In the spirit of the hurried holidays and all the fruitcake we’re currently eating, the reviewers of Props and Pans will be posting our favorite reviews of 2008 this week. We’ll be back next week with lots of opinions and giveaways, so as always stay tuned…

If you ask my daughter what she wants to be when she grows up, she’ll say an artist. While all her friends want High School Musical or Disney Princess gifts, all she wants are some crayons and coloring books. So she was thrilled to receive her interactive cards & soy crayons from Stubby Pencil Studio.

The eco-friendly cards had the cutest pictures on them and included bright & colorful envelopes that were perfect for mailing to loved ones. There’s also a place on the back where kids can write their own messages. A great item for sending to friends or relatives!

The soy crayons were amazing, especially since they’re made from soybeans. The colors were bright and went on smoothly. They didn’t smear or rub off. As an added bonus we also received a Gourmet Chocolate Scented Pencil made from 100% recycled newspapers. I could have sworn I was sniffing a Hershey bar, because it smelled that good!

The best part of all these items are that they’re made from recycled products and are friendly to our environment. It’s a great way to teach children about going green. We loved them!

Continue reading “Our Favorites of 2008″

In the spirit of the hurried holidays and all the fruitcake we’re currently eating, the reviewers of Props and Pans will be posting our favorite reviews of 2008 this week. We’ll be back next week with lots of opinions and giveaways, so as always stay tuned…

Travel Essentials to Keep Kids Entertained and Well Fed
Whether your travel plans include planes, trains or automobiles this summer, I’m sure you are busy assembling things to keep your children entertained. In our house we’re preparing for a cross country flight with a toddler and preschooler. Here are some of the essentials that I’m bringing along to keep my 2 children entertained and well-fed during our travels.

I always bring along some favorite paperback picture books, mini Magna Doodles, crayons, new stickers, blank paper and an iPod loaded with audio books from AudibleKids. Oh, and stacks of DVDs. We aren’t a huge TV watching family so watching favorite movies and shows on the plane is always a treat. These days the whole family loves Elmo! The new Elmo’s World: Summer Vacation is currently our favorite since we are right smack in the middle of summer. Our 2 year old son and 4 ½ year old daughter can actually agree on watching Elmo explore beaches, skin and cameras in his newest DVD. This means that while they are entertained my husband and I can actually kick back, relax and read something other than children’s books during at least 51 minutes of our upcoming cross country flight. Thanks Elmo! Elmo’s World: Summer Vacation is currently selling for $11.99 from Amazon.

Continue reading “Our Favorites of 2008″

There aren’t many shopping days left and our review team has several gift ideas for those who wait until the last minute. Next week we will feature our “Year in Review” which highlights our favorite reviews of 2008 stay tuned to Props & Pans, because we have many exciting reviews coming in the new year and plenty of giveaways for you!

High on my hit list this year for holiday gift-giving are Goosie Cards. These are customizable flash cards that you can put your own pictures and words on. They are also perfect as a gift certificate. With sample cards and code delivered in an adorable package, it makes a perfect gifts for baby, toddler and big kids alike!

by Cecelia

Does the man in your life like to grill? Is he more at home outside in the smoke and the spices than inside at the stove? How about a set of Grill Charms under the tree for him? I have chosen a set of the ‘Charmed Life’ Grill Charms for this season, that way he can mark everyone’s food with a bit of fun, and know who is getting what. You can find them for $20 a set and it might be worth getting him two.

Continue reading “Last Minute Gift Ideas…”

My family and I moved into a our first built home a year ago. Although it was nicely built and brand, spanking new, it had little color, zero decoration and desperately lacked style. So, for a year now, I have felt completely overwhelmed and uninspired to do anything about it until I received a copy of the The Home Book: Creating a Beautiful Home of Your Own, The Ultimate Guide to Home Decorating from House Beautiful Magazine, and now I feel inspired!

The first thing I noticed and loved about this book was the 500 beautiful color photographs. You could literally spend hours just looking at the photos. There are a multitude of styles photographed, from rustic to modern; each one full of ideas. You can’t help but feel immediately inspired once you open the book.

The Home Book is essentially divided into three parts. “Understand Your Home” teaches you how to work with or improve your home’s existing architecture and layout. “Elements of Design” gives you decorating concept advice on color, texture and pattern. “Room by Room” goes into furnishings, finishes and those minor details that complete a room.

Continue reading “The Home Book Goes Beyond Sitting On Your Coffee Table, It Inspires!”

Pledge is giving two lucky Props & Pans readers two bottles of Pledge (one regular furniture polish and one Dust & Allergen formula cleaner). They are also giving each winner a $25 gift card to Target. You can read our review of Pledge’s new Dust & Allergen formula here.

To enter go to the Pledge’s website and look over their large line of cleaning products. Then, leave a comment here telling us which product(s) you would purchase with your Target gift card. Entries will be accepted through December 21, 2008 at midnight (C.S.T.).

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!

I used to be a big Swiffer Duster fan. It was an easy way to clean around the house and seemed to clean pretty well. After about a year I began to notice that although it did wipe up the dust on places like a shelf, it didn’t seem to always hold on to the dust. If it wasn’t catching and trapping the particles I was trying to get rid of, where was it going? It was just spreading through the air and onto other furniture.

Once I thought about it more, I realized I was needing to dust more often with Swiffer Dusters then with the product I previously used, which was Pledge Furniture Polish. Originally I switched to Swiffer because I didn’t think that Pledge was helping to eliminate the allergens I was trying to get rid of. But after a year of trying something new, I’ve went back to Pledge who has developed a Dust and Allergen Formula that works wonders in our home.

Did you know that Pledge removes up to 84% of dangerous household allergens found in dust. Most of those allergens come from pet dander and dust mites. When you think of what might be in the dust you are wiping off of furniture, you certainly do not want to be spreading it through the air you breathe! That alone is a great reason to use Pledge’s new formula, but I also like that it truly polishes our wood furniture and leaves a shine that I’ve never found in other similar products.

Continue reading “Pledge Provides Dust & Allergen Formula That Cleans Your Home Thoroughly”

Props and Pans is giving two lucky readers a gift basket full of World of Grains delicious cookies. They don’t just taste good, they’re also good for you! You can read our review of their cookies here.

To enter go to the World of Grains website and take the “Are You A Grainiac?” Quiz. Then, leave a comment here telling us the ranking you got from the quiz. You can do the same thing on their Facebook page. Entries will be accepted through December 19, 2008 at midnight (C.S.T.).

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!

I was offered the chance to try some mystery cookies. I love food, so I said yes, sign me up. The mystery cookies turned out to be from World of Grains and they sent me a sample of every flavor they make. The flavors are cranberry, blueberry, apple cinammon, oatmeal raisin and multigrain. World of Grains makes healthy food, so these cookies are only 130 calories per serving. They are made of 8 different whole grains; providing you with 15 grams per serving.

The box says they contain flaxseed, and I don’t do flaxseed. Good news, I couldn’t taste it. These cookies are a great source of fiber and they don’t have any artificial sweeteners or coloring. I also found them to be conveniently packaged in serving size bags. When I open a box of cookies I just can’t stop.

The first flavor I tried was the apple cinnamon. I liked the flavor but the apples were very chewy. I’m also not a big fan of crunchy cookies so that was two strikes against the apple cinnamon. Then, I tried the blueberry and I loved it. I was thinking to myself this one is going to be my favorite. The next cookie flavor I tried was the oatmeal raisin, it was really yummy too replacing my favorite. I also liked the cranberry and thought it can only go downhill from here, but finally decided that the multigrain was my favorite.

These cookies are very crunchy and they all have a hint of cinnamon which I greatly enjoyed. I think they would be great for breakfast as a cereal. They won’t get soggy. Yum!

Continue reading “World of Grains – Can Healthy Be Tasty?”

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’m sure you have seen the infomercials about the Jack LaLanne’s Power Juicer. Slim bodies getting slimmer juicing everything from apples to zucchini! Well, I couldn’t resist. I love the taste of fresh juice and this juicer was my husband’s birthday wish!

We made fresh juice for days. Carrot, apple juice, orange pineapple, apple and celery! The possibilities were endless! The juice was indeed excellent. The pulp can be used for cakes, muffins, breads and more. My 3 year old son even drank the vegetable juices.

I was concerned at first about the cleanup, but it was a breeze. It made it much easier to clean if I did it immediately after juicing. It can be cleaned in the dishwasher or hand washed. I will definitely recommend this juicer to anyone who has a desire to juice.

Continue reading “Must Have Monday’s 48″

Paint Kit for Dogs
A truly unique gift that will make a one-of-a-kind masterpiece for you or the dog lover in your life. It works for all breeds, from puppies to old dogs, from pugs to pound puppies. What a fun and unique pet gift this would be. The Art Casso Kit contains non-toxic acrylic paint, art paper, paw protectors, picture frame and a surprise gift for your pet for $19.95.

Visit Active Dog Toys for other great gift ideas.

Cat Condo
At 3′ tall and just over 3′ wide, this unique 3-level Wavy Tube Condo has openings between floors, an opening in the top, 3 front openings, and an opening in each tube. They lead to the interior of the condo. The tubes are perfect for cats to lounge within. All condo’s are custom made with great attention to detail.

Visit Cats Play for other great gift ideas!

Ultimate Dog Bed
Every dog deserves a stylish dog bed and this one is top of the line luxury for your pet. You and your dog will love the contemporary color scheme and the added personalization of their name sewn into the large pillow. It is stuffed generously with 100% premium fiberfill, which retains it shape. The extra durable slipcover is made of Canadian Yukon Fleece and will keep your pet warm.

Visit It’s Sew Perfect for other great gift ideas!

Continue reading “Holiday Picks From Props & Pans – FOR PETS!”