store more bottles in the cabinet.

What makes cleaning more fun is the scents you can choose from. Swiffer Dust & Shine comes in Lavendar Vanilla (my favorite), Tropical Sunrise and Citrus Zest. So not only is your furniture clean, not it will smell good too! Right now you can get a coupon online to save $1 on your purchase. This new product is a must have in my cleaning supplies bucket.

by Emily

Have you tried the Smart Pop from Orville Redenbacher? If you haven’t you are missing out. When my sister first brought this over I thought she was on one of her crazy weight watcher things and it was going to taste awful. Boy was I wrong! I’m addicted to the kettle corn now, its “slightly sweet and slightly unsalted,” 94% fat free and only one hundred calories in the mini bags.

This is a great snack for the entire family and so yummy you’ll be making more that one bag, believe me! Indulge in something healthy and delicious. Definitely a must have here!

by Andrea

I have an aversion to lotions. I want something that will stay on my skin that I don’t have to use over and over. I need something that is protective on my hands just as it is on my little ones. Skin MD Natural was my solution. I use it nightly on my face and it has become part of my routine.

I use it on my 20 month old’s eczema, she has it on the inside of her elbow and from the first time I put it on, the redness and bumps went down 50%. It disappears from the skin quickly so it does not leave a residue that I have to worry about her getting into her mouth.

This lotion is only used once or twice a day, and I don’t leave home without it! This week I have used it on my face, on my daughter’s eczema, on my son’s end of the summer sunburn and countless hands that were dry. This is a must have item for your house and your diaper bag!

by Suzanne

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Be forewarned, the following product is addictive. You will look at it every single day, morning and night, and sometimes will even stare at it for extended periods. The “it” in question is the Grobag Egg from Keen Distribution. The Grobag Egg is a digital thermometer for your child’s bedroom which changes color based on the temperature, telling you if the room is too hot or too cold.

Why is it addictive? I find myself adapting behaviors according to the egg. When it turned red (too hot) I added a fan to my daughter’s room. During a cool spell last week the egg turned yellow, so I decided it was time for pajama bottom pants. I’ve even carried it around the house to watch it change color! It’s like my own personal Goldilocks, and I always know the temperature in my children’s rooms are just right. This is a must-have for your home!

by Cecelia

When I first heard about the Fit Flop, I was both curious and skeptical. Could a shoe really help improve my fitness and shape my leg muscles? I was willing to give it a try to find out. The Fit Flop is now my favorite pair of shoes. I literally wear them everyday, everywhere I go. They are very comfortable, and offer quiet a bit of support to the foot. And yes, they do give your leg muscles a work out!

On the website they do recommend that you start out wearing them a little bit at a time, and I have to agree that if you were to start out wearing them 8 hours a day, you would feel it a lot. The first day I wore them, I didn’t notice any leg muscle soreness, but my feet did have a bit of soreness in adjusting to the different angle. It’s not a high heel by any means, but if you are used to completely flat sandals or shoes, you will feel a difference in the angle of your foot.

I am already saving up to buy another pair (or two) because I love them so much. They look great (I have the black pair, which goes with everything), they are very comfortable and easy to keep clean. And the fact that they actually do help tone my legs is an added bonus! I don’t know what I will do in the winter months when snow is on the ground and sandals are no longer an option!

by Aimee

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I discovered the most beautiful, floral, entertaining and dramatic hot tea blossoms. These make traditional tea bags seem boring and wrong. Rariteas crafts delicate white tea leaves around a dried floral bouquet that comes to life when hot water is added. After the water is added to your clear glass pot or large glass brewing container the bulb expands and blooms showcasing the inner flower. This makes for a conversation centerpiece to your table or buffet.

The white tea itself brews to a light, pale amber and has a smooth and simple flavor. The varieties of leaves and blooms provide different aromas and colors. They are soothing, gorgeous and oh so girly.

At such a reasonable price point these make a delightful gift for teachers, moms and special ladies in your life. The teas are offered in sets and have more impact than that silly old Mr. Coffee on your kitchen counter.

Written by Helene, who is a “fly by the seat of her pants” mom with 6 kids, well really 7 if you count her husband. She is a die-hard bargain shopper, designer-clad domestic diva who writes reviews to maintain a sense of sanity and unleash her creative side. You can also keep up with their busy family at their blog.

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Do your shoes get scuffed fairly easily? The nice ones I wear to work and special places seem to get marked up quite often. It could be that clingy 6 year old who has issues with placing his feet on top of mine. I’ve tried the usual cans of polish before, but they always seemed to create more mess than it was worth. Recently though I came across Shine to Go shoe polish that comes in a unique portable little package.

It is beyond convenient and makes shining your shoes fun. All it requires is for you to open the package and rub the pre-applied conditioning polish that is already in the applicator (which is a cloth) on your shoes. One package will clean one pair of shoes.

The packages of polish are available in black, brown and clear. I am now carrying two packages in my purse so that when I’m at the office or when I look down and see that my shoes need to be polished it’s handy. Best of all the results look like a professional polished my shoes! This is a definite must have for everyone.

by Emily

The Bissell Spot Lifter Carpet Cleaner is a fantastic little cleaner for anyone with pets or kids that are always finding little spots on their carpet, but don’t need to clean the entire thing.

It is handheld, light and comfortable to use with an easily used sprayer to apply a cleaning solution and water mixture, a cleaner brush to get out tough stains and a vacuum head to suck up the dirt and grime. It is cordless and can easily run up to 15 minutes at full power before needing to be recharged, which is more than enough to spot clean. On top of that it is simple to clean, only requiring the removal of the 2 plastic tanks. The one that holds the cleaning solution and the one that is the collection tank for the dirty water come off the machine.

The Bissell Spot Lifter quickly works through tough spots in your carpet. It cleans the stains completely and even removes tough pet odors. With a large dog, two young children and a husband with a tendency to get dirty, the Spot Lifter has made my life easier. I no longer have to lug out the huge shampooer for a few small spots. It is very affordable, easy to use and best of all it works!

by Kim

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The first dishwashing detergent that I tested was the Cascade Complete, which advertises, “Cleans so well….no need to pre-wash.” I’ll go along with that claim. It completely cleaned dried up spaghetti sauce and scrambled eggs which is something that’s is hard for me to do even using a scrubber. It dissolved completely with no residue caked up and left in the dispenser. It is also designed to help protect glasses from etching. Cascade Complete has the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval and it’s no wonder. It’s a great product.

I also reviewed the Electrasol Advanced dishwashing detergent. This detergent is the #1 detergent recommended by Whirlpool, Bosch and Maytag. It also claims to have an etch protector. It has a slightly less phosphorus content than the Cascade Complete. I know this only because I was going to compare the ingredients to see if they were exactly the same, because in my opinion the Electrasol Advanced worked every bit as well as the Cascade.

However, the bottles don’t really list the ingredients as something we would recognize. It says “Water softener, cleaning agents, dishwasher and china protection agent, water, thickening agent and bleach.” So there you have it - the ingredients for a great product.

All in all, I’d recommend that you go to the store and buy whichever is on sale. They both worked great!

by Perri

I am very new to the world of dishwashing soap. We only just recently got a dishwasher when we moved to a new home so I loved experimenting with different brands of detergents to use. I look for several qualities such as price, how well it cleans the dishes and the packaging.

I was given a bottle of Electrasol Advanced and Cascade Complete to review. To be honest with you the only difference between these two brands that I could detect was the smell. They both seemed to clean the dishes fairly well and didn’t leave any residue, but they did have different scents. To me the Cascade smelled better and left the dishes with a clean, fresh scent. From what I can tell they are both priced about the same at the local grocery store here.

The reason I look at packaging is because I don’t want a huge honking bottle of dishwasher soap to store. Plus the heavier the bottle, the harder it is to pour into the very small little compartment. For me this would equal a lot of messes and wasted soap.

Before I received these two large bottles to review I had been using the Cascade All-In-1 ActionPaks, which are little packages that contain everything needed to get dishes as clean as possible. ActionPaks have pre-treating, food disolving, grease fighting and stain fighting power all in an enclosed square you put in the soap holder of your dishwasher. Dishes come out shining and it does not leave any residue. Plus they come is some great scents like cinnamon apple spice. My favorite part is that they come in such a small package and it is easy to store.

by Emily

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