Gorton's Seafood Giveaway

I'm thrilled to be highlighting Gorton's Seafood products on Moana Saves.  Not only are their products tasty, they're good for you (hello, omega-3s!) and a snap to prepare on busy weeknights.  My favorite Gorton's entries are the grilled ones like Salmon Lemon Butter Grilled Fillets.  Ono!

Right now, Gorton's is running a promotion on Facebook where

one thousand (1000) FREE grilled product coupons will be given out in four (4) drawings of two-hundred fifty coupons (250) on: January 10, 2011; January 17, 2011; January 24, 2011; January 31, 2011. One (1) Grand Prize: Xbox 360 Console with Kinect (Retail Value $300.00) to be drawn on January 31, 2011.  Click here or on the Gorton's "click here for more info" image to go to the Facebook contest and enter.

Gorton's is also offering 2 free product coupons to 5 lucky Moana Saves readers! To earn a mandatory entry, tell me which Gorton's recipe is your favorite. (Mandatory entry means that if you don't do this first, all of your other entries will be disqualified.) 

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do: 

1.  Go to http://www.gortons.com and sign up for a fun e-newsletter.

2. Like Gorton's on Facebook.

 
3. Like Moana Saves on Facebook. 

4..  Follow Gorton's on Twitter.

5.  Follow Moana Saves on Twitter. 

6. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win 1 of 5 Gorton's seafood prizes (2 free product certs) from @Gortonsseafood and @moanasaves #giveaway ends 1/31 http://bit.ly/hEDxud
 
7. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar). 

8. Become a Google Friend Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
 
9.  Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates.  

10. Grab the Moana Saves button and put it on your blog until the giveaway is over. 

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S.  This giveaway ends on Monday, 1/31/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  Five winners will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winners via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.  

Review of Roots Only, a Hair Color Applicator

I have to admit, I was completely excited when I knew a Roots Only applicator was on its way to me.  But the closer I got to actually having to use it, the more nervous I got.  I'd been getting my hair colored in a salon for the last four years and prior to that I'd been doing it at home (but not doing it very well).  Although using the Roots Only applicator would help me cut corners in our budget, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to to distribute the color evenly at the roots which would have me crawling back to my hairdressing to admit that I'd cheated on her.  Enter my mom who has been coloring her hair, well, longer than I have and who dropped into town to attend a funeral (who does that? yes, only my mother. and sometimes my father.).  Her roots were showing and so she happily agreed to be my Roots Only model.

The applicator with the hollow teeth in its comb allows you to put the color exactly where you want it--at the roots.  I kept my mom company as she used the Roots Only applicator with her hair color.  She was able to apply the color on her own except for one area at the back on the left side and it only took me a minute to apply the color for her.  Because of the applicator, there was little or no mess at the bathroom sink or on the floor.

Here is a photo of Mom on her way out the door with lovely hair and also an up-close-and-personal pic of her roots.  We were both excited that it was so easy to use the Roots Only applicator and that the results were so great.  Here are some more reasons to use a Roots Only applicator when coloring your hair:

• less damage to your hair overall because you’re targeting your roots
• the applicator will work on all different kinds of hair
• the applicator is reusable so it pays for itself and does not promote waste
• Roots Only is a woman owned business where all stages of manufacturing and distribution take place in the U.S.

To buy your own Roots Only hair color applicator, go here or you can buy it at your favorite online retailer like Amazon.

I did not receive compensation for this review nor did my mom.  I did receive a free product sample to facilitate this review.  Any and all opinions here are my own. Mahalo nui to my mom for helping me test the product!

A Moana Saves RAVE: Brilliant Lenses Cleaning Kit

Once in a while we come across a product that deserves another shout out. Thus, a Moana Saves RAVE.  As in, not just good, or great, but we really do want to rave about you!  And, this time, it’s Brilliant Lenses.

Like the last Rave I did, I'm choosing to highlight a product I reviewed on the blog and that we still continue to use on a regular basis.  The Brilliant Lenses Cleaning Kit is alcohol and ammonia free.  The spray cleans my cell phone touchscreen and Second Born's glasses so well that we get a little giddy about the clean.  We even took the kit in its pouch with us on our Christmas trip so we could stay squeaky (clean) on the road.  The website points out that Brilliant Lenses creates an "invisible durable barrier that resists scratches, soiling and water spots."  While I can't swear by this statement, I do know that Second Born's glasses and my phone's touchscreen are scratch/soil/waterspot free and we'll keep using Brilliant Lenses to keep things that way.

Winners Galore! (ok, only three)

And we have some winners!  In the last few days, three giveaways have ended and so I waited until today to randomly generate the winners! Congrats to all!

For the Peter Rabbit Organics giveaway, #56 was the lucky winner and that was jenmalonee!

For the Diva Cup giveaway which was part of our Sea Changes product guide, #162 was the lucky winner and that was Amanda!

And, lastly, for the Hoover FloorMate SpinScrub (I love this machine!) giveaway, #179 was the lucky winner and that was Sue!

Congrats to all of the winners and I've sent you all emails!

Ocean Premium Saline Nasal Spray Review and Giveaway

It's that time of year again when the holidays have come and gone, the ball has dropped in New York City, the air is crisp and chilled, and we're all fighting the same battle we fight every year. No, I'm not referring to the challenge of setting New Year's resolutions and actually sticking to them. I'm talking about the winter-time cold and flu season. Yes, believe it or not but Hawaii does have relatively chilly weather and as a result I've caught my first head cold of the season. This year, unlike previous years, I'm winning the sinus-discomfort battle thanks to Ocean and their handy little saline spray.

 
My history with head colds has always been that I catch a simple head cold and it quickly elevates to a terrible sinus infection, leaving me uncomfortable for weeks and eventually leading to the use of prescription medication to try to alleviate the infection. My personal opinion is that this product has actually helped my body to naturally decrease the duration and severity of my current head-cold. Coming from a non-scientific study, I can say that even though I was ill this week I was also much more comfortable and therefore a happier mom and wife.

Ocean Nasal Care's website links to a video on doctoroz.com describing the benefits of sinus irrigation, including:

• cleans mucus from your nose which can also help make nasally administered medications more effective
• reduces swelling
• increases airflow
• removes bacteria and viruses
• decreases production of proteins associated with inflammation

In the past my only experience with saline nasal sprays was with my infant children. The best part about this product is that it's safe for all ages!  As listed on Ocean's website: "Ocean for Kids® is non-medicated and provides its soothing effect through safe, natural ingredients. It is formulated with pharmaceutical quality isotonic saline, contains Glycerin as a moisturizing agent, and Phenylcarbinol and Benzalkonium Chloride as safe and widely used antimicrobial agents."  Translation: this product is drug free and you may use it as often as needed! My daughter has always struggled with respiratory illnesses and after using a sample of Ocean for Kids® she loved how it made her feel and each morning before she left for school she made sure to remind me to give her the drops. The only drawback I found with this product was that I have multiple children and to avoid cross-contaminating I'll need multiple bottles, one for each child. One idea I had was producing smaller bottles (eye-dropper size of 0.5 FL OZ) so that my medicine cabinet isn't cramped and to avoid waste of product.

The benefits of sinus irrigation are not limited to treating the common cold. You can also use it for general moisturizing during dry climates and cold temperatures and while spending time in enclosed spaces. Have you ever stepped off an airplane and your nose felt like the Sahara Desert? Do you use an oxygen treatment or CPAP machine for sleep apnea? What about allergies? This product can help! My husband tried Ocean's Complete Sinus Irrigation® system. The pollens here are very different from what we're used to and he's struggled the past 2 months with allergies and sinus discomfort. To quote my husband, he calls himself the "grin and bear it type" as a self-proclaimed avoider of over-the-counter drugs. Using the spray morning and night has helped to clear out his sinuses and add moisture to his otherwise dry and itchy nose.

Ocean's website lists stores that carry their saline nasal care products HERE. These products can also be purchased on Amazon in differing varieties including the basic Ocean Premium Saline Nasal Spray - 1.5 fl oz. I highly recommend adding this product to your arsenal as you battle the head-colds and sinus discomfort that will surely come your way.

WIN IT
One lucky Moana Saves reader will win his/her own kit of saline nasal care which includes Ocean Premium Saline Nasal Spray, Ocean's Complete Sinus Irrigation® system and Ocean for Kids.  To earn a mandatory entry, become a public follower of Moana Saves via Google Friend Connect in the sidebar. (Mandatory entry means that if you don't do this first, all of your other entries will be disqualified.) 

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do: 

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2.  Follow Moana Saves on Twitter. 
3. Follow OceanNasalCare on Twitter.
4. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win an Ocean saline nasal care kit from @OceanNasalCare and @moanasaves #giveaway ends 2/5 http://bit.ly/fon47e
5. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates.
6. Grab the Moana Saves button and put it on your blog until the giveaway is over.
7. Put Moana Saves on your blog list.
8. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page. 
9. Like the Ocean Nasal Care Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S.  This giveaway ends on Saturday, 2/5/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.  


I was not compensated for this post although I did receive a sample of the product to facilitate the review.  Any and all opinions here are mine.

Review and Giveaway of Two PediaCare Children's Products

Colds and coughs and fevers, OH MY! It just so happened (being the lucky gal that I am) that both my 7 and 3-year old got sick at the very same time. One had a very stuffy nose and sore throat and the other had a sneezing/runny nose and a horrible cough. Fortunately (here's the only "lucky" part), I was able to review this PediaCare two-pack in the nick of time. I gave PediaCare® Children's Fever Reducer Plus Multi-Symptom Cold With Acetaminophen to my 7-year old so I could "give the cold, the cold shoulder." I was going to give this to both ailing children, but this particular one is not for children under 4. It temporarily relieves:

1. Minor aches and pains
2. Cough
3. Headache
4. Sore throat
5. Sneezing and runny nose
6. Stuffy nose
7. Fever

Let me just tell you that my oldest DESPISES the taste of medicine, no matter the flavor, the smell, the appeal, whatever. She gags at the sight/smell even thought of it and always has. When she was a baby, she would upchuck all her stomach's contents if given medicine. Okay, that's a story for another time. 

Anyway, as I was pouring her medicine into the little measuring cup provided with the bottle of PediaCare, she starts doing a little dance (this ain't no happy dance) and whining about hating this stuff and not wanting to take it. After some *patient explaining* and *gentle coaxing*, she took it... one tiny grape-flavored sip at a time. And no upchucking... that's saying a lot already. That night she slept so well. The previous nights had been difficult for her with her stuffy nose and headache, but after taking PediaCare, she was good to go... to sleep. Getting a good night's rest thereafter (thanks to PediaCare) helped in speeding along her recovery.

My 3-year old was chomping at the bit to get this stuff in her belly. She is the opposite of my oldest when it comes to taking medicine. She "creates" coughs and sicknesses just to get some. Heaven help me. She woke up a few hours after going to sleep, complaining about her ear hurting. I was pretty sure she had an ear infection (yes, being a mommy DOES automatically give you an honorary medical degree, duh!). After trying to massage her and soothe her back to sleep, I thankfully remembered I had this PediaCare that she could take. I grabbed the cherry-flavored PediaCare® Children's Fever Reducer / Pain Reliever With Acetaminophen which can be given to toddlers as young as 2-3 (children under 2 need to ask a doctor). This temporarily relieves:

1. Fever
   
2. Minor aches and pains

Even though the sound of her shrill cries and tugging on her ear would suggest much more than minor aches and pains, I was hopeful that this would help her and I let her know that this would make it stop hurting. The second after she downed the medicine, she screams, "My ear's still hurting, it's not working!!!" If impatience had a picture, it'd be my 3-year old, no doubt. I told her she needed to wait a bit, so 10 seconds later, she yells the same thing. I'm wondering how fast 20 minutes will go by, because I've always thought that's the amount of time all medicine takes to kick in. While I try to calmly explain how this stuff is working in her body, she abruptly cuts me off with, "my ear feels better, it's working," and I kid you not, falls asleep INSTANTANEOUSLY! And, it had been less than 5 minutes. Are you kidding me? If it weren't the middle of the night, I might have just rushed to the store to buy 5 more bottles of this magic. Okay, so long review short (oops, too late for that), PediaCare is great! I'm so happy that I was able to help my girls sleep better, pain-free too. And, I was able to sleep too... wait, maybe THAT is why I was so happy :). BTW, doctor appointment the next day confirmed my diagnosis: ear infection. Perhaps I am in the wrong profession. Hahaha.

BUY IT
You can find both types of PediaCare mentioned above at your local retailer or you can order it online from www.amazon.com.You can also visit http://www.pediacare.com/ and click on "Products" to view other types of medicine, as well as information about dosage and directions & warnings.

WIN IT
One lucky Moana Saves reader will win her own bottles of PediaCare® Children's Fever Reducer Plus Multi-Symptom Cold With Acetaminophen and PediaCare® Children's Fever Reducer / Pain Reliever With Acetaminophenh to help little ones deal with fever and cold.  

To earn a mandatory entry, become a public follower of Moana Saves via Google Friend Connect in the sidebar. (Mandatory entry means that if you don't do this first, all of your other entries will be disqualified.) 

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do: 

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).
2.  Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.
3. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:
#Win a Pediacare children's fever reducer set from @moanasaves #giveaway ends 2/1 http://bit.ly/gUV0jD
4. Subscribe to the Moana Saves feed via RSS reader and/or email updates.
5. Grab the Moana Saves button and put it on your blog until the giveaway is over.
6. Put Moana Saves on your blog list.
7. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page. 

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S.  This giveaway ends on Tuesday, 2/1/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner.  

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive product samples to facilitate my review.  Any and all opinions here are my own.

Review and Giveaway of Lovable Labels

Few things are more fun than giving a child her own personalized item as a gift. How about personalized item(s) that keep personalizing?  Lovable Labels makes an assortment of label stickers and tags that parents can personalize for their kids.  The kids love the labels and the moms love how stuff returns with kids when the fab labels are on the stuff.  Its a win-win!

The Lovable Labels company was born when its owner, Laura Porreca, was sending her son to school and realized that there were few options for parents to easily label their kids’ school gear.  That was back in 2003 when necessity gave way to invention and now Porreca runs a thriving business with a flourishing product line.
Second Born loved the Girly Mega Pack that we were able to review.  The labels were adorable and girly (without being too girly--because that kind of thing is important to the tween set) and the pack contained (but was not limited to) slimline stickers for pencils, heel labels for shoes, and two metal tags.  These are labels that Second Born would be happy to put on all of her stuff . . . except (and this is the only issue I have with Lovable Labels Girly Mega Pack) that the labels are too cute!  She doesn't want to use them for fear of messing them up!  She did use the metal tags for her luggage when we traveled over the holidays and one has a place of honor on her backpack but I’m only just now convincing her to use the labels on her slippers, pencils, etc. 

What do I love about this Lovable Labels Girly Mega Pack?  Pretty much everything.  I was able to order a heart image to put next to Second Born’s name which is her ‘trademark’ shape due to her Valentine’s Day birthday.  Usually when a mega pack of anything comes to our house, I’m concerned about everything getting scattered all over the house.  Laura Porreca or whoever came up with the idea to collate all of the labels into a booklet, I could kiss you!  Besides the labels themselves, that’s my favorite part.  It screams, “made by a mom for another mom’s sanity.” Just sayin’.
Bottom line: these label packs would make great back-to-school gifts for the kid in your life.  And they work double duty--by looking so, so cute and by helping your child to keep track of her school supplies and her other stuff.  Use Lovable Labels to make a Sea Change this year in your ability to organize your child and/or your home.

BUY IT: You can check out the variety of Lovable Labels available here as well as order some for yourself or your favorite kid.

WIN IT: Lovable Labels is offering a Mega Pack to one lucky Moana Saves reader!  To earn a mandatory entry, go to Lovable Labels and come back here to tell us which of their products is your absolute fave.   (Mandatory entry means that if you don't do this first, all of your other entries will be disqualified.)

To earn an additional entry, do one (or all) of the following and leave a separate comment for each thing you do:

1. Become a Networked Blogs follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

2.  Follow Moana Saves on Twitter.

3. Tweet about this giveaway (limit one tweet per day) using the following:

#Win a Lovable Labels mega pack from @mylovablelabels and

@moanasaves #giveaway ends 1/29 http://bit.ly/ftRBVZ

4. Follow Lovable Labels on Twitter.

6. Become a Google Friend Connect follower of Moana Saves (in the sidebar).

7. Like the Lovable Labels Facebook page.

8. Like the Moana Saves Facebook page.

Only one person per email/household/IPaddress can enter this giveaway.  He/she must be 18+ years old and reside in the U.S. or Canada  This giveaway ends on Saturday, 1/29/11 at 11:59 PM HST (Hawaii Standard Time).  One winner will be chosen randomly via Random.org.  I will notify the winner via email and he/she must respond to claim the prize within 48 hours or I will draw another winner. 

I was not compensated for this post although I did receive a sample of the product via the Family Review Network and Lovable Labels to facilitate the review.  Any and all opinions here are mine.