Welcome to Must Have Monday’s. Every Monday our reviewers will let you have a sneak peak into what we use in our homes and our lives. Here we will tell you about the things we can’t live without. If you have a “must have” item to pass along please e-mail us. We welcome contributions from our readers and are always looking for new reviewers.

I was recovering from surgery in June when it was apparently ice cream week on the Food Network. I sat and drooled, unable to eat anything fatty, as they showed you how to make every kind of ice cream, sorbet and gelato under the sun. Show after show taunted me until my sweet husband surprised me one evening – returning from the store with a compact little ice cream maker from Hamilton Beach.

Super sleek and amazingly easy to use, we’ve become ice cream making addicts. No rock salt or ice required, this machine has an inner core that remains frozen and you simply insert it, dump in your ingredients and turn it on. In approximately 20 minutes you’ve got fresh delicious homemade ice cream. It makes exactly enough for us to share and we’ve all enjoyed the adventure of trying out ingredients and different flavors. We’ve tried fruits as well as shaved chocolate and flavors in addition to making old fashioned custard style which was exquisite and velvety.

If you want to try home made ice cream without the crazy amount of work involved – this machine is a must have.

Continue reading “Must Have Monday’s 51″

Sometimes I wish I was still in junior high. I really liked junior high and I played a game for the Wii not long ago that took me back, in a way. Boogie SuperStar is a karaoke/dance game that is rated 10+. It comes with it’s own microphone so that you can sing and the game rates you on your pitch and note duration. If you are not singing then you have certain “dance” moves that you do by waving your arms around like a putz and watching your character on screen dance.

There are two rather distinct halves to Boogie SuperStar. The singing is the easiest for competitors to grasp and you sing the words in time with the lyrics being shown on screen. That is not complex, but the dancing is much more difficult to master. There are various moves you must perform such as the hand bike (what exactly is that move?).

You can play with many players and mix up singing and dancing. I was at a major disadvantage playing it because there was only one song I had heard, but that’s because I am a loser. I know that many of these songs are very popular to girls who still read Teeny Bopper magazine (remember the days?). I still had a lot of fun playing it, and the husband even busted out a few dance moves and songs. We had a great time with it, and now I’m going to pass it on to a little girl I know who I’m sure will have an even better time with it. Especially if she has a slumber party.

Continue reading “Boogie Super Star For Wii Combines Karaoke & Dance”

But how did VapoSteam save the day, you ask? Well I’ll tell you in a minute. First let me tell you that I was sent the new Vicks V790 GermFree Humidifier to review. I was thrilled to get it as my whole family had a cold at the time and our other humidifier was going full force and needed some back up. I have small children so I have only ever used a cool  mist humidifier in the past so that they could not be burned, but I was interested to read the facts about this particular humidifier. According to the literature this humidifier provides:

• Pure, sanitized warm mist—kills up to 99.999% of germs, mold and bacteria in the water
• Worry-free, healthful moisture for you and your family
• Better breathing everyday
• No filters to buy or replace—ever!
• Use with Vicks VapoSteam or Kaz Inhalant
• Patented ultraviolet light process eradicates water bred germs
• Adjustable humidity control
• Three-year warranty
• 2 tanks for easy filling and longer run times
• 2-gallon capacity; operates up to 24 hours

The whole no germ thing was really exciting, especially since I have a kid who seems to get sick at the drop of a hat. So I filled that tanks, plugged it in and was immediately put off by how bright the light is on it. I literally have duct tape over the light and it still illuminates a large area around it.

Further more, it is loud. It sounds like you are sitting next to a hot spring, or a whirl pool, between the sound and the light is was like being in a spa on Jupiter. After that I found that the steam really is hot, not warm, but hot. Strike three, I was almost ready to pan it right there. I used it for a few nights and hated it. Here comes the but… I bought some of the VapoSteam for it. VapoSteam is like VapoRub only it is a liquid that goes into a cup on the humidifier and then it is diffused into the room.

My husband and I have started referring to it as “liquid crack”, because we simply can’t get enough of it. It makes us both breath easier, helps alleviate coughs and is just fantastic in general. So the GermFree Humidifier was  almost panned, but was saved by the VapoSteam! It is well worth the price of around $80 to have in your household. If anyone at Vicks reads this and feels the need give me a lifetime supply of VapoSteam, that would be swell.

Written by Andi, who teaches local high school students about abstaining from sex. She has also had two kids in 16 months. Andi’s husband thinks she needs to practice what she preaches. You can read about her adventures (or misadventures) in motherhood at her personal blog, Parenting 101.

Ever wish you could decide which songs were played on the radio and which songs weren’t? Ever wonder what it would be like to control the radio? You know have the chance at Pandora. This website has one mission – to play only music you love!

It all started back in 2000 with the Music Genome Project. It is the most comprehensive analysis of music ever undertaken. Their team of 50 musician analysts listened to song after song, studying every detail and collecting information. What they did with that is create the website Pandora where you can explore til your heart is content.

All you do is drop the name of your favorite song or band into Pandora and the Genome Project takes over. It will quickly scan the entire world of music and find songs with musical similarities to your choice. You sit back while it creates a listening experience tailored to your likes and dislikes. If it plays a song you don’t care for all you do is click the thumbs down button and it will take that song (and any like it) off your play-list. You can even create up to unique music 100 stations. I use this at work and love that I can delete the Backstreet Boys with one click!

Continue reading “Wednesday Website – Pandora”

Welcome to Must Have Monday’s. Every Monday our reviewers will let you have a sneak peak into what we use in our homes and our lives. Here we will tell you about the things we can’t live without. If you have a “must have” item to pass along please e-mail us. We welcome contributions from our readers and are always looking for new reviewers.

By chance are you looking for a new sweetener? One you can cook with, use in your tea and something that doesn’t leave a weird bitter after-taste? Then you must try PureVia(also known as Reb-A) from PureCircle. Reb-A is all natural and zero calories! Better yet it is wonderful for people with Diabetes due to its low glycemic index and it won’t affect blood sugar levels. Since it is heat-stable it can be used to cook with too!

Reb-A is derived from Stevia Rebaudiana which was first discovered by a botanist in Paraguay. It is highly concentrated (up to 300 times sweeter than regular sugar), so you must be careful with how much you use. I first came across this in a restaurant and thought I had accidentally put regular sugar in my tea.

Continue reading “Must Have Monday’s 50″

If you are looking for some new, exciting, cheap entertainment then you should check out Digital Chocolate’s new apps. They were created for iPhone and iPod Touch users, but anyone can play these adventurous games at Apple’s App Store. There are also free versions available at Apple that will provide a limited number of levels and modes. I gave there 3 newest games a whirl and found them to be pretty fun.

3D ROLLERCOASTER RUSH
3D Rollercoaster Rush comes with 40 different rollercoaster tracks set in the Wild West, each with a Challenge Race Mode where you can play against the designer of the game! The game leverages the accelerometer feature on the iPhone and iPod touch by allowing players to easily accelerate and brake by tilting the device to make the carts go faster and slower.

CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH
California Gold Rush allows players to explore up to 30 mines and features a compelling story with a colorful cast of characters. Your objective is to help Mandy dig for gold, artifacts and gems below the depths of the earth as you avoid collapses, cave bats and other dangers! The game leverages the innovative Multi-Touch user interface of iPhone and iPod touch, allowing players to move Mandy and start digging with the touch of their fingers. California Gold Rush provides depth and long lasting gameplay that will keep players digging for hours.

Continue reading “Digital Chocolate’s iPhone & iPod Touch Apps Provide Cheap Adventures”

Props & Pans is giving one lucky reader an Oral B Triumph with SmartGuide toothbrush. Two of our reviewers recently put this product to the test and their opinions were vastly different. You can read their reviews of the Oral B Triumph here.

To enter leave a comment on this giveaway post telling us what Oral B products you and your family use or why you could really use this toothbrush. Entries will be accepted through August 23, 2009 at midnight (C.S.T.) and the winner will be selected using Random.org. Only residents living the U.S. or Canada may enter.

You can receive a second entry by blogging about the contest (linking to it) or adding us to your blogroll. Just e-mail us with a live link or let us know you have it posted on your site. You do not need a blog to enter, just leave us your e-mail address so that we may contact you. As always, it is Props & Pans policy NOT to distribute any information you give us (including your e-mail). Thanks for entering!

Last year after extensive dental work, my dentist convinced me to spend $129.95 at her office for a “dental recommended” electric toothbrush. Having used the Oral B Triumph with SmartGuide for just a few weeks, I feel like she should be turned into the ADA for her crap recommendation.

The Oral B not only comes with several brushes, but there are also additional brushes available for your specialized needs. My husband, who has been going through toothbrushes at the rate of one a month for as long as I’ve known him never seemed to believe me when I told him he was brushing too hard. However, let the Visual Pressure Sensor tell him that and he’s a believer! The toothbrush has a built in timer so you know when you’ve brushed long enough.

One of the included brushes has a polishing head – the kind the hygienist uses to clean your teeth. I can tell a huge difference in my husband’s coffee stained teeth after he’s used it for several weeks. Be forewarned. The power this toothbrush packs is enormous! Having bought a “professional” toothbrush, I was astonished at the power and rotation the Triumph offered. It flosses, polishes, massages and gently sweeps away plaque. Your gum’s will be healthier and your mouth will thank you.

Continue reading “Oral B Triumph with SmartGuide: Two Different Reviews & Opinions”

My new favorite snack for my children is Soy Joy bars. Did you know that foods rich in soy protein serve as a good alternative to meat, poultry and other animal-based products? I didn’t until I researched it, but this is a win-win situation since Soy Joy is both delicious and healthy!

I love to break them in half and give part of it to my daughter and part of it to my son. This is the only bar that has 9% protein for an adult on a 2000 calorie diet. So my guess is that I’m giving my children 9% of their recommended protein when I give them half. When my daughter gets to have the whole thing she gets 18% right?

I want to try the peanut chocolate chip but I have yet to find it. I think when the word free goes out they just disappear. There are five other flavors and my daughter seems to like the Mango Coconut the best. They have more calories than I like but they are so healthy.

Continue reading “Soy Joy Is New Favorite Snack With Whole Soy & Real Fruit”

I’ve heard people rave about the new liquid bandages for quite some time, but had never tried it out until recently. Suddenly I got this callous on my thumb and at some point in time, I cut through it with some paperwork and it would not heal. It was just the callous, with a cut and often times it split open and hurt!

During a busy day at work I was typing and apparently using the space bar with my left hand a lot,  because it was screaming at me by lunch time. (Ever try to use the space bar with the wrong thumb as you type? If you took typing class you know it’s nearly impossible, but I digress.) So I wandered off to the medicine cabinet in search of antibiotic ointment and a band aid or two.

One of my coworkers saw me perusing the cabinet and pointed out that we had packets of Band-Aid Liquid Bandages, raving about how great they are when you are typing and I should check them out. Which I did. A swab-like item soaked in some chemical (the liquid band aid I presume) pops out of the pack and I slathered it over the gash in my left thumb.

Continue reading “Band-Aid Liquid Bandages Don’t Seal The Deal”