Work It: a blog for Working Moms

Product Review: Ragu Fresh and Simple Pouches

by Amy S.

A one-hit meal wonder in this household is no easy thing. One-hit means I've had the pleasure of making one item and everyone in the house eats it without complaining. I recently had the pleasure of trying out the Ragu Fresh and Simple Pouches. These little handy guys are microwaveable pouches (90 seconds and done!) with Ragu sauce inside. The pouches are available in Garden Vegetable, Tomato Basil, and Tomato, Garlic & Onion. On a healthy note, not just quick, they have no sugar, no artificial additives or preservatives. They also contain only all-natural ingredients, along with Vitamin C, calcium, fiber, and protein.

Ragu has put together a free, downloadable recipe booklet that has time saving tips and meal planning suggestions for healthy meals. The booklet also includes recipes and tips from the Food Network's Robin Miller and other celebrity folks. Download the book from www.FeedOurKidsWell.com for great ideas on nights when you're looking for quick and healthy meals.

Product Review: Ocean Spray Cranergy™

by Amy S.

I love trying new drinks. And I'm a fan of cranberry. This is a good start for trying out the new Ocean Spray Cranenergy™ drink. Cranergy™ is made from cranberry juice, enhanced with natural energizers like green tea extract and B vitamins. Both cranberry juice and green tea extract contain high levels of antioxidants.

I loved the taste - particularly the Raspberry Cranberry Lift flavor. It's a great option for an on-the-go morning, particularly because it's lower in calories than a sticky sweet coffee drink. Made with Splenda® brand sweetener, Cranergy™ has only 35 calories per eight-ounce serving.

It's a healthier alternative, but I can't say for sure that it gave me much of an energy hit. Keep in mind, I am used to drinking at least two caffeinated drinks a day - so I'm no rooky in that department. So maybe I wouldn't make this my first choice for an afternoon energy burst - but I would enjoy it guilt-free anytime of the day because it tastes good - and a little green tea and B vitamins probably never hurt anyone!

Product Review: SimplyMobile Mom

by Amy S.

Cell phones are the lifeline of the working mom. We may not use our cell phones to send videos of dancing cats (like my 21-year-old niece sent me last week), but we use they for practically everything else. So when I got word of a free new program designed to send just about anything from my desktop to my cell phone - I was on it.

SimplyMobile Mom is software you install on a personal computer that lets you easily send content to your phone. (You can also share content with others by adding them to your network.) The premise is simple - take lists, to-dos, photos, even blogs with you by adding them to your SimplyMobile Mom software on your desktop and then "sending" the items to your phone. Most of the interface involves SMS texting, so a good text plan is a must. I still pay by the text message, so I didn't want a ton of text notifications.  Although you don't have to use the text version - there's a web version for those with smart phones - it seems pretty important to have a good text plan, because even the web version relies on texts to send the web links to your phone.

There are lots of good ways to use this service - an on-the-go grocery list you can update from home or work and have sent to your phone, connect to your email account, send photos to your phone and lots more. It's a great way to make a basic cell phone "act" more like a smart phone.

For those with a smart phone it may provide an easier way to "sync" content from computer to phone. As a smart phone user, I really like the idea because it would allow me to share content across multiple computers without having to use Active Sync. But based on the few hours I spent with the software, I'm not sure it can really "take the place" of syncing data. It can definitely enhance it.

The set-up is pretty easy - the program is downloaded to a PC and several text messages sent to your cell phone. The interface isn't quite as friendly as I'd hoped - I consider myself to be pretty tech-savvy but still had to watch several online tutorials on how to use the service. In addition, keep in mind that this software is still in Beta testing - so it's not without its quirks. For one thing, the grammar snob in me noticed a few typos along the way! It also bugs me that when you're in the program, it can "disappear" when you're using it and you have to double-click it again to make it "reappear" for use.

Now is a great time to register with SimplyMobile Mom - they're offering a contest for all who register with the site to win an 8gb Apple iPhone and 2-years of service from AT&T. The contest ends May 19th.

LiceMD - Alternative to Pesticide Lice Treatments

By Sara B.

I've never had head lice, but both my mother and sister are early elementary school teachers. They've had their fair share of outbreaks in their classroom. They've never actually caught them, but they get itchy - it's a psychological thing. When their students have them, they worry!! It's not just my mom and sister's classrooms, there are about 6 million cases of head lice each year.

My daughter is only 8 months old, so we haven't had any experiences with this yet. When I was asked to check out LiceMD, I agreed because of my mom and sister's experience with outbreaks in their classrooms so often.

After learning more about LiceMD, I think the best part about it, is how safe it is! Other head lice treatments use pesticides to kill off the lice. In this day and age where we all try to eat healthy with organic foods and whatnot, you don't want to expose your child to pesticides in a head lice treatment. LiceMD uses Dimethicone which can be found in many conditioners. Because of that ingredient, it is easy to use on all hair types and glides easily through the hair when used. It is completely safe and pediatrician approved! As a parent to a baby with sensitive skin, I also appreciate how it is hypoallergenic and won't irritate skin.

From what my mom has told me, the other head lice treatment products give off a powerful odor. LiceMD is odorless. It also has an easy to follow 3 step process. The directions seem very clear and simple to understand.

I also thought that this product could be a time saver. The three step application process can be completed in just ten minutes.

I'm hoping we don't run into any outbreaks at our daughters school, but if we do, I'll pick up some LiceMD. As for my mom and sister, they now have a safer alternative to recommend to parents who experience this problem.

Product Review: It's a bird, It's a plane...no, it's a toothbrush!

by Amy S.

I'm practically putting my dentist's children through college. My teeth? Not so great. Don't worry, I do not have a mouth full of yucky. But it's only because I live in the dental chair. It's been this way for as long as I can remember. It runs in the family. My husband, who has the very same dental hygiene routine I have, has not once had a cavity.

And so, when someone contacted me and said, "Would you like to review a very nice toothbrush?" - I quickly took them up on their offer. Little did I know that I was about to receive what feels like the Cadillac of toothbrushing devices.

You know you're on to a cool toothbrush when the press release says it's the result of studies in an applied-physics lab. The Ultreo is the first power toothbrush to combine patented ultrasound waveguide technology with precisely tuned sonic bristle action. In other words: it creates an intense scrubbing action by making very tiny bubbles that move rapidly in your mouth. As they expand and contract, they are able to remove plaque bacteria.

From the first use, I definitely could tell by using the ultra-scientific "tongue test" (you know, the one where you run your tongue over your teeth to see if they feel clean) that my teeth were getting very clean. And I swear, I think they stay clean longer. The other reason they were getting cleaned so well? The smart 2-minute timer on the Ultreo - you have no idea how long 2 minutes is until you've brushed your teeth for two. whole. minutes. It also includes a 30-second brushing "signal" that's supposed to help you cover all four quadrants of your mouth in those 2 minutes. The nice lady I spoke to on the phone about the toothbrush assured me that 95% of the plaque is removed within the first minute, so I don't feel quite as bad when I don't get through the whole 2 minutes.

The press kit contains a 6-page spread on studies that have been done with the Ultreo, and the outcomes are impressive:

• Naturally whiter teeth in 14 days (yes, I've noticed this to some degree)
• Clinically proven to reduce gingivitis in just 30 days
• Removes 95% of plaque from hard-to-reach areas in the first minute of brushing

There's lots more to talk about on the impressive outcomes side, but let's talk bells and whistles for a moment. This toothbrush is a nice addition to your ultra-modern (or in my case, not so modern, covered in the previous owner's floral wallpaper) bathroom. Its sleek design and light weight also make it surprisingly easy to throw in the ol' suitcase. And get this, the charge lasts up to two weeks with two 2-minute brushings a day, so you won't need to worry about traveling with the AC adapter or charging base. (Ladies, take it from me, this is also handy if you already have your curling iron/flat iron/blow dryer already taking up those precious bathroom plugs - you only have to plug in the toothbrush once every couple of weeks.)

I saw my dentist last week and told him about my exciting new friend. He made me promise to bring it to my next appointment so he can see it! And he assured me that there's nothing better out there for brushing than ultrasonic toothbrushes.

Final verdict? After two weeks of use, I really feel like the toothbrush is making a difference. Will it save the world? No. Will it hopefully save me a few hundred more dollars in dental visits - probably - just the reduction in gingivitis alone is important. It's not cheap - suggested retail is $170 - but it's an investment in better oral health. And for those of us with the not-so-great teeth? Probably totally worth it.

An Ultreo was provided for the purposes of this review (and for me to keep, no one wants a used toothbrush!). The Ultreo retails for around $170 and is available in some dental offices and of course, on amazon.com (Is there anything they don't sell?!)

K'NEX - Cool Construction Set

by Coletta

I knew that we were off to a good start when my little boy begged me to open the K’NEX package as soon as I brought out the box. “Oh, wow,” my son said, “An Excavator…that I can do all by myself!” The Cool Construction Set by K’NEX comes with building blocks, connecting pieces and a booklet of different vehicle types that can be created with the set. But, as any working mom would agree, the best part of the set is the durable black case in which all of the pieces fit neatly (including the booklet) when building is done!

The back cover of the booklet displays a photo of the Excavator—the most ambitious of the 10 possible projects you can create. I, having an anxious three-and-a-half-year old on my hands, began with the tractor, which is the first (and easiest) vehicle in the manual. My son and I started putting the interlocking blocks together as a team, but he was so anxious to have the tractor to play with that I took over, and in about three minutes I had a tractor just like the one in the manual. My son, Morgan, liked it, played with it and appreciated it—but that Excavator on the front of the package was still calling to him and so he agreed to dismantle the tractor in favor of the fancier building project. 

K’NEX are a lot like any other building bricks (and apparently the blocks are interchangeable with their competitors' in case you need a piece in a pinch); but K’NEX also come with special connectors which fit together to allow and encourage movement. This feature enables the steering wheel on the tractor to rotate and the loader to actually load and unload. There is also a band to go around movable wheels to make the structures actually look like construction vehicles. The special connectors are very small and a little tricky to manipulate and I think this contributes to and supports the reason why the age range on the K’NEX Cool Construction set is 5+. There were moments during the Excavator construction where I thought that maybe the age should be 35+.

I had a little trouble putting the Excavator together-but I, admittedly, am not a block or puzzle person . The directions were expectedly more complex and the connectors functioned at a much higher level.  After 10 minutes I gave up and called in the big guns—my husband. ‘Daddy’ pretended to be perturbed but was secretly pleased that I needed his help; he had been eying the K’NEX box as greedily as Morgan. 

After teasing me about my inability to follow directions and making me hand him the necessary parts (he actually referred to them as 'connectors' instead of calling them 'twirly thingies')…a fully functional Excavator emerged from the hands of my husband. The vehicle had moving wheels and a digging arm that moved accurately with the touch of a small lever. This definitely went beyond any construction capability that my blocks had growing up. 

My son played with the excavator for a few minutes and then announced that he wanted another construction vehicle from the manual. After initially telling him ‘no’ I finally relented and agreed only to make the tractor again. Morgan was delighted and played with the K-NEX tractor for the rest of the night. We have since created the pick-up truck and made an attempt at the bulldozer, but at the end of each play session, we always return to the three-minute tractor. 

I would certainly recommend this product for any child who loves building. I think that children who have trouble connecting the pieces at first, will, over time, learn to create the more complex structures. The manual is relatively easy to follow and the carrying case is integral in keeping track of all those little connectors. I would definitely purchase this product as a present for anyone ages 5-35, especially those who love Excavators!!

Product Review - Grippies

by Amy W.

Corrie Wilder and Yelena Mogelefsky bonded on the Long Island Railroad while sharing the same story: their kids were slipping all over the place. Not all socks have non-skid bottoms, nor do tights. And the ones that do have non-skid bottoms, they seem to never be in the right place.

So the idea for Grippies was born. And instant, easy and economical way to add traction to the bottom of tights or socks.

I was sent a package of the Iron-On Grippies as well as the Stick-On Grippies. My entire first floor is hard wood. And both of my kids love to run circles around through the kitchen, into the dining room and back through the family room. Often times they are chasing the dog or each other. Most of their socks have non-skid bottoms, but they still tend to slip. And none of the tights I have for either girl have non-skid bottoms. To say these Grippies come in handy is an understatement.

I used both, the Iron-On ones and the Stick-On ones on socks and tights. And both worked beautifully. The stars are cute, and the girls love saying they are "stepping on stars".

But there are other uses too - not only socks and tights, but gloves and heck, socks and tights for me as well. Not that I run through the kitchen chasing the dog, but I tend to be clumsy and coming down our all wood stairs is often an accident waiting to happen. And they are helpful for keeping my feet from sliding in my shoes when I have stockings on.

Check them out for yourselves, not only are they economical, but I am sure you can find more uses for them than I could think of.

Review It: "It's All About Him Finding The Love of My Life" by Denise Jackson

by Jessica

It's All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life, by Denise Jackson

I was lucky enough to review this amazing book. When I first heard about the book I thought it would be more an an autobiography of the singer. What I found was a book about love, determination, and strong faith. Faith in family, God and most importantly, faith in yourself.

The book chronicles the lives of Denise and Alan Jackson. From theie humble beginnings in Georgia to living the country music dream in Nashville. The road was not always paved with gold.  The couple hit many hurtles along the way. With each hurtle they faced Denise dug deep into herself, her faith and her love for her husband.

This book is well written and will pull the reader in even if they are not a country music fan. This book will touch its readers with the stories and the sheer determination to make your dreams a reality.

Things I love...

by Amy S.

Another "Things I Love" update - I love sharing these because they are things I run into in my every-day life that make it better, more fun and sometimes, even more productive. These two items are all about ME - and, believe it or not, downtime. Yes, I do occasionally listen to something other than Miley Cyrus. And yes, I occasionally read something other than Don't Let the Pidgeon Stay Up Late.

The Afters, "Never Going Back to Okay" album - I first found them thanks to an episode of "The Hills" (I know, I know) and their new album just came out. What do the kids call albums these days, anyway? With a sweet acoustic version of their own "Beautiful Love" and lots of other catchy and sappy melodies, they are family-friendly and talented.

The Secret Between Us, by Barbara Delinksy - Sometimes you need a quick, comfortable but intriguing read. This is one of those. Delinsky takes an intimate look at a mother/daughter relationship, an ex-husband/wife relationship, a sibling relationship and a father/daughter relationship with quick and smart prose. The additional twist of "the big secret" is hard to swallow at times, but the exploration of familial expectations is familiar and revealing at the same time.

Product Review: NEAT Receipts Scanner & Software

by Amy S.

NEAT Receipts Scanner & Software: Retails for about $229

The giveaway is over - thank you for entering! Congratulations to Amy and Megan - they each won a NEAT Receipts Scanner and software.

Since my husband is an accountant, tax season in our household means it's the "busy season." Tax season in most households means it's time to buckle down and figure out where those receipts went. Enter the handy NEAT Receipts scanner.

The NEAT Receipts scanner turns paper receipts, business cards and documents into digital spreadsheets. The scanner is particularly helpful during tax season because it is completely compatible with Turbo Tax, allowing you to export your deduction information right into the program. Information captured from your receipts can be formatted into Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook vCard or PDF format. When you’re finished entering receipts, NEAT Receipts will do summary reports by tax form then package them up for import into Turbo Tax.

The whole tax preparation process is simplified and streamlined—especially because the IRS accepts scanned images of receipts. And with all of your receipts accounted for, you can maximize your tax deductions. Also, once you scan your receipts, you can easily create spreadsheets to better manage your expenses and create permanent, electronic records of where your money is going. NEAT Receipts recently released version 3.0, which is updated with the 2007 IRS Tax Categories. Although the scanner is small and doesn't take paper larger than 8.5 by 14, it can certainly be used for other scanning purposes as well.

The company also makes a NEAT business card scanner that will allow you to scan business card contact info directly into contact lists, such as Outlook. The NEAT Receipts scanner/software retails for around $229 (I saw it for quite a bit less this weekend at Costco) and the NEAT business card scanner retails for around $200.