During the session I learned so many great tips and facts about our dental health. For instance, tooth decay is the most common chronic disease affecting children in the U.S., and the surgeon general reports that 51 million school hours are missed each year because of dental-related illness! Caitlyn, who is now 11 years old, had several cavities right around her seventh birthday. Her teeth are so crowded that she developed several small cavities in between her teeth. Even now, I blame myself for her having to go through the fillings and time in the dentist chair getting all that fixed. Ever since that issue, I’ve been much more diligent about my kiddos’ dental regimen and we’ve been cavity free so far!

So, what is the LISTERINE and REACH Healthy Habits for A Lifetime Oral Care Challenge, you ask? To complete the challenge, you and your family just need to brush, floss and rinse every day, twice a day for three weeks. It’s that easy! Or is it? When I first decided to take part in this challenge, I thought I had a pretty good grasp on what our family’s dental regimen needed to be, but I was wrong! Even though I started taking our children to the dentist at a very young age (each child went by their third birthday), and we’ve managed to get a thumbs up at most of the kiddos’ dental checkups, there are some important things we have been doing wrong. First of all, we don’t make good use of the important dental rinses out there. Besides my husband, none of the rest of us rinse consistently. This is about to change. By adding a 30-second rinse, like LISTERINE Antiseptic or LISTERINE Smart Rinse for kids, you can get 24 hour protection from germs that cause plaque and gingivitis!

Here are some tips for creating healthy habits in your home, and some of the things our family will be doing as we tackle this challenge over the next few weeks:

• Reward healthy behavior. Using a chart and some good ‘ole fashioned bribery, I want to not only educate the kids about why we need to be consistent with healthy dental habits, but also reward them for the time they spend taking care of their teeth.
• Make it fun! Whether it’s singing a special song, creating a fun game, or using a timer (we use a Twooth Timer) add some fun to this everyday task.
• Do it together! During the oral care info session I attended, I learned one tip that makes perfect sense, but was something I never thought of before. Brush together as a family. One of the best ways to teach your children good habits is to model those habits. Make it a family event!
• Flouride is okay for little ones. This is something new I learned during the info session as well. Toothpastes with flouride are okay for little ones. It’s the amount of toothpaste that you use that matters. Starting with just a tiny bit (literally just touching the toothbrush to the tip of the toothpaste tube), then using a smear (smearing the toothpaste that’s at the end of the tube but not squeezing – at about age 2-3), and then graduating to actually squeezing just a bit on the toothbrush. That also brings me to the next point…
• Use children’s dental products for children. Don’t try to get your kids to use grownup toothbrushes, flossers, and toothpaste. Their are products specifically created for children, and these are what you kiddos should be using. Did you know that a child’s toothpaste has way less fluoride in it than an adult toothpaste? I didn’t either. It’s important to use the appropriate tools during your dental health regimen.

Listerine and Reach sent us a package full of important dental products to help make our challenge a success. We received a variety of rinses, toothbrushes, and floss.

In a few weeks, I’ll be posting again about how our challenge went, and what products we found to be most useful during the challenge. Finding oral care products that work for you is key in staying consistent with your healthy habits. We want to instill healthy habits that will last a lifetime! Find out more healthy habits tips and about various LISTERINE and REACH products by visiting www. walmart.com and www.ListerineKids.com.

So, what do you say? Will you and your family take the LISTERINE and REACH Healthy Habits for a Lifetime Oral Care Challenge with us?

** This post is part of a sponsored campaign opportunity provided by LISTERINE and REACH through The Motherhood. I only recommend products or services I can stand behind and believe will be good for my readers. The opinions I have expressed are my own. If you have any questions please refer to my Terms of Use.**

Strawberry Shortcake is back just in time for Spring and is so sweet you will need two helpings! Touching the hearts of children for decades, this wildly successful franchise is back with two more magical tales, Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Brick Road and Strawberry Shortcake: Bloomin’ Berry Garden, blossoming on DVD March 6 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

First, Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Brick Road follows Strawberry and her friends as they retell the classic “Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” When a cyclone blows Strawberry to the strange land of Oz, she runs into trouble with the Wicked Witch and must journey to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard how to find her way back home.

Next, Strawberry Shortcake: Bloomin’ Berry Garden shows that it’s time for garden growing fun with Strawberry and her friends as they prepare for the Spring Flower Festival! But when magical sparkles make the Berrykins grow tall and the girls shrink down small, they discover that even when they’re tiny, they can make a big difference.

Click on the image below to download and print a fun Strawberry Shortcake coloring page!

Be sure to follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Twitter @FoxHomeEnt!

Win It:

TWO lucky readers will each win Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Brick Road & Strawberry Shortcake: Bloomin’ Berry Garden on DVD! For your first required entry, leave a comment below answering this question – What film is Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Brick Road based on? All entries must be received by 11:59 PM EST on March 5th.

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** Thank you to Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment for providing the products for giveaway! I only recommend products or services I can stand behind and believe will be good for my readers. I was not required to post a positive review, nor was I paid for this review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. If you have any questions please refer to my Terms of Use.**

Jeremy and I love to snuggle up on the couch after the kiddos are in bed, and watch a grownup movie. Nothing too racy or crazy, but something that has some action or suspense, or both. A few weeks ago, we got the chance to check out the new movie starring Justin Timberlake from Twentieth Century Fox – In Time. This film is definitely a grownup movie, but it was clean enough that Jeremy and I really enjoyed it. It has plenty of action and adventure for the guys, and for the girls…. there’s Justin Timberlake. Need I say more?

In the future, time has become the ultimate currency and genetic alteration has allowed people to stop aging at 25 years old. Upon reaching 25, the countdown begins and in order to stay alive everyone must work to buy themselves more time or die within a year. The rich can buy their way out of the situation, while the rest are left to negotiate for immortality. When a struggling young man, Will Salas (Timberlake), comes in contact with a “millionaire,” he is gifted more time than he can imagine. Falseley accused of murder, Will is a fugitive on the run and becomes determined to bring down the entire system by any means possible.

Imagine a world where instead of money, you pay for your groceries, your house payment, and everything else using time. We’re talking minutes, seconds, hours. Your rent may be a monthly payment of ten days. That’s ten days of your life. When everyone hits the age of 25, they stop aging and the countdown begins. They are given a year to live unless they can add time to their clock. Their salary is paid in time as well. This film is far-fetched and futuristic, but extremely exciting. It follows one man who, after an unexpected gift, dares to defy the social classes forced upon the inhabitants of the world. He brazenly leaves the ghetto to unveil to the world the truth behind the flawed system. Filled with special effects and amazing stunts, as well as a captivating storyline, In Time makes a great date night movie!

Also starring Amanda Seyfried (Mama Mia!), In Time is available on Blu-ray and DVD (on Amazon for $17.99). The Blu-ray disc boasts a slew of bonus materials including an exclusive featurette “THE MINUTES” to discover the origins of the film’s time based society, deleted and extended scenes, and access to the enhanced IN TIME THE GAME APP. Be sure to follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Twitter @FoxHomeEnt!

** Thank you to Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment for providing the product for review! I only recommend products or services I can stand behind and believe will be good for my readers. I was not required to post a positive review, nor was I paid for this review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. If you have any questions please refer to my Terms of Use.**

The TRANSFORMERS saga starts a new chapter as old foes return, legendary heroes rise, and new ones are found in unlikely places. The new EMMY Award winning series TRANSFORMERS PRIME, A Hasbro Studios production, currently airs on The HUB television network in the U.S. and Teletoons in Canada, deepens the epic mythology of both the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS, while starting a new chapter for a new generation of fans.

In early 2011, loyal TRANSFORMERS fans, as well as families and kids, were introduced to this visually stunning five-part miniseries on The HUB. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Arcee, AUTOBOT Ratchet, Bulkhead, and many others are back to “roll out” against Megatron’s latest attempt to conquer Earth. And Megatron proves to be more powerful than ever, having acquired a rare element that allows him mastery over life itself. OPTIMUS PRIME and the AUTBOTS may be few against the Decepticon hordes, but they find increased strength through bonds forged with three human teenagers.

Check out these clips!

You all know that John David is a HUGE Transformers Prime fan, but actually so are the girls. And Jeremy and I may or may not have watched a few episodes without the kids because we like it too. As complex as the storyline is, the kids are able to follow along from episode to episode without getting too confused. We’ve all come to love Jack, Miko, and Raf, as well as their Transformers counterparts. Surprisingly, John David was really into the bonus content on this set. There’s a Season Two teaser, a ‘Making Of’ featurette, and a toy feature that John David has not quit talking about. The show features an all-star voice cast including Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, and Steve Blum. The writers of Transformers Prime are amazing!

Prior to getting our review copy of Transformers Prime Season One, we had several of our favorite episodes like ‘Shadowzone’, ‘Con Job’ (where we got to meet Optimus Prime’s old friend, Wheeljack), and the season one finale, ‘One Shall Rise Part 3′, saved on our DVR. Now we don’t have to watch them off the DVR anymore! The Limited-Edition 4-Disc Blu-ray Collection (featuring the 96-page IDW graphic novel) is available for pre-order exclusively on Amazon.com and ShoutFactoryStore.com. The Transformers Prime Season One DVD set is available for pre-order as well (only $20.99 on Amazon).

Win It:

One lucky reader will win Transformers Prime Season One 4-Disc DVD Set! For your first required entry, leave a comment below telling me who is the biggest Transformers fan at your house! All entries must be received by 11:59 PM EST on March 5th.

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** Thank you to Shout Factory for providing the products for review and giveaway! I only recommend products or services I can stand behind and believe will be good for my readers. I was not required to post a positive review, nor was I paid for this review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. If you have any questions please refer to my Terms of Use.**

Large, full-page illustrations grace the pages of There’s a Monster in My Lunchbox, and correlate well to the story, adding depth to the characters. I loved that this book is a large size, measuring about the same as a piece of printer paper. The story itself is fun and a great story for children with older siblings! There’s a Monster in My Lunchbox tells the story of a boy who keeps discovering treats and foods missing from his lunchbox. Convinced there is a monster in his lunchbox that eats his treats every night while he is sleeping, he hatches a plan to set a trap. Though no one believes him, he is certain he will catch the culprit, and he’s right, although the culprit is not who he envisioned it to be!

This story is fun, and full of life. My only complaint is that the rhyming verse is a bit jerky, and sometimes it was hard to find a good flow. I almost tend to think the story would have been even more enjoyable and easier to read if it hadn’t been written in rhyming verse, but rather in prose. I can’t wait to see what else Cannella comes up with, and I truly hope that she pursues publishing another book soon! Snag your own copy of There’s a Monster in My Lunchbox on Amazon for $17.67 (soft cover).

Win It:

TWO lucky readers will win a copy of There’s a Monster in My Lunchbox! For your first required entry, leave a comment below telling me is your child ever convinced there are monsters in the house? What do you do to calm their fears? All entries must be received by 11:59 PM EST on March 5th.

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** Thank you to Elizabeth Lange Cannella for providing the products for review and giveaway! I only recommend products or services I can stand behind and believe will be good for my readers. I was not required to post a positive review, nor was I paid for this review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. If you have any questions please refer to my Terms of Use.**

Valentines DVDs for Kids/Angelina Ballerina & Peanuts – Kelly S.

Pillsbury Ready to Bake! Shape Cookies Prize Pack – Patricia E.

G.I. Joe Series 2, Season 1 4-DVD Set – Vannicea B.

Celtic Woman Believe CD & DVD – Signed! – Corey O.

The Confessions of April Grace Book 2 – jennifer

Necktie Emporium Giveaway – Allison

Weight Watchers by Conair Bathroom Scale – Joanna P.

What to Expect Giveaway/All Three Books! – Trista Z.

~All winners have been contacted and has 48 hours to contact me!

Don’t forget to check out our other great giveaways!

UPDATE: I can’t believe I wrote this post and didn’t include the funniest part of the snow experience! Well, maybe it wasn’t that funny at the time, but now I can laugh about it. With all the kids out in the snow shortly after 7:00 AM, I decided to go snap some pictures while the snow was still there. I donned my coat, hat, boots, and scarf over top of my jammies. I was only going to be out there for a few minutes…. or so I thought. I grabbed the camera and went out the door. When I got out there, I realized John David wasn’t quite as bundled up as I wanted him to be and sent him inside to get his heavier coat. He came back around the house confused. “The door is locked.” “What?!”

After our nice neighbor offered to let Caitlyn use the phone and call Jeremy, we waited for him to come let us back in the house. Or at least I waited… in my jammies… in the snow…. with my camera hidden under my coat to keep it dry. The kids were too busy playing to care!

The weather here has been super crazy lately. We’ve had a very mild winter, which I have thoroughly enjoyed, but the kids have been a bit disappointed that we haven’t seen snow. After last winter’s unusual abundance of snow, the kids were expecting some this year. Well, they got their wish, albeit for just a little while anyway. On Sunday evening, the temperature dropped pretty quickly, and it started snowing. It snowed heavily for several hours, and in the morning, we had a yard full of snow! It wasn’t the pretty fluffy kind (more crunchy than fluffy), but the kids didn’t care and were up at 7:00 waiting to play in it. Normally, I probably would have made them wait at least until we had eaten breakfast, but with a warm day ahead, Jeremy and I knew the snow wouldn’t last but just a few hours.

It was about six inches, and just enough for the kiddos to sled down the slope in our front yard. Luke made me laugh. He just laid on his sled while our sweet Kylie pulled him around. He had a pile of snowballs on his sled with him, and kept telling me that they were hungry and needed water. By lunch most of the snow had turned into mus d puddles, and the sun was warm and high in the shy. This morning there are a few small spots of snow left, but the majority of it is gone. The crazy weather continues, though. We decided to plan a day to the zoo later this week. The weather forecast? 68 degrees and sunny on Thursday!

Luke was pretty tired after all the playing in the snow. He took a great nap!

Anybody else experiencing crazy winter weather?

A couple weeks ago, I told you about the new MapMyFitness Quaker Challenge. Quaker is asking individuals to add just 15 fitness activities into their routine over the course of 30 day. That’s only 15 workouts in 30 days! They are partnering with the MapMyFITNESS website, which makes it easy to join the challenge, find workout ideas, and keep track of your progress. Almost 4,500 people have joined the challenge, but there’s still time to participate. So hurry and join! It’s for your own good.

So, I’m sure you are wondering if I’ve been keeping up with the challenge. I know you secretly lay in bed at night and wonder what I’m doing. Just kidding, but I am happy to say that I have done pretty well. I haven’t done as good as I’d like on doing a variety of fitness activities. The weather hasn’t been great, so getting outside and being active has been a challenge. I did, however, spend an half an hour playing in the snow yesterday morning with the kiddos. I think that should definitely count!

Our weather has been a bit crazy here, and it’s supposed to be in the 60′s later this week, so we already have a trip to the zoo planned, which will be lots of walking and a great way to be active that day. Other than that, I’ve been working out almost daily on my elliptical machine, and have now graduated to over 20 minutes on the elliptical with no breaks! Believe me, this is huge for me! Plus, I’ve lost another 6 pounds, for a total weight loss of over 15 pounds now. It’s a start, and I’m at least on my way to my total weight loss goal.

More than losing the weight, I just want to be healthy, feel better, make better choices, and be a good example to my family. Join the MapMyFitness Quaker Challenge today, and start making those healthy choices for you and yours!

February is National Heart Health month. Even if it’s only 5 more minutes a day, what extra step will you take to stay fit?

For your chance to win $750 complete these two steps:

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Quaker Oats Company. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.

Sure enough, as soon as the sushi arrived, they started trying to get me to try some. I felt like I was back in grade school. “No, I’m not going to stick my tongue on the flag pole!” I was staying strong, and as long as they didn’t pull out the triple-dog-dare, I should be good, right? Wrong! I caved, but with one compromise – I would try one of the sushi wraps but nothing with actual raw fish in it. I think the one I tried had rice, seaweed, crab, and I’m not sure what else.

I really tried, but the moment I put it in my mouth I was trying to hold back the gags. It was a combination of the textures, the taste, and probably a bit of myself getting in the way. Mind over matter, right? I tried to at least swallow it, but I ended up spitting it into an empty napkin! I just wanted to be like all the other grownups!

Any sushi fans out there? Any sushi-phobics like me?

IT’S HERE! The Chiquita Moms Community is now live! Head on over to ChiquitaMoms.com and register (it’s FREE) to be a part of this brand-new community for moms, by moms. It’s a place to share ideas, support other moms in making healthy choices for them and their families, and get encouragement. There’s also great recipe ideas, craft ideas, activity ideas for kids, and tips on staying healthy and fit, with new posts being added every weekday. I am so excited about this new venture, and would love you to come and be a part of it!

If you are looking for creative ways to get your kiddos to eat healthy, swing on over and read my latest Chiquita Moms post – “Guess What My Kids Ate This Week…“

Come find out why they call my fellow Charter Chiquita Mom, Tricia, the Once a Month Mom – “Why They Call Me the Once A Month Mom“

Meet Natalie‘s fun and crazy 2 1/2 year old twins, Mia and Lila (so funny!) – “Help! My Girls Took Over My Computer and Wrote A Blog Post!“

Check out Vanessa‘s post on how she’s celebrating the big 3-0 – “30 Before 30“

And last, but certainly not least, you HAVE to read the story of what happened the first time I met my fellow Charter Chiquita Mom, Katie – “Nice to Meet You. I’ll Try Not to Fall Head Over Heels.“

So come on over to ChiquitaMoms.com and hang out with us!

** Being a Charter Chiquita Mom for ChiquitaMoms.com, of course, comes with some compensation, perks and benefits from the fine folks at Chiquita Brands. However, please note that all opinions expressed are my own. **