Tom's Toothpaste- A Mother and Daughter Review!

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Tom's of Maine.

Any parent knows it's tough to find a toothpaste your kids will agree to use. Beyond that, if you've looked at the average toothpaste's ingredient list lately, it's a little frightening, and consists mainly of things I've never heard of. So I was happy to let Punky review Natural Anti-Cavity Toothpaste for Children from Tom's of Maine, a more natural alternative to the tooth brushing experience.

Punky was excited about the Silly Strawberry flavor, although I have to admit that when she first saw the box, she thought strawberries were actually INSIDE the tube and was a little disappointed. She loved the taste, though, and had no problem putting it on her toothbrush all by herself. The toothpaste also comes in Outrageous Orange-Mango, if strawberries aren't your child's thing. And the flavoring is all natural- no sparkles or bubble gum flavor here. What mom won't love that?

What I like about Tom's of Maine Toothpaste is the company's transparency when it comes to ingredients- You can actually look up each ingredient in the toothpaste on the company's website and find out what it is and where it comes from. I also appreciate the fact that you can choose Tom's Toothpaste with or without fluoride. My television reporter husband has done more than a few stories about the effects fluoride can have if swallowed and for that reason, I didn't start Punky on fluoride toothpaste until I was absolutely certain that she wouldn't swallow it. Bruiser is still using the fluoride-free version of toothpaste because he tends to swallow everything!

As for Punky? Well, you can see what she thought of the toothpaste in this video...

Here's what Tom's of Maine has to say about its kids toothpaste:

Only one natural oral care company carries the ADA Seal of Acceptance for a children’s toothpaste, Tom’s of Maine Anticavity Children’s Silly Strawberry with Fluoride. And because we care as much as you do, we’ve never tested it on animals or added artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. It’s flavored with natural oils for a great strawberry taste they’ll love.

You can check out their official site for more information.

And there's more!

One lucky Suburban Turmoil reader will win a $100 Visa gift card!

To enter, leave me a comment below and tell how you get your kids to brush - or you may leave a link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. The contest will begin at 12/15/2009 and will end 1/15/2010. Make sure to leave your e-mail address in your comment so that I can contact you if you've won.

Rules:

• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
• You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
• Please see the official rules here.

Good luck!

The Great Viliv X70EX Giveaway!

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Intel.

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Intel.

The hot new gadget this holiday season is the Mobile Internet Device, like this Viliv X70EX, which I have been lucky enough to try out for myself over the last couple of weeks. Intel builds processors, or the "brains" of your PC. Now Intel has designed the Intel® Atom™ processor, which has been designed to be smaller and more power efficient, enabling you to get devices with full PC functionality that can fit into your purse or pocket.

Right out of the box, this device is impressive- The screen is only 7 inches, but the picture is crystal clear. Essentially, this computer runs much like your larger laptop or desktop- only instead of dealing with a bulky keyboard, you touch the screen to navigate. You can also access all of your favorite office applications or access your media library wherever you go. Need to type something up? No problem. With the click of a button, a keyboard appears on the lower half of the screen. Once you're done, you can easily fit this device in your purse- or even your back pocket! Don't sit on it, though!

When I received my Viliv, I took a few hours to charge it up and then figured out how to connect it to my Internet provider within a few minutes, without even reading the instructions. Set up is very easy and once you've connected to your wireless Internet system, you can be on the web in seconds- It powers up very, very quickly- in under five seconds, according to the manufacturer.

My favorite features of the Viliv- It supports HD video playback, integrated Wifi, Bluetooth, built-in GPS, and feedback like a smartphone. It has a webcam and microphone on it so that you can easily Skype with your friends if you'd like. It allows you to pre-assign up to 180 programs to "bubbles" on your screen so that you can easily switch between them. You can make videos with the Viliv and upload them to YouTube or even stream live video onto the web. You can also link directly to another PC with a USB cable and move files back and forth quickly.

For my family, this is the perfect device for road trips and business vacations. I can download movies from Netflix and take them with us. I can read a book from Amazon, just like it's a Kindle. I can use the GPS feature if we get lost. I can access the Internet from anywhere. It's been a lifesaver in boring situations like the car rider pick up line.

I also like having my Viliv in the kitchen, where I can quickly check e-mails or pull up a recipe from the Internet. About the only thing I wouldn't recommend doing on the Viliv is typing out a blog post if you can avoid it, although if you use an external keyboard/mouse, you're good to go. Alone, it is best used as an on-the-go device to type quick e-mails, watch video, take pictures or shoot video, talk with your friends, or find information/directions when you're out and about.

The Viliv X70EX is now available at Amazon.com for $599+.

But I get to give away a Viliv X70EX to one lucky Suburban Turmoil reader! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post telling me how you'd like to use a Viliv X70EX this holiday season.

Rules:

• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US-Residents, aged 18 and over
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
• Please see the official rules here: Official rules
  

For seven more chances to win, check out BlogHer.com's round up review page on the Viliv X70EX! I will pick a winner on December 30th using random.org!

Good luck!

The Estée Lauder BlogHer Event

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Estée Lauder.

Estée Lauder had an event for bloggers at BlogHer. And it was a great opportunity to try out the line of makeup for ourselves.

Makeovers were given to all who attended. Unfortunately, I was a dummy and went to the wrong Macy's in downtown Chicago before calling ANOTHER taxi to get to the right one, so I got there too late to get a makeover for myself. However, I have to say that everyone I saw at the party who'd gotten a makeover looked COMPLETELY SPECTACULAR. Renee, I'm talking to you in particular.

With so many Estée Lauder representatives fluttering around, talking about the Estée Lauder line, I felt like a superstar. Certainly, everyone was staring at us as if we were total VIPs, which of course, WE WERE.

I know a lot of you get the bulk of your makeup at drugstores and are a little intimidated by going to a department store counter for advice. Let me tell you, DON'T BE. Thanks to having a mom who loves to shop, I grew up going to the Estée Lauder counter for a makeover every time I had a special occasion like prom or an important party. I always bought an item or two (which I needed anyway) afterward, but I never really felt pressured to. And if you go, you will learn that people get the department store makeovers for special events ALL THE TIME.

As an adult, I've started going for department store makeovers now every six months or so just to figure out the newest trends in makeup. This is how I perfected my SMOKY EYE, people. So be sure and try this technique if you feel your look is getting a bit dated.

It is also a great idea if you have a young teenager who needs some good makeup advice. It's practically a coming-of-age ritual. I took my stepdaughters when they turned 13 as one of their birthday presents, and let them choose three makeup items. They felt special AND learned how to do their makeup and I never had to tell them they looked HORRIBLE right before they went out on a Friday night, because they had learned the ropes from a professional!

Anyway, I digress. Estée Lauder seriously is one of my favorite makeup counters, because I think it has a great balance between au naturale and glamour girl. If you're looking for that same kind of real girl je ne sais pas quois, definitely give their makeup a try.

The Proof is in the Compliments!

This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

I have always been an Estée Lauder girl. From the time I started wearing makeup, it was my favorite place to get a makeover. I loved that the Estée Lauder look was neither too light or too heavy, and at the time, Paulina Porizkova was the Estée Lauder model. Who could forget those ads? GORGEOUS.

So you know now why I jumped at the chance to review Estée Lauder's new Advanced Night Repair. The product information calls it a "high-performance anti-aging serum-inspired by groundbreaking DNA research," that "brings your skin a dramatic reduction in the visible signs of aging." It's said to repair past damage, prevent future damage, and deliver high levels of hydration.

That sounds great, but honestly, what I like about it is that it is simple and effective.

Essentially, all I have to do is massage two droppers full of the serum onto my face each night. It is non-greasy and it doesn't leave any residue on my face. I can follow it up with my regular moisturizer.

I like this system waaaay better than some of the other anti-aging night regimens I've used in the past. You know the ones I'm talking about- The fashionable thing these days seems to be to have four or five different bottles of stuff to go through before you can even get in bed. Well, I'm a mom and I don't have time for that. Thank God Estée Lauder figured that out!

After a week or two of using the serum, my skin was definitely softer. But the real evidence came yesterday, when I took the kids to a play center and a woman said, "You have the most beautiful complexion!"

Um, hello. Thank you, Advanced Night Repair!

Check out more information about Advanced Night Repair, which retails for $47.50, on Estee Lauder's official site. Also, Estée Lauder invites you to AMERICAS NIGHT TO REPAIR. On Thursday, July 23, 5-9PM, visit any Estée Lauder Counter and get a free 10-day supply of New Advanced Night Repair, no purchase necessary (while supplies last).

Be sure and check out what other BlogHer reviewers are saying about Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair at BlogHer.com.

And in the meantime, I'd love to hear about your favorite Estée Lauder products. What can't you live without? Leave a comment and let me know!