Do I have more weight than I did before children? Yes.  Are there areas I’d like to tone and firm? Absolutely.  But overall, I have enough confidence not to hide behind a cover-up.  It helps that a Lands’ End Swim Expert assisted in helping me find a swimsuit that fits!  My body’s proportions aren’t exactly to scale when it comes to tops and bottoms, so I chose a swimsuit from the brand’s SwimMates collection. The bikinis and camis offer true bra sizing for the appropriate fit and women can select from two types of coverage with regards to bottoms.  If you prefer a bit more coverage, Lands’ End offers skirts and shorts. The “4 Piece Bikini” offers a layered look and includes a bikini top, cami, bottoms, and skirt or shorts and everything was designed to swim in.  A proper fitting swimsuit with the amount of coverage a woman desires can make a huge difference in boosting a woman’s confidence about wearing a swimsuit, regardless of her shape and size.

National Swimsuit Confidence Week was initiated last year to help educate and inspire women to embrace their confidence and beauty for an enjoyable summer.  Spring is always deemed that unofficial season where women are to get in shape in preparation for swimsuit season.  While I believe fitness and health are vital to a woman’s beauty and confidence, I don’t think that she should have to hide or abstain from wearing a swimsuit simply because she’s still working on attaining her goals for fitness and beauty.  I am honored to be one of the 100 bloggers selected to proudly show off their swimsuit confidence!  Additionally, 21 writers from Curvy Girl and 20 breast cancer survivors from Beyond the Boobie Trap will be featured on the Lands’ End Facebook page in swimsuits.

Do you have swimsuit confidence?

No compensation was received for this post.  I was provided with a swimsuit from Lands’ End as part of my participation in this campaign.  

Late last year, I had the privilege of attending the 2012 Honda CR-V National Press Introduction, where I test drove the vehicle all over the mountains and freeways of San Diego.  Despite the fact that I found the newly redesigned Honda Odyssey to be spacious and luxurious, we can’t justify a minivan purchase with our smallish family of four.  And the reality is, we’re more of an SUV family, preferring it’s rugged, sporty appearance over the more family-friendly minivan.  Despite the fact that there are many reasons a family would opt for a minivan over an SUV, I’d like to share the top five reasons we think it’s an optimal vehicle for our family.

1. Outstanding Safety Profile:  As a mom to two small children, safety is the single most important factor I consider when researching a vehicle. Traditionally, SUV’s were considered to be at high risk for rollover incidents.  Contrary to this fact, the 2012 Honda CR-V was deemed a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and received overall scores of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  You can read the specifics regarding the vehicle’s safety features in my review.

2. Improved Fuel Efficiency:  For the past few months, I’ve not seen a significant drop in fuel prices. The reality is, I don’t know that relief is in sight.  It’s imperative that we find a vehicle that can achieve they type of fuel efficiency we see with our sedan.  Utilizing this handy comparison chart on FuelEconomy.gov, I learned that the 2012 Honda CR-V gets just 1 MPG less than our sedan and 6-8 MPG less than our SUV.  The new compact SUV is rated well with regards to fuel efficiency and has inherent systems and design elements in place to maximize efficiency.

3. Attractive Design and Abundant Standard Luxury Features:  Most people are initially attracted to a vehicle’s appearance.  The 2012 Honda CR-V is as sleek and stylish as it is rugged and sporty.  And with standard, inherent features like Pandora Internet radio, voice text messaging, Bluetooth, a standard USB port, and a rearview camera, we don’t have to feel compelled to upgrade to achieve a luxury vehicle.

4.  Roomy Interior Despite Compact Design: Should we ever decide to expand our family, I imagine we’d need a larger vehicle.  But for our current needs, this spacious, five-passenger vehicle can transport our family and all of the gear that go with us comfortably.

5.  Deemed Best Affordable Compact SUV For Families:  In an uncertain economy, purchasing a new vehicle is a weighty decision.  With a starting price of just $22,295, families can afford a luxury SUV at a price that is competitive and in many instances comparable to a luxury sedan.

For more information about the 2012 Honda CR-V, just visit their website.

No compensation was received for this post.  A vehicle loan for the purposes of a test drive was provided.

Even before the film was released, retailers across the country displayed the latest super hero-themed toys and my son had a talking Iron Man and a Captain America action figure.  His longstanding favorite super hero is Iron Man, and thanks to Disney, now he can dress the part!

If your kids enjoy dressing up, this Iron Man Mission Mask and Tri-power Repulsor are as authentic-looking as you can get.  Both the mask and the repulsor light up and produces sound effects, just like Iron Man’s gear in the film.  Additionally, the repulsor launches plastic missiles!

Before seeing the film, I had little knowledge of the super hero who created a powered suit of armor to protect the world. While I find The Hulk to be the most endearing, it’s Iron Man that tops my list when it comes to the cool factor.

Hasbro has an expansive selection of Marvel toys, many of which can be found at your local Walmart.

No compensation was received for this post. The above toys were provided by Disney, which helped facilitate this review.

For the past month, my husband and I committed to an oral care routine that includes twice daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing with Crest’s brand new Pro-Health Clinical Line which includes the Plaque Control Toothpaste, Rinse, Pro-Flex Toothbrush and Protection Floss.  According to the company, when all four products are used together, they significantly reduce plaque and help to keep it from coming back.

I used to think that the right toothbrush was the most important factor to consider, but I’ve realized that equal weight should be given to the type of toothpaste, floss, and rinse used.  I tend to be heavy on the hand when it comes to brushing, so a soft brush that doesn’t wear my gums down is vital. Oral-B’s Pro-Health Clinical Pro-Flex Toothbrush is soft, flexible, and gentle on the gums. It’s flexibility is unique in that it contours to the teeth and gums, removing hard-to-reach plaque.

I’m not overly particular about my toothpaste, so long as it’s minty and refreshing.  It’s also important that my teeth look and feel clean after brushing. The Crest Pro-Health Clinical Plaque Control Toothpaste protects against plaque while whitening teeth and freshening breath.

Floss is another product that I don’t necessarily pay much attention to. In fact, it wasn’t until I started testing out Oral-B and Crest’s new line that I actually started reading the packages of floss in stores and in my cabinet. Not only does the Oral-B Glide Pro-Health Clinical Protection Floss remove plaque and food particles in between teeth (which is what causes cavities), it actually works to help reduce gingivitis (takes approximately 2 weeks).

I’ve never really been committed to using a fluoride rinse, mostly because I don’t enjoy the burning sensation that often results from using certain brands.  And conventional mouthwash only freshens breath for a short amount of time which hardly justifies the time or expense. The new Crest Pro-Health Clinical Rinse is actually quite pleasant to use and it’s effective at killing the germs that cause bad breath.  I also appreciate the fact that it reduces and prevents plaque, and prevents/reverses gingivitis.

For more information on Crest and Oral-B’s new line, just visit their site. You can also read my tips on oral care from last month here.

 I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Crest and Oral-B and received product samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central Consulting sent me a promotional gift to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Periodically, Johnson & Johnson in partnership with Walmart, puts out a coupon booklet featuring some of their most popular products. These booklets are then mailed to English and Spanish speaking households across the country. This Spring, you’ll want to pay attention to the booklet because you might just recognize the five bloggers they featured and photographed using the products.

Photo Credit: Marck Jackson

I looked into my bathroom cabinet earlier this week and pulled out at least two tubes of Neosporin and two boxes of BAND-AIDS.  I also found several bottles of Listerine,  at least four Children’s Reach toothbrushes, and a few containers of floss under the sink.  To say that working with the company who manufactures these products was a great fit is an understatement. What better “spokesperson” than a real mom who uses said products each and every day with her family?

Photo Credit: Mark Jackson

One of BAND-AID’s newest innovations is their Quiltvent technology, which helps to keep wounds clean and dry by wicking away fluid.  Traditionally, we keep “owies” covered with a small amount of Neosporin until they begin to dry and heal.  We haven’t tried these out yet because neither of my children have gotten hurt in the past week, but I’m curious to see how different they are from traditional bandages.

This week, I headed to Walmart to shop for some of the products featured in the booklet including Neosporin, BAND-AID, Listerine, and Reach. A tube of Neosporin costs us When you visit each respective website, you’ll find coupons under the special offers tab.  Or, you can use the coupons in the mailer. : )  My complete shopping experience can be viewed here.

Photo Credit: Mark Jackson

The booklet will be sent out to Spanish-speaking households, and some of the photos we shot with Johnson and Johnson will be featured as well including this one with Zyrtec.

The booklet will be hitting a million households this week so look for it! And if you happen to see it, I’d love for you to drop us a note.

 DISCLOSURE: I am a member of the Collective Bias Social Fabric Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shipper insights study for Collective Bias. Thoughts are my own. #CBias #SocialFabric #SmartSavings

Most of the games we own can be placed in one of two categories:  Games for kids (typically featuring their favorite characters) and fitness games.  We recently added Kinect Rush: Disney Pixar Adventure to our collection and it seemed fitting to check it out, given the fact that I’ve just spent 3 days in San Francisco immersed in all things Pixar and Brave.

Photo Credit: Kinect Rush

Some of our family’s favorite Pixar films include Cars and  the Toy Story trilogy, so we were excited when we popped in the game and found ourselves immersed in new but familiar worlds from these  (and other ) Pixar films.  For the child (or adult) who wants more of films like Up, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and more, the game delivers.

Photo Credit: Kinect Rush

The adventure begins in Pixar Park where you decide which world you’d like to delve into.  There are puzzles, challenges, hidden secrets, and more that can be approached individually or cooperatively.  My son’s favorite adventure is driving in the Cars-themed world.

Photo Credit: Kinect Rush

One of the unique features of the game is KinectScan which scans your body and creates an avatar based on your unique features.  I didn’t have difficulty setting it up, however, my 4 1/2 year old son did. While we did eventually help him understand where he needed to stand and for how long, it took him several tries. Additionally, he still struggles with the controls (since he is the control) when playing any game that requires Kinect.  At times he’s frustrated but it’s fleeting and his desire to play superseded his frustration

Overall, the game is engaging with fantastic visuals and a mostly kid-friendly platform. As a  parent, I appreciate the fact that the game gets kids off the couch for an active experience.

Kinect Rush: Disney Pixar Adventure is available at Walmart for under $50.

Disclosure: I participate in the Walmart Moms program and am compensated for my time and honest opinions.

Up until my daughter was born, I had regular, annual vision examinations with my doctor.  Along with vision testing and a physical exam of my eyes, I was also screened regularly for glaucoma.  My vision never changed drastically, but my doctor always ensured that my prescription was up to date and adjusted it if necessary.  But something about having a second child really frazzled me and it took me two years to get my latest eye exam.  I’ve always prioritized our family’s health, but for some reason, I let vision health fall to the bottom of my to-do list.  In fact, neither of my children have been to an eye doctor and my husband’s last exam was during his teen years. Unfortunately, this isn’t uncommon, particularly among the Hispanic population.  With regular exams, an eye doctor can detect the beginnings of diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, and even diabetes.

For the next several weeks, I’ll be working with Transitions Optical, a company that specializes in adaptive lenses. Simply put, these lens can be worn inside and outdoors and will preserve vision health by protecting eyes from UV rays.

Since I was way overdue for an eye exam, the company arranged for me to see an eye doctor in my community.  It’s been about two years and I was highly impressed with how thorough the exam was.  It included a series of vision tests, eye examinations, and for the very first time, eye dilatation (which was actually not as uncomfortable as I anticipated).

After a relatively benign exam, the doctor talked to me a bit about the lenses and then I selected a frame. I haven’t really worn glasses much in the past several months because my prescription was outdated and I could no longer see clearly with my old glasses.  I was actually excited about getting something new that I could actually wear on those days when my eyes need a break from my contact lenses.

After trying on practically every frame available (I’m kind of Type A like that), I selected a smart, sophisticated frame in black by BCBG Max Azria. My previous frame was not only loose, it didn’t compliment my face well.  This frame is nicely suited for my face…not too small…not too large.  The doctor upgraded my lenses so that they were as thin as possible and added a coating that helps reduce glare. I had my glasses within a week!

I’ve been wearing the glasses for about a week now.  The very first thing I’ve noticed is that I can see…just as clearly as I can with my contact lenses.  The frame is lightweight and comfortable and I really like the way it looks and feels on my face.  The lenses are actually quite innovative.  Indoors and at night, the lenses are clear. When I step into direct sunlight, they darken…just as dark as my sunglasses. What’s innovative about the technology used is that the lenses adapt with every variation of light and it’s not really noticeable (apart from the fact that you don’t notice the glare from the sun).  The lenses block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays which means your eyes actually get better protection than a pair of regular sunglasses.  One of the most annoying things about wearing glasses is having to go outside in the sun and not having anything to protect against the sun’s rays and the glare.  I have never (and would never) attempt to clip an attachment onto glasses for sun protection so the only option I would even consider is adaptive lenses.

In the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing more information about what I learned about eye health.  If you have any questions, I’d love to read them and send them over to the company.

Transitions lenses are available in prescription and non-prescription options and can be ordered through an approved Vision Center.

This is part of a sponsored campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and Transitions Optical. I was provided with a complimentary eye exam and pair of eyeglasses to test for the purpose of this campaign, however, all opinions expressed are my own.

Photo Credit: jconejo

It’s become second nature, this oral care routine of mine, and one I’m trying to instill within my own children.  Every night, after dinner and story time, we head upstairs to get ready for bed.  Unlike many children, mine get excited about brushing their teeth.  They’re also incredibly independent so I struggle with ensuring they are brushing their teeth properly for the right amount of time.

From the time each of their first teeth emerged, I began slowly introducing the concept of proper oral care, and I attribute the early start to their positive reception of the concepts.  Each of them have been to the dentist twice in the last year, and we’ll continue to schedule their bi-annual visits to ensure they receive a thorough cleaning along with their check-up.

My husband and I appreciate the importance of proper, routine oral care particularly as it relates to overall health.  Conditions like cardiovascular disease have been linked to oral bacteria so the importance of daily oral care extends beyond just keeping teeth and gums healthy (Mayo Clinic).  In addition to twice daily brushing and flossing, my husband and I have incorporated a fluoride rinse into the routine.  Despite the fact that I work hard to brush my gums and teeth thoroughly, inevitably I will miss areas…areas where plaque can build up and interfere with my oral health. I love the way my teeth feel right after a cleaning and check-up and using an oral rinse like Crest’s Pro-Health Complete Rinse in between visits helps me feel like I’m doing something positive to maintain what was done at the dentist’s office.  The rinse helps rebuild teeth enamel, helps prevent cavities, kills the germs that cause bad breath, and cleans teeth and gums, resulting in fresher breath. I actually find it pleasant to use since it doesn’t burn like some rinses.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be participating in a test drive program with Crest and Oral-B.  Since I’ve already begun incorporating a rinse into my routine, I’m very interested to see how my next visit with the dentist goes and how much difference it will make in my overall check up.

Additionally, since the 2012 Olympic Games will be held in London, Crest and Oral-B are currently hosting a sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to see the games!  How cool is that? Just visit their website for your chance to win (they’re also giving away products each week).  The sweepstakes will end May 31st 2012.

I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Crest and Oral-B and received product samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central Consulting sent me a promotional gift to thank me for taking the time to participate.

While my husband is content with plain iced coffee, I am a frou frou coffee drinker.  I prefer iced blended drinks with chocolate and whipped cream.  If you’ve been to any popular coffee shop chain, you understand that these drinks can cost over $4.

This month, I decided to see how much money I could save by making my own iced coffee drinks at home using International Delight‘s new Iced Coffees which can be found in the refrigerator of your local grocery store.  Earlier this week when I was grocery shopping, I realized they were on sale for just $3.99.  I was planning on stocking up, however, there were only 2 cartons of the Mocha variety left.  Apparently I’m not the only one trying to save money on my coffee habit!

A few months back, Naomi from Superdumb Supervillain sent me all three flavors to try and I was hooked.  Not only is it super convenient not to have to brew, chill, flavor, and ice the coffee, it tastes delicious.  The company uses 100% Premium Arabica Coffee, available in Original, Mocha, and Vanilla flavors. I’ve tried all 3 flavors and the Mocha variety is my favorite.  Despite the fact that it can be enjoyed chilled, I do prefer it over ice as suggested.

In order to see how much money I’ll save this month, I’m going to exercise extreme self control and not frequent any of my local coffee shops.  Instead, every time I crave an iced coffee, I’ll just make it at home.  To track my savings, I have this neat little calculator on my sidebar. I figure that if I drink 4-5 iced coffee drinks a week at $4 each, the total would amount to around $16 to $20. In one month, that can really add up.  I could likely only spend that $4 on a carton of International Delight Iced Coffee for the week and put the rest towards something useful.  In one month, I’ll take what I’ve earned and buy myself something fun…like an outfit or a massage.

You can find out more information about International Delight by visiting the brand on Twitter and Facebook.

Do you drink iced coffee? If so, how do you treat yourself without breaking the bank?

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias

I’ve recently started using a few products from a brand new skin care line called Simple.  After learning that it is the UK’s number 1 skin care line, I had to try it (I absolutely love all things European!).  I was also drawn to the fact that the entire line of 13 products is free from dyes, artificial perfumes, and irritants, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin.

Since I don’t have a lot of time to devote to a rigid skin care regimen, I decided to pick out three products I felt would help me achieve my skin care needs.  First, I picked up the brands Day Cream, which also contains a bit of sunscreen (SPF 15 UVA/UVB sunscreens).  My skin tends to be quite dry, since we live in a desert-like climate, so a good moisturizer is very important.  I also make it a habit to wear sunscreen every day, regardless of the season, because California tends to have more sunshine than most states. Whenever I find a product that can meet more than one of my needs, I’m more apt to use it, which is the case with this particular Day Cream.  The other thing I like about the cream is that once I apply it, there is no oily residue.  The cream simply absorbs into my skin and I can apply my foundation.

The second product I picked up was Simple’s Smoothing Facial Scrub.  As I mentioned earlier, I don’t have a lot of time for complex regimens and cleansing my skin is crucial (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to sleep with makeup still in place).  This scrub cleanses and gently exfoliates, again helping me address to skin concerns with one product.  Whenever I have the time, I try to get a facial.  Each and every time I’ve been educated about the importance of exfoliating, particularly because I have dry skin.  Removing dry, dead skin cells is crucial, since skin cannot absorb product and reap it’s benefits if it is simply sitting on top of those cells.  This scrub is gentle yet effective without irritating my skin.

The last product I’ve been using is the Simple Eye Make-Up Remover.  Unlike most, this one is oil-free, which I appreciate.  My previous experiences with eye makeup removers is that they tend to leave an oily residue that isn’t easily washed off.  This product simply removes my eye makeup gently and effectively.  I’ve read that it also removes waterproof mascara but haven’t actually tried the product in that way yet.

With 13 products designed to moisturize and cleanse, Simple is idea for women with sensitive skin but can be used by anyone regardless of his/her skin type.  Simple is available at your local Walmart and none of the products retail for more than $10.  For more information, just visit the website.

 Disclosure: I participate in the Walmart Moms program and am compensated for my time and honest opinions.