Real Kids Shades are saving YOU Money!

MamaBreak is excited to share a Real Kids Shades Promotion with you!

Real Kids Shades provides sunglasses for children from infant to teen sizes. Protecting your children's eyes is so important, and making sure the have quality sunglasses is a part of that process. Did you know that many sunglasses do not offer full protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays? Keep a pair of sunglasses in your little one's bag or backpack so they have them after school!

Right now, Real Kids Shade is offering two promotions.


  • First, they have a 20% off coupon code. CLICK HERE for their facebook page. Once you like them, you will receive your coupon code. 
  • As if that was not awesome enough, they want to help save you money as you head back to school. CLICK HERE to enter to win a $250 VISA GIFT CARD!!!
Thank you Real Kids Shades for keeping kids safe, and saving us money! We LOVE those kinds of MamaBreaks!

8/31 Daily Steals



I am loving Loft's new fall line. I can't wait to get into some of my old clothes!  Right now they have a section of their site for $35 and under.  Maybe you can find a good deal in your size!

One of my favorite programs is the Toys R Us Great Trade In.  Its actually going on NOW! You bring in an old (even expired) car seat, stroller, travel system, pack and play, swing, bouncer, or other baby item listed.  Then, you get 25% off a NEW baby item!  We have taken advantage of this deal in the past and really like that they recycle your old one for you!

AWESOME deal on movie tickets for our area!  2 Tickets for $15 on Eversave!



If you have never used Eversave, its EASY!  They are awesome deals for a limited time.  Once all the deals are bought, they are out!  (Make sure to read the details before buying!) What Summer block buster will you see!?  
Join through this link and you can get $5 in your account!

Brianna's Salad Dressing

Remember our post about the amazing salad dressing we tried HERE?

Well, I tried two more flavors and they were AMAZING!

Brianna's Salad Dressing is a company based out of Brenham, TX, but they are available in many supermarkets and stores across the nation. They have won many awards and have appeared in several magazines!

We tried the Cesar on a salad this time:

The Cesar dressing has a delicious Asiago Cheese, and it is the best Cesar dressing I have ever had!
We also tried the Saucy Ginger Mandarin. It had a very Asian taste to it, and was perfect on salad. We hope to try it on sushi soon!

My husband tried it as well, and said the taste was a good mix of both sweet and spicy.
We enjoyed reviewing Brianna's Salad Dressing, and will be buying more in the very near future!

For more information, you can check out their website: http://www.briannassaladdressing.com/

MamaBreak received Brianna's Salad Dressings for free to review here on MamaBreak. MamaBreak was not compensated in any other way for this review. As always, our experiences and opinions are our own. 



Newman's Own Organics Review and Giveaway


YUM!  This was a treat for preggo Steph here!  I was SUPER lucky to try all the products below.  Checkout how awesome Newman's Own Organics was to me!  Lucky for you, I have a sweet tooth!  See after my review that you can win my TOP FOUR FAVs!



Top Four (or maybe 5,6, or 7!) Review

#1 Favorite in our house was the Family Recipe Double Chocolate Chip cookies!  SUPER soft, delicious and a little crunchy.  Only issue: we needed more!  Seriously, hubby and I didn't even share with the little one.  We ate the whole bag within 24 hours.

#2 Was Mama Steph's fav--the Caramel Cups! Ooohh yeah!  Chocolaty with a yummy caramel gooey inside.  What's NOT to love?
#3 Newman-O's...enough said.  Chocolate cookies with a SUPER creamy filling.  Thick and delicious!  SUPER for kiddos.  Organic and natural ingredients. 



#4 Sour Cherry Licorice.  Not that sour, just a great tang covered in sugar.  SUPER addictive and a great alternative to...ahem...all the chocolate listed above!
Other notes about items in my first picture--my 3 year old LOVED the regular mints.  He asks for them constantly.  I liked the double chocolate Newman-o's too!  Pretzels were fresh and crunchy!  Great flavor.  The fruit was packaged SO well and was extremely soft and fresh.  Seriously, we LOVED so many of these products!

I received Newman's Own Organics products for review, but I did not receive any additional compensation.  These opinions are my own.

Enter to win some of these great items!  You win my FAVORITE FOUR!


Congrats to the winner!  Laura R!


Giveaway is over.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

BooginHead Sippi Grip Review

Last year, I was traveling with my youngest daughter and she has a stuffed pink elephant she was very attached to. As I ran through the airport trying to catch my next flight, with her in the stroller, I did not realize until I reached the gate that she had dropped her elephant. I went to collapse her stroller and she started screaming for her elephant. It was one of those mommy panic moments, and in the end, I had to get on the flight. We never did find her cute little pink elephant. I imagine that it is somewhere in a lost and found box in the O'Hare airport missing my little girl.

What I really needed was the BooginHead Sippi Grip. We have been using it for a while, and I can tell you that it has saved us so many lost sippi cups! We tend to lose a sippy cup, well it seems like once a week at least. It is frustrating and exhausting to continuously replace them! What a waste. This is our solution now:





The inside of the strap has a gripped surface, so it does not slip off of the sippi cup, toy, or other item you have attached to it:

The other side is velcro as well, so that you can attach it to the stroller, car seat, wagon, etc. 
I also use it in a non-BooginHead way. I attach the smaller side to my stuffed animal's leg in order to attach it. Although the surface is not grippy, I can make it small enough that it does not fall off:

The Sippi Grip can be used for a variety of things, not just a sippi cup. It is one of those items that you must have as a busy mom!

For more ideas of how to use the Sippi Grip and the rest of their amazing products, visit BooginHead at: http://www.booginhead.com/
Visit them on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BooginHead
Or follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BooginHead

Want your own Sippi Grip? Stay Tuned for a giveaway COMING SOON!

MamaBreak Received Sippi Grips to review here on MamaBreak. We did not receive any other compensation. As always, our experiences and opinions are our own!

How Switching to Coconut Oil Helped Me

A while back, someone suggested to me to make a switch from traditional oils, such as vegetable, to Coconut Oil. I made the switch back in the spring when I discovered I had a very large kidney stone which needed to be removed through surgery. Switching to coconut oil was one of the switches suggested in order to alleviate a lot of the kidney problems I had been encountering. I made a lot of changes, but I can say that since that time I have not had another kidney stone.

One of the amazing things about coconut oil is that you can use if for so much more than cooking and baking! You can use it for hair care and skin care as well.

When I was given the opportunity to review Tropical Traditions for MamaBreak, I was excited to share my own experiences with coconut oil with you! I tried out the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil (http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/virgin_coconut_oil.htm). I used it for general cooking and baking. It did leave a slight sweetness to my food, but the taste was not overpowering. It also did not leave my food weighed down and greasy.



From the Tropical Tradition website, the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is made from fresh coconuts with the highest levels of antioxidants. The coconut oil I sued previously did not taste as fresh in my food, and there was a definite difference in quality.

The company also sells many coconut products. Along with Coconut Oil specifically designed for you hair, they also sell items such as Coconut Water Vinegar, organic hair oil, and moisturizing cream.

I especially love the smell created when you cook with Coconut Oil. It has a very light coconut fragrance that reminds me of my time spent in Hawaii!

Here is a great video that explains more uses of Coconut Oil:


Want to learn more about Tropical Traditions?
Visit their website for recipes, facts about coconut products and more at: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/
Visit their facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TropicalTraditions
Or follow them at twitter: https://twitter.com/Troptraditions

MamaBreak received a sample of Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil. We did not receive any other type of compensation, and we were not required to post a review of the item. As always, our experiences and opinions are our own. 

Summer Infant Tub Recall

Mamas!!! Do you have this tub at home?

It has been recalled. Over 2 million Summer Infant bath tubs/ baby bathers! The full recall information (including product numbers) can be found here: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12262.html

8/30 Daily Steals

Holiday weekend quickly approaching!  If you are out shopping, make sure you take some coupons!

In-store 20% off anything at Staples!  Read coupon for more details.

SUPER cute purses at BagBlaze.com  We are working hard to review the purses and get our readers a purse through our giveaways!--stay tuned in!  For now, take advantage of their 20% off Purses through Labor Day on the site!  Deal ends September 3rd.

Apply to host a Kmart Larger than Life Halloween Party, October 5th!  House Party is a cool way to get FREE products and share them with your friends. Document your party and submit a review!

Register at Lowes for a FREE Firetruck on Saturday, September 22 at the Lowe's Build & Grow workshop!

8/29: Daily Steals

Wahoo! It is my birthday! It is my birthday!

In honor of my (Mama Jo) birthday, I thought I would do a birthday round up of the lists you should belong to in order to get REAL birthday treats.

  • www.magazines.com  May be one of the best kept little secrets around. I receive 5-10 "gift cards" a year in the mail, including one on my birthday. These can be used at the website OR redeemed for CASH (they will send you a check). I received and redeemed my $5 today!
  • Disney Movie Rewards (remember the post about them from Sunday-- HERE). Well, if your birthday is listed, they will send you 100 bonus points on your birthday!
  • If you sign up for a Sears.com account, make sure to put your birthday. They will send you a $10 off $30 coupon!
  • This year Sephora will give you a birthday bonus of 2 free lip glosses if you are a beauty insider! You can easily redeem these in store, or add to an online order. Just make sure your birthday is updated in your account! Sign up HERE!
  • Soccer.com This site will regularly send you our $10 gift cards. Occasionally, they will send a survey offer as well (for $10 to spend on the site). The gift card can be used on shipping. These send them at about 4-5 per year.  Sign up for their email subscriptions HERE!

8/28 Daily Steals

I just LOVE free photos!  Walgreens has a new Facebook App.  Download the app from Walgreens site here.  When you print the photos, the comments and likes from Facebook show up, too!  Everyone gets 5 free (in store pickup) with code FREEWORTHY.  We would love to hear if you did this, and if you liked it!

Shutterfly has a ONE DAY ONLY free Magnet!  Enter code STUCKONYOU.  These are great gifts for grandparents and relatives!  *(Pay $3.99 shipping + applicable tax)

Tomorrow, a GREAT deal from Cardstore.com too! Come back tomorrow to check it out!

Boogie Wipes Giveaway



You read about them HERE. Now get your own packages of Boogie Wipes!

The winner will receive 2 packages of 30 wipes (scent may vary).

Open to US, Canada AND Australia!





Giveaway is over.

Boogie Wipes are a MUST for Cold and Flu Season and Back to School!

I got a sample of Boogie Wipes a couple of years ago, and have been wanting to review them ever since! I have a 5 year old who has a perpetually runny nose, and it only gets worse in the winter! I hate wiping his face with a Kleenex because his little nose is so sore, and it does not really come clean.

I love the wipes because they clean very effectively, but are not harsh on my kids' skin! They allow me to get their faces clean without leaving behind a mess. I carry them with in my purse for all those "just in case" moments!

Boogie Wipes are made with natural saline and have a nice smell to them. I have replaced my in-purse Kleenexes with Boogie Wipes!

The come in a variety of packaging and scents for a variety of nose needs!

We love that they are available at many retail stores in large varieties such as Target and Walmart!
Check out Boogie Wipes on their website: http://www.boogiewipes.com/
You can also find them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boogiefans
And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoogieMom
The also have a fantastic contest happening on their website for $500, a year supply of Boogie Wipes, and other prizes for your child's school! https://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/265697


MamaBreak received Boogie Wipes products so that we could adequately review it here on the site. We did not receive any other kind of compensation. As always, our experiences and opinions are our own. 

The MoneySmart Family System Review

We are always looking for ways to make more money "sense" in our family. I am an extremely frugal person, and want to pass this on to my children. I want them to know the value of money, and how important saving is.

I was thrilled to have the chance to review The Money Smart Family System by Steve & Annette Economides. It thought the system was a compeltely different approach than what we were doing (which was NOT working for us), and we tried it out.

The idea behind The Money Smart Family System is that the family has a "Time Sheet"for the kids, and have tasks during the entire day. If they complete the tasks, they earn "points" which add up to money. For example, each day they have morning, school, chores, and round up. If the child completes all of the tasks, they earn 4 points for that day. Morning items might include finishing breakfast and getting ready on their own. Round up is finishing up all of the tasks still left to do in the day. The system is really customizable to your own family (which we loved) and the tasks can be adjusted according to a child's age. They also have sections with suggestions based on age!

We were just giving an allowance to my daughter based on 1 task in the week: The living room needed to be cleaned. This NEVER worked because she would leave it until the last minute and then it would not get done really well. I like the idea of a daily time sheet because it keeps everyone on task every day. We also loved how it allowed our 5 year old to get involved. We had just been giving him an allowance, but we were able to incorporate him finishing meals, cleaning up, etc as a part of his "points."

The children responded well to this system, and we have copied several time sheets so that they can fill them out. We have the time sheet on our fridge, and we sign off on it every day.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Copy Kids Review

Mama Jo says:

My children HATE vegetables. My oldest has always been an adventurous eater, and will try almost anything. But my 5 year old think the three meals of the day are waffles, corn dogs, and chicken nuggets. My 2 year old is also a picky eater at times, and neither liked vegetables.

That is why I think Copy Kids is such a great idea. Copy Kids is a video that shows children eating fruits and vegetables in a fun environment. The idea is, if kids see other kids loving vegetables, then they will want to try them as well.

Thus far, my son has not asked for more fruit or vegetables, but I am hoping with more time he will see them as a delicious snack and not a punishment.

The video is very fun, and my children enjoyed watching it. It held the attention of my youngest two children, and they really enjoyed watching it. We have watched it a few times since receiving it, and I think over time it will really help them to have a love to all types of food! I hope they come out with a series of videos that introduce kids to even more variety in food!

Mama Steph says:

My little man LOVES vegetables, but does not care for fruit. We watched the video together so we could talk about how food helps us grow big and strong.  Healthy eating was echoed at his pre-school this week as well as in Sunday school!  I loved how it was NOT just mama telling him these facts about food.

Copy Kids is a great video and was fun to watch my guy learn from it.  He sat engaged and asking questions about colors, kids and food. I don't think mamas could ask for much more!  While my guy hasn't jumped into eating a lot more fruit, we are making a little progress.  He at least SAMPLES one bite of fruit at each family dinner.  Maybe a few more Copy Kid views and he will ASK for some :)

Copy Kids has received many awards including Dr. Toy's Top 10 of 2011.

Copy Kids can be found online at: http://copy-kids.com/
They are also on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/CopyKids
And on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/CopyKids

MamaBreak received Copy Kids a copy of the DVD to review here on MamaBreak. No other compensation was received. As always, our opinions and experiences are our own. 

Leap Frog Touch Magic Party

Our LeapFrog Rock'n Learn Party was a blast!

The kiddos were able to play with two Touch Magic Rockin Guitars and a Touch Magic Learning Bus.  My preschool guy LOVED both toys and it was hard to share them!  We loved the "Taking Turns" game that LeapFrog shared with us!

We were able to play games, work on color pages and sing the ABCs together.  Other than that, the kids just went to town on playing and sharing.  We played inside and outside (with bubbles!), had snacks and enjoyed lots of music the kids played!




Overall, we really enjoyed how easy and simple these toys were for kids to learn. (Mom did have to read the instructions!) No actual KEYS, all the buttons are similar to "touch screen" technology. The equipment knows you are pushing the buttons in that certain area and the tops of these toys are SMOOTH!

Plus, the product is SUPER light weight and easy to take on trips or in the car. We really love it!  Check back soon, I'll have a video for you to Rock Out with my little guy!



*I received LeapFrog products in order to host the LeapFrog sponosred Rock'n Learn Party.  The opinions expressed here are my own.

8/27: Daily Steals

 We just LOVE these free cards!
FREE Grandparents Day Cards + FREE Shipping at Cardstore.com! Use Code: CCK2248 at checkout, Valid 8/23 thru 8/26. Shop Now!


I received my ThredUp (gently used kids clothes!) in the mail today!  If you haven't used a $10 credit, YOU SHOULD--today!  My shirt was $0.15--and my guy LOVED it.  Navy blue, spiderman polo for school!  http://www.thredup.com/465823

Did you get your Sunday paper with coupons this weekend?!  There are regional coupons for a FREE FlameDisk in this Sunday's Smart Source coupon insert.  If you got one, USE IT!  No purchase necessary!  Great for a charcoal grill!

Aroma Rice Cooker and Food Steam Review

When Aroma and I first started discussing a review, I really did not know what to expect from a rice cooker AND food steamer. Then the Aroma rep told me that it also worked as a slow cooker. I was really skeptical. One device that does ALL that?

And it does! It really does! I am so in loved with this thing, you would not even believe it. We have been using it almost every night, but tonight we decided to try a recipe from Aroma.

The Recipe is:

Green Chile and Chicken Rice

Just throw in the ingredients and your rice cooker will take care of the rest.
Prep: 5 min. Total: 30 min. Yield: Serves 4.
1 1/2 cups medium-grain rice, such as Calrose
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons dried minced onion
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 10-ounce chicken breast chunks with liquid
1 4-ounce can diced green chiles with liquid
Place all ingredients in the inner pot and stir. Place inner pot into the rice cooker, cover and press the Steam/Cook button. Allow to cook until rice cooker switches to Keep-Warm mode. Add salt to taste. Stir and serve immediately as a main course.
This recipe came from the Aroma website HERE


We used ingredients on hand and used regular white rice instead of medium-grain rice. We also used table salt to replace the kosher sale.

We were so excited to share the Aroma Rice Cooker and Food Steamer that we even made our first Video Blog!


The Aroma Rice Cooker and Food Steamer can is digital and has a setting for White Rice, Brown rice, Slow Cook, and Delay Time. It is AMAZING!



I love having just one device because my kitchen is so small without a lot of counter space. This device takes the place of so many other items, and the entire family loves it!



You can find the device and all of the techincal details on their website HERE.
For more information about Aroma visit their website at http://www.aroma-housewares.com/
Like their facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/AromaHousewares
And follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AromaHousewares


MamaBreak received the rice cooker so that we could adequately review it here on the site. We did not receive any other kind of compensation. As always, our experiences and opinions are our own. 

8/26: Steals of the Day, Sunday Site Day!

It's Sunday mamas! That means another edition of the websites you should know about! This is one of my favorite times of the week. Remember, I am only sending you to sites that I, or others that I know personally, have had success with!


  • MomSelect: Mom select allows you to throw "parties" to launch a product. They are usually very generous gift packages. The last one I received was the Creativity for Kids, which you can see HERE. I am also expecting a reading one that I will be posting soon. The offers vary. In August I had 2 parties, but prior to that I had not had one in a few months. When you do get in, they are FABULOUS!
    Go to: http://www.momselect.com/ to register. You can register as a blogger mom, or a non-blogger mom. 
  • RecycleBank: Recycle Bank gives you "points" for doing various activities. You can earn points for answering quick surveys, playing games, or performing recycling activities. You can turn in these points for a variety of things such as magazines, coupons, and sometimes even gift cards. There are many opportunities to earn free points. Like right now, if you are signed in, click HERE and click on the 5 lockers on the northeast for 50 points! I have received many prizes over the years and it is really simple to accumulate them!
    Go to: https://www.recyclebank.com/join/earnpoints  to start now!
  • Disney Movie Rewards: If you have kids, you probably have purchased a Disney movie. Have you seen codes in those videos? Well, you can enter those codes to get things like videos, Disney merchandise, and occasionally gift cards. You can also enter into sweepstakes! The truly "magical" part. You actually do not need to purchase videos to earn rewards. I have only purchased 3-4 videos in the past couple of years. There are codes available online that you can enter, and they add up quick. A few times a year, they have "specials" and you can get a surprise video for a very low amount of points. Then you can take your code from the video you earned and enter it online. You can also enter codes from a Disney movie that you go to see in a theater. It is an amazing program, and I have received many things from it!
    Go to: http://www.disneymovierewards.go.com/ to start now!
  • My Coke Rewards: You have probably seen us post a few My Coke Rewards points over the past few weeks. We are not a big Coke-drinking family, but I participate and it often means free items, and free soda. I do enter the few codes that I happen to have. I also enter free codes that they offer. They add up fast. They also send special items from time to time. Last week I received a free soda (I had to click into my account to redeem it-- it was sent via email). It is a great program!
    Go to: http://www.mycokerewards.com/ to join. 
  • Pamper Gifts to Grow: This is a great program, even if you do not have a kid in diapers. Pampers have codes on all of their diapers and wipes that you can enter to earn free items. What is wonderful is that there are also many free codes throughout the year that you can enter. These free codes add up fast, and you can redeem for things like books, toys, and Shutterfly credits!
    Go to: https://en.giftstogrow.pampers.com/ to register.
And those are our five sites for this week! We will be back next Sunday with 5 more . . . because there are so many to share! Have a great break today mamas!

Top 5 Places . . . Oahu

This is the first of many in a series about the top 5 places you need to visit when you go to a location. Mama Steph and I (Mama Jo) are both travelers and we have both been all over the country . . . and all over the world (although we both prefer Paris!).

We are going to bring you the top 5 places we like about a certain location. Please keep in mind that neither of us is a travel agent or a professional chef, restaurant critic, etc. We also both have children and all of those factors influence our responses. These are just the top 5 places of MamaBreak.

This week, we are focusing on Oahu. 

Mama Jo recently visited Oahu, and wanted to share the "not to miss" spots while she was there. Without further ado . . . the Top 5 Places in Oahu are: 

1. Hanauma Bay.
I chose Hanauma Bay because I have never experienced anything like it before. If you have never been snorkeling, this is the place for you. Live coral, thousands of fish, in a beautiful cove. It is simply beyond words amazing. We saw many, many schools of fish of different varieties. It makes it my #1 not to miss place!

Tips: You can rent your snorkeling gear there, but purchasing your own is a good idea if you plan to go snorkeling again. You should sign up on the list after the video, because you will most likely WANT to go back! I could not get the hang of the flippers on my feet, so I took them off. If you have the same experience, make sure you have water shoes you can wear instead!

 

2. The North Shore.
If you are a surfer, this is your paradise! If you love food and fresh markets, this is YOUR paradise. Drive along the North Shore and stop at small stands where people are selling their fresh fruits, vegetables, and even shrimp! In my opinion, this is the BEST eating in Oahu! The view is also amazing, and you can find many public beaches that are not overrun with tourists.



Tips: On your way to the North Shore, Take H2 through the island. Stop at the Dole Plantation, which is essentially a tourist trap, but is worth the stop for the BEST pineapple soft serve you will ever have! Also, bring plenty of cash to the North Shore, because many of the small stands only take cash.
 

3. Waimea Valley Audubon Center.

This is like a little hidden gem of a location. It has a tropical rain forest feel, and features plants and flowers from all over the world. It also features local (Hawaiian) plants and flowers. They have learning areas where they showcase different Hawaiian culture, and many places set up for you to experience by yourself. The best part is, at the end of the hike, is a beautiful waterfall that you can swim into.


Tips: There are three things you should bring on this excursion. First, bug spray (you may need it). You will also want good walking shoes. The walk is not extreme, but you will be on your feet for a while. Last, but not least, wear a suit under your clothes so you can swim. You will most likely not need a towel because the natural warmth of the Hawaiian air will dry you off in no time!
 

4. Pearl Harbor. If you are on Oahu, this is one place you simply cannot miss. I am not a hisotry buff, and generally do not enjoy historical types of monuments. However, I was overwhelmed with emotion with just being there. The Arizona Memorial is sutnning, the story is moving, and it is one place you will want to visit. There are several places to visit at Pearl Harbor, but the U.S.S. Arizona is probably the most popular.



Tips: If you do visit, be aware that you need to go to Pearl Harbor and purchase your tickets for a time that day. It is best to go in the early morning to have your choice of times. They open at 8 a.m. every day. You cannot being purses, backpacks, or bags into the monument areas, so be prepared with pockets!
 

5. Aloha Stadium Swap Meet.
Yep. I went to Oahu and visited the swap meet. It is hands down the best place for souvenirs. They have amazing local vendor food (think coconut with a straw in it), and they also feature a garage sale! Some items are hand-crafted with the artisans making them live on site. It is a neat experience, and a great way to bring Oahu home with you without breaking the bank!




(Sorry no picture of the swap meet!)

Tips: Walk around the entire swap meet first if you have the energy. That way you can see what is available before you purchase anything (and can find the best price). Bring WATER. You are going to be walking a lot and it will be hot! I also would bring an umbrella or parasol to stay out of the hot sun at least a little.
There are a few honorable mentions for Oahu as well.
  • We went to Diamondhead, but did not see the view because of my asthma (acted up, did not have my inhaler with). I have heard it is a must see. 
  • If you are in the physical shape to take a hike that is worth the walk, you MUST do Koko Head!
  • If you are a Lost fan, Mokuleia Beach is what you are looking for (and a MUST in my book!). 
  • Ka' Ena point is also supposed to be amazing! 
  • We went to the Paradise Cove Luau, and we feel this is also a MUST see! 
So, that is our Oahu list. This is based on our limited vacation time in Oahu, so your experiences in Oahu may be completely different! That is the wonderful thing about traveling! You can visit the same place again and again and always have a new adventure!

Special thanks to our Hawaii family: Andrew, Caitlan, Holli, Joe, Collin, Chad, and Chelsea-- much love! 

Holiday Gift Guide

Looking for the perfect gift? Look no further than the Holiday Gift Guide! We have a gift for EVERYONE on your list!!! Just click below for the person you are buying for!!

When you see this logo on a review
It means it is a Holiday Gift Guide Item!

Want to appear on MamaBreak's Holiday Wish List?
Email the mamas at: 2mamas@mamabreak.com


Drink Chia Giveaway!

You read about our amazing experience with Drink Chia here:
And now it is your chance to experience it for yourself!

You could win a CASE of assorted flavors of Drink Chia of your own PLUS a Drink Chia T-shirt!

What are you waiting for? Enter now!

Giveaway is over

Grab a Scab Giveaway!!!

We are so excited to kick off our 2 giveaways a week, and we could not have partnered with a better company to do it with than Grab a Scab. They are adorable, functional, AND mom-owned (and we love Mama businesses!).

The winner will get to choose 3 Grab a Scabs of their own!


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway is over.

Thred Up Review and Link for FREE Clothes!!!!

 A new company . . . a new site . . . I am SO in love!

A couple of years ago I was introduced to Thred Up. I never used the site because the idea was about swapping clothes with other people. There were MANY dissatisfied customers, and I did not want to risk it. ALL OF THAT HAS CHANGED!!!!

First, the site is completely different and rather than end up with a random box, you choose EXACTLY what you want. The amazing thing is, they have gone through all of the clothing and have searched them for rips, stains, etc. The clothing selection is HUGE!!!

I purchased a dress, pair of jeans, and 2 pairs of pants for my kids. All for $20!!!! AMAZING price! They all arrived, and you HAVE to see this box!




CUTENESS! I love it!

The clothes inside were impeccable! Not a stain, rip, nothing. They looked LIKE NEW.


 I got a Bonnie Jean dress:


KidZone Jeans:



Circo Pants and BoyzWear Pants:




You can SELL back your clothing to them too to earn credit. For $4.95 they will send you a HUGE bag with postage paid. You send it back FILLED. They refund your $4.95 and you get credit for your clothing.

As if all of that is not amazing enough, you can get a $10 credit RIGHT NOW towards your first order by clicking through THIS LINK. The shipping is $6.05, so if you only want to try them out, add $3.05 or less to your cart, and it will be FREE!!! FREE KIDS CLOTHES -- we LOVE FREE!!!!!!

I received a credit to shop at Thred.com so that I would be able to write this review. MamaBreak did not receive any other type of compensation for this review, and our experience and opinions are our own!

Breast Pumps covered by Insurance!?

Friends, I am writing to help you discern if your insurance company is going to help you with coverage on a breast pump!

At this point in time, I have spent nearly THREE hours on the phone educating MY insurance company on this new law.  I HOPE and pray you have better luck than I have had.

Either way as of August 1, 2012, through the Affordable Health care Act, breast pumps and lactation services are SUPPOSE to be covered by your insurance.  While I don't intend to start a conversation on if this is good or bad for our system, I am sharing this resource of information with you as a mom.  It is my hope that you are able to use this resource to your advantage.

Checkout this chart on the Health Resources and Service Administration website.  It details that in addition to breast pumps and lactation services, other preventative services will now be provided.

Use this article and some others linked below to support your conversations with your insurance company.  At this point in time, I am filing an appeal to my insurance company with THESE exact articles sited.  HAPPY PUMPING!~

http://plannedresilience.net/obama-care-covers-breast-pumps/

http://thanksobamacare.org/index.php?id=10

http://www.firedupmissouri.com/category/tags/obamacare


 *My insurance company previously provided reimbursement for ONE MANUAL breast pump per year.  They believe this is still adequate under the new law. I disagree--when I go back to work and request breaks for pumping, with a manual (non electric) pump, I have to pump each side for 30 minutes.  Say I pump 4 times in a 9.5/10 hour day.  That is 4 HOURS of time pumping!  This is a ridiculous request that my insurance company is asking--that I ONLY use a (cheap) manual pump.  I will keep you updated on the status of my appeal!

8/24: Steals of the Day-- FREEBIE FRIDAY!

  • Free shampoo and conditioner sample: CLICK HERE
  • If you sign up for Finish Line's Winner's Circle, they will send you a packet of coupons for items like free shirts, free socks, free shoelaces, etc. I already received mine! CLICK HERE
  • Free 1 year subscription to Working Mother from Value Mags: CLICK HERE
  • FREE kids clothes! Order something for less than $3.05 to cover the $6.95 in shipping, and your first order will be FREE from Thred UP!  http://www.thredup.com/465823
  • You know all of those free cards we post? There's an App for that! You can get it free right now!  
Download the FREE Cardstore iPhone App Today!

Squashie Dippity 2.000 Fan Giveaway!

Join in the fun! Squashie Dippity's 2,000 fan giveaway!


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Busy Moms Need to Drink Chia

When a friend first told me about Drink Chia, I thought it sounded gimmicky. A drink that can naturally give you energy--- by seeds in it? Sound crazy? It DID to me too.



And then I started work and my second day I had an early morning meeting. I ran out of the house without breakfast. When I got to work I realized I did not have my wallet which meant . . . you guessed it-- not even a coffee! I had a Drink Chia I had brought with me the day before, so I thought-- why not?

It actually DID give me energy and it subsided my hunger until I had time to grab a quick snack.

I am usually opposed to drinking liquids with solids in them. For example, I hate orange juice with pulp in it-- hate it!

Drink Chia has small chia seems in flavored water to provide energy and a lot of other benefits. I was worried about this at first, but it really did not both me. The taste was really good, and I actually enjoyed drinking it.

My husband also tried it, and he liked the boost of energy it gave him (he is working late nights).
Drink Chia provides many nutritional benefits through Zinc, Potassium, and even Omega 3!



We are now Drink Chia drinkers in our house!

Want to try Chia for yourself?
Check out their website: http://www.drinkchianow.com/
They can also be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drinkchia
And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drinkchia
And you know how we are at MamaBreak. Stay tuned for a GIVEAWAY of a case of Chia!!!

MamaBreak received Drink Chia in 4 flavors to sample in order to write this review. We did not receive any other compensation. As always our experiences and opinions are our own!

8/23: Daily Steals

    • $25 off $50: 9162
    • $50 off $100: 9161
    • $100 off $200: 9060
    • Coupon can also be printer here: PRINT COUPON for in-store use. 
    • I LOVE New York & Company. They have a coupon for:
  •  Another free card. This time for Grandparents Day! 
FREE Grandparents Day Cards + Free Shipping at Cardstore.com! Use Code: CCK2248 at checkout

Ladies of the Nexus Makeover Giveaway

Nexus GiveawayAn eleven Blogger Mega Event you'd be crazy to miss out on!

The Nexus Girls and SparkleCore have combined their absolute favorite beauty products to design the makeover collection of your dreams.
One Grand Prize winner will receive ALL 35 ITEMS of this amazing collection valued at well over $500!!!
Read on to find out how to enter!
<- Click image to enlarge

BarkBox Review . . . A Subscription Box For Your Furry Friends

At MamaBreak we LOVE subscription boxes! We like the variety that are being offered, and when we heard about BarkBox, we knew we HAD to try it! I have two dogs. One a Golden Doodle and one a Mini St. Bernard. Of course, I HAVE to share pictures of them!
 (They do have separate sleeping spaces, but love snuggling in one crate.)

BarkBox is a monthly box you can order for your dog. It is $17 a month, and 10% goes towards a donation to a shelter (we love getting mail AND helping!!!). You choose the age and size of your dog, and they send a box made specifically for your dog. We ordered the medium dog box.

What was in our box?

  • Flying Pig Toy. Amazon Value: $12.99
  • Nature's Miracle Freshening Spray. 8 oz. (Amazon does not carry this). PetSmart price: $7.39
  • Bocee's Bakery The Elvis. 3 oz bag. (Amazon does not carry this). Value based on per ounce price at Wag.com: $4.79
  • Acadia Antlers Moose Taster. Could only be found on the Acadia Antler site. $12.00
  • Milk Bone Trail Mix. 1 oz. Based on per ounce price at Amazon: 51 cents. 
Total Value: $37.68. We also love that they provide items that you may have not heard about, but your pet may love! We are always looking for new treats for our dogs, so we think this box is perfect!

Want to order your own or find out more? CLICK HERE to visit the BarkBox website and save $5 off of your order!

MamaBreak received a BarkBox for review here on the website. MamaBreak did not receive any other compensation for this review, and as always our opinions and experiences are our own!